Weird Religion Podcast
1) THE CULT (Wild Wild Country)
In this episode, we talk about Wild Wild Country, the new documentary from Netflix about enthusiastic enlightenment-seekers who built a commune called Rajneeshpuram in the rugged Central Oregon desert...Show More
AUDIO REMOVED: The podcast creator has removed the audio for this episode.2) 126 THE LEGITIMACY (has Christian television finally arrived)
Let us discuss a DANGEROUS TV SHOW. And of course, we’re talking about a very family friendly Jesus TV show—The Chosen. What is the state of the evangelical search for validation, for legitimacy, in t...Show More
3) 125 THE MUTATIONS (battle on: Precious Moments vs. Precious Mutations)
We celebrate the religious aesthetic—and mourn the loss—of Precious Moments creator Sam Butcher. A pastel-colored, Christian-infused aesthetic embodied by Precious Moments may of course prompt a react...Show More
4) 124 THE IMPOSSIBLE (is it OK now to believe in every miracle?)
Today we’re discussing a book by religion and philosophy professor Jeffrey Kripal (Rice University), called How to Think Impossibly: About Souls, UFOs, Time, Belief, and Everything Else (University of...Show More
5) 123 THE MICROFEMINISTS (you are not alone at the end of the year)
Feeling spiritually vulnerable while you are in an airport? You are not alone. Looking for a Popeye horror film? You are not alone. Naming your child Muhammed in the UK this year? You are not alone. F...Show More
6) 122 THE SPIRIT (why is that man running and yelling)
When, and why, did Catholics stop saying “and also with you” in response to “The Lord be with you,” and instead start saying, “and with your spirit”? And how would you respond to the ecstatic worship ...Show More
7) 121 THE OLIGARCHS (the Swiss create a new way to confess sins)
The Swiss have created a new way to confess sins. Brian does something he vowed he would never do. Digital oligarchs will rule our future. A mysterious man passes by outside dressed like a priest of t...Show More
8) 120 THE DECHURCHING (the stunning story of why people have left church)
One of the biggest religious storylines of 2023 has been: the huge number of people leaving their faith communities. Because Christianity is the #1 by volume religion in America, the loss has been fel...Show More
9) 119 THE FIRSTSTONE (news roundup: Bible quoting courtroom antics and living forever)
Beware, lest ye try to convict others in court, that ye have never sinned! We review some recent weird religious news with an eye toward non-obvious stories. From dreams of living forever to Taylor S...Show More
119 THE FIRSTSTONE (news roundup: Bible quoting courtroom antics and living forever)
30:24 | Nov 29th, 2023
10) 118 THE COTTON (academic conference attire, Cotton Mather, and the Bible in America)
We prepare to engage in the yearly ritual of scholars in our field: the annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion (AAR) and Society of Biblical Literature (SBL), abbreviated AAR-SBL…or is it ...Show More
118 THE COTTON (academic conference attire, Cotton Mather, and the Bible in America)
29:53 | Nov 15th, 2023