A Jew and A Gentile walk into a Bar . . . Mitzvah » Podcast

[https://charlesandchris.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/bonhoeffer_kline.jpg?w=850] In this episode, the Jew and the Gentile are joined by our dear friend Kristen Leigh Mitchell [https://www.kristenleighmitchell.com/], singer/songwriter, theologian, and possessor of all knowledge of Star Wars, for a deep dive into Dietrich Bonhoeffe [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Dietrich-Bonhoeffer]r’s theory of folly [https://www.patheos.com/blogs/slacktivist/2017/02/15/spell-bonhoeffer-folly/]. “Folly,” writes Bonhoeffer, is a more dangerous enemy to the good than evil.” Think any of this is important for today? Click the links to read about Dietrich Bonhoeffer [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Dietrich-Bonhoeffer] and his work “Of Folly [https://www.patheos.com/blogs/slacktivist/2017/02/15/spell-bonhoeffer-folly/].” While you’re at it, give Kristen’s website a look. [https://www.kristenleighmitchell.com/] To skip our opening mishigas start listening at the 10:15 minute mark.

The current image has no alternative text. The file name is: mental-health-awareness-month-is-observed-every-year-in-may-may-is-national-mental-health-awareness-month-template-for-banner-greeting-card-poster-with-background-illustration-vector.jpg [https://charlesandchris.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/mental-health-awareness-month-is-observed-every-year-in-may-may-is-national-mental-health-awareness-month-template-for-banner-greeting-card-poster-with-background-illustration-vector.jpg?w=1024] For Mental Awareness Month, we look at religion and suicide. The Jew and The Gentile, without the Ampersand of Reason (she is working for a living), take a deep dive into a 2018 Cambridge University longitudinal study on religious affiliation and suicide risk. Researchers followed 1,106,104 people aged 16–74 years at the 2001 UK census for nine years to examine suicide risk according to Christian religious affiliation and by inference to examine underlying mechanisms for suicide risk. SPOILER ALERT: You’ll have to listen to the podcast to find out the results! To read the full study, follow the link bellow. Religion and the risk of suicide: longitudinal study of over 1 million people [https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-british-journal-of-psychiatry/article/religion-and-the-risk-of-suicide-longitudinal-study-of-over-1-million-people/9F3C4D443380E872D9C5813D0F472A20] We are also including a link to the song “Life is a Carnival [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmxKmRoElrs],” by The Band. SPOILER ALERT: You’ll have to listen to the podcast for the context for including this link! Or, you can always just click the link and enjoy the song. To skip our opening mishigas start listening at the 14:29 minute mark.

Great to be back at The Wild Goose Festival [https://wildgoosefestival.org] recording live from the GooseCast Stage. Unfortunately, neither The Gentile nor The Ampersand of Reason could make it this year, but fortunately, two wonderful friends stepped up. Filling in for The Ampersand of Reason is Shannon Weston [https://shannonweston.com], Leadership Coach, Co-host of the Pub Theology podcast, and exponentially better half of Derrick Westin. And, filling in for The Gentile is our dear friend, host of the Gay with G-d podcast [https://empoweredmidge.podbean.com], author of the best-selling book, Gay with G-d [https://www.amazon.com/Gay-God-Reclaiming-Faith-Honoring/dp/B0CHF8VQD2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1KGO4J9PY3K5L&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.XMnsviGrha9NKk0YIoAxjkWHnIzHsr_vwGhshJs33A6Xl8zJL3PxR4SKAXtN9JOPfM2E4bbRhx3EU5bR7yh8LPvdLymEJ1Uj9eXNMo5gIkLj6-4PjL3FwRCAp2Eq_jaMeqEI_MM-zDPauk-TVmkEdiSpEuiZs8I1wSMvCT6b6mPYbgE7Z7_7M6gA0L0zV7g_WFJbyVA2xJ-kCJKp7LzGxdAdCJQUoiwh2dxHLpFXxyw.m3tZZyCblofPtsbazEaFWkfpwwE4lkRdnCHoc_sX0Hw&dib_tag=se&keywords=gay+with+god&qid=1723512717&sprefix=gay+with+god%2Caps%2C99&sr=8-1], a person who is her brand, Midge Noble. In this episode, together with The Jew, Shannon, and Midge address the question of “Does the Debate over G-d’s existence matter?” Needless to say, more questions were raised than answered. To skip the opening mishigas start listening at the 11:15 mark.

Live from The Wild Goose Festival 2023, it’s Episode 154! That’s right. We recorded this episode in front of a live audience at The Wild Goose Festival 2023 [https://wildgoosefestival.org]. Joining us on the GooseCast stage was The Transvengelical [https://www.transvangelical.com/home] to discuss how body image and sexuality have been used for centuries as the primary weapons of Western colonization and White Supremacy. To skip our opening mishigas start listening at the 9:50 mark. We also honored the memory of our dear friend Phil Wyman [https://philwyman.org/am-phil-wyman/about/], a.k.a. The Welsh Troubadour [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn1Uy8tyRtWDwpoL28ok6DQ] (give the link to the left a click, you will not regret it). We met Phil at our first Goose in 2016, and he has been a frequent guest and major influence on our theology and our philosophy. We love you, Phil!

Proving we are not afraid of any topic, in episode 153 we discuss Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying [https://www.canada.ca/en/department-justice/news/2023/03/eligibility-for-medical-assistance-in-dying-for-persons-suffering-solely-from-mental-illness-extended-to-march-17-2024.html] law passed this last spring. The Canadian MAID law outlines, “a process that allows someone who is found eligible to be able to receive assistance from a medical practitioner in ending their life.” To be eligible for medical assistance in dying, you must: * have a serious illness, disease or disability * be in an advanced state of decline that cannot be reversed * experience unbearable physical or mental suffering from your illness, disease, disability or state of decline that cannot be relieved under conditions that you consider acceptable. All was going fine as we discussed the language and application of the law, but then someone had to mention the theological implications of assisting someone in dying! That’s when things got interesting. To skip our opening mishigas start listening at the 20:30 minute mark.