Absurdity with Ryan Becker

A177 Do Men Struggle with Emotional Intimacy?

Mon, 07 Mar 2022 20:42:00 -0500

It's no secret that men in Western culture tend to struggle with emotional intimacy. It seems almost ingrained in our culture. Ryan stumbled on a comment from a Reddit post that seemed to offer an interesting perspective on why men find being emotionally intimate so difficult and how that impacts our romantic relationships before they've even started.

We are talking about:

Why emotional intimacy struggles lead to the "nice guy" effect
Why women seem to have an easier time being emotionally intimate with men without a romantic connection
What can be done to help craft a better and safer culture for men to express their feelings and for men and women to establish better boundariesAbsurdity is available on all major podcasting platforms and at https://theabsurdity.org

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A176 Adventist Pastor Endorsed Spousal Rape?

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 16:28:00 -0500

In November, SDA Pastor Burnett Robinson stepped down after making egregious statements from his pulpit that went viral. There was an apology issued, but a couple of months later, Robinson showed up on a live stream in Jamaica for another SDA organization and defended his behavior, claimed he never apologized, and attacked those who publicized his statements.We believe in accountability, especially to our own denomination, so we are talking all about the Robinson situation, detailing what happened, and sharing resources and what you can do to help recognize abuse in your community and what you can do about it.More info: https://fb.watch/bwGADeO4PT/https://atoday.org/north-jamaica-conference-still-venerating-disgraced-ex-pastor-burnett-robinson-giving-him-a-platform/

Absurdity is available on all major podcasting platforms and at https://absurdpodcast.comPatreon: https://www.Patreon.com/AbsurdNetworkTwitter: https://Twitter.com/RealRyanBeckerIG: https://Instagram.com/RealRyanBecker

A175 Billie Eilish Said Porn is Bad

Tue, 22 Feb 2022 21:17:00 -0500

In late 2021, Billie Eilish spoke about her experience with exposure to pornography and how it has affected her emotional health, sexual experiences, and more.

As two Christians and one pastor, we figured why not talk about this?We discuss:

Billie Eilish’s actual comments and our observations
What her statements potentially mean for sex workers
How Christians and pastors can have better conversations around pornography, sex, lust, and romance

More info: https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/billie-eilish-porn-sex-worker-b1976902.html

A174 Ethan Crumbley's Parents are WILD

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 19:46:00 -0500

The Oxford High School Shooting is a tragedy in its own category. Never before have we had such immediate insight into the behaviors of the parents in the time leading up to and after the incident occurred. Henry and Ryan discuss the importance of reporting, the atrocious behavior of Crumbley's parents, and the school's decision-making amidst the crisis.

Absurdity is available on all major podcasting platforms and at https://theabsurdity.org Patreon: https://www.Patreon.com/AbsurdNetwork Twitter: https://Twitter.com/RealRyanBecker IG: https://Instagram.com/RealRyanBecker Email: Ryan@PodMentoring.com Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A173 The Josh Duggar Case is Absurd UPDATE

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 19:45:00 -0500

We thought we'd do an update on the Josh Duggar case, though we didn't know the conviction would come so quickly. Josh Duggar has officially been convicted, but we believe this discussion is still highly relevant and important. We hope you do too!

A172 Marriage and Falling from the Sky!

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 19:41:13 -0500

Henry and Ryan jump into where they've been the last few months and share some really MAJOR updates about their lives! October and November were crazy, but that's just 2021 for you!

A171 Hollywood Crews are Underpaid and Overworked

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 09:00:00 -0500

With the IATSE and the AMPTP in a standoff, the IA has officially put a potential strike on the table if talks don’t go more in their favor. This isn’t like the ‘07 writer’s strike; if these crews walk out, then productions halt immediately. Let’s talk about it.

More info: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/04/iatse-strike-hollywood-union-workers-approve-measure-to-call-a-strike.html Henry’s imdb page: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10977752/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cr224 The 24th Movie: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10452854/?ref_=nm_flmg_msc_1 Want to take your podcast to the next level? https://PodMentoring.com/Services Absurdity is available on all major podcasting platforms and at https://theabsurdity.org Patreon: https://www.Patreon.com/AbsurdNetwork Twitter: https://Twitter.com/RealRyanBecker IG: https://Instagram.com/RealRyanBecker Email: Ryan@PodMentoring.com Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: https://www.AbsurdNetwork.com Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A170 Texas Abortion Bill Made Everyone Bounty Hunters

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 04:00:00 -0500

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A169 Having Better Conversations with Seth Pierce

Mon, 04 Oct 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Good quality conversations are seemingly fewer and far between. Especially when it comes to tough or controversial topics. Seth J. Pierce, a university professor at Union College, joins Ryan to talk about his new book, Seeking an Understanding: How To Have Difficult Conversations Without Destroying Your Relationships.

You can get Seth’s book here! https://amzn.to/2WAg2rP Want to take your podcast to the next level? https://PodMentoring.com/Services Absurdity is available on all major podcasting platforms and at https://theabsurdity.org Patreon: https://www.Patreon.com/AbsurdNetwork Twitter: https://Twitter.com/RealRyanBecker IG: https://Instagram.com/RealRyanBecker Email: Ryan@PodMentoring.com Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: https://www.AbsurdNetwork.com Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A168 Antivax Frustration

Wed, 29 Sep 2021 15:15:00 -0500

We are diving headlong into the vaccine conversation, sharing our frustrations and experiences with the antivax movement, the impact that’s had on us individually, and what we believe can and should be done moving forward. Want to take your podcast to the next level? https://PodMentoring.com/Services Absurdity is available on all major podcasting platforms and at https://theabsurdity.org Patreon: https://www.Patreon.com/AbsurdNetwork Twitter: https://Twitter.com/RealRyanBecker IG: https://Instagram.com/RealRyanBecker Email: Ryan@PodMentoring.com Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: https://www.AbsurdNetwork.com Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A167 The Afghanistan Withdrawal Impact

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0500

With the US withdrawal from Afghanistan taking center stage the last couple of months, we discuss the impact of the withdrawal, what it means for veterans of the war, and how Christians should respond. Absurdity is available on all major podcasting platforms and at https://theabsurdity.org Patreon: https://www.Patreon.com/AbsurdNetwork Twitter: https://Twitter.com/RealRyanBecker IG: https://Instagram.com/RealRyanBecker Email: Ryan@PodMentoring.com Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: https://www.AbsurdNetwork.com Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A166 Scarlett Johanssen and the Hyper Sexualization of Women

Mon, 30 Aug 2021 04:00:00 -0500

Scarlett Johanssen recently spoke out about her journey playing Black Widow and other female characters in the film industry, and her goal to desexualize her characters. What can we learn from her comments and how can we be better?

Want to take your podcast to the next level? https://PodMentoring.com/Services Absurdity is available on all major podcasting platforms and at https://theabsurdity.org Patreon: https://www.Patreon.com/AbsurdNetwork Twitter: https://Twitter.com/RealRyanBecker IG: https://Instagram.com/RealRyanBecker Email: Ryan@PodMentoring.com Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: https://www.AbsurdNetwork.com Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A165 Was Simone Biles Right to Withdraw from the Olympics?

Mon, 23 Aug 2021 04:00:00 -0500

Between the pressure of being the GOAT, the weight of her story, and the fear of the "twisties," was Simone Biles right to withdraw from the Olympics? What example does it set for younger athletes?

A164 How to Address Shame and Build Resilience with Tyler Patrick, LMFT

Mon, 02 Aug 2021 15:17:00 -0500

Struggling with shame and wondering how to deal with it? After a needed break in July, we are back with an absolute banger of an episode for you! Tyler Patrick, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, joins Henry and me to discuss the painful realities of a shame-filled life and practical ways for us to address shame, process it, and ultimately build resilience to it. You can check out Tyler's work, including the Therapy Bros. Podcast and the Rising Son Conference, here: https://lovestrong.com/ Want to take your podcast to the next level? https://PodMentoring.com/Services \ Absurdity is available on all major podcasting platforms and at https://theabsurdity.org Patreon: https://www.Patreon.com/AbsurdNetwork Twitter: https://Twitter.com/RealRyanBecker IG: https://Instagram.com/RealRyanBecker Email: Ryan@PodMentoring.com Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: https://www.AbsurdNetwork.com Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A163 Building Wealth is Apparently Only for Some People

Mon, 28 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0500

The opportunity to build generational wealth is massively important. Unfortunately, not everyone has always had that opportunity. We will talk generational wealth, the GI Bill, debt, and more to jump into some of the groups most impacted by the inability to both grow their wealth and pass it on to their children. Sources: https://www.businessinsider.com/millennials-versus-boomers-wealth-gap-2020-10 https://www.history.com/news/gi-bill-black-wwii-veterans-benefits

Want to take your podcast to the next level? https://PodMentoring.com/Services

Absurdity is available on all major podcasting platforms and at https://theabsurdity.org

Patreon: https://www.Patreon.com/AbsurdNetwork Twitter: https://Twitter.com/RealRyanBecker IG: https://Instagram.com/RealRyanBecker Email: Ryan@PodMentoring.com Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: https://www.AbsurdNetwork.com Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A162 How Christians Can Love the LGBTQ+ Community Better

Mon, 21 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0500

The way Christians treat the LGBTQ+ community needs some serious improvement. Regardless of beliefs, something needs to change, and in order to talk about that change, this week, we are diving into how Pride Month came to be, why it's so important, and how Christians and others can treat the LGBTQ+ community with more love and grace than we have in the past. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/BEaaAD4KydY Want to take your podcast to the next level? https://PodMentoring.com/Services Absurdity is available on all major podcasting platforms and at https://theabsurdity.org

A161 Is Critical Race Theory Good or Bad? -- Absurdity E161

Mon, 14 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0500

This week, we dive a little into the history of Critical Race Theory, seeking to understand a bit more of its origins, as well as diving into the real-world application of it today. Should we ban Critical Race Theory, or is it something that we should keep around? Also, we apologize for the late upload! 0:00 - Intro 1:53 - PodMentoring Announcement! 5:11 - Critical Race Theory Discussion Start Check out Absurdity on YouTube: https://youtu.be/sFfkcws9wQ0 Check out PodMentoring: https://PodMentoring.com Stamped from the Beginning book (Amazon affiliate link): https://amzn.to/3izv5dT Absurdity is available on all major podcasting platforms and at https://theabsurdity.org

Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A160 We Need to Get Rid of Male Headship

Mon, 07 Jun 2021 21:33:00 -0500

Male headship, or Complementarianism, is the belief that women should submit to men in the household, not hold positions of authority or leadership, and should primarily exist under a man's authority. In this episode, we take a look at why that theology is so damaging and offer some paths forward. See on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SvdU6lZkB8 Absurdity is available on all major podcasting platforms and at https://theabsurdity.org Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/absurdnetwork Twitter: https://twitter.com/realryanbecker Email: ryan@podmentoring.com Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: https://www.absurdnetwork.com Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A159 Texas Gun Law Update: Can We Have Better Conversations About Guns?

Mon, 31 May 2021 10:00:00 -0500

With Texas updating their gun laws to join 20 other states in not requiring a permit, we decided to attempt a new conversation on guns even though we both come from radically different backgrounds with guns and gun ownership. We discuss problems with the current gun control conversation and how to bridge the widening divide between gun owners and non-gun owners. Can we ever find real solutions in the gun control conversation? NOTE: This episode we recorded a day before the tragic San Jose mass shooting happened, which is why we don't mention it directly in the episode. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rqM9qphUed4 Available on all major podcasting platforms and at https://theabsurdity.org Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/absurdnetwork Twitter: @realryanbecker Email: ryan@podmentoring.com Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: https://www.absurdnetwork.com Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A158 How Bad Theology Fuels the Israel-Palestine Conflict

Mon, 24 May 2021 16:51:24 -0500

We believe that bad theology, both through human understanding and biblical understanding, only makes things worse. The Israel-Palestine conflict and tension is a complex and nuanced topic, so we won't pretend to have all or even some of the answers to the decades-long struggle, but we wanted to shed light on some aspects of this that we, as Christians and ministry leaders, feel we have something meaningful to contribute toward. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/PDM6W8Lfs2c Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/absurdnetwork Twitter: @realryanbecker Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: https://www.absurdnetwork.com Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A157 The Josh Duggar Story is Absurd

Mon, 17 May 2021 15:25:00 -0500

Josh Duggar was arrested for strong charges of child pornography possession. This week, we trudge through the details to try and figure out some of the root theological causes for Josh Duggar's case as well as how the Church can and should respond to cases like this and prevent them in the future. Watch on YouTube! https://youtu.be/PbsAe2dALF8 CONTENT WARNING: Episode contains discussion of sexual assault, rape, and child pornography. Twitter: @realryanbecker Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/absurdnetwork Check out our Sponsors for this episode: Southwestern Adventist University: https://swau.edu/apn Youtube: https://bit.ly/2XQrnAq Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: www.absurdnetwork.com Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A156 Discussing the Derek Chauvin Trial and Ma'khia Bryant

Mon, 10 May 2021 17:27:52 -0500

Was the Derek Chauvin Trial verdict the correct one? If so, what do we do now and how. are cases like the Daniel Shaver shooting connected to this? Beyond that, in a time where things are already tense in America over the trial, we also have to navigate the Ma'khia Bryant shooting. Was that another unjustified police killing of a black person, or is it less black-and-white than other times? Only one way to figure out how to navigate all of this...let's talk about it. See this full episode on YouTube! Twitter: @realryanbecker Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com FedEx Shooting: https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/indianapolis-fedex-shooting-04-16-21-intl-hnk/index.html CAHOOTS: https://www.npr.org/2020/06/10/874339977/cahoots-how-social-workers-and-police-share-responsibilities-in-eugene-oregon Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/absurdnetwork Check out our Sponsors for this episode: Southwestern Adventist University: https://swau.edu/apn Youtube: https://bit.ly/2XQrnAq Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: www.absurdnetwork.com Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A155 Cryptocurrency, Mass Shootings, and Alternative Policing

Mon, 10 May 2021 13:50:39 -0500

Last week's guest had to reschedule at the last second, so we decided to improvise! That's always dangerous for a host that has some major ADHD. This week, we dive into Cryptocurrency and our thoughts on investing vs. gambling, the recent mass shooting in Indiana, and what we believe some alternative forms of policing worth investing in are. See this full episode on YouTube! Twitter: @realryanbecker Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com FedEx Shooting: https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/indianapolis-fedex-shooting-04-16-21-intl-hnk/index.html CAHOOTS: https://www.npr.org/2020/06/10/874339977/cahoots-how-social-workers-and-police-share-responsibilities-in-eugene-oregon Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/absurdnetwork Check out our Sponsors for this episode: Southwestern Adventist University: https://swau.edu/apn Youtube: https://bit.ly/2XQrnAq Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: www.absurdnetwork.com Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A154 Driving While Black with Anthony Carter

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 04:00:00 -0500

Pastor Anthony Carter joins Ryan and Henry to talk about what it's like being a Black man and a Chaplain for two police departments at the same time. He shares his experience as a father with a teenager learning to drive, shares how he first became aware of racism in police encounters, and opens up about the tension he constantly lives in as he tries to serve police, but also advocate for people of color and advocate for anti-racism. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/absurdnetwork Check out our Sponsors for this episode: Southwestern Adventist University: https://swau.edu/apn Youtube: https://bit.ly/2XQrnAq Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: www.absurdnetwork.com Twitter: @realryanbecker Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A153 A Practical Ecumenism?

Mon, 19 Apr 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Ecumenism is demonized a lot between Christian denominations. What if, by demonizing it and each other so much, we are losing not just relevancy, but potency? What if we are giving up countless opportunities to change lives and make a real positive impact for the Gospel? And if all of that is true, what other kind of damage has the traditional attitude toward unity between denominations caused? Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/absurdnetwork Check out our Sponsors for this episode: Southwestern Adventist University: https://swau.edu/apn, Youtube: https://bit.ly/2XQrnAq Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: www.absurdnetwork.com Twitter: @realryanbecker Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A152 Christian Nationalism Makes Us a Lil Naseous

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 12:29:05 -0500

Christian Nationalism is nothing new, but we have better language now than every before in history to talk about it and discuss its implications. Ryan and Henry dive into Christian Nationalism, explaining what it is, why it's so worrisome, and what that means for all of us. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/absurdnetwork Check out our Sponsors for this episode: Southwestern! https://swau.edu/apn, The Love Potluck! http://bit.ly/3buvqcF Youtube: https://bit.ly/2XQrnAq Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: www.absurdnetwork.com For a list of gear we use and recommend: www.theabsurdity.org/gear Twitter: @ryan180becker Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A151 Stop AAPI Hate

Mon, 05 Apr 2021 08:00:00 -0500

Ryan and Henry talk about the horrible mass shooting that took place in Atlanta, GA, on March 16. Episode Links: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/there-were-3-800-anti-asian-racist-incidents-mostly-against-n1261257 https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/03/17/us/shooting-atlanta-acworth Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/absurdnetwork Check out our Sponsors for this episode: Southwestern! https://swau.edu/apn, The Love Potluck! http://bit.ly/3buvqcF Youtube: https://bit.ly/2XQrnAq Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: www.absurdnetwork.com For a list of gear we use and recommend: www.theabsurdity.org/gear Twitter: @ryan180becker Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A150 Effectively Influencing People

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 13:03:00 -0500

Ryan goes through a major paradigm shift and we talk about how everyone, everywhere has the potential to influence others. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/absurdnetwork Check out our Sponsors for this episode: Southwestern! https://swau.edu/apn, The Love Potluck! http://bit.ly/3buvqcF Youtube: https://bit.ly/2XQrnAq Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: www.absurdnetwork.com For a list of gear we use and recommend: www.theabsurdity.org/gear Twitter: @ryan180becker Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A149 Understanding Cancel Culture

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 12:54:00 -0500

This week, Henry and Ryan dive into Cancel Culture and try to find out if it's worth keeping around, or if it's something we should look to, you know, cancel. Which raises an interesting question: If you cancel Cancel Culture, does that automatically perpetuate cancel culture? Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/absurdnetwork Check out our Sponsors for this episode: Southwestern! https://swau.edu/apn, The Love Potluck! http://bit.ly/3buvqcF Youtube: https://bit.ly/2XQrnAq Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: www.absurdnetwork.com For a list of gear we use and recommend: www.theabsurdity.org/gear Twitter: @ryan180becker Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A148 A Beautiful...Absurdity?

Mon, 15 Mar 2021 09:00:00 -0500

WE GOT BIG CHANGES, but is that really a surprise at this point? Henry Johnson, no stranger to Absurdity, now joins Ryan as our new cohost! This week we are talking the post-pandemic church and what we believe churches and Christians should be doing now to prepare for a new normal. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A147 Transforming Arguments into Conversations

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 14:21:47 -0500

In this episode, Ryan dives into some of what drives people to join movements with dangerous and damaging ideologies. With the right understanding of someone's core motivations, we can transform our arguments into constructive conversations that can correct misconceptions and help people see the truth. Check out our Sponsors for this episode: Southwestern! https://swau.edu/apn, The Love Potluck! http://bit.ly/3buvqcF Join our new volunteer team! https://www.theabsurdity.org/volunteer Join the Absurd Podcast Network Discord Server! https://discord.gg/sa6RrA4UWS Youtube: https://bit.ly/2XQrnAq Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: www.absurdnetwork.com For a list of gear we use and recommend: www.theabsurdity.org/gear Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com

Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A146 COVID Relief: Is Government Aid Okay?

Mon, 28 Dec 2020 14:52:00 -0500

With Trump having just signed the new COVID relief bill (which I didn't know yet at the time of recording this), I decided to talk about the value of accepting government aid, why it's important, and why government sometimes doesn't work for us the way it should. Kaiser Family Foundation Benefits Survey: https://www.kff.org/health-costs/report/2020-employer-health-benefits-survey/ Become an Absurdity member! https://www.theabsurdity.org/ and click "log in/sign up" Join our new volunteer team! https://www.theabsurdity.org/volunteer Join the Absurd Podcast Network Discord Server! https://discord.gg/sa6RrA4UWS Youtube: https://bit.ly/2XQrnAq Check out our Sponsors for this episode: https://swau.edu/apn Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: www.absurdnetwork.com For a list of gear we use and recommend: www.theabsurdity.org/gear Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A145 The Jerry Falwell Jr. Scandal

Mon, 28 Dec 2020 14:47:00 -0500

Tony and I recorded this back in August, but thanks to my health, I honestly had completely forgotten I had the episode waiting to be edited. So we are getting this out to you now! While the scandal is relatively old news, the lessons to learn from it aren't. We hope you enjoy! Become an Absurdity member! https://www.theabsurdity.org/ and click "log in/sign up" Join our new volunteer team! https://www.theabsurdity.org/volunteer Join the Absurd Podcast Network Discord Server! https://discord.gg/sa6RrA4UWS Ryan's Youtube: https://bit.ly/2XQrnAq Check out our Sponsors for this episode: https://swau.edu/apn Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: www.absurdnetwork.com For a list of gear we use and recommend: www.theabsurdity.org/gear Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A144 WE'RE BACK!

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 15:00:00 -0500

Our apologies everyone! Because of some health issues, Ryan was forced to put a halt to all completely nonessential content creation he was involved in for the last couple months. While things aren't perfect, we believe we have figured out a way forward. This week, Ryan will be sharing more on what happened over the last two months, where things are now, and then he will tell you about the new direction the show is heading in. We think you'll like the changes that are coming! Become an Absurdity member! https://www.theabsurdity.org/ and click "log in/sign up" Join our new volunteer team! https://www.theabsurdity.org/volunteer Join the Absurd Podcast Network Discord Server! https://discord.gg/sa6RrA4UWS Ryan's Youtube: https://bit.ly/2XQrnAq Check out our Sponsors for this episode: https://swau.edu/apn Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: www.absurdnetwork.com For a list of gear we use and recommend: www.theabsurdity.org/gear Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A143 Overdose Awareness

Mon, 31 Aug 2020 14:00:00 -0500

Both Tony and Ryan have both felt the impact of drug addiction and overdoses in their lives through friends they have lost, so one this episode, as it is International Overdose Awareness Day, join them both for a conversation that will dispel many of the myths behind addictions and show you how you can become a better support for loved ones struggling with addictions. Links: https://www.overdoseday.com/downloadable-resources/#fact (this is for helpful resources on overdose recognition https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/addiction/what-is-addiction https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/addiction https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/understanding-drug-use-addiction https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/treatment-recovery Ryan's Youtube: https://bit.ly/2XQrnAq Check out our Sponsors for this episode: https://danemarsolutions.com, https://swau.edu/apn Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: www.absurdnetwork.com To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate For a list of gear we use and recommend: www.theabsurdity.org/gear Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A142 Church Discipline

Mon, 17 Aug 2020 04:00:00 -0500

Tony and Ryan explore the entire idea of Discipline within the Seventh-day Adventist Church. What is the proper approach to discipline, has the current model been effective, and how do we make improvements if we need any? Ryan's Youtube: https://bit.ly/2XQrnAq Check out our Sponsors for this episode: https://swau.edu/apn Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: www.absurdnetwork.com To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate For a list of gear we use and recommend: www.theabsurdity.org/gear Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A141 Navigating Accountability

Mon, 20 Jul 2020 16:00:00 -0500

With recent events in the gaming community, the Adventist community, and the entertainment industry highlighting the need for responsible accountability. Tony and Ryan give some recent examples of accountability and talk about what makes effective accountability and how we can use it in our relationships as well as in the public sphere. Ryan's Youtube: https://bit.ly/2XQrnAq Check out our Sponsors for this episode: https://danemarsolutions.com, https://swau.edu/apn Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: www.absurdnetwork.com To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate For a list of gear we use and recommend: www.theabsurdity.org/gear Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A140 Effective Tragedy Response

Mon, 06 Jul 2020 04:00:00 -0500

(NOTE: This episode was recorded prior to the incident of a retired SAU professor posting a problematic, racist, and conspiracy-driven post on his social media and Southern's response to that. The next episode will address that more directly. Tony and Ryan jump into what makes a good "statement" when organizations respond to tragedies or controversies. They dive into what should follow those statements and what real progress looks like as a result. Ryan's Youtube: https://bit.ly/2XQrnAq Check out our Sponsors for this episode: https://danemarsolutions.com, https://swau.edu/apn Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: www.absurdnetwork.com To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate For a list of gear we use and recommend: www.theabsurdity.org/gear Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A139 About Ravi Zacharias...

Mon, 29 Jun 2020 04:00:00 -0500

The passing of Ravi Zacharias, a celebrated Christian apologist, speaker, and author, has raised an important question about how Christians are often willing to excuse bad behavior because of likability. Tony and Ryan Jump into this discussion head first, not wanting to disrespect Ravi unnecessarily, in order to address some very real concerns about how we treat celebrities in Christianity. Ryan's Youtube: https://bit.ly/2XQrnAq Check out our Sponsors for this episode: https://danemarsolutions.com, https://swau.edu/apn Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: www.absurdnetwork.com To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate For a list of gear we use and recommend: www.theabsurdity.org/gear Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A138 First Amendment Law with Josef Ghosn

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 13:06:00 -0500

This week Ryan brings on Josef Ghosn, a First Amendment lawyer in NYC who Ryan happened to grow up alongside! They talk all things First Amendment law, social media, and what things Americans should really be concerned about regarding free speech. Ryan's Youtube: https://bit.ly/2XQrnAq Check out our Sponsors for this episode: https://danemarsolutions.com https://swau.edu/apn Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: www.absurdnetwork.com To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate For a list of gear we use and recommend: www.theabsurdity.org/gear Music and editing by Kendall Foote. To contact him about your own production, you can email him at kfoote1221@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast www.theabsurdity.org Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A137 Racism and Individual Exceptionalism

Mon, 01 Jun 2020 16:00:00 -0500

Tony and Ryan dive into the Amy Cooper situation and the George Floyd case from last week. How does individual exceptionalism and moral superiority perpetuate not just racism, but hatred of all types? What can you do about it? Ryan's Youtube: https://bit.ly/2XQrnAq Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: www.absurdnetwork.com To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate For a list of gear we use and recommend: www.theabsurdity.org/gear Music and editing by Kendall Foote. To contact him about your own production, you can email him at kfoote1221@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast www.theabsurdity.org Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A136.5 Plans for Absurdity

Sun, 31 May 2020 18:52:02 -0500

Tony and Ryan open up about what led to the decision to take a break and they give you the scoop on what the future of Absurdity will look like. Ryan's Youtube: https://bit.ly/2XQrnAq Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: www.absurdnetwork.com To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate For a list of gear we use and recommend: www.theabsurdity.org/gear Music and editing by Kendall Foote. To contact him about your own production, you can email him at kfoote1221@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast www.theabsurdity.org

Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A136 Re: Ahmaud Arbery

Mon, 18 May 2020 21:33:00 -0500

Ryan and Tony return from the break for one special episode regarding the tragedy of Ahmaud Arbery's fatal shooting and what the battle against racism looks like for those who have the opportunity to make a positive difference and impact the lives of those around us. Click here to purchase the Podcasting 101 Webinar! Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: www.absurdnetwork.com To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate For a list of gear we use and recommend: www.theabsurdity.org/gear Music and editing by Kendall Foote. To contact him about your own production, you can email him at kfoote1221@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast www.theabsurdity.org Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A135 What Will the New Church Be?

Mon, 20 Apr 2020 17:55:49 -0500

Matt and Ryan talk a little about burnout and Ryan announces some important changes for Absurdity, and then they discuss some terrible experiences people have had with church and what they hope for the church moving forward. https://www.theabsurdity.org/survey Here is the Reddit post we talked about today! Click here to purchase the Podcasting 101 Webinar! Check out Matt's projects here: Adventist History Podcast and Peoria Adventists on YouTube Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: www.absurdnetwork.com To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate For a list of gear we use and recommend: www.theabsurdity.org/gear Music and editing by Kendall Foote. To contact him about your own production, you can email him at kfoote1221@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast www.theabsurdity.org Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A134 Adapting Church Life

Mon, 06 Apr 2020 19:11:00 -0500

With everything going on disrupting the normal flow of church life, Matt and Ryan discuss the different ways churches have been adapting, which ones they prefer or dislike, and what this all means for the church after this is all behind us. Click here to register for the Podcasting 101 Webinar! Check out Matt's projects here: Adventist History Podcast and Peoria Adventists on YouTube Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: www.absurdnetwork.com To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate For a list of gear we use and recommend: www.theabsurdity.org/gear Music and editing by Kendall Foote. To contact him about your own production, you can email him at kfoote1221@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast www.theabsurdity.org

Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A133 The Uncounted Cost

Tue, 31 Mar 2020 13:23:00 -0500

This wave of social distancing and quarantine in response to COVID-19 will have some unintended consequences and side-effects. That doesn't make it a bad thing, but it does mean we need to be aware of the risks we take by voluntary or compulsory isolation. Matt and Ryan discuss these consequences and wrestle with what we can do to deal with them. Check out Matt's projects here: Adventist History Podcast and Peoria Adventists on YouTube Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: www.absurdnetwork.com To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate For a list of gear we use and recommend: www.theabsurdity.org/gear Music and editing by Kendall Foote. To contact him about your own production, you can email him at kfoote1221@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast www.theabsurdity.org Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A132 What Should the Church Be Doing Right Now?

Mon, 23 Mar 2020 21:45:55 -0500

Coronavirus is dangerous, meetings are cancelled, so what can and should the church be doing right now? Matthew Lucio of the Adventist History Podcast and the Peoria Adventists YouTube channel joins Ryan as the new cohost! They talk various ways churches have responded to the Coronavirus crisis, both good and bad, and they discuss ways churches can capitalize on this moment to do some powerful good in their communities and for their people. Check out Matt's projects here: Adventist History Podcast and Peoria Adventists on YouTube Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: www.absurdnetwork.com To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate For a list of gear we use and recommend: www.theabsurdity.org/gear Music and editing by Kendall Foote. To contact him about your own production, you can email him at kfoote1221@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast www.theabsurdity.org Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A131 Privilege and the Coronavirus

Mon, 16 Mar 2020 22:21:52 -0500

Today is a throwback episode as Ryan flies solo once again! Tony is taking a break for a bit, so Ryan takes the helm. What do privilege and the coronavirus have to do with each other? What does this mean for us, and how can we utilize this moment to be better educated, not just about health precautions, but about social responsibility as a whole? Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: www.absurdnetwork.com To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate For a list of gear we use and recommend: www.theabsurdity.org/gear Music and editing by Kendall Foote. To contact him about your own production, you can email him at kfoote1221@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast www.theabsurdity.org Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A130 Faith Can Be Beautiful

Wed, 11 Mar 2020 22:49:00 -0500

Henry Johnson saves the day! Originally, we weren't going to have an episode this week because of difficult schedules last week between Tony and myself, but Henry swooped in this week and we were able to put something together for you! Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: www.absurdnetwork.com To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate For a list of gear we use and recommend: www.theabsurdity.org/gear Music and editing by Kendall Foote. To contact him about your own production, you can email him at kfoote1221@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast www.theabsurdity.org Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A129 Black History Month

Tue, 03 Mar 2020 09:39:00 -0500

Yes, we know we are late, but it doesn't make the subject matter any less important! Don't let Ryan's poor scheduling and calendar awareness keep you from an important conversation on racism and how we can keep improving in how we treat one another. Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: www.absurdnetwork.com To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate For a list of gear we use and recommend: www.theabsurdity.org/gear Music and editing by Kendall Foote. To contact him about your own production, you can email him at kfoote1221@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast www.theabsurdity.org Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A128 Anti-Immigration Attitudes and Missionary Work

Tue, 25 Feb 2020 03:20:00 -0500

What do Christians with anti-immigration mindsets and beliefs have to do with missionary work? A surprising amount, to be honest. Tony and Ryan talk this week about how Western missionary culture actually perpetuates anti-immigration attitudes and beliefs and what that means for the rest of us. Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: www.absurdnetwork.com To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate For a list of gear we use and recommend: www.theabsurdity.org/gear Music and editing by Kendall Foote. To contact him about your own production, you can email him at kfoote1221@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast www.theabsurdity.org Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A127 Does Servant Leadership Matter?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 17:00:00 -0500

Ryan and Tony talk about Servant Leadership and what its role in current society is. Given the recent behavior of Trump and other leaders, what is servant leadership and why does it matter? It turns out, it matters a lot. Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: www.absurdnetwork.com To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate For a list of gear we use and recommend: www.theabsurdity.org/gear Music and editing by Kendall Foote. To contact him about your own production, you can email him at kfoote1221@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast www.theabsurdity.org Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A126 Sexism, Immorality, and a Superb Owl

Mon, 10 Feb 2020 17:00:00 -0500

Tony and Ryan talk the Super Bowl, immorality, and why the half time show wasn't as problematic and immoral as people are making it out to be. Maybe, just maybe, there are worse things around sporting events like the Super Bowl that we should be paying attention to. Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: www.absurdnetwork.com To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate For a list of gear we use and recommend: www.theabsurdity.org/gear Music and editing by Kendall Foote. To contact him about your own production, you can email him at kfoote1221@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast www.theabsurdity.org Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A125 Conflict Resolution - Fight with Honor

Mon, 03 Feb 2020 17:00:00 -0500

What a weird 3-parter this has been! But, we've talked apologies and forgiveness, so now it's time to talk about the conflicts themselves and why resolution is so important. We talk myths and misunderstandings, abuses in conflict resolution, and more! Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: www.absurdnetwork.com To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate For a list of gear we use and recommend: www.theabsurdity.org/gear Music and editing by Kendall Foote. To contact him about your own production, you can email him at kfoote1221@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast www.theabsurdity.org Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A124 Making Forgiveness Count

Mon, 27 Jan 2020 17:00:00 -0500

Last week, we talked apologies. This week, we talk about the counterpart of apologies: Forgiveness. What does it look like to actually forgive someone? Do you have to forgive someone when you accept their apology? What if you can't bring yourself to forgive someone? Absurdity is a proud member of the Absurd Podcast Network: www.absurdnetwork.com Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate For a list of gear we use and recommend: www.theabsurdity.org/gear Music and editing by Kendall Foote. To contact him about your own production, you can email him at kfoote1221@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast www.theabsurdity.org Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A123 Making Apologies Count

Mon, 20 Jan 2020 17:00:00 -0500

One of the most tragic things in conflict is when someone uses an apology to manipulate or cause further pain to the person they have already offended. Tony and Ryan jump into what makes inappropriate apologies, well, inappropriate. What does it look like to apologize well? How can you, if you are a victim of an offense, respond to apologies and is it the same as forgiveness? Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org; To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate For a list of gear we use and recommend: www.theabsurdity.org/gear Music and editing by Kendall Foote. To contact him about your own production, you can email him at kfoote1221@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast www.theabsurdity.org Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A122 Harry Potter, Star Wars, and Positivity

Mon, 13 Jan 2020 17:00:00 -0500

Maybe you grew up like we did, and maybe your family or people in your church struggled with movies and books like Harry Potter, Star Wars, and other "secular" media. We wonder if that's really the best practice. What is the value of those stories compared to some of the stories in Scripture? How does a Christian culture that insists on the Bible as the sole source of "narrative" instead of other media actually impact the lives of growing children, curious teenagers, and mature adults. What role does discernment play as we consume any content, from the Bible or otherwise? List of verses references in this episode:

Philippians 4:8

Isaiah 44:19-20

1 Kings 4:29

Psalm 119:66

Isaiah 29:14

Matthew 13; Mark 4; Luke 8

Isaiah 1:16

Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org; www.awakennc.com To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate For a list of gear we use and recommend: www.theabsurdity.org/gear Music and editing by Kendall Foote. To contact him about your own production, you can email him at kfoote1221@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast www.theabsurdity.org Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A121 Embracing the Tension

Mon, 06 Jan 2020 17:00:00 -0500

Bryant Rodriguez, a campus pastor at Crosswalk Chattanooga and social media guru at McKee Foods, joins Ryan to talk about living in the tension between where you are and where you want to be. They dive into the confusion and the pain that causes as well as what both Ryan and Bryant did to embrace the tension they experienced. Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org; www.awakennc.com To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate Music and editing by Kendall Foote. To contact him about your own production, you can email him at kfoote1221@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast www.theabsurdity.org Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A120 A Clash of Politics and Religion

Mon, 30 Dec 2019 17:00:00 -0500

For our last episode of 2019, Ryan and Tony dive into the wonderful mess that is the overlap of politics and religion! Recently, ChristianityToday has started a bit of a controversy with it's stance on President Trump's impeachment and how he has harmed the reputation of Christianity. So, where do Christians speak up and where does Absurdity find itself in all of this? To submit a podcast idea for the Absurd Podcast Network, click here. Links in order of mention: https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2019/december-web-only/trump-should-be-removed-from-office.html https://www.christianpost.com/news/nearly-200-evangelical-leaders-slam-christianity-today-for-questioning-their-christian-witness.html https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2019/december-web-only/trump-evangelicals-editorial-christianity-today-president.html

Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org; www.awakennc.com To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate Music and editing by Kendall Foote. To contact him about your own production, you can email him at kfoote1221@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast www.theabsurdity.org Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A119 Shining a Light on Sexual Assault

Mon, 23 Dec 2019 21:07:00 -0500

Two weeks ago, Shantel Smith shared a status on her Facebook detailing unwanted sexual advances as well as verbal assault and a physical altercation with a soon-to-be pastor. This status encouraged over 100 women to come forward to her sharing their similar stories. Tony and Ryan process that and talk about what small things and big things we can do to work toward putting an end to situations like these. Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org; www.awakennc.com To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate Music and editing by Kendall Foote. To contact him about your own production, you can email him at kfoote1221@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast www.theabsurdity.org Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A118 Solving Nobody's Problems

Tue, 17 Dec 2019 17:00:00 -0500

When was the last time a sermon on prophecy fixed someone's overdue bills or helped solve someone's medical crisis? This episode, Tony and Ryan deal with one big issue: churches are often focused on solving problems that are disconnect from the social and socioeconomic realities their members experience. It's not that there is no place for sermons that are largely disconnected from someone's immediate situation, but how can churches shift their emphasis to be a more positively significant presence in their community and for their members. To submit your podcast or podcast idea for the Absurd Podcast Network, click here! Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org; www.awakennc.com To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate Music and editing by Kendall Foote. To contact him about your own production, you can email him at kfoote1221@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast www.theabsurdity.org Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A117 LGBTQ+ People in the Church with Nicole Hwang

Mon, 09 Dec 2019 17:00:00 -0500

Nicole is a second-year med student currently attending school in California. Born and raised in a very conservative home and church, she never expected to be who she is today. Now, she embraces herself and all that has come with it. Nicole and Ryan explore her journey of accepting herself, reconciling her faith with her identity, and why she remains a dedicated Christian despite the obstacles in her path. Disclaimer: Opinions expressed on this episode do not represent any other organizations. This is a conversation meant to gain understanding and learn from one another's perspectives. Resources: God and the Gay Christian - Matthew Vines The Invention of Sodomy in Christian Theology Bible, Gender, and Sexuality - James Brownson Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org; www.awakennc.com To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate Music and editing by Kendall Foote. To contact him about your own production, you can email him at kfoote1221@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast www.theabsurdity.org Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A116 Loving an Addict

Mon, 02 Dec 2019 23:22:00 -0500

Tony and Ryan dive into the realities and difficulties of loving someone wrestling with addiction, even if that person won't accept help or admit there is a problem. We recognize there is so much more that can be said about this topic. We also want to reiterate that Tony and Ryan are not experts of medical professionals, so this episode should not take the place of professional opinions from those properly trained in medical care and mental health. It's Ryan's first episode after his tonsillectomy. But don't worry, he wasn't fully recovered during recording, so this isn't his new voice, we promise!

Here are the links we referenced in this week's episode! TED Talk on Addiction Helping an Addict - Healthline 7 Tips for Helping Someone with an Addiction American Addiction Centers - Loving an Addict Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org; www.awakennc.com To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate Music and editing by Kendall Foote. To contact him about your own production, you can email him at kfoote1221@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast www.theabsurdity.org Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A115 Sustainable Creativity in the Church with Kevin Christenson

Mon, 25 Nov 2019 16:00:00 -0500

This week, Kevin Christenson joins Ryan to talk about creative projects and how the church could look to invest for a more direct return on that investment in young adults, their passion projects, and more. They talk about this mainly through the lens of filmmaking and producing, but they also look at some practical ways leaders at all levels of the church can do to not just invest in creatives around them, but also to do that in a way that is sustainable and empowering. You can catch the video version of this episode by becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/absurditypodcast!

TED Talk on Non-Profits Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org; www.awakennc.com To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate Music and editing by Kendall Foote. To contact him about your own production, you can email him at kfoote1221@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast www.theabsurdity.org Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A114 Modesty Culture Part 2: Story Time

Mon, 18 Nov 2019 16:02:00 -0500

A listener called in recently wanting to share her stories of experiencing some of the negative parts of body shaming and modesty culture, but she didn't feel comfortable being on the podcast. Tony and Ryan do our best to retell her stories and provide our reactions along the way while protecting her anonymity. These stories help add weight and perspective to some of the very things we discussed the first time we dove into this topic for A98. We hope you enjoy this episode and are compelled to get rid of whatever harmful parts of this culture exist in your sphere of influence. Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate Music and editing by Kendall Foote. To contact him about your own production, you can email him at kfoote1221@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast www.theabsurdity.org

Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A113 Good Grief! (and Loss)

Mon, 11 Nov 2019 16:00:00 -0500

We can't believe we've gone this long without actually talking about this subject, but there's no time like the present. Tony and Ryan dive into grief and loss as Ryan returns from his grandfather's funeral. What is grief and how does it work? How can churches and individuals handle grief and loss in their communities better? These are the questions we try to answer, and more. Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate Music and editing by Kendall Foote. To contact him about your own production, you can email him at kfoote1221@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast www.theabsurdity.org Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A112 Anti-racism Made Practical with Andre Henry

Mon, 04 Nov 2019 16:00:00 -0500

Remember our Relevant episode, 107? Well, we are back to tackle the next level of that conversation with Andre Henry, the former Managing Editor at Relevant Magazine who wrote the Medium article exposing the toxic culture at Relevant. Andre talks with Ryan about how traditionally white institutions can pragmatically take action to value people of color and their voices and what true antiracism really looks like in normal, everyday life. Resources: Equal Justice Initiative A Google Search for Books About Racism Andre's Website Hope & Hard Pills Podcast Andre's Twitter Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate Music and editing by Kendall Foote. To contact him about your own production, you can email him at kfoote1221@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast www.theabsurdity.org Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A111 Part 2: So What Now? with Matthew Lucio

Mon, 28 Oct 2019 16:01:00 -0500

Matthew Lucio, host of Adventist History Podcast and the upcoming Adventists are Weird podcast, sits down with Ryan to talk Annual Council and the practical steps Adventists from all walks of life can engage with the system in order to create the changes they want to see. Check out the Adventist History Podcast here! Find Matt on Twitter: @LordLucio7 Music and editing by Kendall Foote. To contact him about your own production, you can email him at kfoote1221@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast www.theabsurdity.org

Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A111 Part 1: 2019 Annual Council Reactions

Mon, 28 Oct 2019 16:00:00 -0500

This week we have a two-parter! For part 1, Tony and Ryan recap Annual Council and give their reactions and analysis of the major conversations and votes that took place. We talk Gossip Juice, the abortion statement, the discipline votes, and more. Disclaimer: this is an Adventist-centric episode. Here are the links for this episode: For a brief overview of Annual Council votes: https://thescratchnews.com/briefs/2019/10/11/e0bso4ienygnjcg5qi1k1y7pgzffi0-3b5ms Here are the tweets we reference: Gossip Juice Abortion Statement Question on Statement becoming Policy Compliance Action Dan Jackson Tweet #1 Dan Jackson Tweet #2 Administrator:Pastor Ratio Chart To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate Music and editing by Kendall Foote. To contact him about your own production, you can email him at kfoote1221@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast www.theabsurdity.org Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A110 Hong Kong and the Privilege of Optional Protest

Mon, 21 Oct 2019 16:00:00 -0500

We catch you up to speed on the Hong Kong protests, just how serious the situation there is, and how that compares to our experience as Americans regarding protests and rallies that happen around the country. When protesting seems optional to us, how should we respond to those for whom protesting is necessary? And don't worry, our SDA Annual Council reactions are coming next week! Links: About the Hong Kong Protests Elderly Helping Protesters To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate Music and editing by Kendall Foote. To contact him about your own production, you can email him at kfoote1221@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast www.theabsurdity.org Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A109 SNL, Cancel Culture, and the Harmless Torturer

Mon, 14 Oct 2019 16:00:00 -0500

In this episode, we talk about Shane Gillis' recent hiring and immediate firing from SNL. Does a like or a retweet on Twitter pose an actual danger in the real world? Links: Shane Gillis Shane's Racist Comments The Case of the Harmless Torturer To support the podcast financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate Music and editing by Kendall Foote. To contact him about your own production, you can email him at kfoote1221@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast www.theabsurdity.org Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A108 Shining a Light on Spiritual Abuse with Aaron Mumu

Mon, 07 Oct 2019 16:00:00 -0500

Aaron Mumu joins Ryan for a conversation on the more secretive realities of outreach schools like SOULS-West, sharing from his personal experience with a school similar to it, SOULS-Northwest. They discuss the good and bad that exists within the culture as well as how they think it could be made better. We also want to thank Sasha Mejia for being courageous in sharing her story and experience so transparently so that a bright light could be shown on such an important topic. Here is a link to Sasha Mejia' Witness Statement. Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate Music and editing by Kendall Foote. To contact him about your own production, you can email him at kfoote1221@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast www.theabsurdity.org Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A107 Invited, but not Welcomed

Mon, 30 Sep 2019 16:00:00 -0500

We jump into the recent viral news regarding the internal culture at RELEVANT Magazine and the toxic behavior and racist attitudes that have existed within it that were perpetuated by the founder and CEO, Cameron Strang. We discuss Former editors' Andre Henry and Rebecca Marie Jo's articles exposing the culture, the backlash that resulted, and how this entire situation impacts Absurdity. We get incredibly personal with you and we explore what RELEVANT's situation means for us going forward. We are also donating 25% of all proceeds given to Absurdity through October 31 to the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence. endsexualviolence.org and the Info Brochure. Episode Links: Andre Henry's Article Rebecca Marie Jo's Article Cameron Strang's Response Relevant's Response Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate Music and editing by Kendall Foote. To contact him about your own production, you can email him at kfoote1221@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast www.theabsurdity.org Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A106 #OUMeToo

Mon, 23 Sep 2019 16:00:00 -0500

Tony and Ryan address the recent sexual assault controversy at Oakwood University, address their own personal feelings about the topic, and also discuss their own failures and inappropriate behavior. We are also donating 25% of all proceeds given to Absurdity through October 31 to the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence. endsexualviolence.org and the Info Brochure. Episode Links: https://www.al.com/news/2019/09/students-alumni-share-stories-of-sexual-assault-at-oakwood-university-school-responds.html Pastor Byrd's Sermon Pastor Byrd's Statement Title IX Information Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate Music and editing by Kendall Foote. To contact him about your own production, you can email him at kfoote1221@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast Website:www.theabsurdity.org Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A105 When is a Public Apology Good Enough?

Sat, 21 Sep 2019 23:49:00 -0500

When is a public apology good enough, and how do we begin to identify and fix blind spots in our beliefs? With the Mississippi wedding venue news that's been circulating on social media, we had the perfect opportunity to deep dive into both of these issues. We also share our opinions and discuss how Christians can do better. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/03/us/mississippi-interracial-couple-wedding.html

Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate Music and editing by Kendall Foote. To contact him about your own production, you can email him at kfoote1221@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast Website: www.theabsurdity.org Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A104 Faith Comes with Accountability

Mon, 09 Sep 2019 17:00:00 -0500

This week we dive into two surprisingly related topics we've encountered a lot recently: The differences of God between the Old and New Testaments and the movement of "Jesus>Religion." Rather than specifically provide an answer for these things, we address the motivations behind asking the questions and people's hesitancy to either accept answers that don't point in the trajectory they are comfortable with. Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate Music and editing done by Kendall Foote. To contact him about your own production, you can email him at kfoote1221@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast Website: www.theabsurdity.org Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A103 The Mass Shootings Conversation

Mon, 02 Sep 2019 17:49:00 -0500

Tony and Ryan jump right into the conversation mass shootings after the tragic shootings in Dayton and El Paso. They discuss the conversation itself, how it's happening, and how that is both good and bad. They also try to provide some suggestions for how we can improve our approach to these conversations and actually make headway on these important issues. Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast Website: www.theabsurdity.org To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A102 When Leaders Leave Faith

Mon, 26 Aug 2019 17:00:00 -0500

This week we dive into Josh Harris and Marty Sampson announcing their departure from Christianity as well as John Cooper's (Skillet) response. We dive into the specific claims and arguments made, their validity, and how we personally feel in the whole matter. https://www.gofundme.com/f/orlando039s-reconstruction-fund https://www.gofundme.com/f/felipe039s-reconstruction-budget Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast Website: www.theabsurdity.org To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A101 Rediscovering Faith with Matt Mendez

Mon, 19 Aug 2019 21:00:00 -0500

Today, Matt Mendez, Ryan's childhood friend, joins Ryan to talk about his journey with faith. They dive into childhood, what leaving faith was like, and now his recent return to faith. It's a story that's still being written, and we are privileged to hear the conversation and perspective as the story is unfolding in real-time. Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast Website: www.theabsurdity.org To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A100 Regional Conference Reality with Evan Willis

Mon, 12 Aug 2019 01:45:00 -0500

WE MADE IT TO 100! We thought about doing something different for this episode, but we wanted to give you the content that brought us here and that you listen for. We've brought on Evan Willis, a regional conference pastor in Charlotte, NC, to school us on the history of regional conferences and to discuss the value of them in 2019 Adventism as well as historical Adventism. Absurdity is just getting started, so thank you for being on the ride with us! Reach out to Evan Willis on Twitter Music by Justin Janetzko Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast Website: www.theabsurdity.org To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A99 Church Actions vs. Church Values

Mon, 05 Aug 2019 17:00:00 -0500

We are one away from episode 100! This week, we dive into what the Church says it values vs. what the Church's actions indicate it values. Do these two things line up? If they don't, how do we change that, and if they do, how do we keep it that way? Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast Website: www.theabsurdity.org To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A98 Body Shaming and Modesty Culture

Mon, 29 Jul 2019 17:00:00 -0500

We talk about the Swansboro Methodist Church of an older church leader confronting a young worship leader about her style of dress that escalates to swearing and resulted in a viral video. From there, we dive into modesty culture and the issues around framing modesty only around how it impacts men. Articles discussed in this week's episode: Swansboro Methodist Story AToday Article on Modesty Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast Website: www.theabsurdity.org To support financially: www.theabsurdity.org/donate Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A97 Avoiding Sin at All Costs

Mon, 22 Jul 2019 17:00:00 -0500

This week, we talk about the temptation to put up such strong boundaries to keep ourselves from sinning, that we often lose sight of the "abundant life" Jesus claimed we would have. We talk about a cohabitation motion from the 2015 General Conference Session and we try to figure out what the proper balance point is. Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: www.patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A96 Can Christianity Peacefully Coexist? with Stephen Hall

Mon, 15 Jul 2019 17:00:00 -0500

This is the last week of our Wakonda Recordings! Tony came to visit for the weekend, so he, Stephen, and I sat down for a conversation on Christianity's historical impact on the world around it. Christianity, throughout history, has seemed like it's never been satisfied with even being the majority faith tradition, but that it seems it has actively tried to subjugate those even in minority faith traditions or alternative lifestyles. So, can Christianity exist peacefully alongside other faiths and lifestyles it disagrees with? We also have an interview with Tanya Musgrave of Good To Go Media! They are sponsoring a gathering for creatives to network and learn about the back-end of production. Check out the CoLab Film and Media event here! They are also doing a pitch competition where 1st Place will win $20,000! Enter discount code ABSURDITY for 20% off your general admission! CoLab will be at The Walk in Redlands, CA on September 8 & 9, 2019. Click here to get a PDF of everything you need to know for the event! Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile, @shsquared Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: www.patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A95 Antisemistism and How Prejudice Drives Theology with Zack Payne

Mon, 08 Jul 2019 17:00:00 -0500

The Wakonda Recordings part 3! Zack Payne, a pastor in Wisconsin, joins Stephen Hall and me to discuss the true motivations and historical reasons the Sabbath was changed, the rampant antisemitism in Christianity's history, how prejudice is currently driving our theology today, and what we can do about it. Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile, @shsquared Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: www.patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A94 Abuse Mentality with Sarah McDugal

Mon, 01 Jul 2019 17:06:00 -0500

The Wakonda Recordings continue! Sarah McDugal, an abuse survivor herself, shares the stories of abuse victims she has spoken with, we talk about the myths around forgiveness and reconciliation in regards to abuse, and we address the oft-cited "Matthew 18 Method" on confrontation. This episode is one of our heaviest, but this is the current reality we face, and it's about time that changes.

The Sociopath Next Door by Martha Stout If you or a loved one needs to report a case of sexual abuse, visit: https://www.bucketbrigadeagainstabuse.com/ https://www.facebook.com/bucketbrigadeagainstabuse/

If you would like more resources, visit: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEuJvEGZfvMVCT5nbdVNXYg Sarah McDugal's Youtube And if you or someone you know would benefit from counseling, visit: http://www.abidecounseling.us/ To contact Jennifer on Twitter: @sarahmcdugal Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A93 Fighting Sexual Abuse in the Church with Jennifer Jill Schwirzer

Mon, 24 Jun 2019 17:16:00 -0500

A long-awaited guest joins us this week thanks to a serendipitous meeting in Wisconsin! Jennifer Jill Schwirzer is a licensed counselor and someone who has seen firsthand the damage that sexual abuse and assault causes. She works with an organization called The Bucket Brigade where victims can report sexual abuse abuse in the Adventist Church and they will investigate. She also works to train ministry leaders and lay members how to address sexual abuse reports and cases in their churches and ministries. If you or a loved one needs to report a case of sexual abuse, visit: https://www.bucketbrigadeagainstabuse.com/ https://www.facebook.com/bucketbrigadeagainstabuse/

If you would like more resources, visit: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEuJvEGZfvMVCT5nbdVNXYg And if you or someone you know would benefit from counseling, visit: http://www.abidecounseling.us/ To contact Jennifer on Twitter: @JenniferJillSch Check out The Scratch here! Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: www.patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A92 Can We Trust Independent Ministries

Mon, 17 Jun 2019 17:00:00 -0500

We dive into the world of Independent Ministries! These are ministries not officially run by the denomination itself, but run alongside them. We talk about what they are, their pros and cons, their role in the church and in influencing church culture, and whether or not we should trust them. Check out The Scratch here! Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: www.patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A91 19th Century Framework in a 21st Century World

Mon, 10 Jun 2019 17:00:00 -0500

Missiology is defined as "the study of religious (typically Christian) missions and their methods and purposes." We talk about Adventism's mission and methods and discuss what we wish Adventism would update in its rhetoric, function, form, and beliefs. For our non-SDA listeners, we invite you to do the same thought exercise for your worldview, too. Bonus, enjoy Tony slowly falling asleep as the episode progresses, as we recorded right after he walked into his house after a 3,000-mile road trip. Check out The Scratch here! Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: www.patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A90 Intergenerational Mentorship with Rick Anderson, Jr.

Mon, 03 Jun 2019 17:00:00 -0500

Today, my good friend and my boss, Rick Anderson, Jr., joins me to talk about being a mentee and being a mentor. We share our perspectives, experiences, and how we respond when we have negative experiences with it. Check out The Scratch here! Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: www.patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A89 Conspiracies

Mon, 27 May 2019 17:00:00 -0500

This week we dive into conspiracies. What is the motivation for them, why do people buy into them so much, and what do we do about? Also a new promise to you: We know ads can be annoying, so we have extended our recording time to compensate for any information and extra fluff in our episodes. Check out The Scratch here! Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org, Walla Walla University's Master of Arts in Cinema, Religion, and Worldview Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: www.patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A88 The Christian Persecution Complex

Mon, 20 May 2019 17:00:00 -0500

We talk about Steven Anderson's recent ban from Ireland (among other countries) and how Christians tend to respond to things like this happening. How should we respond when we face resistance, and is resistance and having detractors really evidence that you are doing the right thing? Check out The Scratch here! Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org, Walla Walla University's Master of Arts in Cinema, Religion, and Worldview Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: www.patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A87 The Scratch, Faith, and Creativity with Kevin Christenson

Mon, 13 May 2019 17:00:00 -0500

Kevin Christenson joins us today to talk about the history of his and Ryan's new project: The Scratch! The Scratch is a weekly SDA news agregator that is designed to condense macro-level SDA news down into one single article that will only take a few minutes to read each week. Then we talk about Kevin' experience as an actor and producer in the entertainment industry and the state of creativity in the Church. Check out The Scratch here! Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org, Walla Walla University's Master of Arts in Cinema, Religion, and Worldview Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: www.patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A86 The Way We Do Church

Mon, 06 May 2019 17:00:00 -0500

We spend the first ten minutes of today giving Ryan's final ADHD update and saying farewell to an amazing woman of God, theologian, and human being--Rachel Held Evans. She passed away May 4 and the Christian world will absolutely miss her voice of love, compassion, and wisdom. The main topic of today's episode starts about 9 minutes in as we talk about the purpose of church, the pros and cons of current church models, and we discuss alternative models and approaches to church that we think Christianity could benefit from. Video referenced: Why Francis Chan left his Megachurch Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org, Walla Walla University's Master of Arts in Cinema, Religion, and Worldview Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: www.patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A85 Preachers, Sneakers, and Kanye

Mon, 29 Apr 2019 17:00:00 -0500

We dive into Kanye's new Sunday Service, the preachersnsneakers instagram account, and the lack of accountability that ministry leaders have with their people. What is church and does Kanye's new movement count? What is appropriate for a pastor to buy or own? Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: www.patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A84 Embracing Your Identity with Ev Milliner

Mon, 22 Apr 2019 17:00:00 -0500

Ev Milliner, a student at Andrews University, joins us to talk about her journey of embracing who she is, breaking out of her shell, and becoming an outspoken advocate for those around her. We talk about everything from race to sex today, so get ready to dive into an awesome conversation! Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: www.patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A83 Is a Church Really Necessary?

Mon, 15 Apr 2019 17:00:00 -0500

Today we dive into church's transgorming how they function so they can make enough money to stay open. We question if it's even worth trying to stay open and our experience with it all. https://relevantmagazine.com/god/watch-how-churches-are-renting-themselves-out-to-stay-afloat/ Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: www.patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A82 Denomination Battle Lines

Mon, 08 Apr 2019 17:00:00 -0500

Denominations! What is their value in today's culture, if they hold any value at all? How do we relate to people and were denominations always an inevitable reality of Christianity? Tony and I deep dive into denominations while also exploring why we identify with ours. We hope this conversation gives you a different perspective on something that plays a role in the life of every Christian. Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: www.patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A81 The Beauty in Genres with Max Aka of KOZEN

Mon, 01 Apr 2019 17:00:00 -0500

Max Aka joins us for today's Absurdity to talk about his band, KOZEN, and to discuss hardcore, metal, jazz, and everything in-between. Max is a seminary student at Andrews graduating in May 2019. He is a brilliant mind and doing some amazing things musically and in the podcast realm with AdventNext! Check out the links below: https://www.adventnext.com/ https://kozen.org https://kozen.bandcamp.com hyperurl.co/ToTheWind https://www.facebook.com/KozenMusic https://www.instagram.com/kozenmusic/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFGaChScuNcN4_6dRcueKtw Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: www.patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A80 A Hopeful Future with Kaleb Eisele

Mon, 25 Mar 2019 17:00:00 -0500

This week is a bit different! Ryan opens up about the last three weeks with his mental health dilemma and Tony interviews Kaleb Eisele to see what he's been up to over the last year and how his experiences have impacted his view of the church. Interview starts at 20 minutes!

Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: www.patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A79 Muslims, Christchurch, and Responding to Hatred

Mon, 18 Mar 2019 17:00:00 -0500

Tony and Ryan deep dive not just into the Christchurch shooting, but into the very attitudes that led to this shooting, what role our individual actions and words play into this reality, and what perspectives exist in a post-9/11 society that has only known the War on Terror.

Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast/ Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: www.patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A78 Ryan's Confession and Ageism in the Faith Community

Mon, 11 Mar 2019 17:30:00 -0500

Ryan makes a rather large admission here and we dive into the problem of ageism in faith. This is specifically tied to assuming the relevance or capability of a person to contribute to the church based on their age. It's a surprisingly easy trap for anyone to fall into, so we won't leave you hanging with no solutions. Make sure to listen all the way through for a special announcement! Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast/ Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: www.patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A77 Let's Play Taboos

Mon, 04 Mar 2019 17:00:00 -0500

You asked for it, we brought it. It's time to go through the taboos! Tony and I talk about everything from tattoos to swearing and let you know our honest thoughts on these topics. It's important to remember this isn't a Bible Study. We aren't out here telling you how to live, but we wanted to take an episode and dive into some of these controversial topics for you and for ourselves. Who knows? Maybe in 100 episodes we will feel differently!

Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast/ Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: www.patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A76 Denominational Superiority

Mon, 25 Feb 2019 17:00:00 -0500

We all want to belong to the group that we think has things the "most correct." What happens when we start believing that our correctness actually makes us superior to those outside our group, tribe, or community? How do we combat denominational superiority and pride? How easy it to fall into the that trap and how do we avoid it? Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast/ Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: www.patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A75 Embracing Creativity in Christianity

Mon, 18 Feb 2019 17:00:00 -0500

Tony and I deep dive into creativity in Christianity, innovation, and how artists and creatives are treated and valued within the institution. If we are made in God's image, and we first meet God as the Creator, what does that mean for us? Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast/ Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: www.patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A74 Defining Discipleship with Luke Steen

Mon, 11 Feb 2019 17:00:00 -0500

Luke Steen has joined us before way back near the beginning to talk about Nonviolent Peacemaking. He's currently the Associate Pastor at Marietta Adventist Church in Atlanta, GA. On this episode, we dive into practical discipleship, defining poor discipleship and how the church has created an environment where growth and discipleship isn't fostered properly, and what Christians can do as individuals to foster their own growth as disciples. Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast/ Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: www.patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A73 Some Testimonies are Better than Others

Mon, 04 Feb 2019 17:00:00 -0500

Tony and I do a deep dive on Testimony Culture in the Church. Are there testimonies that are better than others? What even is a proper testimony? Do we glorify poor decisions, radical danger, and extreme situations? Or do we glorify the God that brings us out of our previous situations regardless of their "excitement" level? Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast/ Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: www.patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A72 Clapbacks, Gillette, and Threatened Masculinity

Mon, 28 Jan 2019 17:00:00 -0500

This week, Tony and I talk about Gillette's new advertisement targeting toxic masculinity and calling men to be better and behave better. Not only that but for the first half of the episode we dive into a piece of church news that you may not hear anywhere else because it's not being written about anywhere else. I don't share it because we want to start any rebellions or anything, but I share it because it is in a specific arena of church news that isn't easily accessible and I believe it's important to be aware of what is going on.

Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org

Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast/ Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: www.patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A71 Grief, Pain, and Identity with Stephanie Johnson and James Johnson

Mon, 21 Jan 2019 17:00:00 -0500

We get personal this week. Two of my first-ever mentors, Stephanie Johnson and her son, James, join me at Prayer Conference in High Springs, FL as we talk about some of the events revolving around my year of intense grief and loss, we talk about bullying, and the birth of a program that teaches kids their value in Christ. Stephanie Johnson was my chaplain my senior year of high school and James is her son, a youth pastor now residing in Apopka, FL. Both have become family to me over the last 10 years, and I am honored to have them on as guests this week. I'm pretty sure this is the closest I have ever come to breaking down on this show, and it's for a good reason. You don't want to miss this conversation. Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org

A70 Projection, Denial, and Self-Defense

Mon, 14 Jan 2019 17:00:00 -0500

This week we do a deep dive on projection. It's not just done in friendships and relationships, it's done on a systemic level. We do it for policy, we do it against ethnic and social groups, we enfore laws based on projections. Why do people project, what's the cost, and how do we fix it? Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org

A69 Can Pastors Question Their Faith?

Mon, 07 Jan 2019 17:00:00 -0500

Happy New Year! This episode we bring some cool Patreon announcements for 2019, and Tony and I discuss what the current church atmosphere is for pastors who go through a crisis of faith and have to ask difficult questions. As people in ministry, this is something that has impacted us personally and we have seen friends and colleagues deal with it as well. We hope this gives you a peek behind the curtain, so to speak, at what it means to be in ministry.

Here is the short VICE Documentary that inspired this episode. Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org

A68 The Music Conversation You Never Heard with Henry Johnson

Mon, 31 Dec 2018 17:00:00 -0500

We made it through 2018! Thank you for your support this year! For our final episode, Henry Johnson joins us once again to talk about the biblical and historical treatment of music in Christianity. Perhaps we have approached the "Worship War" all wrong this whole time. Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org

A67 Absurdistack Christmas Special Part 2!

Tue, 25 Dec 2018 20:00:00 -0500

STOP! If you haven't listened to Part 1 on Burn The Haystack's podcast, you won't know what's going on! This Christmas, Absurdity and Burn the Haystack have partnered to create a 2-part Christmas special. We talk gifts, tradition, and experiences each of us have had around the Christmas season. You don't want to miss this! Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org

A66 I Don't Like Church with Lauren Brooks

Mon, 17 Dec 2018 17:00:00 -0500

A good friend of ours, Lauren Brooks, joins us to talk about a recent post she made on her blog about church. We dive into current church culture and community and we try to answer the question: Is it better to sit disengaged in the service or not to attend at all? IMPORTANT NOTE: All three of us want to like the local church. This was one of the most difficult conversations we have encountered on this show because of the depth of our involvement in our local church spheres. Any awkward moments are the result of us just trying to navigate this conversation as best as we can. Check out Lauren's blog here! Check out Awaken Conference in Charlotte, NC: www.awakennc.com Use Dicount Code "absurdity" for 10% off your ticket! Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org

A65 Avoiding Dirty Texts

Mon, 10 Dec 2018 17:00:00 -0500

If you think this is about phones, sorry to disappoint! This episode, we dive in to ways pastors are avoiding talking about the "dirty texts" of Sciptures and why it's a dangerous and harmful trap to fall into. It turns out, in the same way you can miss the forest for the trees, you can also miss the trees for the forest. Check out Awaken Conference in Charlotte, NC: www.awakennc.com Use Dicount Code "absurdity" for 10% off your ticket! Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org

A64 Unity Video with Jose Briones

Mon, 03 Dec 2018 17:00:00 -0500

We are sure you've seen the Unity video, so Jose, Tony, and I talk about the video, how it was made, and all the issues we have with it. what a more fitting time to talkabout this video than after our Adventist Revolution episode, which the Unity video is partially a response to. For more context around the Unity video, see the latest Disruptive Adventism episode with Jose Briones . Check out Awaken Conference in Charlotte, NC: www.awakennc.com Use Dicount Code "absurdity" for 10% off your ticket! Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org

Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast/ Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: www.patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A63 An Adventist Revolution?

Mon, 26 Nov 2018 17:34:00 -0500

Tony and I talk about Michael Polite's recent call to arms for Adventists in North America to recommit themselves to local mission, re-engage with what's happening in the church, and stand up to institutional injustice. We share a breakdown of all the videos, plus we give our own thoughts as we go about each part. https://spectrummagazine.org/news/2018/university-chaplain-releases-call-adventist-revolution Check out Awaken Conference in Charlotte, NC: www.awakennc.com Use Dicount Code "absurdity" for 10% off your ticket! Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org

BONUS EPISODE A Movement Toward Awakening with Ryan Hodgins

Wed, 21 Nov 2018 17:00:00 -0500

Pastor Ryan Hodgins joins me to talk about youg adult ministry, his journey as a pastor, and a new Young Adult initiative happening in Charlotte, NC. We address the rumors regarding Awaken happening near the same time as GYC, talk about Awaken's goals, and what you can expect. Check out Awaken Conference in Charlotte, NC: www.awakennc.com

A62 Mental Health, Counseling, and Stigmas

Mon, 19 Nov 2018 17:00:00 -0500

Tony and I share some of our own counseling experiences, fears, and perspectives on the stigmas of counseling. We delve into some of our own struggles and battles we face, and we hope this episode can be an encouragement for you to find someone to talk to and get the support you need.

Check out Awaken Conference in Charlotte, NC: www.awakennc.com Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org

A61 The NAD Strikes Back and Dan Jackson's Had Enough

Mon, 12 Nov 2018 17:14:00 -0500

The North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists met in early November to discuss Division matters in general, but also to figure out how to respond to the recent Annual Council issues. If you want to know about those, head back to A57 and A58 to understand those votes. Tony and I break down what happened and we discuss our own response. This episode also includes our most heated disagreement to date! NAD Tithe Parity Dan Jackson's Speech NAD Voted Statement Check out Awaken Conference in Charlotte, NC: www.awakennc.com Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org

A60 Church Hospitality

Mon, 05 Nov 2018 17:54:00 -0500

Tony and I talk about church hospitality, our beef with greeting and how we integrate guests into church life, and ways we believe things can be improved. Check out Awaken Conference in Charlotte, NC: awakennc.com Check out our sponsors for this episode: thehaystack.org Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast/ Website: theabsurdity.org Patreon: patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A59 Pittsburgh, Mission, and How Actions Matter

Mon, 29 Oct 2018 12:10:00 -0500

Tony and I talk about the World Series, Ted Wilson's response to Regional Conference President criticisms, a new young adult conference coming to Charlotte. At about 10 minutes, we dive in to the real meat of this episode as we discuss the Synagogue Shooting on October 27 and how the church can make a positive impact through fulfilling and advancing mission. Check out Awaken Conference in Charlotte, NC: www.awakennc.com Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org

Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast/ Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A58 Annual Council, Compliance, and Unity Part 2 Reaction

Mon, 22 Oct 2018 12:00:00 -0500

Tony and I are back with part 2 of our series on 2018 Fall Annual Council. This is an Adventist-focused episode, so sorry to my listeners from other faith traditions! If you haven't been following what's happening at Annual Council, go back and listen to Part 1 before you hear this episode! This week is our reaction to the 184-125 vote that took place on October 14 and our opinions about moving forward. I have included all links from the past episode for reference! Survey Results Compliance Committee System and Members Committee Actions Document Compliance Committee terms of reference Compliance Committees Activated Early Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org

A57 Annual Council, Compliance, and Unity Part 1

Mon, 15 Oct 2018 12:00:00 -0500

Tony and I give an explanation for what was being discussed on Sunday, October 14. This does not contain our reaction to the actual vote itself, as this episode was recorded prior to the vote. But if you want to understand exactly what is going on and what was discussed and voted on, this is the episode for you! Survey Results Compliance Committee System and Members Committee Actions Document Compliance Committee terms of reference Compliance Committees Activated Early Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org

A56 Institutional Branding and Identity

Mon, 08 Oct 2018 12:00:00 -0500

Tony and I talk about branding and identity today. Not just individually, or as a whole church, but as local congregations as well. We also talk about the new SDA logo and the implications of some push to integrate it into the local church context.

Click here to see more about the updaated identity package for the SDA Church. Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org

A55 How Do We Find Our Calling

Mon, 01 Oct 2018 12:00:00 -0500

Tony and I talk about calling. After moving states and changing jobs, I’ve been thinking a lot about calling, how it works, and how we find our own. We hope this conversation is valuable for you on your own journey to discover your purpose.

Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org

Humans of Adventism Click HERE to register for SAC 2018 at the NAD Headquarters!

A54 ...So About Nike

Mon, 17 Sep 2018 12:00:00 -0500

Tony and I talk about the new Kaepernick ad from Nike that has everyone in an uproar. We talk about the business motivations behind the decision, the impact of it, the response to it, and what it means for us. Check out our sponsors for this episode: www.thehaystack.org

Humans of Adventism Click HERE to register for SAC 2018 at the NAD Headquarters!

A53 Balancing Religious Sides with Ross Knight

Mon, 10 Sep 2018 12:00:00 -0500

Can religious conservatives and liberals get along? Can they find common ground and unity within the Church and figure out how to work together? Pastor Ross Knight joins me to talk about this and more as we share our own experiences and dream about a better future in this area.

Check out our sponsor: www.thehaystack.org

A52 Burning Haystacks in New Zealand

Mon, 03 Sep 2018 12:00:00 -0500

Josh Stothers and Jesse Herford from the Burn the Haystack podcast to talk about the differences in Adventism from America and New Zealand, then we talk about ministry, leading churches at the beginning of our careers, and setting boundaries as leaders. I am super grateful for these guys and all they are doing, check out their podcast below!

https://www.facebook.com/burnthehaystack

Check out our sponsor: www.thehaystack.org Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast/ Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A51 Christian Celebrity Culture

Mon, 27 Aug 2018 12:00:00 -0500

Tony and I talk about Christian Celebrity culture, the current reality of it, what has created it, and what we can, should, and shouldn't do about it.

A50 Christianity and Nerd Culture

Mon, 20 Aug 2018 12:00:00 -0500

We did it! We made it to 50 episodes! Thank you guys so much for being on this journey with me. Tony and I talk about nerd culture and talk a lot about how nerd culture has impacted our lives, what it is, and why it's not such a bad thing in regards to Christianity.

A49 Church Discipline and Restoration

Mon, 13 Aug 2018 12:00:00 -0500

Tony and I chat about Church Discipline, what its purpose is, why it's done certain ways, and howe we believe it can be improved. Church Discipline is a hard topic, and no one likes being on either end of it, so how can we make it a more redemptive process? We also mention the SDA Church Manual here, which believe it or not, is available for all members to read FOR FREE. Check it out below: Check out the SDA Church Manual. Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast/ Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A48 Building Healthy Community

Mon, 06 Aug 2018 12:00:00 -0500

What are the hallmarks of an unhealthy community and a healthy one? How do we build a healthy community from unhealthiness and what will it cost us? Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast/ Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A47 Pride and Why I'm Awesome

Mon, 30 Jul 2018 12:00:00 -0500

Pride. A less-talked about sin that plagues churches and people everywhere. Tony and I talk about the difference between pride and arrogance, why pride is so hard to identify, and how it impacts our friendships and relationships.

Music by Justin Janetzko

Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast/ Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A46 A Few of Our Favorite Things

Mon, 23 Jul 2018 12:00:00 -0500

Tony and I battle morning voice and hay fever to talk about some of our favorite things about Adventism and being Adventist. We often discuss things we don't like that are happening and we wanted to highlight some of the awesome things that we experience within our denomination. Music by Justin Janetzko

A45 Mental Illness and Suicide

Mon, 16 Jul 2018 12:19:00 -0500

WARNING: This episode talks a lot about mental illness and suicide. If you are struggling with either of these, we encourage you to get help ASAP! Tony and I talk about mental illness, some of the ways it has impacted our lives, and the negative stigmas around both that prevent people from honestly talking about their struggles.

Music by Justin Janetzko

A44 Immigration is Controversial

Mon, 09 Jul 2018 12:00:00 -0500

Let's talk immigration. Is it talked about in the Bible? Do we have any obligation as Christians to talk about this issue on a policy level? Is it ethical? Tony and I attempt to answer these questions and share our own opinions on how we should regard and treat immigrants.

Music by Justin Janetzko

A43 Putting 'Fun' in the Fundamentals with TJ Sands

Mon, 02 Jul 2018 12:00:00 -0500

Adventism has 28 Fundamental Beliefs with a famous preamble setting them apart from creeds. While they explain what Adventists believe, how many does one need to believe in order to be considered an Adventist? Beyond that, how have they been misused, abused, and what is their proper place in the life of individual believers?

TJ Sands is a pastor in Oklahoma and someone I met because of this very podcast! I'm excited to have him on as we dive into the Fundamentals and what they mean for all of us.

Music by Justin Janetzko

A42 Sexism and Advocacy with Anna Bennett

Mon, 25 Jun 2018 00:00:00 -0500

Anna Bennett joins Tony and myself to talk about Sexism in the church, specifically how we experience it in the Adventist denomination. We also talk about how men can advocate for equality in ministry and can empower their female colleagues in ministry. Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile, @mrsannabennett Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast/ Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A41 Adventist Exceptionalism with AJ Valcin

Mon, 18 Jun 2018 00:00:00 -0500

AJ Valcin joins me to talk about Adventist Exceptionalism! This is what happens when Adventists approach the rest of the world with an "us vs. them" mindset. So how has Adventist Exceptionalism affected our church? What's the remedy? Why is it so important to avoid this at all costs? Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast/ Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A40 Secular Vs. Sacred Smackdown with Henry Johnson

Mon, 11 Jun 2018 00:00:00 -0500

Henry Johnson joins me to talk about the line between secular and sacred! We talk the history of the terms, what they mean, and how they have impacted our church today. We also talk culture and how religion and society in general interact with culture. Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast/ Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A39 Fear of Failure

Mon, 04 Jun 2018 00:00:00 -0500

How do you define failure? How do you deal with it and navigate it? What do success and failure teach us about ourselves and about others? Tony and I attempt to navigate some of this and things get a little bit more real than either of us expected. Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast/ Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A38 Healthy Boundaries

Mon, 28 May 2018 00:00:00 -0500

Let's talk about boundaries! What are they? Are they good? And what do boundaries, or a lack thereof, tell us about ourselves and each other? While we reference physical boundaries a bit, this episode is mainly talking about social and emotional boundaries as it relates to our well-being and value. Enjoy! Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast/ Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A37 "This is Not Who We Are"

Mon, 21 May 2018 15:19:00 -0500

Any time a racist moment happens in a company or institution, their response is always some form of "This is not who we are!" Well, when is that not true anymore? At what point does that become exactly who you are, and how has this idea impacted the Adventist church's history? Join Tony and I as we attempt to figure some of this out! Also, let this be a friendly reminder that things expressed on this show are always opinions. We speak openly and honestly while knowing there is room for error. Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast/ Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A36 What is Worship?

Mon, 14 May 2018 12:00:00 -0500

Tony and I talk about the meaning of worship in our modern-day Church services and Church life. We discuss what it means to worship, how it impacts our lives, and why leading people in worship needs to be an intentional matter. Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast/ Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A35 Sex, Purity, and Innocence

Mon, 07 May 2018 12:00:00 -0500

Tony and I dive into purity culture, some of the flaws in the way churches and families handle sex education (we believe) improperly. We talk about what it means to be pure and dive into if there is a difference between being pure and being innocent. We really hope this episode is freeing for some people and we are able to dispel some of the stigma around some of these topics. Warning to parents: If you have a small child with you, it might not be wise to listen to this episode with them present! Check out the Honest to God EP by Jordan Putt on Spotify, iTunes, and more! Intro Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast/ Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A34 Finding Unity and Reconciliation with Andrew Anobile

Mon, 30 Apr 2018 16:00:00 -0500

Welcome to the final part of our Michigan Recordings! Andrew Anobile, not to be confused with Tony, who regularly appears on Absurdity, is another one of my closest friends and someone who has been a powerful influence in my life. Today, we talk about Racism, Unity, Reconciliation, and Remittance. How can we find unity amidst different ideologies and different theological camps?

Stay tuned for a special shoutout to one of our iTunes reviews at the end that really impacted me! Check out the Honest to God EP by Jordan Putt on Spotify, iTunes, and more! Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast/ Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A33 Money Money Money

Mon, 23 Apr 2018 16:00:00 -0500

This is part 4 of our Michigan Recordings.This week Tony and I talk about how the church handles money, asks for money, and just how transparent churches should be regarding their finances. We talk about some of the things that bother us and some things we would love to see change. The giveaway is still going on until May 1, 2018 at 11:59:59 PM! Listen to the episode for details on how to enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card! Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker, @tony_anobile Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast/ Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A32 Who Are You Trying to Reach?

Mon, 16 Apr 2018 16:00:00 -0500

This is Part 3 of our Michigan Recordings. Tony and I talk about what audiences churches are catering to, the dangers of only playing to our own audiences, and what it means for each of us. This is a talk about ministry and one of the many things we believe can be done better in it. The giveaway is still going until May 1, 2018 at 11:59:59 PM! Make sure to enter (details in the podcast) for your chance to win! Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast/ Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A31 Porn Stars are People, Too

Mon, 09 Apr 2018 16:00:00 -0500

Tony Anobile and I talk about Stormy Daniels' reception after her 60 Minutes interview, others in the sex industry who have faced unnecessary ridicule, and how we can regard and treat people better. I am running a giveaway until May 1, 2018! Make sure to listen to get the details on how to enter! Check out www.theleadpodcast.com for the new podcast I am working on! Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast/ Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A30 Victim Shaming

Mon, 02 Apr 2018 16:00:00 -0500

I was in Michigan over Easter weekend and had the opportunity to record several episodes with Tony Anobile. This week's episode is talking about victim shaming and how it has impacted our culture. We also discuss the intent it's often done with, how it is usually accidental, and why we believe it is so harmful to do. Check out www.theleadpodcast.com for the new podcast I am working on! Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast/ Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A29 Adventism's Cling to Relevancy

Mon, 26 Mar 2018 16:00:00 -0500

I look at 4 different examples of how Adventists (individually and corporately) jump on celebrities and the most basic media attention in order to justify our presence and relevancy. I also talk about why this is damaging and a potential reason for why this happens. The people I specifically reference on this episode I am not condemning, but I do think the way we treat these people is harmful for them and for us.

Check out www.theleadpodcast.com for updates on my new podcast launching April 1, 2018! Music by Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast/ Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patron: patreon.com/absurditypodcastA Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A28 Leaving Faith with Jase Cara

Mon, 19 Mar 2018 16:00:00 -0500

This week is the first episode in an ongoing series we will be doing called "Leaving Faith" where we explore the stories and experiences of people who have left Christianity. This episode, one of my best friends, Jase Cara, joins me as we stroll down memory lane to talk about his journey. his interactions with the Church since, and where he is now. As always, thanks to Justin Janetzko for our intro music. Twitter: @ryan180becker Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast/ Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A27 I Wish You Would Man Up

Mon, 12 Mar 2018 16:00:00 -0500

Tony Anobile joins me this week to talk about masculinity in 2018. We wonder if there needs to be a renewed conversation on masculinity and really what it means to be a man and have holistic masculinity. This conversation only scratches the surface and I will definitely be diving into this conversation again soon! NY Times Article: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/21/opinion/boys-violence-shootings-guns.html As always, thanks to Justin Janetzko for our intro music. Twitter: @ryan180becker Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast/ Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A26 Let's Talk About Guns with Austin Holloway

Mon, 05 Mar 2018 00:00:00 -0500

A huge thank you goes out to Austin Holloway for being willing to just teach me about guns and dialogue a little about the state of the gun discussion in America. Austin has grown up around guns, is a concealed carry permit holder, and is a childhood friend of mine. I hope you learn something on this episode; I know I did! As always, thanks to Justin Janetzko for our intro music. Twitter: @ryan180becker Facebook: facebook.com/Absurditypodcast/ Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A25 Humans of Adventism with Kaleb Eisele

Mon, 26 Feb 2018 17:00:00 -0500

Kaleb Eisele joins me this week to talk about the power of stories, how he has explored engaging in constructive conversation and learned how to listen, and how we can embrace stories better. Find Humans of Adventism at: adventisthumans.com or https://www.facebook.com/humansofadventism/ As always, thanks to Justin Janetzko for our intro music. Twitter: @ryan180becker Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A24 Mission Mindsets with Tony Anobile

Mon, 19 Feb 2018 17:00:00 -0500

Tony joins me again for a conversation about how our churches engage with our communities. Also included is the full audio from Southern's official response to the Racism on campus. Check out the video in the link below. SAU Racism Response Video: http://www.southern.edu/connect/diversity.html As always, thanks to Justin Janetzko for our intro music. Twitter: @ryan180becker Website: https://www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A23 Addressing Racism at Southern Part 2 with Joëlle Kanyana

Mon, 12 Feb 2018 17:00:00 -0500

February 3, there was another racist incident on Southern's campus. I graduated from there in 2015, so I am no longer the one to have an insider's perspective, but I wanted to share the perspectives of those who were there. This is part 2 of our series on this topic and today's guest is Joëlle Kanyana! I would encourage you to listen to these conversations with the intent to understand and empathize and not the intent to dissect what these students are saying. These are their personal opinions and perspectives, not official statements from the University. These episodes feature very little of my own thoughts on the issue, but rather seek to highlight the perspectives of those currently attending SAU. Link to an article with SAU President Dave Smith's statement. Thanks to Justin Janetzko for our intro music. Twitter: @ryan180becker Website: https://www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A22 Addressing Racism at Southern Part 1 with Phillip Warfield

Fri, 09 Feb 2018 16:00:00 -0500

February 3, there was another racist incident on Southern's campus. I graduated from there in 2015, so I am no longer the one to have an insider's perspective, but I wanted to share the perspectives of those who were there. This will be a two part series, with episode 2 releasing Monday, February 12. I would encourage you to listen to these conversations with the intent to understand and empathize and not the intent to dissect what these students are saying. These are their personal opinions and perspectives, not official statements from the University. These episodes feature very little of my own thoughts on the issue, but rather seek to highlight the perspectives of those currently attending SAU. Link to an article with SAU President Dave Smith's statement. Link to Phillip Warfield's Twitter thread. Thanks to Justin Janetzko for our intro music. Twitter: @ryan180becker Website: www.theabsurdity.org Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A21 No Country for Single People

Mon, 05 Feb 2018 17:00:00 -0500

Time for another solo episode! This week I dive into the marriage culture in the Adventist Church and how it has unintentionally left little to no space for single people. I also look at how this culture of expectation and marriage excludes particular groups of people. Thanks to Justin Janetzko for our Intro Music! Go check out our Patreon! Absurdity website: www.theabsurdity.org Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A20.5 Birthday Episode! My Critical Adventism

Fri, 02 Feb 2018 16:28:00 -0500

Welcome to this Special Birthday episode of Absurdity! I turn 25 today. I wanted to share a little bit about why I am an Adventist and why I criticize as much as I do. Thanks for listening! Thanks to Justin Janetzko for our Intro Music! Go check out our Patreon! Absurdity website: www.theabsurdity.org Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A20 Music, Labels, and Christianity with Davis Absolute

Mon, 29 Jan 2018 17:00:00 -0500

This week Davis Absolute is on the podcast talking about his experience as an artist who also exists in the Christian subculture. I was really grateful for him taking the time out of work (occasionally you can hear a door close behind him because of it). I hope you'll enjoy what we talk about! We also talk about his new album, EDEN, which is available on Spotify, iTunes, and more! Go check it out! Thanks to Justin Janetzko for our Intro Music! Go check out our Patreon! Absurdity website: www.theabsurdity.org Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Twitter: @ryan180becker Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A19 Fostering Dependency with Tony Anobile, Jr.

Mon, 22 Jan 2018 21:16:00 -0500

Tony Anobile, one of my best friends, joins me to talk about how churches often stifle their members' growth by leaving them in a state of need and never letting them reach God's ideal for their lives and what we can do about it from all sides. In case anyone wonders why I sound different, I recorded the preliminaries with a totally shot voice and somewhat sick. Music: Justin Janetzko Twitter: @ryan180becker Email: ryan180becker@gmail.com Find us on Patreon! www.patreon.com/absurditypodcast Visit our website: www.theabsurdity.org Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A18 Regional Conferences, Racism, and Friendship with Evan Willis

Mon, 15 Jan 2018 17:00:00 -0500

This week Evan Willis comes on the podcast to talk about Regional Conferences. Thanks to this being the first episode where we didn't use an episode outline, we get majorly off-topic! That's okay because this was an awesome conversation! Evan Willis will be back on to talk more about regional conferences soon! Music By: Justin Janetzko Don't forget to check out the Absurdity Patreon: www.patreon.com/absurditypodcast Amazon links for books referenced in this episode: Education and Independence: Education in South Africa Racism Without Racists We Have Tomorrow: The Story of American Seventh-day Adventists With an African Heritage The Southern Work Mission to Black America Seeking a Sanctuary Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A17 When Leadership Falls Short

Mon, 08 Jan 2018 17:00:00 -0500

On this episode we dive into the recent GC Annual Council, what it means for us, and how we respond when leadership doesn't live up to its expectations. Thanks again to Justin Janetzko for our intro music! Check out Absurdity's official Patreon at www.patreon.com/absurditypodcast Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A16 Happy New Year! Stewarding Technology with Justin Janetzko

Mon, 01 Jan 2018 17:00:00 -0500

Happy New Year! We are back with new episodes, a brand new look, a new intro, a new podcast host in Blubrry, and new equipment! This week we have Justin Janetzko on the cast to talk about screen-time technology like phones, tablets, computers, and TVs, and the dangers of not stewarding technology well. This conversation challenged me personally and as a result, I've made some changes to my life that have resulted in a lot of positives. I hope the same is able to happen for you. Huge thanks to Justin Janetzko as well for our custom intro music! I am pumped to have our own unique sound. Also, be sure to subscribe on iTunes and make sure you check your subscription. We had a duplicate listing of the podcast up for a while and that was recently fixed, so you may find you are no longer subscribed because you accidentally subscribed to the duplicate. Finally, Absurdity is now on Patreon! www.patreon.com/absurditypodcast If you enjoy what I do here and want to give back, every dollar helps! Patrons will get episodes a week in advance. There will be more perks coming soon, but for now, I appreciate your kindness and generosity and every dollar goes back into helping me make this podcast a persistent reality. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

S2A7 - Arguing Well with Anthony Bosman

Wed, 06 Dec 2017 17:57:00 -0500

This week Anthony Bosman joins me to talk about arguing well. With the arrival of social media and a more connected world than ever, perhaps there is a need for re-examining how we argue with each other and recapture the beautiful growth that takes place when people argue well. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

S2A8 - Season Finale! Misunderstood Miracles

Wed, 06 Dec 2017 17:57:00 -0500

Welcome to the Finale of Season 2! In about a month we will return with some brand new things! In the meantime, go back and catch episodes you may have missed! This week, there is no guest. I talk about the Christian culture we have built around miracles and the danger of that culture. I dive into some popular miracles in Scripture and find a different perspective. I hope you enjoy! Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

S2A6 - Nonviolent Peacemakers with Luke Steen

Wed, 06 Dec 2017 17:56:00 -0500

Luke Steen has been on a pretty big journey lately. He is embracing the idea of Nonviolent Peacemaking. What is it? How does it work? How does it harmonize with the violence we find in Scripture that is seemingly God-ordained? Also, make sure to check out SWAYY Hammocks! Music by: www.bensound.com Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

S2A5 - Selfish Mission Work with Ben Kreiter

Wed, 06 Dec 2017 17:56:00 -0500

Join me as I talk with Ben Kreiter about Short-term Mission trips and disaster relief and how we may have poisoned our effectiveness by approaching them with a consumer mindset.

We love mission work and we love missionaries. We just want to re-frame common dangerous mind-sets that have pervaded the short-term missions culture. Also, make sure to check out SWAYY Hammocks! Music by: www.bensound.com Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

S2A4 - Becoming a Learner with Garrison Hayes

Wed, 06 Dec 2017 17:55:00 -0500

Garrison Hayes is our guest on the show this week. We talk about his experience with white supremacy, why he prefers to reframe the conversation around a different term than racism, and how everyone can approach this controversial issue more respectfully and effectively.

In the episode, Garrison shares some helpful resources to educate yourself on today's topic, here are they are below: Film: I Am Not Your Negro (documentary) Books: Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates Tears We Cannot Stop by Michael Eric Dyson

Music by: www.bensound.com Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

S2A2 - Charlottesville, Racism, and Response with Zach Hunter

Wed, 06 Dec 2017 17:54:00 -0500

This week, Zach Hunter joins me in a discussion about Charlottesville and racism in general. I am super excited to have him on the show and I can't wait for you to hear what we delve into a bit. We rant, rave, and make jokes about slow-cookers! Both of us are White American Christian men, and we acknowledge that plainly, so a lot of the discussion will be geared in that direction. There was a slight problem with the recordings, so I am sorry for any clicks, bumps, or pops you hear while we are talking. I hope you enjoy this episode and walk away with some idea of things you can do to work against hate in this country that impacts your life. Music: www.bensound.com Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

S2A3 - What is a Salvation Issue? with Pastor Jeff Carlson

Wed, 06 Dec 2017 17:54:00 -0500

This week I have Pastor Jeff Carlson with me to talk about how we use the term "Salvation Issue" to deflect the importance of controversial topics. Join us as we talk about loving the "other side" better and exploring how we can better communicate in hard conversations. Jeff is no stranger to controversial issues and topics and is a good friend of mine. I am really excited for some of the future episodes we are collaborating on! I apologize for any audio issues! Turns out the mic was positioned closer to me than I thought it was.

Music by: www.bensound.com Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

S2A1 - Listening Part 2 -- He Started It

Wed, 06 Dec 2017 17:53:00 -0500

We are back! In this week's episode, I explore three different ways we commonly cause damage to other people when we discuss controversial issues. I also explore some possible solutions in order to avoid these common pitfalls with others. I am also making the transition into doing these episodes in seasons. I want to make sure I am only producing episodes when I feel there is sufficient content to share, and I want to make sure I am balancing my personal life with my work life more effectively. I hope you enjoy Season 2 Episode 1! Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A7 An Absurd Seat

Thu, 22 Sep 2016 04:00:00 -0500

On this week's episode I discuss the importance of being consistent and appropriate in protest and discuss some of the realities faced by those who are fighting for or against any cause. I discuss a bit of Colin Kaepernick's protest as well as other historical protests which had significant impact. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A6 The Art of Listening

Fri, 16 Sep 2016 04:00:00 -0500

On this episode I talk about the importance of really trying to listen and understand someone's experience rather than simply trying to prove them wrong. Social media takes away the benefit of nonverbal communication to help us understand each other, so we must be diligent and intentional to understand the experiences of others and ask why they may be saying something or doing something. Let's be quick to understand rather than quick to prove wrong. This is a shorter episode for a couple reasons: I wanted to be succinct on a lot of this and I didn't want the length gating someone who might otherwise not listen. September 22, 2016 EDIT: The original audio for this episode was very weird. I went in and doctored it as much as my limited knowledge allowed me to. I'm sorry if it's still a bit off. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A5 An Absurd Church with Stephen Hall

Tue, 06 Sep 2016 04:00:00 -0500

This episode, Stephen Hall and I discuss how local churches can and should respond to social justice issues and tragedies that happen in and out of their communities. Shout-outs this episode go out to Eddie Cornejo, Angelo Grasso, Manny Arteaga of Kaleo SDA Church, Forest Lake Church, Florida Hospital Church, and Orlando North SDA for their practical actions taken in response to tragedies that have occurred around the country. We know others have responded positively as well, these are just the ones mentioned by name in our conversation. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A4 An Absurd Gray

Thu, 01 Sep 2016 04:00:00 -0500

This episode I dive into how we as a church can approach LGBTQ+ conversations in more contructive, practical, and sensitive ways. Ultimately, this subject isn't as clear-cut in Scripture as we want it to be, and that fact should lead us to be intentional and patient in how we approach a group that has long faced difficulty and rejection. I explore key harmful terms used by well-meaning Christians in conversations, I also discuss the historical context around Romans 1:26-27, one of the premiere texts used to discuss LGBTQ+ matters. My goal in this episode is not to dig a theological trench on one side or the other, but hopefully build a bridge between the two in order to create healthy and positive conversations in the future. The only condemning in this episode is regarding how we talk about these matters, but I am not condemning any persons. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A3 An Absurd Apathy with Jerome Masilamony

Tue, 30 Aug 2016 04:00:00 -0500

This week I talk to an old friend, Jerome Masilamony, about the current climate regarding social reaction to issues and tragedy. It's important to find ways we can change that attitude and start to be bothered by what is going on around us. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

A2 An Absurd Confession

Thu, 21 Jul 2016 16:00:00 -0500

This episode explores a little bit about what it means to benefit from white privilege and the different forms of Racism which exist today. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

The Absurdity Episode 1

Thu, 14 Jul 2016 21:58:00 -0500

Welcome to The Absurdity Podcast with Ryan Becker. Join me as I seek to navigate in that space where people are hurting and are treated unequally and seek to find solutions and create conversation revolving equality and injustice in our society today. I want to lend my voice and my privilege to the support of those who are crying for justice and love. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://absurdpodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm