Imaginative Discipleship

In this episode, I grill Ted Turnau, author of Popologetics and the forthcoming duology of Oasis of Imagination and Imagination Manifesto (the latter of which is co-authored with Ruth Naomi Floyd, and both of which I’m editing for IVP!) What exactly is the imagination, and why is it important for Christians to understand and appreciate it?

Ted Turnau teaches culture, media, and religious studies at Anglo-American University in Prague, Czech Republic. He’s lived there with his wife and family since 1999. He graduated from Westminster Theological Seminary with both an M.Div. and a Ph.D. in apologetics. His writing and research interests circle around the territory where faith, imagination, and culture (especially popular culture) intersect.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/6Okwb34BG30

Ted’s books:

* Popologetics: Popular Culture in Christian Perspective (P&R, 2012)

* The Pop Culture Parent: Helping Kids Engage Their World for Christ (with E. Stephen Burnett and Jared Moore, New Growth Press, 2020)

* Oasis of Imagination (forthcoming, summer 2023, IVP)

* Imagination Manifesto (with Ruth Naomi Floyd, forthcoming, summer 2023, IVP)

Books mentioned:

* You Are What You Love - James K A Smith

* Jim Davies - Imagination: The Science of Your Brain’s Greatest Power

* Why Art Matters - Alastair Gordon

Movies discussed:

A Love Song for Bobby Long (2004, dir Shainee Gabel)

A Short Film About Love (1988, dir Krzysztof Kieslowski)

Music discussed:

* Pink Floyd

* 21 Pilots

* Andrew Peterson

* The Gray Havens

* Ruth Naomi Floyd

This week I’m pleased to share with you a talk that I gave on Imaginative Discipleship at L’Abri Fellowship, England on 30th September 2022. Thanks to L’Abri for letting me share the recording here on the podcast!

** How imagination shapes and reveals our hearts

How does the renewal of our imaginations shape our Christian life and witness?

How do we cultivate the renewal of our imaginations by the Spirit through the Word, for life in the world?

I explore the nature of the imagination and how it connects to the biblical theme of the heart, the importance of imaginative renewal for our discipleship, and suggests some steps we can take to help participate in God's redemption of our imaginations. 

Download the lecture slides.

** Fieldmoot and Zoom Q&A

I’m also excited that this talk will be part of Fieldmoot, an online conference to celebrate and encourage Christians in the creative arts, 3rd to 6th November 2022.

I’ll be releasing the video recording of the talk as part of Fieldmoot, and doing a live Q&A on Zoom to discuss it further on Friday 4th November.

Sign up at Fieldmoot.com for the full programme and to join in!

** What is L’Abri Fellowship?

L’Abri is a community that’s been a very special place for me in my own journey of discipleship. It’s a place of shelter where students can go and join in the life of the community, and explore honest answers to life’s big questions.

You can find out more, including subscribing to the L’Abri lecture podcast, at englishlabri.org. For more resources, visit the L'Abri Ideas Library at labriideaslibrary.org. The library contains over one thousand lectures and discussions that explore questions about the reality and relevance of Christianity.

Welcome to the first full episode of the Imaginative Discipleship podcast! Typically I’ll be interviewing guests about their perspectives on and experiences with imagination and discipleship – but in this case I’ve asked my friend and experienced podcaster Rachel Redeemed to interview me about why I’m launching this show.

What is imagination? What is discipleship? Why put the two together? What exactly prompted me to start this podcast now? What can listeners expect from upcoming episodes?

Find out all this as we begin the adventure!

Follow Imaginative Discipleship: Twitter - Instagram - Facebook - YouTube

Featuring:

* Caleb Woodbridge - Twitter @CalebWoodbridge, Instagram calebwoodbridge

* Rachel Redeemed - Twitter @RachelRedeemed, Instagram rachredeemed YouTube channel

Inspiration from:

Andrew Peterson - www.andrew-peterson.comThe Rabbit Room - www.rabbitroom.com

A big hello to the UK Moot Community!

Join on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/892284851682666

Some places I’ve written for on story and faith:

* My blog and newsletter - calebwoodbridge.com / biggerinside.co.uk

* Threads UK -  https://threadsuk.com/writtenby/caleb-woodbridge

* Christian Research Journal - https://www.equip.org/christian-research-journal/

Useful resources:

* L’Abri Ideas Library - www.labriideaslibrary.org

* Talks by Andrew Fellows:

* The Two Streams: Integrating Reason and Imagination

* Fantasy vs. Imagination

Books:

* Gentle and Lowly - Dane Ortlund - https://www.crossway.org/books/gentle-and-lowly-hcj/

* Jesus Lover of my Soul - Julian Hardyman https://ivpbooks.com/jesus-lover-of-my-soul

Watch the video of this episode on YouTube.

Welcome to the Imaginative Discipleship podcast! Over the last year, I’ve been exploring the theme of discipleship and imagination on my email newsletter, Bigger on the Inside (www.biggerinside.co.uk). Join me as I explore all this and more on my new show, launching imminently!

I’ll be hosting conversations about faith and imagination with a variety of guests. The first few guests include Rachel Redeemed, Ted Turnau, Mary McCampbell and Sophie Killingley with more to come. I've had a blast chatting to them and can't wait to share the conversations with you.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas: What topics would you like to hear tackled? Who would you like me to invite onto the show? And if you’d like to take part, I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment, or drop me a line at [email protected].

If you would like to support the show, please consider becoming a paid subscriber via www.imaginativediscipleship.com.