Theology in the Raw

Theology in the Raw
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Helping believers think Christianly about theological and cultural issues by engaging in curious conversations with a diverse range of thoughtful people.

  1. 2d ago

    The Quran, Sharia, Violence, and Women. Understanding Islam, Part 1

    Join the Theology in the Raw community to listen to my "Extra Innings" response to my conversation with Javad. What do Christians misunderstand about Islam? Is it inherently violent? Was it spread by the sword? What do Muslims believe about Christians, Sharia, women, the Quran, and the Hadith? In the first episode of our three-part series on Islam, Preston sits down with Dr. Javad Hashmi, a Muslim scholar and PhD candidate in Islamic Studies at Harvard University. The conversation explores the origins of Islam, what historians can know about Muhammad, the development of the Quran and Hadith, Sunni and Shia Islam, Sharia, early Muslim-Christian relations, Islamic empires, religious violence, ISIS and al-Qaeda, the treatment of women, and how Muslims view Christians and Americans. This conversation is not intended to settle every question or present one definitive account of Islam. It is an attempt to listen carefully, understand Islam’s internal diversity, and ask difficult questions without reducing an entire religious tradition to slogans or stereotypes. This is Part 1 of our series, Understanding Islam. CHAPTERS 00:00 Does the Quran Promote Violence? 00:43 What Is Islam, Really? 05:21 Introducing Dr. Javad Hashmi 06:32 How to Understand Any Religion 12:41 Muhammad and the Origins of Islam 23:40 Early Muslim-Christian Relations 29:16 Was Islam Spread by the Sword? 42:30 Sunni, Shia, and Sufi Islam 49:50 Core Beliefs and Sharia 55:46 The Quran Versus the Hadith 1:04:36 Islam, Violence, and Terrorism 1:15:41 Islam and Women 1:27:03 How Muslims View Christians and Americans 1:32:22 Closing See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    The Quran, Sharia, Violence, and Women. Understanding Islam, Part 1

  2. 5d ago

    Venus, Purity Culture, and the Ideal Christian Woman | Dr. Elissa Yukiko Weichbrodt

    Who decided what a “good woman” should look like? Long before social media, paintings, sculptures, religious images, and other forms of visual culture were shaping our expectations of women. Those images did not merely reflect society. They helped define beauty, sexuality, motherhood, virtue, and even what Christians imagined a godly woman should be. Dr. Elissa Yukiko Weichbrodt is an art historian (Ph.D. from Washington University) and is a professor of art and art history at Covenant College. She’s also the author of two books: the award-winning Redeeming Vision: A Christian Guide to Looking at and Learning from Art (Baker Academic 2023) and her recent book Look Like a Lady: Five Visual Tropes of Womanhood and How to See Ourselves Differently (Brazos 2026), which forms the basis of our conversation today. Chapters: 00:00 The Desire to Be Desirable 00:41 What Is a Woman? 03:39 Meet Elissa Yukiko Weichbrodt 06:16 How Art Shapes Christian Theology 09:58 Why Medieval Jesus Looks Like a Little Man 14:22 Five Images of Womanhood 15:20 The Venus Trope and Sexual Desirability 18:10 Why Women Learn to See Themselves as Objects 23:21 Purity Culture and the Objectification of Women 28:37 Mary, Elizabeth, and a Better Way of Seeing 33:35 The Myth of the Perfect Mother 38:02 How the Reformation Changed Womanhood 43:44 Are Women Competing for God’s Love? 46:27 Infertility, Motherhood, and Female Identity 49:30 “Is Something Wrong With Me?” 52:24 Do Fathers Get More of a Free Pass? 54:45 How Women Become “Monsters” 59:47 Does the Church Still Vilify Women? 63:45 Shaped by Trauma, Not Defined by It 65:36 A Bigger Vision of Christian Womanhood See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Venus, Purity Culture, and the Ideal Christian Woman | Dr. Elissa Yukiko Weichbrodt

  3. Sep 10

    Are We Making Our Kids More Anxious? Dr. Chinwé Williams

    Are parents accidentally making their kids more anxious by protecting them from discomfort? Dr. Chinwé Williams joins Preston to explain why anxiety, depression, loneliness, and social avoidance have risen among young people. They discuss the role of smartphones and social media, the disappearance of real-world community, constant exposure to frightening news, trauma, pornography, and the pressure many kids feel to avoid failure. Dr. Chinwé Williams is a Licensed and Board-Certified therapist with expertise spanning a variety of domains, including youth and family mental health, parenting & and trauma recovery. Chinwé has served in academic, corporate, school, and faith-based work settings. She’s also the co-author of the best-selling book Seen: Healing Despair and Anxiety in Kids and Teens Through the Power of Connection and her latest book is: Calm, Courageous, and Connected: A Parent's Guide to Raising Emotionally Resilient Kids Chapters: 0:00 Avoidance Is Feeding Kids’ Anxiety 2:20 Is the Youth Mental Health Crisis Real? 5:30 What Is Causing the Mental Health Crisis? 8:08 What Social Media Is Taking Away From Kids 9:32 Why Kids Need “Third Spaces” 12:41 Are Kids Becoming Afraid to Take Risks? 16:54 Why Teens Struggle With Social Anxiety 20:04 How Avoidance Makes Anxiety Worse 21:15 Building Grit and Emotional Resilience 23:58 How Parents Accidentally Reinforce Anxiety 26:22 How Parents’ Childhood Wounds Shape Their Parenting 29:57 Fear, Bad News, and the “Milk Carton Generation” 35:10 Trauma, Sexual Abuse, and Pornography 43:30 How Parents Can Help Anxious Kids 44:04 Co-Regulation and Connection Before Correction 48:30 Teaching Kids Cognitive Flexibility 51:12 The “Grace Check” 52:42 Healthy Smartphone and Social Media Boundaries 55:41 Who Could Your Teen Call at 2 A.M.? 56:29 Calm, Courageous, and Connected See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Are We Making Our Kids More Anxious? Dr. Chinwé Williams

  4. Sep 9

    Bonus Preview: Patreon Q & A

    Hey friends, Check out the top voted questions from my September Q & A! For the full episode, join the Theology in the Raw Patreon Community at https://www.patreon.com/theologyintheraw Here's the full list of Questions: 00:59 Isn’t it unfair to consider gay-affirming Christians “outside the fold” when pro-war Christians have an equally unbiblical view, but are not treated as such?09:15 Prophecy of male birth aside, could Jesus have been female and still died for the sins of the world?13:21 Assuming a view of Jesus with literal brothers, sons of Mary, why do you think Jesus at the cross entrusted the care of Mary to John and not to his literal brothers?15:45 My mother-in-law is a hospice nurse and had a patient request that she be present at their medically assisted suicide. My mother-in-law would not administer anything, but should she go?17:40 Are David and Jonathan and Ruth and Naomi good biblical kinship examples of modern same-sex celibate partnerships?20:11 I really appreciated your two discussions of biblical masculinity. Any further thoughts or takeaways after you’ve had some time to mull over the conversations?24:11 How is it that believers, all with the Spirit guiding them, come to such opposing conclusions? How can we be confident we know what God is actually saying or leading us to?27:03 After a decade at a fast-growing church, should I be concerned that I don’t feel rooted or have a role, while later arrivals become deacons and become known by the leaders?28:11 Do Job’s speeches function as valid lament for Christians, or are they out of bounds? Some of his statements are pretty intense.31:09 Would you ever consider having a Christian polygamist on your show? I’ve seen a lot more recently. I strongly disagree, but would love a real back-and-forth.33:27 How would you explain the doctrine of the Trinity to a nonbeliever or a child? How does it make sense that the Son doesn’t know the day or time of the end?37:33 Is communion in the Bible always done with the group eating from a common loaf and drinking from a common cup? If so, should that be the standard practice today?42:18 Is Satan God’s enemy or just ours? If we fail a test, is it Satan’s fault or the proctor’s fault? Was Satan upset when Jesus and Job passed the test? Is the Satan of Job and Matthew 4 the same as Revelation?44:22 In thinking about friendship as an intimate relationship, what is the place of physical affection? What is cultural versus biblical, especially for men? How do we get there?47:32 What do you think of Greg Boyd’s cruciform hermeneutic of Old Testament violence described in The Crucifixion of the Warrior God?50:35 My son asks what we know about angels and archangels from the Old Testament versus pop culture. What do Judaism and Christianity say about ranks, personhood, and the reason for their creation?53:59 Does a Genesis-first hermeneutic in Matthew 19 imply Christians should be vegetarian as New Eden people, like Adam and Eve? Also, Isaiah 11.58:37 Do Jews and Christians worship the same God, or does the incarnation fundamentally change who God is? I still feel unclear.1:00:40 In 1 Timothy 3:2, one of the qualifications for an elder is “able to teach,” which doesn’t appear for deacons or women. Is this a good argument against women teaching?1:04:19 What’s the likelihood that Paul was married and subsequently widowed or divorced? I’ve heard that to be a Pharisee, he would have had to be married. Is this true?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Bonus Preview: Patreon Q & A

  5. Sep 7

    When Christian Unity Becomes Forced Agreement, with Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez

    What if Christian unity doesn’t mean agreeing about everything? Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez joins Preston to discuss the difference between genuine Christian unity and the false peace created by forced agreement. Drawing from her new book, False Peace, Pricelis explains why sameness can silence people, erase meaningful differences, and prevent churches from addressing conflict honestly. They discuss political and theological disagreement within the church, pastoring a diverse congregation in the Bronx, creating a church culture that welcomes criticism, and deciding which doctrines Christians should divide over. In the Patreon-exclusive Extra Innings segment, Preston and Pricelis continue the conversation by discussing women in church leadership, Pricelis’s journey toward becoming an ordained pastor, and how she maintains meaningful relationships with Christians who strongly disagree with her. Join the Theology in the Raw Patreon community to listen to Extra Innings: https://www.patreon.com/theologyintheraw Learn more about Pricelis and her book, False Peace: How to Reject the Lie of Sameness, Embrace Difference, and Embody True Unity: https://www.pricelispd.com/my-books See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    When Christian Unity Becomes Forced Agreement, with Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez

  6. Sep 3

    Does the Church Get Modesty Wrong? Dr. Sandra Richter & Noël Tsoukalas

    What does the Bible really mean by modesty, and why have Christian conversations about clothing so often produced shame, especially for women and teenage girls? Dr. Sandra Richter is a renown biblical scholar, author, and professor of Old Testament at Westmont College. The 2nd edition of her killer book, The Epic of Eden, releases in November 2026. Sandy is also a faithful mom, and one of her daughters, Noël Tsoukalas, joins us in this conversation about modesty. Noël is a Pop singer-songwriter and worship leader. She made a name for herself on Season 21 of American Idol, where she received a golden ticket and three “yeses” from celebrity judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan. Check out her music on Spotify! 00:00:00 “Your Outfit Is Causing My Husband to Stumble” 00:06:55 Sandy & Noel on Modesty and Purity Culture 00:12:50 How the Church Has Mishandled Modesty 00:18:10 Sandy’s Experience with Christian Dress Codes 00:21:26 When Modesty Culture Makes Girls’ Bodies “Public Property” 00:27:21 The Billy Graham Rule and Women in Church Leadership 00:32:21 What Does Biblical Modesty Actually Look Like? 00:36:18 Body Shaming and Modesty in the Church 00:38:26 Teaching Girls to Set Boundaries with Church Leaders 00:42:51 Should Churches Have Dress Codes? 00:51:26 Body Types and the Subjectivity of Modesty 00:53:36 What Does Modesty Look Like for Men? 00:56:28 Biblical Modesty Is About More Than Sexuality 00:59:12 Double Standards for Men and Women at Christian Camps 01:01:41 How Should Christian Camps Handle Swimsuit Dress Codes? 01:06:15 Does Modesty Culture Discourage Women from Ministry? 01:08:30 Social Media, Body Image, and Female Musicians 01:11:30 Healing from Shame Around Modesty and Purity Culture 01:14:05 Who Should Talk to Women About Their Clothing? 01:15:20 Forrest Frank and Cory Asbury make the internet stumble See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Does the Church Get Modesty Wrong? Dr. Sandra Richter & Noël Tsoukalas

  7. Aug 31

    When Church Hurts: Spiritual Trauma and Rebuilding Your Faith: Colleen Ramser

    Colleen Ramser is an EMDR-certified licensed professional counselor (LPC) who specializes in trauma, particularly the effects of spiritual abuse, domestic abuse, and complex trauma. She’s a survivor of spiritual trauma, which she talks about in the show, and she’s the author of the book The Shattered Soul: Restoring Wholeness and Rebuilding Your Faith After Spiritual Trauma, which addresses a lot of the things we discuss in this fasciainating conversation. 00:00 Why Spiritual Trauma Can Make Faith Feel Impossible 00:30 Introduction 02:52 What Qualifies as Trauma? 05:49 Trauma vs. PTSD 07:46 Resilience, Support, and Post-Traumatic Growth 17:06 What Is Spiritual Trauma? 21:00 Colleen’s Experience with Spiritual Abuse 31:18 Signs and Symptoms of Spiritual Trauma 32:48 How Spiritual Trauma Affects Pastors and Church Leaders 39:14 Recognizing and Treating Spiritual Trauma 41:20 Healing Trauma and Rebuilding Your Faith 46:06 Complex Spiritual Trauma vs. Theological Disagreement 49:46 Is the Term “Spiritual Abuse” Overused? 57:30 Are Churches Getting Better at Addressing Abuse? 63:24 Jesus, Power, and the Fruit of the Spirit See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    When Church Hurts: Spiritual Trauma and Rebuilding Your Faith: Colleen Ramser

  8. Aug 27

    Faithful and Courageous Women in the Bible: Dr. Sandra Glahn

    To listen to or watch our extra innings conversation, become a member of the Theology in the Raw community at https://www.patreon.com/theologyintheraw. Dr Sandra Glahn has spend more than a quarter of a century working as a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary. She's the cofounder of the Visual Museum of Women in Christianity and the author of more than 25 books--her latest being A Woman's Place Is in the Story. In this episode, we discuss several women in the Old Testament and how the biblical narrator frames their stories. In our "extra innings" conversation, we discuss the question: "What do Egalitarians and Complementarians get wrong about the women in leadership debate."  00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:56 How Biblical Narrators Shape the Story 00:04:39 Word Repetition in the Bible: Why It Matters 00:05:29 Tamar in Genesis 38: Hero or Villain? 00:11:32 Are All Women in the Bible Meant to Be Role Models? 00:12:08 Judah and Tamar: A Biblical Character Transformation 00:16:44 Shiphrah and Puah: The Midwives Who Defied Pharaoh 00:21:05 Why Every Christian Should Know Shiphrah and Puah 00:22:17 Did Moses Challenge Patriarchy in the Old Testament? 00:29:57 Abigail in 1 Samuel: Wisdom, Courage, and Leadership 00:36:34 Was Ancient Israel Really a Patriarchy? 00:39:51 Elisha and the Shunammite Woman: A Surprising Biblical Story 00:43:17 Job's Daughters and Women's Inheritance Rights 00:48:15 Why Reading the Full Biblical Story Changes Everything 00:50:10 Jezebel: Justice, Power, and the Biblical Narrative See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Faithful and Courageous Women in the Bible: Dr. Sandra Glahn
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Helping believers think Christianly about theological and cultural issues by engaging in curious conversations with a diverse range of thoughtful people.

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  • Creator
    Theology in the Raw
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2026
  • Episodes
    842
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Theology in the Raw

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