Homebrewed Christianity

We just lost John Cobb months before his 100th birthday. In this episode, Philip Clayton joins me for a conversation to celebrate his life and thought. My relationship with John started as the author of a book that changed my life (God & the World). Then, I got to take a summer school class with him in Claremont before Divinity School. When I moved to LA for my PhD he invited me and my family to lunch. Over the years in SoCal we had many meals and conversations together. We have recorded over 30 hours of conversation and taught two classes together. Beyond being a creative, brilliant, and ground-breaking scholar, John was a deeply passionate and compassionate disciple of Jesus. When friends ask about his picture with me, I say "That's John freaking Cobb, and he's my Gandalf." The last time we got to hang he introduced me as his friend (and said this in front of a bunch of people). I recently edited a book of John Cobb's best theological writing from across his career, including some excellent introductory chapters for people new to Process theology. Check it out. You can WATCH the conversation on YouTube Dr. John B. Cobb, Jr. 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. Previous Episodes with John Cobb Why Stay Christian? John Cobb turns 97 Secularizing Christianity JC on JC: a conversation with John Cobb and Tom Oord on Jesus Why Whitehead? John Cobb goes to #TheologyBeerCamp LIVE from Vancouver with Sallie McFague and John Cobb How Modern Metaphysics Killed God Have Yourself a John Cobb Advent!  Christology and Process Theology Why Metaphysics Matters Prayer & Process with John Cobb Theology for the People: Keller, Cobb and God Lexington Theological Seminary is the sponsor for this Episode. Lexington Theological Seminary is a pioneer in online theological education. Both the Doctoral and Masters programs are designed with the flexibility and contextual focus needed for the working student. You can learn more by heading here. Here are a few episodes with a couple of their Profs Leah Schade & Wilson Dickinson: Faith During an Ecological Collapse Leah Schade: Preaching in a time of Crisis from Corona to Climate Wilson Dickinson: Faith After a Neo-liberal Compliant Church _____________________ Join my Substack - Process This! Join our class - TRUTH IN TOUGH TIMES: Global Voices of Liberation Spend a week with Tripp & Andrew Root in Bonhoeffer’s House in Berlin this June as part of the Rise of Bonhoeffer Travel Learning Experience. INFO & DETAILS HERE Get access to over 45 of our online classes at TheologyClass.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

In this episode, I am joined by theologian and ethicist Dr. Joerg Rieger. In the conversation, we explore critiques of religion in the public square, its global influence on right-wing populism, and its decline as an institution amidst growing discontent with modern life. Joerg argues that while religion remains significant, the type of religion is crucial. We delve into how conceptions of God shape communities—whether toward solidarity and justice for the Other or demands for sacrifice. Enjoy this conversation on the future of faith and its implications for society. You can WATCH the conversation on YouTube Dr. Joerg Rieger is Distinguished Professor of Theology and the Cal Turner Chancellor’s Chair of Wesleyan Studies at Vanderbilt University and founding director of the Wendland-Cook Program in Religion and Justice. For three decades, he has worked to bring together theology and the struggles for justice and liberation that mark our age. Several of his 24 authored and edited books address the topics of this course, including No Rising Tide: Theology, Economics, and the Future; Unified We Are a Force: How Faith and Labor Can Overcome America’s Inequalities (with Rosemarie Henkel-Rieger); and Faith, Class, and Labor: Intersectional Approaches in a Global Context (with Jin Young Choi). www.joergrieger.com UPCOMING ONLINE CLASS - Truth in Tough Times: Global Voices of Liberation I am thrilled to announce our upcoming class with Joerg Rieger and a host of liberation theologians from across the globe. Our goal is to create an experience where participants will get a clear and compelling account of contemporary liberation theology and meet the most critical voices of our generation. As always, then lass is donation-based, including 0. Get info and join up at www.TruthInToughTimes.com Previous Episodes w/ Joerg Theology in the Capitalocene Divine Justice & our Ultimate Concern  the End of Religion & Business as Usual Joerg Rieger: Jesus vs Caesar  Different Gods, Different Religions? Wild Goose Theology Happy Hour with Joerg Rieger and Emilie Townes The Economy, Election, Ayn Rand-Ryan-Romney, Occupy, & More Occupy the Church! Rita Nakashima Brock, Joerg Rieger, & Christophe Ringer Economics, Theology, and Discipleship  This episode is sponsored by Union Presbyterian Seminary A calling is about who you are. Where you’re going in life. You may be in college. You may be halfway through a career. But you know, deep inside your heart, you want something different. To prepare for the future, you want to invest your time and energy to expand your knowledge. With people who listen to you…yet challenge you. People from different countries and backgrounds. A place with globally recognized connections. There is a place for you at Union Presbyterian Seminary. You’ll find your own path—with online, hybrid, or residential platforms. You’ll find generous financial aid. With thousands of graduates all over the world, you’ll build lifelong networks…a community that supports you and equips you. Be a leader of gospel-inspired transformative change in pursuit of a more just and compassionate world. It’s your call. Respond with UPSem. To learn more, visit upsem.edu or email admissions@upsem.edu _____________________ Join my Substack - Process This! Join our class - TRUTH IN TOUGH TIMES: Global Voices of Liberation Spend a week with Tripp & Andrew Root in Bonhoeffer’s House in Berlin this June as part of the Rise of Bonhoeffer Travel Learning Experience. INFO & DETAILS HERE Get access to over 45 of our online classes at TheologyClass.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

My friend and philosopher, Dr. Andrew Davis, is back on the podcast to bring us a stellar introduction to Alfred North Whitehead's Process philosophy. “Process philosophy” is wider than the work of Alfred North Whitehead (1861–1947), but the depth and dynamism of his “philosophy of organism” have made him the defining figure of the modern process tradition. His beloved wife Evelyn once used the metaphor of a prism to describe his thinking: “It must be seen not from one side alone but from all sides, then from underneath and overhead. So seen, as one moves around it, the prism is full of changing lights and colors. To have seen it from one side only is to not have seen it.” In this conversation, Dr. Davis walks us through 5 different sides, lights, and colors belonging to Whitehead’s prismatic universe from the microscopic to the macroscopic, and in direct relation to human experience as an expression of the cosmos. If this conversation is intriguing and you want a guided tour of Whitehead's philosophy, go join up for the class Whitehead's Universe. I am so excited about Andrew's project and having a new compelling introduction to process philosophy for the people. You can WATCH the conversation on YouTube Andrew M. Davis is an American process philosopher, theologian, and scholar of the cosmos. He is the academic and research director for the Center for Process Studies where he researches, writes, teaches, and organizes conferences on various aspects of process-relational thought (Whitehead and Beyond). An advocate of metaphysics and meaning in a hospitable universe, he approaches philosophy as the endeavor to systematically think through what reality must be like because we are a part of it. He is the author, editor, and co-editor of nearly a dozen books including Mind, Value, and Cosmos: On the Relational Nature of Ultimacy, Process Cosmology: New Integrations in Science and Philosophy, and Metaphysics of Exo-Life: Toward a Constructive Whiteheadian Cosmotheology. This course is based upon drafts of his next book which is comprehensive, yet conversational, introduction to Whitehead’s universe. Andrew’s Previous visits to the podcast Mind, Value, and the Cosmos. the Power of Love & the Experience of God UPCOMING ONLINE CLASS - Truth in Tough Times: Global Voices of Liberation I am thrilled to announce our upcoming class with Joerg Rieger and a host of liberation theologians from across the globe. Our goal is to create an experience where participants will get a clear and compelling account of contemporary liberation theology and meet the most critical voices of our generation. As always, then lass is donation-based, including 0. Get info and join up at www.TruthInToughTimes.com _____________________ Join my Substack - Process This! Join our class - TRUTH IN TOUGH TIMES: Global Voices of Liberation Spend a week with Tripp & Andrew Root in Bonhoeffer’s House in Berlin this June as part of the Rise of Bonhoeffer Travel Learning Experience. INFO & DETAILS HERE Get access to over 45 of our online classes at TheologyClass.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

In this episode, I team up with our producer, Josh Gilbert, for an experimental format inspired by our podcast planning sessions, where Josh often brings up intriguing questions he’s gathered while editing. Together, we explore how our initial infatuation with ideas can grow into a deeper understanding and mastery and how our personal biases inevitably shape our philosophical inquiries.   We discuss the significance of philosophy in making sense of existence, agency, and how we apply ideas in everyday life. We talk about the value of curiosity and the ongoing journey of learning across the humanities, emphasizing the need to engage with philosophical texts critically and passionately. Josh pressed me on the distinction between plausibility and intensity of faith commitments, the existential register’s importance in understanding religious identity, and how modern empiricism and cultural narratives influence individual agency.   Throughout the conversation, we weave in insights from thinkers like Alfred North Whitehead, Hans-Georg Gadamer, Søren Kierkegaard, Paul Tillich, Karl Barth, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, J.R.R. Tolkien, Martin Heidegger, Philip Goff, and Charles Taylor. Together, we explore how these voices create a community of inquiry that invigorates our understanding of life and existence, showing how philosophy can shape what we think and how we live. To get the entire conversation, all podcast episodes ad-free, and support our work, consider joining the Process This on SubStack or get access to our entire catalog of classes & all the rest by joining up at Theology Class. UPCOMING ONLINE CLASS - Truth in Tough Times: Global Voices of Liberation I am thrilled to announce our upcoming class with Joerg Rieger and a host of liberation theologians from across the globe. Our goal is to create an experience where participants will get a clear and compelling account of contemporary liberation theology and meet the most critical voices of our generation. As always, then lass is donation-based, including 0. Get info and join up at www.TruthInToughTimes.com _____________________ Join my Substack - Process This! Join our class - THE RISE OF BONHOEFFER, for a guided tour of Bonhoeffer's life and thought. Spend a week with Tripp & Andrew Root in Bonhoeffer’s House in Berlin this June as part of the Rise of Bonhoeffer Travel Learning Experience. INFO & DETAILS 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

In this episode, Grace Ji-Sun Kim discusses her provocative new book, When God Became White. We delve into challenging topics like the implications of a colonialist legacy on the church, the intersections of race, gender, and religion, and how historical missions have shaped perceptions. We also discuss the representation of Jesus in church life, syncretism in Christianity, and the experiences of Korean immigrants. Grace Ji-Sun Kim is a professor of theology at Earlham School of Religion and host of the Madang podcast. You can WATCH the conversation on YouTube. Previous Episodes with Grace & Susan Surviving God Godly QnA a Theology of Visibility  What is Intersectional Theology? The Prophetic Life of the Spirit Embracing the Other and Reading the Bible Keeping Hope Alive Garrett Theological Seminary sponsored this episode. Seminary education isn’t just for pastors. Social awareness of the world’s most pressing problems, robust ethical analysis, empathic biblical wisdom, and courageous leadership are skills you can use across a wide range of vocations. Whether you feel called to care and counseling, public service, prophetic arts, or non-profit management, there’s a degree program at Garrett Seminary that’s right for you. Our global faculty and diverse student body nurture class discussions that reflect the contextual realities in the communities you’ll serve, and our commitment to hands-on learning means you’ll have plenty of opportunities to put that knowledge to use. Located in the heart of Northwestern’s campus, just a short train ride from Chicago, let our city be your training ground. Garrett also offers fully online and hybrid programs. So wherever and whoever you are, apply to begin your fulfilling new career today. Learn more here. _____________________ Join my Substack - Process This! Join our class - THE RISE OF BONHOEFFER, for a guided tour of Bonhoeffer's life and thought. Spend a week with Tripp & Andrew Root in Bonhoeffer’s House in Berlin this June as part of the Rise of Bonhoeffer Travel Learning Experience. INFO & DETAILS 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

In this episode, Dr. David Congdon joins me to discuss Rudolf Bultmann and his Advent preaching. He is infamous for his “demythologizing” approach to scripture, which seeks to uncover the true meaning behind the biblical narratives. Bultmann’s Advent sermons strip away sentimentalism, presenting the Incarnation as a call to authentic existence. We’ll consider how his approach can help us understand Christmas as more than a story, but as a profound encounter with God’s call in our own lives. You can WATCH the conversation on YouTube David Congdon is an author, speaker, and scholar working in the area of theology and culture. Originally from Portland, Oregon, he completed a B.A. in English at Wheaton College, acquired an M.Div. and Ph.D. in theology from Princeton Theological Seminary, and have since worked in the publishing industry as an academic acquisitions editor. Previous Podcast Episodes with David Who Is a True Christian?: Contesting Religious Identity in American Culture Dialectical Theology Bultmann’s Mission of Demythologizing _____________________ This DECEMBER, we will be exploring the 'Theologians of Crisis' in our online Advent class - Breaking into the Broken World. Join us to learn about Karl Barth, Paul Tillich, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Rudolph Bultmann as we explore their thoughts and timely reflections in their Advent/Christmas sermons. Join my Substack - Process This! Join our class - THE RISE OF BONHOEFFER, for a guided tour of Bonhoeffer's life and thought. Spend a week with Tripp & Andrew Root in Bonhoeffer’s House in Berlin this June as part of the Rise of Bonhoeffer Travel Learning Experience. INFO & DETAILS 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

In this episode, I am joined by Dr. John Thatamanil to discuss how Paul Tillich’s theology understands God’s relationship to history and incarnation. We discuss his Christian existentialism, the contrast between Chronos and Karios time, and his vision of the divine. Covering topics from Tillich's understanding of religious socialism to the complexities of conditioned and unconditioned existence, our dialogue offers a rich introductory exploration of Tillich's thought. We also engage the contemporary implications of Tillich's theology, making connections to modern societal issues and the lived reality of faith in challenging times. You can WATCH this conversation on YouTube This DECEMBER, we are exploring the 'Theologians of Crisis' in our online Advent class - Breaking into the Broken World. Join us to learn about Karl Barth, Paul Tillich, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Rudolph Bultmann as we explore their thoughts and timely reflections in their Advent/Christmas sermons. Dr. Thatamanil is Professor of Theology & World Religions at Union Theological Seminary in NYC.  Previous Podcasts with John Deconstructing Divinity & Embracing Diversity God – the Ground, the Between, the Personal What we do when we do theology A Comparative Theology of Religious Diversity Theology Without Walls Non-duality, Polydoxy, and Christian Identity Check out these books by John Circling the Elephant: A Comparative Theology of Religious Diversity The Immanent Divine: God, Creation And the Human Predicament: God, Creation, and the Human Predicament Theology Without Walls: The Transreligious Imperative  _____________________ This DECEMBER, we will be exploring the 'Theologians of Crisis' in our online Advent class - Breaking into the Broken World. Join us to learn about Karl Barth, Paul Tillich, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Rudolph Bultmann as we explore their thoughts and timely reflections in their Advent/Christmas sermons. Join my Substack - Process This! Join our class - THE RISE OF BONHOEFFER, for a guided tour of Bonhoeffer's life and thought. Spend a week with Tripp & Andrew Root in Bonhoeffer’s House in Berlin this June as part of the Rise of Bonhoeffer Travel Learning Experience. INFO & DETAILS 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

In this episode, I am joined by my partner in The Rise of Bonhoeffer, Dr. Jeffrey Pugh, for a profound conversation with theologian, ethicist, and Bonhoeffer scholar Dr. Reggie Williams. The discussion revolves around Dietrich Bonhoeffer's provocative ethical challenge, particularly drawing from his experience in Harlem. Reggie helps us explore his critique of religion, its relevance to contemporary American issues, and how his theology can inform our response to modern ethical challenges. The conversation also touches on the influence of the Black church tradition, global liberation theology, and practical ways to engage with current sociopolitical issues, including the situation in Palestine. You can WATCH the conversation on YouTube. Reggie Williams has just begun screening his new documentary, “The Cloud of Witnesses: Dietrich Bonhoeffer in Harlem 1930/31.” It is a powerful film that focuses on Bonhoeffer’s time in NYC, the witness of the Harlem Renaissance, and the prophetic gospel of Abyssinian Baptist Church. There is no better guide to this vital terrain than Reggie!  Reggie Williams is associate professor of Black theology at St. Louis University and author of Bonhoeffer’s Black Jesus: Harlem Renaissance Theology and an Ethic of Resistance. You can check out his recent essay on the Bonhoeffer film here. Here’s Reggie’s previous visits to the podcast: Bonhoeffer & the Critique of Religion Reggie Williams: Bonhoeffer’s Black Jesus Debating, Praying, and Living with Tyrants _____________________ This DECEMBER, we will be exploring the 'Theologians of Crisis' in our online Advent class - Breaking into the Broken World. Join us to learn about Karl Barth, Paul Tillich, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Rudolph Bultmann as we explore their thoughts and timely reflections in their Advent/Christmas sermons. Join my Substack - Process This! Join our class - THE RISE OF BONHOEFFER, for a guided tour of Bonhoeffer's life and thought. Spend a week with Tripp & Andrew Root in Bonhoeffer’s House in Berlin this June as part of the Rise of Bonhoeffer Travel Learning Experience. INFO & DETAILS 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

In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Andrew Root to delve into the Advent sermons of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, discussing the context and impact of his work. We unpack Bonhoeffer's experiences in Barcelona, Cuba, Berlin, and London, touching on his interaction with his time's ideological and theological crises. The conversation also includes insights into Bonhoeffer’s relationships, his formative years, and the implications of his theological perspectives. Bonhoeffer’s emphasis on waiting, his critiques of ideology, and his reflections on community and personhood are given attention. You can WATCH the conversation on YouTube This DECEMBER, we will be exploring the 'Theologians of Crisis' in our online Advent class - Breaking into the Broken World. Join us to learn about Karl Barth, Paul Tillich, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Rudolph Bultmann as we explore their thoughts and timely reflections in their Advent/Christmas sermons. _____________________ This DECEMBER, we will be exploring the 'Theologians of Crisis' in our online Advent class - Breaking into the Broken World. Join us to learn about Karl Barth, Paul Tillich, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Rudolph Bultmann as we explore their thoughts and timely reflections in their Advent/Christmas sermons. Join my Substack - Process This! Join our class - THE RISE OF BONHOEFFER, for a guided tour of Bonhoeffer's life and thought. Spend a week with Tripp & Andrew Root in Bonhoeffer’s House in Berlin this June as part of the Rise of Bonhoeffer Travel Learning Experience. INFO & DETAILS 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

In this episode, Travis McMacken joins the fun as we explore the life and theology of Karl Barth, the original crisis theologian. In this insightful conversation, we dive into Barth's theological perspective, his reaction to World War I, and his thoughts on the incarnation and revelation. The discussion covers how Barth's theology evolved, his views on the role of the church in times of crisis, and the contemporary relevance of his ideas. This DECEMBER, we will be exploring the 'Theologians of Crisis' in our online Advent class - Breaking into the Broken World. Join us to learn about Karl Barth, Paul Tillich, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Rudolph Bultmann as we explore their thoughts and timely reflections in their Advent/Christmas sermons. WATCH the conversation on YouTube W. Travis McMaken, PhD, is the Butler Bible Endowed Professor of Religion and Associate Dean of Arts and Humanities at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO. He is a Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). McMaken’s writing engages primarily with 20th century theology (esp. Protestant theology, with specialization in Karl Barth, Helmut Gollwitzer, and T. F. Torrance) while working constructively on the subjects of sacramentology, ecclesiology, and political theology. Previous Episodes with Travis include: The Spirituality & Politics of Karl Barth Dialectical Theology Our God Loves Justice Why Go Barthian? _____________________ This DECEMBER, we will be exploring the 'Theologians of Crisis' in our online Advent class - Breaking into the Broken World. Join us to learn about Karl Barth, Paul Tillich, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Rudolph Bultmann as we explore their thoughts and timely reflections in their Advent/Christmas sermons. Join my Substack - Process This! Join our class - THE RISE OF BONHOEFFER, for a guided tour of Bonhoeffer's life and thought. Spend a week with Tripp & Andrew Root in Bonhoeffer’s House in Berlin this June as part of the Rise of Bonhoeffer Travel Learning Experience. INFO & DETAILS 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

What do we talk about when we talk about God? There are so many problems with the inherited concept, language, and vision of God, that ‘god’ might just need a time out. You would be surprised how familiar theologians are with ‘god’ problems! One cluster of constructive responses to the predicament of divine discourse is theopoetics. If you ever wondered what would happen if 600 people got to nerd out in person with a bunch of craft beverages and sat down to hear three outstanding theologians tackle this problem, then you were likely at Theology Beer Camp. There, I was joined by Catherine Keller, Kristy Whaley, and Ilia Delio to wrestle with the language we use about ‘god’ and the theopoetic turn in theology. If you want to get info, updates, and access to pre-sale tickets for Theology Beer Camp 2025, you can sign up here. Kristy Whaley is faculty at St. Petersburg College, where she teaches both religion and humanities. Her interdisciplinary interests are primarily centered on Christian theology and literature, but often also stray into pop culture, mainly about Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Lost. Her most recent book, Wounded Images, is a work in theopoetics. She is also a podcaster and you can put her in your earbuds by checking out Theology on the Rocks. Ilia Delio, OSF, PhD is a Franciscan Sister of Washington, DC, and American theologian specializing in science and religion, with interests in evolution, physics, and neuroscience and the import of these for theology. Catherine Keller is George T. Cobb Professor of Constructive Theology in The Graduate Division of Religion of Drew University. If you are new to Catherine Keller and Process Theology this is the book to start with – On the Mystery: Discerning Divinity In Process. _____________________ This DECEMBER, we will be exploring the 'Theologians of Crisis' in our online Advent class - Breaking into the Broken World. Join us to learn about Karl Barth, Paul Tillich, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Rudolph Bultmann as we explore their thoughts and timely reflections in their Advent/Christmas sermons. Join my Substack - Process This! Join our class - THE RISE OF BONHOEFFER, for a guided tour of Bonhoeffer's life and thought. Spend a week with Tripp & Andrew Root in Bonhoeffer’s House in Berlin this June as part of the Rise of Bonhoeffer Travel Learning Experience. INFO & DETAILS 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

In this episode, I got to talk with Simon Critchley about his new book Mysticism. We delve into Critchley's journey towards exploring mysticism, his reflections on modernity, and his discussions on key figures like William James, Julian of Norwich, and Meister Eckhart. We also discuss the importance of reading and understanding mystical texts, the role of prayer, and how modernity has impacted our perception of faith and spirituality. His engagement with mysticism beyond the confessional boundaries in which it so often emerges makes the topic and the book a timely reflection for our contemporary spiritual crisis. Simon Critchley has written over twenty books, including studies of Greek tragedy, David Bowie, football, suicide, Shakespeare, how philosophers die, and a novella. He is the Hans Jonas Professor of Philosophy at the New School for Social Research in New York and a Director of the Onassis Foundation. As co-editor of The Stone at the New York Times, Critchley showed that philosophy plays a vital role in the public realm. You can WATCH the conversation on YouTube _____________________ This DECEMBER, we will be exploring the 'Theologians of Crisis' in our online Advent class - Breaking into the Broken World. Join us to learn about Karl Barth, Paul Tillich, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Rudolph Bultmann as we explore their thoughts and timely reflections in their Advent/Christmas sermons. Join my Substack - Process This! Join our class - THE RISE OF BONHOEFFER, for a guided tour of Bonhoeffer's life and thought. Spend a week with Tripp & Andrew Root in Bonhoeffer’s House in Berlin this June as part of the Rise of Bonhoeffer Travel Learning Experience. INFO & DETAILS 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

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Eleanor McLaughlin, author of Unconscious Christianity and Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Late Theology. We discuss Bonhoeffer's influence on modern theology, the concept of unconscious Christianity, Bonhoeffer's changing views, and the relevance of his work today. Eleanor shares her journey into Bonhoeffer studies, the challenges of interpreting his work, and her insights into his lesser-known fiction and poetry. The conversation also touches on topics like the theology of the cross, religionless Christianity, and Bonhoeffer's ethical commitments in facing the challenges of his time. Spend a week with Tripp & Andrew Root in Bonhoeffer’s House in Berlin this June as part of the Rise of Bonhoeffer Travel Learning Experience. INFO & DETAILS HERE Join me this DECEMBER for our open online class exploring the 'Theologians of Crisis' - Breaking into the Broken World. Join us to learn about Karl Barth, Paul Tillich, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Rudolph Bultmann as we explore their thoughts and timely reflections in their Advent/Christmas sermons. Want to learn more about Bonhoeffer? Join our open online companion class, The Rise of Bonhoeffer, and get access to full interviews from the Bonhoeffer scholars, participate in deep-dive sessions with Tripp and Jeff, unpack curated readings from Bonhoeffer, send in your questions, and join the online community of fellow Bonhoeffer learners. The class is donation-based, including 0. You can get more info here. Dr. McLaughlin is Tutor in Theology at Ripon College Cuddesdon, with a focus on doctrine and ethics. She holds theology degrees from the University of Oxford (BA and DPhil) and the University of Geneva (Maîtrise en Théologie). Her research interests include the life and thought of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, theological anthropology and disability theology. She contributed to BBC Radio 4's programme 'In Our Time' on Bonhoeffer in 2018, and is a trustee of the charity Project Bonhoeffer.  Ellie's publications include Unconscious Christianity in Bonhoeffer’s Late Theology: Encounters with the Unknown Christ. Foreword by Rowan Williams (Lexington Books/Fortress Academic, 2020), and ‘Disability, Technology, and Human Flourishing,’ in Human Flourishing in a Technological World: A Theological Vision, edited by Jens Zimmermann and Michael Burdett (Oxford University Press, forthcoming 2021). Previously, Dr. McLaughlin worked at Cuddesdon from Sarum College, where she ran the postgraduate programmes in Theology, Imagination and Culture. She co-ordinated the MTh at the Faculty of Theology and Religion at the University of Oxford, and was Lecturer in Theology and Ethics at Regent's Park College. Ellie lives in Oxford with her husband Luke and her cat Bertie. She enjoys good food with friends, reading and travelling. You can WATCH the conversation on YouTube _____________________ This DECEMBER, we will be exploring the 'Theologians of Crisis' in our online Advent class - Breaking into the Broken World. Join us to learn about Karl Barth, Paul Tillich, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Rudolph Bultmann as we explore their thoughts and timely reflections in their Advent/Christmas sermons. Join my Substack - Process This! Join our class - THE RISE OF BONHOEFFER, for a guided tour of Bonhoeffer's life and thought. Go with me to Berlin to spend a week in Bonhoeffer's House! 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, I am joined by Dr. Andrew Root. We discuss Dietrich Bonhoeffer and his time in the experimental underground seminary at Finkenwalde. This community became a site for him to enact his broader theological and ethical intuitions in community. We unpack the significance of Bonhoeffer's relational theology, the establishment of illegal seminaries, Bonhoeffer's radical commitment to living out the gospel in dire times, and his enduring legacy. The conversation also touches on Bonhoeffer’s formation of deep friendships, notably with Eberhard Bethge, and the practical implications of his ideas for contemporary theological education and church life. Spend a week with Tripp & Andrew Root in Bonhoeffer’s House in Berlin this June as part of the Rise of Bonhoeffer Travel Learning Experience. INFO & DETAILS HERE Dr. Root is joining me this DECEMBER for our open online class exploring the 'Theologians of Crisis' - Breaking into the Broken World. Join us to learn about Karl Barth, Paul Tillich, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Rudolph Bultmann as we explore their thoughts and timely reflections in their Advent/Christmas sermons. Want to learn more about Bonhoeffer? Join our open online companion class, The Rise of Bonhoeffer, and get access to full interviews from the Bonhoeffer scholars, participate in deep-dive sessions with Tripp and Jeff, unpack curated readings from Bonhoeffer, send in your questions, and join the online community of fellow Bonhoeffer learners. The class is donation-based, including 0. You can get more info here. WATCH the conversation here on YouTube Andrew Root is the Carrie Olson Baalson Professor of Youth and Family Ministry at Luther Seminary, USA. He writes and researches in areas of theology, ministry, culture, and younger generations. Some of his most recent books are The Congregation in a Secular Age (Baker, 2021), The End of Youth Ministry? (Baker, 2020), The Pastor in a Secular Age: Ministry to People Who No Longer Need God (Baker, 2019), Faith Formation in a Secular Age (Baker, 2017), and Exploding Stars, Dead Dinosaurs, and Zombies: Youth Ministry in the Age of Science (Fortress Press, 2018). Andy has worked in congregations, parachurch ministries, and social service programs. He lives in St. Paul with his wife Kara, two children, Owen and Maisy, and their dog. When not reading, writing, or teaching, Andy spends far too much time watching TV and movies. Previous Visits with Andy Root Resonance in an Accelerated Age Secular Mysticism & Identity Politics the Church after Innovation Churches and the Crisis of Decline Acceleration, Resonance, & the Counting Crows Ministry in a Secular Age Christopraxis with Andy Root Faith Formation in a Secular Age the Promise of Despair _____________________ This DECEMBER, we will be exploring the 'Theologians of Crisis' in our online Advent class - Breaking into the Broken World. Join us to learn about Karl Barth, Paul Tillich, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Rudolph Bultmann as we explore their thoughts and timely reflections in their Advent/Christmas sermons. Join my Substack - Process This! Join our class - THE RISE OF BONHOEFFER, for a guided tour of Bonhoeffer's life and thought. Go with me to Berlin to spend a week in Bonhoeffer's House! 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, I am joined by theologian, ethicist, and Associate Director of the Center of Theological Inquiry at Princeton, Dr. Joshua Mauldin. We delve into Joshua's recent work examining Karl Barth and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, not just as theologians but as critics of modernity. The conversation covers how these figures reflected on the crises of democracy during their time, the rise of Nazism, and World War II, while drawing parallels to today's societal challenges. We also explore the nuances of political and ethical thought in a modern context, stressing the importance of tolerance and critical reflective engagement. This is an insightful episode for theology nerds and those interested in modern political and ethical thought. Dr. Mauldin is the author of Barth, Bonhoeffer, and Modern Politics, also available in audio at a significantly cheaper price. For more audio fun with Johsua, check out the Theology Matters podcast from the Center of Theological Inquiry.  You can WATCH this conversation on YouTube here _____________________ This DECEMBER, we will be exploring the 'Theologians of Crisis' in our online Advent class - Breaking into the Broken World. Join us to learn about Karl Barth, Paul Tillich, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Rudolph Bultmann as we explore their thoughts and timely reflections in their Advent/Christmas sermons. Join my Substack - Process This! Join our class - THE RISE OF BONHOEFFER, for a guided tour of Bonhoeffer's life and thought. Go with me to Berlin to spend a week in Bonhoeffer's House! 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 bring you a deep and reflective conversation from Theology Beer Camp focusing on the interlocking crises of democracy and religion in America. The panel took place on the Theology Nerd stage and was moderated by previous podcast guest, Aaron Stauffer from Wendland-Cook Program in Religion & Justice  at Vanderbilt University and features esteemed scholars Robert C. Jones, Diana Butler Bass, and Gary Dorrien. They explore various dimensions of liberal democracy, social democracy, and the historical and present impacts of religion and race on American politics. The discussion delves into personal histories, the influence of the black social gospel, and practical steps for communities and churches to combat current socio-political challenges, particularly emphasizing community organizing and educational initiatives. If you want to get info, updates, and access to pre-sale tickets for Theology Beer Camp 2025 you can signup here. For information on Wendland-Cook's Solidarity Circles, a program to build virtual peer-networks for faith leaders, organizers, clergy, and members of the community to build grassroots solidarity, head over here. Previous Podcast Conversations Theology for Action with Aaron Stauffer Theological Ethics & Liberal Protestantism with Gary Dorrien James Cone and the Emergence of Black Theology with Garry Dorrien Truth & Kindness in the Public Square with Diana Butler Bass (a bunch more are linked there) Aaron Stauffer is the Director of Online Learning and Associate Director of the Wendland-Cook Program at Vanderbilt University Divinity School. He earned his PhD in social ethics at Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York and has organized with the Industrial Areas Foundation in San Antonio, Texas and Religions for Peace. His work has appeared in Tikkun, Sojourners, The Other Journal, Political Theology, and CrossCurrents, as well as other scholarly and popular publications. Diana Butler Bass, Ph.D., is an award-winning author, popular speaker, inspiring preacher, and one of America’s most trusted commentators on religion and contemporary spirituality. Gary Dorrien is Reinhold Niebuhr Professor of Social Ethics at Union Theological Seminary and Professor of Religion at Columbia University. He is also the author of Anglican Identities: Logos Idealism, Imperial Whiteness, Commonweal Ecumenism, Social Ethics in the Making: Interpreting an American Tradition, American Democratic Socialism and In a Post-Hegelian Spirit: Philosophical Theology as Idealistic Discontent. You won’t want to miss his upcoming theological memoir Over from Union Road My Christian-Left-Intellectual Life. Robert P. Jones. Is the president and founder of Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) and the author of three books best-selling books, The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy and the Path to a Shared American Future , White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity, The End of White Christian America . _____________________ This DECEMBER, we will be exploring the 'Theologians of Crisis' in our online Advent class - Breaking into the Broken World. Join us to learn about Karl Barth, Paul Tillich, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Rudolph Bultmann as we explore their thoughts and timely reflections in their Advent/Christmas sermons. Join my Substack - Process This! Join our class - THE RISE OF BONHOEFFER, for a guided tour of Bonhoeffer's life and thought. Go with me to Berlin to spend a week in Bonhoeffer's House! 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, I am joined by writer and director Todd Komarnicki to discuss his upcoming movie, Bonhoeffer. Komarnicki discusses the grueling yet rewarding process of adapting the complicated and meaningful life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer to the big screen. We delve into Todd's relationship with Bonhoeffer and how Dietrich's story, faith, and historical context create unique cinematic challenges when telling his story in film. In the conversation, Todd addresses the controversy surrounding the film and the legacy of Bonhoeffer, rejecting Metaxas' influence and insisting that Bonhoeffer's witness serves as a challenge to Christian nationalism then and now. Komarnicki shares his thoughts on the importance of integrity, his creative process, and the deeply personal connections that bring the film to life. I was proud I managed to get through the entire conversation without asking about the four main food groups at the North Pole:) WATCH the conversation here on YouTube Todd Komarnicki is a prolific writer and producer of film and television as well as an acclaimed novelist. He is the writer and director of the new film Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin. Komarnicki's screenplays include Sully directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Tom Hanks, which opened at #1 in the box office to rave reviews from critics and audiences alike. He was also the producer of one of the most EPIC Christmas films, Elf starring Will Ferrell! The film opens nationwide on November 22nd, and you can find tickets in your area here. For those interested in the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, I would love for you to check out our audio documentary on Bonhoeffer and his resistance to Nazi Germany. Over 8 episodes, it walks through Bonhoeffer's life and legacy with the wisdom of Bonhoeffer scholars across the globe. I created it with Dr. Jeffrey Pugh to introduce the historical Bonhoeffer to a broad audience, hoping to address some of the myths and misuses of his legacy rampant in popular culture. Suppose you want to go deeper into Bonhoeffer's theology. In that case, you can join the documentary's companion class, The Rise of Bonhoeffer, to get access to extended interviews with renowned Bonhoeffer scholars, regular livestream QnA sessions, selected readings from Bonhoeffer, and an online community of fellow Bonhoeffer learners. The class is donation-based, including 0, so join the online community and learn at your own pace. Want to read some Bonhoeffer? We are giving away The Complete Works of Dietrich Bonhoeffer (16 vols)!! You can enter the giveaway and score extra entries by sharing it with friends. Want to learn about Bonhoeffer in Bonhoeffer's own house? Spend a week with me & Dr. Andrew Root in Bonhoeffer's House in Berlin this June as part of the Rise of Bonhoeffer Travel Learning Experience. INFO & DETAILS HERE _____________________ Join my Substack - Process This! Join our upcoming class - THE RISE OF BONHOEFFER, for a guided tour of Bonhoeffer's life and thought. Go with me to Berlin to spend a week in Bonhoeffer's House! 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, I am joined by Dr. Preston Hill and Sarey Concepcion for a conversation about psychological trauma and theology. Preston's academic work focuses on trauma theology, aiming to help people of faith understand and address trauma through a science-informed approach. The conversation delves into the importance of balancing the seriousness of trauma with the possibilities for hope and healing. Additionally, we discuss the launch of the Spiritual First Responders Project. WATCH the conversation on YouTube here. Dr. Preston Hill serves as Assistant Professor of Integrative Theology at Richmont Graduate University and the Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program. ln 2021 he completed a Ph.D. in Theology at St Mary’s College, University of St Andrews, having previously completed an MLitt degree in Analytic and Exegetical Theology from the Logos Institute at St Andrews. He has released his first coauthored book with Scott Harrower and Joshua Cockayne entitled Dawn of Sunday: The Trinity and Trauma-Safe Church (Cascade) and is releasing his first edited volume entitled Christ and Trauma: Theology East of Eden (Pickwick Publications). Dr. Hill is also ordained in the Anglican tradition and is a pre-licensed clinical pastoral therapist. Spiritual First Responders Project: Spiritual thriving after a big faith change is possible! The Spiritual First Responders Project is a new resource for navigating faith change with evidence-backed processing groups led by licensed mental health professionals. They are looking for folks who have de-identified from religion but are still seeking a healthy community and some sort of healthy spiritual practice. We know that globally, one out of every five people used to identify as religious and now no longer identify as religious. Half of those folks still have persisting spiritual desires and don't feel like those desires are being satisfied. There's no current social infrastructure to help them flourish how they want. If you aren't finding room for doubting, questioning, or exploring other parts of your own tradition and other traditions altogether, and you want a safe community to do so, consider joining the SFRP. The essential aim is to provide groups that are aimed to meet the unique needs of this population. So if you would benefit from a safe, anonymous group led by a licensed mental health professional, check it out. _____________________ Join my Substack - Process This! Join our upcoming class - THE RISE OF BONHOEFFER, for a guided tour of Bonhoeffer's life and thought. Go with me to Berlin to spend a week in Bonhoeffer's House! 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

Philosopher Dr. Aaron Simmons & ethicist Dr. Kevin Carnahan join me for a powerful and enlightening conversation. These two friends and scholars attempt to process the recent election results through the lens of philosophy, theology, and ethics. Addressing complex societal anxieties, they helped me delve into themes of burnout, cross-tribal dialogue, the reality of human suffering, and the necessity of compassion. Despite the challenging topics, the conversation maintains a hopeful tone, encouraging listeners to lead with empathy and resilience during turbulent times. You can WATCH this conversation on YouTube here. Dr. Simmons is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Furman University. You can follow his Substack 'Philosophy in the Wild.' Dr. Carnahan is Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Central Methodist University, former editor of the Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics, and president of The Niebuhr Society. You can follow him on Tic-Tok. Previous Related Episodes with Kevin and Aaron Kevin Carnahan: Moral Clarity & the Uneasy Conscience The Courage to Be 15 w/ Elgin Fuller & Aaron Simmons Aaron Simmons: Camping with Kierkegaard Faith After Deconstruction Philosophy & the Experience of God Do I Have a Soul? & other cultural preferences in bold. Off-Road Religion & Pandemic Philosophizing _____________________ Join my Substack - Process This! Join our upcoming class - THE RISE OF BONHOEFFER, for a guided tour of Bonhoeffer's life and thought. Go with me to Berlin to spend a week in Bonhoeffer's House! 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 thought-provoking episode, I am joined by Dr. David Congdon to discuss his new book tackling the complex question of what defines a true Christian. The conversation delves into the historical and theological nuances of defining Christianity through various lenses such as doctrine, culture, and politics. Congdon critiques modern and orthodox notions of Christianity while proposing a new framework he calls 'polydoxy', informed by intellectual autonomy and religious self-determination. The discussion also explores how traditional ideas about orthodoxy and heterodoxy might evolve in a contemporary context, offering a fresh perspective on the ever-relevant debate about religious identity and authority. WATCH the conversation here on YouTube David Congdon is an author, speaker, and scholar working in the area of theology and culture. Originally from Portland, Oregon, he completed a B.A. in English at Wheaton College, acquired an M.Div. and Ph.D. in theology from Princeton Theological Seminary, and have since worked in the publishing industry as an academic acquisitions editor. In this episode, we discuss his new book Who Is a True Christian?: Contesting Religious Identity in American Culture. It is an intellectual history of the modern quest to define the “essence of Christianity,” a quest that both liberals and conservative traditionalists have participated in—the former wittingly and reflectively, and the latter often unwittingly and unreflectively. The book examines three versions of the conservative quest for the essence that have profoundly shaped contemporary American Christianity: the doctrinal quest for “historic Christianity,” the cultural quest for the Christian worldview, and the political quest for a global, persecuted, cisheteronormative identity. Having traced these developments historically, he argues that the root of the problem is the concept of orthodoxy itself, and suggests the transgressive concept of polydoxy as a constructive way forward for Christianity in a pluralistic society. Previous Podcast Episodes with David Dialectical Theology Bultmann’s Mission of Demythologizing _____________________ Join my Substack - Process This! Join our upcoming class - THE RISE OF BONHOEFFER, for a guided tour of Bonhoeffer's life and thought. Go with me to Berlin to spend a week in Bonhoeffer's House! 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