Cafeteria Christian
268 episodes - English - Latest episode: 12 days ago - ★★★★★ - 383 ratingsNora and Natalia met on the internet and quickly formed a mutual admiration society which grew into a friendship and many conversations about life and loss and faith and God. They knew there was a place in the current cultural and political climate for a kind of Christianity that was not “THAT kind of Christian”. So Cafeteria Christian was born. They are reclaiming this pejorative for good and reminding people that even when it comes to Christianity and faith, you can take what you like and leave the rest.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
#268 Does God Have Favorites?
April 08, 2024 09:51 - 1 hour - 84.1 MBEmmy and Natalia tackle a listener question about whether or not God picks favorites, and why we like to think this way, particularly in the face of difficult things. Links: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian www.facebook.com/groups/cafeteriachristian
#267 You Who Remain
March 29, 2024 20:39 - 28 minutes - 39.7 MBBlessed Holy Week to you, Cafeterians! In lieu of our usual episode, this week we wanted to share a sermon from friend and colleague Amy Courts Koopman. Amy is a gifted preacher and musician, and she often writes songs as sermons. This time, she wrote both, and it is just too good not to share with all of you. Links: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian http://www.amycourts.com/ or follow Amy: https://www.instagram.com/amycourts/
#266 Atonement Theories (CC Style)
March 26, 2024 01:55 - 1 hour - 92.8 MBEmmy and Natalia tackle a listener request to talk through Atonement Theories (with a CC flair) which feels particularly relevant as we’re in Holy Week. Links: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Wikipedia page to do more digging on theories: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Atonement_in_Christianity Instagram for Parenting through faith: https://www.instagram.com/meredithannemiller/
#265 Holy Week & Anti-Semitism
March 18, 2024 22:46 - 53 minutes - 73.1 MBEmmy and Natalia talk about the challenges of Holy Week with our Jewish siblings - In this fraught and tender time, how can we go through Holy Week with the intention of honoring our neighbors faith and doing no harm? Links - www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Video about the Trinity and St Patrick: https://youtu.be/KQLfgaUoQCw?si=_p-j__Pv3sXRMpBY
#264 Actually, Not All Are Welcome
March 12, 2024 12:05 - 1 hour - 89.9 MBEmmy and Natalia talk about the “big tent” ideology that is prevalent in so many churches and why it might not be as good as we think it is to say “all are welcome.” Support the show at: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
#263 Biblical Inconsistencies
March 04, 2024 09:10 - 1 hour - 83 MBEmmy and Natalia tackle a listener question about what to do when the Bible contradicts itself, and why there are four Gospels but one Jesus. Links: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Emmy teaching at St John’s in Lakeville MN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYxdPUiURE8&list=PLkvWuOAW_KuQaEWbITdBF56T2RMcEg6Ce&index=4
#262 Theocracy Grab Bag
February 26, 2024 13:07 - 1 hour - 110 MBNatalia and Emmy tackle two news stories from the last week and what they have to say about our faith in public life and politics. It’s a longer episode, but both stories deserve the time and conversation. We hope you’ll continue talking with us about it in our facebook group or instagram. Also, note that this episode refers to infertility, IVF, abortion, and suicide, so if any of those topics are tender for you - please do what you need to do to care for yourself and your well-being. Supp...
#261 “My Kingdom is Not of This World” - on Christian Nationalism, w/Angela Denker
February 19, 2024 09:14 - 52 minutes - 71.9 MBNatalia welcomes returning guest and friend of the pod Angela Denker. Angela is an author, pastor, and speaker with expertise in the area of “maga Christianity” and white Christian nationalism. As nationalism makes its way to a bigger platform during this election year, Angela helps us understand what it is we should listen for and speak against. Links: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Angela’s website: https://www.angeladenker.com/ Angela’s substack: https://angeladenker.substac...
#260 Giving Up Perfectionism for Lent (repost)
February 13, 2024 13:14 - 59 minutes - 81.2 MBEmmy and Natalia talk about Lent, why we love the sad season, but also why it has been a challenge for us to love it in the past. Suppor the show at http://patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
#258 Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth? (No.)
February 05, 2024 09:07 - 57 minutes - 78.6 MBEpisode 258 Post Date: February 5 Title: Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth? (no) Emmy and Natalia talk about the Bible, and why it can be fraught but why it’s worth it to do the work to not just read but understand it. Links: www.queergrace.com www.myjewishlearning.com Live Show! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cafeteria-christian-podcast-live-show-tickets-779779440297?aff=oddtdtcreator
#257 Without Preface
January 30, 2024 01:26 - 1 hour - 96.8 MBEmmy and Natalia begin to tackle a few listener questions about the big C Church and Lutherans and “nones” and why calling churches non-denominational and post-denominational both miss the mark. Links: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Live Show Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cafeteria-christian-podcast-live-show-tickets-779779440297?aff=oddtdtcreator An Altar In The World - CC Book Club Signup: https://forms.gle/2uAvnb5Jcyuo6dp57 Renew (April 21 event): https://churc...
#256 What does it mean to have a "call"?
January 22, 2024 12:49 - 1 hour - 83.4 MBEmmy and Natalia talk about call stories in the Bible and why being “called” might not mean what we think it means. Links: MLK Jr Christmas Sermon on Peace: https://onbeing.org/blog/martin-luther-kings-last-christmas-sermon/ Live Show Feb 8 - Ticket link Become a Patron: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
#255 Squishy Season
January 16, 2024 01:34 - 55 minutes - 76.1 MBEmmy and Natalia are back after a break and talking about the pressure to be new and resolved and how it doesn’t quite land for where we are right now. Links: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Anne Helen Peterson article: https://annehelen.substack.com/p/the-right-kind-of-busy An Altar in the World Book Study Signup: https://forms.gle/2uAvnb5Jcyuo6dp57 Live Show Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cafeteria-christian-podcast-live-show-tickets-779779440297?utm-campaign=social&...
#254 A Very Merry Messy Swiftie Honest Christmas
December 25, 2023 14:42 - 54 minutes - 74.8 MBEmmy and Natalia tell the Christmas story in three ways, so that you can take time to enter this story and season in the way that makes the most sense to you. Even at Christmas, you can always take what you like and leave the rest. Links: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian The Daily Taylor Swift Episode: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/15/podcasts/the-daily/the-year-of-taylor-swift.html Emmy’s Sermon: www.emmykegler.com/a-messy-first-christmas/ Live Show Tickets! : https:/...
#253 You Can Believe Better Things w/ Janice Lagata
December 19, 2023 11:46 - 1 hour - 91.7 MBNatalia welcomes back returning guest Janice to talk about humanity and supremacy, why music is the best and worst way to feel all the things, and why it matters. Find and Follow Janice: @ godhasnotgiven on all the things, God Has Not Given podcast, Bad Words podcast, and many other creative projects. www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
#252 December Flies Away
December 11, 2023 09:47 - 1 hour - 83 MBEmmy and Natalia talk December and holidays and feast days and eventually get to Solstice, Blue Christmas, and Longest Night. Notes: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
#251 An Enneagram Primer with Enneagram Ashton
December 04, 2023 14:04 - 46 minutes - 64.1 MBNatalia welcomes Ashton Whitmoyer-Ober, also known as Enneagram Ashton, to talk us through an enneagram overview and also why it is such a great tool to help you know yourself and others better. Support the show at http://patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Links: Ashton’s website: https://enneagramashton.com/ Enneagram image: https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/enneagram-types Tests Ashton recommends: RHETI: https://tests.enneagraminstitute.com/ Truity: https://www.truity.co...
#250 State of the Pod
November 27, 2023 15:21 - 54 minutes - 75.2 MBEmmy and Natalia celebrate 250 episodes, and reflect on how we’ve changed, why we’ve changed, and where we see ourselves going forward. Links: Patreon: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Lapsed Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/natalia-terfa-emmy-kegler-of-cafeteria-christian/id1575313872?i=1000635527686
#249 The Bronze Medal Life w/ Colleen Lindstorm
November 20, 2023 11:52 - 59 minutes - 82.2 MBNatalia and Emmy welcome back Colleen Lindstrom to talk about striving for less and why it might be exactly what God intended. http://patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
#248 Calling Out or Calling In w/ Jesse Ross
November 15, 2023 02:25 - 48 minutes - 66.7 MBNatalia welcomes back Mr Jesse Ross to talk about those moments when conversations turn offensive and what to say when we don’t know what to say, especially as we head into the holiday season where gatherings can be fraught. Links: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian www.mrjesseross.com
#247 Ordinary Blessings for the Christmas Season w/ Meta Herrick Carlson
November 06, 2023 14:54 - 52 minutes - 71.7 MBEmmy and Natalia welcome back Meta to talk about her new book, to read some blessings and tell stories, and laugh together around this weird and wonderful and sometimes not so wonderful time of year. Links: Patreon - www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Hiyam: www.tabashsouvenirs.com Meta’s website: www.metaherrickcarlson.com Eye on the Magi: https://www.amazon.com/Eye-Magi-Justin-Lind-Ayres/dp/B0CHKTDZHL
#246 Mountaintops & Mission Trips
October 30, 2023 13:24 - 1 hour - 98.1 MBEmmy and Natalia talk about God experiences, when they happen, how they happen, and what we are supposed to do with them - especially if they happened a long time ago, in a stage of faith we’ve left behind, or what we do if we haven’t ever had one at all. Digressions include the Eras Tour, Teens Encounter Christ, and jello salad. Support the show at http://patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Links: Enchantment - Katherine May: https://bookshop.org/p/books/enchantment-awakening-wonder-...
#245 Question & Response - Israel / Palestine Edition
October 23, 2023 08:45 - 1 hour - 88.6 MBEmmy and Natalia respond to a few listener questions about the violence and suffering in Israel and Palestine, and what our role as people of faith is in times when things feel scary and hopeless. Support the show at http://patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Links: “The Children Are Ours” - https://camillehernandez.substack.com/p/the-children-are-ours Talmud Sanhedrin 39b - https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/114677?lang=bi
#244 No Single Stories w/ Meta Herrick Carlson and Hiyam Tabash
October 16, 2023 14:01 - 1 hour - 93.7 MBEmmy and Natalia try to process the news from this week, as violence and terror in Israel and Palestine are front and center for most of us. We decided to share a conversation our dear friend and colleague and friend of the pod Meta Herrick Carlson had earlier this year with a woman we met and became friends with - Hiyam Tabash. We hope you’ll listen, and we hope you’ll do some learning through trusted sources and experts instead of algorithms - so we included a list of resources we trust be...
#243 The Witchy Season
October 09, 2023 10:39 - 58 minutes - 80.2 MBEmmy and Natalia unpack some of the baggage around Halloween and where it comes from and why it matters to simply be aware of the ways we celebrate (and don’t celebrate) this season. Suppport the show at http://patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Links: Spooky season - mpr: https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2017/10/24/559502238/this-halloween-what-does-it-mean-to-call-something-spooky Michael Hobbes and Sarah Marshall: https://rottenindenmark.org/2019/10/31/halloween-re-release...
#242 Taylor Swift and the Religious Instinct
October 02, 2023 15:17 - 1 hour - 86.9 MBNatalia welcomes back Whitney Logan to talk about psychotherapy and Jungian analytics as they relate to Taylor Swift and the Eras tour and why collective transcendent experiences matter more than ever. Links: Whitney’s last CC episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cc-group-therapy-with-whitney-logan/id1422007489?i=1000577663827 Whitney’s podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hidden-world/id1531481438 Support the show at www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
#241 An Evolving Faith with Sarah Bessey
September 25, 2023 14:02 - 54 minutes - 74.7 MBNatalia and Emmy welcome the lovely Sarah Bessey to talk about faith and writing and community and gathering and why it all matters. Cafeteria Christian Support through Patreon: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Sarah Bessey Links: Field Notes: https://sarahbessey.substack.com/ Essay: Someone Else’s Conversion: https://sarahbessey.substack.com/p/someone-elses-deconversion-dbf Evolving Faith: https://evolvingfaith.com/conference Podcast EF Season 2: https://evolvingfaith.com/po...
#240 Faith is messy because people are messy
September 18, 2023 11:12 - 1 hour - 86.4 MBEmmy and Natalia tackle a set of lectionary texts that have been misused and misunderstood long enough. How can we read an ancient text in a new age? Donate: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
#239 Tiny Things and Holy Ground
September 11, 2023 11:28 - 57 minutes - 79.4 MBNatalia welcomes back Ellie Roscher to talk about how our habits and tiny things will change the world, if we just notice them. Donate: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Embodied Path Part 1 : https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-embodied-path-w-ellie-roscher-pt-1/id1422007489?i=1000586974702 Part 2: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-embodied-path-with-ellie-roscher-part-2-embodied-church/id1422007489?i=1000590690026 Part 3: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/th...
#238 Heaven and Hell
September 04, 2023 11:59 - 1 hour - 93.5 MBNatalia and Emmy tackle the theology of heaven and hell from a variety of angles and their own unique perspectives and beliefs. CW: Some discussion of sexual assualt. If that is something that you do not want to listen to for any reason, it happens in the discussion of Judith, around 24 minute mark for about two minutes. Patreon: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Join the conversation: facebook.com/groups/cafeteriachristian
#237 If All the World's a Stage, Are We All Performing?
August 28, 2023 12:47 - 1 hour - 94.5 MBEmmy and Natalia tackle a grab bag of topics that are in the cultural zeitgeist and what they have to do with Jesus, faith, and life, and also why they all lead back to the idea that maybe we’re just performing and not really living. Patreon: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Anne Helen Peterson’s article on BamaRushTok: https://annehelen.substack.com/p/culture-study-meets-bama-rushtok
#236 Transition and Ritual
August 21, 2023 12:52 - 1 hour - 91.9 MBEmmy and Natalia are back together and thinking about ritual and what makes one and why we should have some more! Links: Patreon: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Nora’s shop: https://shop.feelingsand.co/products/give-it-a-rest-vinyl-mirror-sticker
#235 Community Response and Allyship w/ Jesse Ross
August 14, 2023 16:20 - 51 minutes - 70.8 MBJesse and Natalia talk about Montgomery and why it offered us a bit of hope, and what it has to do with the church and how we respond to each other. Patreon: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
#234 Why Church Bonus Episode
August 07, 2023 12:36 - 47 minutes - 65.5 MBJoin Rev. Miriam Samuelson Roberts and Rev. Andrea Roske-Metcalfe for a question and answer segment. If you missed their dynamite Why Church? episode, go back and listen! Support the show at http://patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
#233 Why Church Pt 3 with Colleen Lindstrom, Megan Torgerson, and Emmy Kegler
July 31, 2023 12:49 - 47 minutes - 65 MBOn our final episode of Why Church? we will hear from Colleen Lindstrom and Rev. Megan Torgerson. Our host Emmy Kegler introduces each segment and will offer her own reflection this week. Settle in and breathe deep. Support the podcast at http://patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
#232 Why Church? Part 3 with Andrea Roske-Metcalfe, Miriam Samuelson Roberts, and Natalia Terfa
July 24, 2023 13:55 - 1 hour - 83 MBOn our third offering of Why Church? we will hear from Rev. Andrea Roske-Metcalfe and Rev. Miriam Samuelson Roberts. Our host Natalia Terfa introduces each segment and will offer her own reflection this week. Settle in for two compelling visions of a church becoming. Support the podcast at http://patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
#231 Why Church? Part 2 with Dr. Michael Chan and Ellie Roscher
July 17, 2023 10:59 - 52 minutes - 72.2 MBOn our second installment of Why Church? we will hear from Dr. Michael Chan and Ellie Roscher. Our host Natalia Terfa introduces each installment. Settle in for two compelling visions of a church becoming. Support the podcast at http://patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
#230 Why Church? Part One with Meta, Jesse, and Matthew
July 10, 2023 20:01 - 44 minutes - 60.5 MBOn our first installment of Why Church? we will hear from Meta Herrick Carlson, Jesse Ross, and Matthew Ian Fleming. Our host Emmy Kegler introduces each installment. You won't want to miss a beat. Support the podcast at http://patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
#229 Why Church Matters Introduction
July 05, 2023 01:30 - 54 minutes - 74.2 MBEmmy and Natalia talk about the upcoming July series and why we think it’s important to talk about church and what it is and what it means and why/if it still matters. Join the discussion: www.facebook.com/groups/cafeteriachristian Support the pod: http://Patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
#228 All Are Welcome?
June 27, 2023 04:14 - 1 hour - 93.3 MBEmmy and Natalia are back together just in time to wrap up Pride month with an epic Emmy rant about the phrase “all are welcome” and why it is never true and why maybe we should stop saying it altogether. Links: Reconciling Works: https://www.reconcilingworks.org/ Support the pod: http://patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
#227 Being the Mom of a Scary Trans Kid, with Jamie Bruesehoff
June 19, 2023 13:51 - 54 minutes - 74.8 MBIn 2017, a ten-year-old girl named Rebekah went viral when she appeared at a rally with a simple sign: “I’m the scary transgender person the media warned you about.” Her mom and dad, Jamie and ELCA pastor Chris Bruesehoff, had been raising Rebekah with her two younger brothers in a relatively safe “bubble of protection” where most people Rebekah met were kind and affirming. Suddenly, they were in a national spotlight. Six years later, Jamie joins Emmy for a special episode on trans kids, par...
#226 Hillsong Gonna Hillsong... Again. w/Janice Lagata
June 05, 2023 08:30 - 1 hour - 98.5 MBCW: Sexual Assault and Harassment Emmy and Natalia welcome back Janice Lagata to talk about the new Hillsong Docuseries and how power is always, always the problem. Links: Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Venmo us: @cafeteriachristian
#225 We Welcome Our AI Overlords
May 29, 2023 08:30 - 1 hour - 91.8 MBEmmy and Natalia talk about AI and ChatGPT and what it all might mean for faith and church. Links: Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Venmo Us: @cafeteriachristian
#224 Maycember
May 22, 2023 08:30 - 1 hour - 102 MBNatalia and Emmy talk about grind and hustle culture as it pertains to the busyness of May, and also about rest, sabbatical, and how we just aren’t as important as we think we are. Links: Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Venmo Us: @cafeteriachristian Natalia’s blog post for Church Anew on Digital Community: https://churchanew.org/blog/posts/natalia-terfa-digital-communities-are-embodied-communities Tricia Hersey’s Book: https://bookshop.org/p/boo...
#223 Jesus was the OG Community Organizer
May 15, 2023 08:30 - 50 minutes - 69.6 MBNatalia, Emmy, and Jesse start talking about church and end up talking about community organizing instead. We’ve always wanted a soapbox built for three and we finally built it! Links: Support the Show: http://www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Venmo: @cafeteriachristian
#222 Mother's Day is Fraught
May 08, 2023 11:54 - 1 hour - 85.2 MBEmmy and Natalia do their best to bring back the word “fraught” as we talk about Mother’s Day and all the baggage it carries, particularly in the church, and why it is the perfect day to take what you like and leave the rest. Links: Support the Show: http://www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Order Meta's Books: www.metaherrickcarlson.com Previous Mother's Day episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/un-happy-mothers-day/id1422007489?i=1000520807402
#221 Seasonal Vocation
May 01, 2023 08:30 - 49 minutes - 67.8 MBNatalia and Jesse talk about vocation and imposter syndrome and how we aren’t who we used to be and also how that’s really, really ok. Support the Show: http://www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
#220 Mystical Spirituality with Elle Dowd
April 24, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour - 90.2 MBNatalia and Emmy welcome Pr Elle Dowd to talk about all things woo, and why all of it can be good, and healthy, and yes, even holy. Digressions include parenting future hope, and American Girls & Religion. Support the Show: http://www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian See our home altar picture slide show on Instagram: @cafeteriachristian Elle’s website: www.elledowd.com Find Elle on social media: @hownowbrowndowd Listen to Elle's previous CC Episode (136): https://podcasts.apple.c...
#219 We Don’t Talk About Mary (No No No)
April 17, 2023 17:45 - 1 hour - 83.4 MBNatalia finally takes Emmy (and all of us) to school about Mary Magdalene and why she is awesome. (AND why we should all love her as much as Natalia does.) Support the show at http://patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Links: https://www.elizabethschrader.com/about-7 Lecture: https://youtu.be/_b3Y3cJ0Ic8 Book: Mary Magdalene Revealed by Meggan Watterson “All the Marys” Sermon by Diana Butler Bass: https://dianabutlerbass.com/wp-content/uploads/All-the-Marys-Sermon.pdf
#218 Faith, Doubt, and Certainty
April 10, 2023 13:09 - 1 hour - 83.1 MBEmmy, Natalia, and Jesse gather to talk about the Biblical story of Thomas and why his doubts are not bad, but essential to our own faith and uncertainty. Support the show at http://patreon.com/cafeteriachristian Links: Church Anew Evening with Kate Bowler: https://churchanew.org/an-evening-with-kate-bowler Artist referenced for her Mary Magdalene iconography: Tanya Torres - artbytanyatorres.com