SkyPilot: Faith Quest

 This episode is in response to a reader who suggested this topic. The thought behind this topic is simple: Has the Judeo-Christian tradition always believed in Hell? If not, where did it come from? And also , we should be aware that there are some pretty significant theological difficulties with the concept of hell. ———————————————————————————————————————Have a spiritual, theological, or religious question you would like me to tackle?Contact me via email:    Dan@SkyPilot.zoneAnd be sure to check me out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SkyPilotFaithQuest...........................................................................................Music: Composed for SkyPilot: Faith Quest by Arlan Sunnarborg

There is word, a single word, in the Bible that has been woefully and tragically misunderstood. One interpretation of this word leads to harmony and abundant living, the other interpretation could quite possibly lead to the ruin of humanity. So, what is the word and why do so many Christians choose the interpretation that could lead to our destruction? This episode answers both questions. ———————————————————————————————————————Have a spiritual, theological, or religious question you would like me to tackle?Contact me via email:    Dan@SkyPilot.zoneAnd be sure to check me out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SkyPilotFaithQuest...........................................................................................Music: Composed for SkyPilot: Faith Quest by Arlan Sunnarborg

The Bible contains 66 books.  Of the 27 books that comprise the New Testament, only four are dedicated to telling the story of Jesus's earthly ministry; these are the Gospels. The Gospels each tell the story of Easter morning and the discovery of Jesus's empty tomb, but there is  surprising variation between them. This episode highlights the differences and offers explanation as to why these differences exist. ———————————————————————————————————————Have a spiritual, theological, or religious question you would like me to tackle?Contact me via email:    Dan@SkyPilot.zoneAnd be sure to check me out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SkyPilotFaithQuest...........................................................................................Music: Composed for SkyPilot: Faith Quest by Arlan Sunnarborg

There’s a St. Francis quote appearing on social media in which he seems to says that, when you die, you can and WILL "take it with you." This left me with two questions: Did he actually say this? And more importantly, what does it mean? This episode answers both questions. (Spoiler alert!) He did not say it, but...maybe he wishes he had! Watch and find out why!———————————————————————————————————————Have a spiritual, theological, or religious question you would like me to tackle?Contact me via email:    Dan@SkyPilot.zoneAnd be sure to check me out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SkyPilotFaithQuest...........................................................................................Music: Composed for SkyPilot: Faith Quest by Arlan Sunnarborg

I encounter many people online who are concerned about their faith. Their concern is often expressed by asking basic questions, and most of the questions have a similar feel: Am I doing this right? This episode offers five simple questions to evaluate your faith and see if you are headed in the right direction. ———————————————————————————————————————Have a spiritual, theological, or religious question you would like me to tackle?Contact me via email:    Dan@SkyPilot.zoneAnd be sure to check me out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SkyPilotFaithQuest...........................................................................................Music: Composed for SkyPilot: Faith Quest by Arlan Sunnarborg

Experts from varied professions agree on one thing: you should endeavor to live "in the now." My take is that living “in the now” is wonderful, as long as you are aware of the pitfall - the heresy - that potentially lurks within. This episode describes the heresy of now, why it is dangerous, and also surprisingly common.———————————————————————————————————————Have a spiritual, theological, or religious question you would like me to tackle?Contact me via email:    Dan@SkyPilot.zoneAnd be sure to check me out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SkyPilotFaithQuest...........................................................................................Music: Composed for SkyPilot: Faith Quest by Arlan Sunnarborg

An email from a listener, responding to last week's podcast, prompted me to make this episode about a simple but powerful reality for all people who follow Jesus. It can help you avoid being a stumbling block to others AND offer a tool for deeping your own faith. ———————————————————————————————————————. Have a spiritual, theological, or religious question you would like me to tackle?Contact me via email:    Dan@SkyPilot.zoneAnd be sure to check me out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SkyPilotFaithQuest...........................................................................................Music: Composed for SkyPilot: Faith Quest by Arlan Sunnarborg

Are you a person of faith? Do you know what you believe? Could you areticulate your belief to someone else, if asked? I asked a group of people on Reddit to tell me what they believed - not to tell me the tenents of their faith - but to tell me what they personally believe. I was genuinely surprised by the results. #humor #christianity results. ———————————————————————————————————————. Have a spiritual, theological, or religious question you would like me to tackle?Contact me via email:    Dan@SkyPilot.zoneAnd be sure to check me out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SkyPilotFaithQuest...........................................................................................Music: Composed for SkyPilot: Faith Quest by Arlan Sunnarborg

I have heard and read so much recently from Christians who espouse their belief that God is on the side of their political candidate. After watching so much contantious debate, it seemed less than wise to venture into those hostile waters with an opinion. And yet... I decided, "what the heck?" And so in this episode, I endevour to answer what is, in all likelyhood, an unanswerable question: If Jesus were asked who he woudl vote for, what would he say?———————————————————————————————————————. Have a spiritual, theological, or religious question you would like me to tackle?Contact me via email:    Dan@SkyPilot.zoneAnd be sure to check me out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SkyPilotFaithQuest...........................................................................................Music: Composed for SkyPilot: Faith Quest by Arlan Sunnarborg

I am a huge fan of hero movies. Superheros, westerns, or war heroes, I love them all. I was thinking recently about how much I enjoy them and found myself wondering if, perphaps, I am drawn to Jesus because he is the ultimate hero story. This episode examines the possible intersections between hero tropes in movies and the story of Jesus. ———————————————————————————————————————. Have a spiritual, theological, or religious question you would like me to tackle?Contact me via email:    Dan@SkyPilot.zoneAnd be sure to check me out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SkyPilotFaithQuest...........................................................................................Music: Composed for SkyPilot: Faith Quest by Arlan Sunnarborg

I recently came across a quote from Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross that caught my attention. She bluntly said there is a life choice that is so important, if you don’t choose it, you are a "prostitute" and "you will not have a pleasant death."  This episode offers two opposing life choices. One is proposed by Dr. Kubler-Ross. Other is a movie quote, but it is said by none other than Morgan Freeman, who may not be God, but has played the Almighty in a movie. ———————————————————————————————————————. Have a spiritual, theological, or religious question you would like me to tackle?Contact me via email:    Dan@SkyPilot.zoneAnd be sure to check me out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SkyPilotFaithQuest...........................................................................................Music: Composed for SkyPilot: Faith Quest by Arlan Sunnarborg

In this episode, I explain how I believe many people think  God is a lot like the computer algorithm behind Wordle, the popular word puzzle. I tell you how I came to this realization, why people might hold this belief, and of course, how I think it is probably not how God really sees us. ———————————————————————————————————————. Have a spiritual, theological, or religious question you would like me to tackle?Contact me via email:    Dan@SkyPilot.zoneAnd be sure to check me out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SkyPilotFaithQuest...........................................................................................Music: Composed for SkyPilot: Faith Quest by Arlan Sunnarborg

I recently came across a post that made a simple statement: "the Bible is filled with stories." Suddenly, there was a strong response from quite a few people: “No, the Bible is true!” This episode offers an answer to two questions: is the Bible filled with stories and if so, can these stories - any stories -  be true?———————————————————————————————————————. Have a spiritual, theological, or religious question you would like me to tackle?Contact me via email:    Dan@SkyPilot.zoneAnd be sure to check me out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SkyPilotFaithQuest...........................................................................................Music: Composed for SkyPilot: Faith Quest by Arlan Sunnarborg

Within the the world of spirituality, faith groups, and even mental health, there is a growing movement to move away from thankfulness and towards something that sounds remarkably similar: gratitude. This episode explains the difference between the two, why there is a push for the change, and an easy method for making the change in your own life. ———————————————————————————————————————. Have a spiritual, theological, or religious question you would like me to tackle?Contact me via email:    Dan@SkyPilot.zoneAnd be sure to check me out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SkyPilotFaithQuest...........................................................................................Music: Composed for SkyPilot: Faith Quest by Arlan Sunnarborg

In 1965, Charles Schultz, the creator of the Peanuts comic strip, released the television show A Charlie Brown Christmas. Most of the show was about Charlie Brown feeling out of sync with the rest of the world around him during the Christmas season and his trying to figure out what “Christmas is really all about. “ In the end, he comes to a breaking point, and literally yells, Isn't there anyone  who can tell me what Christmas is all about? “ To which his friend Linus replies, sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you. Linus then famously recites the Christmas story from the gospel of Luke.  And though the gospel of Luke does indeed point Charlie Brown to the original Christmas narrative, it, perhaps does not do what Charlie Brown asked for. He doesn't ask for the Christmas story, but instead asks a very specific question: What is Christmas all about? This episode takes the original Christmas story and looks at what Christmas is really all about. ———————————————————————————————————————. Have a spiritual, theological, or religious question you would like me to tackle?Contact me via email:    Dan@SkyPilot.zoneAnd be sure to check me out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SkyPilotFaithQuest...........................................................................................Music: Composed for SkyPilot: Faith Quest by Arlan Sunnarborg

If you live in the United States, like I do (even if you didn't grow up religious) you probably feel like you have a pretty good mastery of the Christmas story. And yet, there are elements of the story that we learned as children, that are assumed as factual, but which some Biblical scholars now argue may not be correct. None of these challenges the core of the Christian faith, but some of these are genuinely surprising. This episode presents 5 popular and well-known elements of the Christmas story that may be wrong.———————————————————————————————————————. Have a spiritual, theological, or religious question you would like me to tackle?Contact me via email:    Dan@SkyPilot.zoneAnd be sure to check me out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SkyPilotFaithQuest...........................................................................................Music: Composed for SkyPilot: Faith Quest by Arlan Sunnarborg

A viewer wrote to me and said, if only believers could prove their faith and prove the existence of God, then he, and many others, would not only take them seriously but believe in themselves. This episode is my response. ———————————————————————————————————————. Have a spiritual, theological, or religious question you would like me to tackle?Contact me via email:    Dan@SkyPilot.zoneAnd be sure to check me out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SkyPilotFaithQuest...........................................................................................Music: Composed for SkyPilot: Faith Quest by Arlan Sunnarborg

Running is one of those pastimes where most of us feel like there are "real" runners, and then there are just those who run. “Real” runners are the dedicated...the special...the elite. I watched a half marathon run by our home on Thanksgiving Day and it caused me to wonder, what exactly makes someone a “real” runner?———————————————————————————————————————. Have a spiritual, theological, or religious question you would like me to tackle?Contact me via email:    Dan@SkyPilot.zoneAnd be sure to check me out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SkyPilotFaithQuest...........................................................................................Music: Composed for SkyPilot: Faith Quest by Arlan Sunnarborg

This episode was sparked by quotes from two famous people.  One is Steve Jobs, the billionaire entrepreneur. The other is Brandon Saunderson, the prolific fantasy author. The first quote was said by Steve Jobs at a college commencement as he shared his thoughts about the best way to approach every day in life. The other quote was written by Sanderson but not spoken by him.  It was spoken by a character named Denth in one of his novels. In the end, this episode  attempts to answer the question as to who our daily motivation should...and should not be. ———————————————————————————————————————. Have a spiritual, theological, or religious question you would like me to tackle?Contact me via email:    Dan@SkyPilot.zoneAnd be sure to check me out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SkyPilotFaithQuest...........................................................................................Music: Composed for SkyPilot: Faith Quest by Arlan Sunnarborg

I was scrolling through my social media feeds when I came across a quote from Neil deGrasse Tyson in which he describes the nature of philosophy, theology, and science. I was so intrigued, that I  began to research the quote as well as Dr Tyson's beliefs.  This episode is the result of that quest.  ———————————————————————————————————————. Have a spiritual, theological, or religious question you would like me to tackle?Contact me via email:    Dan@SkyPilot.zoneAnd be sure to check me out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SkyPilotFaithQuest...........................................................................................Music: Composed for SkyPilot: Faith Quest by Arlan Sunnarborg