Church in Space

In which the 3-Ds ponder what will happen when humans finally achieve first contact with aliens. Will religion become a moot point? After all, our major religions are all very human-centric. How else will we react? How will they react?

But first, our hapless hosts learn the ugly truth about sheep...and wander into wondering how various religions' and denominations' faithful would play pro sports. For example, what if the San Diego Padres players were all priests? (They'd be holy different games!)
 

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For more of our shenanigans, be sure to follow us on Twitter! We're @churchnspace.

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Credits:

Editor Extraordinaire: Cathy Rinella of Merodi Media

Co-Producers & Co-Hosts: Dave Kamphuis & Drew Nelsen

Producer & Plucky Sidekick: Dan Mushalko

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"We only have to look at ourselves to see how intelligent life might develop into something we wouldn’t want to meet."

- Stephen Hawking

In which the 3-Ds finally realize that a podcast about science fiction and religion should talk about the Jedi in Star Wars. Is following the Force a religion? A cult? Or just magic tricksters? And how would that answer apply to the Sith?

Is the Force a farce?

From Shaolin monks to Medieval battle bishops, human history has plenty of priestly warriors. Listen in to determine if the 3-Ds have an answer. But don't get your hopes up. 

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For more of our shenanigans, be sure to follow us on Twitter! We're @churchnspace.

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Credits:

Editor Extraordinaire: Cathy Rinella of Merodi Media

Co-Producers & Co-Hosts: Dave Kamphuis & Drew Nelsen

Producer & Plucky Sidekick: Dan Mushalko

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"Your ability to speak does not make you intelligent."

- Qui-Gon Jinn (probably after listening to his first Church in Space podcast)

In which the 3-Ds make their brains hurt pondering some of the unponderable ethical issues in popular science fiction. Star Trek, of course, did this almost weekly -- especially on Voyager with such memorable examples as the Tuvix conundrum, or the right to suicide for Quinn. (Trigger Warning: Quinn's example leads to an extended discussion on the secular and religious quandary on taking one's own life.) And in our age of emerging AI, Next Gen gives us the debate on whether Data (or any machine) can have the same rights as any human.

Terminator, The Matrix, Star Wars: ethical issues abound, and the 3-Ds stumble through them all. Or at least all they could think of in 45 minutes!

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For more of our shenanigans, be sure to follow us on Twitter! We're @churchnspace.

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Credits:

Editor Extraordinaire: Cathy Rinella of Merodi Media

Co-Producers & Co-Hosts: Dave Kamphuis & Drew Nelsen

Producer & Plucky Sidekick: Dan Mushalko

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"Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do."

- Potter Stewart

In honor of college football championship week, the 3-Ds honor the untimely demise of the PAC 12 by talking about conference realignment.  Not the football kind, though; that would totally confuse Dan. Instead, it’s all about realigning sci-fi franchises and religion: which Biblical characters could combine with aliens and modern humans to make even more exciting adventures among the stars?

Could Jonah cope with space whales?

Could fans ever accept Star Wars and Star Trek in the same universe…or would it be the NFC and AFC all over again?

No safety here as we hit the end zone having passed on organizing our thoughts, so it’s one fumble after another.

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For more of our shenanigans, be sure to follow us on Twitter! We're @churchnspace.

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Credits:

Editor Extraordinaire: Cathy Rinella of Merodi Media

Co-Producers & Co-Hosts: Dave Kamphuis & Drew Nelsen

Producer & Plucky Sidekick: Dan Mushalko

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"Mathematics is an interesting intellectual sport..."

- Richard Hamming

In which hope springs Eternals as the 3-Ds discuss their reasons for optimism, in real life and in sci fi. It's a counter to today's popular doomsday attitude of "Everything is awful; we're all going to die." Even when it's overtly pessimistic and dystopian, sci fi still maintains an undercurrent of optimism. But Pastor Dave is hopeful humanity will be "Saved by science and Jesus."

Then a game of sci fi "what if" ensues. For example, what if Hogwarts were real? Britain's SAS special ops teams would have raided the place and arrested everyone in there. Which really doesn't sound very optimistic after all.

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For more of our shenanigans, be sure to follow us on Twitter! We're @churchnspace.

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Credits:

Editor Extraordinaire: Cathy Rinella of Merodi Media

Co-Producers & Co-Hosts: Dave Kamphuis & Drew Nelsen

Producer & Plucky Sidekick: Dan Mushalko

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“When it comes down to it, the reason that science fiction endures is that it is, at its core, an optimistic genre. What it says at the end of the day is that there is a tomorrow, we do go on, we don’t extinguish ourselves and leave the planet to the cockroaches.”

- J. Michael Straczynski

In which the 3-Ds discuss the times science fiction gets the portrayal of religion wrong. From H.P. Lovecraft to Doctor Who, even the most legendary sci-fi sometimes stumbles when it comes to the faith journey. And what would an episode be without Dan doing a diatribe dissing poor world-building? It'd be about 15 minutes shorter, that's what.

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For more of our shenanigans, be sure to follow us on Twitter! We're @churchnspace.

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Credits:

Editor Extraordinaire: Cathy Rinella of Merodi Media

Co-Producers & Co-Hosts: Dave Kamphuis & Drew Nelsen

Producer & Plucky Sidekick: Dan Mushalko

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"I’ve come to view Jesus much the way I view Elvis. I love the guy but the fan clubs really freak me out.

- John Fugelsang

In which 2-Ds try to convince 1-D that the Bible hints God is a dragon. While Pastor Dave admits no one knows God's true form, his skepticism over Drew and Dan's thesis is unwavering. Kind of like the unwavering stubbornness of a...dragon?

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For more of our shenanigans, be sure to follow us on Twitter! We're @churchnspace.

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Credits:

Editor Extraordinaire: Cathy Rinella of Merodi Media

Co-Producers & Co-Hosts: Dave Kamphuis & Drew Nelsen

Producer & Plucky Sidekick: Dan Mushalko

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"Speak politely to an enraged dragon."

- J.R.R. Tolkien

In which the 3Ds are in a New York state of mind. They wax romantic about the end of humanity, and realize most sci-fi movies and fire-and-brimstone preachers have it wrong when they portray the Apocalypse. History has proven that most people will simply go about their business as usual. New York City proved it earlier this summer; as the thick haze of wildfires blanketed the Big Apple...nothing changed. New Yorkers put on masks and did their usual thing.

How else do sci fi (and preachers) misjudge human resilience? Bend an ear and find out in this episode!

Oh, lest we forget: the game for this episode is to describe a Star Trek episode in five words. Here's a rare one: "Lieutenant Leslie has speaking lines."

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For more of our shenanigans, be sure to follow us on Twitter! We're @churchnspace.

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Credits:

Editor Extraordinaire: Cathy Rinella of Merodi Media

Co-Producers & Co-Hosts: Dave Kamphuis & Drew Nelsen

Producer & Plucky Sidekick: Dan Mushalko

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"Don't wake me for the end of the world unless it has very good special effects."

- Roger Zelazny

In which the 3Ds hold The New Cinematic Universe Draft. As DC continues struggling to create a viable movie franchise, and Marvel's formula grows tiresome, we dive into past sci fi to find fertile ground for new franchises. Amongst the many possibilities, Dave, Drew, & Dan discuss resurrecting Alien, Fritz Lang's Metropolis, Futurama, Kings, Lost in Space, and a seminal work from Robert Heinlein (most decidedly NOT Starship Troopers).

How would you freshen up movie and TV screens? Let us know in the comments below!

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For more of our shenanigans, be sure to follow us on Twitter! We're @churchnspace.

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Credits:

Editor Extraordinaire: Cathy Rinella of Merodi Media

Co-Producers & Co-Hosts: Dave Kamphuis & Drew Nelsen

Producer & Plucky Sidekick: Dan Mushalko

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"You're supposed to be a brilliant tactician. Be more brilliant."

- Superman to Batman...or to James Gunn as he launches the new DCEU (Batman/Superman #29)

In which the 3-Ds come up with half-baked ideas for both science fiction and religion -- ideas which it's very clear neither Dave, Drew, nor Dan have thought through. In other words, you hear them in their natural state.

Their ideas are all over the map: from a Star Trek series about the Earth-Romulan War (okay; that one's pretty decent) to a hard-hitting drama based on Church in Space (uhm...). Listen in and gloat. After all, your ideas are way better than these. It's easy to build your self-esteem when you compare yourself to the 3-Ds!

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For more of our shenanigans, be sure to follow us on Twitter! We're @churchnspace.

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Credits:

Editor Extraordinaire: Cathy Rinella of Merodi Media

Co-Producers & Co-Hosts: Dave Kamphuis & Drew Nelsen

Producer & Plucky Sidekick: Dan Mushalko

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"For who could hate or bear a grudge

Against a luscious bit of fudge?"

- Oompa-Loompas (via Roald Dahl)