What happens when God’s name is used to justify violence?

In this episode of Holy Uncertain, hosts Lauren Ranzino and Chris McLeod are joined by activist, speaker, and author Shane Claiborne to consider how we might think about violence and war alongside the teachings of Jesus.

Shane reflects on what it means to follow the “Prince of Peace” in a world shaped by conflict, nationalism, state violence, and religious justifications for war. Together, they explore just war theory, Christian nationalism, the witness of the early church, and what it would mean to take Jesus’ command to love our enemies seriously.

Drawing from his years of peacemaking work—from living in Iraq during the mass bombing of Baghdad to advocating against the death penalty, gun violence, and war—Shane invites us to consider that the way of Jesus may offer a different kind of courage than the way of the sword.

If you’ve ever struggled to reconcile Christianity with war and violence, or with the ways God’s name has been used to justify harm, this conversation offers a thoughtful place to wrestle and reflect.

Continue to learn from Shane Claiborne:
www.shaneclaiborne.com
Instagram: @shane.claiborne
Red Letter Christians

Read Shane’s Books:

Rethinking Life: Embracing the Sacredness of Every Person
The Irresistible Revolution
Jesus for President

And more

Have a question or topic you want us to explore?
Email us: questions@holyuncertain.com

Holy Uncertain is a Blue Elevator production.

What if doubt isn’t a sign that your faith is falling apart?

After a short break, Holy Uncertain is back for Season Two with a conversation about doubt, faith, and what happens when the questions we were taught to fear become part of how we grow.

In this episode, hosts Chris McLeod and Lauren Ranzino are joined by pastor, writer, and author Meredith Miller to explore how many of us inherited faith systems where certainty was treated as strength and doubt was treated as danger. Meredith, author of Woven: Nurturing a Faith Your Kid Doesn’t Have to Heal From, helps us rethink what it means to hold questions without shame—and what it might look like to build a faith that doesn’t collapse when life gets complicated.

Together, they talk about the difference between a faith built like a tower and a faith woven like a web, why questioning can be a normal and necessary part of growth, and how adults can begin to heal from the ways they were taught to relate to God, the Bible, and themselves.

If you’ve ever felt afraid that your doubts meant you were losing your faith, this conversation offers a more generous way to imagine what might be happening instead.

Continue learning from Meredith Miller:
www.meredithannemiller.com
Instagram: @meredithannemiller
Substack

Read Meredith’s Books:
Woven: Nurturing a Faith Your Kid Doesn’t Have to Heal From
Wonder: 52 Conversations to Help Kids Fall in Love with Scripture

Reweaving Devotional (for adults)
Use Code: podcast for 50% off

Have a question or topic you want us to explore?
Email us: questions@holyuncertain.com

Holy Uncertain is a Blue Elevator production.

After twelve episodes exploring faith, doubt, and everything in between, we’re taking a moment to reflect.

What has changed in us?
What questions are we still holding?
And what’s next?

In this Season One wrap-up, hosts Lauren Ranzino and Chris McLeod revisit the voices and ideas that shaped this first chapter—from rethinking how we read the Bible to expanding our understanding of the gospel, from stories of harm and healing to the hope that people can change. They reflect on what it means to listen with humility, to stay curious, and to let uncertainty open us up rather than shut us down.

Whether you’ve been with us from the beginning or are just finding the show, this episode is an invitation: to keep asking honest questions, to make space for new perspectives, and to trust that you’re not alone in the process. Plus, we share what’s ahead for the next season and the topics we’re excited to explore.

Spread the word about the podcast, catch up on episodes you’ve missed, and we’ll see you in about a month.

Have a question or topic you want us to explore in future episodes?
Email us: questions@holyuncertain.com

Holy Uncertain is a Blue Elevator production.