Church Potluck: A Smorgasbord of Christian Curiosity

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This week's Church Potluck features three graduating seniors from Berry College: Darla Gore, Grace Segars, and SK Smith. Each discusses the ways that their faith was simultaneously challenged yet strengthened while at college. They also explore the ways that academics, student life, the chaplain's office, and special programs work to provide fertile soil for spiritual growth and inquiry. An engaging conversation loaded with youthful enthusiasm and optimism!

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

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Jesus had a special relationship with those who are poor in this world. The Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) encourages young adults to follow in Jesus' footsteps by living in an impoverished region in the United States and practicing the core values of spirituality, community, simple living, and social justice. In this episode, we talk to two members of the JVC: Gabriel Barreneche (college dean, humanities, arts, and social sciences) and Vanessa Balenger (college graduate, political science and religion & philosophy). They share the transformative JVC experiences that "ruin" them for life. Michael Bailey (political science) and Dale McConkey (sociology, pastor) serve as interviewers in this episode.

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

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The Church is called to be "one body and one Spirit," yet we have a long history of fracturing into separate traditions and denominations. What should we make of such divisions? Join Dr. Michael Papazian (philosophy), Jon Parker (biblical studies), and Dale McConkey (sociology) as we discuss the schisms in each of our respective Christian traditions. The first half of the episode focuses on the historical schisms of the early Church, while the latter half analyzes the recent schisms in Mainline Protestant denominations like the United Methodist Church and the Episcopal Church.

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

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We conclude our trilogy of Easter episodes with a discussion of the Atonement. With Good Friday approaching, Christians prepare to commemorate Jesus saving us on the cross. But what is Jesus saving us from? And how does crucifixion on the cross actually save us? And who is being saved? And why are there so many opinions on these matters within Christianity? Join Dr. Matthew Lee (philosophy), Rev. Dr. Chaplain Jon Huggins (theology), and Dr. Michael Papazian (philosophy) as we consider the above questions and more.

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

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Often, Christians reduce Holy Week to Palm Sunday and Easter Day, but numerous crucial moments occur between these two days. Join Rev. Dr. Parker as he takes us on a brisk journey through each of the days of Holy Week, with Dr. Jordan Rowan Fannin and Rev. Dr. Dale McConkey adding their insights as well. Here's the path we take:

• PALM SUNDAY: JESUS THE VICTOR
• HOLY MONDAY: JESUS THE PROPHET
• HOLY TUESDAY: JESUS THE APOCALYPTIC PREACHER
• HOLY WEDNESDAY: JESUS THE JUST
• MAUNDY THURSDAY: JESUS THE LAMB
• GOOD FRIDAY: JESUS THE KING
• HOLY SATURDAY: JESUS THE DEAD & BURIED
• EASTER SUNDAY: JESUS THE RISEN

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

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Christians over the globe are preparing to celebrate their conviction that Jesus of Nazareth rose from the dead. How essential is this Easter proclamation for Christian faith? Join Jon Huggins (chaplain), Michael Papazian (philosophy), Mike Bailey (political science), and Dale McConkey (sociology, pastor) as they deliberate the Resurrection from a variety of angles.

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

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Are Christian Colleges compatible with liberal arts learning? Do these colleges restrict students with regard to both their intellectual and social life? What role do Christian colleges play in the contexts of academia and the larger culture? Join Tom Kennedy, Abbie Vegter, and Mike Bailey as we consider these questions. Also, we bid a fond farewell to and bestow gifts upon two of our guests: Tom, who is cementing his retirement and moving away from us, and Abbie who will be temporarily leaving us while on maternity leave.

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

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Welcome to our St. Patrick's Day episode! Dr. Michael Bailey (political science) and Rev. Dr. Dale McConkey (sociology) pepper Dr. Michael Papazian (philosophy, religion) with a myriad of questions about St. Patrick and his day. What do we know about Patrick historically? What are the myths that have developed over the years? Why and how did he become a saint? (Also, how do people become saints in general?) And what should we think about the holiday named in his honor? Join us for a fun and enlightening discussion!

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

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What responsibilities do Christians have to care for the environment? What specific steps should Christians take? Do our personal efforts make any difference in protecting the environment, or are large-scale changes needed? What's a Christian to do in a consumption-oriented culture? Join Christian ethicists Tom Kennedy and David Barr along with Bible scholar Jonathan Parker as we explore these and many other questions on this week's episode!

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

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UFOs. Aliens. Extraterrestrial life.  The possibility of these phenomena is getting increasingly serious attention from the media, the government, and true believers. How about the Church? Would the existence of alien life change the way we understand our faith? Join special guest Todd Timberlake (physics) along with Jon Parker (theology) and Mike Baily (political science) as we explore the Christian implications of extraterrestrial beings. An informative and fun episode!

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