Cocktail Theology

Benton Stokes is a noted songwriter and worship leader from the buckle of the Bible Belt. Dr. Elane O'Rourke is a spiritual coach and ex-professor from San Francisco and L.A. They talk about life and God, with no filter. Over cocktails. Just like you. For more information about Cocktail Theology, or its sponsor, School For Seekers, visit www.schoolforseekers.com

Christians & Consumerism 06/30/2022

Christians & Consumerism Benton and Elane discuss the uneasy relationship between Christians and material things, why living in the world as a consumer can be so problematic, and one thing that the poor and the rich have in common. Cocktail: Aperol Spritz Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find the full song wherever you stream music. /episode/index/show/cocktailtheology/id/23158424

Reclaiming: Grace 06/23/2022

Reclaiming: Grace NEW EPISODE OUT NOW! What exactly is grace anyway? Benton and Elane continue their quest to define, demystify, and unweaponize words and phrases Christians use. Cocktail: Paper Plane Themes song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Full song is available wherever you stream music. /episode/index/show/cocktailtheology/id/23357171

Why Pray? 06/16/2022

Why Pray? If you’re an active participant in most any faith, you’d probably agree that prayer—engaging with the Divine—is an important part of a spiritual person’s life. But why do we pray? Benton and Elane look at some of the reasons prayer matters. Cocktail: Jairus' Daughter Theme Song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Full song available wherever you stream music. /episode/index/show/cocktailtheology/id/23357117

Reclaiming: Redemption 06/09/2022

Reclaiming: Redemption What is redemption? What does it mean to be "redeemed"? What does the Prodigal Son have to do with it? Benton and Elane discuss. Cocktail: Mojito Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Full song available wherever you stream music. /episode/index/show/cocktailtheology/id/23110475

What Happened On Pentecost? 06/02/2022

What Happened On Pentecost? Sure, there's drama...tongues of fire, strange languages. Pentecost is an experience, but it's probably not what you think. Elane and Benton discuss the Holy Spirit, the beginnings of the Christian Church, and what all that means for us. /episode/index/show/cocktailtheology/id/23243489

Depression, Anxiety & Faith 05/26/2022

Depression, Anxiety & Faith Christians struggle with mental illness just like everybody else. So why aren't more Christians seeking help? Benton and Elane discuss misconceptions about mental illness in the church. Cocktail: Black Walnut Old Fashioned Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Full song available wherever you stream music. /episode/index/show/cocktailtheology/id/23106323

War: What Is It Good For? 05/19/2022

War: What Is It Good For? Elane and Benton discuss the characteristics of a "just war," pacifism versus passivity, and when it's okay for a Christian to support a war. Cocktail: The William Henry Harrison Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" by Benton Stokes & Janine Smith. Full song available wherever you stream music. /episode/index/show/cocktailtheology/id/23106137

Reclaiming: "Born Again" 05/12/2022

Reclaiming: "Born Again" Elane and Benton demystify and unweaponize the phrase "born again" as they start a new season of Cocktail Theology. Cocktail: Gin & Danger (from the Cocktail Theology Cocktail Book) Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" by Benton Stokes & Janine Smith. Full song available wherever you stream music. /episode/index/show/cocktailtheology/id/23081600

Episode 47: An Interview With Michael-Ray Mathews 12/11/2020

Episode 47: An Interview With Michael-Ray Mathews Michael-Ray Mathews is an ordained American Baptist minister, Host of the Prophetic Resistance podcast, and Deputy Director of Faith in Action, a network of faith-based community organizations creating innovative solutions to problems facing all kinds of communities. Elane and Benton talk with Michael-Ray about racial reconciliation, what we can learn from our ancestors, and addressing issues of social injustice within the church. /episode/index/show/cocktailtheology/id/17105237

Episode 46: On Parenting: Gender, Identity, & Self-Acceptance 11/13/2020

Episode 46: On Parenting: Gender, Identity, & Self-Acceptance Responding to a listener’s request for help raising a gender nonbinary child, Benton and Elane discuss parenting, holy listening, their own journeys, and our need to accept ourselves the way God accepts us. /episode/index/show/cocktailtheology/id/16800146

Episode 45: The Trouble With Jesus 10/29/2020

Episode 45: The Trouble With Jesus In Episode 45, Benton and Elane discuss the challenges around calling Jesus “Lord,” how to reconcile Jesus the man and the Jesus the Christ, and how the glorified, eternal Jesus was able to pick up bread after his resurrection. All the conundrums! /episode/index/show/cocktailtheology/id/16592642

Episode 44: Purity Culture 10/14/2020

Episode 44: Purity Culture Benton and Elane talk cocktails. And nomenclature. Over Manhattans. /episode/index/show/cocktailtheology/id/16402769

Episode 43: Loving God and Neighbor In Trump's America 10/01/2020

Episode 43: Loving God and Neighbor In Trump's America Elane and Benton talk about the challenges of loving God and loving your neighbor in an America that is antagonistic to people who follow God in the way of Jesus--and no, they aren't talking about evangelicals. Recorded in Truckee, California in September 2020. /episode/index/show/cocktailtheology/id/16233437

Episode 42: Do Christians Worship God? 09/17/2020

Episode 42: Do Christians Worship God? Recorded in Truckee, CA as part of The Truckee Sessions, Elane and Benton discuss what worship is and what (and who) Christians worship. Hint: it's not always God. /episode/index/show/cocktailtheology/id/16043894

Episode 41: Interview with Judge Tim Fall 07/02/2020

Episode 41: Interview with Judge Tim Fall Elane and Benton chat with Judge Tim Fall, author of "Running For Judge," where he describes the perils of running for reelection in Sacramento, the anxiety he suffered, and the kind of faith that brought him through. /episode/index/show/cocktailtheology/id/15047855

Episode 40: Who Is Satan? 03/11/2020

Episode 40: Who Is Satan? Elane and Benton discuss personified evil, usually referred to as Satan or the devil. Does Satan exist? Does he have horns and a tail? Is he as powerful as God? So many questions! /episode/index/show/cocktailtheology/id/13470467

Episode 39: Quieting The Noise of the Season 12/13/2019

Episode 39: Quieting The Noise of the Season Elane and Benton talk about what it means to anticipate the coming of Jesus in the midst of a noisy, busy season. How do we wait to celebrate Christmas so we can allow for reflection and give space for complicated emotional responses like grief? Recorded while on Facebook Live. /episode/index/show/cocktailtheology/id/12393659

Episode 38: Who Are We Anyway? 11/11/2019

Episode 38: Who Are We Anyway? Elane and Benton discuss the aims and activities of their nonprofit organization, School For Seekers (which produces Cocktail Theology). /episode/index/show/cocktailtheology/id/11961422

Episode 37: #kindness 10/21/2019

Episode 37: #kindness In today’s political climate, we make assumptions that there are “good” and “bad” people based on their “right” or “left” points-of-view. What happens when you hurl an insult at a “bad” person and they respond with kindness? And what if the “good” people come at you like an enemy when they find out you’re (gasp!) talking with someone from the other side? Join Elane and Benton as they look at a real-life example of how leading with kindness can change a mind. Today's Cocktail: The /episode/index/show/cocktailtheology/id/11729795

Episode 36: Fried Food & Jesus 10/10/2019

Episode 36: Fried Food & Jesus We each see Jesus through our own unique lens. Even those who wrote the books of the New Testament saw and experienced him differently. So why is it modern Christians find it hard to believe that someone’s very different take on Jesus could be just as valid as their own? /episode/index/show/cocktailtheology/id/11430389

Episode 35: If I'm Saved, Why Am I Struggling? 09/27/2019

Episode 35: If I'm Saved, Why Am I Struggling? If you really had faith in God, you'd never be depressed or anxious. Right? Or, if you are, maybe it's because you don't pray the right words in the right way at the right time using the right name of God? /episode/index/show/cocktailtheology/id/11396288

Episode 34: Mass Shootings 08/09/2019

Episode 34: Mass Shootings 250 mass shootings in 215 days. Do they matter? /episode/index/show/cocktailtheology/id/10818509

Episode 33: Channeling The Creative Spirit 07/18/2019

Episode 33: Channeling The Creative Spirit You are made in the image of God. That means you have the Creative Spirit within you and around you. Now what? Benton and Elane share what it means to be creative, and how you can channel that Creative Spirit in your own life. /episode/index/show/cocktailtheology/id/10566215

Episode 32: How To Live A Spirit-Led Life 06/20/2019

Episode 32: How To Live A Spirit-Led Life Many Christians talk about the role of the Spirit in guiding daily life. Very few actually know what that means, or how to actually achieve such a God-soaked life. /episode/index/show/cocktailtheology/id/10209362

Episode 31: What's the Bare Minimum For Being A Christian? 06/06/2019

Episode 31: What's the Bare Minimum For Being A Christian? Synopsis /episode/index/show/cocktailtheology/id/10060580

Episode 30: John Pavlovitz 05/22/2019

Episode 30: John Pavlovitz Benton and Elane talk with our favorite rabble rouser, noted blogger and speaker John Pavlovitz, about his latest book Hope and Other Superpowers, wonder, civility, kids, and John's coffee virginity. /episode/index/show/cocktailtheology/id/9882701

Episode 29: If God Were A Spirit...? 05/09/2019

Episode 29: If God Were A Spirit...? We went to the Nashville Cocktail Festival, served up drinks, and asks innocent attendees questions about God. /episode/index/show/cocktailtheology/id/9712421

Episode 28: Sacred 04/25/2019

Episode 28: Sacred Forests. Beaches. Cathedrals. Grandma's sofa. What makes them sacred to us? Do we all have sacred places? And why aren't mine the same as yours, even if we experience them together? /episode/index/show/cocktailtheology/id/9523754

Episode 27: Moving On 2.0 04/11/2019

Episode 27: Moving On 2.0 You've moved on. You've left a church. Have you left The Church? Have you left God? And what does all that mean for what's next for your community worship, your sense of connection, your life with God? /episode/index/show/cocktailtheology/id/9342263

Episode 26: What Are We Talking About When We Talk About Patriotism? 10/31/2018

Episode 26: What Are We Talking About When We Talk About Patriotism? When the national flag passes by, or the loudspeaker blares The Star-Spangled Banner, what are you supposed to do? /episode/index/show/cocktailtheology/id/7387712

Cocktail Theology

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