Church in Space

The inaugural episode with Vicar Keith! In this episode, the crew discusses various questions involving Star Wars, theology, and ethics. Can androids be baptised? Did the Jedi need a Martin Luther figure/Reformation? What should the New Republic have done with Darth Vader if he had survived? And which Jedi would be the worst pastor?

Plus—pastors using Heelys!

-------------

For more of our shenanigans, be sure to follow us on...

What will religion look like in the future? In this episode, the crew discusses their theories, sharing thoughts on Transhumanism, theology, and the Amish in space?!

-------------

For more of our shenanigans, be sure to follow us on social media!

YouTube: RELC Hilliard

TikTok: @churchinspace

Instagram: @churchinspace_relc

X/Twitter: @churchnspace

-------------

Credits:

Co-Producers & Co-Hosts: Dave Kamphuis & Drew Nelsen

Sp...

In this episode, Pastor Dave, Dan, and Drew discuss immortality in Sci-Fi, specifically in the context of the new series Alien: Earth. The gang categorizes different methods by which humans have sought (and have imagined how to seek) immortality, relating these to how immortality is explored in the bible. Also in this episode: favorite AI characters and a review of The Three Laws of Robotics.

-------------

For more of our shenaniga...

In this 2025 holiday episode, the crew gathers to discuss how Christmas appears in sci fi, their favorite Christmas specials, generational despair, and to answer the age-old question: Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? (Spoilers: yeah, it totally is). 

From the Church in Space crew, we send happy holiday wishes to all!

“It was two weeks before Christmas. A slow time of year for raising the dead.”

- Laurell K. Ham...

In this episode, Pastor Dave, Dan, Drew, and Vicar Keith begin by discussing franchise fatigue, which leads to a conversation comparing two Star Trek series, "The Next Generation" and "Deep Space Nine" (DS9). Dave struggles to connect with DS9's morally complex Federation, and then the crew adds "Babylon 5" to the mix. How do each of these shows handle topics such as religion, utopian ideals, and the challenges of leadership? This ...

In this Season 3 premiere, the crew regroups to discuss why they do Church in Space. From themes of religion in sci-fi, the morals of the DC and Marvel universes, and how theology can be terribly relevant to the media we consume, listen in as Pastor Dave, Dan, Drew, and Vicar Keith discuss their motivations behind the show. 

-------------

For more of our shenanigans, be sure to follow us on social media!

YouTube: RELC Hilliard

In which the 3-Ds and a V debate whether we'll end up worshiping Artificial Intelligence. Drew says some people already do...and there's speculation that's what Ezekiel was doing on his prophetic field trip to the desert outside Babylon's 'burbs. Beyond worship, might AI attain actual godhood down the road? After all, we mere humans are getting pretty close to creating life in the lab; AI may well leapfrog us on that. But what woul...

In which the 3-Ds and a V have a very Star Wars-centric discussion about grey Jedi: folks who wield the Force but don't subscribe to the Jedi-Sith orthodoxy. Somehow, the Vicar and Pastor manage to make that a strong parallel with Martin Luther's doctrine that we're all both saints and sinners simultaneously.

Then it's on to reviewing the formal codes of each: the Grey, the Jedi, and the Sith. After which Dan realizes he -- and mos...

In which the 3-Ds welcome Vicar Keith into the fold to discuss the Whovians, Trekkies, Fireflyers, and Star Wars fans who make the rest of us miserable: the haters who drive away actors and pan new developments without even seeing the show.

Of course, we can be lighthearted over our misery, so we rollick through our own fanboy zeal anyway, lauding Patrick Stewart, Samuel L. Jackson, and Christopher Plummer along the way. And we let...

In which the 3-Ds make it their business to analyze how business is portrayed in science fiction. It typically goes along two lines: the megacorp (like the Weyland-Yutani Corp in Alien) or a hodgepodge of independent traders (like Star Trek's Cyrano Jones). Along the way, we debate whether the Ferengi are actually capitalists; after all, they don't have any corporations -- they just worship money as individuals. So wouldn...

In which the 3-Ds ponder what will happen when humans finally achieve first contact with aliens. Will religion become a moot point? After all, our major religions are all very human-centric. How else will we react? How will they react?

But first, our hapless hosts learn the ugly truth about sheep...and wander into wondering how various religions' and denominations' faithful would play pro sports. For example, what if the San D...

In which the 3-Ds finally realize that a podcast about science fiction and religion should talk about the Jedi in Star Wars. Is following the Force a religion? A cult? Or just magic tricksters? And how would that answer apply to the Sith?

Is the Force a farce?

From Shaolin monks to Medieval battle bishops, human history has plenty of priestly warriors. Listen in to determine if the 3-Ds have an answer. But don't get your ...

In which the 3-Ds make their brains hurt pondering some of the unponderable ethical issues in popular science fiction. Star Trek, of course, did this almost weekly -- especially on Voyager with such memorable examples as the Tuvix conundrum, or the right to suicide for Quinn. (Trigger Warning: Quinn's example leads to an extended discussion on the secular and religious quandary on taking one's own life.) And in our age of...

In honor of college football championship week, the 3-Ds honor the untimely demise of the PAC 12 by talking about conference realignment.  Not the football kind, though; that would totally confuse Dan. Instead, it’s all about realigning sci-fi franchises and religion: which Biblical characters could combine with aliens and modern humans to make even more exciting adventures among the stars?

Could Jonah cope with space wh...

In which hope springs Eternals as the 3-Ds discuss their reasons for optimism, in real life and in sci fi. It's a counter to today's popular doomsday attitude of "Everything is awful; we're all going to die." Even when it's overtly pessimistic and dystopian, sci fi still maintains an undercurrent of optimism. But Pastor Dave is hopeful humanity will be "Saved by science and Jesus."

Then a game of sci fi "what if" ensues. For exampl...

In which the 3-Ds discuss the times science fiction gets the portrayal of religion wrong. From H.P. Lovecraft to Doctor Who, even the most legendary sci-fi sometimes stumbles when it comes to the faith journey. And what would an episode be without Dan doing a diatribe dissing poor world-building? It'd be about 15 minutes shorter, that's what.

-------------

For more of our shenanigans, be sure to follow us on Twitter! We're @churchn...

In which 2-Ds try to convince 1-D that the Bible hints God is a dragon. While Pastor Dave admits no one knows God's true form, his skepticism over Drew and Dan's thesis is unwavering. Kind of like the unwavering stubbornness of a...dragon?

-------------

For more of our shenanigans, be sure to follow us on Twitter! We're @churchnspace.

-------------

Credits:

Editor Extraordinaire: Cathy Rinella of Merodi Media

Co-Producers & Co-...

In which the 3Ds are in a New York state of mind. They wax romantic about the end of humanity, and realize most sci-fi movies and fire-and-brimstone preachers have it wrong when they portray the Apocalypse. History has proven that most people will simply go about their business as usual. New York City proved it earlier this summer; as the thick haze of wildfires blanketed the Big Apple...nothing changed. New Yorkers put on masks an...

In which the 3Ds hold The New Cinematic Universe Draft. As DC continues struggling to create a viable movie franchise, and Marvel's formula grows tiresome, we dive into past sci fi to find fertile ground for new franchises. Amongst the many possibilities, Dave, Drew, & Dan discuss resurrecting Alien, Fritz Lang's Metropolis, Futurama, Kings, Lost in Space, and a seminal work from Robert Heinlein (most decide...