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Lessons in outfoxing religious wolves. We seek to reform religious education so everyone can be spiritually bold, free of manipulation and filled with deep peace. After 20+ years of professional work in religious education and educational nonprofits, hosts Jeff Mallinson (D.Phil. Oxford, philosophy and religion professor, author and speaker) and Stacie Mallinson (former nonprofit development professional, and now certified yoga instructor) realized that how we do religious education leads to ...
The heavens met the One and were clarified. The earth met the One and became calm. Spirits met the One and became conscious. Valleys met the One and were filled with flowing water. The living things met the One and came alive. Leaders met the One and modeled justice for everyone. All of this all happened through realizing the One.…
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First Aid for Relationship Conflicts
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Jeff and Stacie try out a relationship strategy for use especially in the immediate wake of a conflict-producing event in a romantic relationship, religious community, or workplace. In order to “Taosurf” relationships, they suggest that it can be helpful to separate out a) intentions, b) actions, c) reactions, and d) resolutions. This conversation …
Grab your favorite beverage and join us for a long form conversation with our new friends Lori and Cliff Lewis (veteran Christian radio DJ and hair metal guitarist respectively), to discuss their experiences with Contemporary Christian Music, Lutheranism, the idea of vocation, and Solomon’s wisdom. The music behind the opening is Lori singing and t…
When societies focus on etiquette and the husk of ethical relations, we are often dangerously close to having to turn to coercion and force instead of naturally harmonious interactions. This is where “flexing the muscles” comes in. When folks don’t follow the rules, the enforcers of societal stability have to remind everyone of their punitive power…
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The Tao, Suffering & Religious Education with Corey Farr
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An interview with Corey Farr, creator of the podcast A Christian Reads the Tao Te Ching. We discuss our favorite and least favorite chapters of the Tao Te Ching. We explore karma, providence, orphanages, and religious education. Farr is a seminary graduate, a Christian Anarchist, a writer, a poet and songwriter. He teaches at a residential school f…
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A Tipsy New Years Eve Discussion about Setting Intentions
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Why do many set an “intention” at the start of a contemplative practice or yin yoga session? How does this relate to New Year’s resolutions? Without the normal opportunities for group festivities, Jeff and Stacie spend a quiet evening discussing the advantages and dangers of setting expectations and establishing goals. The discussion gets going aft…
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America’s Culture of Food Fear and Freedom
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This episode shares an international student perspective on American food, work & religion. We interview Jeff’s compelling student Malik, who is an international student who was stuck with us on an empty campus over the winter break. We invited candid observations from our guest, who obliged our questions but is by nature not one to offer unsolicit…
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Let Your Children Flourish (Tao Te Ching 37)
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"The Tao does not coerce." --Lao Tzu. In this reflection, Stacie uses this chapter to help answer a question about rearing children through the way of non-domination.
If you want to exhale, first take a deep breath. If you want to relax, first tense your muscles. If you want to clear your mind first notice your frantic thoughts. If you want to receive, first give. This is how to perceive the light that’s hidden amid the shadows.
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A True Family Christmas Special with Guest Casey Tinnin
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We discuss the nature of a true family and the importance of maintaining boundaries, especially in religious contexts in which we believe we have good intentions but are inappropriately trying to fix others. At min 41 we interview Rev. Casey Tinnin, one of Jeff’s favorite students over the years, and someone we think of as family. He shares his sto…
Hold fast to the Big Picture and all will be drawn to you. They will not harm you and will join with you in peace upon peace. There will be joyful music and vibrant street food, wayfarers will want to stop and join in the fun. The Tao that is mere talk is bland. Look for it: it is invisible. Listen for it: it is inaudible. Yet, if you embody it, yo…
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Seek the Way of Non-Domination (How to Surf the Tao Lesson 9)
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In a world that is clawing for “winner” status and climbing over the “losers” without compassion, Lao Tzu teaches about three treasures he holds dear: compassion, minimalism, and the way of non-domination. Here, there is a sort of anarchy (listen to hear the precise definition of this term in both Taoist and Christian context), and definitely a rej…
The winding shape of a river is a natural occurrence caused by a natural flow. Observing its course, we see that it never attempts to smash straight through a rock or hill, but rather dances around obstacles and goes on its way. Nonetheless, only fools underestimate its power, which can undermine the mightiest of fortresses.…
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Confront Your True Self (Tao Te Ching 33)
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Discover what makes others tick and you'll be people smart. Understand your true self and you'll be enlightened. To confront others is gutsy. To confront your true self is heroic.
Lao Tzu speaks of a profound and perhaps dreadful power that one could wield through deciphering the power in, with and under a single atom. Perhaps he even knew that one day humans could channel this power in the form of nuclear fission and weapons capable of leveling entire cities.
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Get Stuff Done (How To Surf the Tao Lesson 8)
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Drawing from chapters 63 and 64, we discuss the ways in which acting by non-action (wu wei, or what we call surfing the Tao) actually leads to concrete action in the world. This is where the famous line: "a thousand mile trek begins with a single step" becomes especially relevant to life's overwhelming projects.…
Lao Tzu says that we ought not only use weapons as a last resort, he teaches that it is unhealthy to fetishize weapons, glorify violence, or take delight in the death of an enemy. This is eminently sound.
Invasive weeds grow whenever armies march through a land. After great wars, countries sink into famine and economic depression.
Lao Tzu emphasizes value of carving out empty space in one's life for centering, creativity, and preparation for action. We discuss this, and the concept of Sabbath in the Jewish and Christian traditions. The chapters discussed are 11, 73 and 12.
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When the World Seems Out of Control (Tao Te Ching 29)
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The concept of wu wei is practically and clearly stated in this chapter. Again, this principle of acting by not acting isn't about disregarding one's duties, nor is it about being a pushover. It's about letting the natural forces of the world flow as they flow without arrogantly assuming we can step in and control the flow through force.…
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Flow with The River of Life (Tao Te Ching 28)
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Lao Tzu clearly favors the feminine principle, the negative space, and the faith of a child. This last preference is especially resonant with the teachings of Jesus about being childlike. Over and over, we've been pointing to teachings from Jesus but not to create a syncretistic new way of thinking. Instead we are showing how Jesus and Lao Tzu ofte…
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What Enlightenment Means (Tao Te Ching 27)
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The Sage is a savior of all people and discounts no one. She's not content with heaven, so long as anyone remains in a living hell.
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Face Reality (How To Surf the Tao Lesson 6)
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Drawing from Lao Tzu chapters 16, 62, 70, snd 71, we explain one of the most important lessons of the Tao Te Ching: that it’s not really that hard to find the truth, but it’s hard to face the truth. This episode discusses the ways in which facing the truth can truly set us free. Most importantly, we become free from the fear that keeps us from trul…
Some falsely assume that the Taosurfer is free from all material attachments. While it is true that Lao Tzu's philosophy embraces the value of minimalism and is uninterested in accumulating excessive stuff, it remains aware of bodily needs and the essential tools necessary for life in this world.
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Something Formless and Void (Tao Te Ching 25)
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So, the Tao is sublime. Heaven, earth, and humanity are also sublime. See how there are four sublime realities in the universe, and humanity is included?
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Goodness Tastes Good to the Sage (Tao Te Ching 24)
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The sage learns that seeking goodness in the world isn't so much a matter of willpower as much as it the proper tuning of the senses to taste and see that good is good.
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Standing Boldly: Apology (Trembath Lecture Part 2)
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Here, Jeff isn’t saying he’s sorry for what he said in Part 1, rather he’s providing an apologia for his perspective on academic freedom within church related schools and universities. Check out the previous part, at least the first ten minutes, before heading to this part, which is more technical and deals especially with the epistemology of Willi…
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Standing Boldly (Trembath Lecture Part 1)
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If an academically free space is possible in society, it can only exist at a Christian University. Some folks mistakenly think that the Lutheran Confessions represent a constraint on an individual believer's freedom, or a way to give churches conclusions about Scripture that allow members to bypass the important work of engaging directly with the B…
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It Can't Always Be Stormy (Tao Te Ching 23)
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Storms blow across hills in the morning, then give way to stillness. Rain bursts from thunderclouds in the afternoon, then the evening sky enjoys silence.
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The Sage Doesn't Play Games (Tao Te Ching 22)
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Feeling a deep love for all living beings, the sage is uninterested in besting them at a verbal fight. If others ask for help finding truth, the sage is generous and obliging. If they want to feel superior, the sage is generous and obliging. It’s not that she’s a pushover; it’s that they can’t harm her. She’s not playing her enemies’ games so they …
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Life in the Key of God with Heather Choate Davis
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Heather Choate Davis is an author and has created a new album with her network of musical friends called LIFE IN THE KEY OF GOD. We talk about how the Christian contemplative tradition and the recovery of the biblical concept of Sophia (divine wisdom) can help us protect our noggins and bring healing to our culture and churches. Several beautiful t…
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The Finite Contains the Infinite. (Tao Te Ching 21)
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How deep and how unfathomable!
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What it Looks Like to Surf The Tao (Tao Te Ching 20)
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Instead of theories and concepts, this chapter explains how Taosurfers behave and why they are misunderstood by others.
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Minimalism (How to Surf The Tao Lesson 5)
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A discussion of the concept of minimalism as understood by Lao Tzu, especially in chapters 59, 44, 48, and 80.
Lay down philosophy and theology, so everyone can be blessed a hundredfold. Lay down virtue signaling and legalism so everyone can recover genuine compassion and begin to really care for one another.
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When We Lose Touch with The Tao (Tao Te Ching 18)
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18. When men lose touch with the Tao, they focus on legalism and charitable giving. This leads to scheming; then great hypocrisy ensues. Genuine love breaks down in a family; then relatives start to insist on family obligations. The nation falls into chaos, then people insist on partisan loyalty.
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Is It Better to Be Loved or Feared? (Tao Te Ching 17)
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17. The best leader goes unnoticed. Second best is the one who’s loved. Third best is the leader who’s feared. The worst is the leader who’s loathed. If you don’t trust people, there’ll be a lack of trust all around. Great leaders choose their words artfully. Then, when they achieve something great, everyone owns the endeavor as if it were their id…
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The King's English with Micah Bournes
1:17:13
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Bournes is a poet, hip hop artist & singer. He discusses his experiences in Long Beach public schools and later a conservative Bible college, laments some of the important elements that were lacking, and offers provocative but timely reflections on ways to reimagine education and other systems of society. This was recorded in front of a limited gro…
The galaxies blast out from the center of the universe; wait for their fall back to the center.
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Transcending Legalism (How to Surf the Tao Lesson 4)
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How internalizing virtue, and cultivating virtue in cultures is better than legalism, and how transcending legalism helps us to surf the Tao and evade religious and ideological manipulators. The three chapters we focus on for this lesson are 18, 27, and 38.
This chapter offers a vivid picture of what it looks like to surf the Tao. This isn’t about mere appearances, façades, or false egos. It’s about the way in which a person of integrity acts as if he or she is being witnessed.The way we treat a delicate flower or helpless baby bird who’s fallen out of a nest, or our neighbor’s lawn when we walk our d…
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The Secret To Surfing The Tao (Tao Te Ching 14)
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Look, but you can’t see it: it’s vague. Listen, but you can’t hear it: it’s silent. Reach, but you can’t grasp it: it’s intangible. Yet these three longings to perceive lead back to the One. There’s no heaven more wondrous than this. There’s no shadowy world darker than this. It’s everlasting and nameless. Wave upon wave, threads of energy spool ou…
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What Taosurfers Look Like (How To Surf The Tao Lesson 3)
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The ancient Taosurfers were cool cats. They had poise. They demonstrated balance. They exuded integrity and compassion. But today, Taosurfers seem like bums to some. They seem not to be players. But maybe they’re playing a different game altogether. We discuss chapters 15, 20, and 67 of the Tao Te Ching. Jeff discusses how some racists in his world…
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Overcoming Anxiety and Fear (Tao Te Ching 13)
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What does it mean that praise and shame invite anxiety and fear? Praise puffs you up; shame tears you down. Trying to stay on top brings fear that you will fall. Fear of failure keeps you from rising up.
12. Focusing on flashy things blinds eyes to beauty. Listening to a cacophony of voices makes it hard to hear the truth. Too many spices will dull your taste buds. Lust for luxury will drive you mad. Riches entice men to evil deeds. Therefore, the Sage attends to essential nourishment instead of mind-numbing diversions. She selects healthy food, ig…
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S3E19 How to Tend to Religious Wolf Pups
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This show is dedicated listener question about what to do when you detect that a future pastor is a wolf pup, that is, a potentially dangerous clergy person in the making. How do we nip in the bud potentially abusive behavior without being too intrusive or outrageously in people’s business? We explore the value of asking the question: What are the …
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What Makes the Wheel Go 'Round (Tao Te Ching 11)
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Thirty spokes meet at a hub. The empty space at the center is what lets the wheel go ‘round.
Can you balance your mind and body and grasp the unity of everything? Can you soften your breath and become like a sleeping baby? Can you rinse from your eyes whatever is clouding your vision?
