Does the Universe Give a Shit?

This is another audio essay that can be found on my Substack. Recently I had an idea… a very Emogelical idea. What if I attempted to read “Unanswered” by Suicide Silence as a Radical Prayer? Don’t get me wrong, I’m under no impression that Mitch Lucker intended the kind of reading that I offer. However, the crazy thing about language and texts and meaning is that they often do something to you that the author never intended… So what happens when “Unanswered” is filtered through the Radical Theology lens of Jack Caputo with the help of Nietzsche, Camus, and Kierkegaard? You get a Radical prayer that is deeply honest, and deeply human. Enjoy! RESOURCES: Subscribe to my Substack HERE! It's FREE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week I had the honor of being joined by Dr. bart Ehrman for an engaging conversation about his latest book, "Love Thy Stranger: How the Teachings of Jesus Transformed the Moral Conscience of the West". We ask the question of altruism... is true altruism even possible? Next we take a look at the Moral Philosophy and Ethics of the Greek and Roman world prior to Jesus coming on the scene. We then compare and contrast the teachings of Jesus with the world that he came from. As it turns out, he had some pretty radical ideas. Unfortunately, shortly after the death of Jesus, the early Christians abandoned the teachings of Jesus and returned to the more commonly heald views the Greek and Roman world at the time. Despite this, Jesus and his teachings still had a major positive impact on the West as we know it today! Enjoy. RESOURCES: Love They Stranger (Book) The Bart Ehrman Blog BartEhrman.Com THEOLOGY BEER CAMP 2026: Come nerd out with your geek out! Get your tickets HERE. *Special thanks to Josh Gilbert, Marty Fredrick, and Dan Koch. Love you guys <3* Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week my good friend Will Rose joined me to discuss the intersection of faith and science through the lens of Will's new podcast, 'Your Matter Matters.' We explore themes of curiosity, the importance of community dialogue, and the ongoing questions surrounding faith and science. The conversation highlights the significance of asking questions, the role of wonder in faith, and the insights gained from various discussions on evolution, cosmology, and the future of faith in a scientific world. Enjoy! RESOURCES: Your Matter Matters (Podcast) THEOLOGY BEER CAMP 2026: Time to nerd out with your geek out! Get your tickets HERE. *Special thanks to Josh Gilbert, Marty Fredrick, & Dan Koch. Love you guys <3* Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy Saturday friends! Here is another audio essay from my Substack. In this essay, I attempt to bring together the voices of Alfred North Whitehead and Alan Watts to argue that perhaps the universe does give a shit after all. If you enjoy it, would you consider hoping over to Substack and subscribing to my feed? It's FREE! (Re)thinking Faith Substack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week I was joined by my new friend Ryan Cagle, an ordained minister and eco-justice advocate. Ryan put out and awesome zine called "Crucified Earth" that offers a fresh approach to the Stations of the Cross. We discussed Ryan's journey into Eco-Justice work, the interconnectedness of various crises such as climate change, economic issues, and health crises, the role of faith in addressing these challenges, and the theological underpinnings of Eco-Justice. Ryan shares insights from his community work, including Narcan distribution and building resilience in rural communities. Overall Ryan advocates for the need for a fundamental change in how we relate to the Earth and each other, calling for a collective response to the climate crisis. Enjoy! RESOURCES: Seeds & Sabatoge | Theology In A World On Fire (Substack) Crucified Earth /// An Eco-Stations of the Cross Zine THEOLOGY BEER CAMP 2026: Come hang out with us in Kansas City October 8-10! Get your tickets HERE. *Special thanks to Josh Gilbert, Marty Fredrick, and Dan Koch. Love you guys. <3* Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was a Friday night... I was just hanging out not doing much and received a text message from a friend. It was Tripp and he was asking if I would still be up in an hour and if I wanted to hang out and do some late night podcasting. Obviously I said yes, and this was the result. I know we had fun! I hope you do too. Enjoy! THEOLOGY BEER CAMP 2026: Come join the random late night conversations with us at Theology Beer Camp October 8-10. Get your tickets HERE *Special thanks to Marty Fredrick, Josh Gilbert, and Dan Koch. Love you guys <3* Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"There is but one truly serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide. Judging whether life is or is not worth living amounts to answering the fundamental question of philosophy." - Albert Camus In this audio essay I wrestle with the very real and very heavy philosophical question of suicide. To help me, I invoke the voices of Simon Critchely, Jaques Derrida, and John Caputo. Enjoy. FOLLOW MY SUBSTACK: If you enjoyed this audio essay, would you consider following me on Substack? Its Free! CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week I had the honor of talking to one of my favorite Philosophers, Simon Critchley! We take a deep dive into profound themes surrounding death, suicide, tragedy, and the role of philosophy in understanding these concepts. We explore how philosophy begins with the contemplation of death and how the fear of death can enslave individuals. The discussion also highlights the intertwined nature of comedy and tragedy, the importance of theater in addressing existential themes, and the cultural narratives that shape our understanding of suicide. Additionally, we take a look at the impact of technology on mental health, the influence of generational trauma, and the complex relationship between hope and courage in the face of tragedy. Enjoy! RESOURCES: Notes on Suicide (Book) The Book of Dead Philosophers (Book) Tragedy, the Greeks, and Us (Book) I Want to Die, I Hate My Life (Book) Mysticism (Book) Simon-Critchley.Com THEOLOGY BEER CAMP 2026: Come nerd out with your geek out! Get your tickets HERE *Special thanks to Josh Gilbert, Marty Fredrick, and Dan Koch! Love you guys <3* Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the podcast I sat down with Matt Garza, a recent graduate with a passion for philosophy and theology. We explore various aspects of worship, including its definitions, the importance of intentionality, and the complexities of worshiping Christ in light of classical theism. The conversation delves into the dual nature of Christ, the challenges of rational worship, and the implications of worship worthiness models. Throughout the discussion, we reflect on personal experiences with worship and the evolving understanding of God in contemporary theology. Enjoy! RESOURCES: Subscribe to My Substack... It's Free! Join My Patreon! *A special thanks to Josh Gilbert, Marty Fredrick, and Dan Koch. Love you guys <3* Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Dr. Will M. Gervais joins the podcast to talk about his new book, "Disbelief: The Origins of Atheism in a Religious Species". Dr. Gervais discusses his research on atheism, the psychology of belief, and the cultural evolution of religion. He shares what he calls the dual inheritance model, which combines insights from both Cognitive Science of Religion and Cultural Evolution in understanding religious belief and disbelief. The discussion also touches on the misconceptions surrounding atheism, and the importance of finding common ground between theists and atheists in addressing real-world issues. Enjoy! RESOURCES: Disbelief: The Origins of Atheism in a Religious Species (Book) *Special thanks to Josh Gilbert, Marty Fredrick, and Dan Koch. Love you guys! <3* Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices