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A Rabbi and a Reverend walk into a podcast... and talk REAL about religion. We are Rabbi Eric Linder and Reverend Joel Tolbert. We became colleagues and friends in 2012 when we both found ourselves serving congregations near Athens, GA. We were founding members of an area Interfaith group that grew from seven to over sixty clergy. Today, we live in different states but come together here to discuss faith, God, religion, entertainment, and tech. We’ll dive into the social, cultural, political, and topical too. We have quick minds, sharp tongues, and good hearts, and we hope you enjoy being a part of these conversations!
Episodes
Wednesday Jul 24, 2024
Wednesday Jul 24, 2024
Season 5, Episode 14 - LIVE episode from Athentic Brewing
What are your hopes for the future of congregations given younger folks are skeptical and dismissive of religion? What do you think religion gets really wrong, consistently? How are we supposed to handle holy texts? What is Christian Nationalism?
References from today's show:
PCUSA Book of Order, see God Is Lord of the Conscience F-3.0101, and Corporate Judgment F-3.0102
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Send feedback, show ideas, comments, and suggestions to:
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How to follow Rabbi Eric
Twitter/X @geekyrabbi
Blog Geeky Rabbi | Theology, Technology and a bit of Music
Home - Congregation Children of Israel, Athens Georgia (ccisrael.org)
__________
How to follow Rev. Joel
Twitter/X - Sorry yall, I am no longer supporting or available on the platform formerly known as Twitter
Blog Cross Purposes | Blog of Rev. Joel Tolbert
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Music "Modulation in the Spirit" by Little Glass Men, Composer Ryan Claus (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Monday Jun 10, 2024
Monday Jun 10, 2024
Season 5, Episode 13 - Season Finale - Is American Christianity Still a Religion?
Israel and Judaism are more than a religion. We learned a few episodes ago, they are also identity markers, without the expectation of faith. Is Christianity in America still a religion, or is it falling into an identity marker also, without the expectation of beliefs or behaviors anymore? Are there non-Christians that practice Christianity better than some Christians?
References from today's show:
Spock "The needs of the many..."
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Send feedback, show ideas, comments, and suggestions to:
__________
How to follow Rabbi Eric
Twitter/X @geekyrabbi
Blog Geeky Rabbi | Theology, Technology and a bit of Music
Home - Congregation Children of Israel, Athens Georgia (ccisrael.org)
__________
How to follow Rev. Joel
Twitter/X - Sorry yall, I am no longer supporting or available on the platform formerly known as Twitter
Blog Cross Purposes | Blog of Rev. Joel Tolbert
__________
Music "Modulation in the Spirit" by Little Glass Men, Composer Ryan Claus (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Tuesday May 14, 2024
Tuesday May 14, 2024
Season 5, Episode 12 - Passover, Protests, and Post-Evangelicals
Here after Passover, what was it like for a Jewish community to celebrate in the shadows of the Israel/Hamas war? Why are American college campuses using camping, protests, and occasionally violence to resist violence? After Brett's visit last episode, how would we assist those who are stuck in arrogant faith traditions?
References from today's show:
The Curve of Confidence versus Wisdom, Dunning Kruger Effect
Rob Bell, Story, Podcast, "Something to Say" Seminar
Can We Talk About Israel by by Daniel Sokatch and Christopher Noxon
Tripp Fuller and Homebrewed Christianity
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Send feedback, show ideas, comments, and suggestions to:
__________
How to follow Rabbi Eric
Twitter/X @geekyrabbi
Blog Geeky Rabbi | Theology, Technology and a bit of Music
Home - Congregation Children of Israel, Athens Georgia (ccisrael.org)
__________
How to follow Rev. Joel
Twitter/X - Sorry yall, I am no longer supporting or available on the platform formerly known as Twitter
Blog Cross Purposes | Blog of Rev. Joel Tolbert
__________
Music "Modulation in the Spirit" by Little Glass Men, Composer Ryan Claus (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Saturday Apr 20, 2024
Saturday Apr 20, 2024
Season 5, Episode 11 - Special Guest: Brett Terpstra
Certain faith communities hurt their people in the name of God with their inconsistent theology and hypocritical beliefs. One way to get healthy is to deconvert and deconstruct your true self beyond the harms of your former religion and/or faith. Brett has gone through much of that journey, and is still going through it with many freinds suffering and struggling the same. How does your religion need to deconstruct to give people more room to hope and love?
References from today's show:
Brett's former podcast "Systematic" and current podcast "Overtired"
Dan McClellan and his video on the scattered "third" creation story
John Arthur's song "In the Sun"
The section of Joel's sermon on the pushback from religious people and the amazing announcement from our Elder
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Send feedback, show ideas, comments, and suggestions to:
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How to follow Rabbi Eric
Twitter/X @geekyrabbi
Blog Geeky Rabbi | Theology, Technology and a bit of Music
Home - Congregation Children of Israel, Athens Georgia (ccisrael.org)
__________
How to follow Rev. Joel
Twitter/X - Sorry yall, I am no longer supporting or available on the platform formerly known as Twitter
Blog Cross Purposes | Blog of Rev. Joel Tolbert
__________
Music "Modulation in the Spirit" by Little Glass Men, Composer Ryan Claus (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Wednesday Apr 10, 2024
Wednesday Apr 10, 2024
Season 5, Episode 10 - What do Jews believe?
What do Jews believe? Do they expect a messiah? What qualities will that person have? What is the purpose of a messiah? Will the messiah come from government, military, a school or synagogue, poverty, inside or beyond Israel?
Is there a reward for following the law? Is there a faith statement all Jews agree they believe? What about “life after death” (whatever that means)... is that a part of the obedience and/or messiah?
Do Jews study Rabbi Jesus/the New Testament the way we study and read the Hebrew Bible (“Old” Testament)?
References from today's show:
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Send feedback, show ideas, comments, and suggestions to:
__________
How to follow Rabbi Eric
Twitter/X @geekyrabbi
Blog Geeky Rabbi | Theology, Technology and a bit of Music
Home - Congregation Children of Israel, Athens Georgia (ccisrael.org)
__________
How to follow Rev. Joel
Twitter/X - Sorry yall, I am no longer supporting or available on the platform formerly known as Twitter
Blog Cross Purposes | Blog of Rev. Joel Tolbert
__________
Music "Modulation in the Spirit" by Little Glass Men, Composer Ryan Claus (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Tuesday Apr 09, 2024
Tuesday Apr 09, 2024
Season 5, Episode 09 - Tikkun Olam, Repair the World
Tikkun Olam means something like "repair the world." Can a person be Jewish or Christian without working to repair the world? Is that the same as social justice? How do we move people's hearts and actions in line with God's justice? Do we actually make a difference?
References from today's show:
__________
Send feedback, show ideas, comments, and suggestions to:
__________
How to follow Rabbi Eric
Twitter/X @geekyrabbi
Blog Geeky Rabbi | Theology, Technology and a bit of Music
Home - Congregation Children of Israel, Athens Georgia (ccisrael.org)
__________
How to follow Rev. Joel
Twitter/X - Sorry yall, I am no longer supporting or available on the platform formerly known as Twitter
Blog Cross Purposes | Blog of Rev. Joel Tolbert
__________
Music "Modulation in the Spirit" by Little Glass Men, Composer Ryan Claus (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Wednesday Mar 27, 2024
Wednesday Mar 27, 2024
Season 5, Episode 08 - Zion and Zionism, Again
Does every Jew have to be a Zionist? Is Zionism a belief, a hope, a goal? How do Jewish and Christian definitions and use of Zion/Zionism differ? Is there a scriptural Zion, and if so, how does it differ from modern meanings? Do we aim too low when we settle for simpler Zions, instead of faithfully sacrificing and risking for God's Zion?
References from today's show:
The three pillars of Jewish Religious Zionism
Israeli leader statements South Africa used in their case accusing Israel of genocide
"Can We Talk About Israel" by Daniel Sokatch and Christopher Noxon
Prophetic Verses on Justice, Compassion, and Righteousness
Rev. Joel's Pub Theology book, "The World is About to Turn" by by
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Send feedback, show ideas, comments, and suggestions to:
__________
How to follow Rabbi Eric
Twitter/X @geekyrabbi
Blog Geeky Rabbi | Theology, Technology and a bit of Music
Home - Congregation Children of Israel, Athens Georgia (ccisrael.org)
__________
How to follow Rev. Joel
Twitter/X - Sorry yall, I am no longer supporting or available on the platform formerly known as Twitter
Blog Cross Purposes | Blog of Rev. Joel Tolbert
__________
Music "Modulation in the Spirit" by Little Glass Men, Composer Ryan Claus (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Thursday Mar 07, 2024
Thursday Mar 07, 2024
Season 5, Episode 07 - Reclaiming Evangelical
The term "evangelical" is being used by media and many pundits and polling agencies. The greek term means "good news" but most of what evangelicals believe, say, and do doesn't sound very good. Could we reclaim the term in a way that sounds more like God?
__________
Send feedback, show ideas, comments, and suggestions to:
__________
How to follow Rabbi Eric
Twitter/X @geekyrabbi
Blog Geeky Rabbi | Theology, Technology and a bit of Music
Home - Congregation Children of Israel, Athens Georgia (ccisrael.org)
__________
How to follow Rev. Joel
Twitter/X - Sorry yall, I am no longer supporting or available on the platform formerly known as Twitter
Blog Cross Purposes | Blog of Rev. Joel Tolbert
__________
Music "Modulation in the Spirit" by Little Glass Men, Composer Ryan Claus (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Wednesday Feb 21, 2024
Wednesday Feb 21, 2024
Season 5, Episode 06 - Angels and Demons (NOT the Book/Movie)
Who are the angels and demons in scripture? What role do they play in Judaism and in Christianity? Do we have to believe in these middle beings in order to believe in God? Did God create them, or did we imagine them to fill the gap between us and God? Do they even exist? Can we have a spiritual awareness without having to imagine or assign spirit-only beings like angels and demons between us?
Other resources from this episode are linked below:
Sefaria - Hebrew source and translations, with midrash
__________
Send feedback, show ideas, comments, and suggestions to:
__________
How to follow Rabbi Eric
Twitter/X @geekyrabbi
Blog Geeky Rabbi | Theology, Technology and a bit of Music
Home - Congregation Children of Israel, Athens Georgia (ccisrael.org)
__________
How to follow Rev. Joel
Twitter/X - Sorry yall, I am no longer supporting or available on the platform formerly known as Twitter
Blog Cross Purposes | Blog of Rev. Joel Tolbert
__________
Music "Modulation in the Spirit" by Little Glass Men, Composer Ryan Claus (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Wednesday Feb 21, 2024
Wednesday Feb 21, 2024
Season 5, Episode 05 - Discord and Disagreement because of Religion
Would the world be better off without religion? Religion is often the source of anger, hatred, violence rather than wholeness, love, and peace. Is religion the reason we fight, or just a tool we use to fight? Does faithful commitment require us to build walls and exclude in order to be included ourselves? What changes does religion need? Or does religion need to die and be reborn?
Other resources from this episode are linked below:
Paul Tillich - Dynamics of Faith
__________
Send feedback, show ideas, comments, and suggestions to:
__________
How to follow Rabbi Eric
Twitter/X @geekyrabbi
Blog Geeky Rabbi | Theology, Technology and a bit of Music
Home - Congregation Children of Israel, Athens Georgia (ccisrael.org)
__________
How to follow Rev. Joel
Twitter/X - Sorry yall, I am no longer supporting or available on the platform formerly known as Twitter
Blog Cross Purposes | Blog of Rev. Joel Tolbert
__________
Music "Modulation in the Spirit" by Little Glass Men, Composer Ryan Claus (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)