What does it mean to be "Christian" today?: Episode 91 revisited

This episode, originally recorded August of 2022, explores why some people still claim the name Christian even while feeling deep grief, anger, or distance from what Christianity has become. Ryan Dunn talks with Brian McLaren about identity, religious trauma, white Christian nationalism, and what it means to stay rooted in Jesus while refusing harmful uses of the faith. Brian McLaren, an author, speaker, activist, and public theologian, brings both personal experience and long reflection to the question of whether to stay Christian. The conversation centers on discernment, honesty, and the difference between a label and the kind of life a person actually lives. (00:00) Why “Christian” can trigger relief, tension, or trauma(01:58) Brian McLaren’s background and why his work keeps returning to hard questions(04:01)  Is Christianity about belief, identity, or both?(04:58) When Christian identity feels too close to harmful political ideology(06:39) Brian’s own answer: yes, but with grief and fear(09:17) Why the label can mean little if the life does not match(12:30) How these struggles mirror larger racial, cultural, and economic conflicts(13:17) Brian’s childhood conflict over evolution and literalism(16:39) When harm becomes personal and why leaving may be necessary(20:15) Why the book is structured as no, yes, how(22:38) Wrestling with Christian heroes who also said harmful things(23:40) Why doubt protects against authoritarianism(27:41) Why separating faith and politics can hide injustice(31:41) Why Jesus’ warning about division is generational too(34:16) A more useful definition of hopeFor more episodes of Compass and for show notes, visit www.umc.org/compass