Spark My Muse

Tom Reynolds, PhD

 

Shownotes: PART I

A conversation (in 2 parts) with

the author of Vulnerable Communion: A Theology of Disability and Hospitality, by practical theologian Tom Reynolds

 

Bio:

Tom joined the Emmanuel College (part of the University of Toronto) faculty in 2007. He is committed to an interdisciplinary, practical, and relational vision of theology, his teaching and research address a range of topics related to constructive theology (particularly the doctrine of God and theological anthropology), theological method, intercultural and interfaith engagements, contextual theologies and globalization, philosophical theology, disability studies, and the thought and influence of Friedrich Schleiermacher.

His recent Articles

Email: [email protected]

MIN 4:00

Incorporating the theology of disability into his work training pastors at Emmanuel Seminary, because theology is personal, and not disconnected from the real world concerns of the church and people living their lives.

4:30

About his son Chris sparking his interest and work in the theology of disability.

5:30 Learning that disability isn’t a problem to figure out, but rather it’s about a person who I love and live with, and care with and for, which radically reoriented my perspective on theology.

5:50

Disability and God’s Providence

(Questioning does God “cause” disability as a curse or opportunity for healing…or a kind of moral lesson…)

6:30

His son exploded the theological categories (and assumptions) pertain to Providence…making everything confusing and needing to be re-thought.

7:00

What is abnormal? What is “faulty” humanity?

Amos Yong, Hans Reinders, John Swinton writing on the topic too.

8:15

Tom details the new book on the Theology of Care which builds on the first book.

8:40

Some churches stress Cure over Care in terms of disability.

8:50

(Lisa) My visit to a church where the leadership was interested in healing my son from his non normative experience of the world.

10:00

The range of responses churches have when encountering people with disabilities.

The  church’s “urge to cure” is better than outright exclusion, which plenty of families have encountered.

11:00

It comes from the the idea of remaking and fixing someone in a way that is more comfortable for non disable people and normalcy (what they consider normal). Not helpful or Christian.

12:00

About the church that didn’t want his son as a disruption and a church that did receive them.

13:00

“How can we help you?” was water for his parched soul. How the church accepted and welcomed the uniqueness of his son.

14:15

Hospitality vs. a narrow view of what is preferred.

15:00

The messiness of various kinds of people, in general, means we have to expand our view of grace.

15:30

Who gets to be a full-fledge member of the church community?

and the “mascot syndrome” for those with disabilities.

16:30 - 17:50

Levels and types of responses:

• Tolerate disabled, but they do not get to be a true part of the church.

Tom Reynolds, PhD

 

Shownotes: PART I

A conversation (in 2 parts) with

the author of Vulnerable Communion: A Theology of Disability and Hospitality, by practical theologian Tom Reynolds

 

Bio:

Tom joined the Emmanuel College (part of the University of Toronto) faculty in 2007. He is committed to an interdisciplinary, practical, and relational vision of theology, his teaching and research address a range of topics related to constructive theology (particularly the doctrine of God and theological anthropology), theological method, intercultural and interfaith engagements, contextual theologies and globalization, philosophical theology, disability studies, and the thought and influence of Friedrich Schleiermacher.

His recent Articles

Email: [email protected]

MIN 4:00

Incorporating the theology of disability into his work training pastors at Emmanuel Seminary, because theology is personal, and not disconnected from the real world concerns of the church and people living their lives.

4:30

About his son Chris sparking his interest and work in the theology of disability.

5:30 Learning that disability isn’t a problem to figure out, but rather it’s about a person who I love and live with, and care with and for, which radically reoriented my perspective on theology.

5:50

Disability and God’s Providence

(Questioning does God “cause” disability as a curse or opportunity for healing…or a kind of moral lesson…)

6:30

His son exploded the theological categories (and assumptions) pertain to Providence…making everything confusing and needing to be re-thought.

7:00

What is abnormal? What is “faulty” humanity?

Amos Yong, Hans Reinders, John Swinton writing on the topic too.

8:15

Tom details the new book on the Theology of Care which builds on the first book.

8:40

Some churches stress Cure over Care in terms of disability.

8:50

(Lisa) My visit to a church where the leadership was interested in healing my son from his non normative experience of the world.

10:00

The range of responses churches have when encountering people with disabilities.

The  church’s “urge to cure” is better than outright exclusion, which plenty of families have encountered.

11:00

It comes from the the idea of remaking and fixing someone in a way that is more comfortable for non disable people and normalcy (what they consider normal). Not helpful or Christian.

12:00

About the church that didn’t want his son as a disruption and a church that did receive them.

13:00

“How can we help you?” was water for his parched soul. How the church accepted and welcomed the uniqueness of his son.

14:15

Hospitality vs. a narrow view of what is preferred.

15:00

The messiness of various kinds of people, in general, means we have to expand our view of grace.

15:30

Who gets to be a full-fledge member of the church community?

and the “mascot syndrome” for those with disabilities.

16:30 - 17:50

Levels and types of responses:

• Tolerate disabled, but they do not get to be a true part of the church.

There is a societal epidemic that fears being vulnerable or being perceived as weak or unable to perform in ways that are considered valuable by society. This perspective actually leaves us stuck in an illusion of able-ness and ultimately less human. “The encounter with disability punctures the illusions of what we think of as our own strengths,” says Tom Reynolds whose work on hospitality and disability give us incredible insight that dismantles our ideas of self, other, community and apartness. Visit http://sparkmymuse.com to listen, or find detailed shownotes, resources, information, links and extras.

This episode is very different than the others. It's a reflection I invite you to engage it, on your own and, if possible, with others. If you've suffered (and most of us have) you will see your journey in this reading (which is almost poem). "Why, God have you forsaken me?" is often what our heart wants to cry out. So, why so we ask "why"? Here is my reflection on that.

This episode is very different than the others. It's a reflection I invite you to engage it, on your own and, if possible, with others. If you've suffered (and most of us have) you will see your journey in this reading (which is almost poem). "Why, God have you forsaken me?" is often what our heart wants to cry out. So, why so we ask "why"? Here is my reflection on that.

This episode is very different than the others. It's a reflection I invite you to engage it, on your own and, if possible, with others. If you've suffered (and most of us have) you will see your journey in this reading (which is almost poem). "Why, God have you forsaken me?" is often what our heart wants to cry out. So, why so we ask "why"? Here is my reflection on that.

Would YOU describe yourself as "brave?"

(not too many do)

Nicole Unice knows we can all be brave enough and gives us a path to that place. Through her counseling and ministry experience, she's found that people have 6 main issues that hinder them again and again. Her first book surprised people with its honesty on those issues. So, Nicole wanted to know can we have the radical honesty needed to be Brave Enough to grow in our relationships and with God in everyday life? How can we really be brave enough? Listen in and find out.

Would YOU describe yourself as "brave?"

(not too many do)

Nicole Unice knows we can all be brave enough and gives us a path to that place. Through her counseling and ministry experience, she's found that people have 6 main issues that hinder them again and again. Her first book surprised people with its honesty on those issues. So, Nicole wanted to know can we have the radical honesty needed to be Brave Enough to grow in our relationships and with God in everyday life? How can we really be brave enough? Listen in and find out.

Would YOU describe yourself as "brave?"

(not too many do)

Nicole Unice knows we can all be brave enough and gives us a path to that place. Through her counseling and ministry experience, she's found that people have 6 main issues that hinder them again and again. Her first book surprised people with its honesty on those issues. So, Nicole wanted to know can we have the radical honesty needed to be Brave Enough to grow in our relationships and with God in everyday life? How can we really be brave enough? Listen in and find out.

Over 15 years ago Shane Claiborne and a few friends moved into the worst part of inner-city Philadelphia and started The Simple Way community, and live much like the first Christians in Jerusalem. His often surprising story tells us about our core need to be known and loved.

Our age of affluence, independence and autonomy, has created a terrible hunger for belonging and community. Shane speaks all over the world telling of another way to live, a Simple Way, where we connect our gifts and talents to the world's pain and injustice in the places, nearby, that need us most.

Shane is a passionate and engaging author and advocate who lives out the Sermon on the Mount. He laughs easily, shares stories, and helps us learn what it means to be a Christian in the way of Jesus among and alongside the poor and marginalized.

Yes, Shane's message may discomfort us as we question how we are living out community in our own contexts. Be challenged by this episode and see if you can find a new way to live out the Gospel in your context. Please, enjoy the show and share your thoughts

* Shownotes, links, resources, the chance to converse, and much more is at http://sparkmymuse.com or Facebook at http://facebook.com/sparkmymuse

You can support the work of this podcast at http://patreon.com/sparkmymuse