In this conversation we explore the topic of prayer from our different perspectives as an atheist and an ordained Catholic priest. We discuss what prayer is and why people pray, as well as the need for alternatives to prayer. We also got 13 alternatives to prayer that you can put into your spiritual practice today (hint- you might already be doing some of them!). The important thing here is the intentionality. And sometimes experimentation in finding a prayer practice that works for each individual can be a really rewarding way to deepen your faith and prayer practice.    Takeaways ..read more

Y’all know we love asking questions. So in this episode we’re gonna to get into the importance of asking questions to deepen one’s faith. That might seem counterintuitive to what we’ve been taught because so much of conservative religious upbringing is to NOT ask questions. We explain how asking questions is crucial because it helps individuals clarify what is important to them and what they want to achieve. We also talk about one of our favorite practices (journaling!) and we have 7 questions you can ask yourself right now to start deepening your faith.   Takeaways Asking questions is a ..read more

In this episode, we get into our ever evolving relationship with the Bible. We reflect on our early experiences with the Bible as children, including the simplified and often traumatizing stories we were taught. As we grew older, both of us felt pressure to read the Bible regularly and experienced a ton of guilt when we didn’t meet those expectations. Brian shares how his discovery of his queerness led him to search for inclusion in the Bible, while Shannon explores his journey of reading the Bible academically and finding new meaning through artistic interpretation. We also discuss the import ..read more

Sometimes, it’s really empowering to look back on where we came from. With Fr. Shay’s upcoming lecture on the history of Queer theology, we wanted to dive into this a bit for this episode. It is so important for us to know our queer history, and we share our personal experiences with learning about it. How it shaped us then and how it continues to shape us now! We really want to highlight the significance of understanding the legacy and movements that queer people have been a part of throughout history. Because you are part of that, you will continue with what has been started.    Ta ..read more

If there is one question we get alot it’s: where to find an LGBTQ+ Affirming translation of the Bible? Like, we get this question ALOT alot. So we’re going to get into it on this week’s episode! If you are deconstructing or seeking a more expansive view of God, it can lead you to question the Bible translation you are using. And that is actually really great! What we want to emphasize is that the problem lies not in the Bible itself, but in the lens through which it is read. We encourage readers to unlearn and RELEARN how to approach the Bible. And to do that you have to go deep. But we’ve got ..read more

It’s Easter Sunday and we’re discussing the concept of Easter and how it relates to the struggles and questions faced by those in progressive faith communities. We explore the role of miracles and The Resurrection story in Christianity, and the tension between belief and skepticism. We really want to highlight the power of storytelling and metaphor as a way to convey deeper truths. We also get into the distinction between history and myth, and the importance of grappling with the complexities of faith traditions. Ultimately, we feel the message of Easter is seen as an invitation to participate ..read more

It’s Holy Week for many Christians, so we’re kicking it off with an episode on Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday is one of those things that we come back to. Like, a lot. The messy and powerful nature of Palm Sunday just lends itself to the parallels we see in the struggles of queer folk during the AIDS crisis and continuing today. On this Palm Sunday, we encourage you to stand up and confront oppressive theologies and injustices, even in the face of fear! We also want to encourage you to lean into your communities and networks during challenging times. But also to keep your joy, hope, and vision of li ..read more

In this episode, we discuss the difference between affirming theology and queer theology. We talk about the origin of queertheology.com and explore the ineffectiveness of arguing for affirmation and the need for a more proactive approach. We also delve into the rich history of queer theology and its ability to save and transform faith. It’s important to emphasize the distinction between individual experiences and organizational priorities, along with recognizing that feeling of dissonance. We recognize the precariousness of LGBTQ+ rights and the limitations of assimilation, which leads us to b ..read more

We got more big news: Fr. Shay is writing another book! In this episode, he talks about his inspiration to write, ‘No One Taught Me How to Be a Man: What a Trans Man’s Experience Reveals About Masculinity.’ We discuss the shifts in masculinity and how it is viewed among different groups, navigating masculinity as a trans man, and the crisis of masculinity. Shay shares how the gift of transness and the importance of intentionality has shaped his own masculinity. Cis folks can learn alot from a trans perspective on masculinity, you’re gonna want to check out his book!   Takeaways Masculini ..read more

We got some big news here: Brian is writing a book! He shares his big and exciting news of signing a book deal to write about polyamory and spirituality. A topic we have been keen to talk about for years now, even if it got us some pretty good push-back! Brian discusses his journey to polyamory and the lack of resources from a Christian and queer male perspective. We explore the challenges and stigma of polyamory in Christian spaces and the anxiety surrounding sexuality. Brian explains the unique approach of his book, which goes beyond a how-to guide and delves into the connections between pol ..read more