Flamy Grant is the first drag artist ever to top the iTunes Christian charts, with her soulful songs about growing up queer in the Bible Belt of the US and navigating faith, Scripture, gender and sexuality with honesty.

[there would ordinarily be an image here but Libsyn is a bit ropey today]

We caught up with Flamy at Greenbelt festival and talked about God, the Bible, personal authenticity and why she still makes Christian-friendly music. It's a lot of fun, you should listen.

The episode was recorded out in the wild, so expect some background noise and for us to be quieter than Flamy, because THIS ISN'T ABOUT US, OKAY? If we're quiet it is because we are good allies choosing not to centre ourselves (and not because we were so concerned about making sure we got Flamy we kinda forgot about ourselves) (also not because Jonty can't find the backup recording where we might be louder) (why would you even think that? shut up).

Flamy's latest single, If you ever leave, is out now. Find out more about her and what she's doing at flamygrant.com and check out Greenbelt's helpful payment plans for 2025's festival if you want a cool way to spread the cost. 

About Beer Christianity

Beer Christianity is an anti-capitalist, pro-BLM, pro-LGBTQ+, anti-imperialist, post-post-post-evangelical podcast where we drink a bit and talk a lot. Our aim is to be real, helpful and entertaining.

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. He updates it according to his own wildly inconsistent neurodivergent schedule, but it’s a good read. Sign up for the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

Support Beer Christianity…

Putting the show together costs a bunch of money in hosting fees, editing software, equipment and time. If you can, please help out by donating via Buy Me a Coffee (or in our case, a beer) where you can make one-off donations or do the membership thing.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and, probably, loads of other places. We love hearing from listeners. You can email us at beerchristianity AT yahoo DOT com. We often respond to mails we get on the show. And if you leave us a voicenote on Insta we might air your question on an episode.

There's also a connected Show With Music on Spotify called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and random chat.

Other things…

Malky’s design work has graced many good magazines and music videos. You can find his stuff and even commission him if he’s not too busy, here. Jonty's novel, Incredulous Moshoeshoe and the Lightning Bird, is not literature but it’s quite fun if you like Supernatural, Africa or the Goth scene. Laura doesn’t want us to post her BookTok until she’s posted more videos. She may have prayed for the app to be banned just to avoid it.

Beliefs…

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be, while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

The greatest festival in the world did not disappoint in 2024.

Greenbelt: Dream On was lovely, and we're here to tell you why.

If you were not there (or if you've never been to Greenbelt) we're here to tell you why we loved it again this year. If you were there, let's compare notes!

We loved: 

• Bob Vylan
• Dutty Moonshine Big Band
• Flamy Grant
• Brian McLaren
• DAM
• Richard Rohr
• Seeing our children
• Drinking enough cider to forget things
• Beer and Hymns
• Siskin Green
• Drinking enough cider to forget things
• Vibes

Join us on this special episode for Greenbelt 101. Contains rollerblades. And crazy goat.

Thanks again to the people who put this lovely festival together. And thanks to you for listening.

You should book now for Greenbelt 2025, there are amazing monthly plans!

 

About Beer Christianity

Beer Christianity is an anti-capitalist, pro-BLM, pro-LGBTQ+, anti-imperialist, post-post-post-evangelical podcast where we drink a bit and talk a lot. Our aim is to be real, helpful and entertaining.

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. He updates it according to his own wildly inconsistent neurodivergent schedule, but it’s a good read. Sign up for the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

Support Beer Christianity…

Putting the show together costs a bunch of money in hosting fees, editing software, equipment and time. If you can, please help out by donating via Buy Me a Coffee (or in our case, a beer) where you can make one-off donations or do the membership thing.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and, probably, loads of other places. We love hearing from listeners. You can email us at beerchristianity AT yahoo DOT com. We often respond to mails we get on the show. And if you leave us a voicenote on Insta we might air your question on an episode.

There's also a connected Show With Music on Spotify called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and random chat.

Other things…

Malky’s design work has graced many good magazines and music videos. You can find his stuff and even commission him if he’s not too busy, here. Jonty's novel, Incredulous Moshoeshoe and the Lightning Bird, is not literature but it’s quite fun if you like Supernatural, Africa or the Goth scene. Laura doesn’t want us to post her BookTok until she’s posted more videos. She may have prayed for the app to be banned just to avoid it.

Beliefs…

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be, while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

Is the essence of Christianity basically Judaism through a Zen lens? Can we understand some great artists and theologians better if we assume performative masculinity? Is there really a crack in everything? Is it where the light gets in? 

In Episode 92 of Beer Christianity we answer these and other important questions (like: Is later Leonard Cohen better than his earlier oeuvre? Is Avalanche the most devastatingly romantic song in history? Do you know what I'm thinking and who does vengeance belong to?) with Matthew Anderson, Pauline scholar, Leonard Cohen aficionado and author of Prophets of Love: The Unlikely Kinship of Leonard Cohen and the Apostle Paul. 

New to Beer Christianity? Welcome!

Beer Christianity is an anti-capitalist, pro-BLM, pro-LGBTQ+, anti-imperialist, post-post-post-evangelical podcast where we drink a bit and talk a lot. Our aim is to be real, to be helpful and entertaining.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. 

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. 

Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

There's a connected Show With Music on Spotify called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and weird chat. It's not terribly serious. 

Jonty's novel, Incredulous Moshoeshoe and the Lightning Bird, is not available in all good bookshops, but if you bought it and left a review that would probably make that more likely. 

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

 

After the horrific attacks on Muslims in Christchurch, New Zealand, an image of a Christian in England standing guard outside his local mosque went viral. Andrew Graystone was the good witness. Speaking in a press tent at Greenbelt festival, he talks to Beer Christianity about power and whether the Church needs it. 

Also on the podcast, in the pub: a man called Drabs and a woman called Laura talk about losing our confidence in evangelism, how beer once funded the Baptist Missionary Society (but sadly doesn't anymore), power and light stuff like universalism. 

Beer flows. Jukeboxes get loud. Truth is mumbled to power.  

 

Thanks to Greenbelt for organising the interview. You guys are lovely. 

The pub: Broadways, Didcot. The presenters: a 22-year-old feminist environmentalist and a 42-year-old Christian socialist. The beer: American and surprisingly hard to pronounce. Also: gin.

Beer Christianity episode 2: Ginesis features a long and funny interview with Harry and Chris, whose entire back catalogue you should get immediately. It also features reflections on Greenbelt festival 2019, which hosted Harry and Chris, Justin Welby, Nadia Bolz-Weber, Extinction Rebellion and Brass Against. You should go next year. Greenbelt is wonderful. And they have a thing called Beer and Hymns, which is as amazing as it sounds. 

Apologies in advance for the jukebox noise. It's a real pub. A real, great, noisy-ass pub. 

Many thanks to Greenbelt for making the interview possible and to Harry and Chris for being wise and funny about being Christian in a comedy space, what to do if you want to make it as an artist, and why Chris was washing Jonty's feet. Well. Foot.

Introducing Beer Christianity - the podcast of faith, hops and love. The opening episode features an exclusive interview with Noam Chomsky from a few years ago that is still depressingly relevant, as well as some lone beer-sipping and musing from host and former Baptist Times 'news communist', Jonty Langley.

With the aid of a bottle of Tusker (a tasty Kenyan beer), Jonty talks about what you can expect from Beer Christianity - a progressive Christian podcast with a sense of humour and a strong drink ethic. 

It's a pubcast, really. Enjoy. 

AI is going to save the world. Or kill us all. Or another, secret, third thing.

Trying to find a pattern of truth within all the cultural noise about Artificial Intelligence is pretty hard right now, so we turned to someone who has been working on and with AI since the 1980s.

Jean-Louis Ecochard has been in on the development of everythting from caller ID and online banking to video conferencing and e-health, and was one of the people behind what became WebMD. He now heads up the Center for the Digital Nonprofit and is Senior Head of Innovation for Nethope, an organisation that acts as a bridge between large NGOs with Big Tech. 

He's also a whole lot of fun, and helped us reframe our thinking about AI.

In this episode, we asked JL about the dangerous intersection between capitalism and AI (of course we did), the ethics of big data and what, if anything, humanity has to fear from this latest great jump forward in technology.

It's a fascinating conversation that we hope will help you think about this much-hyped subject in a fresh way.

We should also make clear that, if we didn't like JL so much or think this might reflect badly on him, this is the title we would have gone for:

See the kind of restraint we show? You are all very welcome. 

You can find out more about the Center for the Digital Nonprofit, its mission and research here. 

We also recommend The Eye of the Master: a Social History of Artificial Intelligence for a left-wing academic take of what, really, is being automated. 

 

New to Beer Christianity? Welcome!

Beer Christianity is an anti-capitalist, pro-BLM, pro-LGBTQ+, anti-imperialist, post-post-post-evangelical podcast where we drink a bit and talk a lot. Our aim is to be real, to be helpful and entertaining.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. 

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. 

Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

There's a connected Show With Music on Spotify called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and weird chat. It's not terribly serious. 

Jonty's novel, Incredulous Moshoeshoe and the Lightning Bird, is not available in all good bookshops, but if you bought it and left a review that would probably make that more likely. 

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

Socialism means 'bad', right?  That's what many of our churches assume. Whenever anyone suggests Socialism as an option, many Christians have a set of anti-Socialist questions locked and loaded, ready to fire. We decided to put some of them to an expert.

To us, Socialism is really just a system of making sure nobody is left behind, of controlling greed and making sure it doesn't result in needless suffering. 

It's not a perfect system/ideology (and there are many variations, versions and expressions), but if you've ever felt like the Capitalist system most of us live under is not working, this episode may be for you.

In it, we talk to Matt McManus, a lecturer in Political Science at the University of Michigan, and ask him for his responses to the most common Christian chestnuts (roasting on an open fire) that make Socialism out to be the devil. 

Questions we ask in this episode:

• What about 'If you will not work you will not eat'?
• Isn't forcing people to be generous bad?
• Shouldn't Christians and churches help the poor rather than governments?
• Without the threat of poverty, won't people be lazy?
• If society got better, how would hte Church witness?

Matt helps us understand Socialism, the long and rich history of Christian Socialism, and some potential answers to common objections to Socialism, while having a beer with Jonty. Malky and Laura were either unavailable or have become filthy capitalists. You decide.

Check out Matt McManus' writing for Jacobin magazine and his book, The Political Right and Equality.

You can find more from Beer Christianity at beerchristianity.co.uk, on most social media and on Substack.

 

New to Beer Christianity? Welcome!

Beer Christianity is an anti-capitalist, pro-BLM, pro-LGBTQ+, anti-imperialist, post-post-post-evangelical podcast where we drink a bit and talk a lot. Our aim is to be real, to be helpful and entertaining.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. 

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. 

Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

There's a connected Show With Music on Spotify called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and weird chat. It's not terribly serious. 

Jonty's novel, Incredulous Moshoeshoe and the Lightning Bird, is not available in all good bookshops, but if you bought it and left a review that would probably make that more likely. 

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

 

The Democratic Republic of Congo and its citizens should, by rights, be among the richest in the world.

Congo is a country with vast and rich natural resources, abundant  potential energy and a strategic place in the heart of Africa. And yet, Congo is currently home to one fo the worst humanitarian crises on earth, and its history is littered with genocides and wars that rival the scale of Europe's World Wars. The vast majority of Congo's people are not rich -- and many face brutality we cannot imagine. 

Since 1998, more than six million people have been killed in Congo, and the killing continues. And yet most of us have never seen a headline about it. 

In this episode, we talk to Maurice Carney, head and co-founder of Friends of the Congo, which seeks to raise awareness not only of the crisis in Congo, but of Congo's many great contributions to global life and the inspiring people who are doing amazing work there. 

Maurice talks to us about Congo's history, from the brutal period under Belgium's King Leopold II to the moment Western powers destroyed Congo's democracy and the current crisis, where Congo's neighbours continue to destabilise the East of DRC. 

We also talk about the connections between the Congolese situation and other crises around the world - like Palestine. And about the solidarity being shown between activists for all these causes. 

Covering topics like Reparations, Chinese involvement in Africa and how our own Governments might be facilitating violence in Congo, this is a fascinating episode. We learned a lot! We hope you doo, too. 

You can find out more about Friends of the Congo here and connect with their socials here: FotC Facebook,  @CongoFriends on Twitter and their presence on Insta.

You can find more about this episode at beerchristianity.co.uk

New to Beer Christianity? Welcome!

Beer Christianity is an anti-capitalist, pro-BLM, pro-LGBTQ+, anti-imperialist, post-post-post-evangelical (and apparently republican) podcast where we drink a bit and talk a lot. Our aim is to be real, to be helpful and entertaining.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Stitcher. 

If you leave us a voicenote at speakpipe.com/beerchristianity we might air your question on an episode.

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. 

Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

There's a connected Show With Music on Spotify called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and weird chat. It's not terribly serious. 

Jonty's novel, Incredulous Moshoeshoe and the Lightning Bird, is not available in all good bookshops, but if you bought it and left a review that would probably make that more likely. 

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

 

Jolyon Maugham has been called 'Public Enemy No. 1" by terrible right wing newspapers, attacked by Rishi Sunak and belittled with smears by the BBC. 

And if that wasn't enough to make you love him, he also heads up an organisation that works for justice in our laws and legal system, challenging powerful elites and holding wealthy corporations and careless governments to account on behalf of ordinary people. Come to think of it, the smears on his name may have something to do with that.

Jolyon joined us to talk about the most popular of the slurs he's faced and the story behind it, as well as his work with the Good Law Project, a not for profit campaign organisation that uses the law for a better world.

Jolyon talks about the unhealthy closeness between the executive and the police, whether newspapers and government officials really care about free speech and how the law can be used to make the world a better place from gender based violence to tax law. 

This interview was made possible by the lovely people at Greenbelt festival and you can hear Jolyon's talk at Greenbelt 2023 here for just three British pounds. 

You can buy Jolyon Maugham's book, Bringing Down Goliath here and follow him on Twitter here.  

You can find more about this episode at beerchristianity.co.uk

New to Beer Christianity? Welcome!

Beer Christianity is an anti-capitalist, pro-BLM, pro-LGBTQ+, post-post-post-evangelical (and apparently republican) podcast where we drink a bit and talk a lot. Our aim is to be real, to be helpful and entertaining.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Stitcher. 

If you leave us a voicenote at speakpipe.com/beerchristianity we might air your question on an episode.

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. 

Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

There's a connected Show With Music on Spotify called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and weird chat. It's not terribly serious. 

Jonty's novel, Incredulous Moshoeshoe and the Lightning Bird, is not available in all good bookshops, but if you bought it and left a review that would probably make that more likely. 

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

That's a nice patriarchy you got there. Be a shame if someone were to smash it...

Whether your church is complementarian, soft complementarian, egalitarian or has never thought about the distinction, the odds are good that patriarchy is damaging people in your fellowship, and damaging the witness and ministry of your church.

In this episode we examine how this happens, and why - and what we can do about it, taking our lead from author Liz Cooledge Jenkins. Her book, Nice Churchy Patriarchy: Reclaiming Women's Humanity From Evangelicalism, is an excellent starting place (with an excellent further reading list) for anyone wanting to examine their faith and faith community and how it may be hurting or holding women back.

Liz is an absolute legend and exceptionally gracious and fun as we navigate these important waters with her, asking:

Can complementarianism ever be healthy? What should someone questioning their faith because of patriarchal church do? What can men do to be helpful? How funny can a podcast about fighting oppression really be?

The answers may surprise you!

You can find out more about the book and read more of Liz's thoughts at lizcooledgejenkins.com

 

New to Beer Christianity? Welcome!

Beer Christianity is an anti-capitalist, pro-BLM, pro-LGBTQ+, post-post-post-evangelical (and apparently republican) podcast where we drink a bit and talk a lot. Our aim is to be real, to be helpful and entertaining.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Stitcher. 

If you leave us a voicenote at speakpipe.com/beerchristianity we might air your question on an episode.

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. 

Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

There's a connected Show With Music on Spotify called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and weird chat. It's not terribly serious. 

Jonty's novel, Incredulous Moshoeshoe and the Lightning Bird, is not available in all good bookshops, but if you bought it and left a review that would probably make that more likely. 

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

A few weeks ago, Malky and Jonty travelled to London to take part in a large (though it turns out not the largest) march to protest the continued Israeli bombing of civilians in Gaza and the ongoing ethnic cleansing of Palestine through Occupation and settlements.

 

 

It was peaceful. It wass diverse. It included Jewish groups, Christians, trade unions, trans people, queer people, liberals, socialists and a whole bunch more. It was  pretty damn wholesome. 

Laura was there in spirit.

Since then, Suella Braverman has called these peaceful demonstrations 'hate-marches' and said that wishing for Palestine to be free is anti-Semitic. It isn't and they weren't. 

Anti-Semitism is an evil we actively oppose. As is Apartheid. As is genocide.

So we and a hundred thousand other people marched. And the next week, hundreds of thousands marched. Our government has been weak in its response (except in condemnations of and threats to protesters, which were energetic), and the 'Opposition' as right-wing and uninterested in human rights as we have come to expect. 

This episode is just a discussion of what it was like at the march (with a little recording of us while we were there) and what the reactions, good and bad, have been. We also hear a little from a Palestinian friend of the show.  

We're all very tired (for reasons explained in the audio) but we cover some important ground in this shorter than usual episode. We hope you like it. 

You can listen to our episode with our friend Ehab here. 

Please pray for:

• A ceasefire and end to the military attack on a civilian population
• Protection for those still alive in Gaza
• The safe release of Israeli and international hostages
• All those who mourn
• Justice for Palestinians in Israel, Palestine and the OPT
• An end to the evil of Anti-Semitism
• An end to the evil of Islamophobia
• An end to Apartheid, racism and oppression
• The doctors and aid workers trying to help a brutalised population
• Softening of hearts in Israel, the West and among all those tempted to hate
• Individuals and groups showing courage to speak out when government and media seem to be against them
• Jewish communities to feel safe
• Arab communities to feel safe
• Europe, the UK and USA to find moral courage to stop the violence
• The Church to awaken to justice in this issue and repent of our complicity in oppression
• For God to have mercy on the weak

 

Free Palestine. 

 

 

New to Beer Christianity? Welcome!

Beer Christianity is an anti-capitalist, pro-BLM, pro-LGBTQ+, post-post-post-evangelical (and apparently republican) podcast where we drink a bit and talk a lot. Our aim is to be real, to be helpful and entertaining.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Stitcher. 

If you leave us a voicenote at speakpipe.com/beerchristianity we might air your question on an episode.

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. 

Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

There's a connected Show With Music on Spotify called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and weird chat. It's not terribly serious. 

Jonty's novel, Incredulous Moshoeshoe and the Lightning Bird, is not available in all good bookshops, but if you bought it and left a review that would probably make that more likely. 

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

Steve Tinning is a Baptist Minister, a Public Issues Enabler for the Baptist Union of Great Britain and one of the team that makes Beer and Hymns happen at Greenbelt festival. 

Steve is a lovely chap and talks to us about his secondment to JPIT (the Joint Public Issues Team of the Baptist, URC and Methodist churches), issues of asylum and refugee response, and about different responses to Ukrainian and other groups of refugees.

But we also got him on the show to talk about one of our favourite things: Beer and Hymns. Steve tells us a little about the origins and spread of the idea, how he came to be involved and the deep, thorough and extensive philosophy behind it.

He also has ideas abouthow you can run a Beer and Hymns (or Beer and Carols) in a pub near you! 

Also, given that Israel, at time of recording, was still bombing the trapped and overwhelmingly civilian population of Gaza, we also talked about Palestine and standing with Palestinians. Steve Tinning denounces Hamas, you'll be pleased to know.

This episode runs a little long because Jonty and Steve argued a little, and also because we wanted to include some clips of Beer and Hymns in the wild. Included are audio tracks from Greenbelt 2023 , Greenbelt 2013 (featuring Dave Ball) and from the White House pub in Oxford, hosting St Aldates' Beer and Hymns (a more sedate and civilised affair than the Jesus Arms version) a few weeks ago.

 

New to Beer Christianity? Welcome!

Beer Christianity is an anti-capitalist, pro-BLM, pro-LGBTQ+, post-post-post-evangelical (and apparently republican) podcast where we drink a bit and talk a lot. Our aim is to be real, to be helpful and entertaining.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Stitcher. 

If you leave us a voicenote at speakpipe.com/beerchristianity we might air your question on an episode.

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. 

Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

There's a connected Show With Music on Spotify called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and weird chat. It's not terribly serious. 

Jonty's novel, Incredulous Moshoeshoe and the Lightning Bird, is not available in all good bookshops, but if you bought it and left a review that would probably make that more likely. 

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

History does not begin when you start paying attention. And if you only start paying attention when white people get hurt, you are going to miss the root causes of the events you are seeing. 

As we recorded this episode, Gaza was being bombarded,  with the threat of more indiscriminate violence being made by Israeli authorities. UK politicians, including the so-called Opposition, were unwilling to denounce the killing of Palestinian civilians whose ability to leave Gaza was being controlled almost entirely by Israel. 

We weren't planning on recording this week, but the appalling uniformity of media and political coverage, demanding every Palestinian denounce terrorism while asking no supporter of Israel to denounce war crimes like the bombing and starving of civilians (or crimes under international law like settling occupied land) convinced us that we had to add our small voice in solidarity with the people of Gaza and the people of Palestine. 

It's not a massively planned episode, and at times we (Jonty mostly) get a bit cross. But if you cannot get cross when children are being bombed and the international community cheers (and Christians are posting 'I stand with the people doing the bombing' statuses, complete with praying hands emojis), when can you? 

A few things to say up front, in case you're unfamiliar with our style or our stance, and just as a matter of clarity:

1. We can never celebrate the killing of civilians, children and non-combatants, whether you do so as the fourth largest military in the world or as a smaller, independent militia. 
2. We reject Anti-Semitism as the evil it is. Jewish people are not to be blamed for the actions of a nation state, nor should they be made to feel unsafe for expressing their religious and/or ethnic identity. 
3. We remember the significant number of Palestinian Christians who are so often forgotten by the Church in the West. But we reject the idea that Christians should only care about 'our own'. Muslims, Christians, Jewish people and people of no faith are all equally deserving of our compassion.
4. We do not believe it is our place to police the ways in which oppressed people resist their oppression. We will not dictate the organisations through whom they must resist in order to earn our respect or compassion. 
5. We believe that Israel must end the Occupation of Palestine and that all people in the Israel-Palestine should have equal rights and equal access to resources, freedoms and protections. This is not the case currently and it was not the case for decades before the killing started over the last week. 
6. We are appalled that our Government and media in Britain, like many around the world, seem to support ethnic cleansing, the killing of civilians and potential genocide, when the people suffering are Palestinian. 
7. Malky isn't on this one because he was working and we recorded on short notice. 

This episode opens with a clip from this video by @rathbonemakesmusic on TikTok. It's worth watching the whole thing - it starts off talkign about the American War of Independence. 

It is worth noting that before recording we reached out to several Palestinian Christian groups, several charities and a major campaign that supports the cause of Palestinian solidarity, but, understndably, they were petty busy with other things. We do not want to take attention or space from Palestinians at this time, but we also did not want to make demands on individuals who are under immense stress already. Please see this episode as our attempt to engage our specific mostly Christian, mostly western, audience with another way for framing what is happenign in Gaza right now. 

Justice and peace now. Free Palestine.  

 

 

About Beer Christianity

Beer Christianity is an anti-capitalist, pro-BLM, pro-LGBTQ+, post-post-post-evangelical (and apparently republican) podcast where we drink a bit and talk a lot. Our aim is to be real, to be helpful and entertaining.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Stitcher. 

If you leave us a voicenote on Instagram, we might air your question on an episode.

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. 

Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

There's a connected Show With Music on Spotify called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and weird chat. It's not terribly serious. 

Jonty's novel, Incredulous Moshoeshoe and the Lightning Bird, is not available in all good bookshops, but if you bought it and left a review that would probably make that more likely. 

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

 

Greenbelt Festival turned 50 this year. It is, quite possibly, the best festival in the world.

It used to be the coolest Christian music festival in Britain - which is a nice accolade, but, like being the coolest engineer at the felting workshop, perhaps one with limited meaning outside specific circles. But over the years, Greenbelt has translated the seminal courage that saw it host Christian rock and punk acts into a courage to engage with society and politics, to question ungodly orthodoxies in the Church and to create a space where all are welcome and all are encouraged to make the whole Earth welcoming, just and full of life.

There are also bands. Some you like, some you don't. There are people, some who are annoying, more who are ridiculously lovely. And there are things to do, from crafts and conversations to talks and gigs and happenings.

Through it all runs a seam of activism, a passion for justice and an affirming spirit that aims at more than allyship. It is a festival of solidarity and creativity, which happens to have (or perhaps 'naturally has') a high concentration of Christians (as well as spiritual folk, seekers, people of other faiths and none).

Greenbelt is good. And this year's expression was no exception. A space of queer freedom, leftist dreaming and agitatation for a better, more loving way. Whether you are a he, she, they or other, you can belong at Greenbelt. Whether you're happy in the Church, a refugee from it or don't understand what the fuss is about, Greenbelt is a space for opening to the numinous and the transcendent. 

Or it's just a time to chill, drink, boogie and bum around. It's kindof what you make it, but with a great well of depth and meaning just hidden in the trees, behind the portaloos, among the people you least expect it. It's a Kingdom festival and we love it. 

This episode was recorded on Saturday at Greenbelt, with a few reflections on Sunday thrown in after the fact. We discuss the acts we saw, the talks we attended, the vibe and the impact it has had on us. We talk beer 'n hymns, Ezra Furman, David Dark, LowKey Chali 2na, Harry and Chris and more. Come take a listen to get a sense of the vibe.

Warning: This podcast just got that big dawg in it!

 

 

On Beer Christianity's 100th episode, we are joined by Paul Northup, Creative Director of Greenbelt Festival, to talk about the challenges facing festivals in 2024, some of his memories of festivals past and what he's looking forward to at Greenbelt 2024.

We also talk to him about the community that ebbs and flows around Greenbelt, advice for those deconstructing, and the idea of reconstructing.

On the way, we also talk about the riots, beer and nicknames bestowed by podcasts. It's a lovely chat with a truly lovely man. Listen now! And buy your Greenbelt ticket today!

Here's the article by Simon Cross Paul mentioned. And you can listen to the Simon Cross episode of Beer Christianity here. 

Cheers!

About Beer Christianity

Beer Christianity is an anti-capitalist, pro-BLM, pro-LGBTQ+, anti-imperialist, post-post-post-evangelical podcast where we drink a bit and talk a lot. Our aim is to be real, helpful and entertaining.

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. He updates it according to his own wildly inconsistent neurodivergent schedule, but it’s a good read. Sign up for the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

Support Beer Christianity…

Putting the show together costs a bunch of money in hosting fees, editing software, equipment and time. If you can, please help out by donating via Buy Me a Coffee (or in our case, a beer) where you can make one-off donations or do the membership thing.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and, probably, loads of other places. We love hearing from listeners. You can email us at beerchristianity AT yahoo DOT com. We often respond to mails we get on the show. And if you leave us a voicenote on Insta we might air your question on an episode.

There's also a connected Show With Music on Spotify called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and random chat.

Other things…

Malky’s design work has graced many good magazines and music videos. You can find his stuff and even commission him if he’s not too busy, here. Jonty's novel, Incredulous Moshoeshoe and the Lightning Bird, is not literature but it’s quite fun if you like Supernatural, Africa or the Goth scene. Laura doesn’t want us to post her BookTok until she’s posted more videos. She may have prayed for the app to be banned just to avoid it.

Beliefs…

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be, while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

Alex Clare-Young (pronouns: they/them) is a minister in the United Reformed Church, with a passion for Scripture, inclusion and social justice. They identify as Jesus-follower, trans and non-binary.

What does someone with identities so regularly weaponised by culture warriors actually think about Scripture, the Church and faith? 

Alex joins Laura, Malky and Jonty to discuss young people transitioning, the theology of being trans, living outside of gender binaries and the pain and prejudice trans people face right now. On the way, we wonder if Malky was a fateful pizza guy in Alex's university, whether Laura counts as a milennial and if conservative churches are doing damage to their own missions by excluding queer people from the start.

Alex is passionate about engaging with both gender identity and how Christian spaces can be safer, and they graciously offered some advice on what Christians can do to make things better for their trans siblings. (They also taught us that 'brothers and sisters' can feel excluding and irritating to people who feel like neither a brother nor a sister - siyafunda, we are learning!)

On the episode, you'll also hear Alex's suggestions for media that might help you understand the trans and non-binary experience better.

You can find out more about Alex and their journey at Beyond Binaries (alexclareyoung.co.uk)

 

New to Beer Christianity? Welcome!

Beer Christianity is an anti-capitalist, pro-BLM, pro-LGBTQ+, post-post-post-evangelical (and apparently republican) podcast where we drink a bit and talk a lot. Our aim is to be real, to be helpful and entertaining.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Stitcher. 

If you leave us a voicenote at speakpipe.com/beerchristianity we might air your question on an episode.

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. 

Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

There's a connected Show With Music on Spotify called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and weird chat. It's not terribly serious. 

Jonty's novel, Incredulous Moshoeshoe and the Lightning Bird, is not available in all good bookshops, but if you bought it and left a review that would probably make that more likely. 

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

Should trans women compete as women at an elite level of sport?

The Right's Culture War (TM) has used this question as a wedge issue in its ongoing targeting of trans people as pawns in a larger game. But who is more often hurt as a result of the targeted rhetoric (and the unthinking regurgitation by ordinary Joe Schmoes)? How new is the phenomenon of gender-nonconforming people taking centre court, and what should Christians of good faith think about this issue?

Cleo Madeleine is a campaigner, historiographer, academic, educator, trans woman, Christian and spokesperson for Gendered Intelligence - the UK's largest trans-led charity. She joins Malky, Jonty and Laura to talk sport, trans identity, hateful media narratives and why she loves her very high Anglican (almost Catholic) church.

Listen for an opportunity to hear about trans issues from a trans person, and because Cleo is awesome.

Listen also to hear Jonty, Laura AND Malky screw up dramatically with this interview.

Spoiler: We are all cancelled now.

"Ramshackle, DIY and deeply Christian" - that's how Paul Northup describes Greenbelt festival in the first few years of it's 50-year life so far. It's also a pretty good description of this podcast.

Paul is Director of Greenbelt Festival, a "place to believe in" that seeks to embody a Newbigin-style 'no splits' Christian festival that engages deeply with faith, arts and justice.

Paul takes time (at the worst possible moment in the year, one month out from the festival), to talk to Jonty and Laura about how Greenbelt started (just a few years after Woodstock), the times when it lost support from churches and the potential for growth in the future.

Following on from our last two episodes about Mike Pilavachi, we ask him to compare attitudes to Greenbelt versus those to Soul Survivor at a pivotal time, as well as what people who had profound spiritual experiences can do with those experiences now.

We also cover the tensions of holding a progressive festival next to betting offices (in the past) and on land owned by a feudal lord (now) and what that tension means. AND we talk about the spiritual impact on at least one of our hosts, as well as many, many others.

Greenbelt has, as Paul tells us, always been a refuge for those who no longer feel at home in the traditional church. With Deconstruction growing in evangelical spaces, is a new audience about to discover this wonderful festival?

We hope so! You can buy tickets for Greenbelt 2023 (24-27 Aug) at Greenbelt.org.uk Buy tickets now! Ezra Furman is playing! And we LOVE Ezra!

 

New to Beer Christianity? Welcome!

Beer Christianity is an anti-capitalist, pro-BLM, pro-LGBTQ+, post-post-post-evangelical (and apparently republican) podcast where we drink a bit and talk a lot. Our aim is to be real, to be helpful and entertaining.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Stitcher. 

If you leave us a voicenote at speakpipe.com/beerchristianity we might air your question on an episode.

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. 

Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

There's a connected Show With Music on Spotify called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and weird chat. It's not terribly serious. 

Jonty's novel, Incredulous Moshoeshoe and the Lightning Bird, is not available in all good bookshops, but if you bought it and left a review that would probably make that more likely. 

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

We've been through this before. So many times. Is there anything left to learn, or are we just unwilling to learn it? Perhaps a recent study holds the answers.

Mike Pilavachi is the latest 'celebrity Christian' whos eministry has been tainted by scandal. In Part 2 of Beer Christianity's look at our icons with cracked halos, we ask why, with all the information we have gained over decades of scandal, we never seem to be able to prevent good ministries from hiding bad behaviours or protecting bad people. 

One possible answer is out desire to shirk moral responsibility in favour of loyalty and obedience to a strong leader. Another is a little more complex and we examine it in a little detail in this episode.

The NGO Halo Effect tracks how moral superiority, moral justification and moral naivity in the third sector can lead to good organisations doing bad things. If we apply it loosely to churches, religious movements and para-church organisations from charities to events, we start to recognise a lot of ways in which the Mike Pilavachi, Ravi Zacharias and other Christian celebrity falls from grace may have gone on for so long.

As a lens for understandign the larger issue, we hear again from Matty Fearon of Mission Catalyst magazine, who shares his recommendations for avoiding future cover-ups, and we hear from Bible Society's Mark Woods on why we're unlikely to learn a damn thing. Spoilers: we kinda love kings. For some stupid reason.

But we maintain it's worth the Church and the ecosystem around it tryng to get better. It would be good for our witness and good for the world. Most importantly, it could prevent further harm being done in and by our communities. 

Here's a link to the fascinating study, How Moral Goodness Drives Unethical Behavior: Empirical Evidence for the NGO Halo Effect that we quote at length. Jonty thinks recognising its findings and applying them to our cherished institutions could be a game changer in catching and stopping toxicity sooner. 

New to Beer Christianity? Welcome!

Beer Christianity is an anti-capitalist, pro-BLM, pro-LGBTQ+, post-post-post-evangelical (and apparently republican) podcast where we drink a bit and talk a lot. Our aim is to be real, to be helpful and entertaining.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Stitcher. 

If you leave us a voicenote at speakpipe.com/beerchristianity we might air your question on an episode.

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. 

Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

There's a connected Show With Music on Spotify called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and weird chat. It's not terribly serious. 

Jonty's novel, Incredulous Moshoeshoe and the Lightning Bird, is not available in all good bookshops, but if you bought it and left a review that would probably make that more likely. 

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

Mike Pilavachi has resigned from Soul Survivor and once again we are having that conversation. Why do beloved Christian leaders fall? And why do the people around themso often protect and enable their failings? 

 

 

In this episode, we don't disect the ongoing Pilavachi investigation or jump to hasty condemnation, nor do we jump to his defence. Instead, we discuss what the limits of forgiveness might be, what cultural and structural factors might contribute to ongoing problematic behaviour and why some leaders become brands that are 'too big to fall' - until they do. 

We also hear from people in the orbit of a previous and more upsetting scandal: that of Ravi Zacharias. Thanks to Matty Fearon of Mission Catalyst magazine and Johan Erasmus of Dialoog church for their contributions. 

ALSO. We are acutely aware that on a podcast about a phenomenon mostly involving abuse of power by men, all our guests are men. This si a function of a few things, including: the people we know who are close to these events are also men - a reflection of church hiring perhaps; at least one woman we hoped to hear from decided to brief her husband to talk to us instead. We hope that the input from our listeners (who all appeared to be women this week) and the fact that we have one cis woman and one gender-curious on the host team makes up for that a little. 

Is compassion dependent on class-solidarity? Are some lives worth more than others? Is a nuanced approach to the comedy of catastrophe possible? No, no and possibly yes.  
 

The OceanGate Titan submarine disaster (some would say 'tragedy', in the Greek sense) produced strong and wildly divergent responses. Jonty and Laura discuss them, as well as the reasons for media interest in the submarine situation, the ethics of laughing at anyone's suffering and the backlash to the backlash to the thing that's just begun.

Is it ever okay to make light of suffering or death? Is it ever our place to police reactions of the oppressed to the misfortune of oppressors? What does the tone of reaction to the Titan submarine implosion (and to the idea of wealthy people being trapped and oxygen starved at the bottom of the ocean) tell us about the change in attitudes to billionaires and the ruling class generally? Is this sub our ‘let them eat cake’ moment, or an opportunity for Christians to demonstrate their prioritising of grace and mercy, or love for enemies?

Beer Christianity discusses the hubris of the Titan tragedy and the schadenfreude it brought to the surface. All in Episode 77. We also feature a different take from our own that we both loved, courtesy of TikTok creator and all round excellent chap, Corey Brown ( @coreybrown748 )   You can listen to Episode 77 anywhere: In the bath, in a Zoom meeting that could have been an email, over the grave of your childhood bully with some snacks. You can find it on all major podcast platforms and, of course, right here! New to Beer Christianity? Welcome!

Beer Christianity is an anti-capitalist, pro-BLM, pro-LGBTQ+, post-post-post-evangelical (and apparently republican) podcast where we drink a bit and talk a lot. Our aim is to be real, to be helpful and entertaining.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Stitcher. 

If you leave us a voicenote at speakpipe.com/beerchristianity we might air your question on an episode.

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. 

Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

There's a connected Show With Music on Spotify called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and weird chat. It's not terribly serious. 

Jonty's novel, Incredulous Moshoeshoe and the Lightning Bird, is not available in all good bookshops, but if you bought it and left a review that would probably make that more likely. 

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

Meet the Mitfords, memento mori monuments and meanders through churchyards and cemeteries over a few years.

Jonty and Laura have been 'graveyard hopping' for many years now, often recording their explorations. But what is graveyard hopping? What's the attraction? 

We answer that question, discuss some of the coolest names and most beautiful epitaphs, and take you on alittle tour of peaceful places. It's not a standard episode of Beer Christianity, but it is an insight into what we like to do outside of recordng the podcast - and the lovely churchyards around here. 

From a grisly discovery near CS Lewis' grave to beautiful and intersting inscriptions on memorials and a quest to find an interesting grave (and an interesting family) in rural oxfordshire, Laura and Jonty examine what they like about graveyards and remember the people buried there.

Check out this episode for a crash course in the Mitfords (including the graves of Nancy Mitford, Unity Mitford, Diana Mitford and Jessica Mitford), the sounds of the Oxfordshire countryside and an elusive hedgehog / mole. 

New to Beer Christianity? Welcome!

Beer Christianity is an anti-capitalist, pro-BLM, pro-LGBTQ+, post-post-post-evangelical (and apparently republican) podcast where we drink a bit and talk a lot. Our aim is to be real, to be helpful and entertaining.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Stitcher. 

If you leave us a voicenote at speakpipe.com/beerchristianity we might air your question on an episode.

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. 

Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

There's a connected Show With Music on Spotify called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and weird chat. It's not terribly serious. 

Jonty's novel, Incredulous Moshoeshoe and the Lightning Bird, is not available in all good bookshops, but if you bought it and left a review that would probably make that more likely. 

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

 

We're back, baby, with an episode of king-shaming, favourite kings and comments on the coronation. Here's Jonty in a tiara his wife bought him: 

Ever topical and on-time, we break our hiatus (sorry about that, pneumonia) with an episode about the Coronation of King Charles (the third, not the spaniel) and about kings in general. 

Why would Christians object to the coronation? What are the reasons some Christians dislike the monarchy in general? What kinda fascist things happened around the coronation and, more importantly, who are our hosts' favourite kings? 

Here's a picture of the King of Sweden.

New to Beer Christianity? Welcome!

Beer Christianity is an anti-capitalist, pro-BLM, pro-LGBTQ+, post-post-post-evangelical (and apparently republican) podcast where we drink a bit and talk a lot. Our aim is to be real, to be helpful and entertaining.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Stitcher. 

If you leave us a voicenote at speakpipe.com/beerchristianity we might air your question on an episode.

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. 

Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

There's a connected Show With Music on Spotify called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and weird chat. It's not terribly serious. 

Jonty's novel, Incredulous Moshoeshoe and the Lightning Bird, is not available in all good bookshops, but if you bought it and left a review that would probably make that more likely. 

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

If the Church is going through a new Reformation (towards a more progressive, inclusive and liberal existence), then Brian McLaren is its Martin Luther. Or John Calvin. Or that Scottish guy. 

What we're saying is, for those who are unfamiliar with his work or reputation, he's a big dog in the world of not just progressive Christianity, but Christianity overall, especially over the last few years. Ever since A New Kind of Christian (2001) and  A Generous Orthodoxy (2005), McLaren has drawn ire from evangelicals, fundamentalists and all the other kinds of Christians who feel it is their duty to police the boundaries of truth and legitimate witness. 

He's not uncontroversial, is what we're saying. But Jonty found him lovely when interviewing him years ago and, when Malky and Laura got the chance at Greenbelt festival 2022, they loved him too. 

In this exclusive interview with Brian McLaren, Beer Christianity talks to the influential writer and thinker about the four stages of the spiritual journey, stage theory in general, McLaren's new book Should I stay Christian? and what it's like to draw so much hate (or the cold shoulder) from more traditional side sof the church. 

It's a really good chat. We discuss it in detail and give our own thoughts as well, because THAT'S WHAT WE DO. 

Enjoy!

 

It seems wild that it's January 2023, when it was 2019 only three weeks ago. But, if the "Lame Stream Media" are to be believed, the year is, indeed, 2023. Happy New Year!

This episode is all about New Year's resolutions: what we think, as Christians, about their value, and what the right mindset for resolutions might be. Lau-Lau, Malky and Jonts talk about their own resolutions (or non-resolutions, or, you know, to-do lists) and go through a popular set of suggested resolutions from Equipping Godly Women. Honestly, we didn't hate them, which was a surprise (and demosntrates that we are bad people).

Happy New Year from the Beer Christianity crew! Whether your NYE was as rock 'n roll as Laura's, as plague-ridden as Jonty's or as wholesome as Malky's, we hope you enjoyed it. 

About Beer Christianity

Beer Christianity is an anti-capitalist, pro-BLM, pro-LGBTQ+, post-post-post-evangelical (and apparently Republican) podcast where we drink a bit and talk a lot. Our aim is to be real, to be helpful and to be entertaining.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Stitcher. 

If you leave us a voicenote at speakpipe.com/beerchristianity we might air your question on an episode.

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

There's a connected Show With Music on Spotify called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and weird chat. It's not terribly serious. 

Jonty's novel, Incredulous Moshoeshoe and the Lightning Bird, is not available in all good bookshops, but if you bought it and left a review that would probably make that more likely. 

All Beer Christianity shows and info available at http://beerchristianity.libsyn.com 

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

Apologies if you're viewing this on Libsyn. Just generally. But also because they recently changed their blog editor and removed the ability to align pics or build in some horizontal space without coding it in. Progress! We have a much nicer website at beerchristianity.co.uk - go check that out instead. 

It's election time in the UK and USA, that magical season when people of conscience and intelligence are told to hold their noses, ignore the stink of corruption and compromise, and vote for one of two parties that are both pro-capitalist, tough on those fleeing danger, and, this year, apparently okay with genocide. 

Meeerrrry shitmas!

To 'celebrate' the season, we decided to talk politics, parties, key issues on people's minds and why people think voting for evil is okay, just because it's 'lesser'.

Bella Cross is a community organiser and activist whose day job involves educating younger people to understand politics better. They are also a Christian, trans, nonbinary, deeply insightful and a lot of fun.

 They join Malky, Laura and Jonty to talk about trans rights, Palestine, the environment, asylum and migration and why voting is not the most important part of politics.

We also end up speaking about giving blood, passing out and Scottish football more than you might expect.

This is a pretty UK-focused episode, but the themes we're discussing will, we think, be relevant to anyone disheartened with their political choices.

 

About Beer Christianity

Beer Christianity is an anti-capitalist, pro-BLM, pro-LGBTQ+, anti-imperialist, post-post-post-evangelical podcast where we drink a bit and talk a lot. Our aim is to be real, helpful and entertaining.

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. He updates it according to his own wildly inconsistent neurodivergent schedule, but it’s a good read. Sign up for the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

Support Beer Christianity…

Putting the show together costs a bunch of money in hosting fees, editing software, equipment and time. If you can, please help out by donating via Buy Me a Coffee (or in our case, a beer) where you can make one-off donations or do the membership thing.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and, probably, loads of other places. We love hearing from listeners. You can email us at beerchristianity AT yahoo DOT com. We often respond to mails we get on the show. And if you leave us a voicenote on Insta we might air your question on an episode.

There's also a connected Show With Music on Spotify called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and random chat.

Other things…

Malky’s design work has graced many good magazines and music videos. You can find his stuff and even commission him if he’s not too busy, here. Jonty's novel, Incredulous Moshoeshoe and the Lightning Bird, is not literature but it’s quite fun if you like Supernatural, Africa or the Goth scene. Laura doesn’t want us to post her BookTok until she’s posted more videos. She may have prayed for the app to be banned just to avoid it.

Beliefs…

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be, while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

These days, you get arrested and thrown in jail just for saying Merry Christmas. Or, at least, that's what Christian snowflakes, certain media vicars and most of the right wing media would have us believe. 

Apparently, atheists, humanists, Muslims and the 'Woke Liberal Elite' are policing our words, forcing us to say 'Happy Holidays' and thus deny Christ. This and other bullshit comes up in our Christmas 2022 episode, in which we discuss whether a helpful sensitivity to non-Christians during the season may have drifted into paranoia and persecution mania. We hear from an actual atheist humanist on the topic and also discuss whether progressivism can be a bit joyless and what our favourite Christmas films and songs are. Spoiler: none of us said Die Hard, because we are cool. 

Our Christmas movie picks: 

Jonty

Film: Silent Night 

Why? "Because I thought it was just going to be a slightly bitchy Love Actually, but it is profound, shocking and existentially horrifying. I wept. Also it's pretty funny and very well written."

 

Laura

Film: Beauty and the Beast - The Enchanted Christmas 

Why? "Because every family has that one niche film that they always watch at Christmas, and this was ours. And I like it. And it has one of the best Disney songs. And I like it." 

 

Malky 

Film: Home Alone

Why? "Because of the childhood feels. When I was a kid, it felt awesome. I thought Kevin was an awesome dude. And it's got a solid amount of slapstick, so my kids will watch it now and enjoy it."

 

 

Our Christmas song picks:

Jonty: 

 

Malky:

 

Laura: 

 

About Beer Christianity

Beer Christianity is an anti-capitalist, pro-BLM, pro-LGBTQ+, post-post-post-evangelical (and apparently Republican) podcast where we drink a bit and talk a lot. Our aim is to be real, to be helpful and to be entertaining.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Stitcher. 

If you leave us a voicenote at speakpipe.com/beerchristianity we might air your question on an episode.

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

There's a connected Show With Music on Spotify called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and weird chat. It's not terribly serious. 

Jonty's novel, Incredulous Moshoeshoe and the Lightning Bird, is not available in all good bookshops, but if you bought it and left a review that would probably make that more likely. 

All Beer Christianity shows and info available at http://beerchristianity.libsyn.com 

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

Apologies if you're viewing this on Libsyn. Just generally. But also because they recently changed their blog editor and removed the ability to align pics or build in some horizontal space without coding it in. Progress! We have a much nicer website at beerchristianity.co.uk - go check that out instead. 

Dr Leroy Logan served in the Metropolitan police for 30 years, eventually becoming a superintendent and helping to found the Black Police Association.

Dr Logan talked to Jonty at Greenbelt festival in a lively press tent about his views on policing, defunding the police, slogans like ACAB and his views on justice in the legal system and society.

His autobiography, Closing Ranks, My Life as a Cop details his life and career as well as his Christian faith.

Leroy's life was also covered by Steve McQeen in his Small Axe anthology.

 

About Beer Christianity

Beer Christianity is an anti-capitalist, pro-BLM, pro-LGBTQ+, post-post-post-evangelical (and apparently Republican) podcast where we drink a bit and talk a lot. Our aim is to be real, to be helpful and to be entertaining.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Stitcher. 

If you leave us a voicenote at speakpipe.com/beerchristianity we might air your question on an episode.

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

There's a connected Show With Music on Spotify called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and weird chat. It's not terribly serious. 

Jonty's novel, Incredulous Moshoeshoe and the Lightning Bird, is not available in all good bookshops, but if you bought it and left a review that would probably make that more likely. 

All Beer Christianity shows and info available at http://beerchristianity.libsyn.com 

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

Symon Hill made headlines when he was arrested for shouting: 'Who elected him?' during the proclamation of Charles Windsor as King in Oxford.

Symon is a Christian, historian and peace activist and he is our guest for episode 70. Symon shares his surprise at being arrested, his concerns over free speech and democracy in Britain, and the deeply uncomfortable experience of being on the same side as Piers Morgan (this once).

Protest, democracy, monarchy and the police on Beer Christianity.

About Beer Christianity

Beer Christianity is an anti-capitalist, pro-BLM, pro-LGBTQ+, post-post-post-evangelical (and apparently Republican) podcast where we drink a bit and talk a lot. Our aim is to be real, to be helpful and to be entertaining.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Stitcher. 

If you leave us a voicenote at speakpipe.com/beerchristianity we might air your question on an episode.

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

There's a connected Show With Music on Spotify called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and weird chat. It's not terribly serious. 

Jonty's novel, Incredulous Moshoeshoe and the Lightning Bird, is not available in all good bookshops, but if you bought it and left a review that would probably make that more likely. 

All Beer Christianity shows and info available at http://beerchristianity.libsyn.com 

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

TW: Monarchists and marmalade sandwich enthusiasts are probably not going to enjoy this episode.

Queen Elizabeth II has died and Beer Christianity has great sympathy for her family, some sympathy for strangers who loved her and very little sympathy for those cynically emulating or prescriptively enforcing mourning.

Join us as we try to understand what's behind the love and criticism for both the former monarch and the institution of monarchy in the 21st century from a Christian leftist perspective.

Honestly, most of us didn't have strong feelings on monarchy until this week. But the pressure to accept strange narratives pushed several of us into more passionately monarchist territory. Well done, media. 

We laugh a lot at the cynical performative mourning we've seen from celebs and corporations in this episode, but we try to stay respectful of individuals who have feelings that are different from our own. 

We have no illusions that this will prevent us from getting angry letters. 

(If you're confused about the marmalade thing, that's probably for the best. It's quite mad.)

About Beer Christianity

Beer Christianity is an anti-capitalist, pro-BLM, pro-LGBTQ+, post-post-post-evangelical (and apparently Republican) podcast where we drink a bit and talk a lot. Our aim is to be real, to be helpful and to be entertaining.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Stitcher. 

Leave us a question or comment to be included in the podcast at: speakpipe.com/beerchristianity and we'll love you forever. 

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

Jonty's Show With Music on Spotify is called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and weird chat. It's not terribly serious. 

Jonty's novel, Incredulous Moshoeshoe and the Lightning Bird, is not available in all good bookshops, but if you bought it and left a review that would probably make that more likely. 

All Beer Christianity shows and info available at http://beerchristianity.libsyn.com 

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

 

What are the five stages of the spiritual life (as identified by Brian McLaren)? Do we dilute the Gospel by starting with the bad news? And have you ever peed on a frog?

These important questions all come up in this, our second episode from Greenbelt festival 2022.

Greenbelt was wonderful this year. You should go to the next one. 

BeerChristianity.co.uk

About Beer Christianity

Beer Christianity is an anti-capitalist, pro-BLM, pro-LGBTQ+, post-post-post-evangelical podcast where we drink a bit and talk a lot. Our aim is to be real, to be helpful and to be entertaining.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Stitcher. 

Leave us a question or comment to be included in the podcast at: speakpipe.com/beerchristianity and we'll love you forever. 

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

Jonty's Show With Music on Spotify is called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and weird chat. It's not terribly serious. 

Jonty's novel, Incredulous Moshoeshoe and the Lightning Bird, is not available in all good bookshops, but if you bought it and left a review that would probably make that more likely. 

All Beer Christianity shows and info available at http://beerchristianity.libsyn.com 

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

A festival review is only a sort of festival, as Graham Greene sort of said. Everyone's experience of Greenbelt, in particular, will be different.

This episode shares our thoughts about the best parts we experienced of Britain's best and most inclusive festival, but we'd love to hear what your highlights were. So please get in touch!

Here's us while recording this episode in the Greenbelt beer tent: 

 

About Beer Christianity

Beer Christianity is an anti-capitalist, pro-BLM, pro-LGBTQ+, post-post-post evangelical podcast where we have a drink or two and talk about faith and life. Our aim is to be real, to be helpful and to be entertaining.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Stitcher. 

Leave us a question or comment to be included in the podcast at: speakpipe.com/beerchristianity and we'll love you forever. 

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

Jonty's Show With Music on Spotify is called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and weird chat. It's not terribly serious. 

Jonty's novel, Incredulous Moshoeshoe and the Lightning Bird, is not available in all good bookshops, but if you bought it and left a review that would probably make that more likely. 

All Beer Christianity shows and info available at http://beerchristianity.libsyn.com 

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

Is Greenbelt festival a guilty pleasure for evangelicals, a Church without the hassle of 365day pastoral care or a breaking through of the kingdom of God?

We talk to Paul Northup, Creative Director (aka Big Dog) of Britain’s best festival about the inclusion of Richard Dawkins at a Christian festival, what inclusion means and what makes Greenbelt a special space for so many people.

Paul takes time out of his busiest and most stressful time of year to talk to the Beer Christianity Crew about how Greenbelt has changed over the years, the challenges of creating a safe and yet challenging space and the difficulties of putting on a festival that does something fundamentally different from other Christian, art or justice events.

We also talk about his time as a rock star (a term he laughingly rejects) and the VERY surprising speaker Greenbelt get pressured to invite (you will be shocked). Greenbelt is the ultimate broad church, while still remaining true to the faith.  

If you’re anywhere near the UK, it is not too late to book your tickets to Greenbelt. Visit https://www.greenbelt.org.uk and come!

 

The Beer Christianity crew in total will be there! Come say hi!

About Beer Christianity

Beer Christianity is a left-leaning, evangelical-adjacent Christian discussion podcast that often features interviews and always features a few drinks and laughs. Our aim is to be real, to be helpful and to be entertaining.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Stitcher. 

Leave us a question or comment to be included in the podcast at: speakpipe.com/beerchristianity and we'll love you forever. 

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

Jonty's Show With Music on Spotify is called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and weird chat. It's not terribly serious. 

Jonty's novel, Incredulous Moshoeshoe and the Lightning Bird, is not available in all good bookshops, but if you bought it and left a review that would probably make that more likely. 

All Beer Christianity shows and info available at http://beerchristianity.libsyn.com 

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

It should have been a shot of Amarula. Or good Cape wine. But in this short sharp shot, Jonty sips on some terrible sweet bubbly and tells you about all the animals that have tried to attack his wife recently - as well as an encounter of sorts with another religious in South Africa's Kruger National Park. 

 

Glories of creation, all things not so bright and beautiful, coming to you from South of the equator. 

About Beer Christianity

Beer Christianity is a left-leaning, evangelical-adjacent Christian discussion podcast that often features interviews and always features a few drinks and laughs. Our aim is to be real, to be helpful and to be entertaining.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Stitcher. 

Leave us a question or comment to be included in the podcast at: speakpipe.com/beerchristianity and we'll... be... fckn surprised. 

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. It's wildly erratic.

Jonty's Show With Music on Spotify is called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and weird chat. It's not terribly serious. 

All Beer Christianity shows and info available at http://beerchristianity.libsyn.com 

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

 

It's the clash of cultures! It's a battle royale between two podcast hosts of different faiths! It's a competition to see which religion is better! (It's none of these things.)

It IS a joint episode, published in slightly different forms, by both Beer Christianity and the Amreekies podcast, hosted by the lovely Ehab who you have heard on our show before.

So Amreekies listeners and Beer Christianity listeners will hear largely the same thing, with some key differences. Mostly those differences are that poor Ehab had to edit out Jonty's swears.

You can listen to both versions and see which one you like best!

Ehab and Jonty share their thoughts on dealing with depression and anxiety while performing and hosting, being a niche version of your faith and demonstrating another side of your faith to outsiders. They also talk about podcast producing angst,, not being a very good Christian/Muslim and how the Ummah will triumph. You should listen!

This episode very kindly produced by Ehab from Amreekies. Because Jonty was slow. 

About Beer Christianity

Beer Christianity is a left-leaning, evangelical-adjacent Christian discussion podcast that often features interviews and always features a few drinks and laughs. Our aim is to be real, to be helpful and to be entertaining.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Stitcher. 

Leave us a question or comment to be included in the podcast at: speakpipe.com/beerchristianity and we'll... be... fckn surprised. 

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. It's wildly erratic.

Jonty's Show With Music on Spotify is called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and weird chat. It's not terribly serious. 

All Beer Christianity shows and info available at http://beerchristianity.libsyn.com 

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

 

Is anyone else a little alarmed by how quickly so many people have begun singing off the same jingoistic and bellicose hymn sheet?

Is anyone a little freaked out by how the rhetoric around the evil happening in Ukraine right now seems to ignore very similar things 'our side' has done?

Is Jonty the only one who worries about critical thinking when everyone seems to be parroting 'He's insane / evil' but is doing pretty much what most leaders in his position have done (including our own)?

Probably just Jonty, and if these questions alone make you angry you are going to HATE this episode and should probably skip it.

Just asking some questions...

Beer Christianity SHO(R)Ts are only about 15 minutes long and are more compact and punchy than our full episodes. Which are also great. Here's some more about Beer Christianity if you're not familiar: 

About Beer Christianity

Beer Christianity is a left-leaning, evangelical-adjacent Christian discussion podcast that often features interviews and always features a few drinks and laughs. Our aim is to be real, to be helpful and to be entertaining.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Stitcher. 

Leave us a question or comment to be included in the podcast at: speakpipe.com/beerchristianity and we'll... be... fckn surprised. 

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

Jonty's Show With Music on Spotify is called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and weird chat. It's not terribly serious. 

All Beer Christianity shows and info available at http://beerchristianity.libsyn.com 

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

 

The sad news of the passing of Professor Jürgen Moltmann prompted us to revisit the richness of his thought and the gracious wisdom of his style with this interview from 2013. 

 

 

From concerns that are very much of the time (the New Atheism and its influence) to issues that are more relevant now than then (the need for Christians to be involved in politics to combat far-right extremism), this wide-ranging interview covers politics, economics, art, environment and what it's like to be one of the greatest theologians of the 20th century.

Join Laura, Malky and Jonty as they discuss Prof Moltmann's answers, muse of Christian Rap and examine why Malky still has a certain picture on his wall.

Prof Jürgen Moltmann has been described as perhaps the greatest Protestant theologian of the 20th Century. Best known for his 1972 work The Crucified God, and for 1964's Theology of Hope, Moltmann had a huge influence on western theology, but was not without detractors. In this quote from Donald McLeod in Themeleos, one can sense the author's frustration perhaps as much as one can feel oneself warming to Moltmann based on the critique: 

"How does Moltmann satisfy himself that something is true? More important, how does he convince the reader that something is true? The two means of verification normally open to Christians are Scripture and tradition. Neither of these seems particularly important to Moltmann. He has a decidedly smorgasbord approach to the canon; and his respect for fathers and reformers is scant, to say the least. His real criteria lie elsewhere. In order to be true, a doctrine must offer a viable theodicy (it must shed light on Auschwitz); it must advance Jewish-Christian dialogue, bearing in mind that Jews were ‘sufferers’ and Christians ‘perpetrators’: it must meet the ecological concerns of humankind; it must give a platform for Christian political activism; and it must both illuminate and be illuminated by the preoccupations of feminism. Above all, theological statements must be validated by experience. Even what looks like his fundamental theological principle, crux probat omnia (‘the cross is the test of everything’) is itself accepted only because it conforms to these criteria."

What's not to love? 

Moltmann's writing style is complex, dense and almost poetic rather than analytic, which itself has drawn criticism. But in this interview with a young and not terribly smart pseudojournalist, the good Professor is clear, concise and frankly quotable. Listen out for his response to the apocalyptic view that Christians need not care about Creation!

We are sure we have not done his thought and legacy justice, but we are pleased to potentially introduce some folks to Prof Moltmann's legacy. 

Thanks to Mark at BMSWM for the permission, years ago, to use this material, long before we ever envisioned a podcast like this. And thanks to all the friends of the podcast who shared (or almost shared) their insights about the great man. 

Please remember Prof Moltmann's family and friends in your prayers.

 

About Beer Christianity

Beer Christianity is an anti-capitalist, pro-BLM, pro-LGBTQ+, anti-imperialist, post-post-post-evangelical podcast where we drink a bit and talk a lot. Our aim is to be real, helpful and entertaining.

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. He updates it according to his own wildly inconsistent neurodivergent schedule, but it’s a good read. Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

Support Beer Christianity…

Putting the show together costs a bunch of money in hosting fees, editing software, equipment and time. If you can, please help out by donating via Buy Me a Coffee (or in our case, a beer) where you can make one-off donations or do the membership thing.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and, probably, loads of other places. We love hearing from listeners. You can email us at beerchristianity AT yahoo DOT com. We often respond to mails we get on the show. And if you leave us a voicenote on Insta we might air your question on an episode.

There's also a connected Show With Music on Spotify called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and random chat.

Other things…

Malky’s design work has graced many good magazines and music videos. You can find his stuff and even commission him if he’s not too busy, here. Jonty's novel, Incredulous Moshoeshoe and the Lightning Bird, is not literature but it’s quite fun if you like Supernatural, Africa or the Goth scene. Laura doesn’t want us to post her BookTok until she’s posted more videos. She may have prayed for the app to be banned just to avoid it.

Beliefs…

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be, while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

All Boris do is eat hot chip and lie. So we talk about that. As well as following up on listeners' letters, including more thoughts on what defines a Christian; slapping compassion into Tories; Boris Johnson's general awfulness and what we look for in a leader.

We also cover Geordie Kieffer (peace be on his house), whether it's better for some churches not to call themselves inclusive and what the hell you call it when women aren't allowed to preach.

We should have called this episode something about BB guns, but honestly I can't remember exactly what. Special shout out for anyone who both listens to the end and reads this and contacts us to tell us what that presumed title would be! 

ALSO, as bonus content: Jonty has a book out and we talk a little about how Malky illustrated the cover of Incredulous Moshoeshoe and the Lightning Bird, and what Laura thought of the book. Spoilers: it's awesome and you should buy it now.

 

About Beer Christianity

Beer Christianity is a left-leaning, evangelical-adjacent Christian discussion podcast that often features interviews and always features a few drinks and laughs. Our aim is to be real, to be helpful and to be entertaining.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Stitcher. 

Leave us a question or comment to be included in the podcast at: speakpipe.com/beerchristianity and we'll love you forever. 

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

Jonty's Show With Music on Spotify is called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and weird chat. It's not terribly serious. 

Jonty's novel, Incredulous Moshoeshoe and the Lightning Bird, is not available in all good bookshops, but if you bought it and left a review that would probably make that more likely. 

All Beer Christianity shows and info available at http://beerchristianity.libsyn.com 

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

 

 

Who is the law for? Why do the police get called for some wrongdoing and not other, usually 'white-collar' crimes? Can I call the police if my boss doesn't pay me on time? And if not, why can they call the cops when I take my salary out of petty cash?

In this short episode, Jonty asks if we are conformed to the thinking of this world in accepting who the police and law truly serve.

 

About Beer Christianity

Beer Christianity is a left-leaning, evangelical-adjacent Christian discussion podcast that often features interviews and always features a few drinks and laughs. Our aim is to be real, to be helpful and to be entertaining.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Stitcher. 

Leave us a question or comment to be included in the podcast at: speakpipe.com/beerchristianity and we'll love you forever. 

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

Jonty's Show With Music on Spotify is called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and weird chat. It's not terribly serious. 

All Beer Christianity shows and info available at http://beerchristianity.libsyn.com 

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

 

 

 

Patriotism, prayer for the Big Sad and a port-flavoured man-toe.

Lau-Lau, Malky and Jonts answer listeners' letters SUPER late, and discuss British v American Christian patriotism; suffering and the theodicy and whether we are EXvangelicals.

So if you want to hear about virgin sacrifice in Oxford, Malky's diagram of healing, scumbag pseudo-Christian newspapers, what Westboro Baptist got right and why one of us is a disgrace, you should listen.

It's Christianity without the labels. It's beer for the ear. It's faith, hops and love. 

Also, there's an Easter egg at the end that calls for credit to be given because it is based on an original work by Crowander, used under a Creative Commons license. 

School Yard by Crowander has been edited and become I'm TIYAHD by MC LauLau. You should check Crowander out. 

Also: write to us! 

About Beer Christianity

Beer Christianity is a left-leaning, evangelical-adjacent Christian discussion podcast that often features interviews and always features a few drinks and laughs. Our aim is to be real, to be helpful and to be entertaining.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Stitcher. 

Leave us a question or comment to be included in the podcast at: speakpipe.com/beerchristianity and we'll love you forever. 

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

Jonty's Show With Music on Spotify is called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and weird chat. It's not terribly serious. 

All Beer Christianity shows and info available at http://beerchristianity.libsyn.com 

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

What do you consider to be the definition of a Christian?

Jonty talks ponders the dangers in making statements about what 'Christians believe' and the foolishness of pretending that there is only one type of Christian (or one way of being a Christian).  He also ponders the orb.

But if there are many ways to follow Jesus, where are the boundaries? Where does a different approach become heresy, or just not specifically Christian? Is following Jesus really just a matter of identity?

We don't really have any answers - but you might! So get in touch and tell us your thoughts. Get in touch! beerchristianity[that squiggly symbol with the 'a' in it]yahoo[dotcom]

 

About Beer Christianity

Beer Christianity is a left-leaning, evangelical-adjacent Christian discussion podcast that often features interviews and always features a few drinks and laughs. Our aim is to be real, to be helpful and to be entertaining.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Stitcher. 

Leave us a question or comment to be included in the podcast at: speakpipe.com/beerchristianity and we'll love you forever. 

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

Jonty's Show With Music on Spotify is called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and weird chat. It's not terribly serious. 

All Beer Christianity shows and info available at http://beerchristianity.libsyn.com 

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

 

Happy Halloween! 

Can Christians like Halloween legitimately? Is there something wrong with the 'glorification of darkness' that is inherent in dressing up as a fictional Transylvanian? Or are Christians who hate Halloween actually being kind of insulting and damaging their witness? Jonty discusses with a spooky Goth voice in this special Beer Christianity Halloween episode.

 

About Beer Christianity

Beer Christianity is a left-leaning, evangelical-adjacent Christian discussion podcast that often features interviews and always features a few drinks and laughs. Our aim is to be real, to be helpful and to be entertaining.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Stitcher. 

Leave us a question or comment to be included in the podcast at: speakpipe.com/beerchristianity and we'll love you forever. 

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

Jonty's Show With Music on Spotify is called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and weird chat. It's not terribly serious. 

All Beer Christianity shows and info available at http://beerchristianity.libsyn.com 

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

It's spooky season! Aka Goth Christmas. Aka The (real) Most Wonderful Time of the Year. In honour of that, we're talking monsters, horror and,, the Bible?

Horror movies are deeper than you think - and more Christian! Dr Brandon Grafius, Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies at Ecumenical Theological Seminary, Detroit, joins Malky, Jonty and Laura to talk monster theory, the Bible and Horror.

We cover some of the best horror with Christian significance, how religion itself can be a source of horror and the bizarre phenomenon of 'hell houses'.

If you're sceptical of horror films and whether they can be substantial and edifying, or of you want to know more about what makes this popular genre tick, you'll enjoy this. And if you don't there's lots of jokes and beer. Share it with your horror loving/hating friend!

Brandon's book for the Devil's Advocate series, The Witch, is available in libraries and bookstores. Keep an eye out for Brandon Grafius' next book, coming out October 2022. 

 

About Beer Christianity

Beer Christianity is a left-leaning, evangelical-adjacent Christian discussion podcast that often features interviews and always features a few drinks and laughs. Our aim is to be real, to be helpful and to be entertaining.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Stitcher. 

Leave us a question or comment to be included in the podcast at: speakpipe.com/beerchristianity and we'll love you forever. 

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

Jonty's Show With Music on Spotify is called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and weird chat. It's not terribly serious. 

All Beer Christianity shows and info available at http://beerchristianity.libsyn.com 

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

 

If baptism means dying to sin, what does sin mean for progressives? And how is our treatment of people we deem sinful any different from the judgemental Christians we don't want to be?

Jonty meditates on this as well as the TV dramas The North Water and Midnight Mass.

About Beer Christianity

Beer Christianity is a left-leaning, evangelical-adjacent Christian discussion podcast that often features interviews and always features a few drinks and laughs. Our aim is to be real, to be helpful and to be entertaining.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Stitcher. 

Leave us a question or comment to be included in the podcast at: speakpipe.com/beerchristianity and we'll love you forever. 

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

Jonty's Show With Music on Spotify is called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and weird chat. It's not terribly serious. 

All Beer Christianity shows and info available at http://beerchristianity.libsyn.com 

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

 

IS it irresponsible to confidently promise God's healing from the pulpit? Is it unfaithful not to? Is there a better way than damaging optimism or modern day Sadduceeism?

Jonty and Laura chat on the way to go bowling.

Beer Christianity SHO(R)TS are shorter episdoes of Beer Christianity sharing thoughts on issues of religious, political or social interest. 

About Beer Christianity

Beer Christianity is a left-leaning, evangelical-adjacent Christian discussion podcast that often features interviews and always features a few drinks and laughs. Our aim is to be real, to be helpful and to be entertaining.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Stitcher. 

Leave us a question or comment to be included in the podcast at: speakpipe.com/beerchristianity and we'll love you forever. 

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

Jonty's Show With Music on Spotify is called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and weird chat. It's not terribly serious. 

All Beer Christianity shows and info available at http://beerchristianity.libsyn.com 

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

 

 

A short sharp shot of an episode, talking about the petrol crisis in the UK and judging panic buyers.

Jonty drives his car around to talk about petrol shortages. Never knowingly not on brand. 

Here's a more chill explanation. With less road rage. 

About Beer Christianity

Beer Christianity is a left-leaning, evangelical-adjacent Christian discussion podcast that often features interviews and always features a few drinks and laughs. Our aim is to be real, to be helpful and to be entertaining.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Stitcher. 

Leave us a question or comment to be included in the podcast at: speakpipe.com/beerchristianity and we'll love you forever. 

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

Jonty's Show With Music on Spotify is called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and weird chat. It's not terribly serious. 

All Beer Christianity shows and info available at http://beerchristianity.libsyn.com 

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

 

Three Christians and a Muslim walk into a bar... They get along famously. The end. 

Ehab Jalal is the producer, director, host and editor of The Amreekies podcast - a show about being Arab, Muslim and American. It has a very similar vibe to Beer Christianity (but with significantly less swearing and a LOT less drinking).

Ehab talks to us (over a kombucha) about being 14 and recently returned to the US when 9-11 happened; how it feels when people try to convert you and the Christian who has been a big influence on his spirituality.

We also talk about Taybeh, the American dream beer produced in Christian Palestine and what Ehab wants you to know about 'the Old Country'.

It's a really fun episode and was a nightmare to edit down to a reasonable length -- that's how much we loved talking to Ehab.

 

You can find The Amreekies podcast on all the good platforms and on all the good socials. A good place to start is theamreekiespodcast.com

Christian deconstruction: depending on your theology, it's either a dangerous movement of postmodernism in the Church, seducing young people away from orthodoxy, or a new Reformation of Christistianity, replacing certainty, dogma and control with honesty, love and a messy approach to faith.

In this episode (Part I of II), the gang talk deconstruction, what it means to us, what we've gained and what we feel we might have lost because of that journey. We also feature the stories and reflections of special guests (one more special and less guesty than the others) who discuss whether they feel they have deconstructed and why.

Listen for some laughs, some thoughts about what deconstruction offers and means, and also for Jonty's niche conspiracy theory about Trent Reznor #reversesatanicpanic.

Please share this with your deconstructing friends (and friends who fear the deconstruction movement), and message us with your thoughts on and experiences with deconstructing. 

Part II is coming soon!

About Beer Christianity

Beer Christianity is an anti-capitalist, pro-BLM, pro-LGBTQ+, anti-imperialist, post-post-post-evangelical podcast where we drink a bit and talk a lot. Our aim is to be real, helpful and entertaining.

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. He updates it according to his own wildly inconsistent neurodivergent schedule, but it’s a good read. Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

Support Beer Christianity…

Putting the show together costs a bunch of money in hosting fees, editing software, equipment and time. If you can, please help out by donating via Buy Me a Coffee (or in our case, a beer) where you can make one-off donations or do the membership thing.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and, probably, loads of other places. We love hearing from listeners. You can email us at beerchristianity AT yahoo DOT com. We often respond to mails we get on the show. And if you leave us a voicenote on Insta we might air your question on an episode.

There's also a connected Show With Music on Spotify called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and random chat.

Other things…

Malky’s design work has graced many good magazines and music videos. You can find his stuff and even commission him if he’s not too busy, here. Jonty's novel, Incredulous Moshoeshoe and the Lightning Bird, is not literature but it’s quite fun if you like Supernatural, Africa or the Goth scene. Laura doesn’t want us to post her BookTok until she’s posted more videos. She may have prayed for the app to be banned just to avoid it.

Beliefs…

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be, while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice. 

White supremacy, the assumption of white superiority and white normalcy, as well as patriarchy and what the hell might be wrong with evangelicalism. We tackle these and other thorny topics with writer, broadcaster, Greenbelt Trustee and Christian Aid Head of Public Engagement, Chine McDonald.

We also talk:

• 'Pretty Jesus' and the othering of God
• Why Margaret Thatcher wasn't great despite being a woman
• Whether writers are worth as much as designers
• Gay TikTok (a LOT)
• Whether evangelicalism can be redeemed or whether it can be chucked in the bin
• How to be an ally 

You can get Chine's book God is Not a White Man in all good bookstores (and as an audiobook).

Visit ChineMcDonald.com for more about what Chine is doing and more of her work. 

Christian Aid is an excellent charity doing a lot of good in the world. Check Christian Aid out here. 

About Beer Christianity

Beer Christianity is a left-leaning, evangelical-adjacent Christian discussion podcast that often features interviews and always features a few drinks and laughs. Our aim is to be real, to be helpful and to be entertaining.

Follow Beer Christianity on Twitter: @beerxianity and find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Stitcher. 

Leave us a question or comment to be included in the podcast at: speakpipe.com/beerchristianity and we'll love you forever. 

Beer Christianity also has a newsletter in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. Sign up to the Beer Christianity newsletter on Substack. 

Jonty's Show With Music on Spotify is called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and weird chat. It's not terribly serious. 

All Beer Christianity shows and info available at http://beerchristianity.libsyn.com 

We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice.