Everything that takes form, dies. Religion can at times help us cope with Death, but are there any downsides to creating beliefs about death? What did Jesus really mean when he spoke of conquering death? In this Episode, Michael Gungor, Emily Capshaw, Rev. Briana Lynn, and Death Doulas Caroline Lee and Alua Arthur explore these questions to understand how we can relieve some of the fear, shame and suffering that exists around Death.

For more about Going With Grace and the work of Alua (@going_with_grace) and Caroline (@howcarolinecarolines), visit www.goingwithgrace.com

Yeshua, which is the original name of the appropriated ?Jesus?, is without question the most influential character in human history, but who was he? Why was he so special? Should he actually matter as much as he does? And why is so much violence perpetuated in his name? In this episode of the Liturgists Podcast, Michael Gungor, Emily Capshaw, Mason Smith, Chris Davies, Rev. Kristina Marie Garnett, Richard Rohr (from the past) and others explore how when our view of Jesus shifts from a literal historical savior outside of us who we must believe in to be good, to a living example of the Christ consciousness within us, freedom becomes available NOW rather than after death.

Duality creates shame. As we try to rid ourselves of this shame, we find ourselves in a destructive shame/blame game that places us in the seat of the victim, the villain, or the victor. This episode explores the nature of this cycle as well as how we can be free from it. It was produced by Michael Gungor and Emily Capshaw, and it includes segments from Brianna Lynn, Latifah Allatas, Sonny Avatar, Magdalene, Raven, Elizabeth Capshaw, and Lizzie Goldsmith.

In beginning to think about reforming and reframing Christian technologies, we might as well begin with the creation narrative of Genesis that has given shape to so much western Christendom. How has this story shaped us, and is there any use to the story of creation/fall through a non-dual lens? You can watch The Liturgists Podcast being recorded live (as well as The Alien Podcast) by joining The Liturgists. We love having everyone together where we can talk during the recordings. Check out theliturgists.com and find where it says "Join The Liturgists." Also, this Sunday at 11am Pacific you are invited to join us for The Sunday Thing. Hundreds of liturgists from around the world get together via video. We break into smaller groups to talk and it is such a wonderful time. You are not alone in your doubts, questions, anger, sadness, atheism, theism, or any other thing you are going through. To find out more and to join us on Sunday, go to theliturgists.com

In this episode of The Liturgists Podcast, we talk about the history of Christian reformation and make a case for what we think needs to continue to be reformed and reframed within Christendom. Also, as we discuss the future of The Liturgists, we introduce the idea of ?The Symposium? and hear from a couple of its members (Emily Capshaw and Rev. Briana Lynn). You can watch The Liturgists Podcast being recorded live each week (as well as The Alien Podcast) by joining The Liturgists. We love having everyone together where we can talk during the recordings. Check out theliturgists.com and find where it says "Join The Liturgists." Also, this Sunday at 11am Pacific you are invited to join us for The Sunday Thing. Hundreds of liturgists from around the world get together via video. We break into smaller groups to talk and it is such a wonderful time. You are not alone in your doubts, questions, anger, sadness, atheism, theism, or any other thing you are going through. To find out more and to join us on Sunday, go to theliturgists.com

Is Christianity worth saving? This is a question that has been at the heart of The Liturgists since the beginning. In this first episode of Season 7, we explore this question as we begin to set the course for where we?d like to head together in this new season of the podcast and beyond. This episode includes conversations and thoughts from Mihee Kim-Kort, Peter Rollins, Hillary McBride, William Mathews, and Michael Gungor. You can watch The Liturgists Podcast being recorded live each week (as well as The Alien Podcast) by joining The Liturgists. We love having everyone together where we can talk during the recordings. Check out theliturgists.com and find where it says "Join The Liturgists." Also, this Sunday at 11am Pacific you are invited to join us for The Sunday Thing. Hundreds of liturgists from around the world get together via video. We break into smaller groups to talk and it is such a wonderful time. You are not alone in your doubts, questions, anger, sadness, atheism, theism, or any other thing you are going through. To find out more and to join us on Sunday, go to theliturgists.com

2020 has been a year like no other. This holiday season we want to share something for advent. We also have more cooking for The Liturgists in 2021 which we are excited to share with you in January. Other Links Watch Immanuel by Morant The Holiday Thing event hosted by The Liturgists We have a holiday event coming up in December and we'd love to see you there! Find out more at theliturgists.com You can watch The Liturgists Podcast being recorded live each week (as well as The Alien Podcast) by joining The Liturgists. We love having everyone together where we can talk during the recordings. Check out theliturgists.com and find where it says "Join The Liturgists." Also, this Sunday at 11am Pacific you are invited to join us for The Sunday Thing. Hundreds of liturgists from around the world get together via video. We break into smaller groups to talk and it is such a wonderful time. You are not alone in your doubts, questions, anger, sadness, atheism, theism, or any other thing you are going through. To find out more and to join us on Sunday, go to theliturgists.com

Dr. Joy Cox joins William Matthews, Dr. Hillary McBride, and Michael Gungor to talk about fatness and fatphobia. Dr. Cox is the author of Fat Girls in Black Bodies: Creating Communites of Our Own and received her Ph.D. in Communication from Rutgers University. Most of her work has focused on matters of intersectionality addressing race, body size, accessibility, and "health" within the context of body acceptance and fat liberation. You can follow Dr. Cox on Twitter and find out more about her work on her website. We have a holiday event coming up in December and we'd love to see you there! Find out more at theliturgists.com You can watch The Liturgists Podcast being recorded live each week (as well as The Alien Podcast) by joining The Liturgists. We love having everyone together where we can talk during the recordings. Check out theliturgists.com and find where it says "Join The Liturgists." Also, this Sunday at 11am Pacific you are invited to join us for The Sunday Thing. Hundreds of liturgists from around the world get together via video. We break into smaller groups to talk and it is such a wonderful time. You are not alone in your doubts, questions, anger, sadness, atheism, theism, or any other thing you are going through. To find out more and to join us on Sunday, go to theliturgists.com

Nikki Blak joins William Matthews, Dr. Hillary McBride, and Michael Gungor to talk about womanism. Follow Nikki Blak on Instagram and Twitter. You can watch The Liturgists Podcast being recorded live each week (as well as The Alien Podcast) by joining The Liturgists. We love having everyone together where we can talk during the recordings. Check out theliturgists.com and find where it says "Join The Liturgists." Also, this Sunday at 11am Pacific you are invited to join us for The Sunday Thing. Hundreds of liturgists from around the world get together via video. We break into smaller groups to talk and it is such a wonderful time. You are not alone in your doubts, questions, anger, sadness, atheism, theism, or any other thing you are going through. To find out more and to join us on Sunday, go to theliturgists.com

Jamie Lee Finch joins William Matthews and Michael Gungor to talk about the election in the United States, the limbo many people feel, and how we move forward together from here. You can watch The Liturgists Podcast being recorded live each week (as well as The Alien Podcast) by joining The Liturgists. We love having everyone together where we can talk during the recordings. Check out theliturgists.com and find where it says "Join The Liturgists." Also, this Sunday at 11am Pacific you are invited to join us for The Sunday Thing. Hundreds of liturgists from around the world get together via video. We break into smaller groups to talk and it is such a wonderful time. You are not alone in your doubts, questions, anger, sadness, atheism, theism, or any other thing you are going through. To find out more and to join us on Sunday, go to theliturgists.com

Jason Fileta and Michael Wear join William Matthews, Dr. Hillary McBride, and Michael Gungor to talk about politics, the church, and how we can wade through the ways these interconnected spaces in our lives affect ourselves and those around us. Michael Wear is a leading strategist, speaker and practitioner at the intersection of faith, politics and public life. He advised President Obama, as well as some of the nation?s leading foundations, non-profits and public leaders, on some of the thorniest issues and exciting opportunities that define American life today. He has argued that the spiritual health and civic character of individuals is deeply tied to the state of our politics and public affairs.  Jason Fileta grew up in Wheaton, IL the son of Egyptian immigrants. The plight of the persecuted church in Egypt compelled him to commit his life to fighting for a more just world. He was chosen as a delegate to the G8 Summit in Scotland. The delegates advocated to leaders for debt cancellation for impoverished nations, fair trade policies, and increased assistance to impoverished nations. This helped launch his long-term work in advocacy focused on ending extreme poverty. You can watch The Liturgists Podcast being recorded live each week (as well as The Alien Podcast) by joining The Liturgists. We love having everyone together where we can talk during the recordings. Check out theliturgists.com and find where it says "Join The Liturgists." Also, this Sunday at 11am Pacific you are invited to join us for The Sunday Thing. Hundreds of liturgists from around the world get together via video. We break into smaller groups to talk and it is such a wonderful time. You are not alone in your doubts, questions, anger, sadness, atheism, theism, or any other thing you are going through. To find out more and to join us on Sunday, go to theliturgists.com

Fred Davis is a powerful non-dual spiritual teacher who has been helping people wake up to their true nature in surprising numbers for over a decade. In this episode, Michael laughs (and occasionally speaks) with Fred about non-duality, enlightenment, and the inherent beauty and joy of this very moment. You can watch The Liturgists Podcast being recorded live each week (as well as The Alien Podcast) by joining The Liturgists. We love having everyone together where we can talk during the recordings. Check out theliturgists.com and find where it says "Join The Liturgists." Also, this Sunday at 11am Pacific you are invited to join us for The Sunday Thing. Hundreds of liturgists from around the world get together via video. We break into smaller groups to talk and it is such a wonderful time. You are not alone in your doubts, questions, anger, sadness, atheism, theism, or any other thing you are going through. To find out more and to join us on Sunday, go to theliturgists.com

?Cancel Culture? is a relatively recent phrase that has entered the cultural milieu in a profound and divisive way. In this ?mega episode? of the Liturgists podcast, Michael Gungor, William Matthews, Dr. Hillary McBride, Jamie Lee Finch, Dr. Robyn Henderson-Espinoza, Chloé Valdary, and Peter Rollins engage in a series of conversations that deeply explore this potentially sensitive and polarizing topic through multiple lenses, identities, and experiences. You can watch The Liturgists Podcast being recorded live each week (as well as The Alien Podcast) by joining The Liturgists. We love having everyone together where we can talk during the recordings. Check out theliturgists.com and find where it says "Join The Liturgists." Also, this Sunday at 11am Pacific you are invited to join us for The Sunday Thing. Hundreds of liturgists from around the world get together via video. We break into smaller groups to talk and it is such a wonderful time. You are not alone in your doubts, questions, anger, sadness, atheism, theism, or any other thing you are going through. To find out more and to join us on Sunday, go to theliturgists.com

We have been working on a documentary for over a year about The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The full documentary will be released on September 22, 2020 and we will be hosting a live stream that same day with the people who produced it including William Matthews, Jamie Lee Finch, Christian Adkins, Anna Jane Joyner, Karlin Itchoak and others. To find out more visit https://theliturgists.com/arctic As we prep to launch the film, we wanted to re-release this episode from October 2019. In the last 3 weeks the refuge has come under even more severe threat as the Trump Administration takes steps to open it up for drilling. In August of 2019, Michael Gungor, Science Mike, William Matthews, and Jamie Lee Finch embarked on a trip to the Arctic circle to experience some of the last untouched wilderness on the planet and hear from the Gwich'in people. The Gwich'in are Athabaskan-speaking Indigenous peoples who lives in the Arctic region of Alaska and Canada. Their sacred lands include areas within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. In September 2019, the Trump Administration said it would "seek to open up the entire coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas exploration, picking the most aggressive development option for an area long closed to drilling" to cite The Washington Post.  The violence and destruction caused by the removal of long standing protections by the United States is difficult to overstate. This episode is the story of our trip to that area, and what we learned from the people there. We want to give a special shout out to The Wilderness Society for making this episode possible and to Dan Ritzman from Arctic Wild for his guidance in Alaska.

Arielle Estoria joins William Matthews, Dr. Hillary McBride, and Michael Gungor to discuss art and our relationship to it. Whether art lives in our movement, prose, canvas, notebook, instrument, work, or play, it shapes us and pushes us towards something new. Many times we might feel like our art works as a calling out from within that seems beyond ourselves. However it takes shape, how can art help us process and work through struggle, pain, and trauma? Arielle is the co-author of two self-published collections of poetry: Vagabonds and Zealots (2014) and Write Bloody Spill Pretty (2017) which can both be found on Amazon. You can find out more on Instagram @arielleestoria. In 2016, released her EP of poetry and music titled Symphony of a Lioness which can be found on Apple Music and Spotify. You can watch The Liturgists Podcast being recorded live each week (as well as The Alien Podcast) by joining The Liturgists. We love having everyone together where we can talk during the recordings. Check out theliturgists.com and find where it says "Join The Liturgists." Also, this Sunday at 11am Pacific you are invited to join us for The Sunday Thing. Hundreds of liturgists from around the world get together via video. We break into smaller groups to talk and it is such a wonderful time. You are not alone in your doubts, questions, anger, sadness, atheism, theism, or any other thing you are going through. To find out more and to join us on Sunday, go to theliturgists.com

Dr. Hillary McBride, William Matthews, and Michael Gungor discuss what happens after deconstruction - often called "reconstruction." They are joined by Kevin Garcia and work together through the different ways we change, build, form, or adapt what we believe and how we live when we want to find what is next. Kevin Garcia is a digital pastor, creative mystic, public theologian and intuitive soul coach based in Atlanta, GA. After coming out in the fall of 2015 as a queer Christian, Kevin has reached thousands of individuals across the globe with messages of God?s unending love for all people. regardless of who they are, what they profess, or what they actually believe. Kevin?s the author of Bad Theology Kills: undoing toxic beliefs and reclaiming your spiritual authority, published Janurary 2020. Kevin?s work also appears in several anthologies by queer people of faith.  You can watch The Liturgists Podcast being recorded live each week (as well as The Alien Podcast) by joining The Liturgists. We love having everyone together where we can talk during the recordings. Check out theliturgists.com and find where it says "Join The Liturgists." Also, this Sunday at 11am Pacific you are invited to join us for The Sunday Thing. Hundreds of liturgists from around the world get together via video. We break into smaller groups to talk and it is such a wonderful time. You are not alone in your doubts, questions, anger, sadness, atheism, theism, or any other thing you are going through. To find out more and to join us on Sunday, go to theliturgists.com

In this bonus episode from The Liturgists Network show Loving This, Michael Gungor discusses and demos his new solo album Are You Perfect Yet? which is by his new artist Weiwu. The album follows the flow of Five Rhythms dance, which is a movement meditation practice devised by Gabrielle Roth. It draws from indigenous and world traditions using tenets of shamanistic, ecstatic, mystical and eastern philosophy. It also draws from Gestalt therapy, the human potential movement and transpersonal psychology. This Sunday at 11am Pacific you are invited to join us for The Sunday Thing. Hundreds of liturgists from around the world get together via video. We break into smaller groups to talk and it is such a wonderful time. You are not alone in your doubts, questions, anger, sadness, atheism, theism, or any other thing you are going through. To find out more and to join us on Sunday, go to theliturgists.com

A special preview of The Alien Podcast which is our private podcast for patrons. This week Michael (The Alien) and Jamie (The Sex Witch) talk about all manner of rabbit trails. Each week on The Alien Podcast Michael has open ended conversations with wonderful people like William Matthews, Dr. Hillary McBride, Jamie Lee Finch, Peter Rollins, and more. Join The Liturgists at the $10 and get more episodes like this every single week: theliturgists.com/join This Sunday at 11am Pacific you are invited to join us for The Sunday Thing. Hundreds of liturgists from around the world get together via video. We break into smaller groups to talk and it is such a wonderful time. You are not alone in your doubts, questions, anger, sadness, atheism, theism, or any other thing you are going through. To find out more and to join us on Sunday, go to theliturgists.com

William Matthews, Dr. Hillary McBride, and Michael Gungor discuss dissonance and how our minds work to make sense of things when we have two incongruent ideas occupy our minds at one time. How does our ability to survive affect how we approach those different ideas? What kind of new thing exists in the space of that dissonance? Michael describes the experience to be like that of a polychord from Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring. This Sunday at 11am Pacific you are invited to join us for The Sunday Thing. Hundreds of liturgists from around the world get together via video. We break into smaller groups to talk and it is such a wonderful time. You are not alone in your doubts, questions, anger, sadness, atheism, theism, or any other thing you are going through. To find out more and to join us on Sunday, go to theliturgists.com

Heather McCain talks with Dr. Hillary McBride to pull apart the story that disability is inherently negative. Heather McCain is Executive Director of Creating Accessible Neighbourhoods, a non-profit they founded in 2005. Heather?s experiences with multiple types of disabilities, inaccessibility, and ableism led them to become a well-known and respected speaker, advocate, educator, and activist, working with a variety of companies, cities, and non-profits to confront the issues that face disabled people. Recognizing that the disability community is comprised of people with many intersecting identities, Heather is committed to cross-movement organizing and working to ensure that the entire disabled person is considered. Heather facilitates Qmunity?s group Chronically Queer, a support group for queer folk who have chronic health conditions and is an organizer of Burnaby Pride and facilitates the Burnaby Pride Community Action Network. This Sunday at 11am Pacific you are invited to join us for The Sunday Thing. Hundreds of liturgists from around the world get together via video. We break into smaller groups to talk and it is such a wonderful time. You are not alone in your doubts, questions, anger, sadness, atheism, theism, or any other thing you are going through. To find out more and to join us on Sunday, go to theliturgists.com

Christy Harrison talks with Dr. Hillary McBride and Michael Gungor about our culture's obsession with dieting and our views of our bodies. They dive into over one-hundred years of history to highlight how our modern day assumptions are often based on decades of social norms that have built up over time. Christy is an anti-diet registered dietitian, certified intuitive eating counselor, host of the podcast Food Psych, and author of Anti-Diet: Reclaim Your Time, Money, Well-Being, and Happiness Through Intuitive Eating (2019). You are not alone! This Sunday at 11am Pacific you are invited to join us for The Sunday Thing. Hundreds of liturgists from around the world get together via video. We break into smaller groups to talk and it is such a wonderful time. You are not alone in your doubts, questions, anger, sadness, atheism, theism, or any other thing you are going through. To find out more and to join us on Sunday, go to theliturgists.com

Peter Rollins and Michael Gungor talk about happiness and the many ways we seek it out. We may use the tools of religion, belief, work, ideals, pleasure, or others to help us be happy. By breaking down the stories we tell ourselves using nondual thinking and philosophy they seek a deeper understanding of what makes us happy. Peter Rollins is an author, philosopher, storyteller, producer and public speaker. He is the author of The Divine Magician (2015) and The Idolatry of God (2013) among other books. Peter received his PhD in Post-Structural Thought from Queens University, Belfast. You are not alone! This Sunday at 11am Pacific you are invited to join us for The Sunday Thing. Hundreds of liturgists from around the world get together via video. We break into smaller groups to talk and it is such a wonderful time. You are not alone in your doubts, questions, anger, sadness, atheism, theism, or any other thing you are going through. To find out more and to join us on Sunday, go to theliturgists.com

We have all experienced or will experience grief at some point in our lives. Loss, whether unexpected or not, leaves us feeling alone. In this episode, Dr. Hillary McBride, William Matthews, and Michael Gungor talk about grief, how it affects us, and the toll COVID-19 is taking on the world by creating a large-scale sense of despair. We want to say a special thank you to the many liturgists who submitted their stories of working through grief. Your vulnerability helps us gain a deeper understanding of this complex experience. You are not alone! This Sunday at 11am Pacific you are invited to join us for The Sunday Thing. Hundreds of liturgists from around the world get together via video. We break into smaller groups to talk and it is such a wonderful time. You are not alone in your doubts, questions, anger, sadness, atheism, theism, or any other thing you are going through. To find out more and to join us on Sunday, go to theliturgists.com

Evelyn Tribole talks with Dr. Hillary McBride and Michael Gungor about our relationship with eating and our view of our body. Evelyn is an award-winning registered dietitian with a nutrition counseling practice in Newport Beach, CA, specializing in eating disorders. In 1995, Evelyn published Intuitive Eating: A Revolutionary Program that Works with her co-author Elyse Resch which has become the go-to book on rebuilding a healthy body image and making peace with food. This Sunday at 11am Pacific you are invited to join us for The Sunday Thing. Hundreds of liturgists from around the world get together via video. We break into smaller groups to talk and it is such a wonderful time. You are not alone in your doubts, questions, anger, sadness, atheism, theism, or any other thing you are going through. To find out more and to join us on Sunday, go to theliturgists.com

In this episode we want to share a liturgy we created for Holy Week called "Garden." This liturgy features Amena Brown, Rachel Held Evans, Rob Bell, Science Mike, and Gungor. If you are not a regular consumer of liturgies, it as a collection of related works of art that all cover a specific topic. As we are all social distancing, we want to offer this to you as a way to connect to the ideas of holy week and a way to connect with others while your normal Easter plans have been changed. This Sunday at 11am Pacific you are invited to join us for The Sunday Thing. Hundreds of liturgists from around the world get together via video. We break into smaller groups to talk and it is such a wonderful time. You are not alone in your doubts, questions, anger, sadness, atheism, theism, or any other thing you are going through. To find out more and to join us on Sunday, go to theliturgists.com

Ruthie Lindsey talks with Dr. Hillary McBride and Michael Gungor about her experience with pain and trauma. They also discuss some things we can do during the COVID-19 crisis. Ruthie's new book, There I Am: The Journey from Hopelessness to Healing, will be released on April 21, 2020. At seventeen years old, Ruthie Lindsey was hit by an ambulance near her home in rural Louisiana. She was given a five percent chance of survival and one percent chance of walking again. One month later after a spinal fusion surgery, Ruthie defied the odds, leaving the hospital on her own two feet. Just a few years later, newly married and living in Nashville, Ruthie began to experience debilitating pain. Her case confounds doctors and after numerous rounds of testing, imaging, and treatment, they prescribe narcotic painkillers?lots of them. Ruthie became bedridden, dependent on painkillers, and hopeless, when an X-ray reveals that the wire used to fuse her spine is piercing her brain stem. Without another staggeringly expensive experimental surgery, she could well become paralyzed, but in many ways, she already is. Ruthie goes into the hospital in chronic pain, dependent on prescription painkillers, and leaves that way. She can still walk, but has no idea where she?s going. As her life unravels, Ruthie returns home to Louisiana and sets out on a journey to learn joy again. She trades fentanyl for sunsets and morphine for wildflowers, weaning herself off of the drugs and beginning the process of healing?of coming home to her body. You are not alone! We have virtual rooms you can join 24/7 to talk with other liturgists from around the world. To find out more, visit theliturgists.com

Most of us are cooped up inside our homes and are social distancing in response to COVID-19. If we live with people, this marathon of close proximity may engage our feelings and heighten both the good and bad elements in our relationships. In this episode, Lisa Gungor joins Michael to talk about fighting, communication, and how they have grown over the years. To put your event on the calendar for one of the virtual rooms, go to theliturgists.com/community and follow the link that says schedule. You are not alone! You can join us each Sunday to talk with other liturgists around the world and meet in small groups. It is one of the most meaningful things we do. To find out more, visit theliturgists.com and look for the "Join The Liturgists" button.

Dr. Hillary McBride, Science Mike, William Matthews, and Michael Gungor talk about COVID-19 and its impact on our health, culture, and economy. Many news sources are discussing the pandemic using the titles "Coronavirus" or "COVID-19." Here are some quick facts and terminology to help you understand what it all means: This virus is a "novel coronavirus," meaning it is a new coronavirus that humans have not experienced before The virus' name is SARS-CoV-2 The disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 is called COVID-19 which stands for Coronavirus Disease-2019 There are 3 strategies that health experts recommend: Hygienic measures like frequent hand-washing, avoiding touching your face, always covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and STAYING HOME when you exhibit any symptoms of illness. Sanitizing surfaces often, like light switches, door knobs, desks, and counter-tops. Social Distancing (more on this below) A primary way to aid in this crisis is the third point: social distancing. Here are the 3 elements of proper social distancing: Meet in-person with people less often. When you do meet with people, limit how many people are present. (As of mid-March 2020 that looks like less than 10 people at one time.) When you interact with people, keep a 6 foot bubble around yourself. Greet with a wave and show kindness with your words instead of handshakes, hugs, or other physical touch. Here are 6 ideas for how to cope with stress and isolation during this time: Be physically active in your home through yoga, push ups, stretching or our favorite: a dance party! Physical activity allows your body to release tension instead of storing it. Using movement and expression can help our nervous system get back to a state of rest. Strategically be active in open, outdoor spaces where few people are. Go for a walk in the woods, hike on a trail, or run in a large open park. Talk virtually with friends and family often. Here at The Liturgists, we are running The Sunday Thing every Sunday at 11am Pacific as a way to get connected with people ? you are invited! Visit theliturgists.com and there is a big button to sign up. Practice meditation and mindfulness. Even for just a few moments a day notice what is happening with your thoughts and see if you can try to catch them if they are wandering into anxiety-laden territory Scan your body regularly for tension, if you notice it, try to take some breaths, soften your muscles, or practice progressive Muscle Relaxation (you can look lots of these audio tracks and scripts up online). Play, create, make, express, design, write. Move things through you existentially. Turning your inside stuff into something on the outside can be so empowering. You can transform your pain and uncertainty into something beautiful you can see. Plus, share what you are making by going to theliturgists.com/make You can also stay up-to-date with the CDC's COVID-19 Resource Guide. You are not alone! You can join us each Sunday to talk with other liturgists around the world and meet in small groups. It is one of the most meaningful things we do. To find out more, visit theliturgists.com and look for the "Join The Liturgists" button.

Deconstruction is a common experience for people in The Liturgists Community. We all have stories of how we grew up, memories of what we were taught, and key ideas that still influence us. We may use many words to describe our deconstruction: freeing, scary, lonely, or exciting. The social cost of deconstruction can also be very high. We may feel like our social circles alienated us, or that our family abandoned us. In this episode, Dr. Hillary McBride and Michael Gungor talk about deconstruction and how it affects us. They explore the emotions that we feel, the narratives we tell ourselves, and how we can embrace healthy outlooks and overcome the difficult aspects of deconstruction. You are not alone! You can join us each Sunday to talk with other liturgists around the world and meet in small groups. It is one of the most meaningful things we do. To find out more, visit theliturgists.com and look for the "Join The Liturgists" button.

While pleasure is usually positive and suffering usually negative, Christian culture often celebrates suffering while denigrating pleasure. Phrases like "dying to the flesh" highlight how we learn to internalize martyrdom in order to please God. Unfortunately, when we suppress our personal needs to conform to this social norm, the result can often lead to a loss of identity. In this episode, Linda Kay Klein, Dr. Hillary McBride, and Michael Gungor talk about the complexity of pleasure, and Linda shares how her fixation on suffering landed her in the hospital at one point in her life. They discuss different ways of understanding pleasure and suffering and how we can all develop a healthier perspective. You are not alone! You can join us each Sunday to talk with other liturgists around the world and meet in small groups. It is one of the most meaningful things we do. To find out more, visit theliturgists.com and look for the "Join The Liturgists" button.

In this episode, we highlight two poets: James Baldwin and Maya Angelou. Both were best selling authors and world-renown poets. We highlight their words as they relate to art, the creative process, and the moral responsibility the artist carries to humanity and society. James Baldwin wrestles with that tension in his speech at the University of Chicago in 1963. Maya Angelou discusses her love for humanity and performs her poem "Still I Rise." Let's listen to James Baldwin and Maya Angelou. If you like this podcast, join The Liturgists to receive even more content like this and talk with other liturgists via our weekly video chat.

In this episode, we focus on the words of two men who early on had two very different opinions, but at the end of their lives they were much closer together ? closer than you may think. These two men were Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Pay attention and hear the nuance in their words. Envision yourself transported back to the 1960's and be mindful to really hear their perspectives. Let's listen to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. If you like this podcast, join The Liturgists to receive even more content like this and talk with other liturgists via our weekly video chat.

Womanism doesn't position itself in relation to masculinity, whereas black feminism and feminism specifically seek to elevate women to the status of men socially, politically, and economically; and also overcome patriarchy, sexism, and oppression. Black feminism asserts that the experience of black women places them in a unique position as they relate to patriarchy, sexism, and oppression. There is a distinct focus on class, gender expression, and sexual orientation as it relates to the distribution of power socially, politically, and economically. Womanism has been called "women loving other women." It doesn't position itself with masculinity which is a specific contrast with feminism. Let's talk about Womanism & Black Feminism. If you like this podcast, join The Liturgists to receive even more content like this and talk with other liturgists via our weekly video chat.

There is a God shaped hole in your heart, or at least that's what a white Jesus texted his friend in the tract you read as a kid. We were told we need Jesus because total depravity ? our inherent defect ? has separated us from God. As well, the idea of hell is a strong incentive to share the story of Jesus with others, because if we don't share those people will be tormented forever. In many communities, Jesus was the way people cleaned up their lives, got off drugs or alcohol, and found stability. Being invited into a supportive community like a church is what some people needed to find a job and thrive. What do we do with the religious superiority that stems from seeing everyone else as inherently wrong? What do we do when we see everyone else as needing a life altering conversion? What do we do with the way colonialism has been paired with evangelism to ignore and scrub away people's culture and context? Often the way people teach others about Jesus misses the entire message of who Jesus was. In this episode, Dr. Hillary McBride, William Matthews, and Michael Gungor talk about these ideas of needing Jesus and sharing Jesus with others. We recorded live at The Solvang Folk School Talks in Solvang, California. You are not alone! You can join us each Sunday to talk with other liturgists around the world and meet in small groups. It is one of the most meaningful things we do. To find out more, visit theliturgists.com and look for the "Join The Liturgists" button.

An American lawyer, social justice activist, founder/executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, and a clinical professor at New York University School of Law. Based in Montgomery, Alabama, he has challenged bias against the poor and minorities in the criminal justice system, especially children. He has argued multiple cases in front of the Supreme Court and helped achieve decisions that prohibit sentencing children under 18 to death or to life imprisonment without parole. Stevenson has assisted in cases that have saved dozens of prisoners from the death penalty, advocated for the poor, and developed community-based reform litigation aimed at improving the administration of criminal justice. He initiated the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, which honors the names of each of the more than 4,000 African Americans lynched in the 12 states of the South from 1877 to 1950. He argues that the history of slavery and lynchings has influenced the subsequent high rate of death sentences in the South, where it has been disproportionately applied to minorities. Let's talk about Bryan Stevenson. If you like this podcast, join The Liturgists to receive even more content like this and talk with other liturgists via our weekly video chat.

An American political activist, philosopher, academic, and author. Ideologically a Marxist, she was a member of Communist Party USA until 1991 after which she joined the Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism. She is the author of over 10 books on class, feminism, and the US prison system. She involved herself in a range of leftist causes, including the second-wave feminist movement, the Black Panther Party, and the campaign against the Vietnam War. In 1991, she joined the feminist studies department at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she became department director before retiring in 2008. Since then she has continued to write and remained active in movements such as Occupy and the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign. Praised by many Marxists and others on the far left, Davis has received various awards, including the Lenin Peace Prize. She has also sustained criticism for her support for political violence and her refusal to advocate for prisoners in Marxist-Leninist countries. Let's talk about Angela Davis. If you like this podcast, join The Liturgists to receive even more content like this and talk with other liturgists via our weekly video chat.

An American writer, feminist, womanist, librarian, and civil rights activist. As a poet, she is best known for technical mastery and emotional expression, as well as her poems that express anger and outrage at civil and social injustices she observed throughout her life. Her poems, and prose largely deal with civil rights, feminism, lesbianism, illness, disability, and the exploration of black female identity. Let's talk about Audre Lorde. If you like this podcast, join The Liturgists to receive even more content like this and talk with other liturgists via our weekly video chat.

An African-American professional boxer, activist, and philanthropist. Born as Cassius Marcellus Clay, he changed his name in the early sixties after converting to Islam. He won the world heavyweight championship from Sonny Liston at a major upset in 1964 at age 22. He later refused to be drafted into the military during the Vietnam War, and was then arrested, found guilty of draft evasion, and stripped of his boxing titles. The ruling was later overruled during an appeal to the Supreme Court. His actions as a conscientious objector to the war made him an icon for the larger counter culture generation and the civil rights movement. Sports Illustrated has called him the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time and the greatest athlete of the 20th century. He also received two Grammy nominations. Let's talk about Muhammad Ali. If you like this podcast, join The Liturgists to receive even more content like this and talk with other liturgists via our weekly video chat.

An American theologian. Best known for his black theology and black liberation theology. His 1969 book Black Theology and Black Power provided a new way to comprehensively define the distinctiveness of theology in the black church. His message was that black power ? defined as black people asserting the humanity that white supremacy denied ? was the gospel in America. He argued that Jesus came to liberate the oppressed, and that white, American churches preached the gospel according to white supremacy. Let's talk about James Cone. If you like this podcast, join The Liturgists to receive even more content like this and talk with other liturgists via our weekly video chat.

An American activist and revolutionary socialist. He rose quickly in the Black Panthers based on his organizing skills, substantial oratorical gifts, and personal charisma. He took chairmanship of the Illinois state Black Panther Party after the party split. Because of his strong leadership, in 1967 the FBI identified him as a radical threat and began to subvert his activities in Chicago. In December of 1969, he was shot and killed in his bed during a pre-dawn raid of his apartment by Cook County State Attorney's office in conjunction with the the Chicago Police Department and the FBI. At the time, the homicide was considered justified, but in 1982, a settlement of $1.85 million was paid to 9 plaintiffs after a civil lawsuit was brought against the three law enforcement organizations responsible for his death. Scholars now widely consider Hampton's death an assassination initiated under the FBI. Let's talk about Fred Hampton & The Black Panthers. If you like this podcast, join The Liturgists to receive even more content like this and talk with other liturgists via our weekly video chat.

Scapegoating is a common human response to difficult situations. We have a tendency to point to another group of people as the source of our world's woes. But is the solution simply saying "they" are the problem? What happens when "they" scapegoat "us" in response? In this episode, Peter Rollins and Michael Gungor talk about how we can engage in productive conflict in a world where technological advancements have only highlighted how much we disagree, and how we can see ourselves through other people's eyes to overcome social challenges together. Peter Rollins is a philosopher, storyteller, producer, public speaker, and author of numerous books, including Insurrection, The Idolatry of God, and The Divine Magician.  Peter earned his PhD in Post-Structural Thought from Queens University. You are not alone! You can join us each Sunday to talk with other liturgists around the world and meet in small groups. It is one of the most meaningful things we do. To find out more, visit theliturgists.com and look for the "Join The Liturgists" button.

An American poet, singer, memoirist, and civil rights advocate. She published seven autobiographies, many books of essays, many books of poetry, and is credited with plays, movies, and television shows. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees. In 1969, her first autobiography "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings" brought her into national recognition. She worked with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Let's talk about Maya Angelou. If you like this podcast, join The Liturgists to receive even more content like this and talk with other liturgists via our weekly video chat.

An American novelist, playwright, and activist. His essays explore intricacies of racial, sexual, and class distinctions in western societies. He frequently appeared on television and delivered speeches on college campuses. His church experience significantly shaped his worldview and his writing. He accused American Christianity of reinforcing the system of American slavery by lessening the pains of oppression and delaying salvation until a promised afterlife. Let's talk about James Baldwin. If you like this podcast, join The Liturgists to receive even more content like this and talk with other liturgists via our weekly video chat.

An American actor, famous for his roles throughout the 50s and 60s. In 1958, he received the nomination for best actor for his role in "The Defiant Ones" which was the first time a black actor had received such a nomination. In 1964, he won the Academy Award and the Golden Globe for best actor for his role in "Lillies of the Field." In 1967 he performed in several break out films like "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," "In the Heat of the Night," and "To Sir, with Love." In 1974, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth and in 2009 he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Let's talk about Sidney Poitier. If you like this podcast, join The Liturgists to receive even more content like this and talk with other liturgists via our weekly video chat.

An American, Muslim minister and human rights activist. Born Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska in 1925. He was sent to prison for 10 years in 1946 for larceny and breaking and entering. In prison, he joined the Nation of Islam and adopted the name "Malcolm X" because "Little" was the name of the white slave master. After being paroled, he became one of the most influential leaders in the Nation of Islam. He advocated black empowerment, the separation of black and white Americans, and rejected the civil rights movement for its emphasis racial integration. Later in his life, he regretted some of his work with the Nation of Islam and after a personal hajj ? an islamic pilgrimage ? began to advocate racial integration. He was assassinated in 1965 by three members of the Nation of Islam. Let's talk about Malcolm X. If you like this podcast, join The Liturgists to receive even more content like this and talk with other liturgists via our weekly video chat.

An American lawyer who served as associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1967 until 1991. He was the Supreme Court's first African-American justice. Before joining the court, Marshall successfully argued several cases before the Supreme Court including Brown v. Board of Education. In 1987, Marshall gave a controversial speech stating "The government [the Founding Fathers] devised was defective from the start. Requiring several amendments, a civil war, and major social transformations to attain the system of Constitutional government and its respect for the freedoms and individual rights we hold as fundamental today..." Let's talk about Thurgood Marshall. If you like this podcast, join The Liturgists to receive even more content like this and talk with other liturgists via our weekly video chat.

An American, Christian minister and activist. He became the most visible spokesperson and leader in the Civil Rights Movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968. King is best known for advancing civil rights through nonviolence and civil disobedience, inspired by his Christian beliefs and the nonviolent activism of Mahatma Gandhi. J. Edgar Hoover considered King a radical and made him an object of the FBI's counter intelligence program. In October 1964, King won the Nobel Peace Prize for combatting racial inequality through nonviolent resistance. He helped organize many public marches and protests including the March on Washington and the Selma to Montgomery marches. Let's talk about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. If you like this podcast, join The Liturgists to receive even more content like this and talk with other liturgists via our weekly video chat.

An American activist in the civil rights movement best known for her role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott. On December 1, 1955, she rejected an order to relinquish her seat in the colored section of a bus to a white passenger after the "whites only" section was full. Her act of defiance became an important symbol of the civil rights movement. Although widely honored for her act, she also was fired from her job and received death threats for years afterwards. Let's talk about Rosa Parks. If you like this podcast, join The Liturgists to receive even more content like this and talk with other liturgists via our weekly video chat.

In 1955, at only 14 years old, Emmett Till was abducted and lynched by two white men. Till was accused of offending Carolyn Bryant, a white woman, in her family's grocery store. Regardless, in September 1955 an all-white jury found the killers not guilty of Till's kidnapping and murder. A few months after the trial, the two killers spoke publicly with Look Magazine and admitted they had murdered Till. Later in 2008, Bryant admitted that she lied about important details of her testimony. Emmett Till's lynching was a catalyst for the civil rights movement and its impact reverberates forward to today. Let's talk about Emmett Till and Jim Crow. If you like this podcast, join The Liturgists to receive even more content like this and talk with other liturgists via our weekly video chat.

Many of us feel like something is wrong with us if we are single. Some times we don't feel loved or feel unlovable. But what does it mean to be "single?" And what does it mean to be "loved?" Those don't have to be related. The way we receive love or feel love for ourselves is often tied up in how other people view us and the cultural norms we experience everyday. What if we separated those? In this episode, Dr. Hillary McBride, Key Williams, Jamie Lee Finch, and Michael Gungor talk about the dynamics that affect how we live and experience love. We can tell ourselves a different story about being single ? a positive story that we can experience love regardless of our relationship status. You are not alone! You can join us each Sunday to talk with other liturgists around the world and meet in small groups. It is one of the most meaningful things we do. To find out how to join The Liturgists, visit theliturgists.com and look for the "Join The Liturgists" button.