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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
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
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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)
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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 Jun 07, 2023
Season 4 Recap and Reflection
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.
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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
Listener Question - Why are Christians at peace through difficulties?
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?"
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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 Apr 26, 2023
Fear, Awe, Reverence of God
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
Holy, Profane, Sacred, Sacrilegious
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
Imago Dei, Original sin, Garden of Eden, Paradise
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
Spiritual NOT Religious, the NONEs, Anti-Institutional
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/)
Wednesday Apr 05, 2023
Money, Prosperity, Tithes, Offerings
Wednesday Apr 05, 2023
Wednesday Apr 05, 2023
Season 4, Episode 6 - This week, the loaded terms are money, mammon, tithe, and offering. What is the property gospel? Why do some Christians follow it, instead of Jesus? Does Judaism have an equivalent? Should clergy know what people give? Can't service and time replace our need to give money? What did jubilee, the 7th year shabbat practice of forgiveness of debts, mean to the poor and the wealthy? Whew, maybe that's why this episode is almost an hour!
__________
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 Mar 08, 2023
Prayer, Worship, Ritual, Tradition, Sacrament
Wednesday Mar 08, 2023
Wednesday Mar 08, 2023
Season 4, Episode 5 - This week, the loaded terms are prayer, worship, ritual, tradition, and sacrament. What do these words mean across our different faith communities? Do we define them, use them, and practice them similarly or differently?
A Wikipedia Table of Denominations and Scarments recognized available here
__________
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 Mar 01, 2023
Being Clergy, Roles, Authorities, Expectations
Wednesday Mar 01, 2023
Wednesday Mar 01, 2023
Season 4, Episode 4 - This week... After a little about the "National Day of Hate" in Athens, GA, with anti-semitic pamphlets begin distributed (UGH) and a quick review of Philoxenia, love of the stranger, often translated as hospitality, as opposed to xenophobia, fear of the stranger... we dive into:
Being clergy, the radically different understandings and expectations of what a clergyperson's roles and powers are across faiths, denominations, or congregations.
How to Say the Shabbat Blessings - YouTubewww.youtube.com › watch
__________
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/)