An Irenicon

Ancients Texts and Salvation – Listener Feedback – 050

In honor of our fiftieth episode, we have opened the floodgates for listener feedback and questions. By happenstance, all of the questions have theological themes around scripture, the nature of salvation, and faith reconstruction and deconstruction. The hosts dive into a personal discussion of these issues and conclude with a hard conversation on both the death of Justice Scalia and what it means to love your enemies. Read More

Joey Aszterbaum Interview – Skypark, Deconstruction and Sloths – 049

In this episode Allen interviews the one and only Joey Aszterbaum. You may have heard Joey playing guitar for the Christian band Skypark in the 90’s, or read his work on faith, art, and justice at the Charismanglican, or saw him on television marching against the anti-immigration protesters in Murrieta, CA – Joey has been an outspoken advocate of peace, family, and (more recently) Bernie Sanders and “sloths.” His story takes us through the processes of deconstruction and testing, a rebirth of sorts as he encounters helpful people along the way, and on into the merits of the wider Christian faith and the Episcopal tradition. Read More

Gratitude and Privilege – A Grate(ful) Moral Dilemma – 048

Is it moral to be grateful for privilege? This week the hosts try to answer what seems to be a paradox: gratitude and privilege. Covering topics from thankfulness, entitlement, wealth and leisure, wonder and a theology of being, Jeff, Mona and Allen try to get to the bottom of this unsettling question. The episode ends with a game called Good News, Bad News where they may or may not tease out a hypothetical scenario where Mona goes on a date with Donald Trump. Read More

Diversity of the Christian Worship Experience – I’m Deconstructing the Heart of Worship – 047

Anyone who has spent significant time in the Christian Church, of any background or denomination, has probably held opinions about their Christian worship experience.  “The music was too loud.” “Did the preacher just really say…?!” “I should have skipped out with the children!” “That really spoke to me.”  During this episode, Jeff, Mona and Allen discuss various aspects of the worship service while reflecting on their own histories, then introduce a new segment to the show and name it Sound Charades. Read More

Responding to the Global Environmental Crisis – Green Eggs and Traffic Jams – 046