Info

Losing Our Religion

A former megachurch pastor leaves religion behind to rid himself of the exclusivity created by its dogmas in order to open himself up to learn from the lives, stories, and experiences of everyone else. To prove we are more alike than we think and we can all get along no matter what we believe. Topics range via guest's experiences growing up in religious homes, where Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Secularism, Judaism, Hinduism, Tao, Heathenism, Satanism, Wicca and all forms of dogmas and ideologies programmed into the mind of a child. What happens when that child becomes an adult? What good things do they hold onto? What things do they lose? Where are they now, and in what ways are they finding the peace that we all desire, with or apart from the religions they were raised with? Losing Our Religion is a wild ride with a community of diverse humans each seeking their desired life away from dogma and exclusivity.
RSS Feed Subscribe in Apple Podcasts
2020
December
June
May
April
March
February
January


2019
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2018
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2017
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2016
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2015
December
November
October
September
August


All Episodes
Archives
Now displaying: March, 2016

Losing Our Religion is a hilarious and candid look at religion and culture, with former pastor, now commune living lover of sinners, Zac Gandara.  As he has drinks with former religious freaks, and others he used to shun.  Gays, Anarchists, Queers, Atheists, Transsexuals, Punk Rockers, and the rest of us that are considered rejects on this island of misfit toys.

Mar 30, 2016

This is a pun-filled joy ride of laughter and conversation about how we grew up in Jewish and Christian religious homes. Our first Losing Our Religion episode with Tequila, well, mezcal. In cocktail form of course, since we were recording at the posh Hotel Vintage in downtown Portland Oregon. The cocktail was called Up In Smoke, and we had the best time.

My wife Jen joins us again in this episode and uses her Peanut Gallery powers to draw us back into more important things rather than our happy rabbit trails. Grace's story of being Jewish but not Jewish enough to be accepted by some Jews is a story relatable to many of us.

We spend some time trying to talk out what we're going to do when each of us has kids. Cause both our parents made us go to the church building and synagog, and we learned some great life lessons there.

Grace and I share an affection for Daniel Johnston, so we highlight some of his work in this episode. As well as Slayer, which is hilarious to me that Grace likes Slayer.

We finish this episode hoping to do a part 2, but I got swamped with work and Grace moved to Chicago before we could make it happen. We will have to set up another time to have Grace on the show again to talk about the different Messiah's of Judaism and Christianity.

True Love Will Find You In The End By Daniel Johnston

True love will find you in the end
You'll find out just who was your friend
Don't be sad, I know you will,
But don't give up until
True love will find you in the end
This is a promise with a catch
Only if you're looking can it find you
'Cause true love is searching too
But how can it recognize you
Unless you step out into the light?
Don't be sad I know you will
But don't give up until
True love finds you in the end.

 

Join the CounterCulture Society:  http://eepurl.com/bwqMWT

 

Become a Producer:  https://www.patreon.com/losingourreligion

 

Find Out More:  http://www.losingourreligion.org

 

This Episode's Landing Page:  http://www.losingourreligion.org/episodes/2016/3/28/036-hyperdrive-jew-grace-strachman-hilarious-mezcal

 

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/LosingRReligion

 

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/LosingOurReligion

Mar 28, 2016

In this episode, we take our first phone call from a loser, discuss middle America, and whether losing hell is a good idea or not.

I don't know if there is a heaven or hell. I used to be certain there was, but these days I am not so sure. After reading the scriptures in context more than ten times, I don't see it speak of a heaven, but of a recreated earth, and there doesn't seem to be a hell, but more of an existence apart from God. Which for many of us reading this post, probably sounds pretty good.

I don't claim to be a theologian, but I used to. I don't claim to be well educated, but I used to think I was. I have already been labeled a heretic by my old church, received hate mail and fighting messages from pastors, all while joyfully accepted my apostate reality, but am I going to hell? I don't think I should care anymore. At least, I don't want to.

I have recently come to the conclusion that trying to live like there is a hell is of no help to the fulfillment or joy to be found in my life. It only makes me wonder who is in and who is out. So fuck it.

A fellow Loser sent me this to me after his therapy session he just finished,

"I had an insane therapy breakthrough today. We talked about the podcast and my time at Mars Hill the whole time. The two mind-blowing bullet points: 1 - Literally no one has authority over you, there are only people who try to exert power over you, and 2 - It’s perfectly acceptable to be pissed off, and I quote my therapist, 'to tell all those motherfuckers to fuck off forever.' "

One place we know the doctrine of heaven and hell works to control and manipulate is in religion. It keeps people, contained, controlled, and pliable to the institutions needs and desires. It keeps people coming to church and inviting others with them. The more and more distance my life has from "church" the freer I feel, and the more clarity I feel I have. I am free to explore, to live life on a journey of discovery, and to enjoy the journey's of others, without judgment.

Hell as an Invention of the Church

John Shelby Spong retired Episcopal bishop from Newark, N.J., interviewed by Keith Morrison on Dateline, NBC, August 12, 2006.

DATELINE NBC: To Hell and Back, Parts 1-4

After learning Greek and Hebrew to read the original manuscripts of the scripture, then famous evangelical megachurch pastor Carlton Pearson began to find discrepancies. He soon became to disbelieve in the doctrine of hell and began speaking about, what he called, "The Gospel of Inclusion." He lost everything because of it.

 

Join the CounterCulture Society:  http://eepurl.com/bwqMWT

 

Become a Producer:  https://www.patreon.com/losingourreligion

 

Find Out More:  http://www.losingourreligion.org

 

This Episode's Landing Page:  http://www.losingourreligion.org/episodes/2016/3/24/im-a-loser-middle-america-losing-hell-living-life-loser-keith-john-shelby-spong-carlton-pearson

 

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/LosingRReligion

 

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/LosingOurReligion

 

Watch the Videos:  http://www.losingourreligion.org/episodes/2016/3/24/im-a-loser-middle-america-losing-hell-living-life-loser-keith-john-shelby-spong-carlton-pearson

Mar 23, 2016

The second part of each episode is usually the far deeper more fulfilling and revealing part. Do to our trust for one another growing as well as the amount of drinks we've ha!

Zeke empowers me to get very transparent about my forming of a "Christian" institution (Once called Love is not Lost now called life) after I left the machine and to talk about the pain that ensued...but also the hope, joy, and community that has come out of it. We talk about the Jesus we want to believe in, albeit not sure yet if that Jesus exists.

With suffering beginning our discussion in this episode we come to some therapeutic conclusions that the human experience doesn't need answers. That conclusions only lead us to definitive responses which build walls around us and shut us off from growth. There is great joy to found in pain.

"Suffering helps us realize our stupidity, pettiness, and fear. it serves us by revealing to us that we don't need to hold back. That we are free to be ourselves." - Zeke Rudick

Zeke speaks to us about the thing many religious folks have felt in the past, the pressure to pursue people to save them and convert them to our ways. Wow, how that never worked for us. We have a hearty laugh at the expense of Kirk Cameron, Ray Comfort, and the whole "Way of the Master" manipulation.

I think one of the things that Ezekiel helps me to process through the most are my intentions and hopes for the CounterCulture Society. We chat about art and humanities need for it. How it expresses our deepest feelings and experiences in therapeutic ways. We talk about the vision of CounterCulture Society, my hopes for it and fears of it.

What's cool is that my wife, Jen walks in on us recording, loosely joins the conversation and publicly calls me out on my shit. Her input is a strong reminder to us both that the struggle is real, but that the biggest part of the struggle is usually in our own heads, not outside of us.

Fear is often the very thing that keeps us from living our lives. The fear of being ourselves, the fear of speaking up and speaking out. The fear that someone is going to be upset with me, that someone might reject us when we speak up and speak out of where we are.

Zeke and I hope to live a world free of fear, free from being rejected by community, and free of caring what others think. We desire to grow to think differently and live in the freedom from conforming.

"What if I just allow myself space to figure it out, instead of trying to isolate it all into the dichotomy of good versus evil."

"Fear is the low, rumbling, hum of suffering." - Zeke Rudick

 

Join the CounterCulture Society:  http://eepurl.com/bwqMWT

 

Become a Producer:  https://www.patreon.com/losingourreligion

 

Find Out More:  http://www.losingourreligion.org

 

This Episode's Landing Page:  http://www.losingourreligion.org/episodes/035-fear-be-damned-part-2-ezekiel-rudick-suffering-pain-life-healing

 

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/LosingRReligion

 

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/LosingOurReligion

Mar 16, 2016

Zeke is a fantastically beautiful musician. Hearing his songs gave me goosebumps as tears welled up in my eyes. He’s the first former Mormon to be on the podcast but is most recently from the Mars Hill, Acts 29, Imago Dei, Missional Community type of religious institution.

Zeke was drawn into the Mars Hill scene when many of his musical hero’s were heading into the culture there. Through his journey of losing religion, he has grown from a "strong" miscegenistic, “Christian” viewpoint and lifestyle. To finding humility, community and solidarity in places that religious folks would assume to be unlikely.

We engage in a fascinating conversation regarding faith, belief, and wonder along the lines of journeying through life in the godless world.

What if I don’t believe anymore? What happens now? What's next? What about the Bible? The book that kept trying to convince us to love someone that maybe we don’t love? So many make it a narrative about a god that is so insecure that if you call him another name he banishes you to hell. Is there a hell? Or have we just come up with it to fit our need for there to be a battle between good and evil? To create an American scenario of what a winner and a loser are?

I can relate to Zeke's story of going through hell, and the only people that will reach deeply to you are those that the church would say are going to hell…which creates a whole different view of community through who show themselves to be "your people", "your crew", "your squad".

Belonging is a big deal! Solidarity is a massive thing. Solidarity in joy, pain, suffering, and celebration.

The pain and beauty in art and it being the best and only medium to express our humanity in the most transparent and beautiful ways. This gives the suffering a voice. Suffering Deserves a Voice.

 

Join the CounterCulture Society:  http://eepurl.com/bwqMWT

 

Become a Producer:  https://www.patreon.com/losingourreligion

 

Find Out More:  http://www.losingourreligion.org

 

This Episode's Landing Page:  http://www.losingourreligion.org/episodes/2016/3/15/episode-034-belonging-and-solidarity-through-joy-and-pain-ezekiel-rudick-ex-mormon

 

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/LosingRReligion

 

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/LosingOurReligion

Mar 9, 2016

A continuation of Rob and I's fun night of drinking together. We have a great time talking about the changes we are seeing in our neighborhood of Capitol Hill, what we feel Seattle is losing, and how we feel about it. You can tell how much we love our current hood and at the same time miss our old neighborhood.

This is a must listen to episode because of the beautiful spirituality expressed in our connection together. As well as Rob's ability to call me out on my own shit shut me up when I'm talking too much, and mutually honor each others art and lives together.

Rob asks me some very specific questions about my life, faith, church attendance, and what being a "believer" looks like post-institutional religion. If I'm not in church, what keeps me going?

It is so beautiful how we discuss our faiths and our idea of growth as human beings in such candid, honest, and messy ways while coming from two entirely different backgrounds and viewpoints. But the conversation doesn't stop there. Rob gives his two cents about the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), and it's comparison to late night infomercials.

But the ending! I love how this episode ends. I love Rob, and I'm grateful for him taking the time to be with us.

 

LA Live Podcast Comedy Show:  http://www.losingourreligion.org/lashow 

 

Join the CounterCulture Society:  http://eepurl.com/bwqMWT

 

Become a Producer:  https://www.patreon.com/losingourreligion

 

Find Out More:  http://www.losingourreligion.org

 

This Episode's Landing Page:  http://www.losingourreligion.org/episodes/episode-033-growing-up-in-this-mess-together-rob-femur-jewish-friends

 

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/LosingRReligion

 

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/LosingOurReligion

Mar 2, 2016

[All Music on this Episode is The Femurs]

"We're Jews; we're God's chosen people. You Christian's are always concerned with what you do because you're afraid of hell. When you're God's people, you don't have to worry about a hell."
- Rob Femur

"The evangelical church likes Donald Trump because they've been programmed to respect authoritative leaders. Trump is not a politician or a leader. He's a CEO. He's a pastor. The American church pastor today is not a pastor, they're a CEO. They don't shepherd people; they give orders to minions."
- Zac Gandara

Rob and I were hanging out at a local bar having an amazing conversation and decided we wanted to share it with you. So we quickly tabbed out at Captian Blacks and hoofed it to the studio...apartment to record these episodes.

Rob, raised in New York City by a family of Holocaust survivors. But perhaps we could also say he was raised by the Ramones, Iggy Pop, and Lou Reed because his musical talent and knowledge is awesome.

He's a New York Jew. You can hear it in his voice. He's also an amazing storyteller, with a rich, detailed American Jewish history to draw from, and strong political views to boot.

We chat politics, religion, egalitarian versus totalitarian, the crazy American electoral race right now, and the characters that are running in that race. Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Health Insurance, Gun Control, Ronald Regan, and Mental Health Care. Rob transparently shares about his life, Jewish viewpoints, even person experiences with abortion.

I love these conversations with Rob so much. We get excited, heated, and have a great time.

THE MUSIC in this episodes is Rob's: The Femurs

The Femurs are a band from Seattle starring Mr. Rob Femur. The music is a mix of Ramones-style pop with the sweet homespun sounds of Jonathan Richman. Many of the songs are written and recorded in an apartment. While others in a studio. Think sweet pop songs to make your day a bit brighter.

 

LA Live Podcast Comedy Show:  http://www.losingourreligion.org/lashow 

 

Join the CounterCulture Society:  http://eepurl.com/bwqMWT

 

Become a Producer:  https://www.patreon.com/losingourreligion

 

Find Out More:  http://www.losingourreligion.org

 

This Episode's Landing Page:  http://www.losingourreligion.org/episodes/2016/3/1/032-new-york-punk-rock-jew-rob-femur-politics-trump-bernie-sanders-clinton

 

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/LosingRReligion

 

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/LosingOurReligion

 

1