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Need a break from the chaos? This episode is your retreat.

For centuries, Christians have fled to deserts, monasteries, and quiet corners seeking God in the silence. But what actually happens on a retreat? And what transforms a weekend away into a genuine spiritual encounter?

Join Alex and Michael as they explore the rich history of Christian retreats: from the fourth-century desert fathers escaping into the Egyptian wilderness to today's Ignatian silent retreats and bustling parish getaways. Fresh from his own diocesan retreat, Michael shares insights into what makes a retreat truly transformative, while Alex unpacks the theological questions at the heart of withdrawal: What are we retreating from? And what are we retreating to?

Whether you're a retreat veteran or you've always been curious about what happens when Christians deliberately step away from ordinary life, this conversation offers wisdom on choosing themes, crafting schedules, and holding space for spiritual renewal.

The Theology Pod – where faith meets thought, and questions lead to deeper understanding.

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Thanks for joining us on The Theology Pod. We hope today's conversation has given you something meaningful to wrestle with as you continue your own spiritual journey.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on your favourite podcast platform—it really helps other seekers find our conversations. You can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.

For show notes, reading recommendations, and to join our ongoing discussion, visit us at TheologyPod.com. You can also follow us on social media @TheologyPod on Facebook for reflections and updates on upcoming episodes.

We love hearing from our listeners. Feel free to send us your questions, topic suggestions, or just let us know how these conversations are impacting your faith journey via our social media platforms.

Remember, theology isn't just an academic study—it's the lived experience of wrestling with the divine in our everyday lives. Keep asking the hard questions, keep seeking, and keep engaging with the mystery.

Until next time, may you find grace in the questions and peace in the seeking.

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Think Christmas movies are just snow, sentiment, and nostalgia? Think again. Join Alex and Michael as they unwrap the hidden theology in beloved holiday classics like It's a Wonderful Life, Joyeux Noel, A Christmas Carol, and Elf.

From George Bailey's crisis of meaning to soldiers singing carols in the trenches of WWI, these aren't just feel-good films. They're modern parables exploring profound questions: What makes a life meaningful? Can we be redeemed? Does love conquer all?

Discover how Frank Capra, Charles Dickens, and even the Muppets have hidden eternal truths in your old DVD collection. These films offer sermons without cathedrals, revealing divine truths about sacrifice, grace, and what we choose to believe.

Whether it's angels earning their wings or Buddy the Elf in yellow tights, there's more theology happening in your holiday movie marathon than you might think.

Support the show

Thanks for joining us on The Theology Pod. We hope today's conversation has given you something meaningful to wrestle with as you continue your own spiritual journey.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on your favourite podcast platform—it really helps other seekers find our conversations. You can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.

For show notes, reading recommendations, and to join our ongoing discussion, visit us at TheologyPod.com. You can also follow us on social media @TheologyPod on Facebook for reflections and updates on upcoming episodes.

We love hearing from our listeners. Feel free to send us your questions, topic suggestions, or just let us know how these conversations are impacting your faith journey via our social media platforms.

Remember, theology isn't just an academic study—it's the lived experience of wrestling with the divine in our everyday lives. Keep asking the hard questions, keep seeking, and keep engaging with the mystery.

Until next time, may you find grace in the questions and peace in the seeking.

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Did you know the Bible contains toilet jokes? Or that medieval priests brought donkeys into cathedrals and had congregations bray instead of saying "Amen"?

Join Alex and Michael for a hilarious and profound exploration of Christianity's surprisingly rich comedy tradition. From Elijah's savage mockery of Baal's bathroom breaks to Jesus's absurdist parables, from Jerome's vicious fat jokes about theological rivals to Dante sliding down Satan's hairy legs like a fireman's pole - discover how laughter and faith have always been intertwined.

Featuring insights from priest-comedian Chris Bedding of Pirate Church fame, this episode reveals how comedy serves as prophecy, resistance, and even survival. Learn why Luther fought the devil with farts, how Holocaust survivors used dark humour to maintain dignity, and why Kierkegaard wrote philosophy under comic pseudonyms.

Whether exploring medieval Feasts of Fools, modern Christian memes, or the deep theology behind divine laughter, this conversation proves that sometimes the most profound truths come wrapped in the most ridiculous packages. Because maybe, just maybe, the opposite of faith isn't doubt - it's the inability to laugh at yourself.

A must-listen for anyone who's ever wondered if God has a sense of humour. (Spoiler: 400,000 species of beetles suggest the answer is yes.)

Support the show

Thanks for joining us on The Theology Pod. We hope today's conversation has given you something meaningful to wrestle with as you continue your own spiritual journey.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on your favourite podcast platform—it really helps other seekers find our conversations. You can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.

For show notes, reading recommendations, and to join our ongoing discussion, visit us at TheologyPod.com. You can also follow us on social media @TheologyPod on Facebook for reflections and updates on upcoming episodes.

We love hearing from our listeners. Feel free to send us your questions, topic suggestions, or just let us know how these conversations are impacting your faith journey via our social media platforms.

Remember, theology isn't just an academic study—it's the lived experience of wrestling with the divine in our everyday lives. Keep asking the hard questions, keep seeking, and keep engaging with the mystery.

Until next time, may you find grace in the questions and peace in the seeking.