I followed Dehlin’s podcasts. They did help in the sense that I was able to use what I heard there along with everything else I was listening to and reading. As I said, I think in his beginning years his motives were somewhat praiseworthy in that he did entertain guests that had different viewpoints. Later he ended up with more critics because those that were more or less apologetic in their approach became somewhat fearful that their church status might be compromised. Especially after John was excommunicated.
It was sort of a Catch-22.
So nowadays his podcasts, unless I’m mistaken, lean towards a more orthodox negative slant on the church and its leaders since he has a difficult time getting believers of different stripes on.
So yes, his ‘cash cow’ podcast has become dependent on his focus on the so called negative aspects of the church and its policies, etc.
To follow Dehlin’s podcast back in the early days was a somewhat different experience than than his later podcasts. Again, not all his fault.
The fact is, his income stream is dependent on the voice of the critics, on the whole, than those with different voices. And it is through listening to his podcasts nowadays that I would hazard a guess that there is a greater chance of listeners going the no religion religion route where back when I listened for a number of years there was more latitude given to different views. As a result, and along with reading and listening to other sources, I was able to come out the other side with my faith intact.
That may be a lot more difficult to do now. Things have become more narrowly focused towards antagonistic viewpoints, etc.
Am I wrong?
By the way, Kishkumen, if you insist on using pejorative words such as “slimy” I can’t stop you. But it doesn’t add to civil conversation. It subtracts. If that is your goal, then well…
Regards,
MG