5.4K
Downloads
76
Episodes
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 Apr 10, 2024
Listener Question: What do Jews believe?
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:
__________
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
Tikkun Olam, Repair the World
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
Zion and Zionism... Again
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 Rick Rouse, Paul Ingram
"The Righteous Mind" by Jonathan Haidt
__________
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
A Better Evangelical
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
Angels and Demons (NOT the book/movie)
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
Discord because of Religion
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/)
Monday Feb 05, 2024
The Ten Commandments
Monday Feb 05, 2024
Monday Feb 05, 2024
Season 5, Episode 04 - The Ten Commandments
Why does these ten commandments end up carved in stone and put in courthouses? What was their intention? Do we even know what they are today? Do we know what they mean, what they really mean? What would America, or the world, look like if we really expected them of ourselves? Is there a difference between obeying them ethically, religiously, or legally?
Any other resources mentioned or supporting this episode are often linked below:
The odd story of Fed VS. States rights Joel tried to remember
__________
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 Jan 31, 2024
Sacrifice for Importance or Urgency
Wednesday Jan 31, 2024
Wednesday Jan 31, 2024
Season 5, Episode 03 - Sacrifice
What is so important, or urgent, that we need to sacrifice something else? Is sacrifice a requirement of God? Does it change God or us or both? Is sacrifice still needed in religion?
Resources mentioned or supporting this episode:
Presbyterian Church of Chestertown "Annual Report"
Legends of the Jews by Louis Ginzberg
Reformation and Confronting Indulgences
Reformation and Two (or Three) Uses of the Law/Torah
__________
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/)
Sunday Jan 14, 2024
Excommunication - Who? How? Why? (Listener Question)
Sunday Jan 14, 2024
Sunday Jan 14, 2024
Season 5, Episode 02 - Excommunication
Rabbi Eric and Rev. Joel answer a listener question... What is excommunication like in Judaism and Christianity? Who gets to decide who is in or out? Who has that power? The question is complicated, but we try to layout being in or out of:
a) the religion as a whole
b) a particular religious community
c) the leadership of a particular religious community.
Resources mentioned or supporting this episode:
Presbyterian Church USA Book II of the Constitution - The Book of Order
__________
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 Jan 09, 2024
We’re Back, Israel and Palestine
Tuesday Jan 09, 2024
Tuesday Jan 09, 2024
Season 5, Episode 01 - We're Back, Israel/Palestine
Rabbi Eric and Rev. Joel come back in 2024 to reflect on the HAMAS attack of Israeli citizens in Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories, and the response of Israel against HAMAS and Palestinian citizens in the Gaza Strip. What is the history of this conflict? How do we talk about peace and justice in the face of multiple atrocities? How can we spend enough time teaching history and clarifying terms to help everyone come to some mutual understanding that leads to peace?
Resources mentioned or supporting this episode:
"You are Changing the World: Whether You Like it or Not" by David LaMotte
"Can We Talk About Israel?: A Guide for the Curious, Confused, and Conflicted" by Daniel Sokatch
"Righteous Victims: A History of the Zionist-Arab Conflict, 1881-2001" by Benny Morris
__________
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/)