All in Eds Personal

343 Death of My Dad, Reflections on Death

343 Death of My Dad, Reflections on Death

Uncensored Unprofessor
Eds Personal, Heaven and Hell

On Saturday 12/16/23 my Dad died after a four-month long battle with acute Crohn's. What was that all like? What happens to us in death? In this personal episode I share some fun memories I have about my dad, experiences we shared, and even the funny obituary instructions he left behind. This is no systematic episode, just a mish mash of theological, existential, and biographical reflections. What was amazing about how Jesus went through death? Why do I seem surprised by the grief of death? What kind of tatoo does my son think he might get? What was interesting about my Dad and alcohol? What kind of service will my Dad get? What are some existential takeaways I have ensuing this experience? Come laugh and think and grieve and hope with me.

342 Fifty-Five Things I Don't Know

342 Fifty-Five Things I Don't Know

Uncensored Unprofessor
Eds Personal

We can't always be serious, especially during the holidays, so I'm changing things up. I realize that on a theology and culture show it is easy to come across as having a resolute grasp on reality. Truth is, there are many things I do not know, do not understand. In this reflective, but light-hearted, episode I work through different elements of life: church configurations, mundane daily realities, the Bible, culture, politics, and history. Come laugh and think with me here in Advent!

337 Necssry Discrimntns (2) Nuance: Trees from the Forest

337 Necssry Discrimntns (2) Nuance: Trees from the Forest

Uncensored Unprofessor
Eds Personal, Current Events, Discernment

Two thousand years ago a Roman centurion observed yet another Jewish rable-rousing "messiah" being crucified. Compared to the many taunting passersby, that soldier discerned that something unusual was transpiring. Seeing it all, he uttered an epic historic statement. Truth is, discernment takes time. Catching the nuance takes practice. In this episode I begin building out several ways by which we can build our discernment. How can we recognize political propaganda? My aim is to help us develop a Jesus-y street smarts. I also work through rhetorical self-defeaters: phrases that are commonly uttered which, supposedly, are show-stoppers. What can we do and say when we hear something like, "well, there are no absolutes"? Come laugh and think with me.

332 RfYtB (6) My RealPolitik, The Moral Goodness of Hell

332 RfYtB (6) My RealPolitik, The Moral Goodness of Hell

Uncensored Unprofessor
Reasons for Your Belief, Heaven and Hell, Eds Personal

A Christian engagement with politics is idealistic, right? I mean, don't Christians want both a righteous messiah and an earthly Nirvana? Not me. I explain why I do engage politically, noting my historical and theological reasoning. In the show's second part I work through the topic of hell. Can we say God is loving if he sends people there? Can we say God is just if he sends people there? Well, actually, I believe there are profound reasons to suggest that hell is morally good. Let's be more nuanced.

331 2020 in the Rearview Mirror

331 2020 in the Rearview Mirror

Uncensored Unprofessor
Current Events, Cult of the Now, Eds Personal, Christian Worldview

The show starts with me praying for my listeners' provision: interest rates and the cost of living are soaring. Then I discuss how a NYT email news-feed hit me like a bolt of lighting. The story read, "2020 was driven by a righteous spirit and legitimate moral demands." How did that spirit and its moral demands shape the hearts of ten millions of good-hearted Christians? Can an emotional response be legitimate if the perceived event was based on a lie? Come think with me about why we are now experiencing another 16th century Reformation, but this time around it is entirely to the bad. 

322 Secular vs. Sacred (12) Questions to Ask in Honest Conversations

322 Secular vs. Sacred (12) Questions to Ask in Honest Conversations

Uncensored Unprofessor
Christian Worldview, Current Events, Eds Personal, Knowledge, Why Does Morality Matter?, Secular vs. Sacred

A recent experience at the Oregon coast: an unknown woman walked into our camp and began to visit with us. When, after ten minutes, the pleasant conversation turned to the cultural-shift she went on a verbal tirade. It made me think, what are some good questions to ask in an honest conversation? Why are questions disarming? Why do questions make for space? Oh, and this episode has a "special" advertiser joining us. Come laugh and think with me.

314 Secular vs. Sacred (4) His Truth, Her Truth, Zir Truth

314 Secular vs. Sacred (4) His Truth, Her Truth, Zir Truth

Uncensored Unprofessor
Christian Worldview, Eds Personal, Secular vs. Sacred

Like a big-plumming hat drum major marching out a steady beat for the entire band, secularism's facts-values dichotomy has been drummed down into every facet of life. Sadly that includes too much of the Church. More, that dichotomy helps us understand why so many confessing Christians can give their hearts to Jesus but then keep him entirely out of their intellectual processing. They've agreed with drum-major-secularism that religion is subjective, private, and something to be kept out of the public square. But, is that even true? Who lives as though there is no meaning in life? Or, who lives as though science is their ultimate guide?

308 Nefarious movie review, The spirit of mutilations

308 Nefarious movie review, The spirit of mutilations

Uncensored Unprofessor
Christian Worldview, Current Events, Eds Personal

In this UU shotgun I plow through Twitter's new state-label accounts, a review of the new horror movie Nefarious, the recent horror-show of an election for Chicago's mayor, and some excellent college recommendations. Then I think through how progressivism is not only mutilating both bodies and reason, but celebrating that; and demanding that we celebrate that! I end the show with a reflection on Jesus' parable of the talents. Was he teaching a divine embrace of capitalism? Was he teaching we can earn our salvation? Come laugh and think with me! 

301 Me: Hypocrite & Theologian, Why Biblical Influence Endures

301 Me: Hypocrite & Theologian, Why Biblical Influence Endures

Uncensored Unprofessor
Eds Personal, Bible, Current Events

What drove me to becoming a theologian? How did my youth play into that? What is the benefit of being a sinner? I also comment on several contemporary events including the Nordstream 2 pipeline explosion, the acquittal of Mark Houck, La County's deadliest-ever shooting, and local Spudlandia news stations' calls to end misinformation. If this epoch is the devil's punchbowl, what is our calling? Along the way I reflect on why it is that the bible endures, what is different about it compared to other books. Come think and laugh with me!

018 How I Watch a Movie

018 How I Watch a Movie

Uncensored Unprofessor
Eds Personal

What categories inform how I watch and review movies? Well, I look for philosophic development, values, integrity, character development, and the good/true/beautiful. Let's use our brains, be aware of getting emotionally played, and enjoy movies as a means for cultural engagement. I also review my favorite movie ever: No Country for Old Men.

001 Why This Podcast?

001 Why This Podcast?

Uncensored Unprofessor
jerry, top25, Eds Personal

The U.U.’s maiden voyage, this episode explains what the Uncensored Unprofessor, Dr. Ed Rybarczyk, intends for his podcasts. He gives explanations of why he's starting a podcast and why Christians, and other interested folk, need to think more deeply in our volatile historic era are given. Too many believers are afraid, or feel guilty, to express their doubts. Why is this? What can we do about it? Rybarczyk also discusses the topics he wants to cover in future episodes.