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Ok, stuff sure looks like it was designed, but is it really? Richard Dawkins or Sir William Paley? Goldilocks universe or a simulation? Who knows? We do! Plus we share some of our favorite "tunes" that are just so fine.

The year was 2008 (or 2009?) Pastor Dave turned in a paper defending the compatibility of Christianity with the death penalty in certain limited circumstances contra his professor the esteemed Christian ethicist Nancy Duff. Dave explains why he was right and then he and Mike sharpen Dave's knives that were even duller than his arguments.

Who knows Mike better: Amazon or his step-mother? The answer isn't so simple and how does the vast amount of information we produce compare to the kind of knowledge that God has of us? And finally, what can a chat with an AI bot tell us about the meaning of life?

Beloved astrophysicist and Twitter gadfly Neil Degrasse Tyson said that "the good thing about science is that it is true whether you believe it or not." This didn't sit well with America's sassiest meat product who clapped back "log off bro." The guys share their reflections on who got the better in what turned out to be a clash of intellectual titans. In the end Mike shares a great tip for trying out a new restaurant without breaking the bank (spoiler alert: it's not dine and dash)

"Who Killed Mars Hill?" — is the provocative title of Christianity Today's hugely successful podcast entitled The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill. Spoiler alert, we all did! Seriously, CT's audio autopsy of one Seattle megachurch brings together so much what has animated a certain flavor of American Protestantism over the last few decades. It occasioned some thoughts from Pastor Dave and Mike had literally never heard anything about this church and its controversial pastor. At the end they share a couple podcast recommendations.

The year was 2006 when Pastor Dave first encountered the Enneagram of Personality. Over the years he’s seen it increase in prominence and he’s heard various origin stories, tracing it all the way back to the Desert Fathers of the early church. The guys assess these claims and its value. For a helpful article read this article entitled “Can We Do Better Than the Enneagram?” from Christianity Today.

We didn't choose to be born, nor from the Christian perspective did we choose to be born in sin. Yet, we are told that we need a Savior to deliver us and to place our trust in him. How is this fair? How does this make sense? Is an Aldi breakfast cookie a cracker? Listen to hear these answers and more.

We all know her (or do we?). We all hate her (but should we?). Pastor Dave wants to talk about Karen. When does a joke about a certain "type" of person become a blanket cover for a certain kind of misogyny? Should that bother us? Should Dave eat whatever it is Mike is going to feed him? Find out on this episode of Like Trees Walking. (Also, was Kate from John & Kate Plus 8 the ür-Karen - even though she is a Kate?)

In the early 2010s Bo Burnham released a song “From God’s Perspective.” It is bad and takes us back to those heady days when the star of the New Atheists was starting to fade. This song helps us understand why. Also, lest we be accused of having a tin-ear toward comedy, we share our reactions to Rolling Stone’s list of the Top 20 Stand Up Comedians of All Time.

John McWhorter has been writing on the rise of the new antiracism at his Substack. He compares it to a religion but in the most facile ways possible that reveal more about his own impoverished understanding of faith and less about why this approach to race in America is wrong. Pastor Dave shares a recent epiphany he had regarding the newest Star Wars trilogy.

You can purchase Thomas’ book from Amazon or Barnes and Noble. He currently works as a Senior Fellow for the Council on Criminal Justice.

After more than a year of our lives being upended by a global pandemic we've gotten used to a certain type of figure saying that they're just going to follow the science. While this is better than sticking one's head in the sand or ignoring medical science, it is also insufficient for the significant social and political interests that need to be weighed. Also, what does Mike think about punching down vs. punching up in comedy.

Following George Floyd's murder millions of people took to the streets to protest this injustice. Additionally there were those who used this as a pretext for rioting, stealing, and violent mayhem. When this behavior was decried, some pointing to Jesus himself as the sanctifier of riots. This issue hit very close to home (literally) for the guys. Also, Dave shares a story of when he observed a hockey riot breaking out.

The guys discuss the limits of human knowledge and what exactly an "edgelord" is.

Godwin's Law states: "as an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1." Can we learn anything to expand our repertoire beyond these tired analogies. Read this article from Slate in 2011: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2011/10/hank-williams-jr-firing-who-was-the-rhetorical-worst-person-in-history-before-hitler.html

"We are more divided than ever" goes the cliche, which like most cliches has some truth to it. When our houses, friendships, families and bowling leagues are divided how can be build bridges and be in relationship? Also, we need to talk about sweating.

2020-21 have stunk. Paul encourages Christians to think about good things. These are some of the things Mike and Dave are thinking about. Mike makes Dave eat seaweed paper.

Lizard people, jet fuel melting steel beams, crisis actors, JFK blown away what else do we have to say? Quite a bit actually.

Pastor Dave read Ruth Graham's NYT piece following the end of Carl Lentz's tenure at Hillsong NYC and thought "there but for the grace of God go I." The guys talk about entitlement, alienation, and accountability in the church.

Michael J Nelson isn't on social media at all. Pastor Dave uses his like an addict. Which is healthier? You decide!