Meet the Hosts of Christianarchy

Welcome to Christianarchy! I'm Sean McCraney, and with me are my co-hosts, Steve Utley and Ethan Foster. Today, we dive into various topics, focusing primarily on the youth and their faith. No subject is off-limits, and we aim to reach reasonable insights on each one.

Brief History of Christianarchy

We began this journey a few years ago. Initially, Steve and I hosted the show together. Steve, a masterful guitarist, provided our unique musical intros, which are now part of our growing archive.

Meet the Co-Hosts

Sean McCraney

You might know me from "Heart of the MatterTGNN’s original show where Shawn McCraney deconstructed religion and developed fulfilled theology.," where I've had the pleasure of hosting Ethan as a guest. I'm based in Salt Lake City, Utah, and among many roles, I'm a father, grandfather, and husband of 36 or 37 years—sometimes, it's hard to keep track!

Steve Utley

Engaged to his fiancée in Russia, Steve has an intriguing hobby of ant-keeping, complete with aquariums and a global trade of queen ants. At 24, he hails from Minnesota and moved here three years ago. He's not just a musician; he briefly explored the world of comedy, appearing on a live podcast called "Kill Tony."

Ethan Foster

Ethan is still in high school and joined us after impressing on "Heart of the Matter." He is a keen debater and a unique thinker, adding youthful insight to our discussions.

Our Mission

Together, we are committed to evolving this program. We have no rehearsals or predefined scripts—just honest discussions. Join us as we grow and improve with each episode.

Introducing Myself: Ethan Foster

Hello, I'm Ethan Foster. Just to give you a bit of background, I'm 15 years old, and I live in South Jordan, Utah. I started a podcast a little over a year ago. One day, I reached out to Sean with an email saying, "Hey, Sean, what's up? I love your show." To my surprise, he responded, "Hey, I'll check out your stuff, and you can come on the show." I was thrilled, and now here I am, co-hosting the show. I'm super excited to be here.

The Perspective of a 15-Year-Old

Yes, I'm 15, almost 16, soon. It's interesting because I'm sitting here with individuals who could be my sons or grandsons, and we all share a unique perspective: we've all received Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We're eager to explore whether this common faith allows us to discuss other issues reasonably and cogently with each other and with you, our audience.

Addressing Modern Issues

Tonight, we're diving into everything, including the challenges that affect your generation. Topics like divorce, single-parent households, isolation, loneliness, alienation, drug and alcohol abuse, technological issues, growing up too fast, and issues like porn, violence, bullies, stress, and political situations. While I don't normally talk politics on my other show, we can certainly discuss it here since it's a topic you love. We'll also touch on materialism, body image, education, the economy, depression, and, of course, sex. We want to know what you and your friends are talking about regarding these issues.

Reimagining Christianity

What's crucial here is creating a different image of what Christianity is. Often, when I talk with my friends, I find they have a misunderstood image of Christianity. It's not about going to church, paying tithes, or doing a list of things. Many of my friends are either in the Mormon church or have left it, but they still carry this mentality of what religion and belief in Christ are supposed to be.

We have an incredible opportunity here to present a different image of what Christ and the gospel are. This is important for both Mormon and non-Mormon listeners. It's about helping them come into a saving relationship with Christ and realizing that, while flawed by nature, they can be made whole. You don't have to stress about perfecting yourself because Christ will take care of that. This is an essential aspect to emphasize.

A Global Perspective on Christianity

Apart from our local experiences, it's also important to recognize that there are people in different countries who grow up with orthodox views of Christianity. For example, my fiancée is from Russia, where orthodoxy is prevalent. She often shares her perspective with me, and it's vastly different from what I know. It underscores the need to share diverse views of Christianity with those who have only known one kind of orthodoxy. This diversity is something we'll continue to explore on the show.

Exploring Diverse Perspectives on Christianity

Perceptions of God and Christianity

Many people grapple with questions about God’s love and how it relates to their own beliefs or lack thereof. An example of such a question is: Does God love you even if you don't love Him back? This reflects just one of many inquiries people have when exploring faith. Particularly in America, the numerous denominations and interpretations of Christianity can lead to confusion.

Misconceptions About Christianity

It’s common to hear misconceptions about Christianity, with some people thinking it's merely about wearing suits and ties to church. However, Christianity is much broader and more varied than this stereotype suggests. It’s important to recognize that the faith can manifest in diverse ways depending on individual beliefs and practices.

Sharing Our Faith Journey

Different Faith Backgrounds

We all come from varied faith-based backgrounds, sharing insights from our personal journeys. I was LDS for the first 40 years of my life before transitioning to evangelical Christianity. Eventually, I stepped back from organized religion, identifying as a Christian without a church.

Steve, on the other hand, was raised within evangelical Christianity, attending a Christian school. Despite writing a paper on objective worldviews during his education, he now views some aspects of his indoctrination critically.

Ethan brings a blend of perspectives from the Church of God in Christ, a Pentecostal denomination, and the Southern Baptist Church. Although he retains some biases, Ethan identifies as someone who thinks for himself within his faith framework.

Acknowledging Bias

As we continue our conversations, it’s crucial to acknowledge our biases. For instance, Steve retains a certain skepticism towards evangelical Christianity, and Ethan's approach is shaped by his diverse religious background. Our discussions aim to uncover a deeper understanding of Christianity, contrasting the image often portrayed by media and some religious communities.

Conclusion and Future Discussions

Today's brief discussion served as an introduction to our diverse viewpoints. We’re eager to dive into our first topic, as chosen collectively: the experiences and perspectives of Christians who do not regularly attend church. This promises to be an intriguing dialogue exploring another facet of modern Christian life. Stay tuned for our insights next week as we continue the conversation.

Christian Anarchy: Volume 2

Volume 2 of "Christian AnarchySomeone who follows Christ as their only authority—rejecting institutional control over their spiritual life. Today" will be released soon.