Dr. Ben Conner, professor of practical theology and founder of the Center for Disability and Ministry, joins Rupert Isaacson for a radical rethinking of Christianity and environmentalism. From reinterpreting "dominion" in Genesis to empowering neurodivergent voices in ministry, Ben challenges assumptions about American evangelicalism, conservation, and the role of theology in planetary healing. Together, they explore how to reconnect children, horses, and communities to a sense of sacred kinship with nature—through wonder, embodiment, and relational theology.

✨ “Maybe the vocation of a mountain is just to be a mountain.” – Ben Conner

✨ "Jesus in the wilderness was being re-nurtured by creation itself." – Ben Conner

🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why many American evangelicals misunderstand the concept of "dominion" in Genesis ([00:07:00])
• The roots of Christianity’s alienation from nature: Enlightenment rationalism, individualism, and soul-saving escapism ([00:14:00])
• How children (especially neurodivergent ones) teach us to see God through curiosity and wonder ([00:48:00])
• Practical steps to re-integrate theology, land, and disability in ministry and daily life ([00:52:00])
• The theology of kinship: how mountains, rivers, horses, and people are all called into vocation ([01:07:00])
• The idea that Christianity is often more about identity and power than faith in Christ himself ([01:15:00])
• Rupert's comparison of CS Lewis and Tolkien as hidden eco-theologians ([01:26:00])
• Creating church outside: the rise of Wild Church and Refugia communities ([01:30:00])
• Ben's story of his son recovering from brain trauma and becoming his teacher in theology ([01:36:00])

🎤 Memorable Moments from the Episode:

• Why many American evangelicals misunderstand dominion and where that theology came from ([00:07:00])
• The Enlightenment-era origins of individualistic Christianity in the U.S. ([00:14:00])
• "You aren't seeing the rabbit anymore. You're seeing yourself and the schemes and appetites you bring to the world." – Matthew Scully, quoted by Ben ([00:35:00])
• Why start theology with children and people with disabilities ([00:48:00])
• Horses have vocations too: understanding agency, refusal, and partnership ([01:06:00])
• How Ben's son, initially disabled, became a theological teacher ([01:36:00])

📚 Books, Thinkers, and Movements Mentioned:

• Thomas Berry – *The Sacred Universe *https://amzn.to/4ltj1rJ
• David Clough – *Creaturely Theology *https://amzn.to/4kbRslF
• Victoria Loorz – Church of the Wild (and the Wild Church Network) https://amzn.to/4lx1Gyd
• Matthew Scully – *Dominion *https://amzn.to/4erqXr2
• Randy Woodley – Harmony Way & Indigenous Christianity https://amzn.to/4lv6Uuc
• Patty Krawec – *Becoming Kin *https://amzn.to/3TPCjvy
• Four Arrows – *Restoring the Kinship Worldview *https://amzn.to/4kazIXT
• Deb Rienstra – *Refugia Faith https://amzn.to/4khixUO *
• A Rocha USA (https://arocha.org)

🛍️ Contact Ben Conner:

• Center for Disability and Ministry: https://westernsem.edu/center-for-disability-and-ministry
• Faculty Page: https://www.westernsem.edu/faculty/conner/
• Podcast: Disabling the Church

🌍 See All of Rupert’s Programs and Shows:
Website: https://rupertisaacson.com

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