Beer Christianity podcast
Faith, hops and love. Beer Christianity is a progressive Christian podcast that blends faith, politics and culture with pub chat. Interviews with thinkers, artists and theologians. Honest, authentic discussions of theology and society. Almost no real understanding of beer. Expect all this and a bunch of laughs as we try to deconstruct, reconstruct and unf*ck our Christianity with fear, trembling and a couple of drinks. Pour a pint, put your feet up and listen your way into a different kind of Christian podcast. A fresh alternative to conservative Christian podcasts that fail to question anything and deconstructing podcasts that see nothing in evangelicalism worth saving. Expect strong political views, open religious dialogue and the occasional shambles in the ‘studio’.
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Episode 112: The uncontrolling God - Simon Cross and Thomas Oord
05/19/2025
Episode 112: The uncontrolling God - Simon Cross and Thomas Oord
What if God wasn’t all-powerful? What if you already held a theology that the mainstream Church saw as heretical? What are Process Theology and Open and Relational Theology? Simon Cross and Thomas Oord join us for this episode to talk about a theology that, in a sense, rejects the images of God that don’t make sense in the light of God’s goodness. One part of that is seeing God as emotional, and not all-powerful. Jonty and Laura talk to them about their ideas about God, about dealing with people with abhorrent ideas and about the conference Simon and Thomas are contributing to in June 2025. We don’t agree on everything, but we’re surprised at how much we do agree on. You can get tickets to If you’re interested in whether God is in control or not, and if you want to hear Laura getting increasingly uncomfortable with Jonty arguing with a guest, this one is for you.
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Episode 111 - Dan McClellan - the Bible, TikTok and right-wing identity politics
02/26/2025
Episode 111 - Dan McClellan - the Bible, TikTok and right-wing identity politics
Dan McClellan is a different kind of biblical scholar. He has a cult following on TikTok, regularly engages with conspiracy and misinformation content to debunk it, and isn't afraid to speak about politics. Many of us have come to welcome Dan's "alright, let's see it" on stitches of lurid and ridiculous pseudo-religion online, and along the way, we've learned a lot about what the Bible is and isn't. Dan's takes are challenging not just to right-wing conspiracy theorists, but to many traditional Christian assumptions. What's nice is that he recognises that, and that he has no particular agenda aside from presenting data and academic consensus as an alternative to dogma and misinformation. Jonty caught up with Dan a few months ago to talk about the Bible, its misuses and our misunderstandings about it. Among other things, Dan shares the best and worst Bible translations, the biblical 'position' (such as it is) on abortion, and how an academic got onto an app for Korean teenagers to troll politicians. You can find more from Dan McClellan at and also at the . is out in April 2025. Follow Dan on socials by finding his handle: @maklelan An edited version of this interview appears in . It’s a good issue. You should buy it. Find out more about Beer Christianity at
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Episode 110 - Naomi Nixon of the Student Christian Movement
02/24/2025
Episode 110 - Naomi Nixon of the Student Christian Movement
What can good church look like? What is 'success' if you're a progressive Christian? Do Christians who aren't conservative have to give up on things like evangelism and outreach? After a little break, we are delighted to welcome Naomi Nixon, CEO of the Student Christian Movement, which seeks to offer an affirming, progressive space that encourages Christians to put their faith into action. We talk about all these questions and more! We loved this episode because Naomi is just great, but also because it's cool to meet progressives who have nice things to say about conservatives. Listen to find out more about SCM's vision and campaigns, as well as a cool discussion about how we live out our faith without exclusively 'defining against' or giving up ground that the self-proclaimed arbiters of holiness have claimed for too long. Check out SCM at and check out naomi's bookshelf interview in the upcoming issue of S(h)ibboleth magazine at To find out more about Beer Christianity, visit
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Episode 109- The true meaning of Christmas - Yuletide, Luigi and our new magazine: S(h)ibboleth
12/21/2024
Episode 109- The true meaning of Christmas - Yuletide, Luigi and our new magazine: S(h)ibboleth
What is the true meaning of Christmas? Is there such a thing? What is the Luigi Mangione situation all about? Do we buy the billionaire and media narrative that he (or whoever The Adjuster is) should not be lionized? And more importantly than any of that: why did we create S(h)ibboleth magazine, and what can readers expect from it? A lot of bloody questions being asked by your chaotic friends at Beer Christianity. You may or may not like our answers. But you will hear more interesting takes than almost anywhere else in Christian media. And that ain't nothing. Tune into this episode for our take on the health insurance CEO who had his claim on life denied, and to find out more about S(h)ibboleth magazine, which launched this week. Along the way we also discuss what the true meaning of Christmas is and what it means to us. And this fine cup (or C-cup, we guess). Love ya! More from Beer Christianity at and Find
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Episode 108 - Tony Campolo: remembering the man with archive interview
11/21/2024
Episode 108 - Tony Campolo: remembering the man with archive interview
Tony Campolo, the Baptist preacher, sociologist, Red Letter Christian and ceaseless campaigner for a Christian vision of social justice, has died. In this episode, we pay tribute to Tony in the best way we know how: by letting him speak for himself. Eventually. First, we talk about our own memories of him, and his influence on our theology. But once we've done making it about us, we share an interview with Tony from the vaults. In 2012, Tony Campolo was concerned about many of the things that are now even more pressing and horrifying. The interview feels prophetic in multiple understandings of the word, and Campolo is solid on everything from American militarism and imperialism to the incompatibility of Christian spirituality with right-wing ideological selfishness. His identification of the central problem with evangelical engagement with culture -- the idea that everything gets better if people become Christians -- is expressed particularly poignantly, considering where we are with the Church in the West. We hope you enjoy hearing from Tony again, and that you remember his family and friends at this time. Full disclosure: we also talk a lot about why we're excited about our new magazine, . We hope it doesn't come across as a sales pitch and more as the genuine excitement we're feeling about connecting more Christians with similar beliefs and making the world better as a result. Naive? Maybe. Worth a shot? Sure. Fun? Hell yeah. Find out deets at and
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Episode 107 - Religion and the Right: Helen Paynter on the Bible and fighting fascism
11/19/2024
Episode 107 - Religion and the Right: Helen Paynter on the Bible and fighting fascism
The Far Right is on the rise. And, increasingly, fascists and proto-fascists are using Christian language and imagery to justify their position. What should a Christian response be? Can we really say that our faith is being 'hijacked' by racists and bigots, or is there deeper acknowledgement and repentance to be done in the service of justice? And if fascists are the enemy, what do wee do with the command to love them? The brilliant Revd Dr Helen Paynter, theologian, Executive Director of the Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence, and Beer Christianity's most regular guest, talks to Jonty and Laura about all this and more. It's a good one! Helpful links from the episode Visit the page for for a list of events coming up. Specific events on the horizon (at time of publishing) include , a and a . You can and should get hold of Helen's books we mentioned (edited and written) at these links: And you can also check out a . ALSO. We are launching a magazine. You're going to love it. It's called , and you can read all about the here. Find out more about Beer Christianity at
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Episode 106: Brian McLaren - hope in uncertain futures - plus S(h)ibboleth announcement
11/07/2024
Episode 106: Brian McLaren - hope in uncertain futures - plus S(h)ibboleth announcement
Brian McLaren is one of the most important and influential voices in the Christian deconstruction movement. He's also one hell of a nice guy. Brian's influence on the post-evangelical Church is hard to overstate, and yet he remains humble and approachable as ever. We caught up with him at Greenbelt festival in August 2024 and talked to him about deconstruction, US election harm reduction and that appalling Musk-Trump interview. We also asked him about hope and the future. It's a great chat. Brian McLaren's latest book, right now. S(h)pecial announcement: S(h)ibboleth magazine launch We also take the opportunity in this episode to tell you about the launch of - our new magazine for left-leaning inclusive Christians (or the post-post-post evangelical and Christian-adjacent). Find out more at Find out more about Beer Christianity at
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Episode 105 - SHORT - October 8th and everything after - with Christians for Palestine
10/08/2024
Episode 105 - SHORT - October 8th and everything after - with Christians for Palestine
One year on from the attacks of October 7th 2023, and from the disproportionate Israeli campaign of violence that followed, it is more important than ever for Christians and all people who care about human rights and political justice to stand up and speak out against genocide, occupation and collective punishment. That's why people like are such an essential witness. We caught up with them on the most recent march in solidarity with Palestine. Follow on Instagram now.
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Episode 104 - David Benjamin Blower - Art, anarchism and not deconstructing
10/06/2024
Episode 104 - David Benjamin Blower - Art, anarchism and not deconstructing
David Benjamin Blower is a musician, poet, podcaster and theologian who you may have encountered on the Nomad podcast, his Messianic Folklore podcast or the Common Era podcast (described as 'conversations between a Catholic Priest and a post-evangelical poet'). With all that in mind, it was very kind of him to join us on Beer Christianity and we liked him very much. On this episode, David talks to us about art and being an artist, deconstruction and why he wouldn't describe his own journey using that term, as well as anarchism and a little theology. Jonty also gets to fangirl a little about a particular Benjamin Blower song and find out what kind of space David creates to write. Join us ofr a fascinating, thoughtful meander through the mind of an important figure in the post-evangelical scene. You can find more of David's work at Listen to ! 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 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 . 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 Follow and find us on , , 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 we might air your question on an episode. There's also a connected Show With Music on Spotify called . Check it out if you like . Other things… Malky’s design work has graced many good magazines and music videos. You can . Jonty's novel, , 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.
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Episode 103 - Steve Chalke: th eonly Oasis interview you need
09/13/2024
Episode 103 - Steve Chalke: th eonly Oasis interview you need
Did we make a joke about the reunion tour? Definitely maybe. Steve Chalke is founder of Oasis, a hugely significant charity most famous for its youthwork initiatives and other social impact subbrands. He's also been a controversial figure in the UK Church, ever since, as a Baptist minister, he came out against Penal Substitution as an image of Christ's atonement, and came out in favour of equal marriage for gay couples. In this episode, Malky, Laura and Jonty chat to Steve about Paul and Jesus, the Church's hang-ups about sexuality, honest assessments of the professional youthwork experiment and how he guards against Beloved Founder Syndrome bleeding into problematic areas. We don't agree with Steve on everything, but we hope the tone is of critical friends offering helpful challenge, as we really enjoyed talking to Steve and we love his pastoral vision of an inclusive, loving Church. 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 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 . 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 Follow and find us on , , 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 we might air your question on an episode. There's also a connected Show With Music on Spotify called . Check it out if you like . Other things… Malky’s design work has graced many good magazines and music videos. You can . Jonty's novel, , 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.
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Episode 102: Flamy Grant - Drag, Christian music and authenticity
09/05/2024
Episode 102: Flamy Grant - Drag, Christian music and authenticity
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, , is out now. Find out more about her and what she's doing at and check out 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 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 . 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 where you can make one-off donations or . Follow and find us on , , 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 we might air your question on an episode. There's also a connected Show With Music on Spotify called . Check it out if you like . Other things… Malky’s design work has graced many good magazines and music videos. You can . Jonty's novel, , 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.
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Episode 101 Greenbelt festival 2024 review
08/29/2024
Episode 101 Greenbelt festival 2024 review
The greatest festival in the world did not disappoint in 2024. 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 , there are ! 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 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 . 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 where you can make one-off donations or . Follow and find us on , , 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 we might air your question on an episode. There's also a connected Show With Music on Spotify called . Check it out if you like . Other things… Malky’s design work has graced many good magazines and music videos. You can . Jonty's novel, , 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.
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Episode 100 - Greenbelt, reconstructing and deconstructing with Paul Northup
08/15/2024
Episode 100 - Greenbelt, reconstructing and deconstructing with Paul Northup
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 ! Here's the article by Simon Cross Paul mentioned. And you can listen to the . 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 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 . 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 where you can make one-off donations or . Follow and find us on , , 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 we might air your question on an episode. There's also a connected Show With Music on Spotify called . Check it out if you like . Other things… Malky’s design work has graced many good magazines and music videos. You can . Jonty's novel, , 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.
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Episode 99: Election special with Bella Cross, queer Christian political educator
06/25/2024
Episode 99: Election special with Bella Cross, queer Christian political educator
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 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 . 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 where you can make one-off donations or . Follow and find us on , , 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 we might air your question on an episode. There's also a connected Show With Music on Spotify called . Check it out if you like . Other things… Malky’s design work has graced many good magazines and music videos. You can . Jonty's novel, , 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.
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Episode 98: Jürgen Moltmann (1926-2024) - Archive interview with the theologian of hope
06/07/2024
Episode 98: Jürgen Moltmann (1926-2024) - Archive interview with the theologian of hope
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 , 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 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 . 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 where you can make one-off donations or . Follow and find us on , , 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 we might air your question on an episode. There's also a connected Show With Music on Spotify called . Check it out if you like . Other things… Malky’s design work has graced many good magazines and music videos. You can . Jonty's novel, , 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.
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Episode 97: Deconstruction (Part I) - Deconstructing and reconstructing our faith (with special guests)
06/01/2024
Episode 97: Deconstruction (Part I) - Deconstructing and reconstructing our faith (with special guests)
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 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 . 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 where you can make one-off donations or . Follow and find us on , , 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 we might air your question on an episode. There's also a connected Show With Music on Spotify called . Check it out if you like . Other things… Malky’s design work has graced many good magazines and music videos. You can . Jonty's novel, , 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.
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Episode 96: SHO(R)T - Christians and Palestine: Why it matters and why you should care
05/31/2024
Episode 96: SHO(R)T - Christians and Palestine: Why it matters and why you should care
Jonty shares some thoughts on Palestine, US imperialism, the genocide in Gaza, whataboutism, why Palestine matters and why Christians should care. No Laura, Malky or Drabs, just Jonts and a bottle of melktert liqueur. If that's what you're into. He's discussing things like: Why should we care about Palestine when so many other terrible things are happening in the world? Did Palestine exist? Doesn’t Israel have a right to defend itself? What about Hamas? Is Israel a vassal state of the USA or is it the other way around? What does resistance look like when you’re abused for decades, and what do we think Jesus wants to happen in Gaza right now? Jonty is no expert, but he has been writing, speaking and demonstrating about Palestine for a long time, and he has the experience of living in an Apartheid state that called all resistance terrorism. Plus, he’s a middle aged white guy with a podcast, so he’s gonna share his thoughts. No shade if you decide not to listen. is a great alternative. If you already know all there is to know about Palestine and have heard all the arguments, or if you mainly listen to Beer Christianity for the bants or the guests, skip on past this one. To hear from people who truly know about the struggle, visit and donate to the . You can listen to Episode 96 anywhere: at your parents’ house while having a glass of wine, at your VERY creaky desk drinking milktart flavoured booze, while making plans to attend a demonstration, and right here. Also: New to 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 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 . Follow and find us on , , 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 we might air your question on an episode. There's also a connected Show With Music on Spotify called . Check it out if you like . 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 where you can make one-off donations or . Other things… Malky’s design work has graced many good magazines and music videos. You can . Jonty's novel, , is not literature but it’s quite fun if you like Supernatural, Africa or the Goth scene. 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.
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Episode 95: Nakba Day at the Oxford Palestine solidarity encampment
05/15/2024
Episode 95: Nakba Day at the Oxford Palestine solidarity encampment
Welcome to the liberated zone, Oxford edition. To mark Nakba Day 2024, Beer Christianity co-host Laura visits our local protest encampment to hear from the demonstrators at our local Gaza solidarity encampment. If you have been reading about the student protest encampments at Columbia, UCLA and Berkley universities in the USA (or, better, been seeing videos shot by the people involved), you may have questions. The billionaire-owned media have been providing a narrative that, at best, seeks to ‘both-sides’ both the genocide in Gaza and the police-enabled violence at the protests and, at worst paints the protests as anti-Semitic. Attempts by US officials to suggest the encampments are dangerous (‘evidence’: an Oxford reader about terrorism and how to stop it) and co-ordinated by sinister world powers (‘evidence’: lots of students buy the same cheap tent) would be entirely laughable if they weren’t a symptom of a political and media class in lock-step with colonialist militarism, happy to bless America’s steady slide into actual fascism. So, instead of talking about the encampments and presuming their motivations, we thought we’d join the many voices of conscience speaking to the people involved. And because we’re Christians, aware of the terrible role Christian Zionism continues to play in the suffering of Palestinians (including Palestinian Christians) as well as Israelis of all religions, we spoke to some of the Christians at the Oxford Gaza solidarity encampment. (“We” here really means Laura, who conceived, recorded and produced this episode.) They told us why they are there, what they think about using privilege for good and how they view the risks, as well as what happens in these vilified encampments. WARNING: they do talk about bake sales. Scary stuff. Follow for more from the people standing up for justice. New to 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 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 . Follow and find us on , , 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 we might air your question on an episode. There's also a connected Show With Music on Spotify called . Check it out if you like . 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 where you can make one-off donations or . Other things… Malky’s design work has graced many good magazines and music videos. You can . Jonty's novel, , is not literature but it’s quite fun if you like Supernatural, Africa or the Goth scene. 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.
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Episode 94: The Devil's Passion with playwright, activist and actor Justin Butcher
03/22/2024
Episode 94: The Devil's Passion with playwright, activist and actor Justin Butcher
Is evil structural, spiritual, or a bit of both? Do acts of selfishness or sin have cascading effects that reverberate through history? Can we shine a light on contemporary Western politics by imagining how our politicians would react to a figure like Jesus and the movement he inspired? All these questions and more (mostly about Israel and its war on the people of Palestine) are covered in this discussion between Jonty and Justin Butcher, Author and star of The Devil's Passion, which you can watch in London on Palm Sunday 2024. The Devil's Passion is a one-man play that blends historical timeframes and spiritual metaphor to present Jesus as a threat not only to the earthly status quo but to the spiritual realms of darkness. Beer Christianity got to watch a performance recently and loved it. You should check it out too, if you're in Italy or London over the next few days, or . on Palm Sunday, 24 March 2024 . More . New to 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 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 . Follow and find us on , , 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 we might air your question on an episode. There's also a connected Show With Music on Spotify called . Check it out if you like . 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 where you can make one-off donations or . Other things… Malky’s design work has graced many good magazines and music videos. You can . Jonty's novel, , is not literature but it’s quite fun if you like Supernatural, Africa or the Goth scene. 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.
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Episode 93: Belonging - feeling at home, finding your people
02/19/2024
Episode 93: Belonging - feeling at home, finding your people
Do you feel like you belong at your church? Have you found your people? Do you feel at home? In this episode we explore how much dogma, belief, diversity, relatability and stage of life determine whether we feel 'at home' in church. Along the way we ask what makes a really good home group (spoiler: it may be Jonty and Malky), we discuss wehter the Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints is right for people who dislike Joseph Smith, and Laura stages a coup d' podcast with the help of her fancy new mic. Identity, dogma, community and inclusion, all in this episode of Beer Christianity. New to Beer Christianity? Hallelujah. 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 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 . 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 where you can make one-off donations or . Follow and find us on , , 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 we might air your question on an episode. There's also a connected Show With Music on Spotify called . Check it out if you like . Other things… Malky’s design work has graced many good magazines and music videos. You can . Jonty's novel, , is not literature but it’s quite fun if you like Supernatural, Africa or the Goth scene. 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.
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Leonard Cohen and Saint Paul - Matthew Anderson, Pauline scholar
02/08/2024
Leonard Cohen and Saint Paul - Matthew Anderson, Pauline scholar
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 . 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 and find us on , and . Beer Christianity also has a in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. Sign up to the . There's a connected Show With Music on Spotify called . Check it out if you like . It's not terribly serious. Jonty's novel, , is not available in all good bookshops, but 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.
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Episode 91: AI, ethics and dangers with JL Ecochard
01/12/2024
Episode 91: AI, ethics and dangers with JL Ecochard
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 . We also recommend 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 and find us on , and . Beer Christianity also has a in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. Sign up to the . There's a connected Show With Music on Spotify called . Check it out if you like . It's not terribly serious. Jonty's novel, , is not available in all good bookshops, but 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.
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Episode 90: Socialism Q&A with Matt McManus
12/22/2023
Episode 90: Socialism Q&A with Matt McManus
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 and his book, . 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 and find us on , and . Beer Christianity also has a in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. Sign up to the . There's a connected Show With Music on Spotify called . Check it out if you like . It's not terribly serious. Jonty's novel, , is not available in all good bookshops, but 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.
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Episode 89: Congo crisis explained - Maurice Carney, Friends of the Congo
12/04/2023
Episode 89: Congo crisis explained - Maurice Carney, Friends of the Congo
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 and connect with their socials here: , and their presence on You can find more about this episode at 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 and find us on , , and . If you leave us a voicenote at we might air your question on an episode. Beer Christianity also has a in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. Sign up to the . There's a connected Show With Music on Spotify called . Check it out if you like . It's not terribly serious. Jonty's novel, , is not available in all good bookshops, but 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.
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Episode 88: Jolyon Maugham - Good Law, better world
11/23/2023
Episode 88: Jolyon Maugham - Good Law, better world
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 . 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 , 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 for just three British pounds. You can and . You can find more about this episode at 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 and find us on , , and . If you leave us a voicenote at we might air your question on an episode. Beer Christianity also has a in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. Sign up to the . There's a connected Show With Music on Spotify called . Check it out if you like . It's not terribly serious. Jonty's novel, , is not available in all good bookshops, but 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.
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Episode 87: Nice, Churchy Patriarchy - Liz Cooledge Jenkins
11/10/2023
Episode 87: Nice, Churchy Patriarchy - Liz Cooledge Jenkins
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, , 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 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 and find us on , , and . If you leave us a voicenote at we might air your question on an episode. Beer Christianity also has a in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. Sign up to the . There's a connected Show With Music on Spotify called . Check it out if you like . It's not terribly serious. Jonty's novel, , is not available in all good bookshops, but 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.
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Episode 86: Post-march clarity - reflections on a Palestine protest
10/31/2023
Episode 86: Post-march clarity - reflections on a Palestine protest
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 . 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 and find us on , , and . If you leave us a voicenote at we might air your question on an episode. Beer Christianity also has a in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. Sign up to the . There's a connected Show With Music on Spotify called . Check it out if you like . It's not terribly serious. Jonty's novel, , is not available in all good bookshops, but 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.
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Episode 85: Beer, hymns, refugees and Gaza
10/24/2023
Episode 85: Beer, hymns, refugees and Gaza
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 and find us on , , and . If you leave us a voicenote at we might air your question on an episode. Beer Christianity also has a in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. Sign up to the . There's a connected Show With Music on Spotify called . Check it out if you like . It's not terribly serious. Jonty's novel, , is not available in all good bookshops, but 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.
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Episode 84: Stand with Gaza - Palestine, Israel and justice with peace
10/13/2023
Episode 84: Stand with Gaza - Palestine, Israel and justice with peace
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: 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Malky isn't on this one because he was working and we recorded on short notice. This episode opens with a clip from 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 and find us on , , and . If you leave us a voicenote on Instagram, we might air your question on an episode. Beer Christianity also has a in which Jonty and guest authors comment on the news, theological issues and stuff that matters. Sign up to the . There's a connected Show With Music on Spotify called . Check it out if you like . It's not terribly serious. Jonty's novel, , is not available in all good bookshops, but 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.
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Episode 83: Greenbelt 2023 Review - beer, hymns, thems and us
08/30/2023
Episode 83: Greenbelt 2023 Review - beer, hymns, thems and us
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.
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