Theology in the Raw
- Episodes
- 858
- Released
- several times a week
- Latest episode
- Nov 12, 2026
About the podcast
Helping believers think Christianly about theological and cultural issues by engaging in curious conversations with a diverse range of thoughtful people.
Episodes 858
Sexual Desire, Unmet Longing, and Union with God | Greg Coles & Julia Hejduk
Why would God give us sexual desires we can’t always fulfill? Can unmet sexual longing actually draw us closer to Jesus? Greg Coles and Julia Hejduk join me to explore what our desires reveal about being …
Show notes
Why would God give us sexual desires we can’t always fulfill? Can unmet sexual longing actually draw us closer to Jesus? Greg Coles and Julia Hejduk join me to explore what our desires reveal about being human—and about the God who longs for us.
Their book, Sexuality Beyond Sex: An Unexpected Conversation on Embodiment, Identity, and Desire, is one of the most theologically invigorating books I’ve read all year. Bringing Protestant and Catholic perspectives into conversation, Greg and Julia challenge the assumption that marriage and sexual activity are the ultimate fulfillment of our sexuality. What if our deepest longings point toward something even greater?
We discuss singleness, marriage, celibacy, suffering, and how unmet desire can cultivate humility and dependence on God. We also explore the surprising connection between sexuality and the Lord’s Supper, work through Catholic and Protestant disagreements about Communion, and consider what Mary’s story reveals about offering our bodies to God.
Greg Coles is a writer, speaker, and senior research fellow at The Center for Faith, Sexuality and Gender. Julia Hejduk is a Catholic scholar and professor of classics at Baylor University.
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CHAPTERS
00:00 Can unmet sexual desire be good?
00:46 Introducing Greg Coles and Julia Hejduk
03:32 What is sexuality actually for?
05:45 Marriage, Genesis, and the image of God
08:36 Sexual desire beyond marriage and procreation
12:07 Are we expecting too much from marriage?
14:07 Why would God give us desires we can’t fulfill?
17:09 Sponsors
19:59 How unmet desire cultivates humility
23:36 Sexual longing, suffering, and following Jesus
24:04 Writing together across Catholic–Protestant differences
29:56 Where they agree and disagree about Communion
33:14 What does the Eucharist have to do with sexuality?
35:42 The cross and the wedding feast of the Lamb
37:09 Why can’t Protestants receive Catholic Communion?
42:22 Spiritual Communion and the pain of exclusion
44:58 Martin Luther on sex, marriage, and celibacy
51:10 Learning from the saints and Mary
54:59 Understanding the Catholic view of Mary
59:33 Sexual fulfillment beyond sexual activity
62:44 The church’s need for non-straight Christians
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Lisa Harper on Why Theology Should Leave You in Awe
What if studying theology made you more amazed by God? My friend Lisa Harper joins me to talk about what happens when the things we learn about God change how we pray, how we parent, and how we love the people …
Show notes
What if studying theology made you more amazed by God? My friend Lisa Harper joins me to talk about what happens when the things we learn about God change how we pray, how we parent, and how we love the people around us.
Lisa’s book Theology for the Rest of Us is the jumping-off point for our conversation. We get into what we can know about God and what remains a mystery, how the Trinity shapes the way we think about community, and why the return of Jesus is a reason for hope. Lisa also tells the story of listening to her daughter gush about her first crush and thinking, “I remember when I talked about Jesus like that.”
And yes, somehow a sausage biscuit gets thrown out a car window, and we end up talking about atonement. This is why I love talking theology with Lisa.
Chapters
0:00 Theology was meant to be lived
0:40 Can studying God deepen our love for him?
3:38 Lisa Harper and her chaotic dissertation defense
14:57 Theology for the rest of us
15:46 What we can know about God and what leaves us in awe
24:00 The Trinity and why we need community
32:30 Using theology to invite people in
34:31 Finding hope in the return of Jesus
40:05 What baptism meant to the early Christians
46:42 “I remember when I talked about Jesus like that”
51:42 When words become armor
57:58 A sausage biscuit and a lesson in atonement
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What Does the Bible Say About Wealth, Poverty, and Economics? with Dr. Michael Rhodes
Does the Bible support capitalism or socialism—or challenge both? What do Jesus’ teachings about wealth, the early church’s shared possessions, and the Old Testament’s economic laws mean for Christians …
Show notes
Does the Bible support capitalism or socialism—or challenge both? What do Jesus’ teachings about wealth, the early church’s shared possessions, and the Old Testament’s economic laws mean for Christians today?
Dr. Michael Rhodes joins Preston to explore what Scripture says about money, work, poverty, generosity, and economic justice. From Jubilee and debt forgiveness to the difference between earning a profit and maximizing it, Michael challenges us to consider how following Jesus should shape our entire economic life.
We also wrestle with the role of government in helping the poor, minimum wage debates, the dangers of concentrated wealth and power, Michael’s critique of Elon Musk and the USAID cuts, and a question raised by When Helping Hurts: Can our generosity actually harm the people we want to help?
Michael Rhodes holds a PhD from the University of Aberdeen and lectures in Old Testament at Carey Baptist College in New Zealand. His books include Just Discipleship, Practicing the King’s Economy (coauthored), and Reimagining Biblical Politics.
CHAPTERS
- 00:00 “I Am the Rich Person”
- 00:36 Introducing Dr. Michael Rhodes
- 01:44 How Should We Read the Bible on Economics?
- 05:06 Jubilee, Land Ownership, and Care for the Poor
- 08:57 Beyond Charity: A Soup Kitchen or a Potluck?
- 10:49 Why Did the Early Christians Sell Their Possessions?
- 15:23 Did Jesus Expect Everyone to Give Everything Away?
- 18:43 The Bible’s Warnings About Wealth Apply to Us
- 19:46 Should Biblical Economics Shape Government Policy?
- 22:36 Daniel, Proverbs, and Challenging Those in Power
- 27:35 Can We Trust the Government to Help the Poor?
- 31:15 Minimum Wage: Moving Beyond Political Talking Points
- 38:24 A Business Owner Rethinks Profit—and Encounters Bad Policy
- 41:10 Biblical Principles for Work, Generosity, and Economic Life
- 44:15 Food Aid, Debt Forgiveness, and Breaking Cycles of Poverty
- 46:59 Capitalism, Socialism, or Something Else?
- 49:12 Is Profit Maximization Against God’s Will?
- 50:29 Billionaires, Government, and Concentrated Power
- 52:57 Elon Musk, USAID, and Christian Responsibility
- 55:54 When Party Loyalty Overrides Our Convictions
- 57:38 When Helping Hurts: Can Generosity Do Harm?
- 62:30 Reimagining Biblical Politics
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The Gospel According to Isaiah | Dr. N.T. Wright
Is the gospel simply about having our sins forgiven so we can go to heaven? N.T. Wright joins Preston to explore how Isaiah changes the way we understand Jesus, salvation, and the announcement that “Jesus is …
Show notes
Is the gospel simply about having our sins forgiven so we can go to heaven? N.T. Wright joins Preston to explore how Isaiah changes the way we understand Jesus, salvation, and the announcement that “Jesus is Lord.”
Drawing on his book, Into the Heart of Isaiah: The Meaning and Message of Isaiah 40–55, Tom walks us through the story of God’s return, the suffering servant, and the renewal of creation. Who is Isaiah’s servant: Israel, Jesus, or both? How does Isaiah help us understand John’s Gospel and Jesus’ parables? And why would the early Christian announcement of good news challenge the most powerful empire in the world?
We also discuss biblical authorship and inspiration, the idols Christians can remain captive to, what Jesus’ authority means for earthly politics, and how to read the Old Testament without missing the bigger picture.
N.T. Wright is a New Testament scholar, former Bishop of Durham, and senior research fellow at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. His many books include Surprised by Hope, Simply Christian, and After You Believe.
In our Extra Innings conversation, I ask Tom why he believes women can serve in every position of church leadership. Hear his response, including his reflections on Mary Magdalene and Phoebe, by joining the Theology in the Raw community:
https://www.patreon.com/theologyintheraw
CHAPTERS
- 00:00 Is our gospel missing something?
- 00:46 Introducing N.T. Wright and the gospel in Isaiah
- 03:18 Why a New Testament scholar studies Isaiah
- 05:08 Why Isaiah 40–55 belongs together
- 07:55 Who wrote Isaiah, and does it matter?
- 09:30 Can God inspire editors?
- 12:25 Exile, the temple, and God’s promised return
- 16:07 Why God works through human beings
- 17:00 Israel, the servant, and renewed creation
- 19:19 Sponsor: Boll & Branch
- 20:26 Is the suffering servant Israel or Jesus?
- 24:18 How Isaiah shapes the New Testament
- 26:32 A gospel bigger than escaping the world
- 27:18 Isaiah behind John’s Gospel and Jesus’ parables
- 31:12 What “good news” means in Isaiah
- 33:25 Is the gospel more than forgiveness?
- 34:10 Jesus, Caesar, and the power of the cross
- 35:47 “Jesus is Lord” and turning from idols
- 37:17 What does Jesus’ authority on earth look like?
- 38:24 The politically subversive message of Jesus
- 40:08 American polarization and the church
- 41:28 How to read Isaiah without getting lost
- 46:05 N.T. Wright, the Beatles, and Coldplay
- 48:43 Advice for preaching Isaiah
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Should Christians Support the Death Penalty? Shane Claiborne
Is the death penalty biblical? Should Christians support capital punishment—or does following Jesus lead us toward a different understanding of justice, mercy, and redemption?Shane Claiborne joins me to discuss …
Show notes
Is the death penalty biblical? Should Christians support capital punishment—or does following Jesus lead us toward a different understanding of justice, mercy, and redemption?
Shane Claiborne joins me to discuss what the Bible says about the death penalty and why we both changed our minds. We explore Old Testament laws, Jesus’ teaching on “an eye for an eye,” the early church’s response to violence, and whether Romans 13 justifies capital punishment.
But this conversation goes beyond biblical interpretation. Shane shares stories from years of visiting people on death row, including encounters with people who were later exonerated, families of murder victims, and a former executioner. We wrestle with difficult questions: Can you be pro-life and support the death penalty? What about justice for victims? And what does it mean to believe that no one is beyond redemption?
Shane is an author, activist, and co-founder of Red Letter Christians. His books include Executing Grace: How the Death Penalty Killed Jesus and Why It’s Killing Us and Rethinking Life.
For my further thoughts on Romans 13 and the death penalty, join the Theology in the Raw community and watch or listen to Extra Innings:
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CHAPTERS
- 00:00 The Bible Belt is the death belt
- 00:33 Why Christians are debating the death penalty
- 05:27 Shane Claiborne: Why I changed my mind
- 08:32 How the death penalty works in practice
- 10:18 Who gets executed? Race, poverty, and geography
- 12:05 The human cost of death row
- 14:11 Can people on death row change?
- 16:50 What does biblical justice look like?
- 17:37 Don Johnson: Redemption on death row
- 20:01 What about the victims?
- 23:59 Forgiveness after the Charleston church shooting
- 25:10 Christian leaders and the death penalty
- 26:36 An invitation to pray on death row
- 29:20 Does the Old Testament justify capital punishment?
- 30:44 Jesus and “an eye for an eye”
- 31:54 The early church on killing and state violence
- 35:38 Why Christians still defend the death penalty
- 37:07 Reading Old Testament laws as Christians
- 39:22 Wrongful convictions and trusting the state
- 41:10 Race, wealth, and unequal justice
- 43:56 A Jewish perspective on the death penalty
- 44:48 Does Romans 13 support the death penalty?
- 47:50 The Reformation and the power of the state
- 49:58 Wrestling with a change of mind
- 51:12 Firing squads and the toll on executioners
- 52:54 Forgiveness, consequences, and the gospel
- 53:37 Shane’s books and further resources
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Have We Lost Something in Communion? with Hannah Miller King
Have we lost something in communion? Is the Lord’s Supper simply a symbol that reminds us of Jesus’ death, or is something more happening when we receive the bread and wine?Anglican priest Hannah Miller King …
Show notes
Have we lost something in communion? Is the Lord’s Supper simply a symbol that reminds us of Jesus’ death, or is something more happening when we receive the bread and wine?
Anglican priest Hannah Miller King joins Preston to explore the Eucharist and its role in spiritual formation. They discuss Catholic, Protestant, and Anglican understandings of Christ’s presence, why communion has become an afterthought in some churches, and whether we should expect to feel anything when we take it.
Drawing from her book, Feasting on Hope: How God Sets a Table in the Wilderness, Hannah shares how communion has shaped her experience of grief, belonging, and healing. They also discuss her experience as a female priest and how Christians can remain in fellowship while disagreeing about women in church leadership.
In Extra Innings, Preston asks Hannah why some evangelicals are drawn to Anglican, Catholic, and Orthodox churches. Hear her own journey and the extended conversation by joining the TITR community: https://www.patreon.com/theologyintheraw
CHAPTERS
- 00:00 Is communion more than an object lesson?
- 00:46 Have we lost something in communion?
- 04:35 Introducing Hannah Miller King
- 05:01 Different Christian views of the Eucharist
- 07:33 The early church, Luther, and Calvin
- 10:55 What can Christians agree on about communion?
- 13:34 Wasn’t the Lord’s Supper an actual meal?
- 17:03 Sponsors
- 19:09 Has communion become an afterthought?
- 20:42 Making the table central to worship
- 24:05 Wine, grape juice, and why the elements matter
- 26:24 Communion, grief, and those we’ve lost
- 29:43 What if I don’t feel anything?
- 33:25 Embodiment, trauma, and healing
- 37:58 Lament and the hope of resurrection
- 39:06 Bringing our suffering to the table
- 41:30 Teaching a richer understanding of communion
- 43:23 Being a female Anglican priest
- 47:25 Disagreeing about women’s ordination
- 49:41 Unity without agreeing on everything
- 51:57 Why male-only bishops?
- 55:15 Faith when the miracle doesn’t come
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In Defense of Evangelicalism with Bonnie Kristian
Are evangelicals really defined by Donald Trump, culture wars, and the pursuit of political power? Or are we missing a much bigger picture?Bonnie Kristian joins Preston to discuss her book, In Defense of …
Show notes
Are evangelicals really defined by Donald Trump, culture wars, and the pursuit of political power? Or are we missing a much bigger picture?
Bonnie Kristian joins Preston to discuss her book, In Defense of Evangelicalism: A Response to Its Cultured Despisers. A journalist and deputy editor at Christianity Today, Bonnie offers a defense of evangelicalism while openly criticizing its failures and explaining why she isn’t a Trump supporter.
We explore what “evangelical” actually means, the accusations leveled against the movement, and why Bonnie believes some critiques overlook the ordinary faithfulness of millions of Christians. We also discuss evangelical support for Trump, what voting statistics can and can’t tell us, and the difference between voting for a candidate and embracing everything that candidate represents.
The conversation also tackles Christian nationalism, the line between voting your values and imposing your beliefs, evangelical attitudes toward war, and Bonnie’s disagreements with Jesus and John Wayne. Can we take evangelical hypocrisy seriously without reducing an entire movement to its worst examples? And can we criticize someone’s politics without dismissing their faith?
CHAPTERS
00:00 Critiquing politics without condemning people
00:30 Are evangelicals really that bad?
03:50 Introducing Bonnie Kristian
06:45 What does “evangelical” actually mean?
10:31 Why hesitate to call yourself evangelical?
11:41 Five accusations against evangelicalism
16:35 Are evangelical faith and Republican politics inseparable?
18:24 Putting the “81 percent” statistic in context
20:18 Why evangelicals vote for Trump
24:13 Culture wars, political power, and voting your values
27:12 When does voting your faith become Christian nationalism?
33:28 Defending evangelicals without supporting Trump
35:45 War, conscience, and rejecting both parties
39:28 Why do evangelicals support war?
43:48 Torture, the Golden Rule, and the influence of faith
45:58 Pushback on the book and Jesus and John Wayne
50:42 Why Bonnie won’t denounce evangelical Trump voters
53:36 Criticism, reform, and contempt for evangelicals
54:40 Engaging critics and knowing when to step away
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Disability, Marriage, and Faith When Healing Doesn’t Come: Cameron & Annie Horner
What does faith look like when healing doesn’t come? And how can churches move beyond welcoming people with disabilities to creating genuine belonging? Cameron and Annie Horner join Preston to explore …
Show notes
What does faith look like when healing doesn’t come? And how can churches move beyond welcoming people with disabilities to creating genuine belonging? Cameron and Annie Horner join Preston to explore disability, marriage, suffering, and what the church misses when disabled voices are sidelined.
Cameron and Annie share how they met at the Exiles in Babylon conference and how vulnerability shaped their relationship. Together, they challenge assumptions about disability and offer practical ways churches can remove barriers to worship, community, and leadership.
Cameron Horner is a quadriplegic pastor, speaker, and ministry leader who became paralyzed from the chest down at age 18 after a diving accident. Annie Horner is a mental health therapist with Living Whole Hearted, a clinic based in Portland, Oregon. Together, they lead Accessible Grace, equipping churches to move beyond inclusion to genuine belonging for people with disabilities.
Join the Theology in the Raw community for bonus content and conversations: https://www.patreon.com/theologyintheraw
CHAPTERS
- 00:00 Faith when healing doesn’t come
- 00:45 Why disability belongs in the church conversation
- 03:36 Meet Cameron and Annie Horner
- 04:22 A love story that started at Exiles in Babylon
- 07:18 Annie’s story: abuse, faith, and finding hope
- 11:40 From Ireland to a marriage proposal
- 12:47 Dating, disability, and assumptions about relationships
- 16:37 Building a relationship on what matters
- 19:33 Sponsor: Western Seminary
- 20:30 What people misunderstand about their marriage
- 21:24 Purity culture and the “ideal spouse” checklist
- 24:06 How vulnerability made room for love
- 26:46 When disability happens during a marriage
- 29:59 Disability and the church: where do we start?
- 32:08 Accessibility beyond ramps and parking spaces
- 35:21 Seeing disability as part of the body’s diversity
- 38:48 How church culture can exclude families
- 40:59 Who gets to lead in our churches?
- 43:12 Cameron’s calling to pastor and teach
- 46:03 Moses, disability, and God’s accommodation
- 48:11 “Stand if you’re able”: why language matters
- 52:31 Disability theology and the resurrected Jesus
- 56:18 How should we talk about disability?
- 58:29 A first step for church leaders: listen
- 61:09 What disability teaches us about being human
- 62:48 Celebrating faithfulness without a miraculous ending
- 65:18 Cameron and Preston’s marathon rivalry
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How Well-Meaning Church Leaders Become Controlling | Dr. Joshua Jipp
When does church leadership become spiritual manipulation? And how do you disagree with a pastor who says, “God told me”? Preston talks with New Testament scholar Joshua W. Jipp about how even well-meaning …
Show notes
When does church leadership become spiritual manipulation? And how do you disagree with a pastor who says, “God told me”? Preston talks with New Testament scholar Joshua W. Jipp about how even well-meaning Christian leaders can cross the line from serving people to controlling them.
Drawing on his book, How (Not) to Be a Tyrant, Josh explores what the Bible’s worst rulers reveal about power, ambition, and the temptation to use God’s authority to advance our own agendas. We discuss why charisma and results aren’t enough to identify a healthy leader, how fear can become a tool of control, and what makes Jesus’ approach to leadership radically different.
We also wrestle with church leadership structures, Paul’s use of authority, Romans 13 and Revelation 13, and when Christians should submit, push back, or leave. Along the way, we consider the faithful pastors whose humility and service rarely make the headlines.
Joshua W. Jipp (PhD, Emory University) is associate professor of New Testament at the University of Notre Dame. He is the author of several books, including his most recent book, How (Not) to Be a Tyrant: Ten Lessons on Life and Leadership from the Bible’s Worst Rulers (Brazos Press).
CHAPTERS
00:00 When spiritual authority becomes control
00:39 Introducing Joshua W. Jipp
02:19 Why study the Bible’s worst rulers?
07:04 Leadership and power throughout the Bible
09:55 Did God want Israel to have a king?
13:32 Sponsors
15:53 The temptation facing well-meaning leaders
17:47 Using God to advance a leader’s agenda
18:59 Why success and charisma aren’t enough
23:16 Does the Bible prescribe a church leadership structure?
28:29 How can a servant leader exercise authority?
34:58 Subtle warning signs of controlling leadership
37:57 When disagreeing with a leader means disagreeing with God
39:46 Can other leaders genuinely push back?
40:59 How fear becomes a tool of control
42:18 Submitting to bad rulers: Romans 13 and Revelation 13
47:30 When should you push back on church leadership?
51:13 The faithful pastors who don’t make headlines
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What Are Christians Getting Wrong About Islam? Dr. Daniel Bannoura
Are Christians being fair in how we understand Islam? Palestinian Christian scholar Dr. Daniel Bannoura joins Preston Sprinkle to explore Islam and Christianity, religious violence, what the Quran says about …
Show notes
Are Christians being fair in how we understand Islam? Palestinian Christian scholar Dr. Daniel Bannoura joins Preston Sprinkle to explore Islam and Christianity, religious violence, what the Quran says about Jesus, and the treatment of women.
In the fourth and final episode of our Understanding Islam series, Daniel helps me process my conversations with Javad Hashmi, Gabriel Said Reynolds, and Fariza Gulomikova, including some of the pushback the series received.
Daniel grew up in the West Bank and earned his PhD in Islamic Studies at Notre Dame, focusing on the biblical subtext of the Qur’an. We discuss the relationship between the Quran and Hadith, Islamic teachings about Jesus and the Trinity, and Daniel’s interpretation of the Quran’s passage on the crucifixion.
We also wrestle with Christianity’s own history of justifying violence and how politics, culture, and education shape Muslim communities. And I press Daniel on whether Christianity and Islam offer distinct visions for the treatment of women.
It’s a challenging conversation about real theological differences, our own assumptions, and what it means to love our Muslim neighbors faithfully.
Watch or listen to Extra Innings at https://patreon.com/theologyintheraw, where Daniel and I tackle your questions: Is Islam animated by dark spiritual forces? Is it a Christian heresy or a separate religion? What can Christians learn from Muslims? And how should we respond to fears about Sharia law in America?
CHAPTERS
00:00 A Palestinian Christian’s experience of violence
00:31 Understanding Islam: The series finale
02:22 Meet Dr. Daniel Bannoura
05:13 Learning to love Muslim neighbors
08:31 Reflecting on the Islam series
12:31 Was Javad Hashmi representative of Islam?
18:22 The Quran, Hadith, and Islamic scholarship
24:22 What does Islam teach about Jesus?
28:27 The Quran and the Trinity
30:08 Does the Quran deny Jesus’ crucifixion?
35:43 How religious traditions develop
38:14 Why focus on violence and women?
40:27 Comparing Christian and Muslim violence
44:30 Muslim diversity beyond the stereotypes
45:43 Colonialism, politics, and religious extremism
48:37 Women, culture, and education
52:08 Do Christianity and Islam treat women differently?
55:00 Jesus’ countercultural treatment of women
59:41 Your questions answered in Extra Innings
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John Mark Comer: What Constant Noise Is Doing to Your Soul
Watch our Extra Innings conversation on Patreon, where John Mark Comer shares his evolving views on women in church leadership and the questions he’s still wrestling with …
Show notes
Watch our Extra Innings conversation on Patreon, where John Mark Comer shares his evolving views on women in church leadership and the questions he’s still wrestling with: https://www.patreon.com/theologyintheraw
What is constant noise doing to our souls? And why can being alone with God feel so uncomfortable?
John Mark Comer joins Preston to discuss his latest book, Into the Quiet: Following Jesus in a World of Noise. We explore how noise affects our capacity to love God and others, what surfaced during John Mark’s 21-day solitude retreat, and why silence often brings us face-to-face with the pain we’ve been avoiding.
John Mark also shares why quiet doesn’t come naturally to him, how to practice solitude within the demands of everyday life, the difference between solitude and loneliness, and the surprising structure of the small church he helps pastor.
John Mark Comer is the New York Times bestselling author of eight books, including Practicing the Way, which was named the 2025 Christian Book of the Year by the ECPA, and The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, which has sold more than a million copies and been translated into over 20 languages. His latest book is Into the Quiet: Following Jesus in a World of Noise, which forms the basis of our conversation. John Mark is a pastor and the founder of Practicing the Way, an organization working to see the renewal of apprenticeship to Jesus in our time.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Why solitude is so hard
00:49 Introducing John Mark Comer
03:57 Running, ministry, and friendship
07:24 Why your body matters for spiritual formation
10:27 Writing theology that people can understand
12:53 Noise is a threat to our souls
13:48 Sponsors
15:45 How noise affects our bodies and relationships
21:47 John Mark’s 21-day solitude retreat
24:32 What we learn when distractions are stripped away
27:36 Jesus’ rhythm of retreat and return
30:49 Becoming a person of quiet in an anxious world
34:45 Solitude for busy people and extroverts
38:39 Finding quiet within the life you actually have
42:08 The difference between solitude and loneliness
44:56 Inside John Mark’s small church community
47:51 Extra Innings: Women in church leadership
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Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: Peter Beinart
Watch our Extra Innings conversation by joining the Theology in the Raw Patreon community: https://patreon.com/theologyintherawWhat happens when the story you grew up believing meets the people whose voices …
Show notes
Watch our Extra Innings conversation by joining the Theology in the Raw Patreon community: https://patreon.com/theologyintheraw
What happens when the story you grew up believing meets the people whose voices were missing from it?
Peter Beinart joins Preston to discuss how spending time with Palestinians challenged his understanding of Israel, Jewish identity, and the relationship between safety and freedom. They explore his experience of October 7, the history of Palestinian displacement, his comparison with apartheid South Africa, and why he believes the conflict is bigger than Hamas. Peter also reflects on the personal cost of challenging his community’s assumptions and why he argues that nationalism can become a form of idolatry.
Peter is Professor of Journalism and Political Science at the Newmark School of Journalism at the City University of New York, a contributing opinion writer at The New York Times, Editor-at-Large of Jewish Currents, an MS NOW political commentator, and a Non-Resident Fellow at the Foundation for Middle East Peace. He writes the Beinart Notebook newsletter on Substack. His latest book, Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning, is a New York Times bestseller and winner of the PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award for Nonfiction.
Chapters
- 00:00 Introduction
- 08:00 Peter’s experience of October 7
- 10:35 Rethinking Israel after meeting Palestinians
- 13:52 The history Peter grew up believing
- 18:44 Understanding 1948: Independence and the Nakba
- 23:43 Grieving October 7 and opposing Israel’s response
- 26:40 Why this conflict is bigger than Hamas
- 32:01 Lessons from apartheid South Africa
- 35:05 Why Peter calls Israel’s system apartheid
- 40:59 America’s role and support for Israel
- 45:19 The personal cost of speaking out
- 48:19 Judaism, Zionism, and nationalism as idolatry
- 52:47 Is there hope for equality and freedom?
- 56:29 Extra Innings: American evangelicals and Israel
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Immigration, Crime, and Deportation: What Should Christians Believe?
What happens when immigrants who came to the U.S. legally lose their status and face deportation? And what happens to their American-born children when the country their parents could be sent to is considered …
Show notes
What happens when immigrants who came to the U.S. legally lose their status and face deportation? And what happens to their American-born children when the country their parents could be sent to is considered too dangerous to visit?
Matthew Soerens joins Preston to unpack some of the biggest questions and misconceptions surrounding immigration. Why don’t immigrants just come legally? Do undocumented immigrants take American jobs? What does the evidence say about immigration and violent crime? And how should Christians weigh respect for the law alongside the biblical commands to love our neighbors and welcome strangers?
Matthew Soerens is World Relief’s vice president of advocacy and policy and is the co-author of three books: Welcoming the Stranger (InterVarsity Press, 2018), Inalienable (InterVarsity Press, 2022), and Seeking Refuge (Moody Publishers, 2026), which just released a second edition. Matt also serves as the National Coordinator for the Evangelical Immigration Table, a coalition that advocates for immigration reforms consistent with biblical values.
Chapters:
0:00 Haitian families and the danger of separation
0:44 How should Christians think about immigration?
5:15 Starting with Scripture, not party talking points
10:34 Romans 13 and changing legal status
12:38 What’s happening to Haitian families in Springfield?
18:51 Why was temporary protected status withdrawn?
21:25 What can churches do for affected families?
23:58 Can people with temporary status apply to stay?
26:42 Why don’t immigrants just come legally?
35:54 Do immigrants take American jobs?
41:46 What about undocumented immigrants and the economy?
48:36 A proposed path to make things right
51:00 Do immigrants commit more violent crime?
55:25 What would mass deportation mean for the church?
58:26 What do evangelical Christians actually believe?
1:00:54 Seeking Refuge and the global refugee crisis
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The Book of Revelation: A Deep Dive with Dr. David deSilva
Join the Theology in the Raw Patreon Community to Watch our Extra Innings! https://www.patreon.com/theologyintherawIs the Book of Revelation a roadmap to the future, or was it meant to help Christians see their …
Show notes
Join the Theology in the Raw Patreon Community to Watch our Extra Innings! https://www.patreon.com/theologyintheraw
Is the Book of Revelation a roadmap to the future, or was it meant to help Christians see their own world more clearly?
New Testament scholar David deSilva joins Preston to walk through Revelation from the seven churches to the New Jerusalem. They discuss why John wrote to real communities living under the Roman Empire, what the throne room reveals about Jesus’ authority, and how the seals, trumpets, and bowls speak to suffering, judgment, and faithful witness.
They also explore Revelation’s critique of empire and political allegiance. What did “Babylon” mean to John’s first readers? What does it mean to “come out of Babylon” today? And which parts of Revelation should Christians understand as future hope?
Dr. David deSilva is an ordained elder in the Florida Conference of the GMC and has served as Professor of New Testament and Greek at Ashland Theological Seminary since 1995. He is the author of forty books, including Seeing Things John's Way and his recently released Archaeology and the Revelation of John.
Chapters
0:00 Introduction
5:12 Who Was Revelation Written For?
10:21 Who Was John?
12:11 Jesus and the Seven Churches
16:19 Prophecy and John’s Authority
20:40 The Real Cities Behind the Seven Churches
26:49 Revelation, Empire, and Political Allegiance
35:19 Speaking Prophetically to Our Own Political Side
40:25 The Throne Room: Who Is Really in Charge?
46:21 What Does the Scroll Represent?
49:05 The Seals, Trumpets, and Bowls
55:17 Is Reading Revelation as Prediction Overrated?
58:34 How Should We Read Revelation Today?
1:02:44 Babylon and the Roman Empire
1:10:14 What Does “Come Out of Babylon” Mean?
1:13:23 The New Jerusalem and Revelation’s Future Hope
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She Left Islam for Jesus: Fariza Gulomikova
Join the Patreon Community: https://www.patreon.com/theologyintherawFariza Gulomikova grew up in a Shia Ismaili family in Tajikistan. As a child, she saw how much a person could lose by leaving Islam. Then her …
Show notes
Join the Patreon Community: https://www.patreon.com/theologyintheraw
Fariza Gulomikova grew up in a Shia Ismaili family in Tajikistan. As a child, she saw how much a person could lose by leaving Islam. Then her cousin became a Christian, and the kindness she encountered at his church challenged everything she thought she knew about Christians.
In part three of our Understanding Islam series, Fariza tells Preston about her childhood, her encounter with Jesus at age 11, her family’s response to her conversion, and the challenges of starting over in the United States. She also shares what she wishes Christians understood about their Muslim neighbors.
Chapters
0:00 Fariza’s decision to become a Christian
0:32 Introduction to part three of Understanding Islam
2:23 Growing up in Tajikistan during a civil war
5:31 Sunni, Shia, and Fariza’s Ismaili background
12:22 Growing up as a girl in a Muslim majority country
17:47 The pressures and dangers Fariza saw women face
26:41 Fariza’s people, language, and culture
29:10 Her childhood view of Christianity
31:34 The cousin who changed her view of Christians
33:32 The kindness that drew her toward Jesus
34:30 Fariza’s encounter with Jesus at age 11
36:45 What she was taught about Jesus in Islam
38:44 Fariza’s advice for Christians talking with Muslims
43:39 How her family responded to her conversion
47:33 Starting over in America
52:28 Islam, terrorism, and stereotypes
55:28 Searching for belonging in Christian communities
58:41 Fariza’s final word to Christians
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Comparing the Quran to the Bible: Dr. Gabriel Said Reynolds
Join the Theology in the Raw community to hear Preston’s Extra Innings response to this conversation.How does the Qur’an compare to the Bible? Do Muslims read it the way evangelical Christians read the Bible? …
Show notes
Join the Theology in the Raw community to hear Preston’s Extra Innings response to this conversation.
How does the Qur’an compare to the Bible? Do Muslims read it the way evangelical Christians read the Bible? And if the Qur’an is Islam’s sacred text, why are the Hadith so important for understanding what Muslims believe and how they live?
In part two of our series on Islam, Preston sits down with Dr. Gabriel Said Reynolds, a Catholic Qur’an scholar and the Crowley Professor of Islamic Studies and Theology at the University of Notre Dame. He earned his Ph.D. from Yale University and is the author of The Qur’an and Its Biblical Subtext, The Qur’an and the Bible, and Christianity and the Qur’an.
Together, they explore how Muslims understand the Qur’an, where it came from, how it took shape, and how its form and use compare with the Bible. They also discuss Muhammad’s relationship to the Qur’an, the early Islamic conquests, passages concerning violence and women, and why reading the Qur’an by itself does not necessarily tell you how Muslims will interpret or apply it.
Gabriel’s books explore how the Qur’an engages earlier scriptures and what that relationship can tell us about the emergence of Islam. His latest book, Christianity and the Qur’an, was published by Yale University Press in 2025.
You can find more of Gabriel’s work on his YouTube channel, Exploring the Qur’an and the Bible.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Why reading the Quran alone isn’t enough
00:42 Introducing Dr. Gabriel Said Reynolds
02:15 How Gabriel began studying Islam
05:31 What is the Quran?
09:03 Where did the Quran come from?
12:24 Did Muhammad write the Quran?
14:13 How does the Quran compare to the Bible and Psalms?
19:13 The biggest differences between the Quran and the Bible
21:42 Violence and the early Islamic conquests
27:10 How early Muslims treated Christians and other conquered peoples
32:29 Does the Quran command violence?
39:32 How Muslims interpret difficult Quranic passages
43:28 Is Islam inherently violent?
47:25 What does the Quran say about women?
49:58 Polygamy and the disputed passage about striking wives
52:29 Modesty, honor, and women in Muslim societies
59:07 What are the Hadith, and why do they matter?
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The Quran, Sharia, Violence, and Women. Understanding Islam, Part 1
Join the Theology in the Raw community to listen to my "Extra Innings" response to my conversation with Javad.What do Christians misunderstand about Islam? Is it inherently violent? Was it spread by the sword? …
Show notes
Join the Theology in the Raw community to listen to my "Extra Innings" response to my conversation with Javad.
What do Christians misunderstand about Islam? Is it inherently violent? Was it spread by the sword? What do Muslims believe about Christians, Sharia, women, the Quran, and the Hadith?
In the first episode of our three-part series on Islam, Preston sits down with Dr. Javad Hashmi, a Muslim scholar and PhD candidate in Islamic Studies at Harvard University.
The conversation explores the origins of Islam, what historians can know about Muhammad, the development of the Quran and Hadith, Sunni and Shia Islam, Sharia, early Muslim-Christian relations, Islamic empires, religious violence, ISIS and al-Qaeda, the treatment of women, and how Muslims view Christians and Americans.
This conversation is not intended to settle every question or present one definitive account of Islam. It is an attempt to listen carefully, understand Islam’s internal diversity, and ask difficult questions without reducing an entire religious tradition to slogans or stereotypes.
This is Part 1 of our series, Understanding Islam.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Does the Quran Promote Violence?
00:43 What Is Islam, Really?
05:21 Introducing Dr. Javad Hashmi
06:32 How to Understand Any Religion
12:41 Muhammad and the Origins of Islam
23:40 Early Muslim-Christian Relations
29:16 Was Islam Spread by the Sword?
42:30 Sunni, Shia, and Sufi Islam
49:50 Core Beliefs and Sharia
55:46 The Quran Versus the Hadith
1:04:36 Islam, Violence, and Terrorism
1:15:41 Islam and Women
1:27:03 How Muslims View Christians and Americans
1:32:22 Closing
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Venus, Purity Culture, and the Ideal Christian Woman | Dr. Elissa Yukiko Weichbrodt
Who decided what a “good woman” should look like?Long before social media, paintings, sculptures, religious images, and other forms of visual culture were shaping our expectations of women. Those images did not …
Show notes
Who decided what a “good woman” should look like?
Long before social media, paintings, sculptures, religious images, and other forms of visual culture were shaping our expectations of women. Those images did not merely reflect society. They helped define beauty, sexuality, motherhood, virtue, and even what Christians imagined a godly woman should be.
Dr. Elissa Yukiko Weichbrodt is an art historian (Ph.D. from Washington University) and is a professor of art and art history at Covenant College. She’s also the author of two books: the award-winning Redeeming Vision: A Christian Guide to Looking at and Learning from Art (Baker Academic 2023) and her recent book Look Like a Lady: Five Visual Tropes of Womanhood and How to See Ourselves Differently (Brazos 2026), which forms the basis of our conversation today.
Chapters:
00:00 The Desire to Be Desirable
00:41 What Is a Woman?
03:39 Meet Elissa Yukiko Weichbrodt
06:16 How Art Shapes Christian Theology
09:58 Why Medieval Jesus Looks Like a Little Man
14:22 Five Images of Womanhood
15:20 The Venus Trope and Sexual Desirability
18:10 Why Women Learn to See Themselves as Objects
23:21 Purity Culture and the Objectification of Women
28:37 Mary, Elizabeth, and a Better Way of Seeing
33:35 The Myth of the Perfect Mother
38:02 How the Reformation Changed Womanhood
43:44 Are Women Competing for God’s Love?
46:27 Infertility, Motherhood, and Female Identity
49:30 “Is Something Wrong With Me?”
52:24 Do Fathers Get More of a Free Pass?
54:45 How Women Become “Monsters”
59:47 Does the Church Still Vilify Women?
63:45 Shaped by Trauma, Not Defined by It
65:36 A Bigger Vision of Christian Womanhood
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Are We Making Our Kids More Anxious? Dr. Chinwé Williams
Are parents accidentally making their kids more anxious by protecting them from discomfort?Dr. Chinwé Williams joins Preston to explain why anxiety, depression, loneliness, and social avoidance have risen among …
Show notes
Are parents accidentally making their kids more anxious by protecting them from discomfort?
Dr. Chinwé Williams joins Preston to explain why anxiety, depression, loneliness, and social avoidance have risen among young people. They discuss the role of smartphones and social media, the disappearance of real-world community, constant exposure to frightening news, trauma, pornography, and the pressure many kids feel to avoid failure.
Dr. Chinwé Williams is a Licensed and Board-Certified therapist with expertise spanning a variety of domains, including youth and family mental health, parenting & and trauma recovery. Chinwé has served in academic, corporate, school, and faith-based work settings. She’s also the co-author of the best-selling book Seen: Healing Despair and Anxiety in Kids and Teens Through the Power of Connection and her latest book is: Calm, Courageous, and Connected: A Parent's Guide to Raising Emotionally Resilient Kids
Chapters:
0:00 Avoidance Is Feeding Kids’ Anxiety
2:20 Is the Youth Mental Health Crisis Real?
5:30 What Is Causing the Mental Health Crisis?
8:08 What Social Media Is Taking Away From Kids
9:32 Why Kids Need “Third Spaces”
12:41 Are Kids Becoming Afraid to Take Risks?
16:54 Why Teens Struggle With Social Anxiety
20:04 How Avoidance Makes Anxiety Worse
21:15 Building Grit and Emotional Resilience
23:58 How Parents Accidentally Reinforce Anxiety
26:22 How Parents’ Childhood Wounds Shape Their Parenting
29:57 Fear, Bad News, and the “Milk Carton Generation”
35:10 Trauma, Sexual Abuse, and Pornography
43:30 How Parents Can Help Anxious Kids
44:04 Co-Regulation and Connection Before Correction
48:30 Teaching Kids Cognitive Flexibility
51:12 The “Grace Check”
52:42 Healthy Smartphone and Social Media Boundaries
55:41 Who Could Your Teen Call at 2 A.M.?
56:29 Calm, Courageous, and Connected
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Bonus Preview: Patreon Q & A
Hey friends, Check out the top voted questions from my September Q & A! For the full episode, join the Theology in the Raw Patreon Community at https://www.patreon.com/theologyintheraw Here's the full list of …
Show notes
Hey friends,
Check out the top voted questions from my September Q & A! For the full episode, join the Theology in the Raw Patreon Community at https://www.patreon.com/theologyintheraw
Here's the full list of Questions:
- 00:59 Isn’t it unfair to consider gay-affirming Christians “outside the fold” when pro-war Christians have an equally unbiblical view, but are not treated as such?
- 09:15 Prophecy of male birth aside, could Jesus have been female and still died for the sins of the world?
- 13:21 Assuming a view of Jesus with literal brothers, sons of Mary, why do you think Jesus at the cross entrusted the care of Mary to John and not to his literal brothers?
- 15:45 My mother-in-law is a hospice nurse and had a patient request that she be present at their medically assisted suicide. My mother-in-law would not administer anything, but should she go?
- 17:40 Are David and Jonathan and Ruth and Naomi good biblical kinship examples of modern same-sex celibate partnerships?
- 20:11 I really appreciated your two discussions of biblical masculinity. Any further thoughts or takeaways after you’ve had some time to mull over the conversations?
- 24:11 How is it that believers, all with the Spirit guiding them, come to such opposing conclusions? How can we be confident we know what God is actually saying or leading us to?
- 27:03 After a decade at a fast-growing church, should I be concerned that I don’t feel rooted or have a role, while later arrivals become deacons and become known by the leaders?
- 28:11 Do Job’s speeches function as valid lament for Christians, or are they out of bounds? Some of his statements are pretty intense.
- 31:09 Would you ever consider having a Christian polygamist on your show? I’ve seen a lot more recently. I strongly disagree, but would love a real back-and-forth.
- 33:27 How would you explain the doctrine of the Trinity to a nonbeliever or a child? How does it make sense that the Son doesn’t know the day or time of the end?
- 37:33 Is communion in the Bible always done with the group eating from a common loaf and drinking from a common cup? If so, should that be the standard practice today?
- 42:18 Is Satan God’s enemy or just ours? If we fail a test, is it Satan’s fault or the proctor’s fault? Was Satan upset when Jesus and Job passed the test? Is the Satan of Job and Matthew 4 the same as Revelation?
- 44:22 In thinking about friendship as an intimate relationship, what is the place of physical affection? What is cultural versus biblical, especially for men? How do we get there?
- 47:32 What do you think of Greg Boyd’s cruciform hermeneutic of Old Testament violence described in The Crucifixion of the Warrior God?
- 50:35 My son asks what we know about angels and archangels from the Old Testament versus pop culture. What do Judaism and Christianity say about ranks, personhood, and the reason for their creation?
- 53:59 Does a Genesis-first hermeneutic in Matthew 19 imply Christians should be vegetarian as New Eden people, like Adam and Eve? Also, Isaiah 11.
- 58:37 Do Jews and Christians worship the same God, or does the incarnation fundamentally change who God is? I still feel unclear.
- 1:00:40 In 1 Timothy 3:2, one of the qualifications for an elder is “able to teach,” which doesn’t appear for deacons or women. Is this a good argument against women teaching?
- 1:04:19 What’s the likelihood that Paul was married and subsequently widowed or divorced? I’ve heard that to be a Pharisee, he would have had to be married. Is this true?
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When Christian Unity Becomes Forced Agreement, with Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez
What if Christian unity doesn’t mean agreeing about everything?Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez joins Preston to discuss the difference between genuine Christian unity and the false peace created by forced …
Show notes
What if Christian unity doesn’t mean agreeing about everything?
Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez joins Preston to discuss the difference between genuine Christian unity and the false peace created by forced agreement. Drawing from her new book, False Peace, Pricelis explains why sameness can silence people, erase meaningful differences, and prevent churches from addressing conflict honestly.
They discuss political and theological disagreement within the church, pastoring a diverse congregation in the Bronx, creating a church culture that welcomes criticism, and deciding which doctrines Christians should divide over.
In the Patreon-exclusive Extra Innings segment, Preston and Pricelis continue the conversation by discussing women in church leadership, Pricelis’s journey toward becoming an ordained pastor, and how she maintains meaningful relationships with Christians who strongly disagree with her.
Join the Theology in the Raw Patreon community to listen to Extra Innings: https://www.patreon.com/theologyintheraw
Learn more about Pricelis and her book, False Peace: How to Reject the Lie of Sameness, Embrace Difference, and Embody True Unity: https://www.pricelispd.com/my-books
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Does the Church Get Modesty Wrong? Dr. Sandra Richter & Noël Tsoukalas
What does the Bible really mean by modesty, and why have Christian conversations about clothing so often produced shame, especially for women and teenage girls?Dr. Sandra Richter is a renown biblical scholar …
Show notes
What does the Bible really mean by modesty, and why have Christian conversations about clothing so often produced shame, especially for women and teenage girls?
Dr. Sandra Richter is a renown biblical scholar, author, and professor of Old Testament at Westmont College. The 2nd edition of her killer book, The Epic of Eden, releases in November 2026. Sandy is also a faithful mom, and one of her daughters, Noël Tsoukalas, joins us in this conversation about modesty. Noël is a Pop singer-songwriter and worship leader. She made a name for herself on Season 21 of American Idol, where she received a golden ticket and three “yeses” from celebrity judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan. Check out her music on Spotify!
00:00:00 “Your Outfit Is Causing My Husband to Stumble”
00:06:55 Sandy & Noel on Modesty and Purity Culture
00:12:50 How the Church Has Mishandled Modesty
00:18:10 Sandy’s Experience with Christian Dress Codes
00:21:26 When Modesty Culture Makes Girls’ Bodies “Public Property”
00:27:21 The Billy Graham Rule and Women in Church Leadership
00:32:21 What Does Biblical Modesty Actually Look Like?
00:36:18 Body Shaming and Modesty in the Church
00:38:26 Teaching Girls to Set Boundaries with Church Leaders
00:42:51 Should Churches Have Dress Codes?
00:51:26 Body Types and the Subjectivity of Modesty
00:53:36 What Does Modesty Look Like for Men?
00:56:28 Biblical Modesty Is About More Than Sexuality
00:59:12 Double Standards for Men and Women at Christian Camps
01:01:41 How Should Christian Camps Handle Swimsuit Dress Codes?
01:06:15 Does Modesty Culture Discourage Women from Ministry?
01:08:30 Social Media, Body Image, and Female Musicians
01:11:30 Healing from Shame Around Modesty and Purity Culture
01:14:05 Who Should Talk to Women About Their Clothing?
01:15:20 Forrest Frank and Cory Asbury make the internet stumble
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When Church Hurts: Spiritual Trauma and Rebuilding Your Faith: Colleen Ramser
Colleen Ramser is an EMDR-certified licensed professional counselor (LPC) who specializes in trauma, particularly the effects of spiritual abuse, domestic abuse, and complex trauma. She’s a survivor of …
Show notes
Colleen Ramser is an EMDR-certified licensed professional counselor (LPC) who specializes in trauma, particularly the effects of spiritual abuse, domestic abuse, and complex trauma. She’s a survivor of spiritual trauma, which she talks about in the show, and she’s the author of the book The Shattered Soul: Restoring Wholeness and Rebuilding Your Faith After Spiritual Trauma, which addresses a lot of the things we discuss in this fasciainating conversation.
00:00 Why Spiritual Trauma Can Make Faith Feel Impossible
00:30 Introduction
02:52 What Qualifies as Trauma?
05:49 Trauma vs. PTSD
07:46 Resilience, Support, and Post-Traumatic Growth
17:06 What Is Spiritual Trauma?
21:00 Colleen’s Experience with Spiritual Abuse
31:18 Signs and Symptoms of Spiritual Trauma
32:48 How Spiritual Trauma Affects Pastors and Church Leaders
39:14 Recognizing and Treating Spiritual Trauma
41:20 Healing Trauma and Rebuilding Your Faith
46:06 Complex Spiritual Trauma vs. Theological Disagreement
49:46 Is the Term “Spiritual Abuse” Overused?
57:30 Are Churches Getting Better at Addressing Abuse?
63:24 Jesus, Power, and the Fruit of the Spirit
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Faithful and Courageous Women in the Bible: Dr. Sandra Glahn
To listen to or watch our extra innings conversation, become a member of the Theology in the Raw community at https://www.patreon.com/theologyintheraw.Dr Sandra Glahn has spend more than a quarter of a century …
Show notes
To listen to or watch our extra innings conversation, become a member of the Theology in the Raw community at https://www.patreon.com/theologyintheraw.
Dr Sandra Glahn has spend more than a quarter of a century working as a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary. She's the cofounder of the Visual Museum of Women in Christianity and the author of more than 25 books--her latest being A Woman's Place Is in the Story. In this episode, we discuss several women in the Old Testament and how the biblical narrator frames their stories. In our "extra innings" conversation, we discuss the question: "What do Egalitarians and Complementarians get wrong about the women in leadership debate."
00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:56 How Biblical Narrators Shape the Story
00:04:39 Word Repetition in the Bible: Why It Matters
00:05:29 Tamar in Genesis 38: Hero or Villain?
00:11:32 Are All Women in the Bible Meant to Be Role Models?
00:12:08 Judah and Tamar: A Biblical Character Transformation
00:16:44 Shiphrah and Puah: The Midwives Who Defied Pharaoh
00:21:05 Why Every Christian Should Know Shiphrah and Puah
00:22:17 Did Moses Challenge Patriarchy in the Old Testament?
00:29:57 Abigail in 1 Samuel: Wisdom, Courage, and Leadership
00:36:34 Was Ancient Israel Really a Patriarchy?
00:39:51 Elisha and the Shunammite Woman: A Surprising Biblical Story
00:43:17 Job's Daughters and Women's Inheritance Rights
00:48:15 Why Reading the Full Biblical Story Changes Everything
00:50:10 Jezebel: Justice, Power, and the Biblical Narrative
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Engaging the Race Conversation and Lessons from Elijah for our Chaotic World: Max Lucado
Max Lucado is a pastor with decades of ministry experience and one of the most bestselling Christian authors of all time, who’s written more than 40 books that have sold around 150 million copies and have been …
Show notes
Max Lucado is a pastor with decades of ministry experience and one of the most bestselling Christian authors of all time, who’s written more than 40 books that have sold around 150 million copies and have been translated in 56 languages. His latest book is Unbreakable Courage: Strong Faith in an Age of Anxiety, Chaos, and Exhaustion.
Chapters
00:07:42 Revisiting 2020: Covid and BLM
00:13:30 The Backlash to Max “Going Woke”
00:16:41 Responding to Generational Pain with Compassion
00:20:55 Tips for Good Writing
00:25:56 The Impact of AI on Writing
00:27:58 AI, Plagiarism and Christian Integrity
00:35:21 Is the World Really Getting Worse?
00:40:11 Over Exposure to Negative Information in the World
00:43:54 What Elijah Can Teach us about navigating the chaos of our world
00:49:01 How God Can Meet us in Our Isolation
00:51:19 Battling with Sinful Thoughts
00:54:09 Was Ahab Elijah’s Enemy?
00:55:07 Elijah Was Human: Hope for Ordinary Christians
00:56:54 Does Prayer Accomplish Anything?
01:00:31 Does Prayer Really Change Anything?
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Engaging the Race Conversation and Lessons from Elijah for our Chaotic World: Max Lucado
Max Lucado is a pastor with decades of ministry experience and one of the most bestselling Christian authors of all time, who’s written more than 40 books that have sold around 150 million copies and have been …
Show notes
Max Lucado is a pastor with decades of ministry experience and one of the most bestselling Christian authors of all time, who’s written more than 40 books that have sold around 150 million copies and have been translated in 56 languages. His latest book is Unbreakable Courage: Strong Faith in an Age of Anxiety, Chaos, and Exhaustion.
Chapters
00:07:42 Revisiting 2020: Covid and BLM
00:13:30 The Backlash to Max “Going Woke”
00:16:41 Responding to Generational Pain with Compassion
00:20:55 Tips for Good Writing
00:25:56 The Impact of AI on Writing
00:27:58 AI, Plagiarism and Christian Integrity
00:35:21 Is the World Really Getting Worse?
00:40:11 Over Exposure to Negative Information in the World
00:43:54 What Elijah Can Teach us about navigating the chaos of our world
00:49:01 How God Can Meet us in Our Isolation
00:51:19 Battling with Sinful Thoughts
00:54:09 Was Ahab Elijah’s Enemy?
00:55:07 Elijah Was Human: Hope for Ordinary Christians
00:56:54 Does Prayer Accomplish Anything?
01:00:31 Does Prayer Really Change Anything?
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Is the Old Testament Law Filled with Punishment, Legalism, and Arbitrary Rules? Dr. Dru Johnson
Be sure to check out our “Extra Innings” conversation where we discuss what the Old Testament actually says about sex outside of marriage. Surprisingly, there’s no explicit verse in the OT that forbids it. To …
Show notes
Be sure to check out our “Extra Innings” conversation where we discuss what the Old Testament actually says about sex outside of marriage. Surprisingly, there’s no explicit verse in the OT that forbids it. To listen to the full conversation, become a member of the TITR community at https://www.patreon.com/theologyintheraw
Dr. Dru Johnson (PhD, University of St. Andrews) is Templeton Senior Research Fellow and director of the Abrahamic Theistic Origins Project at Wycliffe Hall, University of Oxford. He is also a visiting professor of religion at Hope College, director of the Center for Hebraic Thought, editor of the Routledge Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Biblical Criticism series, host of The Biblical Mind podcast, and cohost of the OnScript podcast. And, he’s written a bunch of awesome books including his recent book Understanding Biblical Law: Skills for Thinking With and Through Torah, which forms the basis of our fascinating conversation.
- 00:00:00 Introduction
- 00:01:36 What Is the Old Testament Law?
- 00:04:00 Does "the Law" Mean the Ten Commandments or the Entire Old Testament?
- 00:06:24 The Law Is More Than Rules: Understanding Biblical Law
- 00:08:52 Does "Eye for an Eye" Mean Literal Retribution?
- 00:14:28 Reading Old Testament Laws as Principles, Not Just Rules
- 00:18:07 "You Shall Not Murder" vs. "You Shall Not Kill"
- 00:22:49 How to Learn Ethics from Bible Stories
- 00:24:53 Does the Bible Endorse Polygamy?
- 00:25:58 Why the Laws of Moses Are Different from Other Ancient Laws
- 00:28:11 Moses, David, and Other Morally Complex Bible Stories
- 00:33:44 Are Women Portrayed Better Than Men in the Bible?
- 00:38:13 How to Apply Biblical Narratives Today
- 00:41:25 Biblical Discernment vs. Looking for Easy Answers
- 00:45:21 How Should Christians Read Difficult Old Testament Laws?
- 00:51:13 Why Were Old Testament Punishments So Severe?
- 00:57:17 Restorative Justice in Ancient Israel: Why Were There No Prisons?
- 01:00:31 The Sons of Korah and Other Difficult Old Testament Judgments
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How Attachment Theory Helps Us Understand Ourselves: Dr. Alison Cook
To listen to our extra innings conversation, head over to patreon.com/theologyintheraw and become a member of the TITR community and get access to all of my extra innings conversations and a bunch bonus …
Show notes
To listen to our extra innings conversation, head over to patreon.com/theologyintheraw and become a member of the TITR community and get access to all of my extra innings conversations and a bunch bonus content
Dr. Alison Cook is a therapist, psychologist of religion, bestselling author, and host of the top-ranked The Best of You podcast. She holds degrees from Dartmouth College (BA), Denver Seminary (MA), and the University of Denver (PhD). Alison has spent over two decades helping people move from feeling disconnected to feeling secure, grounded, and loved. She’s the author of four books including her most recent book: The Secure Soul: Finding Inner Strength and Connection When Trust Doesn’t Come Easy, which forms the foundation of our conversation. https://www.amazon.com/dp/1400352606?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback
Time Stamps
00:00 Introduction
02:06 Splitting time between Wyoming and Boston
07:35 Attachment Theory Explained
10:35 How Childhood Trauma Shapes Adult Relationships
18:01 What About People That Didn’t Experience Trauma?
22:47 Does everyone have some kind of attachment issue?
23:59 Why the Church Often Misunderstands Self-Care
24:37 The Problem with Secular Self-Care Culture
25:22 Avoidant Attachment: First Steps
30:09 Preston Gets Live Therapy
34:00 Thinkers vs. Feelers
39:04 Core Memories and Emotional Healing
46:43 Getting to Know our own Souls
48:06 Can Christians Trust Psychology?
50:29 How Your Parents Shape Your View of God
53:41 Common Unaddressed Issues: Shame or Blame
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Christian Zionism, Gaza, and the Cost of Silence: Dr. Daniel Bannoura
Dr. Daniel Bannoura (Ph.D. Notre Dame University) is a Palestinian theologian and Director of Public Engagement at the Bethlehem Institute for Peace & Justice. Daniel received his PhD degree in Qur'anic Studies …
Show notes
Dr. Daniel Bannoura (Ph.D. Notre Dame University) is a Palestinian theologian and Director of Public Engagement at the Bethlehem Institute for Peace & Justice. Daniel received his PhD degree in Qur'anic Studies from the University of Notre Dame. His research focuses on the history and redaction of the Qur'an, Christian-Muslim relations, and Palestinian theology. Daniel also host of “Across the Divide”, a podcast that provides a space for thoughtful conversations about Palestine-Israel through the lens of faith and peace-making. Check out the Church at the Crossroads conference in Atlanta, Nov 5-7, 2026 and the Christ at the Checkpoint Conference in Bethlehem, Dec 27th-31st, 2026.
Time Stamps:
00:00:00 Intro
00:02:29 Why a Palestinian Christian Researches the Qur’an
00:05:04 Did Muhommed Actually Exist?
00:11:43 Christian assumptions about Muslims in Gaza
00:16:00 Double Standards for Gazan Christian Deaths
00:16:48 Why are People Still Dying during the Ceasefire?
00:18:53 The Debate Around Using the Term “Genocide”
00:23:49 The Shrinking Borders Around Gaza
00:25:24 UN Report on Children being Targeted in Gaza
00:27:36 Life Expectancy, Malnutrition, and the Hidden Death Toll
00:29:16 Why the World Knows but Hasn’t Stopped it
00:45:54 The Shifting Political Landscape
00:51:08 Upcoming Conferences in Bethlehem and Atlanta
00:56:34 What can the Church do?
01:04:38 An Appeal to Christian Leaders
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Dr. Zach Wagner: What Is Biblical Masculinity? Part 2
If you want to listen to our "Extra Innings" conversation about whether marriage is necessary for men to be truly masculine, head over to patreon.com/theologyintheraw and become a member of the Theology in the …
Show notes
If you want to listen to our "Extra Innings" conversation about whether marriage is necessary for men to be truly masculine, head over to patreon.com/theologyintheraw and become a member of the Theology in the Raw community.
Dr. Zachary Wagner (DPhil, Oxford) is an author, ordained minister, and New Testament scholar. He’s written two books that deal with masculinity, male sexuality, and virtue: Non-Toxic Masculinity: Recovering Healthy Male Sexuality and his most recent Men of Virtue: How the Fruit of the Spirit Forms Male Character in the Modern World. He is currently pursuing publication for his DPhil thesis, as well as a further writing and research projects on Christianity and Stoicism. Learn more about Zachary on his website.
Time Stamps:
00:00 Introduction to Part 2
01:59 Defining “Biblical” masculinity
03:37 What do people mean when the call their view “biblical”?
04:29 How much of the Bible is directed specifically to men?
07:22 Cultural Norms vs Universal Mandates around Gender
10:59 Biology: The impact of Testosterone
19:42 How Important are Gender Roles for Discipleship?
21:34 How Jesus “rewrites” Masculinity
25:19 Do husbands have a moral mandate to be the primary breadwinner?
29:03 Post Industrial careers and gender
38:02 Do men have a moral obligation to protect women?
49:29 Christian masculinity and non-violence
52:27 Does the Bible mandate Chivalry?
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