Risking Damnation

Derek Brouwer

The podcast that puts the very salvation of the cohosts on the line for all the best reasons. Derek & Chris think this is what Jesus really wants us to do: risk damnation to spread love, truth, and the very best way to be in communion with God. Though devout and pious, we are decidedly not conservative evangelicals. Hopefully, we are a voice of a more sane Christianity.

Episodes

  1. 08/27/2023

    The Facets of Human Sexuality

    Like all (wannabe) academics, Chris and Derek like their categories, terms, problems, etc super well-defined. This is another whole episode dedicated to explaining all aspects of human sexuality from genetic/assigned, identity, expression, orientation, tastes and beyond. "Isn't this what you did in the last episode?" No, we continue from where we left off in episode 2. This is good stuff. I promise. Again with the Correction: The book Perv by Jesse Bering is cited numerous times. He, in turn, cites research done likely in the 1990s about fetishes and kinks regarding a perceived difference between men and women. It appeared to the researchers that men locked into their kink or fetish "thing" at a young age and never really deviated for their entire lives. A man who has a foot fetish at 12-years-old will still fetishize feet at 90. It was like the man's brain was concrete in this respect. The researchers found life-long obsession on a "thing" to be less common among women. They speculated a woman's mind was more "plastic" allowing for a variety of interests over their lives. The authors offered no explanation for why men and women would be different in this respect. In the intervening weeks, nay, months since this recording was made, I (Derek) have grown increasingly skeptical about this conclusion. Given the vintage of the study, it is entirely probable the researchers' biasses tainted the way the question was asked. Also, this would have been at a time when it was less acceptable for a woman to be kinky especially in an overt way. It is highly probable kinky women over the past millennia were taught to repress their own interests, taking on (or faking) interest in whatever their man was into. Millennia of reinforced survival behavior doesn't disappear overnight. It seems more likely that gender plays little or no part in kink/fetish development, how strong they are, or if a person's taste changes over the course of their life. Rather it is entirely probable that when asked about strong proclivities and interests, women of the era would not have expressed their tastes as boldly either consciously or subconsciously. As such, I am stepping back from thinking men's brains are "concrete" and women's brains are "plastic," especially in this context, but also, and of course, in any context.

  2. 08/20/2023

    A Theory of Human Sexuality

    A whole episode dedicated to explaining all aspects of human sexuality from genetic/assigned, identity, expression, orientation, tastes and beyond. Like all theories, it provides categories and context. Correction: The book Perv by Jesse Bering is cited numerous times. He, in turn, cites research done likely in the 1990s about fetishes and kinks regarding a perceived difference between men and women. It appeared to the researchers that men locked into their kink or fetish "thing" at a young age and never really deviated for their entire lives. A man who has a foot fetish at 12-years-old will still fetishize feet at 90. It was like the man's brain was concrete in this respect. The researchers found life-long obsession on a "thing" to be less common among women. They speculated a woman's mind was more "plastic" allowing for a variety of interests over their lives. The authors offered no explanation for why men and women would be different in this respect. In the intervening weeks, nay, months since this recording was made, I (Derek) have grown increasingly skeptical about this conclusion. Given the vintage of the study, it is entirely probable the researchers' biasses tainted the way the question was asked. Also, this would have been at a time when it was less acceptable for a woman to be kinky especially in an overt way. It is highly probable kinky women over the past millennia were taught to repress their own interests, taking on (or faking) interest in whatever their man was into. Millennia of reinforced survival behavior doesn't disappear overnight. It seems more likely that gender plays little or no part in kink/fetish development, how strong they are, or if a person's taste changes over the course of their life. Rather it is entirely probable that when asked about strong proclivities and interests, women of the era would not have expressed their tastes as boldly either consciously or subconsciously. As such, I am stepping back from thinking men's brains are "concrete" and women's brains are "plastic," especially in this context, but also, and of course, in any context.

  3. Season 1 Trailer

    Risking Damnation Reboot Season 1 Promo

    UPDATE: First REAL episode drops on August 13th! There are nine total (so far). Over the past few decades, the church has struggled in its response to anything having to do with LGBTQ+ people and issues. The noisy conservative churches have been quick to condemn, and the liberal churches have thrown the door open wide but haven't had the theological testicular fortitude to support their stances. I'm Derek Brouwer, one half of Risking Damnation, and with my co-host, Chris Wright, we will attempt to give the inclusive position some muscle. As it turns out, the Bible doesn't condemn homosexuality and has frighteningly little to say about gender orientation or expression. Even the church throughout history hasn't said much at all about LGBTQ+ issues. This is something new and we need to find a way to accept, affirm, and love every person no matter how they are wired: lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, straight, vanilla, or kinky and wild. In this podcast's first season, Chris and I will look at the biblical passages commonly used to condemn as well as broken theologies of hate. And will defend the inclusive position. We will try to keep it light, a little profane, and maybe a touch irreverent but we are going to go down deep and stay down long. No ads and no plugs; when you believe the message, it really isn't at all about the money. If you ever wanted to love Jesus and literally everyone else too, this is the podcast for you. Check out the Risking Damnation podcast wherever you find your podcast.

Trailer

About

The podcast that puts the very salvation of the cohosts on the line for all the best reasons. Derek & Chris think this is what Jesus really wants us to do: risk damnation to spread love, truth, and the very best way to be in communion with God. Though devout and pious, we are decidedly not conservative evangelicals. Hopefully, we are a voice of a more sane Christianity.