Podcast 26 - Feedback & Follow-ups

"Dorkness to Nightmare: The Nightmare is Over"

After the marathon of October mini-series, Em & Alan tackle the piles of feedback that those episodes generated. They also talk about all of the many, many things they forgot to mention during the mini-series.

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Link: Nathaniel Wayne's Council of Geeks YouTube Channel 
Link: Vera Wylde's book "Skirting Gender"
Link: Aaron Henley's novel "Fangs of Vengeance"
Link: Joe Golem, Occult Detective
Link: Hebrew Punk
Link: Reading in the Dark anthology
Link: "All The Way To The Bloodbank" video on YouTube

We would love to hear from you about this topic, the podcast episode, or monsters in general. Send e-mail feedback to dorknesstolight@gmail.com 

You can follow the network on twitter @DorknessToLight or Alan @ProfessorAlan

Podcast 25 - Angels

"Dorkness to Nightmare: Angels"

On this final (not so mini) installment of this mini-series, Em & Alan talk about those scariest of all spiritual beings -- Angels. They discuss what these monsters say about humanity, faith, & God.

Topics discussed include, Lovecraftian monstrosities, 5-dimensional beings, Thing Theory, angelic visitations, flaming swords, and what we believe.

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Link: "GLORIA" by Taylor Leong


We would love to hear from you about this topic, the podcast episode, or monsters in general. Send e-mail feedback to dorknesstolight@gmail.com 

You can follow the network on twitter @DorknessToLight or Alan @ProfessorAlan

Podcast 24 - Nephilim & Lillith

"Dorkness to Nightmare: Nephilim, Lilith & Old Testament Weirdness"

On this penultimate sixth mini-sode, Em & Alan talk about Lilith, unicorns, Nephilim, and other weird things that may (or may not) be in the Old Testament. They talk about what these stories say about humanity, and what they say about the Bible.

Topics discussed include Bible translation, myths and legends, the value of imagination to faith, and keeping Christianity weird.

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Link: The Nephilim Wars comic book Kickstarter  
Link: Paeter Frandsen's "Spirit Blade" audio drama
Link: Dark Ark: the comic book
Link: The book "Lucifer, Leviathan, Lilith, and Other Mysterious Creatures of the Bible"

We would love to hear from you about this topic, the podcast episode, or biblical monsters in general. Send e-mail feedback to dorknesstolight@gmail.com 

You can follow the network on twitter @DorknessToLight or Alan @ProfessorAlan

Podcast 23 - The Faerie Realm

"Dorkness to Nightmare: Faeries and Sprites and Brownies and Werewolves"

On this fifth of our mini-series of mini-sodes, Em & Alan talk about spirits and cursed beings, like faeries and werewolves.

Topics discussed include Tolkien, Holly Black's novels,being nice to brownies, Werewolf by Night, and why garden gnomes have red hats.

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Link: Author Holly Black's website
Link: Tolkien's "On Fairy Stories" essay
Link: The Tolkien Professor's podcast episode about "On Fairy Stories."

We would love to hear from you about this topic, the podcast episode, or monsters in general. Send e-mail feedback to dorknesstolight@gmail.com 

You can follow the network on twitter @DorknessToLight or Alan @ProfessorAlan

Podcast 22 - The Dead

"Dorkness to Nightmare: The Dead"

On this fourth of our mini-series of mini-sodes, Em & Alan talk about spooky dead things, like Zombies and ghosts and spirits. They discuss what these monsters say about humanity, and what may lie beyond the grave.

Topics discussed include ghosts, saints, World War Z, Wynonna Earp, wendigos, and a fair amount of speculative theology.

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Link: The band Street Angel on discogs.com 
Link: The song "What's Following the Grave," by Christian metal legends Bloodgood.

We would love to hear from you about this topic, the podcast episode, or monsters in general. Send e-mail feedback to dorknesstolight@gmail.com 

You can follow the network on twitter @DorknessToLight or Alan @ProfessorAlan

Podcast 21 - Vampires

"Dorkness to Nightmare: Vampires"

On this third mini-sode in their "Dorkness to Nightmare" miniseries, Em and Alan discuss the most blood-sucking of monsters ... Vampires!

Topics discussed include Bram Stoker, Anne Rice, Twilight, Tom Cruise, and the X-Files.

Both Em and Alan also pitch ideas for vampire novels they'd like to write.

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We would love to hear from you about this issue, the podcast episode, or the podcast in general. Send e-mail feedback to dorknesstolight@gmail.com 

You can follow the network on Twitter @DorknesstoLight and Alan @ProfessorAlan

Podcast 20 - Djinn

"Dorkness to Nightmare: Genie & Djinn"

On this second of our mini-series of mini-sodes, Em & Alan talk about genies, djinn, and other ways to spell to that. They talk about what these occasionally monstrous beings have to teach us, other than "don't mess with them."

Topics discussed include linguistic branching, The Monkey's Paw, John Constantine, the X-Files, and (of course) Aladdin.

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Link: The origin of the Genie in the Lamp, at Giant Glacier
Link: The Podcastle version of the short story "The Dybbuk in the Bottle."

We would love to hear from you about this topic, the podcast episode, or monsters in general. Send e-mail feedback to dorknesstolight@gmail.com 

You can follow the network on twitter @DorknessToLight or Alan @ProfessorAlan

Podcast 19: Golems

"Dorkness to Nightmare: Golems & Frankenstein Monsters"

On this first of our mini-series of mini-sodes, Em & Alan talk about Frankenstein-style monsters, the Jewish legend at their roots, and the questions these monsters ask about humanity.

Topics discussed include The Golem of Prague, Mary Shelley, RUR, Warehouse 13, the X-Files and artificial intelligence.

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Link: The Golem, at the Jewish Virtual Library
Link: The Golem Legend, from San Jose State University
Link: The Golem in comic books

We would love to hear from you about this topic, the podcast episode, or monsters in general. Send e-mail feedback to dorknesstolight@gmail.com 

You can follow the network on twitter @DorknessToLight or Alan @ProfessorAlan

Coming Soon ...

For these Halloween Times, we will be doing a mini-series of mini-sodes we are calling "Dorkness to Nightmare!"

Over the course of the month, we will be releasing podcast episodes about various Monsters, and what they have to say about humanity. Vampires, Zombies, Demons ... and MORE!

Coming soon!

Bible Study, via Batman

In the recent DC Comics issue of Batman 38, the Caped Crusader stumbles across this note, while investigating a crime. 

 

There are some interesting things to note in this flier. Both the first and last paragraphs are reasonably solid theologically, and could have come from a number of legitimate Christian organizations. But it's the middle paragraph this is the problem.

Keen-eyed readers, especially those with a bit of Sunday School in their background, will note that there is no book in the Bible that abbreviates to "NED." And the words that Jesus is quoted as saying in NED 4:1 ... not even close.

To give Batman credit, he knows that as well, and quickly recognizes that entire paragraphis an elaborate clue. And ... spoilers ... Batman uses that information to save the day.

Comic Book Theology: Hellblazer

A recent issue of the DC Comics title The Hellblazer contained this panel, which contained an interesting take on afterlife theology. Or at least John Constantine's understanding of theology. 

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The statement "the great faiths will tell you the dirty flesh is just a vessel ... " is an inaccurate (although common) description of what orthodox historical Christianity teaches. As a matter of fact, this dualistic approach ("spirit is good, flesh is bad") is much more closer to Gnosticism, as heresy that was dealt with in the very early days of church, and dismissed as not having a plae in Christianity. 

Despite the anti-gnostic statements that fill the book of 1 John, there are places in the modern church where the heresy of gnosticism rears its ugly head.

All of that is to say this: Don't look to comic books for your theology. And most of all, don't look to John Constantine for your theology.

Podcast 18: Feedback, Updates & Discussion

Emptying Out The Mailbag

On this eighteenth episode, Em & Alan reply to all the listener feedback they've received since the last time they went over listener feedback, which was at least 3 episodes ago. This gives them a chance to revisit Marah in the Mainsail, The Prince of Egypt, and Audiofeed.

They also talk about the value of community, and reiterate the fact that ALL ARE WELCOME in the Dorkness to Light community.

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Link: Faith and Fandom
Link: The Redeemed Otaku Podcast
Link: The Nomad Podcast

We would love to hear from you about this podcast episode, or the podcast in general. Send e-mail feedback to dorknesstolight@gmail.com 

You can follow the network on twitter @DorknessToLight or Alan @ProfessorAlan

Podcast 17 - Audiofeed 2018

The Audiofeed Music & Arts Festival

On this seventeenth episode, Em & Alan talk about their recent attendance at the 2018 Audiofeed Music & Arts Festival.

They talk about the bands they saw play, the seminars they attended, and the merch they bought. Included are interviews with a number of bands and vendors.

Audiofeed is the most unique Christian festival around. The music is eclectic, the seminars are interesting, and the ideas discussed are varied and diverse.

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Link: The Prettybads on Bandcamp
Link: Staghorn
Link: Insomniac Folklore
Link: Destroy Nate Allen 
Link: Must Build Jacuzzi on Bandcamp
Link: Laura McElroy on Bandcamp

Link: Black Sheep Collective
Link: Chicago Tiny House


We would love to hear from you about this podcast episode, or the podcast in general. Send e-mail feedback to dorknesstolight@gmail.com 

You can follow the network on twitter @DorknessToLight or Alan @ProfessorAlan

Podcast 16: The Prince of Egypt

"Commentary: The Prince of Egypt"

On this sixteenth episode, Emily & Alan observe Passover by talking about one of their favorite animated films, "The Prince of Egypt," one of Dreamworks' earliest movies. Actually, they talk OVER the film. Grab some popcorn and a beverage, and settle in for a commentary episode.

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We would love to hear from you about this issue, the podcast episode, or the podcast in general. Send e-mail feedback to dorknesstolight@gmail.com 

You can follow Alan on twitter @ProfessorAlan

Podcast 15: Thaumatrope

"Thaumatrope"

On this fifteenth episode, Emily & Alan talk about one of their favorite albums, "Thaumatrope," by Marah in the Mainsail. Stealing (ummm, borrowing) the format from the podcast Long Play, they go through the album song by song, discussing the lyrics and music.

And then they cover listener feedback, most of which is pretty awesome. Because Dorkness listeners are pretty awesome.

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NOTE: although the discussion in this episode is "rated PG," the underlying material discussed includes intense images of violence, depression, cannibalism, and suicide.

Link: Marah in the Mainsail's website
Link: Marah in the Mainsail's Band Camp page
Link: Marah in the Mainsail on Spotify
Link: Official YouTube video for "Wendigo"
Link: Video Trailer for the new album "Bone Crown"

We would love to hear from you about this issue, the podcast episode, or the podcast in general. Send e-mail feedback to dorknesstolight@gmail.com 

You can follow Alan on twitter @ProfessorAlan