The Luminaries series is a collection of interviews with premier thinkers working in the theological academy and the church.

Fr. John Behr is the Regius Professor of Humanity at the University of Aberdeen and an esteemed scholar of the patristics, having published several translations of various Church Fathers and monographs of his own on patristic figures and patristic theology. 

Here we discuss the Gospel of John, Irenaeus and Origen, and the mystery of Christ and of life in death.

PODCAST LINKS:

Blog post: https://wipfandstock.com/blog/2023/01/10/luminaries-john-behr-the-gospel-of-john-irenaeus-and-origen-and-the-mystery-of-life-in-death/

Fr. Behr's website: https://frjohnbehr.com/

CONNECT:

Website: https://wipfandstock.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvht9V0Pndgvwh5vkpe0GGw

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wipfandstock

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wipfandstock

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wipfandstock/

SOURCES MENTIONED:

Ashton, John. Understanding the Fourth Gospel.

Athanasius. On the Incarnation.

Behr, John. Asceticism and Anthropology in Irenaeus and Clement.

———. Irenaeus of Lyons: Identifying Christianity.

———. John the Theologian and his Paschal Gospel: A Prologue to Theology.

———. The Nicene Faith. Formation of Christian Theology 2.

———. The Way to Nicaea. Formation of Christian Theology 1.

———, and Conor Cunningham, eds. The Role of Death in Life: A Multidisciplinary Examination of the Relationship between Life and Death.

Brown, Peter. The Body and Society: Men, Women, and Sexual Renunciation in Early Christianity.

Derrida, Jacques. The Gift of Death.

Dostoevsky, Fyodor. The Possessed.

Foucault, Michel. The History of Sexuality. 3 vols.

Henry, Michel. I Am the Truth: Toward a Philosophy of Christianity.

———. Incarnation: A Philosophy of the Flesh.

———. Words of Christ.

Käsemann, Ernst. The Testament of Jesus: A Study of the Gospel of John in the Light of Chapter 17.

Origen. On First Principles. Translated by John Behr.

Sanders, E. P. Paul and Palestinian Judaism: A Comparison of Patterns of Religion.

OUTLINE:

(01:31) – Diner coffee and assam/lapsang souchong tea

(02:31) – John the Theologian

(09:01) – Rediscovering modern philosophy

(10:42) – The Prologue to the Gospel of John

(18:11) – “And the Word was towards God”

(27:07) – Contemporary scholarship on Irenaeus

(30:43) – The “Great Church” and heresy

(37:30) – The body: Church fathers, Peter Brown, Foucault

(41:33) – Origen in translation

(52:11) – Death: re-thinking “it is finished”

(01:04:53) – What’s wrong with “the Bible”

(01:11:43) – Original sin and the Fall

Book series spotlights provide a closer look at one of our many series via an interview with series editors and/or authors.

In this inaugural book series spotlight, we sit down with K. C. Hanson and Douglas E. Oakman, series editors of Matrix: The Bible in Mediterranean Context. The volumes in the Matrix series explore the biblical text within the social context of the ancient Mediterranean and employ a variety of historical and social-scientific methods (including cultural anthropology, macrosociology, social psychology) to illuminate the text in said ancient Mediterranean world.

K. C. Hanson is editor-in-chief at Wipf and Stock and the author and editor of many books, including Palestine in the Time of Jesus: Social Structures and Social Conflicts (2008, co-authored with Douglas E. Oakman).

Douglas E. Oakman is Emeritus Professor of Religion at Pacific Lutheran University and the author of several Cascade titles, including Matrix series volumes, Jesus and the Peasants (2008) and The Radical Jesus, the Bible, and the Great Transformation (2021).

PODCAST LINKS:

Series page: https://wipfandstock.com/search-results/?series=matrix-the-bible-in-mediterranean-context

K. C. Hanson's author page: https://wipfandstock.com/author/k-c-hanson/

Douglas E. Oakman's author page: https://wipfandstock.com/author/douglas-e-oakman/

CONNECT:

Website: https://wipfandstock.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvht9V0Pndgvwh5vkpe0GGw

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wipfandstock

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wipfandstock

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wipfandstock/

SOURCES MENTIONED:

Carney, Thomas F. The Shape of the Past: Models and Antiquity.

Craffert, Pieter F. The Life of a Galilean Shaman: Jesus of Nazareth in Anthropological-Historical Perspective.

Elliott, John H. A Home for the Homeless: A Social-Scientific Criticism of 1 Peter, Its Situation and Strategy.

Guijarro, Santiago. The Gospel of Mark in Context: A Social-Scientific Reading of the First Gospel.

Malina, Bruce J. The New Testament World: Insights from Cultural Anthropology.

Neyrey, SJ, Jerome H. By What Authority?: Luke Gives Jesus Public Voice.

Oakman, Douglas E. Jesus and the Peasants.

———. The Radical Jesus, the Bible, and the Great Transformation.

Pilch, John J., and Bruce J. Malina, eds. Handbook of Biblical Social Values.

Rohrbaugh, Richard L. The Biblical Interpreter: An Agrarian Bible in an Industrial Age.

———. The New Testament in Cross-Cultural Perspective.

Scott, James C. The Moral Economy of the Peasant: Rebellion and Subsistence in Southeast Asia.

van Eck, Ernest. The Parables of Jesus the Galilean: Stories of a Social Prophet.

OUTLINE: 

(01:41) – Matcha tea, lemon ginger tea, and dark-roast coffee

(05:38) – The emergence of the Matrix series

(14:26) – Cross-cultural experiences and social-scientific approaches

(19:56) – Biblical scholarship for other scholars, churches, and students

(23:46) – Mapping social-scientific interpretation

(27:43) – Ancient context and modern global context

The Phenomenology Booth is a virtual exhibit devoted to the philosophical field of phenomenology. The exhibit is hosted on the Wipf and Stock Blog and includes a set of interviews with philosophers and theologians working in phenomenology, as well as a selection of Wipf and Stock’s books in phenomenology. You can find the link to the booth below.

Dr. Emmanuel Falque is on the philosophy faculty at the Catholic University of Paris and is the founder of the International Network in Philosophy of Religion. He is also the author of many volumes on phenomenology, including his forthcoming book with Cascade, By Way of Obstacles: A Pathway through a Work.

If you’re listening to this on Spotify, you should know that you can also watch this interview with subtitles on YouTube. The link to the YouTube video is in the description below.

PODCAST LINKS:

The Phenomenology Booth: https://wipfandstock.com/blog/2022/11/29/the-phenomenology-booth/

CONNECT:

Website: https://wipfandstock.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wipfandstock

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wipfandstock

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wipfandstock/

SOURCES MENTIONED:

Dika, Tarek. Quiet Powers of the Possible: Interviews in Contemporary French Phenomenology.

Falque, Emmanuel. By Way of Obstacles: A Pathway through a Work (forthcoming).

———. Crossing the Rubicon: The Borderlands of Philosophy and Theology.

———. The Guide to Gethsemane: Anxiety, Suffering, Death.

———. Hors phénomène: Essai aux confins de la phénoménalité.

———. The Loving Struggle: Phenomenological and Theological Debates.

———. The Metamorphosis of Finitude: An Essay on Birth and Resurrection.

———. The Wedding Feast of the Lamb: Eros, the Body, and the Eucharist.

———. Saint Bonaventure and the Entrance of God Into Theology.

Heidegger, Martin. Being and Time.

———. Duns Scotus's Doctrine of Categories and Meaning.

———. Ponderings II–VI: Black Notebooks 1931–1938.

———. Ponderings VI–XI: Black Notebooks 1938–1939.

———. Ponderings XII–XV: Black Notebooks 1939–1942.

Henry, Michel. I Am the Truth: Toward a Philosophy of Christianity.

———. Incarnation: A Philosophy of Flesh.

Ignatius of Loyola. The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.

Janicaud, Dominique. Phenomenology and the Theological Turn: The French Debate.

Levinas, Emmanuel. Totality and Infinity: An Essay on Exteriority.

Marion, Jean-Luc. God Without Being: Hors-Texte.

———. The Idol and Distance: Five Studies.

———. Reduction and Givenness: Investigations of Husserl, Heidegger, and Phenomenology.

Merleau-Ponty, Maurice. Phenomenology of Perception.

Nietzsche, Friedrich. The Gay Science: With a Prelude in Rhymes and an Appendix of Songs.

Sartre, Jean-Paul. Existentialism Is a Humanism.

Tertullian. On the Flesh of Christ.

OUTLINE:

(02:00) – Describing the phenomenon

(07:37) – Merleau-Ponty, Marion, and Janicaud

(11:19) – Meeting Marion

(18:40) – Genealogy of French phenomenology

(21:00) – Science or poetry?

(25:05) – Reduction, intentionality, and body

(34:25) – The “counterblow” of theology

(51:02) – Phenomenology as apologetics?

(58:40) – The “loving struggle” with Marion

(01:11:40) – Finitude

(01:23:10) – Resurrection and (re)birth

(01:38:02) – Animality and humanity

(1:49:49) – “A pathway through a work”

The Phenomenology Booth is a virtual exhibit devoted to the philosophical field of phenomenology. The exhibit is hosted on the Wipf and Stock Blog and includes a set of interviews with philosophers and theologians working in phenomenology, as well as a selection of Wipf and Stock’s books in phenomenology. You can find the link to the booth below.

Dr. Conor Sweeney is a professor of theology at Christendom College and the author of a handful of books with us at Cascade, including his Sacramental Presence after Heidegger: Onto-theology, Sacraments, and the Mother’s Smile.

In the interview, Professor Sweeney and I have a conversation about Heidegger, sacramental theology, John Paul II, Hans Urs von Balthasar, and lots more.

PODCAST LINKS:

The Phenomenology Booth: https://wipfandstock.com/blog/2022/11/15/the-phenomenology-booth/

Blog post: https://wipfandstock.com/blog/2022/11/28/the-phenomenology-booth-conor-sweeney-dasein-the-sacraments-in-postmodernity-and-von-balthasars-rehabilitated-metaphysics/

Author page: https://wipfandstock.com/author/conor-sweeney/

CONNECT:

Website: https://wipfandstock.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvht9V0Pndgvwh5vkpe0GGw

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wipfandstock

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wipfandstock

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wipfandstock/

SOURCES MENTIONED:

Heidegger, Martin. Being and Time.

Husserl, Edmund. The Logical Investigations. 2 vols.

Marion, Jean-Luc. In Excess: Studies of Saturated Phenomena.

Sokolowski, Robert. Introduction to Phenomenology.

von Balthasar, Hans Urs. Love Alone Is Credible.

Wojtyla, Karol/John Paul II. Love and Responsibility.

———. Man and Woman He Created Them: A Theology of the Body.

———. Person and Community: Selected Essays.

OUTLINE:

(01:23) – Phenomenology as the study of givenness

(04:30) – Sokolowski – Husserl - Wojtyla/John Paul II

(08:43) – JP2, Heidegger, and the French theological turn

(12:47) – Phenomenology and golfing

(18:43) – The “destruction” of “onto-theology”

(25:18) – “Dasein,” “being-in-the-world,” and “being-towards-death”

(28:56) – von Balthasar vis-à-vis Chauvet and Boeve

(34:31) – Dasein and "the mother’s smile”

The Phenomenology Booth is a virtual exhibit devoted to the philosophical field of phenomenology. The exhibit is hosted on the Wipf and Stock Blog and includes a set of interviews with philosophers and theologians working in phenomenology, as well as a selection of Wipf and Stock’s books in phenomenology. You can find the link to the booth below.

Dr. Donald Wallenfang is a Secular Discalced Carmelite and Professor of Theology and Philosophy at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. He has published many books with us at Cascade, including a Cascade Companion to phenomenology, Dialectical Anatomy of the Eucharist, and Emmanuel: Levinas and Variations on God with Us. Wallenfang was a student of Jean-Luc Marion while doing his PhD. He is also married and the father of six children.

In this interview for our phenomenology booth, Dr. Wallenfang and I discuss Jean-Luc Marion, Emmanuel Levinas, Edith Stein, John Paul II, and the relationship between phenomenology and metaphysics.

PODCAST LINKS:

The Phenomenology Booth: https://wipfandstock.com/blog/2022/11/15/the-phenomenology-booth/

Author page: https://wipfandstock.com/search-results/?keyword=donald+wallenfang

Dr. Wallenfang's academia.edu page: https://shms-mi.academia.edu/DonaldWallenfangOCDS

CONNECT:

Website: https://wipfandstock.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvht9V0Pndgvwh5vkpe0GGw

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wipfandstock

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wipfandstock

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wipfandstock/

SOURCES MENTIONED:

Engelland, Chad. Phenomenology.

Heidegger, Martin. Being and Time.

Husserl, Edmund. The Idea of Phenomenology.

———. Logical Investigations. 2 vols.

John Paul II. Fides et Ratio.

Levinas, Emmanuel. Ethics and Infinity: Interviews with Philippe Nemo.

———. Otherwise than Being, or Beyond Essence.

———. Totality and Infinity: An Essay on Exteriority.

Marion, Jean-Luc. Being Given: Toward a Phenomenology of Givenness.

———. God Without Being: Hors-Texte.

———. “Sketch of a Phenomenological Concept of Sacrifice.”

Robbins, Jill, ed. Is It Righteous to Be?: Interviews with Emmanuel Levinas.

Rosenzweig, Franz. The Star of Redemption.

Sokolowski, Robert. Introduction to Phenomenology.

Stein, Edith. Knowledge and Faith.

———. Potency and Act: Studies Towards a Philosophy of Being.

Wallenfang, Donald. Dialectical Anatomy of the Eucharist: An Étude in Phenomenology.

———. Emmanuel: Levinas and Variations on God with Us.

———. Human and Divine Being: A Study on the Theological Anthropology of Edith Stein.

———. Phenomenology: A Basic Introduction in the Light of Jesus Christ.

Zahavi, Dan. Husserl’s Phenomenology.

———. Phenomenology: The Basics.

OUTLINE:

(01:48) – How phenomenology is like Apple computers

(07:46) – Some good introductory books

(10:07) – Studying with Jean-Luc Marion

(15:08) – Wading through the jargon

(20:13) – Reconciling phenomenology and metaphysics

(27:18) – Emmanuel Levinas and/vs. Jean-Luc Marion

(32:08) – Phenomenology as ecumenical endeavor

(35:46) – Levinas and Stein in light of the Holocaust

(40:46) – Phenomenology’s contributions to theology

The Grind is a series of interviews with young scholars and PhD students on the many ways of "making a way" in the theological academy, and all the trials and joys therein.

Dr. Jordan Daniel Wood recently published a book with University of Notre Dame Press titled “The Whole Mystery of Christ: Creation as Incarnation in Maximus the Confessor.” He received his PhD in theology from Boston College and is a stay-at-home father of four girls.

In this interview for our podcast series, The Grind, Dr. Wood and I discuss his intellectual formation, his experiences as a PhD student and young scholar, how he’s carved his own way as an academic, and lots more. 

PODCAST LINKS:

Dr. Wood's book: https://undpress.nd.edu/9780268203474/the-whole-mystery-of-christ/

Dr. Wood's academia.edu page: https://bc.academia.edu/JordanWood

Naoki Matcha (Saint Mary's, GA): https://naokimatcha.com/

Brick & Mortar Coffee (Springfield, MO): https://brickandmortar.coffee/

CONNECT:

Website: https://wipfandstock.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wipfandstock

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wipfandstock

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wipfandstock/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvht9V0Pndgvwh5vkpe0GGw

SOURCES MENTIONED:

Maximus the Confessor. On the Cosmic Mystery of Jesus Christ. 

———. On Difficulties in the Church Fathers. Vol, 1, The Ambigua.

———. On Difficulties in the Church Fathers. Vol. 2, The Ambigua. 

The Philokalia. 4 vols. 

Wood, Jordan Daniel. "The Lively God of Sergius Bulgakov: Reflections on The Sophiology of Death." 

———, and Justin Shaun Coyle. "Must Catholics Hate Hegel?"

OUTLINE:

(02:28) – Matcha, raw milk, and Ethiopian coffee

(05:36) – Discovering historical theology

(12:43) – Maximus as Master

(20:44) – PhD days at Boston College

(24:18) – Family and the life of study

(31:01) – On the merits of not working in the academy

(44:13) – Further merits of being an unattached academic

(59:43) – Advice for prospective and current PhD students

The Luminaries series is a collection of interviews with premier thinkers working in the theological academy and the church.

Dr. Michael J. Gorman, who goes by Mike, holds the Raymond E. Brown Chair in Biblical Studies and Theology at St. Mary’s Seminary & University in Baltimore. He is the author of many books with Cascade, including Reading Paul, Reading Revelation Responsibly, and the forthcoming The Self, the Lord, and the Other according to Paul and Epictetus.

In our interview here, Professor Gorman and I talk about theological interpretation of Scripture, missional hermeneutics, theosis, the Book of Revelation, abortion, and more.

Apologies for the glitches and poor sound quality in parts of the episode. We are actively working to strengthen WiFi signals and microphone quality.

PODCAST LINKS:

Blog post: https://wipfandstock.com/blog/2022/10/18/luminaries-abide-in-me-and-you-will-bear-much-fruit-an-interview-with-michael-j-gorman/

Gorman's author page: https://wipfandstock.com/author/michael-j-gorman/ 

CONNECT:

Website: https://wipfandstock.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvht9V0Pndgvwh5vkpe0GGw

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wipfandstock

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wipfandstock

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wipfandstock/

SOURCES MENTIONED:

Dault, David, et al. The Leaked Dobbs Draft, the Closure of Catholic News Service, and Looking Ahead to the Summer. The Francis Effect. Podcast audio. May 11, 2022.

Gaventa, Beverly Roberts. “Reading for the Subject: The Paradox of Power in Romans 14:1—15:6.” 

Gorman, Michael J. Abide and Go: Missional Theosis in the Gospel of John. 

———. Abortion and the Early Church: Christian, Jewish and Pagan Attitudes in the Greco-Roman World.

———. Reading Paul. Cascade Companions. 

———. Reading Revelation Responsibly: Uncivil Worship and Witness: Following the Lamb into the New Creation. 

———. “Shalom and the Unborn.” 

———, and Ann Loar Brooks. Holy Abortion?: A Theological Critique of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice: Why Christians and Christian Churches Should Reconsider the Issue of Abortion. 

Green, Joel B. Seized by Truth: Reading the Bible as Scripture. 

Hays, Christopher B., and C. L. Crouch, eds. God and Guns: The Bible against American Gun Culture. 

Hays, Richard B. “Reading the Bible with Eyes of Faith: The Practice of Theological Exegesis.”

LaHaye, Tim, and Jerry B. Jenkins. The Left Behind Series. 12 vols. 

Lindsey, Hal. There’s a New World Coming: ‘A Prophetic Odyssey.’ 

Sandmel, Samuel. “Parallelomania.” 

Williams, Rowan. Christ the Heart of Creation. 

OUTLINE:

(01:32) - ‘70s Folk Rock

(02:34) - France, Greece, and Turkey

(03:29) - Theological Interpretation of Scripture

(08:07) - Missional Hermeneutics, Missional Theosis

(13:07) - Making Sense of the Pauline Corpus

(15:15) - (Mis)readings of the Book of Revelation

(21:20) - Abortion and the Church

(25:40) - The Bible and Nonviolence

(31:17) - Why Publish the Dissertation Now?

(33:57) - Paul and Epictetus

(38:57) - Writing for the Church, Ecumenism

(41:45) - Changing Your Mind

The Balthasar Booth is a virtual exhibit devoted to the life and work of Hans Urs von Balthasar. The exhibit is hosted on the Wipf and Stock Blog and includes a set of interviews with Balthasar scholars, as well as a selection of Wipf and Stock’s books by and about HUVB. You can find the link to the booth below.

Dr. Levering holds the James N. Jr. and Mary D. Perry Chair of Theology at Mundelein Seminary and is the author of over thirty books, including his 2019 publication, The Achievement of Hans Urs von Balthasar: An Introduction to His Trilogy. 

In our conversation, Levering and I discuss Hans Urs von Balthasar, especially as his work relates to Thomism, liberal Catholicism, Ignatian spirituality, modern German philosophy, and much more.

Apologies for the glitches and poor sound quality in parts of the episode. We are actively working to strengthen WiFi signals and microphone quality.

PODCAST LINKS:

The Balthasar Booth: https://wipfandstock.com/blog/2022/08/02/the-balthasar-booth/

Blog post: https://wipfandstock.com/blog/2022/08/01/self-surrender-is-the-heart-of-everything-matthew-levering-on-hans-urs-von-balthasar/

Author page: https://wipfandstock.com/author/matthew-levering/

CONNECT:

Website: https://wipfandstock.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvht9V0Pndgvwh5vkpe0GGw

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wipfandstock

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wipfandstock

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wipfandstock/

SOURCES MENTIONED:

Balthasar, Hans Urs von. Convergences: To the Source of Christian Mystery. 

———. The Glory of the Lord: A Theological Aesthetics. 7 vols. 

———. In the Fullness of Faith: On the Centrality of the Distinctively Catholic.

———. Love Alone Is Credible. 

———. Prayer. 

———. Theo-Drama: Theological Dramatic Theory. 5 vols. 

———. Theo-Logic. 3 vols. 

———. Truth Is Symphonic: Aspects of Christian Pluralism. 

Collins, Kenneth J., and Jerry L. Walls. Roman but Not Catholic: What Remains at Stake 500 Years after the Reformation. 

Levering, Matthew. The Achievement of Hans Urs von Balthasar: An Introduction to His Trilogy. 

———, et al. International Journal of Systematic Theology. 

———, and Thomas Joseph White, OP. Nova et Vetera. 

Nietzsche, Friedrich. The Will to Power. 

Rousselot, Pierre. The Eyes of Faith: With Rousselot’s Answers to Two Attacks. 

OUTLINE:

(01:28) - Balthasar's Strengths

(03:07) - Critiquing Balthasar

(10:57) - Balthasar's Core Themes

(34:51) - Ressourcement vs. Thomism

(52:06) - Balthasar's Books

The Balthasar Booth is a virtual exhibit devoted to the life and work of Hans Urs von Balthasar. The exhibit is hosted on the Wipf and Stock Blog and includes a set of interviews with Balthasar scholars, as well as a selection of Wipf and Stock’s books by and about HUVB. You can find the link to the booth below.

Dr. Anne M. Carpenter is a professor of theology at Saint Mary’s College of California and the author of Theo-Poetics: Hans Urs von Balthasar and the Risk of Art and Being. 

In our interview, Professor Carpenter and I discuss Hans Urs von Balthasar, particularly in relation to poetry, Orientalism, Heidegger, Thomism, and theological risk-taking, to name a few conversation points.

Apologies for the glitches and poor sound quality in parts of the episode. We are actively working to strengthen WiFi signals and microphone quality.

PODCAST LINKS:

The Balthasar Booth: https://wipfandstock.com/blog/2022/08/02/the-balthasar-booth/

Blog post: https://wipfandstock.com/blog/2022/08/01/to-dare-being-anne-m-carpenter-on-hans-urs-von-balthasar/

CONNECT:

Website: https://wipfandstock.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvht9V0Pndgvwh5vkpe0GGw

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wipfandstock

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wipfandstock

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wipfandstock/

SOURCES MENTIONED:

Balthasar, Hans Urs von. Apokalypse der deutschen Seele. 3 vols.

———. Explorations in Theology. 5 vols. 

———. The Glory of the Lord: A Theological Aesthetics. 7 vols. 

———. Mysterium Paschale: The Mystery of Easter.

———. Theo-Logic. 3 vols. 

Brown, Joshua R. Balthasar in Light of Early Confucianism. 

Carpenter, Anne M. Nothing Gained Is Eternal: A Theology of Tradition. 

———. Theo-Poetics: Hans Urs von Balthasar and the Risk of Art and Being. 

Kerr, Fergus. “Balthasar and Metaphysics.” In The Cambridge Companion to Hans Urs von Balthasar, edited by Edward T. Oakes, SJ, and David Moss. 

O’Regan, Cyril. Anatomy of Misremembering: Von Balthasar’s Response to Philosophical Modernity. 

Rilke, Rainer Maria. “Lament.” The Selected Poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke. 

OUTLINE:

(01:31) - Balthasar's Ideological and Methodological Elusiveness

(02:59) - Balthasar, Orientalism, and the Far East

(04:59) - Starting Points for Reading Balthasar

(06:46) - Theo-Logic v. 3

(08:15) - Writing Poetry

(12:05) - Thomist Metaphysics and Poetic Theology

(16:05) - Heidegger and Rilke

(24:13) - Heideggerian Thomism

(28:55) - Twining Metaphysics, Language, and Christology

(32:51) - The Risk of Art and Being

(39:24) - Lonergan, Balthasar, Blondel, Peguy, and Black Theology

The Balthasar Booth is a virtual exhibit devoted to the life and work of Hans Urs von Balthasar. The exhibit is hosted on the Wipf and Stock Blog and includes a set of interviews with Balthasar scholars, as well as a selection of Wipf and Stock’s books by and about HUVB. You can find the link to the booth below.

Dr. Layton Friesen is the academic dean at Steinbach Bible College in Manitoba and formerly served as the Conference Pastor of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference of Canada. He is also the author of Secular Nonviolence and the Theo-Drama of Peace: Anabaptist Ethics and the Catholic Christology of Hans Urs von Balthasar.

In our interview, Dr. Friesen and I discuss the work of Hans Urs von Balthasar and its relationship to ethics, contemplation, Karl Barth, contemporary Mennonite communities, and more.

Apologies for the glitches and poor sound quality in parts of the episode. We are actively working to strengthen WiFi signals and microphone quality. 

PODCAST LINKS:

The Balthasar Booth: https://wipfandstock.com/blog/2022/08/02/the-balthasar-booth/

Blog post: https://wipfandstock.com/blog/2022/08/01/ethics-and-the-acts-of-god-layton-friesen-on-hans-urs-von-balthasar/

CONNECT:

Website: https://wipfandstock.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvht9V0Pndgvwh5vkpe0GGw

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wipfandstock

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wipfandstock

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wipfandstock/

SOURCES MENTIONED:

Balthasar, Hans Urs von. Engagement with God: The Drama of Christian Discipleship. 

———. Prayer. 

———. Theo-Drama: Theological Dramatic Theory. 5 vols. 

Barth, Karl. Church Dogmatics. 31 vols.

Friesen, Layton Boyd. Secular Nonviolence and the Theo-Drama of Peace: Anabaptist Ethics and the Catholic Christology of Hans Urs von Balthasar. 

Long, D. Stephen: Saving Karl Barth: Hans Urs von Balthasar’s Preoccupation. 

McIntosh, Mark A. Christology from Within: Spirituality and the Incarnation in Hans Urs von Balthasar. 

Oakes, Edward T. Pattern of Redemption: The Theology of Hans Urs von Balthasar.

OUTLINE:

(01:28) - Humility, Gentleness, and Voracious Curiosity

(04:35) - Patience as a Virtue in Reading and Writing

(06:07) - Curiosity as Vice?

(08:31) - Prayer, Secondary Sources

(12:20) - Prayer and Ethics

(13:40) - Reading Balthasar as a Mennonite

(16:13) - Jesus and Secularity

(23:50) - Balthasar, Violence, and Pacifism

(28:58) - Doctrine and Ethics

(33:50) - Balthasar and Karl Barth