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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
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
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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/)
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
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
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
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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/)
Wednesday Jun 07, 2023
Wednesday Jun 07, 2023
Season 4, Episode 12 - The final episode of Season 4:
What have we learned over these 4 seasons? Why did we start this podcast and what do we hope from its future? We remember the Jan 6 and the Tree of Life catastrophes, and wonder how big moments like these connect religion and faith to our lives.
__________
Send feedback, show ideas, comments, and suggestions to:
__________
How to follow Rabbi Eric
Twitter @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 @treblotj
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/)
Wednesday May 17, 2023
Wednesday May 17, 2023
Season 4, Episode 11 - Listener Question! from a Jewish listener:
"A friend is going through a really rough time with cancer, and I'm really amazed, impressed at the peace that my friend has because of her faith, and her belief in God's plans and God's will. I don't know any Jews like that. Why, what is it about Christianity that gives some people this incredible faith and comfort and peace that is enviable?"
__________
Send feedback, show ideas, comments, and suggestions to:
__________
How to follow Rabbi Eric
Twitter @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 @treblotj
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 26, 2023
Wednesday Apr 26, 2023
Season 4, Episode 10 - This week, the loaded words are Fear, Awe, Reverence of God. If God is good, then why does scripture imagine fear as our response? What does the presence of God do to us? Which of these reactions are justified and wise, or immature and inappropriate? If we really know the real God, is it still fear, or does it become something else?
__________
Send feedback, show ideas, comments, and suggestions to:
__________
How to follow Rabbi Eric
Twitter @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 @treblotj
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 Apr 20, 2023
Thursday Apr 20, 2023
Season 4, Episode 9 - This week, the loaded words are Holy and Profane, Sacred and Sacrilegious. Is it beautifully holy or inappropriately sacrilegious for a Christian to put a Jewish Mezuzah on their door? Does our religious identity define which beliefs and practices are holy or profane, sacrilegious or sacred? Or, do our practices guide us toward holy? Using examples from our own congregations, we find moments that were considered sacrilegious, but were they? If something offends the heart of a religious person, does that make it offensive, or can holy and sacred be quite offensive to the religious?
__________
Send feedback, show ideas, comments, and suggestions to:
__________
How to follow Rabbi Eric
Twitter @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 @treblotj
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 Apr 13, 2023
Thursday Apr 13, 2023
Season 4, Episode 8 - This week, the loaded phrases are Imago Dei (image of God), "original sin", the Garden of Eden, and paradise. What does it mean that humanity is created by God in the "image" of God? If we are created in God's image, how does sin/evil enter into the world? The doctrine of "original sin" suggests the first humans made a sinful choice that had immediate consequences (losing the garden, suffering, working) and long term consequences (sin being passed down to all descendants). What are the Jewish and Christian options for thinking about sin in the garden? What is paradise? Can we get back to it, or only go forward?
__________
Send feedback, show ideas, comments, and suggestions to:
__________
How to follow Rabbi Eric
Twitter @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 @treblotj
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 Apr 06, 2023
Thursday Apr 06, 2023
Season 4, Episode 7 - This week, the loaded phrase is "Spiritual, NOT Religious." Why are generations laying down the religious communities, beliefs, practices, and disciples of their ancestors? What do people need from religion? Did we stop providing it, or did the needs change? What kind of religion proves itself to be consistent with the God of Scriptures AND relevant in modern life?
__________
Send feedback, show ideas, comments, and suggestions to:
__________
How to follow Rabbi Eric
Twitter @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 @treblotj
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/)