Episode 1: Nerd Cred & Dunesday
March 28, 2016
In which the 3-Ds introduce themselves, establish their nerd credentials — then promptly demonstrate the difficulty of deep dives...
RELC: the Church in Space
Church in Space is a show that explores the intersection of religion and science fiction. The three hosts -- Pastor Dave, Drew Nelsen, and Dan Mushalko -- dive deep into their combined lifetimes of mega-geekdom to see the various ways religion continues to influence sci fi, and how sci fi in turn portrays religion. In each episode, Pastor Dave focuses the team on one particular theological topic as it morphs through the sci fi realm. Well, he tries to keep Drew and Dan focused. He tries very hard. He has yet to succeed.
Episode 2: This Is the Way…Eventually
February 8, 2022
In which Drew revealing his disdain for movie trailers somehow leads to a vibrant discussion of the Apocalypse, then everyone concludes...
Episode 3: Holy Heroes, Batman!
February 15, 2022
In which the Three Ds ponder why Hollywood tends to demote gods on the silver screen, even though religion may be central to a hero’s...
Episode 4: The Beskar of God
February 22, 2022
In which Mandalorians pop up in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, Pastor Dave spots theological coherence in Marvel’s Netflix...
Episode 5: Avatar – Not the Last Airbender. Or the First.
February 28, 2022
In which we answer our first listener question. Which excites the 3-Ds, because it means we actually have a listener! The question: ...
Episode 6: Only a (Godly) Game
March 14, 2022
In which we have no theme, as Pastor Dave posits his game questions throughout the entire episode. To wit: Which Bible character would...
Episode 7: May the Force Be…Messing with Your Religion
March 14, 2022
In which the 3-Ds go heavy on Star Wars debating whether the Force is a heresy the Council of Nicea would have banned, or is it part of...
Episode 8: We’re Having a Pod Luck
March 28, 2022
In which the 3-Ds look at luck tucked into science fiction — and whether it’s providence, predestiny, random chance…or...
Episode 9: In Space, No One Can Eat Your Casseroles
March 28, 2022
In which the 3-Ds wonder why there are no Protestant galactic empires. Islamic, Catholic, Judaic, Mormon, Buddhist, and more…sci fi...
Episode 10: From Harry Mudd to the Ferengi to Jesus – The Economics of Star Trek
April 4, 2022
In which the 3-Ds learn how the Federation’s economy dovetails nicely with the Bible’s (but the Ferengi…not so much), and...
Episode 11: The Soul of a Machine
April 13, 2022
Can a machine have a soul? The 3-Ds stay unusually focused (mostly) on whether true artificial intelligence can really exist — and,...
Episode 12: Bible Zombies
April 20, 2022
In which the 3-Ds find the Easter resurrection reminiscent of reanimated remains: zombies! Is there a biblical basis for the undead? ...
Episode13: What a Disaster!
April 29, 2022
In which the 3-Ds decide there’s nothing quite so fun as a good disaster movie. Like religion, hope is a major component to the...
Episode 14: Free Will Isn’t Free, But the Borg Can Purge It for You Wholesale
May 4, 2022
In which the 3-Ds ponder whether the Borg have the right idea, and if religion is really about assimilation. We also learn of The Sermon...
Episode 15: Gamey Pizza
May 13, 2022
In which, for the first time, the 3-Ds never get to the planned topic; they started chatting about video games and never actually got...
Episode 16: Good Bad Guys Are the Best
May 20, 2022
In which the 3-Ds ponder whether the emperor and the Galactic Empire in Star Wars were actually the good guys; that naturally leads to a...
Episode 17: The Cosmos Always Liked You Better
May 27, 2022
In which the 3-Ds contemplate what makes humans so special. In so much sci fi (and religion), humanity is something very special or...
Episode 18: Imminent Immortality
June 3, 2022
n which the 3-Ds discuss immortality in sci fi, and as it gets closer in real science, would we really want it? After all, why be...
Episode 19 – Identify Yourself (’Cause We Sure Can’t)
June 10, 2022
In which the 3-Ds build on a question from our last episode: who are you, really? It’s all about identity this time around. We must...
Episode 20: The Heat Made Us Do It
June 29, 2022
In which the 3-Ds return after an unplanned hiatus (due to unannounced “rolling blackouts,” storms, and unseasonal high heat),...
Episode 21 – Dancing to the Apocalypso
July 6, 2022
In which the 3-Ds contemplate Mad Max, and why the Southern Hemisphere’s apocalyptic movies are so distinctly different from the...
Episode 22 – Space Monks
July 12, 2022
In which the 3Ds contemplate the role of monastics in space. From Dr. Who to Stargate, monk variants are almost ubiquitous in sci-fi...
Episode 23 – The CiS Taxonomy of Villains
July 29, 2022
In which Pastor Dave does for evildoers what Carl Linnaeus did for life: creates a classification system useful in wretched hives of scum...
Episode 24 – Getting Hardcore (or WWJR: What Would Jesus Read?)
August 2, 2022
In which the 3Ds debate the merits of hard versus soft science fiction — and wonder which type each of the Gospel writers would be...