Episode 74: Brian McLaren - Should I stay Christian?
If the Church is going through a new Reformation (towards a more progressive, inclusive and liberal existence), then Brian McLaren is its Martin Luther. Or John Calvin. Or that Scottish guy.
What we're saying is, for those who are unfamiliar with his work or reputation, he's a big dog in the world of not just progressive Christianity, but Christianity overall, especially over the last few years. Ever since A New Kind of Christian (2001) and A Generous Orthodoxy (2005), McLaren has drawn ire from evangelicals, fundamentalists and all the other kinds of Christians who feel it is their duty to police the boundaries of truth and legitimate witness.
He's not uncontroversial, is what we're saying. But Jonty found him lovely when interviewing him years ago and, when Malky and Laura got the chance at Greenbelt festival 2022, they loved him too.
In this exclusive interview with Brian McLaren, Beer Christianity talks to the influential writer and thinker about the four stages of the spiritual journey, stage theory in general, McLaren's new book Should I stay Christian? and what it's like to draw so much hate (or the cold shoulder) from more traditional side sof the church.
It's a really good chat. We discuss it in detail and give our own thoughts as well, because THAT'S WHAT WE DO.
Enjoy!
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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.
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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.