Cocktail Theology

About Cocktail Theology

Life and God from a very broadly Christian perspective, with no filter, over cocktails. Progressive, Biblically grounded, LGBTQ-affirming, candid discussions about faith, life, politics, roller coasters, sex, and anything else that matters. ABOUT THE HOSTS Benton Stokes is a songwriter, a recording artist, an author, a worship leader, a podcaster, a collector of comic books, a lover of roller coasters, a dad, a friend, and (with ministry partner Elane O'Rourke) half of School For Seekers. Benton has a passion for helping post-Evangelicals, particularly queer men, find their way to healthy theology and healing perspectives. Benton co-hosts (with Elane) Cocktail Theology — a podcast that tackles topics such as defining what an abomination actually is, exploring why Christians and science are at odds all the time, and reclaiming Christian-ese language like "born again." All while sipping tasty libations. Rev. Dr. Elane O'Rourke is a spiritual director, lifelong teacher, theologian, mom, contemplative, Enneagram 1, and a bunch of the things Benton wrote. She was a philosophy prof for a decade, a pastor for another decade, and the instigator of School For Seekers since 2014. Elane's first book was A Dallas Willard Dictionary, written to explain the difficult words of Christian philosopher Dallas Willard, which may explain her role in the podcast she co-hosts with Benton, Cocktail Theology. Elane's deepest desire, and life's work, is for you to believe that you are God's cherished and beloved child, worthy of care and respect. For more information about Cocktail Theology, or its sponsor, School For Seekers, visit www.schoolforseekers.com

Publisher

Benton Stokes & Dr. Elane O'Rourke

Category

religion & spirituality · religion & spirituality

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

27 Sept 2018

Latest episode

23 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

187 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   23 Oct 2026

   State, Faith & Genocide

   Benton and Elane tackle one of the most urgent, sensitive, and heavy topics of our time: the crisis, displacement, and violence in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. Navigating the essential distinction between affirming the Jewish people's right to exist and critiquing the military and governmental policies of a modern nation-state, the hosts explain why criticizing Netanyahu's government is not inherently anti-Semitic. Tune in for a courageous, faith-grounded conversation that challenges people of conscience—and followers of Jesus in particular—to reject apathy, stand up for the vulnerable, and speak out against violence. Cocktail: Plum Concoction #2 Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.

2. 

   8 Oct 2026

   Spiritmaxxing

   Benton and Elane unpack the viral internet trend of Spiritmaxxing. Applying corporate productivity hacks, tech optimization, and biohacking mindsets to faith and meditation, Spiritmaxxing promises to squeeze every drop of efficiency out of our spiritual lives. But can spirituality actually be measured or optimized? Tune in to discover why true spiritual growth can't be fast-tracked, and why real faith is slow, intentional, attentive, and deeply connectional. Cocktail: The Sunstone Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.

3. 

   1 Oct 2026

   Why Does The Church Care So Much About My Personal Life?

   Elane and Benton sip on a fruit-forward plum cocktail as they tackle a provocative question: Why does the church care so much about my personal life? From purity culture and drinking to who we sleep with and who we hang out with, the hosts unpack why church-averse folks push back against institutions being up in their business. Moving beyond the fear of judgment and shame, they contrast judgy institutional overreach with a genuine, trusting community of care. Tune in to explore why your spiritual, physical, and personal lives aren't separate compartments, and discover what happens when churches shift from imposing rigid authority to aiming for true human wholeness and mutual care. Cocktail: Plum Good Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.9 / 5

9 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Contact Cocktail Theology

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.