Christian Curious

What were the lives like of women in early Christian history, and what can they tell us about our lives today? Dr. Lynn Cohick, the provost and dean of academic affairs of Northern Seminary, sheds some light on this heavily shadowed subject.

Resources:
Christian Women in the Patristic World: Their Influence, Authority, and Legacy in the Second through Fifth Centuries by Dr. Lynn Cohick and Amy Brown Hughes / https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MT90WO0/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1


Women in the World of the Earliest Christians: Illuminating Ancient Ways of Life by Dr. Lynn Cohick / https://www.amazon.com/Women-World-Earliest-Christians-Illuminating-ebook/dp/B00B85ALZK/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3Q4LAGIGXAA3B&dchild=1&keywords=women+in+the+world+of+the+earliest+christians+by+lynn+h.+cohick&qid=1615239181&sprefix=women+in+the+world+of+%2Cdigital-text%2C216&sr=8-1

Social media can be a source of connection, information, and influence, but it can have a dark side as well. Cyberbullying, fake news, online witch hunts, and the increased polarization among users are some of the detriments. How can Christians learn to leverage the power of social media to demonstrate and share the gospel?

On this episode, we talked to acclaimed author and professor Karen Swallow Prior. She uses social media as an extension of her classroom-- a way to have deeper conversations about faith, literature, and world events. 

Listen to learn more about how to cultivate a mindfulness and freedom surrounding social media.

What are the philosophical undercurrents driving the political discord we see today? There has to be a story behind this deep-seated division, so on this episode of Christian Curious, we speak with Dr. Doug Groothuis to learn more about the fight between red & blue.


Books Mentioned:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XBV7WHL/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001D1UOH4/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

Can different generations be considered as contrasting cultures? What demographic demonstrates the most resilience? What is trauma? On this episode of Christian Curious, we chat with Dr. Betsy Nesbit Wagner about the impact of current events on different generations. Will the kids be alright?


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012H103PG/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

https://www.amazon.com/Skills-Effective-Counseling-Faith-Based-Psychological-ebook/dp/B01M0M3K0D/ref=sr_1_1?crid=36S8GXW4P1VIY&dchild=1&keywords=skills+for+effective+counseling+a+faith-based+integration&qid=1613427975&s=digital-text&sprefix=skills+for+ef%2Cdigital-text%2C185&sr=1-1

Sometimes it's hard to relate to the Bible. Even with thousands of translations, it can be challenging to experience the Bible as the interactive story that it is. On this episode of Christian Curious, we discuss a book that aims to meet that challenge-- 'Eyewitness: The Visual Bible Experience'. This illustrated storybook has no shortage of depth and truly captivates the mind and emotions! Step into the creative process of Joani and Thom Schultz of Group Publishing, as well as dozens of artists from all over the world.

Purchase the book here:
https://www.group.com/product/9781470759575-eyewitness-visual-bible-experience.do
https://www.amazon.com/Eyewitness-Visual-Experience-Jeff-White/dp/1470759578

Does God care about what we wear? Why do theological discussions around fashion and clothing seem to always center around the modesty issue? Is there more to the conversation than that? On this episode of Christian Curious, Dr. Halee Gray Scott and Hannah Grieser talk with Dr. Robert Covolo, author of ‘Fashion Theology.’

Robert Covolo is the Director of the Pastoral Residency Center, Christ Church Sierra Madre. He has a doctorate in theology and culture from Fuller Theological Seminary and Dogmatics and Ecumenics from a university in Amsterdam. He discusses the history of the global fashion movement, the ethics of dress, fashion as an act of hospitality and cultural engagement, and more.

Questions:

1. “Fashion Theology” seems to be a new and niche area. What inspired you to address the theology of fashion?
2. What is fashion? How does fashion shape the world?
3. The African theologian Augustine wrote that we belong to a heavenly city and also an earthly city. As we are members of the earthly city, within a unique culture, does God care about clothes? Why or why not?
4. In your book, you mention several male Christian thinkers who, throughout history, have tried to decide what was and wasn’t acceptable for Christian women to wear. One of Augustine’s central questions about fashion theology was “whether women sin mortally in excessive adornment.”

a. Why do you think people have felt (and still feel) the need to make these judgment calls?

b. How can a sound fashion theology help navigate possible sexism when in regards to deciphering how ’good’ Christians should dress?

1. Fashion costs money. Typically, the more trendy fashion is the more expensive it is. Some Christians might argue that we need to spend our money on other things. What would you say to people who are hesitant to spend money on clothes due to a conflict of spending money on other people or generosity?
2. You worked as an associate young adult pastor for 12 years. What implications would you say that fashion theology has for young adults?

Quotes:

“As a theologian, I believe Jesus is Lord of everything. That means Jesus has something to do with everything. I wanted to understand what Jesus had to do with fashion.”

“We are living in a fashion system. We are all living with this rapid interplay of dress. We look at our clothing as a palette in which we can express ourselves.”

“Art is integrated into your life through fashion”

“Culture is really what we make of creation.”

“When I read scripture, culture isn’t really something that comes from the fall— it comes from God.”

“The thing that really struck me as I did this research and traced all these different Christian thinkers is how much they had to say about fashion. It was quite shocking that they took dress so incredibly seriously.”

“Until you look for it, you don’t see it.”

“Celebrate life— embrace every day as a gift from God! Part of that is dressing well.”

Scripture to Press into:

• Proverbs 31, Genesis 1:26-27, Ecclesiastes 9:7-10

Extra Resources:

• Culture Making by Andy Crouch: https://www.ivpress.com/culture-making
• Fashion Theology by Dr. Robert Covolo: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KGWG36P/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
• Rainbows for the Fallen World: Aesthetic Life and Artistic Task by Calvin Seerveld https://www.amazon.com/Rainbows-Fallen-World-Aesthetic-Artistic/dp/0919071007

Jesus is the Prince of Peace, yet the world we live in is often anything but peaceful. In this episode of Christian Curious, we explore how we can be practical people of peace by remembering the arrival of Christ in the second week of Advent with Tracey Bianchi. 

At what point do ideas and dreams become tangible goals? What is the balance between stewarding personal ambitions and "letting go and letting God?"

On this episode of Christian Curious, Hannah interviews Dr. Halee about how we can set long-term goals that align with our calling in life.

Confucius once said,  "When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps." Young adults have big dreams and big goals. However, it can be really hard to know how to achieve them. On this episode of Christian Curious, Dr. Halee and Hannah discuss practical, daily action steps and rhythms to achieve the plans God has put into your heart.

Whether or not you know what one is or intentionally create one, every single person has something called a Rule of Life. Schedules and sets of principles that guide a person throughout their day-to-day endeavors. For Christians, the question is IF that rule of life is causing you to grow in the direction of becoming more like Jesus.

On this episode of Christian Curious, Dr. Howard Baker is back to discuss spiritual formation and how exactly to create a positive Rule of Life for oneself.