Join us as we move the needle toward spiritual justice in this podcast where we ask our guests hard questions, deconstruct harmful spiritual practices, and re-examine what it means to authentically follow Christ.
Episode 13: The Nice, Cozy...Straitjacket with Rachel Clark
"It's a little like pulling a thread on a sweater, and worrying that the whole sweater is going to unravel. But I'd rather be sitting in a whole pile of yarn than wearing what I think is a sweater, but is actually a strait jacket." - Rachel Clark This week's discussion with Rachel Clark will feel like a familiar journey to many. Raised in an evangelical home near the hub of Jim Bakker's Praise the Lord TV network, Rachel intimately understood the value of being close to "Christian Celebritie...
14 Feb 2022
Episode 12: The God of Migration Pt. II with Karen González
"The apostles remembered what many modern Christians tend to forget—that what makes the gospel offensive isn’t who it keeps out but who it lets in.” -Rachel Held Evans RHE aptly called Karen González " One of the most talented storytellers of faith in a generation. The skill with which she weaves together personal narrative, biblical text, intimate detail, and sociopolitical analysis is as impressive as it is seamless." If you have always wanted to see immigration from God's perspective, or ...
5 Feb 2022
Episode 11: The God of Migration with Karen González
Is there a scriptural basis for immigration? How do you answer people who say that migrants should "obey the law of the land?" And what is a healthy way to approach allyship in collaboration with LatinX communities? If you've wondered how to answer these questions, be sure to listen to Part I of the discussion with Karen González (@_karenjgonzalez), acclaimed author of "The God Who Sees." Karen González website Buy the Book: The God Who Sees
29 Jan 2022
Episode 10: Rage, Rifles and Redemption - Pt. 2 with Dave Nalette
Join us for the continuation of our conversation with Dave Nalette of By Grace International (@bygraceintl) as we contemplate the tenets of modern evangelicalism -- including why the Religious Right has embraced rage (as well as their rifles), and how Jesus would respond. We also chat about how pastors who are troubled by Christian Nationalism can move toward a healthy spirituality which embraces love, wisdom, and justice for all people.
22 Jan 2022
Episode 9: Country Over Christ Part I -The Rise of The Christian Nationalism with Dave Nalette
In this week's episode, I'm joined by Dave Nalette of By Grace International (@bygraceintl) to have a candid conversation about the rise of Christian Nationalism, and the danger of Flashpoint and the "Patriots of Faith" movement -- where evangelicals have prioritized power over people, and country over Christ. We discuss how politics became enmeshed with the Gospel, and how church bouncers began demanding proof of Conservatism before granting entrance into their clubs...
25 Dec 2021
Episode 8: I'll Be Emotionally Perfect for Christmas with Deanna Harris
In our culture, perfectionism is often seen as a desirable trait. Because of this, most of us have crafted an emotionally guarded facade. We smile when we feel like crying. We laugh when we feel like screaming. And even when our relatives say hurtful things at the holidays, we curate our emotions so that we can appear in control. But emotional masking causes us to live inauthentically and can even lead to physical illness. In this episode with Deanna Harris, we take a humorous look at h...
18 Dec 2021
Episode 7: Systems, Symptoms and Substances with Dr. Andre Vlok
Join me for this enlightening discussion with Dr. Andre Vlok (@vlokandre), licensed clinical psychologist, as we talk about mental health and mass incarceration, substance abuse in the LGBTQ community, and finding and founding safe spiritual communities. Dr. Vlok, who grew up in South Africa under Apartheid rule, now works with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, overseeing one of the most complex substance abuse treatment programs in the Southern United States. In his spare time, he also serves o...
11 Dec 2021
Episode 6: Misinterpreted Nursery Rhymes and other Pauline Epistles with Erin Green
In this episode, Erin Green, M.Div./2nd Degree Black Belt, and I talk about the flagrant mistranslation of the Biblical Canon which has lead to the marginalization of women and queer people in the traditional Church. We also discuss how LGBTQ+ students of faith are making headway on conservative Christian College campuses across the nation. Erin is not only a devoted seminarian, but a great resource on the conversation around spiritual inclusion and equality. Look her up at erinrgreen.com or ...
4 Dec 2021
Episode 5: The Song of Social Justice with Janackeh Blackwell
In this episode, Janackeh Blackwell and I talk about the power of sound. We take an in depth look a the intersection of spiritual leadership and social justice; when do we speak up and when do we remain silent? And what happens to people who have been impacted by unhealthy religious and socioeconomic structures - especially those who have lost their song and cannot find it in the sanctuary?
26 Nov 2021
Episode 4: Marriage and The Mysteries with Michael & Johnathan Turnbull
In this thought-provoking episode, Michael and Johnathan Turnbull (former affirming church pastor and fabulous domestic engineer, respectively) and I discuss why some marriages in the LGBTQ+ community succeed...and why they fail. We also talk about embracing the mysteries and discovering the Christ-like spirit in people and places outside of the Christian church.
19 Nov 2021
Episode 3: The Truth About the Trans Experience with Elijah Segarra
You won't want to miss this dialogue with passionate trans-activist and committed fountain pen collector, Elijah Segarra. Laugh and learn with us this week as we dive into questions such as "Can we keep God inside the binary box?" And, "How do you answer self-appointed scholars who are experts on Genesis 1:27?" You can connect with Elijah on Instagram @ecsegarra.
12 Nov 2021
Episode 2: The Lutheran and LGBTQ+ Allyship with Dr. Clint Schneckloth Pt. 1
Part I of the podcast with Dr. Clint Schneckloth, Pastor of the first reconciling Lutheran church in the Southern U.S. Join us as we discuss what healthy leadership and inclusion looks like within a spiritual community, and find out how we can better meet the needs of our neighbors.
1 Nov 2021
Episode 1: In the Beginning...
Introductory Episode with Melissa Harris: What is Spiritual Deconstruction, who is the host, and should we question the Bible? Plus, a brief overview on the intersection of social and spiritual justice, and distilling what it means to belong to healthy spiritual community.
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