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Sacred Skeptics

Religion & Spirituality Podcas

What if C.S. Lewis and Jon Stewart had a love child? We like to think of Sacred Skeptics as an attempt to embody the best that these men have to offer: uncommon insight and stinging wit. We engage current events, cultural issues and answer spiritual questions. If you don’t like sarcasm, this isn’t the podcast for you. New episodes drop every Wednesday and Thursday. Listen and subscribe.

Location:

United States

Description:

What if C.S. Lewis and Jon Stewart had a love child? We like to think of Sacred Skeptics as an attempt to embody the best that these men have to offer: uncommon insight and stinging wit. We engage current events, cultural issues and answer spiritual questions. If you don’t like sarcasm, this isn’t the podcast for you. New episodes drop every Wednesday and Thursday. Listen and subscribe.

Language:

English

Contact:

801-575-6397


Episodes

Adam Bomb Pt. II

5/18/2017
Are Adam (and Eve) historical people, or mythical figures meant to convey ideas about humanity? People of faith often puzzle over how to reconcile what Genesis says with what they are hearing from various scientific disciplines, feeling forced to choose one or the other or compartmentalize their faith. Mike talks with Pastor Bryan Hurlbutt about this issue and the nuances of the book of Genesis as ancient near east literature set in a context much different than our own.

Duration:00:33:09

Adam Bomb Pt. I

5/17/2017
Are Adam (and Eve) historical people, or mythical figures meant to convey ideas about humanity? People of faith often puzzle over how to reconcile what Genesis says with what they are hearing from various scientific disciplines, feeling forced to choose one or the other or compartmentalize their faith. Mike talks with Pastor Bryan Hurlbutt about this issue and the nuances of the book of Genesis as ancient near east literature set in a context much different than our own.

Duration:00:24:31

Islamophobia Or Pragmatism?

5/11/2017
Is it just smart to be concerned about Muslims in America and immigration issues, or have Christians bought into a media narrative that distorts reality and causes us to fear those that we should be welcoming to? In this episode, Mike Bell interviews Shane Bennett, a man that has been interacting with Muslims all over the world for many years (and is currently involved in predominantly Muslim refugee engagement in Sicily). Mike and Shane discuss the realities of Muslim belief and practice,...

Duration:00:38:46

Walking Through Extreme Grief

5/10/2017
What does a person of faith do when they face an unimaginable tragedy; the loss of a child? In the case of Pastor Stewart White, the reality of the sudden unexpected death of his adult son confronted him with the most serious of questions: will the Christian faith that he has held his whole life sustain he and his family through the darkest time of their lives? Stewart shares insights and reflections drawn from his four-year journey since the passing of his son.

Duration:00:28:19

VIDEO: Bad Religion, Part 2

5/4/2017
Welcome to Sacred Skeptics, a podcast available on the KSL Newsradio app. Jen and Brandon Hatmaker are the latest evangelical thought leaders to catch public condemnation. They join the unhappy club of formerly loved evangelicals, along with Rachel Held Evans and Rob Bell. Mike Frost, the professor, author and Christian blogger has called foul on Evangelical culture for being exclusive and unhealthy. Pastor Rick Henderson, along with guest co-host Rob Lambert respond in part two of this...

Duration:00:10:32

VIDEO: Bad Religion, Part 1

5/4/2017
Pastor Rick Henderson and guest co-host Rob Lambert delves into the fall of Jen and Brandon Hatmaker, the latest evangelical thought leaders to catch public condemnation. They join the unhappy club of formerly loved evangelicals, along with Rachel Held Evans and Rob Bell. Mike Frost, the professor, author and Christian blogger has called foul on evangelical culture for being exclusive and unhealthy.

Duration:00:10:08

Bad Religion

5/4/2017
Jen and Brandon Hatmaker are the latest evangelical thought leaders to catch public condemnation. They join the unhappy club of formerly loved evangelicals, along with Rachel Held Evans and Rob Bell. Mike Frost, the professor, author and Christian blogger has called foul on Evangelical culture for being exclusive and unhealthy. Pastor Rick Henderson, along with guest co-host Rob Lambert respond.

Duration:00:21:04

VIDEO: Misogyny in Religion, Part 2

5/3/2017
In part two of our video episode, Pastor Rick Henderson welcomes guest co-hosts Becky Bruce and Rob Lambert to talk about the viral hashtag from self-proclaimed Jesus Feminist, Sarah Bessey - #ThingsOnlyChristianWomenHear. The hashtag erupted on twitter, with observations about women being relegated to service but never leadership, comments about infertility and family planning, and much more. Does it indicate a real cultural or doctrinal problem in churches? Is religion somehow inherently...

Duration:00:14:01

VIDEO: Misogyny in Religion, Part 1

5/3/2017
Jesus Feminist Sarah Bessey's hashtag, #ThingsOnlyChristianWomenHear created a twitter firestorm - and it's still catching. After the last episode's discussion about a role for Christian leaders in helping repair bad relationships, Pastor Rick Henderson got an earful on Facebook about domestic violence and women in the church. He welcomes guest co-hosts Becky Bruce and Rob Lambert to help better understand where victims of abuse are coming from and how his words might have been perceived,...

Duration:00:13:29

Hash It Out

5/3/2017
Jesus Feminist Sarah Bessey's hashtag, #ThingsOnlyChristianWomenHear created a twitter firestorm. Is there a cultural problem or a doctrinal problem in churches that makes religion inherently sexist? Is it both or something altogether different? Does faith unintentionally encourage abuse? Pastor Rick Henderson admits he was wrong, as he welcomes guest co-hosts Becky Bruce and Rob Lambert to give their perspective.

Duration:00:27:29

VIDEO: Do Pastors Promote Abuse?

4/27/2017
Part 2 of 2. After posting comments online in response to Samatha Fields's article in Relevant Magazine, a Christian publication, a storm of shame and general insanity erupted. Added to the spotlight is self-proclaimed Jesus Feminist Sarah Bessey's trending hashtag, #ThingsOnlyChristianWomenHear. Pastors Mike Bell and Rick Henderson engage the fray on their podcast, Sacred Skeptics, and take seriously the claims that pastors, like John Piper, promote abuse. Is that fair or far fetched?

Duration:00:13:01

VIDEO: Evangelical Abuse Culture

4/27/2017
After posting comments online in response to Samatha Fields's article in Relevant Magazine, a Christian publication, a storm of shame and general insanity erupted. Added to the spotlight is self-proclaimed Jesus Feminist Sarah Bessey's trending hashtag, #ThingsOnlyChristianWomenHear. Pastors Mike Bell and Rick Henderson engage the fray and take seriously the claims that pastors, like John Piper, promote abuse. Is that fair or far fetched?

Duration:00:10:14

Miss Understood Pt. 2

4/27/2017
After posting comments online in response to Samatha Fields's article in Relevant Magazine, a Christian publication, a storm of shame and general insanity erupted. Added to the spotlight is self-proclaimed Jesus Feminist Sarah Bessey's trending hashtag, #ThingsOnlyChristianWomenHear. Pastors Mike Bell and Rick Henderson engage the fray and take seriously the claims that pastors, like John Piper, promote abuse. Is that fair or far fetched?

Duration:00:23:39

VIDEO: Rape Culture and the Church

4/26/2017
When people of faith teach young women to stay modest and pure, is there a mixed message? In other words, if we are encouraging modesty and purity as a means to avoid the sexualization or objectification of women, are we accidentally sexualizing and objectifying women? Samantha Field makes that argument in Relevant Magazine, a Christian publication. But pastors Rick Henderson and Mike Bell aren't so sure it's a fair argument and make the case that everyone has some responsibility on the...

Duration:00:10:44

VIDEO: Modesty or Sexualization

4/26/2017
A writer for Relevant Magazine, Samantha Field, argues that modern church messages about modesty and purity may, in fact, help sexualize and objectify women, the opposite of the intended effect. Pastors Rick Henderson and Mike Bell discuss in part two of this three-part conversation. Hint: they don't think Christian viewpoints about modest dress necessarily intend to shame victims.

Duration:00:08:56

VIDEO: Stupidity and Good vs. Evil

4/26/2017
Pastors Rick Henderson and Mike Bell begin with the quote of the week, which comes from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German religious leader and theologian who became a spy and anti-Nazi dissident before his execution by hanging shortly before the end of World War II in 1945. He said, "Stupidity is a more dangerous enemy of the good than malice." In other words, when Christians choose prejudgment over education and facts, the truth becomes too easy to set aside.

Duration:00:10:39

Miss Understood Pt. 1

4/26/2017
Writing for Relevant Magazine, Samantha Field claims that Christian teaching on purity and modesty cultivates objectification of women and a rape culture. She claims that's why there is sparse outrage over the realities of sexual harassment. Is she on to something or is she out of her mind? Pastors Rick Henderson and Mike Bell discuss.

Duration:00:31:28

Tole[RANT]

4/20/2017
Presumably the secular culture at large expects the marketplace of ideas to be much more civil without those “narrow minded” Christians around, constantly discussing moral black and white, drawing lines in the sand on sexual ethics for instance. If Christian influence is waning in society, progressives might expect there to be a utopia just around the corner, where each person’s ideas and choices are wildly accepted by everyone, and civil discourse is normative…but is that what we’re seeing...

Duration:00:27:17

The New Priests

4/19/2017
The most persuasive people are the ones who make us laugh. Louis C.K.'s new Netflix special has erupted in controversy. His observations spark laughter over "killing babies." Pro-choice advocates like it less than the Pro-life advocates. And yet, the routine is decidedly in favor of abortion. Pastors Rick Henderson and Mike Bell discuss the the power of comedy and persuasion all while taking a serious look at the tiny revolution behind every joke.

Duration:00:27:01

Dead Man Walking Pt. 2

4/13/2017
The claim that Jesus rose from the dead is well documented and undeniable. But is that claim credible? Scholars of all stripes agree on 5 bedrock facts. What explanation best accounts for all of those facts? It's not enough to submit a theory. You must support it with evidence. Pastors Mike Bell and Rick Henderson dive in and evaluate each theory against the evidence.

Duration:00:28:20