david gushee

David Gushee is an influential Christian ethicist who famously changed his mind about LGBTQ Christians. His 2014 book Changing Our Mind (now in its third edition) has been celebrated and widely recommended as an honest and forceful reckoning with the ethical issues surrounding LGBTQ Christians and the church's complicity in their exclusion, neglect, and abuse. It is a powerful and well-researched chronicle of David's journey from a traditional stance to an inclusive one, a journey that he completed while remaining theologically conservative. We are honored that David agreed to speak with us about this important book, and we look forward to more conversations about his many others in the near future!

The bourbon we tasted in this episode is Hardin's Creek Clermont.

To skip to the interview, go to 11:32. You can find the transcript for this episode here.

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Dr. Sharp's expansive book, The Other Evangelicals, dials back the clock to the early days of evangelicalism. Isaac identifies a significant collection of high-profile, self-identified "evangelical" Christians who just do not fit the current stereotype. Some were liberal, others black or progressive or feminist even gay. What these believers have in common is that they were ultimately rejected as "evangelicals" by the self-appointed gatekeepers of the movement. In this PART II of this series, Ken and Dr. Sharp begin with a discussion of the Bible - as the inerrant and infallible authority over the movement as argued by Harold Lindsell in his Battle for the Bible. It's not just the book itself, but the sectarian interpretation of the book that for many becomes non-negotiable for many. Women like Letha Scanzoni, Nancy Hardesty and Virginia Mollenkott engaged feminism as part of their biblical faith. Dr. David Gushee (Sharp's academic advisor turned literary colleague) challenges evangelicalism's condemnation of the LGBTQ+ community. They talk about Dr. Ralph Blair, an ardent biblical Christian psychologist, and his critique of "pray-it-away" reparative therapy.  The Exodus International, promoted by Rev. Jerry Falwell, represented itself as a biblical ministry that existed to "cure" homosexuality. But it was ceremoniously shut down by founder Alan Chambers. Lawsuits, abuse and documented psychological harm overwhelmed the operation and led to its demise.  John R. W. Stott and Tony Campolo challenged evangelical assumptions, but their advice went unheeded. In the era of Trumpism, evangelicals virtually eliminated these non-conformists from their exclusive tribe. In spite of the efforts of these biblical voices, evangelicalism has become the domain of white, conservative Republicanism.  SHOW NOTES

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After a few weeks break, Ken and Betsey reunited at their imaginary beach and catch up on the headlines. The passing of the popular pastor and author Tim Keller signals the loss of an unusual evangelical: theologically and socially conservative, but a fresh, intelligent, innovative voice who left a lasting impact on the city of New York and beyond. Ken offers a review of his current read, The Other Evangelicals - A Story of Liberal, Black, Progressive, Feminist, and Gay Christians―and the Movement That Pushed Them Out. Ken names some of them: Harry Emerson Fosdick, Tom Skinner, Jim Wallis, Nancy Hardesty, Virginia Mollenkott, and Ralph Blair to name a few. Betsey and Ken raise the question: "Who decides who is an 'Evangelical'"? The New York Times predicts that the former president is the inevitable nominee of the Republican Party. His lock on a base that measures 30-35% of the voting public makes him virtually unbeatable. That base holds firm even in the face of a flurry of legal challenges, which include massive civil penalties, sanctions and even jail time. The rising number of Republican challengers doesn't change the calculation. If anything, it makes Tr**p's nomination all the more likely. Betsey compares and contrasts the political styles of the governor of Florida and the Secretary of Transportation - DeSantis vs. Buttigieg. She favors the latter.

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It's been a full year since Ken launched the Beach White Male podcast in March of 2020. In his episode, he reflects on an eventful twelve months. The podcast began just as the pandemic crisis changed the world. From his "man cave," he has interviewed an amazing collection of authors, thinkers, and influencers. He and Carla have brought their open and candid responses to political, religious, and literary events throughout a tumultuous year. Listen to a number of friends and associates express their congratulations.

CONTACT KEN 
Posted March 26, 2021

Ken's guest this week is Emmy award-winning writer, producer, director, and documentary filmmaker, Linda Midgett. This is her second appearance on the podcast. We talk about her new Facebook Live Series, What's At Stake? Her guests have included Larycia Hawkins, the subject of Linda's award-winning film, SAME GOD, David Gushee, Kristin Kobes Du Mez and the high profile cable television commentator, Kirsten Powers. With the Presidential Election is just a few days away, we discuss what's at stake - and Ken reads a blog post that speaks to that question. SHOW NOTES.

In Part II, Dr. Gushee addresses the influence of (Neo) Reformed Theology on evangelicalism as a movement. He surveys the history that has unfolded for decades but remains resolutely conservative as a political, more than theological force. We talk about Kristin Kobes DuMez’s book and her critique of toxic patriarchalism and we explore Gushee’s path to a new Christianity. It includes a conversation around the Bible, the atonement, and apocalyptic eschatology. We also explore purity culture and Trumpism. Ken reads “Gushee’s Lament.” SHOW NOTES.

Ken welcomes Dr. David Gushee, professor, author, lecturer and distinguished ethicist. While they focus on Gushee’s most recent book (just released), After Evangelicalism: The Path to a New Christianity, they share war stories growing up in the wide world of evangelicalism and Gushee’s academic track - leading up to his earned Ph.D. at Union Seminary. They share a deep concern over the current identification of evangelicalism with Trumpism. They discuss what Ken calls “Gushee’s Lament.” Here in Part I, they review Dr. Gushee’s upbringing, his activism, his influence on the movement, the influence of Ron Sider.   SHOW NOTES 

From abortion activist to bridge person. Questions to break out of intractable polarization. Wisdom beyond the news cycle. “What is it in your own position that gives you trouble? What is it in the position of the other that you are attracted to?”

The focus of our national fight over abortion may change, but this hasn’t changed for decades: We collapse this most intimate and complex of human dilemmas to two sides. We’ve been looking yet again for wisdom away from the turbulent news cycle and keep returning to this conversation Krista had with Frances Kissling. She is a “bridge person” in the abortion debate: a long-time pro-choice activist who has sought to come into relationship with her political opposites. Now she’s controversial on both sides, but speaks from a place that many of us would like to map out between the poles. She has experienced something more powerful, as she tells it, than defining common ground — and this has lessons for other issues in our common life and our struggles with people with whom we disagree the most.

Frances Kissling is president of the Center for Health, Ethics and Social Policy. She was the president of Catholics for Choice from 1982 until 2007.

Find the transcript for this show at onbeing.org.

From abortion activist to bridge person. Questions to break out of intractable polarization. Wisdom beyond the news cycle. “What is it in your own position that gives you trouble? What is it in the position of the other that you are attracted to?”

The focus of our national fight over abortion may change, but this hasn’t changed for decades: we collapse this most intimate and complex of human dilemmas to two sides. We’ve been looking yet again for wisdom away from the turbulent news cycle and keep returning to this conversation Krista had with Frances Kissling. She is a “bridge person” in the abortion debate: a long-time pro-choice activist who has sought to come into relationship with her political opposites. Now she’s controversial on both sides, but speaks from a place that many of us would like to map out between the poles. She has experienced something more powerful, as she tells it, than defining common ground — and this has lessons for other issues in our common life and our struggles with people with whom we disagree the most.

Frances Kissling is president of the Center for Health, Ethics and Social Policy. She was the president of Catholics for Choice from 1982 until 2007.

This interview is edited and produced with music and other features in the On Being episode “Frances Kissling — What Is Good in the Position of the Other.” Find more at onbeing.org.

No issue is more intractable than abortion. Or is it? Most Americans fall somewhere between the absolute poles of “pro-life” and “pro-choice.” A Christian ethicist who advocates a “consistent ethic of life” and an abortion-rights activist reveal what they admire in the other side and discuss what’s really at stake in this debate.

Krista Tippett spoke with Christian ethicist David P. Gushee and abortion-rights activist Frances Kissling on September 26, 2012 in front of a live, public audience at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs in Minneapolis, MN.