Let's talk US politics from a progressive Christian perspective. Author and former pastor Desimber Rose, along with progressive theologian Dillon Naber Cruz, are here to make you think - and laugh - about the madness that ensues when we mix faith and politics.
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The Unbelief Podcast is your space to question, explore, and release the beliefs that no longer serve you—or maybe even caused harm. Hosted by Jeremy Steele, the Skeptic Pastor, this podcast dives deep into deconstruction, offering progressive and thoughtful insights on ancient spiritual texts like the Bible. Through interviews with leading scholars and candid conversations with those navigating their own faith journeys, the Unbelief Podcast invites you to rethink, rediscover, and rebuild yo ...
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Hell Houses, Fistfights, and Breaking the Cycle for Our Kids
48:59
48:59
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48:59Step one: convince a 10-year-old she’s actually dead and headed for eternal damnation. Step two: act shocked when she punches a racist in church and bails on the whole thing. Amanda shares her wild church trauma story and what it’s like trying to parent through that pain, building a better, gentler spiritual world for her kids. patreon.com/skepticp…
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The Ten Commandments—You’ve Been Reading Them Wrong
44:33
44:33
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44:33You think the Ten Commandments are about judging everyone else? Wrong. They’re written to you. In this episode, we break down how the commandments are personal, why ‘taking the Lord’s name in vain’ has nothing to do with cussing, and why Sabbath isn’t just ‘a nice idea’—it’s a full-on rebellion against hustle culture. Oh, and yes, it’s ‘don’t murde…
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#041: Deconstruction and Biblical Misconceptions with Professor Scott Baker
1:10:54
1:10:54
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1:10:54We welcome Special Guest Professor Scott Baker, as we dive into common biblical misconceptions, how we counter them, what atonement means from the Episcopalian perspective and how that factors into deconstruction. Of course we gotta touch the hot topics in the news and this weeks' round of politics under the oligarchy. Tune In!…
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If you died tonight, do you know where you’d spend eternity? We open with that classic evangelical guilt-trip and immediately start breaking it down. Gabie and Jeremy deep dive into the biblical non-basis for modern hell, expose how mistranslations (and Dante) created most of what we picture today, and explore how ancient views on punishment were w…
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Easter’s Pagan (kind of), Words Change, and the KJV Is Horrible
38:47
38:47
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38:47We’re talking pagan goddesses, changing language, and why the King James Version is definitely not the most accurate Bible translation. Gabie (our favorite linguist) joins to unpack the pagan origins of the word ‘Easter,’ how meanings shift over time, and why ‘thou shalt not’ doesn’t mean what you think it means anymore. Spoiler: English has evolve…
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#040: Doing the Hard Work of Justice with Dr. Angela Parker and Dr. Chris Davies
56:34
56:34
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56:34The Squad is Back with a Fabulous Guest Host, none other than THE Rev. Dr. Angela Parker, also known as "The Boozy Bible Scholar", and we are ecstatic to welcome Special Guest, Rev. Dr. Chris S. Davies, a Celtic Spiritualist, Christ-Following, Queer Femme, Beekeeping Liturgist (YES, She's ALL THAT!) AND the Executive Minister of the Southern New En…
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Romans: The Book That’s Been Misused for Centuries
53:07
53:07
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53:07Ever felt like Romans was used against you? You're not alone. This episode dives into a conversation with Keith Giles and Matthew DiStefano the authors of Reading Romans Right, revealing how a fresh perspective can transform this misunderstood text into a message of hope and inclusion. Reading Romans Right: https://amzn.to/4j6kNOP patreon.com/skept…
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Why You Keep Making the Same Mistakes—And Why You Can’t Fix Them Alone
31:50
31:50
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31:50This episode has it all: people whining in circles, Moses burning out, and a surprise intervention from his father-in-law. We talk about how to spot the toxic patterns in your own life, how community can carry you when you can’t do it alone, and why having someone speak the hard truth isn’t mean—it’s holy. patreon.com/skepticpastor…
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#039: White Christian Nationalism with Angela Denker
1:05:53
1:05:53
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1:05:53We are back with a Special Guest! Author, Pastor, and Journalist Angela Denker joins us tonight to discuss her book "Disciples of White Jesus", The Radicalization of American Boyhood. Everywhere you look from social media to the White House, it is clear that there has been a measurable shift toward White Christian Nationalism that is disproportiona…
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Deconstruction, Patriarchy, and the Atheist Boyfriend Who Got It
45:15
45:15
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45:15It started with one book. One idea: maybe the Bible wasn’t written outside of patriarchy. That thread pulled Gabie’s faith wide open. In this episode, she shares her journey through doubt, the atheist boyfriend who got it more than her evangelical friends, and how she found a new spiritual home in Not Church. If you’re deconstructing, she’s got one…
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The Wilderness Sucks - Even Moses Needed a Dance Break
29:25
29:25
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29:25The Israelites just escaped Egypt, and what do they do first? Throw a party. In this episode, we dive into the songs of Moses and Miriam, explore how feasting and celebration are just as spiritual as prayer and fasting, and talk about why you shouldn’t try to do faith alone—especially when the wilderness hits. Oh, and that manna? Might’ve been natu…
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#038: The Trump Tariff Tumble and Reading Romans Right with Keith Giles and Matthew J. Distefano
1:02:35
1:02:35
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1:02:35The Trump Tariff Tumble is in full effect, and the global markets are reeling with uncertainty. But one thing you can count on is Dillon & Desimber hitting you with your weekly dose of Faith, Sanity, and Politics! Keith Giles and Matthew Distefano, authors of "Reading Romans Right," will be joining us tonight for a theological dive into the Book of…
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The Bible: What It Is, What It Isn’t, and Why Constantine Didn’t Make It
47:17
47:17
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47:17No, Constantine didn’t choose the books of the Bible. No, the Bible isn’t a culture manual for modern life. And no, you’re not supposed to just read it—you’re supposed to let it read you. In this episode, we get into what the Bible actually is, how it came to be, and how to study it without turning into a fundamentalist meme. patreon.com/skepticpas…
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#037: Lies, Lies, and More Lies from the Trump Regime
1:07:20
1:07:20
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1:07:20Lies, Lies, and MORE Lies from the Trump Regime this week... Upsets in Ruby Red District Special Elections... and plenty of Fundamental F*ckwittery to go around... let's talk about it!By Desimber Rose, Dillon Naber Cruz
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It’s the part of the Exodus story everyone remembers—God parts the sea, the people escape, Pharaoh gets wrecked. But this week, we dig deeper into how that miracle actually happened (spoiler: strong wind all night), why magical thinking screws up our theology, and how to make rituals that help us actually remember the things we learn instead of jus…
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#036: Dismantling the Country One Executive Order at a Time
1:09:44
1:09:44
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1:09:44Ya'll know what time it is... let's get into the latest news and fundamental foolery all around the United States in the age of Donald Trump -- whether it's the Administration's purge of the Department of Education, Erasure of Historical Contributions of People of Color, or the violation of due process and civil rights. Tune in for your weekly dose…
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Leaving Mormonism, Preaching Atheism, and Finding a More Chill Path
47:38
47:38
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47:38Dan Beecher was this close to spending two years knocking on doors for Mormonism—then he decided he didn’t believe any of it. In this episode, we talk about his journey from devoted Mormon to full-blown atheist, how he became an evangelist for atheism, and why he now chooses to partner with some religious people instead of trying to convince them t…
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This Story Is Not a Children’s Lesson—Boils, Hail, and the Final Plague
45:19
45:19
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45:19Locusts, darkness, and a final plague so brutal it makes everyone uncomfortable—yep, we’re in the deep end of Exodus now. In this episode, we wrestle with plagues 6-10, Pharaoh’s terrible decision-making, and why we love making desperate promises to God they never keep. Plus, a reminder that even in the worst moments, good things can happen—and rej…
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#035: Tariffs, Taxes, and Trump, Oh My! Featuring Dr. Angela Parker
1:22:33
1:22:33
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1:22:33Will we survive another round of Tariffs, Taxes, and Trump? If we gather at the table of The God Squad it's highly likely we'll get through it with a weekly dose of faith, sanity, and politics. Let's call out the clowns and shine a little light in the darkness of daily news. Featuring Dr. Angela Parker!…
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Why Purity Culture Messes Up Kids—And Why Atheists Might Be Onto Something
27:35
27:35
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27:35Purity pledges? Bad idea. Arguing with atheists? Also bad idea. This episode features two chapters from How to Not Suck as a Christian, covering why purity culture does more harm than good and why debating atheists is a waste of time. Instead of fear-mongering about sex and ‘winning souls’ through arguments, maybe it’s time to try something revolut…
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#034: Oval Office Ambush, Gutting the Government, and a Trump-Sized Economic Crash
1:19:14
1:19:14
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1:19:14In this week's episode of The God Squad we're hanging on to our sanity together as we look back over another week of Disgraceful Leadership by The Trump Administration, the Oval Office Ambush of President Zelensky, Gutting of Government Administrations, and a Chaotic Stock Market following unprovoked Tariffs. And it wouldn't be The God Squad withou…
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From Church Pews to the Solstice - a Theatre Kid Rediscovers God
41:47
41:47
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41:47She loved church. The rituals, the architecture, the sacred feeling of it all. But then came seminary—a place where evangelical theology goes to die. We talk about how actual biblical study led her to deconstruction, how Celtic spirituality filled the void, and why she now finds God in nature, ritual, and yes—even the theatre. patreon.com/skepticpa…
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No, the Bible Doesn’t Say Being Queer Is a Sin—Let’s Prove It (also it's Pro-Trans)
53:18
53:18
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53:18Step one: debunk every anti-LGBTQ verse with actual biblical scholarship. Step two: show how the Bible is pro-trans. Step three: remind ourselves that forcing ancient cultural norms onto modern society is a terrible idea. This week, we’re breaking down why the Bible’s big-picture message is radical inclusivity—no matter how hard fundamentalists try…
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#033: The Trump Gaza Video, More Shenanigans, and Cruel Immigration Policies
1:27:52
1:27:52
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1:27:52This week's episode covers the FF of the week, this MF, and the horrific Trump Gaza video. Plus, some thoughts on immigration in America. Let's stay sane together... It's been another Chaotic Week in the United States. The God Squad is LIVE every Thursday at 5 PM PST to bring your weekly dose of Faith, Politics, and Sanity. Tune In for our collecti…
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Southern Baptist Illuminati outs a Gay Deacon and Ruins His Life
46:32
46:32
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46:32Austin was just living his life—deconstructing, working as a deacon, and making spicy tweets—when the Southern Baptist Illuminati™ (okay, not their real name, but might as well be) outed him to his church who fired him and kept ruining his life. But plot twist: when evangelicals cast him out, the LGBTQ community did something wild—they actually act…
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Snakes, Plagues, and Denial—The Real Exodus Story
10:46
10:46
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10:46It starts with a giant snake, gets messy with blood and frogs, and finishes off with gnats and flies—classic Exodus chaos. But what if these plagues aren’t just about punishing Egypt? We explore how God partners with humanity to tackle big issues and why embracing your weak spots might be your own personal plague-buster. patreon.com/skepticpastor…
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#032: The Chaos Administration, Reckless Downsizing, and a little bit of Good News
1:10:00
1:10:00
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1:10:00BREAKING NEWS: The God Squad is Back to recap another week of chaos in the news, and to bring some hope and sanity to our listeners. The Trump Administration is making reckless unprecdented cuts to government agencies, firing career public servants, directly impacting employment across the country especially in red states. Dillon tackles the Fundam…
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A Reformed Southern Baptist Comes Out - Yeah, You Read that Right
49:21
49:21
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49:21You know what’s fun? Realizing your theology says you’re predestined for hell and still showing up for staff meetings. Austin tells us about growing up as a reformed Southern Baptist, discovering he was gay, and trying to survive church life while slowly coming out. It’s deconstruction with a side of existential dread—and the fallout’s just getting…
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The Bible: Now with 100% More Dysfunctional Families and Insecure Leaders
33:37
33:37
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33:37God reminds Moses of His promises, but Moses is still struggling—this time, with his old insecurities and a speech impediment that won’t stop haunting him. In this episode, we unpack how faith doesn’t erase your wounds, why biblical families were an absolute trainwreck, and how evangelicals’ obsession with the ‘perfect family’ completely misses the…
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#031: The Meaning of Elon, the Grift of Sean Feucht, and How to FAFO
59:22
59:22
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59:22This week's episode features a familiar face, as Keith Giles is back to fill in for Desimber Rose. In the episode, Keith and Dillon talk about Elon Musk, Sean Feucht, and how some Trump supporters are now in the FO phase of FAFO. Let's stay sane together... It's been another Chaotic Week in the United States. The God Squad is LIVE every Thursday at…
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Evangelicals love a good debate, but maybe we should just stop arguing and start being decent humans instead. In this episode, we dive into my book How to Not Suck as a Christian and talk about why apologetics is a waste of time, how to avoid churches that only pretend to be affirming, and how to rebuild a spiritual life after religious trauma with…
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Lesson of the day: If you want to make an authoritarian really mad, tell them they’re not actually in charge. Moses demands freedom, Pharaoh retaliates, and things get significantly worse before they get better. We talk about the politics of power, why reading the room matters, and why sometimes, yelling at God is theologically sound. patreon.com/s…
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Tune in for another week of faith, politics, and sanity with The God Squad LIVE! We have a Featured Guest, Eric Scot English, Author of New Release "Kingdom of Man" a deep dive into Evangelicalism and the Distortion of Christianity. It's been quite a week, tune in and wind down with the Squad!By Dillon Naber Cruz, Desimber Rose
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Time is a Lie, the Universe is a Mess and Religion is a Paradox
56:56
56:56
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56:56Time is fake, particles don’t know what they are, and reality is a mess—but don’t worry, your GPS still works. In this episode, astrophysicist Brian Jones joins us to explain why everything we think we know about time, space, and even spirituality might be wrong. Get ready for a wild ride through relativity, quantum weirdness, and why the universe …
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Nothing says ‘divine calling’ like running from murder charges, getting ambushed by God, and being saved by your wife wielding a freshly cut foreskin. Exodus 4 gets WEIRD, and we’re here to make sense of (or at least laugh at) it. patreon.com/skepticpastor noomacommunity.com/storeBy Quoircast
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#029: Trump's Week of Chaos, Federal Funding Shutdown & Reversal
1:07:50
1:07:50
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1:07:50- Trump's Week of Chaos, Federal Funding Shutdown & Reversal - FFW - Christian Nationalist Pastor Rob McCoy - FAFO Season 1, taking a look at nationwide accounts of voter's remorse with Desimber Roe Let's stay sane together... It's been another Chaotic Week in the United States. The God Squad is LIVE every Thursday at 5 PM PST to bring your weekly …
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And then I had an Out of Body Experience
1:16:59
1:16:59
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1:16:59Rob’s faith journey had everything: church corruption, Christian heavy metal, deep philosophy, and an existential crisis. Oh, and an out-of-body experience. Join us as we unpack his wild deconstruction story and how he finally found spirituality in a place he never expected. patreon.com/skepticpastor noomacommunity.com/store…
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Moses wasn’t exactly Pharaoh’s first pick for a TED Talk, but that didn’t stop him from becoming one of history’s most legendary leaders. This week, we talk about overcoming insecurities, finding your voice, and rebuilding community after losing the one you thought was home. patreon.com/skepticpastor noomacommunity.com/store…
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#028: Bishop Budde, Musk's Salute, and the First Week of the Trump Administration
1:13:04
1:13:04
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1:13:04In this week's episode, the Squad talks about all the recent political news from the past week, including Bishop Budde's powerful sermon, Elon Musk's power-hungry salute, and of course Donald Trump's chaotic administration. The Squad now has merch! Proceeds will be donated! To join the Live Stream every Thursday at 5 PM PST, sign up at godsquadpod.…
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Become part of the "Not Church" community: patreon.com/skepticpastor Hilarious, irreverent merch: noomacommunity.com/store Nathan Webb is leveling up community for nerds, geeks, and gamers everywhere. From Dungeons & Dragons campaigns to epic anime arcs, we explore how these fandoms bring people together—and maybe even closer to something bigger th…
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One of the most famous stories in the book of Exodus reveals something profound bout one of Moses' secret powers, and it pushes back hard against one of the most deeply held values in the Western world. patreon.com/skepticpastor noomacommunity.com/storeBy Quoircast
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#027: Pete Hegseth, Pam Bondi, and the Coming of the Oligarchy
1:03:43
1:03:43
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1:03:43In this week's episode, the Squad talks about all the recent political news from the past week, including the nomination hearings for Pete Hegseth and Pam Bondi, before introducing this MF, the FF of the week, and finally some good news amidst the chaos. The Squad now has merch! Proceeds will be donated! To join the Live Stream every Thursday at 5 …
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Life After Doom and Should You Stay Christian with Brian McLaren
25:51
25:51
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25:51If you've ever wondered how to deal with the immense number of things in the world that are on fire or are in the moment when you are trying to answer the question of whether you should stay Christian, author and public theologian Brian Mclaren is here for you. patreon.com/skepticpastor noomacommunity.com/store…
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patreon.com/skepticpastor noomacommunity.com/storeBy Quoircast
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#026: California Fires, Stephen Wolfe, and a Misogynistic Ministry Fumble
1:13:51
1:13:51
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1:13:51In this week's episode, the Squad talks about all the recent political news from the past week, as well as the tragic California fires, before introducing the FF of the week (Stephen Wolfe) and a misogynistic ministry fumble of epic proportions. The Squad now has merch! Proceeds will be donated! To join the Live Stream every Thursday at 5 PM PST, s…
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patreon.com/skepticpastor noomacommunity.com/storeBy Quoircast
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Attempted Genocide Thwarted by Two Unlikely Women
44:54
44:54
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44:54patreon.com/skepticpastor noomacommunity.com/storeBy Quoircast
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#025: Terror Attacks, 2025, and More MAGA Lies
1:11:14
1:11:14
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1:11:14In this week's episode, the Squad catches up after the holidays and discusses the recent terrorist attacks in New Orleans and elsewhere before turning their attention to the FF and MF of the week! The Squad now has merch! Proceeds will be donated! To join the Live Stream every Thursday at 5 PM PST, sign up at godsquadpod.com Also streaming Live on …
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An Ancient Ritual to Make 2025 Better then 2024
32:16
32:16
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32:16Don't make resolutions. They suck and don't work. You need to set intentions, that's where the power is. This episode uses a ritual that is over 500 years old to help make that happen.By Quoircast
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A Feminist Geneology? In a Patriarchal Culture?
42:51
42:51
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42:51Murder, prostitution, and even a verse that has been used to tell people masturbation is a sin are all wrapped up in the Geneology of Jesus that is full of something unexpected: women.By Quoircast
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