The word “woke” has been co-opted by the political right, but its’ origin lies in the African-American community during the American civil rights era. The original users of the term used it as an admonition to one another “stay woke” or remain awakened to the dangers of injustice all around them. Would Jesus of Nazareth be considered woke today? Twisted Meaning Today, the word is used by some right-wing culture warriors to demean anything they disagree with. Don’t like Trump?... Read more
As we approach the holiday season, I find myself feeling an unusual sense of gratitude this year. Family Of course, I’m grateful for this wonderful life. My wife, Brandi, is brilliant and beautiful and makes every day better. Our kids- Alex (21), Britain (19), Emily (19), and Jaxon (12)-are growing up and leaning into the people they have decided to be without the burden of religious shame weighing them down. My Mom was able to buy her first house on... Read more
The images coming out of Israel and Palestine over the last month and a half have been heartbreaking. In response the brutal murder of an estimated 1200 Israelis (among victims of other nationalities) and the kidnapping of more than 100 hostages by terrorist group Hamas, Israel has launched an all-out attack on Gaza and other areas of Palestine. So far, Israel has reportedly killed more than 12,000 Palestinians including thousands of children. Food, water, electricity, medical oxygen, and fuel are... Read more
In this episode, Jason talks with author and public theologian Dillon Naber Cruz about his journey from the Marines to pacifism, the war in Israel/Palestine, the Trump effect on Evangelicalism, Christian Nationalism, and a lot more. This Quoircast podcast episode is brought to you by Augmented-a Science Fiction Anthology from Quoir. This episode is also brought to you Peaceful Warrior Coffee Co where you can order single-origin coffee beans from around the world that are roasted and shipped on the same day. Shipping to... Read more
I got so much great feedback about the Sunday Sermon two weeks ago that I decided to turn it into a series. This message is part two. Sometimes, the way out of our rut is simpler than we think. What is your next, best step to breaking free? If you’d prefer to listen to audio only, please check out the podcast version. Recommended Reading: Jesus’ Alternative Plan by Richard Rohr Returning to Eden by Heather Hamilton Referenced in This Episode:... Read more
The word “woke” has been co-opted by the political right, but its’ origin lies in the African-American community during the American civil rights era. The original users of the term used it as an admonition to one another “stay woke” or remain awakened to the dangers of injustice all around them. Today, the word is used by many culture warriors to demean anything they disagree with.Don’t like MAGA? Woke.Don’t like DeSantis? Woke.Don’t want to ban books we disapprove of? Woke.Supporting... Read more
The day we had been dreading had finally arrived. Our oldest child, Alex, was moving out on her own. I had always expected to be relieved to see our kids spread their wings and fly away from the nest. After all, raising healthy, well-adjusted kids who can thrive on their own is nearly every parent’s goal, right? Recently though, as my faith continued to evolve, I realized we had not done a good job of representing spiritual and emotional health... Read more
Join us for season four of The Messy Spirituality Podcast as we welcome new co-hosts, Lola Robbins and Kyle Butler! Lola is a deep thinker, accomplished hairstylist, and one of the co-hosts of the Deadly Faith podcast. Kyle is the reigning “Prince of Positivity” and a veteran podcaster and social media personality. Kyle is a former evangelical pastor who now spends his time encouraging humanity to embrace their own divinity. Welcome, Lola and Kyle! Read more
We speak of it in hushed tones. Calling for its’ erasure from American society is considered blasphemous. Millions of dollars are spent by individuals and corporations alike to lobby Congress to protect it. We trust it to protect our material possessions. We trust it to protect us from harm and keep our families safe. We trust it to give us victory over other nations in war. We put our faith in it no matter what we say to the contrary... Read more
Sometimes, the world seems like a messed up place. When considering matters of injustice, political manipulation, or religious exploitation, there’s a lot to be angry about. Many of us have been simmering in our frustration and rage for the last couple of years. So what do we do with our anger? A few thoughts… Feel It You have the right to feel whatever you feel. That should go without saying, but we sometimes need reminders about these things. There is... Read more
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