EPISODE 036: Hyperdrive Jew: Grace Strachman

Explicit content warning

03/30/16 • 77 min

This is a pun-filled joy ride of laughter and conversation about how we grew up in Jewish and Christian religious homes. Our first Losing Our Religion episode with Tequila, well, mezcal. In cocktail form of course, since we were recording at the posh Hotel Vintage in downtown Portland Oregon. The cocktail was called Up In Smoke, and we had the best time.

My wife Jen joins us again in this episode and uses her Peanut Gallery powers to draw us back into more important things rather than our happy rabbit trails. Grace's story of being Jewish but not Jewish enough to be accepted by some Jews is a story relatable to many of us.

We spend some time trying to talk out what we're going to do when each of us has kids. Cause both our parents made us go to the church building and synagog, and we learned some great life lessons there.

Grace and I share an affection for Daniel Johnston, so we highlight some of his work in this episode. As well as Slayer, which is hilarious to me that Grace likes Slayer.

We finish this episode hoping to do a part 2, but I got swamped with work and Grace moved to Chicago before we could make it happen. We will have to set up another time to have Grace on the show again to talk about the different Messiah's of Judaism and Christianity.

True Love Will Find You In The End By Daniel Johnston

True love will find you in the endYou'll find out just who was your friendDon't be sad, I know you will,But don't give up untilTrue love will find you in the endThis is a promise with a catchOnly if you're looking can it find you'Cause true love is searching tooBut how can it recognize youUnless you step out into the light?Don't be sad I know you willBut don't give up untilTrue love finds you in the end.

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Grace and I share an affection for Daniel Johnston, so we highlight some of his work in this episode. As well as Slayer, which is hilarious to me that Grace likes Slayer.

True Love Will Find You In The End By Daniel Johnston

Join the CounterCulture Society: http://eepurl.com/bwqMWT

Become a Producer: https://www.patreon.com/losingourreligion

Find Out More: http://www.losingourreligion.org

This Episode's Landing Page: http://www.losingourreligion.org/episodes/2016/3/28/036-hyperdrive-jew-grace-strachman-hilarious-mezcal

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LosingRReligion

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LosingOurReligion

Previous Episode

I'M A LOSER: Middle America and Losing Hell: Loser Keith, John Shelby Spong & Carlton Pearson

In this episode, we take our first phone call from a loser, discuss middle America, and whether losing hell is a good idea or not.

I don't know if there is a heaven or hell. I used to be certain there was, but these days I am not so sure. After reading the scriptures in context more than ten times, I don't see it speak of a heaven, but of a recreated earth, and there doesn't seem to be a hell, but more of an existence apart from God. Which for many of us reading this post, probably sounds pretty good.

I don't claim to be a theologian, but I used to. I don't claim to be well educated, but I used to think I was. I have already been labeled a heretic by my old church, received hate mail and fighting messages from pastors, all while joyfully accepted my apostate reality, but am I going to hell? I don't think I should care anymore. At least, I don't want to.

I have recently come to the conclusion that trying to live like there is a hell is of no help to the fulfillment or joy to be found in my life. It only makes me wonder who is in and who is out. So fuck it.

A fellow Loser sent me this to me after his therapy session he just finished,

"I had an insane therapy breakthrough today. We talked about the podcast and my time at Mars Hill the whole time. The two mind-blowing bullet points: 1 - Literally no one has authority over you, there are only people who try to exert power over you, and 2 - It’s perfectly acceptable to be pissed off, and I quote my therapist, 'to tell all those motherfuckers to fuck off forever.' "

One place we know the doctrine of heaven and hell works to control and manipulate is in religion. It keeps people, contained, controlled, and pliable to the institutions needs and desires. It keeps people coming to church and inviting others with them. The more and more distance my life has from "church" the freer I feel, and the more clarity I feel I have. I am free to explore, to live life on a journey of discovery, and to enjoy the journey's of others, without judgment.

Hell as an Invention of the Church

John Shelby Spong retired Episcopal bishop from Newark, N.J., interviewed by Keith Morrison on Dateline, NBC, August 12, 2006.

DATELINE NBC: To Hell and Back, Parts 1-4

After learning Greek and Hebrew to read the original manuscripts of the scripture, then famous evangelical megachurch pastor Carlton Pearson began to find discrepancies. He soon became to disbelieve in the doctrine of hell and began speaking about, what he called, "The Gospel of Inclusion." He lost everything because of it.

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Next Episode

EPISODE 037: Losing Stuff - A Minimalist Journey: Joshua Becker

Best-selling author Joshua Becker joins me for a chat on minimalism and learning to live life with less.

Joshua has shared his story on top podcasts like Entrepreneur On Fire as well as, CBS Evening News, NPR, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal and countless media interviews around the world.

I've wanted to have Joshua on since we begin the Loser journey in August 2015. Ever since we met, his words and story stuck with me.

We're both former pastors, so we may get a little more "churchy" sounding than some of you are used to. But don't let that stop you from hearing the quality stuff he shares here.

In a world of consumerism and lust of continual accumulation we've learned that there's nothing to find in it. I love the lyrics of the Crass song, Pay As You Go...

You can put a mortgage on your lifeTo enter Shoppers' Paradise.A trade-in for your dignity.A lovely colour console TV.To watch and cherish as the days slip by,And dream of the things that money can buy.Brushed chrome shit, plastic crap,My life and my vision is worth more than that.Plate glass ghetto, shopping spree,I'm no fucking commodity.

I've battled with an addiction of wanting more, better car, bigger house, more electronics. But after losing the big dollars of corporate, institutional religion in America, I've now seen the beauty of having less. But don't assume this episode is about money, cause it's not.

"I was always frustrated that I continued to have significant pay increases but never seemed to be able to get ahead financially." - @Joshua_Becker on @LosingRReligion

"Minimalism and frugality are not the same things." - @Joshua_Becker on @LosingRReligion

"It's almost like society highjacks our passions and redirects them towards things that they what our lives to matter for." - @Joshua_Becker on @LosingRReligion

"My goal has always been that my possessions would not be a burden to me whether in excess or in lack." - @Joshua_Becker on @LosingRReligion

"The goal of minimalism is to free yourself up to focus on the things in life that are most important to you." - @Joshua_Becker on @LosingRReligion

"Minimalism isn't about money; it's about intentionality." - @Joshua_Becker on @LosingRReligion

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This Episode's Landing Page: http://www.losingourreligion.org/episodes/2016/4/5/episode-037-losing-stuff-a-minimalist-journey-joshua-becker-becoming-minimalism-crass

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Call 'Losers Anonymous' Hotline: 206-395-5608