Tony Heringer February 20th, 2009

Excellent show folks!

I'd rather we have these conversations. It helps everyone work out their thinking on it. The true Truth isn't going anywhere. So, we shouldn't "stand on the sidelines and knit pick" but get in the game and play.

Keep up the great work!

Mike Carroll February 20th, 2009

Steve- First brother, I must say I love you, your ministries, most of your programs, and all of your work dedicated to helping us understand God's amazing Grace. I just listened to the Phillis Tickle interview. For me, it wasn't one of your best shows. (‘Sorry.) Now, I'm just an average guy with average abilities. I’ve never been accused of being cerebral. Maybe that's my block to understanding all I've heard and read about The Emerging, Emergence, Emergent Church movement(s), including Ms. Tickle's attempt to say something concrete about that. Disappointed, I came away from the show with less than I had when it began. While obviously a learned woman who escaped seminary(?) with an ability to still use 25-cent words, I must ask, "what on earth did she say?" Her sentences and paragraphs swirled down rabbit holes with no light at the ends of the tunnels. You asked her some direct and specific questions. Yet, the sincerity of her answers was recognizable only in her appreciation of her own ruminations on fuzzy references to relatively new and admittedly vague ideas, philosophies and theologies, still grossly unexplained, even by those dipping their author's pens into the common, Emergent ink well. For me, listening to this program was much like trying to grab a fist full of Jello. Ms. Tickle spoke a couple of thousand words, at the end of which there was nothing that I can take over to a friend's house, or into Sunday School, and talk about. I don't think I'll attempt her book. As a “recovering” Episcopalian of more than 20 years (now attending a PCA church), I readily recognize the symptoms of that insidious disease all too well– the pressing passion to intellectualize, and press into carefully carved and numbered paragraph molds, every part of the Christian faith including that which will remain mystery until the last day. (BTW- I've noticed that Episcopalians are not the only ones infected with this disease.) Hopefully in the future, you and staff will take a few extra preliminaries with guests like Ms. Tickle to get a better feel for their ideas, and their abilities (or lack thereof) to verbalize them– even for the average Joe or Jo. After all, part of “Going Green” is the careful conservation of broadcast airtime, and the listeners' ears.

Joe Johnson February 21st, 2009

This was a tremendously helpful interview. I do sympathize with Mike about sensing some lack of clarity, but I drew a completely different conclusion. I think it comes from the way that this topic was described from such a different angle. It was an attempt to see these movements in an historical context — and since this is being done from within that context, it will always be fuzzy.

I keep thinking about the 500-year cycle idea. As a person who loves the Reformation, I do think that the Emerg-ence/ing/ent language is the first significant and true criticism of the categories and ideas of that time… at least I think that's one point Phyllis was suggesting.

Please bring her back. There were so many more questions I know Steve could have asked and would have asked (and I want to hear asked/answered).

Excellent and insightful show. Thanks.

Thomas February 21st, 2009

The show was by far the best emerging show out of the few that I've listened too. She definitely put things in perspective, because frankly some emerging cats speak in a language which sounds very esoteric. I feel like I'm listening to a knights of the Templar podcast every time I try to listen to Rob Bell!lol! I mean who wouldn't be afraid of going to one of there Church's, they make skull and bones Yale ceremonies seem Christian… She made it look a whole lot less threatening. I mean there were sound disciplines and traditions that existed before the reformation that we today do de emphasize. I mean, I wouldn't have wanted to be a catholic during medieval times but I think that we couldn't do any harm by implementing a more kingdom relational ethic, It would only make us healthier. Now what would that look like? Guess I gotta go buy a monk cloak with some prayer beads and get with the program!lol

Obed February 23rd, 2009

I thouroughly enjoyed the show. While I agree with Michael Spencer's review of her book on internetmonk.com that Phyllis Tickle's predictions may be a bit too optomistic, I think we need folks like Ms Tickle to counter us old jaded cynics!

On a side note, I really appreciated her shout-out to Sabbath stuff in her list of ancient things that some folks are exploring. That's something that my close friends and family are doing, as several of them are Jewish Christians. It's nice to be able to tell 'em "See, you guys aren't being left out!"

Zach February 24th, 2009

I also really enjoyed this interview. If at all possible… please get her back on for more of an interview. An extended interview would be even better. I concur with Joe when I think there could have been tons more questions/ answers that I would love to hear. I can't totally identify with the Emergent church or whatever it is called, but I certainly don't identify with most Evangelical churches/ denominations, either.

This interview was helpful. Thank you guys for all the work you put into ministry!

Steve Brown Etc. » Blog Archive » Etcetera - 02.2009 - Ashe Wednesday February 26th, 2009

[…] - The Great Emergence - Phyllis Tickle on SBE […]

Steve Brown Etc. » Blog Archive » The Mission of Oprah May 20th, 2009

[…] for him anyway, still she endorsed him when a woman candidate was still very much in the race!) Phyllis Tickle, a well-known religion writer and editor, says Oprah recommends, “morally sound material, by and […]