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!

Is it okay for Christians to make New Year’s resolutions? Here are ours!

Is there a war on Christmas? Is anyone forcing us to say Happy Holidays? Or are we being festive snowflakes? What are the Beer Christianity hosts’ current favourite Christmas movies and songs? Episode 72 is a Holiday Miracle.

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.

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.

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.)

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.

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!

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?

Paul Northup Greenbelt festival Beer Christianity

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!

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.

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.)

Christian v Muslim podcast

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.

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

Ukraine propaganda and warIs 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.

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!

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.

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

Laura looking tired with "I'm TIYAHD" written on itLau-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!

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]

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.

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?

Brandon Grafius horror beerHorror 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.

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.

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.