Collision with Nic Flores Nic Flores

Jared Stacy shares his personal journey of growing up in a fundamentalist Christian background, becoming a pastor, and eventually undergoing a period of deconstruction. He discusses the influence of conspiracy theories and Christian nationalism within his community, as well as the pressure to conform to certain expectations within the church. Jared emphasizes the importance of questioning and wrestling with one's faith, and the need to confront the troubled history of white American Christianity. He also highlights the significance of relationships and community in the process of reevaluating and redefining one's faith. The conversation explores the themes of moral questions, hypocrisy, scandal, and the failure of the church to respond to issues such as sexual abuse and racism. It highlights the importance of personal encounters and human connection in the process of deconstruction and reconstruction of faith. The guest shares his journey of rediscovering a more authentic understanding of God and theology, grounded in community and a commitment to embodying the way of Jesus. The conversation also touches on the hope for the future of the church, emphasizing the need for ecumenism and dialogue with diverse communities.

Find Jared Stacy:
https://jaredstacy.com/

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Keywords:

faith, Christianity, deconstruction, fundamentalism, conspiracy theories, Christian nationalism, pressure, expectations, questioning, wrestling, troubled history, relationships, community, moral questions, hypocrisy, scandal, church failure, sexual abuse, racism, deconstruction, reconstruction, faith, God, theology, community, Jesus, hope, ecumenism, dialogue


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Tim Whitaker, the creator of the New Evangelicals, shares his journey of deconstructing his faith and finding a new way forward. He discusses the breakdowns and challenges he experienced within evangelicalism, including issues of sexuality, predestination, and the alignment of the church with political ideologies. Despite these challenges, Tim remains committed to his Christian faith and sees Christianity as a much broader and diverse tradition than evangelical fundamentalism. He emphasizes the importance of embracing uncertainty and being comfortable with the unknown, as well as the need for community and collaboration in the deconstruction process. The conversation explores the challenges of being an influencer in the deconstruction space and the importance of critical thinking and personal agency. Tim emphasizes the need for individuals to do their own research, think critically, and make their own decisions rather than blindly following influencers. He discusses the decision to become a nonprofit organization to ensure accountability and transparency. Tim also reflects on the tension between his rebellious nature and the desire to communicate his message effectively. He encourages those who are deconstructing to keep going and not be afraid to reject the answers they were given by their faith tradition.



Find Tim Whitaker:

https://www.thenewevangelicals.com/


Follow Collision Podcast on Instagram:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/collisionpodcast⁠⁠



Keywords:

deconstruction, evangelicalism, faith, challenges, sexuality, predestination, political ideologies, uncertainty, community, collaboration, influencer, deconstruction, critical thinking, personal agency, research, nonprofit, accountability, transparency, rebellion, faith tradition




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Kevin shares his personal journey of faith and spirituality, starting with his upbringing in Los Angeles and his pleasant indifference to religion. He then describes his profound awakening experience with God at the age of 18, which led him to a deep sense of connection and a calling to be a pastor. Kevin explains that his direct experience of the sacred shaped his relationship with beliefs and the church, and he chose not to continue using psychedelics as a spiritual guide. He also discusses his association with the Jesus story and his commitment to leading others towards awakening. Kevin shares his journey of faith, from being called to be a pastor to experiencing deconstruction and embracing a more inclusive and progressive theology. He talks about his experience of starting and closing a church, and the importance of holding space in the liminal space of not knowing. Kevin emphasizes the need to trust the process of death and resurrection, both in our personal lives and in the larger context of the church. He also highlights the importance of keeping our hearts open and having the courage to keep going.



Find Kevin Sweeney:

https://www.kevinsweeneynow.com/


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⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/collisionpodcast


Want to be on Collision or Ask a Question:
www.Collisionpodcast.org/About

Keywords
faith, spirituality, awakening, direct experience, psychedelics, Jesus, church, beliefs, calling, faith, deconstruction, inclusivity, progressive theology, starting a church, closing a church, liminal space, trust, death and resurrection, keeping our hearts open


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Jenny Booth Potter and Nic Flores explores the themes of belief, safety, and commitment in the context of racial justice and personal growth. Jenny shares her experiences working in a predominantly white megachurch and witnessing the power dynamics and lack of belief in marginalized voices. She emphasizes the importance of believing people's stories, validating their experiences, and actively working towards creating safe spaces. Nic shares his journey of sharing his own story as a sexual abuse survivor and the impact of finding safety and validation in his marriage. Both speakers highlight the transformative power of storytelling and the need to channel pain into positive action. In this conversation, Jenny and Nic discuss the importance of long-term activism and the need for people to be in it for the long haul. They emphasize the significance of tending to one's own well-being and mental health while engaging in activism. They also discuss the challenges of being an ally and the fear of not having the right words or qualifications. Jenny shares her experience of leaving the church and the difficulty of reconciling her beliefs with the actions of the church. They both emphasize the importance of storytelling, listening to others' experiences, and doing the work of self-reflection and education.

Follow Collision Podcast on Instagram:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/collisionpodcast⁠⁠

Keywords
belief, safety, commitment, racial justice, personal growth, marginalized voices, validation, safe spaces, storytelling, pain, positive action, activism, social justice, long game, sustained effort, commitment, allyship, leaving the church, finding a new faith community, storytelling, listening, self-reflection, education, Black Lives Matter




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Rob Bell discusses his book 'Where Did You Park Your Spaceship?' and the themes of perception, reality, and the power of storytelling. He shares his journey from being a singer in a band to becoming a spiritual teacher and author. The book explores the idea of different perspectives and the limitations of human understanding. Bell emphasizes the importance of storytelling that allows readers to have their own experiences and interpretations. The conversation also touches on memory, neurodivergence, and the joy of creating new worlds through storytelling. The principal themes of the conversation are the exploration of truth and perspective, the importance of community and connection, the need for personal growth and self-discovery, and the challenges of societal structures and institutions. The conversation delves into the idea that truth is multifaceted and there are always different perspectives to consider. It also emphasizes the significance of building genuine connections with others and the power of community. The conversation highlights the personal growth and self-discovery that can come from writing and storytelling. It also touches on the limitations and flaws of societal structures and institutions and the need for change and reimagining. Overall, the conversation encourages listeners to embrace their own unique perspectives, seek meaningful connections, and challenge the status quo.



Chapters



00:00 Introduction and Background

02:02 Questioning Systems and Perspectives

04:31 Exploring Creativity and Expression

06:38 Embracing Change and Taking Risks

09:33 Education and Perception

12:30 Memory and Neurodivergence

13:48 Collective Progress and Data

18:48 Unpredictability and Nuances in the Story

20:03 Exploring the Characters

20:45 The Truth is Never What You Think

21:52 Getting Pulled into the Lives of Others

22:45 The Emotional Impact of the Story

23:44 Moving from Head to Body

24:49 Ungrieved Grief and Pain

25:29 The Personal Nature of the Book

26:01 Reimagining Foundational Institutions

27:41 Challenging Traditional Structures

29:03 The Relationship Between Grief and Imagination

31:11 The End of a Civilization

31:41 Embracing the Current Time

34:24 The Loss of Community

35:33 Including the People in Community Building

36:28 Writing Another Book

37:29 The Personal Nature of the Book

39:08 Being True to Yourself

40:23 Focusing on Others

41:25 Upcoming Projects



Follow Collision Podcast on Instagram:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/collisionpodcast⁠⁠



Keywords:

perception, reality, storytelling, different perspectives, memory, neurodivergence, truth, perspective, community, connection, personal growth, self-discovery, societal structures, institutions, change, storytelling






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David Ruybalid shares his journey from growing up in a fundamentalist and cultish Christian environment to becoming a trauma-informed pastor. He talks about the challenges he faced, including his parents' divorce, sexual abuse, and the lack of safe spaces to discuss these issues. David went through a period of deconstruction and spent years healing and processing his trauma. He then pursued a career in music and worked with various artists. Eventually, he became involved in a worship movement called Bloom and started drumming for Michael Gungor. Today, David is passionate about creating safe environments for survivors and challenging the harmful practices within Christian communities. David Ruybalid shares his journey of deconstruction and healing from religious trauma, including his experience of sexual abuse and spiritual abuse. He discusses how he found a supportive community that allowed him to be honest about his doubts and questions. David also talks about his process of discernment and how he discovered his calling as a pastor. He emphasizes the importance of holding space for others who are going through similar struggles and offers his support and resources.



Follow Collision Podcast on Instagram:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/collisionpodcast⁠⁠


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