Pub Theology Live

Episode 317: We Need Better by Pub Theology

Bryan and Ogun discuss a dairy farm run on Hindu principles: does their approach of free-range, non-violent farming approaches actually make the milk taste better and of higher quality? We discuss that, plus the death and funeral of Pope Francis, the role of doubt, and Pascal's wager.

Our Holy Week episode! Bryan and Ogun are back to discuss everything from Palm Sunday to Easter: why did the people move so quickly from cheering Jesus on Sunday to calling for his execution on Friday? Was Judas a necessary cog in the plan for Jesus to die on the cross? If so, shouldn't he also be revered as a sacrifice? We also discuss Holy Week in Spain, where observances include grand processions and are much more public, as well as Holy Saturday, and what we can learn from this time of silence, absence and unknowing. Finally, we discuss the phone-less setting of the Masters, and the power of being present at such an event.

Can you successfully pretend that any day is a Friday or Saturday? Shannon, Ogun and Bryan discuss whether time is just a construct, and what it means that "for the Lord, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day." We also discuss how to manage worry in these challenging times.

Shannon, Ogun and Bryan discuss which three apps on our phones we couldn't do without. A tough exercise! We also discuss whether Ash Wednesday is a counter-cultural observance. And given that Ramadan and Lent overlap a bit this year - what can Muslims and Christians learn from each other's practices? What prevents this from happening?

Derrick Weston joins Ogun and Bryan to discuss what is making us happy lately, how a gratitude practice can create resilience in these times, and what helping or not helping the vulnerable says about our spirituality. Also on the show: Ogun continues his alcohol-free stretch, Derrick gets his Instagram hacked, and Bryan finally wins at Mario Kart.

In light of the kayaker swallowed by a whale, Bryan, Ogun and Shannon discuss their own scary moments on or in the water. We also discuss the spiritual concept of water, the power of mantras, common sense, and testing God.

Bryan and Ogun discuss our current news consumption, how we feel about the state of the nation, and how some folks are just "insulated with privilege." We also discuss cuts to certain programs like Lutheran Services, and whether, amid the chaos and disappearing funding, there is an opportunity for the church. Also, what would happen if we started to look at the world from a different angle?

This week we discuss what should be included if God were to again come down and write something in stone. Would people listen? Would they even agree on what it said? We also discuss hopes and fears around the incoming administration, why we are quick to quote MLK but slow to follow what he said, and much more! Grab a warm beverage and tune in!

Ogun, Shannon and Bryan discuss our favorite winter activities. Hint: they are not outdoor activities. We also discuss the wildfires in California and whether they could be seen or experienced as a test of faith. We also ponder whether love or hate creates a stronger bonding mechanism.

Bryan, Shannon and Ogun are back with their first episode of the year! We talk about new practices or ways of being we'd like to lean into in the year ahead. We also discuss Epiphany, and whether this date on the church calendar deserves more attention. Also, why isn't there more religious diversity in the US Congress?

In our final episode of the year, Shannon, Bryan and Ogun discuss the holidays, Holy Spirit-led theology, love of neighbor, and human-supremacist theology. We also each attempt to describe our theology in five words, once we understand the question. Tune in!

Can Ogun's Christmas tree survive a gust of wind? Ogun, Shannon and Bryan discuss Christmas trees, Black Friday, Advent and the incarnation. We also discuss having an AI device pray on your behalf - is this truly prayer?

The holidays are around the corner, so we discuss tips for having a conversation around the Thanksgiving table with differing viewpoints. If Uncle Frank insists on contributing inflammatory comments, what do you do? When should you engage, when should you not engage? We also discuss how knowledge can reduce fear, and how justice happens. Tune in! It's our pre-stuffing conversation!

And Then Came Wednesday: Ogun joins the show from the stormy Caribbean, and he and Bryan discuss life after the election results. We share how we are doing, what happened, and how to go forward. Actually we mostly just commiserate, and discuss why Trump is no King David. We also address the problem of misinformation and information silos, and whether it is possible to communicate with someone who lives in an entirely manufactured reality. Grab a beverage and tune in!

On this election-day episode, Bryan and Shannon are day-drinking, and are yet preciously unaware of the disaster still to unfold. Tune in as we discuss our voting experiences, whether the Bible encourages people to vote, and imagining leaders who are brave, calm, and open toward others. We can dream, right? Tune in, and grab whatever beverage(s) are necessary.

Derrick Weston joins Shannon and Bryan for our Halloween episode. Did people really used to pray for neighbors' deceased loved ones in exchange for food? Do kids in Iowa tell jokes, recite poems or dance for candy? And why are there so many phrases that sound biblical but aren't actually in the Bible? Finally, does God have a specific plan for each person? Tune in! Tricks and treats abound.

It's our 300th Episode! This week we discuss experiencing fall and October, whether an earlier discovery of coffee would have impacted the formation of major world religions, and what it is like leaving one's denomination or religious tradition. We also talk about how to deal with information overload. Also, Ogun has discovered Early Grey tea.

We discuss various American folk sayings as well as a saying from the Talmud: what wisdom is contained in such sayings that persist in a given culture? We also explore the Mayan creation story: what did such stories convey to the culture they arose in? What can they teach us today? We also discuss the recent severe weather, and the role of clergy in confronting misinformation in the church.

We discuss the human propensity for nostalgia: why do we so often assume it was better "back then"? We also discuss going beyond the idea of nations, borders and ideologies, and whether it really is that simple. We also look at Oklahoma's pursuit of Bibles in schools—what could go wrong?—and reflect on October 7 one year later.