Hope & Heresy: Life on the Religious Left
50 episodes - English - Latest episode: 11 months ago -Hope & Heresy: Life on the Religious Left is a podcast for everyday people who want to live meaningfully without letting arbitrary doctrine or oppressive religious practice prevent them from asking big questions about our complicated world. Hosts Reverend Peggy Clarke and Reverend Sarah Lenzi discuss a series of contemporary issues, using history and theology as their guides. The initial episodes of Hope & Heresy were recorded on-site at Community Church of New York, a Unitarian-Universalist congregation in Murray Hill, Manhattan.
Hosted by Reverend Peggy Clarke (Community Church of New York) and Reverend Sarah Lenzi (The Unitarian Society of Ridgewood, NJ)
Produced by Starling Carter
Original music by Graham Clarke
Logo design by Carol E. Wolf
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Episodes
UU Luminaries: Season Finale
June 16, 2023 13:00 - 24 minutes - 34.3 MBAfter several conversations with Unitarian Universalist leaders throughout Season 5 of the podcast, our hosts are ready to think through some of the big themes and threads that emerged, and to offer up their own answers to the question, "What is the Central Task for Humanity at this Moment in History?" Some of the questions that come up for them include: How do we move our focus from individual to community, and how do we expand our understanding of community beyond humans? What ar...
UU Luminaries: Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray and Carey McDonald
June 08, 2023 19:00 - 33 minutes - 46 MBIn this episode of the Hope and Heresy podcast, Rev. Peggy and Rev. Sarah are joined by Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, Ninth President of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and Carey McDonald, Executive Vice President at the UUA, to discuss the question at the heart this season of the podcast: What is the Central Task for Humanity at this Moment in History? In this episode, we phrased the question a bit differently, asking, "If you could wave a magic wand and fix or change one...
UU Luminaries: Rev. Meg Riley and Charles Du Mond
June 01, 2023 19:00 - 30 minutes - 42.2 MBIn this episode of the Hope and Heresy podcast, Rev. Peggy and Rev. Sarah are joined by Rev. Meg Riley and Charles Du Mond, Co-Moderators of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), to discuss the question at the heart this season of the podcast: What is the Central Task for Humanity at this Moment in History? In this episode, we phrased the question a bit differently, asking, "If you could wave a magic wand and fix or change one thing about the world, what would it be?" Our h...
UU Luminaries: Dr. Janice Marie Johnson and Rev. Sarah Lammert
May 25, 2023 19:00 - 29 minutes - 40.9 MBIn this episode of the Hope and Heresy podcast, Rev. Peggy and Rev. Sarah are joined by Dr. Janice Marie Johnson and Rev. Sarah Lammert, Co-Directors of Ministries and Faith Development at the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) to discuss the question at the heart this season of the podcast: What is the Central Task for Humanity at this Moment in History? Our hosts and guests discuss what it means to put love at the center, and how to "widen the circle of care." About this w...
UU Luminaries: Rev. Mary Katherine Morn and Rev. Alicia R. Forde
May 18, 2023 13:00 - 30 minutes - 41.5 MBIn this episode of the Hope and Heresy podcast, Rev. Peggy and Rev. Sarah are joined by Rev. Mary Katherine Morn, President of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, and Rev. Alicia Forde, Director of the International Office at the Unitarian Universalist Association, to discuss the question at the heart this season of the podcast: What is the Central Task for Humanity at this Moment in History? Topics that come up in this week's discussion include: What it means, and why it...
UU Luminaries: Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt and Dr. Elias Ortega
May 11, 2023 20:00 - 30 minutes - 41.5 MBIn this episode, Rev. Peggy and Rev. Sarah sit down over Zoom with Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt, President of Starr King School for the Ministry, and Dr. Elias Ortega, president of Meadville Lombard Theological School, to discuss the question animating this season: What is the Central Task for Humanity at this Moment in History? About this week's guests: The Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt became President of Starr King School for the Ministry in Oakland, CA on July 1, 2014. For 13 years,...
Welcome to Season 5: UU Luminaries!
May 04, 2023 20:00 - 8 minutes - 11.7 MBWelcome to Season 5 of Hope and Heresy! In this season, Rev. Peggy and Rev. Sarah are sitting down with five pairs of Unitarian Universalist ministers, leaders, thinkers, and colleagues to ask one big question... what is the central task for humanity at this time in history? Why this question? Well, it seems impossible to ignore that we find ourselves living in unprecedented times. A global pandemic, the rising tide of fascism in our country and beyond, a climate poised on...
Guide to Theological Terms: Ecclesiology
February 10, 2022 17:28 - 23 minutes - 43 MBMany liberal-religious people have hesitations about the structure of churches. Yet, churches can take many forms and operate in many different ways. The theological term "ecclesiology", or the study of the church itself, can provide interesting insight into the ways our institutions are shaped by their members and can reflect liberal-religious values as well as more orthodox traditions. As we end our guide to theological terms, we reflect on church itself and our hopes for the futu...
Guide to Theological Terms: Pneumatology
February 03, 2022 14:00 - 22 minutes - 41.2 MB"What pneumatology tells us is that we are radically connected -- breathing in the same spirit." Pneumatology is the study of the spirit. As Unitarian-Universalists, we often discuss the Spirit of Life. Join Reverend Peggy and Reverend Sarah for a wider-ranging discussion of historical conceptions of spirit and body and what these have to offer for liberal-religious people. Thoughts on the show? Ideas for our ministers? Please feel welcome to email us at [email protected], and plea...
Guide to Theological Terms: Eschatology, pt. 2
January 27, 2022 19:45 - 18 minutes - 34.8 MBIn this continuing exploration of the theological term "eschatology", or the study of death, judgment, and the End Times, Reverend Peggy and Reverend Sarah take a big-picture look at the liberal-religious perspective on the end of the world. With climate collapse forming a clear and present danger to life on earth, how do we reclaim our agency and take our role in preventing Apocalypse seriously? Questions on this big topic? Suggestions for our ministers? Write to us, please! Opera...
Guide to Theological Terms: Eschatology, pt. 1
January 20, 2022 16:58 - 18 minutes - 34 MB"Eschatology" is the theological term for matters related to death, judgment, and the final destiny of the soul and humankind. We are dividing this big topic into two shows, so stay tuned for Eschatology part two. In this episode, you'll hear Reverend Peggy and Reverend Sarah discuss one of religion's biggest questions: what happens after we die? How does this mystery make our lives richer and can we learn to live with the unknown? Tune in for some inspiration from Unitarian-Univer...
Guide to Theological Terms: Soteriology
December 16, 2021 17:49 - 19 minutes - 36.7 MBSoteriology: the study of religious doctrines of salvation. Salvation is a tricky subject for modern liberal religionists. At one time, theologies of sin, punishment, and salvation were a major aspect of Western religions, functioning as a method of social control. The doctrine of Universalism, now an integral part of our Unitarian-Universalist faith, was long considered a major heresy. In a liberal-religious context, which removes fire and brimstone from the equation, how do we un...
Guide to Theological Terms: Theology
December 09, 2021 14:00 - 19 minutes - 35.3 MBTheology: the study of the nature of God and religious belief. Hope & Heresy is a show all about theology, and our entire last season focused on visions of the Divine (check it out!), so why do we need to define the term? Excellent question. On this episode, Reverend Sarah and Reverend Peggy argue that defining theology in a liberal-religious context is a necessary ingredient to gaining greater understanding of your own beliefs. Discussing theology is deeply personal -- perhaps eve...
Guide to Theological Terms: Cosmology
December 02, 2021 17:48 - 20 minutes - 37.3 MB"The origin question never ends." Cosmology is traditionally understood as the religious perspective on origins and creation. In this episode, explore this term in depth with Unitarian-Universalist ministers Reverend Sarah Lenzi and Reverend Peggy Clarke. As liberal religious people, why are we called to understand our origins and what do we do with the myths we've created around them? Re-thinking cosmology can have heretical implications, setting the scene for radical change. Que...
Guide to Theological Terms: Theodicy
November 17, 2021 16:40 - 23 minutes - 42.8 MB"Theodicy": conventionally understood as a defense of God in face of the knowledge of human suffering. What is the liberal-religious definition of theodicy and how do we understand it in the context of our very current moment of suffering and trauma caused by the 2020-2021 coronavirus pandemic? Join Reverend Sarah and Reverend Peggy to learn more about this foundational theological concept. Write back to us at [email protected]!
Guide to Theological Terms: Introduction
November 17, 2021 16:26 - 6 minutes - 11.7 MBWelcome to The Hope & Heresy Guide to Theological Terms! This episode is a brief introduction to our fourth season. Hope & Heresy: Life on the Religious Left is a podcast for everyday people who want to live meaningfully without letting arbitrary doctrine or oppressive religious practice prevent us from asking big questions about our complicated world. To understand our world from a liberal-religious perspective, it's helpful to be armed with the vocabulary to discuss it in depth...
Season 3: Season's End
May 05, 2021 20:17 - 25 minutes - 47.3 MBIt's the final installment in our season-long exploration of aspects of the divine! Throughout this season, Reverend Sarah and Reverend Peggy have deeply contemplated and discussed the possibilities of the divine and humans' relationship to it. Today we discuss our motivation for embarking on this season-long project and the lessons we've taken away as these conversations have become part of our own spiritual practice. Over and over, we've returned to the idea that our conception o...
Season 3: Divine Creation
April 28, 2021 18:40 - 32 minutes - 59.7 MBThroughout our season-long exploration of the divine and its many expressions, Reverend Sarah and Reverend Peggy have often returned to the idea that our vision of the divine substantially affects how we move in the world. On today's episode, the conversation picks up the theme of "process theology" from last week's show and moves into a discussion of humans and the divine as co-creators. From making art to planting gardens to cooking meals for family and friends, humans are constan...
Season 3: Divine Mirror
April 14, 2021 19:56 - 38 minutes - 70.1 MB"God is beyond the realm of opposites." As our season-long exploration of aspects of the divine approaches its end, Rev. Peggy and Rev. Sarah spend time today discussing the complicated, cyclical, always-in-process relationship between humans and the divine. Beginning with a discussion of human gender binaries and how they have been projected onto the divine through time, this episode explores how humans see themselves in God -- and, perhaps, vice-versa. This episode references a...
Season 3: Divine Process
April 07, 2021 22:26 - 39 minutes - 72.7 MBHappy Easter from Hope & Heresy! On today's episode, Reverend Sarah and Reverend Peggy spend time with the story of Holy Week and Easter. While Reverend Peggy identifies as Christian, Reverend Sarah does not and this episode reflects the complexity that is encompassed by Unitarian-Universalism. History and sociology blend with reflection and theology as we move from Palm Sunday through to Easter Sunday. The Easter story has much to teach us about loss, grief, redemption, and the nat...
Season 3: Divine Liberator
March 31, 2021 20:47 - 36 minutes - 66.9 MBChag Pesach sameach! Reverend Peggy and Reverend Sarah each grew up observing Passover in mixed-faith families. This week on Hope & Heresy, we take a close look at the Passover story and what it means to our ongoing investigation of the many aspects of the divine. When the divine appears in our lives to liberate us, how do we respond? What lessons does this timeless story have to teach us this year? Join us for a conversation that will encourage you to think deeply about your relati...
Season 3: Divine Right of Kings
March 24, 2021 18:13 - 34 minutes - 64 MBOur modern liberal-religious beliefs do not encompass "the divine right of kings", but as humans living in societies we are drawn toward certain ideas about power and those who exercise it. On today's episode, Reverend Peggy and Reverend Sarah take up the thorny question of the relationship between human power and the divine. What are we looking for in our earthly figures of power? What are we lacking? Join us for a conversation that unites history, theology, and personal experience...
Season 3: Divine Will
March 10, 2021 21:47 - 32 minutes - 60 MBThis episode picks up themes explored in the previous show, "Divine Hunter", as Hope & Heresy continues our season-long exploration of aspects of the divine. Today, Reverend Sarah and Reverend Peggy are talking about a liberal religious approach to the relationship between the divine and free will. If we do not accept the Calvinist doctrine of pre-destination, then how do we understand our own and others' choices in life? This episode will encourage you to think differently about co...
Season 3: Divine Hunter
March 03, 2021 19:05 - 33 minutes - 61.2 MBReverend Peggy and Reverend Sarah continue our season-long exploration of aspects of the divine, always from a liberal-religious perspective that centers love and justice. This week, we're talking about the experience of being hunted, or given a mission, by the divine. How will you recognize this experience when it happens? What does it feel like? How can we manage a greater receptivity to the world, when that comes with feelings of deep pain? Settle in for a conversation that wil...
Season 3: Divine Retribution
February 24, 2021 18:13 - 31 minutes - 58.2 MBOur season-long exploration of the divine continues, as Reverend Sarah and Reverend Peggy discuss divine retribution from a liberal religious perspective. What is the relationship between divine love and divine retribution or justice? What does a Universalist understanding, in which everyone is loved and saved, have to offer in our complex modern day political landscape? This episode will challenge you to see questions of justice, punishment, and consequences from a new angle that ...
Season 3: Divine Love
February 16, 2021 21:11 - 31 minutes - 57.2 MBWelcome to season three of Hope & Heresy: Life on the Religious Left! "Love isn't blind. Love sees everything, all the flaws, and includes them." In this season, we'll explore the many aspects of the divine and how we experience it in our lives as liberal religious people. Today's show, recorded just before Valentine's Day 2021, explores the many forms of love as an expression of the divine. What is divine love, what does it feel like, and how can we access it? This episode will ...
Season 2: American Christmas, Debated
December 21, 2020 21:19 - 36 minutes - 66.1 MBHappy holidays from Hope & Heresy! In our season 2 finale, Reverend Peggy and Reverend Sarah discuss the complexities of Christmas celebrations in the United States for liberal religious people. Looking at the original Scriptural source material for the Christmas story, forces that shaped this mythology over time, and the way the holiday is interpreted by American families today, this episode offers a fresh take on the big question of crafting a Christmas celebration that is both ...
Season 2: Hanging with Hope: A Conversation with Rev. Mack Brandon
December 14, 2020 21:30 - 30 minutes - 55.6 MBIt's a special day for Hope & Heresy as Reverend Peggy and Reverend Sarah welcome their first guest to the show. Reverend Mack Brandon of Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church in Ridgewood, NJ, joins us to discuss music, anti-racism, self-care, and the ever-changing role of ministers in the struggle for social justice. This episode is also available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/rZZuToG1gKE. Write back to us at [email protected]!
How Does She Friggin' Do It?
December 07, 2020 20:27 - 31 minutes - 57.6 MBIn the early 20th century, Community Church's famed minister John Haynes Holmes went on a ten-day spiritual retreat to determine his vision for the church. Would a woman minister have the option to do the same thing? On this episode of Hope & Heresy: Life on the Religious Left, 21st century ministers Reverend Peggy and Reverend Sarah discuss their lives as working women. How can we continue to move our spiritual and work communities toward structures that are supportive to the challenges of w...
Season 2: How Does She Friggin' Do It?
December 07, 2020 20:27 - 31 minutes - 57.6 MBIn the early 20th century, Community Church's famed minister John Haynes Holmes went on a ten-day spiritual retreat to determine his vision for the church. Would a woman minister have the option to do the same thing? On this episode of Hope & Heresy: Life on the Religious Left, 21st century ministers Reverend Peggy and Reverend Sarah discuss their lives as working women. How can we continue to move our spiritual and work communities toward structures that are supportive to the chall...
Creating a New Narrative: Thanksgiving for the 21st Century
November 23, 2020 19:04 - 25 minutes - 46.2 MBAs a very different type of Thanksgiving holiday approaches in the United States, Reverend Sarah and Reverend Peggy discuss cultural narratives and the opportunities they provide for healing and growth. In this episode, Reverend Sarah mentions a group spiritual development experience she is participating in at the moment. If you're interested in learning more about these circles run by Rev. Ian White Maher, please visit The Seeker's Table website at theseekerstable.com. For an introduction ...
Season 2: Creating a New Narrative: Thanksgiving for the 21st Century
November 23, 2020 19:04 - 25 minutes - 46.2 MBAs a very different type of Thanksgiving holiday approaches in the United States, Reverend Sarah and Reverend Peggy discuss cultural narratives and the opportunities they provide for healing and growth. In this episode, Reverend Sarah mentions a group spiritual development experience she is participating in at the moment. If you're interested in learning more about these circles run by Rev. Ian White Maher, please visit The Seeker's Table website at theseekerstable.com. For an int...
Season 2: Uncertain Times
November 09, 2020 20:43 - 29 minutes - 53.2 MBElection Week 2020 was a time of deep uncertainty and division in the United States. In this episode, recorded before a victory was announced for President-Elect Biden, Reverend Sarah and Reverend Peggy discuss the road that led to this moment. In a world where the truth itself is contested, what is the role of liberal religion? And what does liberal religion have to show us about the path forward? This episode is also available on Youtube at: https://youtu.be/sSamlkkT698. Write ba...
Season 2: The Dream of America
November 02, 2020 20:09 - 32 minutes - 59.1 MBOn the eve of a momentous election in the United States, the founding figures, documents, and ideals of America are under scrutiny. In this episode, recorded October 30, 2020, Reverend Sarah and Reverend Peggy offer a liberal religious perspective on civic engagement and what lies ahead for our country. What is the dream of America and how can we work together to see its fulfillment? This episode is also available on Youtube: https://youtu.be/DiFnliiUk0I. Write back to us at podcas...
Season 2 Special Episode: What is Religion?
October 29, 2020 17:54 - 33 minutes - 60.6 MBAs news headlines swirl about religion and its role in public life, Reverend Sarah and Reverend Peggy take a step back to examine the bigger picture. What is religion? How are religion and spirituality connected? And what is the role of community-building in religious practice? Enjoy this timeless conversation about the sociology of religion, presented from a perspective that centers equality and liberation for all. Hope & Heresy is also available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/1c...
Season 2, Episode 1: Church and State
October 15, 2020 17:26 - 28 minutes - 52.9 MBWelcome to Season 2 of "Hope & Heresy: Life on the Religious Left"! Our hosts, Reverend Sarah Lenzi and Reverend Peggy Clarke, wrestle with contemporary issues using history and theology as guides. This is a show for everyday people who want to reclaim religion and live meaningfully without arbitrary doctrine. In our season opener, Reverend Peggy and Reverend Sarah discuss the role of religion in politics. History provides a framework for understanding what "separation of church an...
On PAUSE Episode 1: White Women & Race
June 01, 2020 12:00 - 43 minutes - 80.4 MBTake Action/ Further Reading: NAACP We Are Done Dying campaign: https://naacp.org/campaigns/we-are-done-dying/ Equal Justice Initiative, "Tragic Death of George Floyd Reveals Continuing Problem of Police Violence": https://eji.org/news/tragic-death-of-george-floyd-reveals-continuing-problem-of-police-violence/ Alex S. Vitale, "The answer to police violence is not 'reform'. It's defunding. Here's why": https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/31/the-answer-to-police-viol...
On PAUSE Episode Zero: Foundations
May 21, 2020 12:00 - 36 minutes - 67 MBThis episode is also available to watch on YouTube! https://youtu.be/XRjEUMWlXyk In today's episode, Sarah and Peggy return to the "recording studio" to discuss the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on New York City and the world. Since our last in-person recording session, our lives have altered dramatically and many of us have lost loved ones. In order to protect ourselves and each other from the threat of the coronavirus, we have adapted to once-unthinkable changes in our...
Season 1: Pandemic
March 22, 2020 18:00 - 9 minutes - 18.3 MBIn our last in-person recording session for now, Peggy and Sarah discuss the early days of COVID-19 in New York City. Thoughts on this episode? Please write to us at [email protected]! Hosted by Reverend Peggy Clarke (Community Church of New York) and Reverend Sarah Lenzi (The Unitarian Society of Ridgewood, NJ) Produced by Amy Wilson Original music by Graham Clarke Design by Carol E. Wolf Recorded at Community Church of New York, Murray Hill, Manhattan
Episode 5.5: Pandemic
March 22, 2020 18:00 - 9 minutes - 18.3 MBHalfway through recording our first season, the developing story of the COVID-19 pandemic became all anyone could talk about. This mini-episode features Peggy and Sarah's of-the-moment response as ministers to the rising anxiety about coronavirus. What can this pandemic teach us about the way we relate to each other? Recorded March 10, 2020 in New York City.
Episode 5: Talking Dirty
March 22, 2020 17:00 - 31 minutes - 58.6 MBOn today's episode, Sarah and Peggy discuss the history and culture of sex and spirituality from a liberal-religious viewpoint. Liberal religion can offer a space for healing from the trauma and shame so often caused by oppressive religious teachings around sex and allow us to find joy in a range of safe sexual choices, including the choice to be celibate.
Season 1: Talking Dirty
March 22, 2020 17:00 - 31 minutes - 58.6 MBIt's okay to talk about sex with your minister or in a religious setting, but many people find that difficult. From the time of Augustine, sex has been bound up with religion, power, money, and patriarchy. Join us for a warm and friendly conversation to untangle some of that history and how it continues to affect many people today. Thoughts on this episode? Please write to us at [email protected]! Hosted by Reverend Peggy Clarke (Community Church of New York) and Reverend Sarah Len...
Season 1: Grief the Counter-Cultural Way
March 22, 2020 16:00 - 29 minutes - 53.4 MBNot all grief is encompassed by our conventional understanding. Labor laws often prescribe a certain amount of time for a certain type of grief, while social norms encourage us to understand grief as directly related to death. The conversation in today's episode touches upon many types of grief: the loss of a meaningful job, the transition of a child into adulthood, the decision to give a baby up for adoption. After listening to this episode, you might consider reaching out to a fri...
Episode 4: Grief the Counter-Cultural Way
March 22, 2020 16:00 - 29 minutes - 53.4 MBGrief takes many forms and is experienced differently by each individual. Often, grief is more ambiguous than our current ways of being can allow for. On today's episode, Sarah and Peggy examine the spiritual nature of grief and discuss alternative ways of creating space to experience it.
Season 1: The Spirituality of Technology
March 22, 2020 15:00 - 33 minutes - 61.9 MBThis is a shame-free zone. Today's episode won't tell you to quit Facebook or to get off the grid entirely, but it will encourage you to think deeply about technology as a tool, the progress of humanity, and how we use tech to relate to each other. Thoughts on this episode? Please write to us at [email protected]! Hosted by Reverend Peggy Clarke (Community Church of New York) and Reverend Sarah Lenzi (The Unitarian Society of Ridgewood, NJ) Produced by Amy Wilson Original music by ...
Episode 3: The Spirituality of Technology
March 22, 2020 15:00 - 33 minutes - 61.9 MBTechnology is a powerful tool, but how often do we pause to thoughtfully consider how it can be used for good or ill? On today's episode, Peggy and Sarah explore the moral implications and the potentialities of our current technological age.
Season 1: House on Fire
March 22, 2020 14:00 - 42 minutes - 78.6 MB"The revolution will be spiritual." Today's discussion illuminates the near future of climate change, theological understandings of humanity's relationship to the earth, and what can be done on an individual and community level to address this existential crisis. Thoughts on this episode? Please write to us at [email protected]! Hosted by Reverend Peggy Clarke (Community Church of New York) and Reverend Sarah Lenzi (The Unitarian Society of Ridgewood, NJ) Produced by Amy Wilson Or...
Episode 2: House on Fire
March 22, 2020 14:00 - 42 minutes - 78.6 MBClimate change is a spiritual problem. Today, Sarah and Peggy discuss an understanding of climate change based on history and theology. How can we move from grief and fear about humanity's impact on the earth into meaningful action?
Episode 1: Hope & Heresy
March 22, 2020 13:00 - 39 minutes - 72.8 MBOn the inaugural episode of Hope & Heresy: Life on the Religious Left, our hosts Peggy and Sarah introduce the season by discussing a liberal-religious approach to contemporary life.
Season 1: Hope & Heresy
March 22, 2020 13:00 - 39 minutes - 72.8 MBWhat is heresy and why is it necessary in today's conflicted and complicated world? The word "heresy" is challenging for many people, but the heretics in history have been critical to moving religious thought forward. On the inaugural episode of Hope & Heresy: Life on the Religious Left, Reverend Sarah Lenzi and Reverend Peggy Clarke discuss their choice to reclaim the word "heresy" as they embark on a project to examine contemporary topics through a liberal religious lens. Join us ...