We welcome the return of our friend Colby Martin, pastor, writer, coach, and LGBTQ+ advocate. This conversation leads off with a heartfelt and personal one-on-one conversation with Mark and Colby about the latter's work in fighting for LGBTQ+ inclusion and greater compassion within religious spaces, then once Kelly gets out of traffic, all 3 of us jump into the fray in a conversation that looks head-on at topics such as "Hate the Sin/Love the Sinner" and what it Really Means to LOVE your ENEMIES (yes, even that ONE guy.) Join us for a funny, authentic, real exploration of the spiritual issues that impact our everyday lives.

At last week's God After Deconstruction event at Drew University, Mark and Kelly had the opportunity to join podcasters Tripp Fuller (Homebrewed Christianity), Josh Patterson (ReThinking Faith), and Tim Whitaker (The New Evangelicals) for a moving (and sometimes salty) panel discussion about the inspiration and drivers--personally, spiritually, theologically, and politically--for our podcasts and the communities they support. A really important conversation for our times!

Check out the other podcasts!
Josh Patterson - https://rethinkingfaith.podbean.com/

Tripp Fuller - ttps://trippfuller.com/

Tim Whitaker - https://www.thenewevangelicals.com/

We have talked a lot about deconstruction and the reasons that people question, test, and sometimes leave their faith. Inspired by this weekend's God After Deconstruction event, Mark and Kelly and special guest Josh Patterson (from the (Re) Thinking Faith podcast) talk about what our individual journeys looked like after deconstruction, and the windows--intellectual, mystical, experiential--through which we caught the first glimpses of our authentic faith.

On the 4th anniversary of the first Radical Love Live live event back in 2020, Mark and Kelly reflect on the state of Christianity and religion in general in America, and on the trends that moved us in 2020 that are still impacting American spirituality now. In light of the recent Pew Research study about people with "No religious affiliation" (AKA "Nones") being now the largest single "religious" group in America, we talk about a host of issues that could be driving people away from religious institutions, including differing views on heaven/hell, sexuality, inclusion, politics, money, abuse, and trauma. We also talk about the surprising number of religiously unaffiliated who still believe in a higher power, and what that suggests for where spirituality in America is going. This episode is kind of a wild ride, as we riff on this and that, so pour yourself a cup of coffee and take some time to enjoy!

We talk with theologian, professor, and writer John Thatamanil, in a conversation that covers the depth and breadth of religious diversity, how our desires shape and are shaped by what we worship, and how modern spirituality may be expanding beyond the walls of the institutions in which we have tried to contain it.

John Thatamanil is a professor at Union Theological Seminary in New York, and is the author of Circling the Elephant: A Comparative Theology of Religious Diversity and the forthcoming book Desiring Truth: Comparative Theology and the Quest for Interreligious Wisdom.

He will also be one of the featured speakers at the upcoming God After Deconstrucion live event at Drew University in Madison NJ on Feb 9-10. See our website www.radicallovelive.com for more details!

Over the last few years, there has been a lot of discussion about narcissism and the destruction it can do: in politics, in organizations, and unfortunately, in churches. Is narcissism self-love or does it disguise something deeper? Why are the qualities of a narcissist often praised in leaders? How can we encourage cultures of humility, vulnerability, and curiosity instead of narcissism?

We talk with Chuck DeGroat, author of "When Narcissism Comes to Church: Healing Your Community From Emotional and Spiritual Abuse" Chuck DeGroat (LPC, PhD) is professor of pastoral care and Christian spirituality at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan, and senior fellow at Newbigin House of Studies in San Francisco. He served as a pastor at churches in Orlando and San Francisco and founded two church-based counseling centers. He is a licensed therapist, spiritual director, and the author of Toughest People to Love and Wholeheartedness.

Find Chuck at ChuckDeGroat.net and social media @ChuckDeGroat