Church Potluck: A Smorgasbord of Christian Curiosity

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This episode features Dr. Todd Timberlake—our resident astrophysicist—at the center of the table. Todd walks us through three awe-inducing questions:

1. Why is there something rather than nothing? What physics can say up to the Big Bang—and why “before” may be the wrong word. Fine-tuning, multiverse ideas, and what science can (and can’t) answer.
2. How did life arise? From Miller–Urey to amino acids, to the leap toward self-replicating molecules, and the odds of life elsewhere. Todd explains why discovering life beyond Earth would reshape the conversation.
3. What is consciousness? Brains, synapses, free will, and the difference between sentience and self-awareness. Do animals share forms of consciousness unlike ours? What would alien consciousness even mean?

Michael Bailey brings philosophical heat—probing materialism, free will, shared intentionality, and whether intelligence without consciousness is possible. Dale McConkey keeps the potluck warm with wonder, humor, and the theological lens (imago Dei, purpose, and meaning).

We also play a breezy round of “Which Is Bigger?” (stars vs. sand, synapses vs. Milky Way, cells vs. galaxies, etc.), proving that big numbers make great radio. Light teasing, a fresh haircut, and a nod to Vanderbilt keep things delightfully human.

The views expressed on Church Potluck are solely those of the participants and do not represent any organization.

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We’re back with another crossover of Church Potluck and American Angst—and it’s the middle slice of a three-part series. In Part 1, we explored evidence for a religious impulse at the founding of the United States. Today, we flip the coin and examine the “godless constitution” thesis: why the U.S. Constitution reads secular by design, how the framers imagined church–state separation, and what that meant in practice—from oath vs. affirmation options and chaplains, to presidential proclamations and the Treaty of Tripoli’s blunt line that America is “not in any sense founded on the Christian religion.”

Host Dale McConkey and political philosopher Michael Bailey unpack what “secular” meant to the founders (hint: not automatically anti-religious), how federalism complicates easy slogans (a secular federal blueprint alongside evolving state choices), and why many founders still believed private, voluntary faith undergirds public virtue. We trace the gradual disestablishment of state churches as culture and diversity shifted, and we highlight Washington’s move from mere “toleration” to full religious liberty—rights grounded in conscience, not favors from a majority. Along the way: a birthday shout-out, a candy-aisle cold open (defense of the peanut butter cup!), and a game-show callback. We close by teeing up Part 3, where we’ll examine Christian nationalism today and how competing readings of the founding shape modern politics.

The views expressed on Church Potluck are solely those of the participants and do not represent any organization.

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In this week’s episode of Church Potluck, we sit down for a roundtable on Dilexi Te (“I Have Loved You”), Pope Leo XIV’s very first apostolic exhortation, a pastoral message of encouragement. Leo takes this opportunity to call Christians to a deeper commitment to the poor, broadly defined as those who are economically disadvantaged, displaced, or marginalized.

Together, we discuss how Leo grounds his message in both Scripture and church tradition, the continuity with Pope Francis’ papacy, and why this document is addressed to all Christians, not just Catholics. We wrestle with critiques from prosperity gospel and Marxist perspectives, examine the balance between charity and justice, and consider the shared responsibility of both governments and individuals. We also touch on liberation theology, relative vs. absolute poverty, and the Pope’s challenge not to “other” the poor but to recognize them as part of the church itself.

Joining the conversation are Dr. Christy Snider, a cradle Catholic with twelve years of Catholic schooling; Brett Adams, a convert to Catholicism with roots in the Church of the Nazarene; and Dr. Michael Papazian, an Armenian Orthodox scholar whose academic work often bridges Catholic and Orthodox thought. 

And for some fun, we play our game show “Is It In There?”, guessing which Bible verses Pope Leo actually cited in the exhortation.

The views expressed on Church Potluck are solely those of the participants and do not represent any organization.

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It’s a crossover feast: American Angst meets Church Potluck for a lively, thoughtful dive into religion, politics, and the Founders—setting the table for an upcoming conversation on Christian nationalism. This one leans a bit more American Angst in tone, with Michael Bailey taking the lead while Dale McConkey jumps in with sociological insight and good-humored pushback. In this episode, the focus is squarely on the Christian Commonwealth perspective—the idea that America’s roots lie in Puritan covenant theology, religiously infused language in the Declaration, and early public practices that tied faith and politics together. Along the way, they explore why Americans have long seen themselves as “chosen” and exceptional, and why ownership of the national story still feels contested.

The conversation includes playful banter, a round of “Founding Father Faith Jeopardy,” and even a ranking of which founders were most traditionally religious. And while today’s episode emphasizes the Christian Commonwealth thesis, next time the duo will turn to the Godless Constitution perspective—giving both sides of this ongoing debate their due. Smart, curious, and just spiky enough to keep you listening, this crossover sets up a larger series of conversations on Christian nationalism and American identity.

The views expressed on Church Potluck are solely those of the participants and do not represent any organization.

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This episode explores the Orthodox Christian tradition—and specifically Mary’s place within it—through a warm, curious conversation with philosopher and Orthodox theologian Dr. Michael Papazian. Together we look at how Orthodoxy understands salvation, worship, and church authority, then dive into what that means for honoring Mary.

• What makes Orthodoxy distinct? (spoiler alert: theosis, richly sensory worship, and a decentralized view of church leadership)
• How does Armenian Apostolic faith fit alongside Greek and Russian Orthodoxy—and why did some splits start centuries well before the Great Schism of 1054?
• Who is St. Gregory of Narek—monk, poet, and recent Doctor of the Church—and why do his 95 heart-piercing prayers (“Speaking with God from the Depths of the Heart”) matter today?
• What can Gregory’s Marian theology teach across traditions—about intercession, typology, holiness, and even women’s roles in the church?
• And how do Catholics and Orthodox differ (and overlap) on ideas like the Immaculate Conception?

It’s history without the dust, theology without the tribalism. We even play a quick round of “Which Mary Said It?”

The views expressed on Church Potluck are solely those of the participants and do not represent any organization.

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What happens when an astronomer, a political philosopher, and a retired pastor sit down at the potluck table? In this episode, Dr. Todd Timberlake, Reid Professor of Physics & Astronomy, joins host Dale McConkey and regular guest Dr. Michael Bailey for a lively conversation about awe and wonder.

Is science a cold explanation that drains the magic from the world—or can it actually deepen our sense of mystery? From the vastness of galaxies to the beauty of a sunrise, from Whitman’s skepticism to Kepler’s faith, we explore how curiosity, humility, and wonder keep both science and faith alive. Along the way, we draft our favorite sources of awe and swap stories that make the cosmos feel both immense and personal.

This episode is about big questions, big skies, and the joy of knowing that some mysteries only get richer the closer you look.

The views expressed on Church Potluck are solely those of the participants and do not represent any organization.

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What happens when Christians disagree so deeply that dialogue itself feels dangerous? Can churches balance the call to love enemies with the responsibility to protect neighbors? And how do we speak the truth in love without sliding into silence—or into shouting?

In this episode, newbie Dr. Kathryn Heidelberger (comparative Christian–Islamic ethics) and relative newbie Dr. David Barr (Christian ethics) join oldie Michael Bailey and host Dale McConkey for a searching conversation about the ethics of Christian disagreement. The conversation reckons with real tensions in the Christian life: persuasion versus coercion, civility versus complicity, and the danger of dehumanizing those we oppose.

Drawing on Aquinas’s vision of virtue, Martin Luther King Jr.’s practice of nonviolence, Howard Thurman’s insistence on dignity, and Luther’s defense of the neighbor, the panel explores how rhetoric, motives, and methods shape the church’s witness.

To close, we lighten the mood with “Engage or Enrage”—a quick game where we test our tolerance for delightfully trivial habits.

The views expressed on Church Potluck are solely those of the participants and do not represent any organization.

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The Core Four are back! Host Dale McConkey is joined by Christy Snider, Michael Papazian, and Michael Bailey for a wide-ranging conversation on faith and culture.

We start with reactions to the Charlie Kirk assassination, unpacking how instantly polarizing it was, how social media amplified extreme voices, and how it revealed the deep fusion of religion and politics in American life. The group compares this moment with other flashpoints—from 9/11 to George Floyd—asking why some events unite while others divide.

Christy then introduces us to Saint Carlo Acutis, the first millennial canonized by the Catholic Church, whose deep love for the Eucharist and digital evangelism continue to inspire. That leads into a lighthearted game of “Saint or AIn’t?” where the Core Four try to tell whether quotes come from Acutis or AI.

From there, Michael P. highlights a New York Times story on AI and religion, sparking reflection on whether chatbots can serve as “digital chaplains.” The group weighs the accessibility and affirmation AI can provide against the irreplaceable depth of human pastoral care.

Finally, Michael B. walks us through Pew’s rankings of religiosity by state, exploring why the most religious states are overwhelmingly red, how psychology and fear might shape both politics and piety, and why America is still an outlier compared to wealthy nations.

As always, it’s a smorgasbord of curiosity, with both seriousness and laughter around the table.

The views expressed on Church Potluck are solely those of the participants and do not represent any organization.

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Season 4 of Church Potluck kicks off with a joyful, thoughtful dive into Christian missions as Dale welcomes media pro and new colleague Margaret Ndwandwe and her newlywed husband Xolani from Eswatini (formerly Swaziland). They share their long-distance love story born on the mission field and introduce the Bound Together Eswatini Partnership, a long-standing coalition focused on evangelism, discipleship, meeting human need, and church planting—including sustained food relief during COVID. We unpack Eswatini’s unique context (an absolute monarchy, culturally Christian schools, and syncretistic challenges like the Jericho movement) and how culturally humble, locally led missions avoid exporting Western culture. There’s laughter, too—a “Rome, Georgia or Rome, Italy” game, Mexican-food fandom, and deer roaming campus—plus an open invite to churches interested in partnering (see SwaziPartnership.com). 

The views expressed on Church Potluck are solely those of the participants and do not represent any organization.

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CROSSOVER EPISODE! In this first-ever crossover episode between Church Potluck and American Angst 101, host Dale McConkey, political scientist Michael Bailey, and historian Christy Snider dive into a hot-button political and theological controversy surrounding Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s recent social media post endorsing ideas from pastor Doug Wilson, a leader in the Confederation of Reformed Evangelical Churches. The trio unpack the historical and ideological roots of Wilson’s views on Christian nationalism, household voting, and the role of women in leadership and public life—views that include the repeal of the 19th Amendment and opposition to same-sex marriage. Along the way, they explore the tension between personal religious convictions and the exercise of political power in a pluralistic democracy, compare contemporary rhetoric with historical suffrage and prohibition-era debates, and add some lighthearted moments, including a “Patriarchy Then or Patriarchy Now?” game show. The conversation blends sharp political analysis, historical context, and wry humor while raising deeper questions about truth, authority, and the future of American public life. 

The views expressed on Church Potluck are solely those of the participants and do not represent any organization.