In this episode, Phil and Susie explore the topic of prophecy.  We discuss what prophecy is, what criteria something needs to meet in order to be considered ”fulfilled” prophecy, examples of ”fulfilled” prophecy from the bible and determining if they meet the criteria, modern false prophets, and how the gift of prophecy has changed over the centuries.  Be warned, there is a lot of bible in this episode and we compare the biblical text to historical data to help us determine if the bible really does have fulfilled prophecy.  There are a lot of links in the show notes section if you’d like to dig into this further.   We also wanted to give our listeners the opportunity to support a fellow creator within the community, Tim Mills of Harmonic Atheist, who is in the midst of a difficult family and legal situation and needs some real support and help.  You can connect with Tim at any of the links below to support his channels and to make a donation to help him in this time of need.   One time PayPal: paypal.me/harmonictim  Venmo: @harmonicatheist   Zelle email: [email protected]   GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-tim-stay-full-time-on-harmonic-atheist  Monthly https://www.patreon.com/harmonicatheist Tim’s YouTube Channel:  https://www.youtube.com/@HarmonicAtheist  https://linktr.ee/harmonicatheist Show Notes and Sources https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/11/us/christian-prophets-predictions.html&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1716648572040904&usg=AOvVaw1Jw347u5kFJt5vioK1Asuy https://sites.google.com/site/errorsinthebible/failed-prophecies/6-failed-proph  https://www.tyndalebulletin.org/article/29192-prediction-and-foreknowledge-in-ezekiel-s-prophecy-against-tyre.pdf https://www.gotquestions.org/Tyre-rebuilt-prophecy.html https://sites.google.com/site/errorsinthebible/failed-prophecies/the-bible-s-broken-promises https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predictions_and_claims_for_the_Second_Coming https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/apocalypse/explanation/bdaniel.html https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/apocalypse/primary/white.html https://www.modernreformation.org/resources/articles/the-mod-the-messianic-prophecies-in-the-book-of-daniel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Revelation https://www.craiggreenfield.com/blog/moderndayprophets Psalm 22 video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKRzo_wtSwk  Join our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/dangerousquestions   Follow us at https://www.flawedtheologypodcast.com  and subscribe wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.   Rate and review the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcast

In this episode, airing on Mother’s Day (which we didn’t realize at the time of recording), Phil and Suzie chat with Diane, who is a long-time Virginia resident, a mom to a brilliant nearly-25-year-old, and completely owned by a big, goofy black lab and two cats – one perfect angel and one complete ass. She adores them all. She also loves to swim, write, and travel, and she’s fascinated by architecture, especially old churches. Some have said that’s God reaching out to her, but that just makes her snort. An agnostic atheist since her late teens (but a doubter since childhood), she was indoctrinated and raised in the Methodist church. She enjoys hearing about others’ spiritual journeys, even when she doesn’t understand them.   We have a fascinating conversation about her upbringing, her transition from indoctrination to atheism, and the freedom, hope, and joy that she has found outside of religion and faith.  Diane is the ultimate example of what many people strive for while deconstructing, namely the desire to be free, be herself, and connect with people on her own terms.   Diane writes on her blog, Breathing Underwater.  You can connect with her at https://breathingunder-water.blogspot.com/  Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube @flawedtheology  Join us on our Facebook group Dangerous Questions Listen to us on our website https://www.flawedtheologypodcast.com and on all major podcast platforms. Rate and review us on Spotify, Apple, YouTube Music.

In this episode, Phil and Suzie talk with Darante’ Lamar in an incredible, wide-ranging, and passionate discussion about his faith background, his life in ministry, what lead to his deconversion, and the impact of faith and the journey away from faith on him as an Black man and the black community.    Bio: Darante’ LaMar’s journey from serving as a leader in both charismatic megachurches and hyper spiritual storefront churches, to embracing a life of secularism and reason, offers a unique perspective on the evolution of faith in contemporary society. With a background that includes virtually every role within the ministry, Darante’ brings a comprehensive understanding of the inner workings of religious organizations and the impact they have on individuals and communities. Currently, Darante’ is a Global Project Manager and DEI executive in the healthcare industry. He serves, alongside his wife, as the managing partner of DLDD World Group - a nonprofit committed to people centric projects, programs and progress. He is the author of three published books: Significant, Parenting on Purpose, and Memphis: The Last Supper and three upcoming books, Making The Jump, Christ Held Up and The Case for Religion  Link to the ”Hell” video referenced in the episode:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-mQwkFBgaY Where to Find Darante:  Social Media  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbROOoAVy40Cv5NtKccRClg  https://www.facebook.com/darante.martin/  https://twitter.com/DaranteLaMarX  https://www.tiktok.com/@darantelamar7 https://www.dldd.us  Books  https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3ADarante%27+LaMar&s=relevancerank&text=Darante%27+LaMar&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1 Significant - https://www.amazon.com/Significant-diffidence-confidence-Darante-LaMar/dp/1506105572/ref=monarch_sidesheet Follow on Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube @flawedtheology Join our Facebook group, Dangerous Questions https://www.flawedtheologypodcast.com

In this episode, Phil and Susie discuss the correlation between religious ideology and the ideologies of authoritarianism.  This was suggested to us as a It’s a Feature, not a Bug” idea, but we decided to expand it to a full episode topic, because there’s a lot of interesting things to talk about! Thanks to one of our listeners who suggested the topic. Data Nuggets Segment:  Is there intelligent life on other planets? Opinions of the religious and non-religious. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2021/07/28/religious-americans-less-likely-to-believe-intelligent-life-exists-on-other-planets/ Sources:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_and_authoritarianism  https://theconversation.com/trumps-use-of-religion-follows-playbook-of-authoritarian-leaning-leaders-the-world-over-140050 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3389201/  https://oxfordre.com/politics/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228637.001.0001/acrefore-9780190228637-e-667 https://one.npr.org/?sharedMediaId=1236709842:1236709862

In our first standalone Flawed Theology in Real Life segment, Phil and Susie analyze a clip where the concept of God creating evil is compared to the realities of cold and darkness.  See if you think this theology is flawed and why? Source Material: https://www.facebook.com/reel/3477048449227507

As deconstruction and deconversion are becoming more prevalent in our world, the institutions of Xtianity are flailing to craft a response that will attempt to stem the tide of people leaving the faith, the church, and god himself.  The “explanations” of why people are leaving, of course, they are not based in reality or facts, because most have never spoken with anyone who’s actually left to find out their real reasons.  In this episode, Phil and Suzie debunk many of these common “myths” that the church attempts to sell as the real reasons for deconstruction.   Show Notes & Links https://relevantmagazine.com/current/skillets-john-cooper-its-time-to-declare-war-against-this-deconstruction-christian-movement/ Data Nuggets:  Catholics and Climate Change https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/09/28/the-pope-is-concerned-about-climate-change-how-do-us-catholics-feel-about-it/  It’s Not a Bug, It’s a Feature: Conspiracy Theories https://www.deseret.com/indepth/2021/3/28/22334183/what-group-of-christians-most-likely-believe-conspiracy-theories-white-evangelicals-qanon-faith/  https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2021/07/27/what-drives-belief-in-conspiracy-theories-a-lack-of-religion-or-too-much Follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube @flawedtheolgy Join our Facebook group, Dangerous Questions

In this bonus segment from episode 1, Phil and Susie talk about her cat, a fatal illness, and how it all relates to flawed theology.  Enjoy!

We are back for Season 3 and we are excited to be here! In this premiere episode, Phil and Susie catch on things since we took a break for the holidays and talk about what’s to come in Season 3! We will introduce two new segments for this season, ”Data Nuggets” and ”It’s Not a Bug, It’s a Feature!”  Data Nuggets Link:  https://www.npr.org/2024/01/24/1226371734/religious-nones-are-now-the-largest-single-group-in-the-u-s It’s not a bug, it’s a feature! https://www.whsv.com/2024/02/02/ruckersville-church-pastor-arrested-charged-with-sexual-battery/ Over the break, Phil also had the chance to talk Stacie Grahn, aka Apostacie on Instagram and the host of the ”Stacie’s Mom Podcast” on YouTube.  We had an incredible discussion about her life, faith background, and eventual deconstruction from charismatic christianity.  Stacie Bio: Stacie Grahn was raised in a charismatic born-again Christian environment. In 2019, she began questioning her beliefs, which eventually led her to embrace atheism by 2021. Now an active voice online, Stacie shares her story to support others grappling with their faith. Together with her mom, who also transitioned away from religion, they host a podcast discussing their own processes as well as inviting other people on who have had similar experiences. Stacie lives in British Columbia Canada with her husband and 3 boys. Stacie’s links: https://www.instagram.com/apostacie/  Stacie’s Mom Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@thestaciesmompodcast   Secular Soapbox: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQ1xdPR2h5U&list=PLK-HLKx4ZI5vx4m0ebcVnqARHE7FKgNac  https://linktr.ee/apostacie  Stacie’s Resources: Thinking Atheist: https://www.thethinkingatheist.com/ MindShift: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ1tYgwUDYAqGSE7RGLx5CQ  Recovering from Religion: https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/  The Line: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIv3LvN_0CNzMpSrTF9naNA  Street Epistemology:  https://www.youtube.com/@magnabosco210  Paulogia: https://www.youtube.com/@Paulogia  Flawed Theology Links https://www.flawedtheologypodcast.com www.facebook.com/groups/dangerousquestions

In this episode, Phil and Susie attempt to tackle a really broad subject, the historical Jesus. We want to be clear that we are not biblical scholars and that there is no way in the course of this episode that we are going to provide definitive answers to the questions we will be asking today.  Biblical scholars have dedicated their whole lives to this topic and we hope to spark your interest in the topic, just as we have been fascinated by it.  We are going to try to address 3 main questions about Jesus, and the reason that we are tackling these questions is because a lot of Xtians like to say that their faith is “not a religion”, but is “all about Jesus”.  So, like Slim Shady, we’re asking the real Jesus to “please stand up”.    Notes and Links https://jamesbishopblog.com/2021/01/08/the-historical-jesus-as-an-apocalyptic-prophet/  https://ehrmanblog.org/did-jesus-call-himself-god/  https://www.flawedtheology.com/2022/01/did-jesus-ride-two-donkeys-into.html  https://coldcasechristianity.com/writings/a-thorough-guide-to-the-non-canonical-gospels/  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_Jesus  https://vridar.org/2016/03/28/bart-ehrman-jesus-before-the-gospels-basic-element-3-oral-tradition/  https://ehrmanblog.org/did-the-triumphal-entry-really-happen/

In this episode, Phil and Susie talk with Caitlin, owner of Atheist Aesthetic.  Caitlin is from Texas and she shares a lot of wisdom about her journey away from faith, her thoughts on being an ”angry atheist” and how she moved forward from that stage to being happy, fulfilled, and confident in who she is and how she can live a good and moral life without the overwatch of a deity.  She is passionate about many non-profit organizations and she shares a ton of good resources for anyone on a path of questioning their belief system.  Lots of links below for your reference. Show Notes and Resources: Atheist Aesthetic on Etsy:   https://www.etsy.com/shop/AtheistAesthetic?coupon=FLAWED   FT listeners can use the code FLAWED and get 15% off their purchase at the shop. Personal Values Inventory: https://personalvalu.es/   https://www.oasisnetwork.com/ https://www.seculartherapy.org/  https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/human-brain/gods-hearing-voices-and-bicameral-mind.htm https://www.amazon.com/Skeptics-Annotated-Bible-Steve-Wells/dp/0988245108?ref=d6k_applink_bb_dls&dplnkId=21decb48-c904-4ec7-b2f1-6a3a9433bc9c  Non-Profits to Support:  Freedom from Religion Foundation https://ffrf.org/  Recovering from Religion : https://www.recoveringfromreligion.org/  Secular Therapy Project: https://www.seculartherapy.org/  Footsteps:  https://footstepsorg.org/ Join our Facebook page at facebook.com/groups/dangerousquestions Follow us at flawedtheologypodcast.com and subscribe wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.   Rate and review the podcast on Google, Spotify, and Apple Podcast