God for Grownups

Kingdom and Cosmos

When I first heard about the "Big Bang Singularity," probably while watching the movie Interstellar, back in 2014, my immediate thought was God. Think about it: classical

Demons, Darkness and the Devil, Catholic Perspectives

On this episode, we're featuring a session from the Queen Anne Lutheran Church forum series, Demons, Darkness & the Devil, with Catholic perspectives from Fr. William Wat

Is Violence Ever Acceptable?

Pastor Dan Peterson and Dr. Beatrice Lawrence discuss and compare Christian and Jewish perspectives on violence, in light of the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol.

Why Follow Jesus?

How do we explain such rash behavior on the part of the earliest disciples? Pastor Dan Peterson shares what he believes to be the best answer to the question of why the d

Dr. Reggie WIlliams: Bonhoeffer's Black Jesus

On this episode, we're presenting highlights from one of our most enlightening virtual forums of the past year. The talk focuses on a turning point in the life of Luther

Hope

In difficult times like these, where do you find hope? Pastor Mark Griffith of St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Bellevue, Wash., joins host Pastor Dan Peterson of Queen Anne

'Let It Be With Me'

This past week we learned, thanks to an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, that Dr. Jill Biden, soon to be our nation’s First Lady, is not a doctor, at least according to

Forum: 'God Can't' with Thomas Jay Oord

For millennia, believers in God have asked, “Why doesn’t God prevent unnecessary suffering?” The usual answers to this question leave most of us unsatisfied. Dr. Thomas J

Hope for the World

Matthew 25:13 ... or Dave Matthews? We're trying something new this week on the podcast, sharing my sermon from Queen Anne Lutheran Church's weekly audio service. As you'

Faith, Politics and Journalism

This is the first of four “God Talks” in Queen Anne Lutheran Church's forum calendar, each of which serves as a one-time discussion of an issue or topic that intersects w

'God Can't' - with Thomas Jay Oord

Pastor Dan Peterson talks with author and theologian Thomas Jay Oord about the power and limits of God, and the persistent question of why God "allows" bad things to happ

Soul Survival: Is There Really Life After Death?

Pastor Dan Peterson of Queen Anne Lutheran Church and guest Dr. Beatrice Lawrence of Seattle University, an expert in the Hebrew Bible and Jewish Hermeneutics, discuss Ch

The Upside Down Bible

What was the symbolism of President Trump's impromptu visit to St. John's Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C.? Pastor Mark Griffith of St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Bell

Women in the Bible

1 Timothy 2:12 -- "I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she is to keep silent" -- makes the biblical view of women clear.  Or does it?  Join Dan an

Virtual Communion: 'Sacramental Echoes' and the Church's Digital Divide

Should the Christian sacrament of Holy Communion be delivered over a Zoom call? And is it really a sacrament if not given in person? A special guest, Pastor Mark Griffith

Traditions, Interrupted

How can religious traditions continue when the communities that define and inspire them are kept from coming together? Dan and Bea discuss the implications of the COVID-1

Bible Basics

Dan and Bea discuss some important and surprising facts to know about Hebrew Bible, and the Old and New Testaments, and larger differences between the Jewish and Christia

Anti-Semitism

Bea and Dan discuss the historical roots and modern implications of Anti-Semitism from a Biblical perspective, tracing this insidious form of bias and discrimination from

Favorite Books of the Bible

Dan and Bea share their favorite passages and books from the Bible, and explain the significance for them personally and in the context of the Christian and Jewish faiths

Unexpected Gratitude

"Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who makes the things of creation." After a difficult week, Bea shares the significance of that blessing in her own l