Homebrewed Christianity

Dr. John B. Cobb Jr. is the greatest living interpreter of Alfred North Whitehead and he is here to tell you Why Whitehead! In this special episode you will heard a powerful invitation from JC himself to join our upcoming online extravaganza - Probing PROCESS & REALITY. This 6 week online pop-up learning community is going to be zesty. You can find out more about it and register HERE or listen to the new podcast. Cobb taught theology at the Claremont School of Theology from 1958 to 1990. In 2014 he became the first theologian elected to the prestigious American Academy of Arts and Sciences for his interdisciplinary work in ecology, economics, and biology. He has published over 30 books including the first full length text in eco-philosophy. In 1973, with David Griffin, he established the Center for Process Studies. In retirement he lives at Pilgrim Place in Claremont, California. Throughout his career he has contributed to Whitehead scholarship and promoted process-relational programs and organizations. Most recently, he helped found the Claremont Institute for Process Studies, and has been heavily involved in supporting work toward the goal of China becoming an ecological civilization. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I am thrilled to introduce many of you to a wonderful scholar and new friend. Pete and I met this past summer in SoCal at the TheoPsych seminar put on by my friends in the STAR office at Fuller Seminary. (STAR=Science, Theology and Religion). Whenever someone comes on the podcast from a more conservative part of the church I am always honored, because I get lots of rejection emails - even from people who listen! Any way, most of our conversation is about his work as a psychological scientist where he is respected apart from a particular religious identity. I hope you enjoy the conversation and if you run into Pete tell him thank you for joining. Peter C. Hill, Ph.D., is Professor of Psychology at Rosemead School of Psychology at Biola University. Before coming to Rosemead in 2002, he served for 17 years as Professor of Psychology at Grove City College in Pennsylvania. In 2006 he was honored with a faculty appointment at the University of Cambridge as a Visiting Research Fellow at the Center for Advanced Religious and Theological Studies of the Faculty of Divinity. Hill is an active researcher in social psychology and the psychology of religion where he has authored approximately 100 articles in peer-reviewed journals and book chapters. In the conversation we discuss: Why the harder the science the greater % of scientists who believe in God? What are the psychological sciences? How is it an empirical science? The origin story of psychology and the current move towards positive psychology How do you define religion? The search for the sacred? Virtue and character formation What do psychologist think of theologians? Are humans naturally religious? How humans 'think' and make judgements What's going on when we argue and act a fool about religion and politics? Where polarization comes from the nature of religious trauma and paths to healing religious identity in adolescence advice on passing on the beautiful elements of your faith This Episode is Sponsored By: THE GHOST RANCH Renowned for its natural beauty spanning 21,000 acres, Ghost Ranch is located in the high desert of northern New Mexico, 70 miles north of Santa Fe. Owned by the Presbyterian Church, the ranch is welcoming to everyone. Breathtaking views of red and yellow cliffs, Abiquiu Lake and Pedernal Mesa have inspired countless musicians, theologians, and generations of artists, most famously Georgia O'Keeffe. Day visitors and overnight guests are welcome. Rooms are rustic yet comfortable and many are historic buildings from the ranch’s earliest days as a dude ranch. Several tiers of lodging, including campsites, offer something for every budget and adventure type. Several hiking trails, year-round O’Keeffe Landscape Tours and Trail Rides, two museums, seasonal swimming pool, dining hall and trading post make this a perfect retreat destination. Over 200 workshop packages in the arts, spirituality, religion, wellness, archaeology, outdoor and family activities are offered annually. Of special interest is Wild Christ, Wild Earth, Wild Self: A Nature Based Introduction to Seminary of the Wild, which is actually a two year training program for pastors, for spiritual leaders who are already embedded in communities. These are the sorts of folks that are standing on the edge of change and want to respond faithfully by reimagining what it means to be church, by reimaging church in the wild, a way of engaging in ecological and social justice issues in a deep and transformative way. Offered in June and October of 2020. Visit GhostRanch.org for a catalog of these and other workshops. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Douglas John Hall is Canada’s greatest living theologian & emeritus professor of theology at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. He is a theologian of the cross, a contextual theologian, and a wonderfully articulate one as well. In this conversation we discuss his latest two books What Christianity is Not & Waiting for the Gospel, his love of music, personal interactions with Moltmann, Billy Graham, Tillich & company, and a number of intense theological topics. It was a complete joy to chat with him. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did… and of course share the brew! Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ian McFarland has recently returned to Candler School of Theology after a few years at Cambridge. Since Candler sponsored the podcast this week I figured it was a good time to bring Ian's first visit to the podcast out of the barrel for your listening pleasure. Dr. McFarland is the Robert W. Woodruff Professor of Theology and author of a number of books. In this interview we discuss From Nothing: A Theology of Creation and recently he just released The Word Made Flesh: A Theology of the Incarnation. This episode is sponsored by Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Candler offers 16 graduate degrees, including a Master of Divinity with a focus on Justice, Peacebuilding, and Conflict Transformation, plus a new program in Chaplaincy Ministries. 100% of Mdiv students get a 50% scholarship and all certified candidates for ordination in the United Methodist Church get their full tuition covered. So go check it out. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oliver Crisp is back on the podcast and bringing more of his Analytic Reformed excitement to you. I know some of you dear listeners love Calvin and analytic theology, so while I may be less interested in general with those theological trajectories I always enjoy getting to talk with Oliver. That is why, after some serious prayer and reflection, I have decided to institute a new HBC rule. IF you are gonna go Calvinist, #KeepItCrispy. That is about as robust an affirmation I can give to Oliver. We recorded this conversation while we were in SoCal at the TheoPsych seminar put on by my friends in the STAR office at Fuller Seminary. (STAR=Science, Theology and Religion). Over the course of the week we had a bunch of conversations in which we got to know each other more, share stories about our life, faith, family, moving to Scotland and such. I may not have decided to embrace my Calvinist past, but I definitely decided having a friend like Oliver is a treat. Since his return to Scotland you can find him at the University of St. Andrews where he is the Professor of Analytic Theology. Check out his previous visit to the podcast where we discuss his Christology. In this conversation we begin looking at the role of science in constructive anthropology and then discuss his newest book Analyzing Doctrine: Toward a Systematic Theology. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The holidays are here and you know what that means? Awkward conversations about religion and politics with family, friends, and coworkers. Today on the podcast I am bringing you some wisdom... rules even... from two friends who work at the intersection of religion and the psychological sciences. Sarah Lane Ritchie and Kutter Callaway were part of the live podcast last week in San Diego and after hearing these 'rules' for the holidays, I knew I needed to share them ASAP. The live event included a bunch of other segments that engaged an upcoming film J.E.S.U.A. The rest of the podcast will come out near the release of the film. I moved the rules from the end of the conversation to the beginning, so after that segment you will go back in time to the beginning of my chat with Sarah and Kutter. Here are the 7 rules. You are NOT your ideas Prioritize Sleep Make Yourself Start (or keep) Meditating (here's the Examen app I mentioned) Be a Documentarian - talk by listening Acknowledge Their Trauma... including being in a family with you and your deconstructive path Remember Everyone You See and Love Will Die Criticism is a Form of Pursuit This episode was sponsored by the upcoming documentary film J.E.S.U.S.A. J.E.S.U.S.A. is an in-depth exploration of the relationship between Christianity and American nationalism and the violence that can often emerge from it. Far from a new phenomenon, this documentary traces the co-opting of Christianity by the state all the way back to when the Christian faith became the official religion of the Roman Empire. Through interviews with a diverse group of scholars, pastors, historians, and activists, this film shows how specific readings of the Bible have led many Christians to confuse their devotion to Jesus with their dedication to the state. The film helps viewers rediscover and restore long-held Christian beliefs regarding nonviolence, inspiring Christians to become purveyors of peace rather than enablers of conflict and violence. The documentary will be released for general viewing on February 25, 2020, and will be available on many streaming platforms for rental or purchase. If you wish to help organize a showing for your church or organization, please contact the production team here. The film includes some amazing people like David Bentley Hart, Suzanne Ross, Brian Zahnd, Osheta Moore, Diana Butler Bass, Greg Boyd, and many more. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Christopher Southgate is a biochemist turned influential theologian...who just happens to be a well published poet. (Read this powerful one... when it is safe to cry). Southgate is a Professor at Exeter University in the UK and part of the 'God and the Book of Nature' project I am working on. Since recording this interview I have had the chance to spend time with him and am enthusiastic to introduce him to many of you. In this conversation we discuss... The changing shape of the religion and science conversation how has the scientific study of religion itself shaped a scientifically engaged theology from a particular tradition the problem of evil and suffering in nature the free will defense in the face of natural evil the "lazy default in Christian thinking" Irenaeus wasn't Irenaean? the Christian need to recover immanence what is divine glory? the Biblical protest of God and the need for its presence in worship "humankind cannot bear much of reality" theologizing with Charles Sanders Peirce's semiotics trauma and the community of faith Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Sallie McFague is a theological legend, a pioneer feminist theologian, and one of the most powerful thinkers in my own theological development. We learned that she passed away this weekend. Over the course of the podcast I have had the honor of interviewing her twice and since hearing the news of her passing I have received a bunch of messages asking for the interviews themselves. After I found them I started listening and remembering how powerful they were. I knew that if anyone was interested in hearing the voice of this powerful theologian for themselves it should be as easy as possible. That is the main reason I started HBC years ago!! While going back through the two episodes I decided to edit them together to make access easy. The biggest surprise I found was this amazing selection in which Dr. McFague reads the end of her last text. It is was moving then, but even more so now. I knew it needed to be shared on its own, so Elgin (11 year old son) created this little video. Dr. McFague was the Distinguished Theologian in Residence at the Vancouver School of Theology in British Columbia, Canada. Prior she taught for thirty years at Vanderbilt University Divinity School. In the podcast we cover a lot of ground, including how Sallie became a theologian (which includes a kindergarten revelation), her focus on religious language, radical love, kenosis, panentheism, and even some member submitted questions, including: How does her concept of wild spaces address privilege In the revival of radical theology recently, how do you understand the reality of God? Where should one start with feminist theology? What do you think about the increased usage of the term Anthropocene? And don’t forget to check out Sallie’s books, Blessed Are The Consumers and Models Of God. These two texts changed my mind in significant ways. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It is time to NERD OUT with your GEEK OUT! In this episode I am joined by my colleague and friend Dr. Sarah lane Ritchie. She was on the podcast this past summer and since moving to Edinburgh we've been planning to record again, so here it is. At the beginning of the episode Sarah answers a question a number of you sent in about the different Religion and Science degrees offered here at the University of Edinburgh. Here's info for the online Philosophy, Science and Religion Masters, the on campus taught Masters, and research based Masters and PhD Degrees. Dr. Sarah Lane Ritchie is Lecturer in Theology and Science at the University of Edinburgh. She has a PhD in Science and Religion from the University of Edinburgh, where her doctoral work focused on the question of divine action in the human mind. A Michigander by birth, Sarah also holds a BA in Philosophy and Religion from Spring Arbor University, an MDiv from Princeton Theological Seminary, and an MSc in Science and Religion from the University of Edinburgh. Her published work focuses on questions arising from the intersection of theology, philosophy, and the various brain-related sciences. Sarah’s research interests include divine action, philosophy of mind, naturalism, cognitive science of religion, and the psychology of belief formation. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I am super pumped to have Philip Goff on the podcast and give a gigantic endorsement of his new book Galileo's Error: foundations for a new science of consciousness - now available in print, digital, and AUDIO. Goff is a leading philosopher of mind and advocate for a panpsychist account of mind. This new book is successfully written for a wider audience and should not be missed. If you want the super dense philosophical argument check out his text Consciousness and Fundamental Reality. It was a complete blast to finally get to talk to someone I have enjoyed reading and I hope you all enjoy it half as much as I did. In the conversation we discuss... the hard problem of consciousness what is a Russellian monist? the failures of materialism and dualism what exactly is Galileo's error here's the article where Goff discusses religious fictionalism what neuroscience can and can't tell us about consciousness the power of a panpsychist argument Tripp mentions Alfred North Whitehead's Modes of Thought and the chapters Nature Lifeless and Nature Alive. what is consciousness? how is does it vary across reality? why electrons DO NOT have existential angst contrasting micro and macro panpsychism does panpsychism move towards a religious or spiritual worldview? here's talk Goff gave about the anthropic principle Tripp brings up you can tell Tripp is having fun when he decides to bring up more Process connections what is religious fictionalism? Here's the article in which Goff discusses it. Goff's symbolic affirmations that leads to his embrace of the Christian (fictional) faith - Crucifixion: 1)inversion of worldly powers & 2)inevitability of the bad guys winning / Easter: the hope against all odds, that the corrupt powers don't ultimately get the last word. what is the problem of 'Cosmic Alienation'? what would it mean to 'make rigorous' Make sure you check out Philip Goff's very excellent website with tons of resources. Dr. Goff is an excellent twitter follow. This episode is sponsored by our friends at The Pilgrim Press. For everyone asking deep questions and chasing after God’s beauty in the world, The Pilgrim Press is a spiritual companion and resource. Those who love justice can turn to "Courageous Faith" by Emily Heath to nurture their spirits for the work of resistance. Those who love a bit of saucy biblical wisdom can learn from "Jesus and Those Bodacious Women" by the late great Linda Hollies. And those with the heartbreaking task of explaining death to children can lean on "Water Bugs and Dragonflies" by Doris Stickney, an all-time bestseller from The Pilgrim Press. These titles and many more are available through thepilgrimpress.com. The Homebrewed Christianity community can save 10% on orders by using the code HOMEBREWED at checkout. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who is Jesus Christ for us today? Is there a way to even attempt to answer the question with intellectual credibility? One of Germany’s greatest theologians, Michael Welker, is on the podcast discussing his new book God the Revealed: Christology. In the book and on the podcast we discuss the quest for the historical, theological engagement with the natural sciences, the cultural shifts in the church, atonement theories, our shared love of Whitehead, and a bunch of other nerdy bits of goodness. Professor Michael Welker is a Senior Professor at the University of Heidelberg (since 2013) and Director of the Research Center International and Interdisciplinary Theology (FIIT, since 2005) and an Honorary Professor at Seoul Theological University. He is a member of the Heidelberg Academy and Corresponding Member of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters and received the Medal of the University of Heidelberg. Karl-Barth-Preis award in 2016. For lots of info on Dr. Welker check out his website HERE. Want to check out Dr. Welker's Gifford Lectures? Head over here and you can find the videos, audio, and written responses. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this podcast Erin Law joins Tripp and Robyn to talk about her work in Somatics. They discuss... Why Erin Law is awesome. "Gender Trouble" as the Sermon on the Mount for humanity degrees... also Judith Butler is sometimes called J Buts. the nature of gender and sexuality what's the deal with Christianity and bodies? how friendship can become the place of resistance the oppressive technology of separation you should get Activist Theology -there is now an AUDIO version. Then Steed Davidson and Brian McLaren join the fun as we discuss... Dr. Steed Davidson is a post-colonial scholar of the Hebrew Bible at McCormick Theological Seminary. Tripp takes advice from a Homebrewed Community Member and gets Brian to talk to Steed about the role of post-colonial thought for the future of the church. the role of politics and empire in the Reformation translations of scripture King James... of the authorized version KJV Bible translation was gay the language of 'slavery' is used in expanding Protestantism as a spiritualized metaphor for everything but actual slavery "if what you are saying is true... the next thing you are gonna tell me is that Jesus didn't preach the Roman Road." the prophetic persona is a political persona the forgotten prophetic power and possibility within the church what's up with the word 'God' and does it have a future? God is like the world's greatest tee-ball coach the problematic nature of our culture of anxiety creation and management If you are wise you will get inspired to check out Robyn’s new book. If you do… we got a bunch of goodies from Robyn to send you when you pre-order their new book Activist Theology. That’s right, when you pre-order the book just forward the receipt to goactivistheology [at] gmail [dot] com and we will send you our class Theologies of Resistance and Robyn’s lecture from Theology Beer Camp. This episode is sponsored by the #1 selling study Bible - The New Life Application Study Bible. Whether you’re new to the Bible or a lifelong reader, this study Bible includes clarifications that help you understand the language, advice on how to apply the Bible’s teaching to everyday life, descriptions of the context and setting, profiles of key Bible people, guides for finding what you’re looking for and more. That’s what makes it a Bible for all times and the bestselling study Bible in the world. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Jonathan Jong is a Research Fellow at Coventry University, and Deputy Director of the Brain, Belief and Behaviour group there. He is also a Senior Researcher at the Institute for Cognitive and Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Oxford. Most of his current research is on the psychology of religion and the philosophical issues associated with the scientific study of religion. The Doctor is also a Reverend and Associate Priest at the parish church of St Mary Magdalen, Oxford and the Web Editor for the St Mary Magdalen School of Theology. In this conversation we talked about... what is the scientific study of religion? what of religion is available to science? the role of humility in theological speculation how does cognitive science describe the origin of religion? what are the two big approaches to understanding the evolutionary origin of religion? how the relationship of our cognitive mechanisms and culture work together the role and function of culture in shaping humanity's religious disposition the problem of assessing a Christian account of theism with cognitive science how does a historically situated account of revelation impact the way you understand revelation? we discuss the role of reading and ritual experience in shaping the content of faith how the manner in which you engage the scripture changes the text itself what does cognitive psychology teach us about passing on the faith? is God real? "I think the church leadership has not woken up to the fact we don't live in the Middle Ages anymore." what are the ethical challenges raised by the cultural appropriation of mindfulness meditation? what is terror management theory? what is a death cafe? Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is a special live podcast episode. It was recorded at Wild Heaven Brewing in Atlanta Georgia with a bunch of our friends from McAfee School of Theology. During this zesty episode we discuss... what is a 'wet baptist'? Dean Greg DeLoach gives beer style intros to Profs on the Mics the nature of missionary dating and how it is absolutely not connected to the missionary posititon the nature of Baptist life and American Evangelicalism why David Gushee is sticking it to Stan... at least in podcasting. Tripp discusses Carmen. He is sorry. we meet Colin. he managed to publish a very zesty text as a student at McAfee with Dr. Gushee... Moral Leadership for a Divided Age: Fourteen People Who Dared to Change Our World why Ghandi might not be included in the second edition the inspiring life of Oscar Romero what question would you ask a Presidential Candidate to get at their moral leadership? "we are remembering faith, not an ideological faith" how comic books help you learn how to read the Bible what's going on theologically in the cultural rise of the comic? why everyone should read Sandman by Neil Gaiman the unique shape, power, and creativity of nerd culture Things to check out: David Gushee's super high-quality podcast that I hope you are already listening to. Kingdom Ethics Podcast Upcoming Events at McAfee School of Theology The Mercer Preaching Consultation in Chattanooga on October 6-8 with Dr. Brent Strawn (Professor of Hebrew Bible, Duke Div.) The Self Preaching Lectures on March 9-10 at Mercer in Atlanta with Dr. Miroslav Volf (Professor of Theology and Director of the Yale Center for Faith and Culture, Yale Univ.). Contact Nikki Hardeman for more information ([email protected], 678.547.6357) McAfee School of Theology Dr. David P. Gushee is Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics and Director of the Center for Theology and Public Life at Mercer University. Dr. Gushee is the elected Past-President of both the American Academy of Religion and Society of Christian Ethics. He is the author and/or editor of 24 books and approximately 150 book chapters, journal articles, and reviews. His most notable books include: Righteous Gentiles of the Holocaust, Kingdom Ethics, The Sacredness of Human Life, Changing our Mind, and Moral Leadership for a Divided Age. A devoted teacher, Professor Gushee offers courses to seminarians and college students. Over a busy 25-year career, he has written hundreds of opinion pieces, given interviews to scores of media outlets, and has led several significant social-ethical activist efforts. David G. Garber, Jr. is the Associate Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at McAfee. He received his B.A. in Religion from Baylor University (1995), his M.Div. and Th.M. from Princeton Theological Seminary (1998-99), and his Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible from Emory University (2005). Before this position, Dr. Garber served as an adjunct professor at McAfee for three years while finishing his dissertation on "Trauma, History, and Survival in Ezekiel 1-24." He teaches courses in Old Testament, Hebrew Exegesis, Social Justice in the Old Testament, The Theology of Ezekiel, The Bible and Popular Culture, and The Book of the Twelve. In his research, Dr. Garber explores the usefulness of trauma theory as an interpretive lens for biblical study. He was the co-editor for a volume of Review and Expositor titled Faith Facing Trauma and contributed to the introduction and an expository article on Nahum 3 for the volume. Stemming from his work with trauma theory, Dr. Garber is currently composing an essay on “A Philology of Trauma in the Exilic Writings” to be published in a volume on the interpretation of exile ancient Israel by the Society of Biblical Literature. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is a zesty LIVE episode, recorded live in Nashville. I am joined by two friends, Stan Mitchell and Dr. Robyn Henderson-Espinoza. I get to ask them each 5 questions before we take questions from the people gathered for the fun. If you are wise you will get inspired to check out Robyn's new book. If you do... we got a bunch of goodies from Robyn to send you when you pre-order their new book Activist Theology. That's right, when you pre-order the book just forward the receipt to goactivistheology [at] gmail [dot] com and we will send you our class Theologies of Resistance and Robyn's lecture from Theology Beer Camp. SEPTEMBER 27-28 - Cary, NC - Called to Be Prophets I can't wait for this event. It is not only going to be my last in the USA before my family's move to the UK, but so many of my friends will be there. If you want to come to use the discount code TRIPP for 15% off. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guess what theology nerds? This is a special announcement. I have just accepted a position as Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Edinburgh. There I will be part of a John Templeton Foundation project, God and the Book of Nature: Building a Science-Engaged Theology of Nature. It is hard to exaggerate how excited I am about this position and the opportunity to work in theological education. On top of that I will be able to interact and connect with a host of new voices for the podcast, across the pond. It really is a dream come true for this theology nerd. Here's where I would absolutely love your help. Taking an entry level academic position at a prestigious university will open doors in the long run, so we want to take the venture as a family. The transition over seas will have a pretty significant hit in our monthly income, but being frugal isn't the biggest concern, it is the rather daunting costs of moving over seas. That's why we setup a GoFundMe where you can make a tax-deductible donation to the process. For over 11 years Homebrewed Christianity has been bringing you online theological resources. With 70k regular listeners and having crossed over 3 million downloads already this year, I know many of you enjoy it almost as much as I do. Your support not only makes the podcast possible, but has enabled me to continue to pursue my dream. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Reiss is a British bioethicist, educator, and journalist. He is also an Anglican priest. Reiss is professor of science education at the Institute of Education, University College London, where he is assistant director, research and development. We had a fun conversation about his recent Boyle lecture (you can watch it here). We discuss a number of topics: how is ethics framed and formed by our evolutionary heritage? Dawkins and the genes eye view the role of language and rituals in the formation of the self reflection how human fictions shape our living the emergence of religion within humanity and the social brain how religious practice preceded ethics and belief how ethics evolved among our species the nature of humanity's expanding in-group a shout out to Peter Singer You can find out more about the Religion and the Social Brian project here. He also has a number of articles available for download here. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Michael J. Murray is the President of the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations and former Arthur and Katherine Shadek Chair in Philosophy and the Humanities at Franklin & Marshall College and Senior Vice President of Programs at the John Templeton Foundation. He received his BA from Franklin and Marshall and his MA and Ph.D from the University of Notre Dame. His research focuses on two primary areas. The first is seventeenth century history of philosophy and theology, with a particular focus on the work of Gottfried Leibniz. The second is contemporary philosophy of religion. His most recent work focuses on the problem of evil and animal suffering, and cognitive and evolutionary accounts of the origin and persistence of religious belief and practice. In our wide-ranging conversation we discuss... fine-tuning gene-editing climate change the theological significance of science cognitive science of religion evolutionary psychology cultivating vocations in science among the church the origins of religion (thorough and clear description of the different options) revelation's relationship to history and religions situated knowledge and contextual for religious truth the historical Adam the pain and suffering within nature Extraterrestrial and Artificial Intelligence Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John D. Caputo is a hybrid philosopher/theologian who works in the area of radical theology. Prof. Caputo has spearheaded a notion he calls “weak theology,” by which he means a “poetics” of the “event” that is harbored in the name (of) God, or that “insists” in the name (of) “God,” a notion that depends upon a reworking of the notions of event in Derrida to theological ends. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For a long time I have been a fan of John Haught's work. He is a Catholic theologian, invested in the conversation between religion and science, who brings together two of my favorite thinkers - Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and Alfred North Whitehead. His recent award winning book, The New Cosmic Story: Inside Our Awakening Universe, Haught's mature theological voice is at work in a serious way. There he argues that an adequate understanding of cosmic history requires attention to the emergence of interiority, including religious aspiration. We discuss that and a number of other topics in this conversation including... Big History and its inside story the relationship of religion and science Layered Explanations of reality and meaning 3-fold pattern of growth: Divergence, Convergence, and Emergence the cosmological literalism of the New Atheists - a modernist form of fundamentalism the narrative shape of the cosmos Teilhard, Lonergan, Whitehead, Polyani the nature of religion in the evolution of homo sapiens ethical predicaments from the ecological crisis to abortion the role of beauty in the cosmos His article, Trashing Teilhard: How Not to Read a Great Religious Thinker John F. Haught is Senior Fellow, Science & Religion, Woodstock Theological Center, Georgetown University. He was formerly Professor in the Department of Theology at Georgetown University (1970-2005) and Chair (1990-95). His area of specialization is systematic theology, with a particular interest in issues pertaining to science, cosmology, evolution, ecology, and religion. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I am pumped to share this episode with you. For a long time I have enjoyed the work of biologist Kenneth R. Miller and over the course of this conversation we cover a number of topics which include... How the poetry of Thomas Merton help bring Ken back to faith His role in the debates between Creation Science, Intelligence Design, and Evolution "if Augustine and Aquinas were around today, they would be evolutionists" on the craft of being a baseball umpire the nature of Biblical truth and scientific discovery stories from the legal battles over Intelligent Design the overwhelming evidence for a common ancestor how humans are unique among the natural world the failure of Sam Harris' argument on free will a sweet E.O. Wilson story on free will and its necessity for science his friendship and disagreement with Stephen Jay Gould about NOMA Ken's theory of mind and consciousness he argues against Nagel about the nature of consciousness we discuss emergence via complexity Kenneth R. Miller is Professor of Biology. He did his undergraduate work at Brown, and earned a Ph D in 1974 at the University of Colorado. He spent six years as Assistant Professor at Harvard University before returning to Brown University in 1980. His research work on cell membrane structure and function has produced more than 60 scientific papers and reviews in leading journals, including CELL, Nature, and Scientific American. You should definitely follow him on twitter and check out his visit to the Colbert Report. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The dynamic duo of dialectical theology - David Congdon & Travis McMaken - are on the podcast. These two scholars, friends, and theological provocateurs are here to bring you some dialectical theology. This conversation was recorded in their hotel room at the American Academy of Religion. Their room may or may not have had a bunch of crystals surrounding a giant collection of analytic theology texts. Travis was on the podcast in the past talking about Why God loves Justice and Why Go Barthian?. David joined the podcast to talk Bultmann’s Mission of Demythologizing. If you are inspired you should go join the Society for Dialectical Theology In this podcast we discuss.... - the day David convinced Travis the bodily resurrection wasn't necessary - dialectical theology's relationship to theological tradition - what does the term "event" mean for DT? - humans are messed up and are not the solution of our problem - the kenosis of the patriarchy - theology for the religiously unaffiliated - sadly Travis has no inner-life - how Badiou should relate to Theology... a theology of the trace - what makes an event christian - the contrast between dialectical theology and salvation history - tripp gets upset about theology without existential register - David is not happy about St. Andrews, analytical theology, or NT Wright's historical confidence - analytical investigations of Kierkegaard aren't cool - doing historical investigations doesn't lead to the existential encounter of faith - the need to embrace the secularity of faith Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reza Aslan is back on the podcast with the release of God: A Human History in paperback. Reza Aslan is a best-selling author (Zealot, No god But God), commentator, professor, and producer for The Leftovers (HBO), Of Kings and Prophets (ABC), Rough Draft (Ovation), and Believer (CNN). In our conversation we discuss a bunch of topics... the birth of God in human history cognitive science of religion evolutionary account of religion Reza resists scientific reductionism what comes first, myth or rituals? what is going on in religion? why religion is not primarily about beliefs, but identity the ignorance of ignoring religion a prophetic voice in a multi-traditioned culture Reza's enthusiastic endorsement of Pete Buttigieg for President why Donald Trump is personified evil a minister who will not stand against racism is failing parenting in a multi-faith family Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Earlier this week we were joined by A. Ron from the Bald Move podcast. His co-author for Gods of Thrones and historical Jesus scholar, Dr. Anthony Le Donne, is on the podcast talking comparative religion in the Game of Thrones. We have too much fun and get to a bunch of topics... Game of Thrones as a secular apocalypse narrative GOT and LOTR (Lord of the Rings) eucatastrophe in LOTR the end of ethical theories how Martin sees the nature of religion the influence of Catholicism and Roman religion the cultural phenomenon of GOT and its growing tribe anxiety, agency, and our global crises White Walkers and the Ecological Crisis blood and incest introduction to comparative religion in Westeros why fan theory is awesome from canonical texts to post-canonical TV how GOT tackles changing norms the historical Jesus had warts GOT and the emergence of a promo-democracy how to finish the books if Martin can't an aside on the politics of historical Jesus research Anthony Le Donne is Assistant Professor of New Testament at United Theological Seminary. He is the author/editor of seven books and serves as an editor of the Journal for the Study of the Historical Jesus. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

WINTER IS COMING! A. Ron of the Bald Move is on the podcast talking podcasting, online community, and Game of Thrones (GOT). It is fun. Not only is A. Ron host of my favorite GOT podcast, but he recently put out a two volume exploration of the religions of GOT. George R.R. Martin, author of GOT, recognized that many fantasy works (like LOTR) may explore religious themes, but they rarely have a rich tapestry of religious life. That is not a problem in Westeros. I hope you enjoy the episode and get prepared for part two late this week with Dr. Anthony Le Donne. In our conversation we cover a bunch of ground, including: How A. Ron fell in love with science fiction and fantasy forming community online and the Bald Move the Game of Thrones (GOT) experience what explains the cultural phenomenon that is GOT what is Martin getting at in the end game of GOT thinking through the redemptive arcs in GOT what are the motivations of the white walkers the Wall as the DMZ zone of the ancient war who is going to end on the iron throne... will there be a proto-democracy why we need more dire wolves Cleganebowl!!! Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Ruse was a complete treat as a guest. He is an insightful, energetic, and humorous conversation partner. On top of that, as a philosopher of science, Dr. Ruse brings a career's worth of insights into the present state of the religion and science conversation. I have quite a bit of gratitude that Dr. Ruse took his time to join the podcast. During the podcast we discuss: the changing shape of the relationship between Religion - Science the battle over Creationism is there a purpose? the meaning of life the problem of holism evil, violence, and the problem of war the New Atheism as a Secular Religion moving beyond original sin growing up Quaker during war Michael Ruse is Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Program in the History and Philosophy of Science at Florida State University. He's a British-born Canadian philosopher of science who specializes in the philosophy of biology and works on the relationship between science and religion, the creation–evolution controversy, and the demarcation problem within science. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I am super duper pumped to share my conversation with Robert Wright. For a long time I have enjoyed Bob's podcast, books, and his new post-Trump newsletter. His return to the podcast follows my visit this past week on his own, which was a bunch of fun. Here's a number of topics we tackle: Why Buddhism is True The problem with getting rid of prayers of confession from worship Why everyone could use a class in evolutionary psychology Western love of secular buddhism Robert asks Tripp about confirmation and facilitating experiments in truth What is a "wet baptist"? The role and desire of religious rituals Can religions leave competition behind? Can Christianity become a wisdom tradition? The New Agnosticism The hard problem of consciousness "purpose" in the story of evolution the possibility of moral progress how a simple theist may end up being more accurate than the New Atheists how Process theology's multiple ultimates gives a different way to connect eastern and western religious traditions the problem of religious pluralism and how to do solve it why I hope Bob talks with Simon Conway Morris Want to check out more of Robert's work? Here's a few places to go. The video/podcasting network he started, BloggingHeads.TV The Mindful Resistance Newsletter (it is so good) His class on Buddhism and Modern Science Here's his lecture from Union Theological Seminary on the New Agnosticism Here's Robert's previous visit to the podcast from 2009 Here's the conversation I had with Robert the day before on his podcast Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is morality for? Where did 'the good' come from? Is the human even a trustworthy partner for asking these questions? In this episode I am joined by Dr. Robert Kurzban, an evolutionary psychologist, who has spent his life studying human behavior through an evolutionary framework. Robert was a complete blast to converse with and I grateful he took the time to talk to me off a cold email through the digital-space. Over the course of our time you will get to know a bit about his own life and research, including.... What is Evolutionary Psychology? A Modular Brain? The evolutionary origins and functions of morality and virtue How we hide our agendas from ourselves Climate Change and the public good problem How people of faith can endorse policies counter to the basic tenants of their faith Religion and the abortion debate The coercive force of spotting hypocrisy The role of wisdom in overcoming our biological hardware Robert Kurzban is an evolutionary psychologist and author of two very readable and enjoyable texts - Why Everyone (Else) Is a Hypocrite: Evolution and the Modular Mind and The Hidden Agenda of the Political Mind: How Self-Interest Shapes Our Opinions and Why We Won't Admit It. His research focuses on the nature of evolved cognitive adaptations for social life. These include processes involved with cooperative decision making, punishment, morality, close relationships, and mate choice. He uses methods drawn from experimental economics and cognitive psychology to study these processes. Robert is proud to have served as both the editor-in-chief of the journal Evolution & Human Behavior and President of the Human Behavior and Evolution Society. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Physicist and regular contributor to the religion & science conversation, Dr. Karl Giberson is on the podcast. You will get to hear the inside story of this ex-evangelical scientist's changing relationship to science and the church he first knew. Ultimately Dr. Giberson couldn't see a way for the American evangelical community to reconcile with science and today, while still a Christian, works in a Catholic context. The topics we cover are wide-ranging and include: Physics & Cosmology the Multiverse (and his skepticism) the fine-tuning of the universe chance, randomness, and divine action (the lack of a) literal Adam and Eve life after evangelicalism LGBTQ equality in the church evangelical anti-intellectualism Dr. Giberson holds a PhD in Physics from Rice University. Dr. Giberson has lectured on science-and-religion at the Vatican, Oxford University, London’s Thomas Moore Institute, and at many prestigious American venues including MIT, Brigham Young University and Xavier University. Dr. Giberson has published more than 200 reviews and essays, both technical and popular, in outlets that include NY Times, CNN.com, the Guardian, USA Today, LA Times, Salon.com, Discover, Weekly Standard, Quarterly Review of Biology, Perspectives on Science & Faith, The Edge.org, and Books & Culture. He has written or co-authored 10 books, and contributed to many edited volumes. Currently, Dr. Giberson is a faculty member at Stonehill College where he serves as the Scholar-in-Residence in science and religion. Here's Karl's critical review of Lawrence Krauss' account of Creation out of Nothing that gets mentioned. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You don't have to be an Old Testament hater. I know it seems popular and pretty easy to dismiss the Hebrew scriptures, BUT it is a heresy and almost all the reasons you will think of apply to the New Testament as well. Here's the deal - the reason we are easily attracted to ditching the Hebrew scriptures may be we really don't want to read, hear, and listen as they intend to be heard. For that very reason I was pumped to Rolf Jacobson write the Homebrewed Christianity Guide to the Old Testament. The book is awesome. We talk about the book and a bunch of other things in this podcast. I also hadn't preached in 2 weeks when we recorded it, so there's a small sermonette in the middle of it. [You can avoid a sermonette in the middle of a podcast by inviting me to speak :)] Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we are going to talk about a bunch of different topics in the larger science and religion conversation. Topics include cosmic history, divine action, the history of religions, astrotheology, and even extraterrestrial life. We are joined by a living legend in the field, Ted Peters. Ted is a Research Professor at the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences. He is Research Professor Emeritus in Systematic Theology and Ethics at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary. You can check out his personal website for an overview of all his different work. The Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences has a bunch of resources. Below are links to a few articles of Dr. Peters that touch our conversation: "From Big History to Cosmic History" , "Introducing Astrotheology", "Science and Religion: Ten Models of War, Truce, and Partnership", "Should CRISPR Scientists Play God?", "Transhumanism and the Posthuman Future: Will Technological Progress Get Us There?" Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Jarrell is a friend and hero of mine. It was a real honor to not only have him on the podcast, but help host a little party to celebrate the release of his new book A Riff of Love. Greg is a founder of QC Family Tree, a community of hospitality in Charlotte, NC, where he shares life with his wife, Helms, their two kids, and a host of other neighbors who have become kin. In our conversation we talk about his story and just how a southern baptist church boy ended up on a search for community, justice, and belonging. It was a blast and I am sure you will enjoy it. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's time for the great reversal!! Brain McLaren takes the roll of the interviewer and turns to me for the A's to the Q's. It was a blast. Personally I am extremely honored that Brian not only watched (and enjoyed) my film, The Road to Edmond, but that he took the time to plan a fun conversation about it. You will learn a bit about the movie production, writing, acting and such, but also hear us wrestle with the topics the film itself tackles. Hopefully the conversation inspires you to go watch the film this month (Feb 2019), while it is available for your streaming pleasure at jesuslovesourmovie.com. Brian D. McLaren is an author, speaker, activist, and public theologian. A former college English teacher and pastor, he is a passionate advocate for “a new kind of Christianity” – just, generous, and working with people of all faiths for the common good. He is an Auburn Senior Fellow and a leader in the Convergence Network, through which he is developing an innovative training/mentoring program for pastors, church planters, and lay leaders called Convergence Leadership Project. He works closely with the Center for Progressive Renewal/Convergence, the Wild Goose Festival and the Fair Food Program‘s Faith Working Group. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I love Tom Oord. It is rare someone as intelligent as Tom is simultaneously committed to the life of the church, sensitive to people's lived experience, and advancing the intellectual quest in multiple areas. In this episode I talk with Tom about his newest book, God Can't: how to believe in God and Love after Tragedy, Abuse, and other Evils. During this conversation we both share a number of personal stories. Some of them may be a bit intense if you are listening with kids or the expectation of just nerdiness. For more academic conversations with Tom check out the previous episodes below. Thomas Jay Oord is a theologian, philosopher, and scholar of multi-disciplinary studies. Oord is an award-winning author, and he has written or edited more than twenty books. A twelve-time Faculty Award winning professor, Oord teaches at institutions around the globe. A gifted speaker, Oord is known for his contributions to research on love, open and relational theology, science and religion, and the implications of freedom and relationships for transformation. Previous Visits of Tom to the Podcast Open and Relational Q&A with Thomas Jay Oord Why Go Wesleyan? with Thomas Jay Oord Evil, Providence and the Love of God with Tom Oord Thomas Jay Oord really loves talking about Love [Barrel Aged] Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This most zesty episode was part of the Cosmic Campfire reading group. I joined Science Mike, Mike Morrell, and a couple thousand nerds as we read through a new collection of spiritual memoirs - How I Found God in Everyone and Everywhere. Keith Ward was one of the contributors and he jumped on video chat to talk with Mike and I for the group. It was an energetic and fun conversation that covered a number of topics from science, physics, materialism, idealism, the Cosmic Christ, spiritual experiences, religious pluralism, divine action, and more. Ohhh and you hear how this Oxford Philosopher went from being an atheist to an idealist and then converted to Christianity in India. Keith Ward is a British philosopher, theologian, priest and scholar. He is a fellow of the British Academy and a priest of the Church of England. He was a canon of Christ Church, Oxford until 2003. Comparative theologyand the relationship between science and religion are two of his main topics of interest. He was Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Oxford from 1991 to 2004. Don’t forget to check out some amazing free lectures of Keith. Literally quality, zesty, nerdy, and free lectures. Here's his previous podcast visits: Keith Ward talks about the Bible The Christian Idea of God with Keith Ward Keith Ward’s Guide to Thinking God What do theologians really think? Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I am super excited to share this conversation with my dear friend and brilliant scholar Tom Oord. In this episode we discuss a couple different topics from an Open and Relational perspective in the hope it lures you to join our Open and Relational Theology reading group!! That's right. Tom and I are gonna facilitate an exploration of ORT and we would love for you to join the fun. Did you know Tom just released a new book? It's called "God Can't: How to Believe in God and Love after Tragedy, Abuse, and Other Evils." It is the single best introduction to the open and relational perspective on evil for the non-specialist. I have already recommended it to a bunch of people, so if you are asking questions about God's power, presence, and relationship to suffering - read this book. Thomas Jay Oord is a theologian, philosopher, and scholar of multi-disciplinary studies. Oord is an award-winning author, and he has written or edited more than twenty books. A twelve-time Faculty Award winning professor, Oord teaches at institutions around the globe. A gifted speaker, Oord is known for his contributions to research on love, open and relational theology, science and religion, and the implications of freedom and relationships for transformation. Previous Visits of Tom to the Podcast Open and Relational Q&A with Thomas Jay Oord Why Go Wesleyan? with Thomas Jay Oord Evil, Providence and the Love of God with Tom Oord Thomas Jay Oord really loves talking about Love [Barrel Aged] Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My friend and fellow podcast nerd, Dan Koch, is back on the podcast. Dan is here so I can tell you all about his brand new podcast - YOU HAVE PERMISSION. You Have Permission (hosted by Dan Koch -- Depolarize! Podcast, Reconstruct) is a podcast for anyone asking those deep and timeless questions that humans can't seem to stop asking. So many of us have been given bad answers to these good questions, often by people with pure intentions. What this podcasts claims is that you have permission to take both Christianity and the modern world very seriously. The series launched January 14th with 4 full length episodes on Christian Inclusivism, Theistic Evolution, Extraterrestrial Theology, and Predestination. Dan is also the co-host the Depolarize! and Reconstruct podcasts, plays guitar in Sherwood, and lives in Seattle.We have a large amount of fun talking to each other. Personally I love saying things I know he will disagree with, in just a snarky enough way, to get him going. As you will hear that happens. Plus I pitch Dan a vision of Christianity as a Wisdom tradition at the end. Although Dan is not as cool as Josh Patterson... he is still pretty cool and I was happy to have him on. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I absolutely love Rabbi Artson. His previous visit to the podcast has remained one of the most powerful and popular episodes, where he talks about his Jewish understanding of Process theology. This fresh episode is from our Cosmic Campfire reading group. It was so zesty that I thought I would share it as a means to lure you to Chapel Hill, North Carolina for the COSMIC CAMPFIRE event this February 1-2. Rabbi Artson is the author of Renewing the Process of Creation and God of Becoming and Relationship: The Dynamic Nature of Process Theology and they are straight up awesome. If you are looking for introductory level texts about Process theology then you really need to check them out. Most importantly there are ZERO reasons not to subscribe to his podcast. LITERALLY ZERO REASONS. Bradley Shavit “Brad” Artson is an American rabbi, author, speaker, and the occupant of the Abner and Roslyn Goldstine Dean’s Chair of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at the American Jewish University in Los Angeles, California, where he is Vice-President. He supervises the Louis and Judith Miller Introduction to Judaism Program and provides educational and religious oversight for Camp Ramah of California. He is Dean of the Zecharias Frankel College at the University of Potsdam in Germany, ordaining Conservative/Masorti Rabbis for the European Union. You can check out a bunch of Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson's book here. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest in this episode is the director and ecological activist behind the new film Behold the Earth - David Conover. It's a music-filled documentary with some of the most beautiful footage the screen can manage. I was moved by the emptive power of the film's imagery and music and I was inspired by the stories of ecological activism emerging in religious communities. About the Film: Behold the Earth is a music-rich documentary film that explores America’s divorce from the outdoors through conversations with legendary scientists E.O. Wilson, Cal DeWitt, and Theo Colborn, as well as a new generation of creation-care activists within America’s Christian communities. Katharine Hayhoe, Ben Lowe, and Corina Newsome are close observers of nature bearing witness to creation, asking tough questions about church engagement with environmental issues. About the Director: Film Director and Conservationist David Conover boldly began this highly original film 12 years ago, as an inquiry into America’s divorce from the outdoors, before-and-after the arrival of those known as the digital natives. He is neither scientist nor Christian. He draws upon some of the same talented field staff behind the spectacular natural sequences in his series Sunrise Earth and Big Picture Earth. Four time Grammy-award winning musician Dirk Powell leads the arrangements of traditional American tunes and hymns, with Rhiannon Giddens and Tim Eriksen. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What a fun podcast episode! Brian McLaren, Micky ScottBey Jones, and Daneen Akers all joined for a conversation about parenting for the common good. Many of us know the faith we do not want to pass on to our children, but what does being a faithful parent look like after our childhood faith is gone? That's the topic for this session...plus we answer some questions you sent in. Brian McLaren wrote a new children's book with Gareth Higgins. It is called Cory and the Seventh Story and should be required reading for parents and grand parents with the children in their life. Don’t worry adults, they didn’t forget about you. They also wrote a version for you that explores the same themes. That’s right, you can also get The Seventh Story: Us, Them, and the End of Violence. Micky ScottBey Jones - the Justice Doula - accompanies people as they birth more love, justice and shalom into our world. As a womanist, faith rooted, contemplative activist, healer, and nonviolence practitioner, Micky supports students, clergy, activists and everyday leaders in a variety of roles - speaker, writer, facilitator, pilgrimage guide and teacher. She is the Director of Resilience and Healing Initiatives with the Faith Matters Network and is a core team member with The People’s Supper who has gathered more than 4,000 people around tables since the 2016 U.S. election for bridging and healing conversations. Micky's educational background includes a B.S. in Consumer and Family Sciences with an emphasis in Child Development and Family Studies, numerous mother-baby certifications for doulas and lactation consultants, a M.A. in Intercultural Studies from NAIITS/Portland Seminary, and she is currently pursuing advanced studies in the Enneagram while completing several writing projects to be released in 2019. Named one of the Black Christian leaders changing the world in Huffington Post, Micky travels the world exploring peacemaking and relationships in different contexts, spreading revolutionary love, engaging in authentic conversations, participating in transformative experiences - and most importantly - she never passes up a dance floor.She has been a contributor at Evangelicals For Social Action, The Porch Magazine, Sojourners, and Red Letter Christians. You can interact with her work and collaborations at Faithmattersnetwork.org and Mickyscottbeyjones.com and catch her social media on Facebook: facebook.com/MSJSpeaks/ and Twitter: @iammickyjones. Daneen Akers is a filmmaker, writer, and parent who believes deeply in the power of stories. She is currently writing an illustrated children’s book called Holy Troublemakers & Unconventional Saints, which will feature 50 original portraits and profiles of people of faith who worked for love and justice, even if that rocked the religious boat. Daneen found that most of the books she’d read as a child that had anything to do about faith were not compatible with the type of faith she now has as an adult. She knew she needed better stories for her own children, stories that help us transcend fears, connect with each other, engage in justice, and model an expansive and fully inclusive view of any Divine. Given the enthusiastic response to the Holy Troublemakers project, she realized she wasn’t alone. There are is a growing movement of parents and others looking to do better with the stories we tell ourselves and our children. You can find her current project at www.holytroublemakers.com. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elgin, my oldest son, just turned 11 and he has managed to talk himself into a podcast appearance. Personally I had a blast. It may be a completely new parenting tactic - get your 11 year old Son to record a podcast and they will talk to you about something other than Fortnite for 30 minutes!! Elgin is a pretty big fan of the National Geographic show MARS and we are currently rocking the second season. It is about an international team of scientists who go on a mission to colonize the red planet. The cool thing about the show is they go back and forth with a not-too-far-ahead future narrative of the first Mars team and cut-ins with info from contemporary scientists or current research connected to the mission. This leads to Elgin asking all sorts of fun questions...some of which we attempt to discuss in the episode. If you haven't seen Mars and have a science or Sci-Fi nerd in the house check it out. For those that are going to watch with a very inquisitive offspring, just DVR it so you can pause and discuss as you go through the episode. For more Mars excitement you can also check out the book the show is based on, How We'll Live on Mars. It's extremely readable and quite fun. There is a certain individual in our house who may or may not find the book in a stocking this Christmas. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two of my favorite humans on planet earth are named Gareth and Brian. They aren't my favorites because they are brilliant, creative, wise, or even lots of fun. Gareth and Brain are genuinely kind and passionately invested in the well-being of our planet. That is why I am super pumped that they have written a CHILDREN'S BOOK that is absolutely wonderful. It is called Cory and the Seventh Story and should be required reading for parents and grand parents with the children in their life. Don't worry adults, they didn't forget about you. They also wrote a version for you that explores the same themes. That's right, you can also get The Seventh Story: Us, Them, and the End of Violence. You can also check out my first film and the only one I know of in the "progressive Christian buddy road-trip comedy you could get in trouble for showing at church, but if you watch the entire thing you might cry and not think it is just inappropriate humor" category. It is called The Road to Edmond and this holiday season you can stream it by heading to jesuslovesourmovie.com. Gareth Higgins was born in Belfast in 1975, grew up during the northern Ireland Troubles, and now lives in North Carolina. He writes and speaks about connection to the earth, cinema and the power of dreams, peace and making justice, and how to take life seriously without believing your own propaganda. He co-founded the Wild Goose Festival, Movies & Meaning, The Porch Magazine, and the New Story Festival. He has experienced violence, and been involved in peace-building; he lives in the US and sees beauty amidst challenge; his greatest hope is that you would find some healing and inspiration in a better story, to find a better life, for you, your community, the world, and everyone else. He's looking for that too, and he's happy to be a work in progress. If you'd like to connect with his work, www.garethhiggins.net is the place to go. Brian D. McLaren is an author, speaker, activist, and public theologian. A former college English teacher and pastor, he is a passionate advocate for “a new kind of Christianity” – just, generous, and working with people of all faiths for the common good. He is an Auburn Senior Fellow and a leader in the Convergence Network, through which he is developing an innovative training/mentoring program for pastors, church planters, and lay leaders called Convergence Leadership Project. He works closely with the Center for Progressive Renewal/Convergence, the Wild Goose Festival and the Fair Food Program‘s Faith Working Group. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode I am joined by Michael Frost and we talk about his newest book Keep Christianity Weird: Embracing the Discipline of Being Different. Michael is an internationally recognized missiologist and one of the leading voices in the missional church movement. On top of that he's is the Vice Principal of Morling College and the founding Director of the Tinsley Institute, a mission study centre located at Morling College in Sydney, Australia. You can check out his website, follow him on twitter, and even on Facebook. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Selfies are ubiquitous. They can be silly or serious, casual or curated. Within moments, smart phone users can capture their image and post it across multiple social media platforms to a global audience. But do we truly understand the power of image in our image-saturated age? How can we seek God and care for each other in digital spaces? Well this week on the podcast we will tackle these questions with my friend, scholar, and guru of the cinema Craig Detweiler. Since the last time he was on the podcast he became President of The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology. Craig Detweiler is a U.S. author, filmmaker, theologian, and cultural commentator who is the third president of The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology in Seattle, Washington. Toward the end of the podcast I mention my recent film The Road to Edmond and now you can watch it online. So do it. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get ready for a mind expanding and assumption challenging episode with the one and only Rupert Sheldrake. When a guest comes to the podcast on recommendation from John Cobb you have to get pumped. Prior to the interview I read two of Sheldrakes books that I would definitely recommend to you. In this wide-ranging conversation we end discussing the dogmatism of scientific materialists, the nature of consciousness, parapsychology, pets, psychedelics, ritual, pilgrimage, neo-darwinism, the changing shape of religion, epigenetic, creativity in evolution, Bergson, Whitehead, and why Rupert loves the doctrine of the Trinity. Rupert Sheldrake, PhD, is a biologist and author best known for his hypothesis of morphic resonance. At Cambridge University he worked in developmental biology as a Fellow of Clare College. He was Principal Plant Physiologist at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics and From 2005 to 2010 was Director of the Perrott-Warrick project, Cambridge. Rupert Sheldrake was not only kind enough to join the podcast, but is coming back for a live session with all the members of the Cosmic Campfire Online Book Group. If you want to join the fun and ask Rupert your own questions then head on over and sign up! If you want to hear more from Sheldrake here's a few places to go. Clearly you want to watch his BANNED TED TALK. Check out his books Science and Spiritual Practices: Transformative Experiences and Their Effects on Our Bodies, Brains, and Health and Science Set Free: 10 Paths to New Discovery. Both are available in physical, digital, and audio versions. Sheldrake also has a very informative and resource rich website. There you can find links to all the different podcasts that he has released. For a fun introduction to Rupert's work check out his visit to Russell Brand's podcast and his conversation with Joe Rogan. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ilia Delio, OSF, is the Josephine C. Connelly Endowed Chair in Theology at Villanova University, a wide read author, popular speaker, and down right passionate communicator at the intersection of religion, science, and our evolving universe. I had a complete blast talking to her and we covered a bunch of different facets of her work including her journey from molecular biology to the monastery to the academic study of theology. We also tackle: the role of mystery in theology Artificial Intelligence Cyborgs cosmic evolution reconciling God with the scientific world the ecological crisis At the end of the interview Ilia suggested two places to begin reading her work, The Unbearable Wholeness of Being: God, Evolution, and the Power of Love and Hunger for Wholeness, A: Soul, Space, and Transcendence. When asked what three books she would recommend to dig deeper into the topics we tackled in our conversation she said... Deeper Than Darwin: The Prospect For Religion In The Age Of Evolution and God After Darwin: A Theology of Evolution by John Haught Christianity and Evolution, by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin Bonaventure's Soul's Journey to God which can be found in this most excellent collection of his writings. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do Progressive Christians Want to Make Disciples? We got a call from Deacon Luke Allison and he has a topic that makes the progressive Christian wiggle - discipleship. Jesus called them and told us to do it, but has that time passed? What does disciple-making look like in our pluralistic world? How does the relationship of Jesus to his disciples in the New Testament impact our contemporary vision? Can the call to make disciples ultimately be divorced from the imperial legacy of the church? I am sure you are thinking of more questions this one topic brings up. Well once I heard the question I knew we needed to talk about it. Here's my contribution to the conversation. Let me know what you think and any other questions that pop up. You can be cool like Luke and submit your question via the SpeakPipe RIGHT HERE. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is a very live and rowdy collection of Baptist Professors of Religion. In the first segment I am joined by my high school friend and Theology Professor Ryan Newson & gifted homebrewer and Claremont buddy Seth Clark. We talk about Baptist identity in and out of the South. Then Ryan introduces his friend, colleague at Campbell University, and scholar of the New Testament, Alicia Myers. Our conversation is way too awesome. If you don't enjoy it you aren't listening. We talk about... Where did babies come from (in the Bible)? How Aristotle understood bodily fluids. Biblical interpretation in 2nd Temple Period Judaism How Angels had sex just for fun. How the character of Mary the Mother of Jesus is understood in the early church. The changing nature of family and church in the New Testament The experience of women in the life and leadership of the church. Breastfeeding during a worship service The consequences of our hyper-sexualized culture How can we change the place of bodies in spiritual formation Alicia D. Myers is Assistant Professor of New Testament and Greek at Campbell University Divinity School. Her previous publications include Characterizing Jesus: A Rhetorical Analysis on the Fourth Gospel's Use of Scripture in Its Presentation of Jesus (2012) and Abiding Words: The Use of Scripture in the Gospel of John (co-editor, 2015). I am very grateful that our friends at Newgrass Brewing Co. welcomed the podcast and all the Baptist Professors of Religion to the brewery for the evening. The beer was delicious, so if you are near Shelby, NC then you definitely want to stop by for a pint. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Larry Norman is the Father of Christian Rock, integral to the Jesus People movement, an American Kierkegaard with a guitar, and the perfect figure to wrestle with the tangled shape of evangelicalism. Plus Larry Norman remains one of the most influential figures in my own faith journey. First, I encountered him through my Dad's records, discovering a unique prophetic voice set against the country and church's neglect of the poor, lust for war, and desire for more. Then I came to know Larry talking to him after his shows. I saw him 17 times before he passed. He learned my name, remembered my story, encouraged my intellectual quest, gave me song writing tips, and let me sing a verse of The Rock that Doesn't Roll with his band at a show in Florence, South Carolina (that was on my bucket list). PS I deleted 1200 words of love about Larry... the point being, what's the chance I would actually LOVE a book about him? It is rare that I love a book, the topic, and the guest this much! Not only that, this book isn't even by John Cobb, about process theology, or involve a visit from Catherine Keller. There is no exaggeration needed when I say that Gregory Thornbury wrote a fascinating, stimulating, and intoxicating biography of one of my heroes - Larry Norman. His newest book, Why Should the Devil have all the Good Music: Larry Norman and the Perils of Christian Rock, is so good I have read it twice. The first time I couldn't slow down to savor the book, because I wanted to know all the details about Larry I didn't know and the second time I only read a chapter a day and was sad when it ended. I hope you enjoy this conversation with Gregory 1/4th as much as me. Then you will want to get yourself the book and check out some old school Jesus rock for yourself. I even posted a cover of his tune The Great American Novel almost 8 years ago on YouTube. The New Yorker has a great piece up featuring Gregory titled The Unlikely Endurance of Christian Rock that the interested should definitely check out. Gregory Alan Thornbury has been a college professor, dean, and president of The King’s College in New York City. A popular writer and speaker on philosophy, religion, and contemporary culture, he currently serves at the New York Academy of Art. Once you decide to be wise and purchase Why Should the Devil have all the Good Music: Larry Norman and the Perils of Christian Rock you can head over the book's webpage for resources, info, and whatever extra praise you need to put you over the line! Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prepare yourself for some seriously zesty podcasting with my friends Diana Bass and Brian McLaren at the Wild Goose Festival. During the episode we will attempt to answer a number of different questions and topics listeners like yourself sent in. It is always a treat to get to talk to Diana and Brian and this time was no exception. Find out who Diana and Brian respond to a bunch of different questions like... Who are your heroes of the faith? How can we cultivate gratitude in the craziness of today? Can you be sane and use Facebook? How should the church see our current political crisis? Is democracy worth saving? Can the planet handle another 500 years of Christian leadership? What's a post-NationState-Capitalist-Techno-Society do for spirituality? This Episode is sponsored by... Lutheran World Relief Famers Market Coffee is providing good coffee that makes a difference. You should try it. Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices