Today J.R.R. Tolkien turns 131! My buddy and pro-Tolkien nerd Nick Polk joined me to share a toast to Tolkien and reflect on a passage we selected as we enter a new year. After the toast, you will hear our special Tolkien Heads session from Theology Beer Camp, which was a bunch of fun.
Nick Polk is the production editor for Mallorn, the academic journal of The Tolkien Society. His most recent research includes his essay entitled “Middle-earth in South Park: The Return of the Fellowship of the Ring to the Two Towers as Parody.” Other than Tolkien, his other loves include his wife Kelly, coffee, and punk. Nothing sounds better than starting the day reading a Tolkien book with a cup of coffee and ending it in a moshpit with loved ones.
Experiencing God: an Open Online Class
Kick off the new year with a nerdy good time. The next Homebrewed class will be a robust exploration of how the tools of science, philosophy, and theology help us discern meaning from divine encounters. We’ll discuss God-experiences as mediated through faith communities, the mind, nature, the Bible, psychedelics, and more. And we’ll do all this with an eye towards the future, exploring the possibilities for how a lived-theology could express itself in the world. Check it out here.
Here’s the trailer for Experiencing God (the online class)

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Toasting Tolkien on his 131st Birthday #TolkienBirthdayToast

The #1 Theology podcast on planet earth with Dr. Tripp Fuller. 

Each episode features an extended interview with a different scholar from a variety of perspectives. Enjoy.

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In this episode, I am joined by philosopher Tad Delay to discuss his new book, The Future of Denial: The Ideologies of Climate Change. We dive into the critical need for humanity to confront and adapt to the climate crisis. The discussion explores the intricate connections between psychoanalysis, religion, and climate denial across the ideological spectrum. It critiques the inadequacy of current mitigation efforts and emphasizes the urgency of adopting adaptation strategies. The narrative delves into the role of renewable energy, novel legal and grassroots activism, and the importance of preparing for climate migrants, while also considering the socio-economic and psychological impacts of climate-induced migrations.
You can get the book from the publisher Verso discount link 25% off or use promo code DENIAL at checkout.
Check out Tad Delay’s podcast, which explores the book on Apple or Spotify.

In this conversation, we discuss…

* Psychoanalysis Meets Climate Crisis
* The Complex Web of Climate Denial
* The Political Economy of Climate Action
* Liberalism, Capitalism, and Climate Denial
* Personal Actions and Political Realities
* Living with Climate Change: Personal and Community Impacts
* Exploring Material Incentives and Social Narratives
* The Seduction of Technological Fixes for Climate Change
* Mitigation vs. Adaptation: Strategies to Combat Climate Change
* The Limits of Tree Planting and Carbon Capture Technologies
* Addressing Climate Migration and Ethical Challenges
* The Role of Humanities and Community in Climate Action
* Envisioning Futures: Doom, Adaptation, and Opportunity

Check out Tad’s previous visit to the podcast: God Is Unconscious: Psychoanalysis & Theology
Tad DeLay, PhD is a philosopher, religion scholar, and interdisciplinary critical theorist. His books include Against: What Does the White Evangelical Want?, The Cynic & the Fool, and God Is Unconscious. He is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy in Baltimore.
Tad on Social media:
Twitter: @taddelay
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taddelayauthor
Website: taddelay.com

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Tad Delay: the Future of Denial

Brian McLaren joins me in this episode to discuss his new book Life After Doom. In it, we wrestle with redefining faith, civilization, and ecological consciousness. We delve into theological reflections, reinterpreting religious practices to align with Jesus’s teachings, advocating for a paradigm shift in societal structures, and emphasizing the urgent need for sustainable living. Moreover, we discuss creating inclusive spaces for spiritual growth and action.
Here’s Brian’s new book, Life After Doom: Wisdom & Courage for a World Falling Apart
In the conversation, we discuss Kim Stanley Robinson’s provocative book Ministry for the Future.

Brian D. McLaren is an author, speaker, activist, and public theologian. A former college English
teacher and pastor, he is a passionate advocate for “a new kind of Christianity” – just, generous, and working with people of all faiths for the common good. He is a faculty member of  The Living School and podcaster with Learning How to See, which are part of the Center for Action and Contemplation. He is also an Auburn Senior Fellow and works closely with the Wild Goose Festival, the Fair Food Program, Vote Common Good, and Progressive Christianity. His recent projects include an illustrated children’s book (for all ages) called Cory and the Seventh Story and The Galapagos Islands: A Spiritual Journey, and Faith After Doubt. His newest book is Do I Stay Christian? and we are going to read it together.
Previous Episodes with Brian

* Should I Stay Christian if I Don’t Believe?
* a God Worthy of Love
* Saying Yes to Christianity
* Questioning Christianity
* Do I Stay Christian?
* God – Pray – Driscoll<br ...

Brian McLaren: Life After Doom

Grace Ji-Sun Kim and Susan Shaw are back on the podcast to discuss their newest co-authored book Surviving God: A New Vision of God through the Eyes of Sexual Abuse Survivors. In the conversation, they discuss how traditional ways of thinking about God are highly problematic, contribute to the problems of sexual abuse, and are not reflective of the God of love and justice at the heart of the gospel. We also find out about their next partnership.
Susan M. Shaw is professor of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Oregon State University. Grace Ji-Sun Kim is a professor of theology at Earlham School of Religion and host of the Madang podcast.

The Book: Surviving God: A New Vision of God through the Eyes of Sexual Abuse Survivors
Previous Episodes with Grace & Susan

* The Story of a Process Southern Baptist Feminist (Susan)
* Godly QnA
* a Theology of Visibility
 What is Intersectional Theology?(Susan & Grace)
The Prophetic Life of the Spirit
Embracing the Other and Reading the Bible
Keeping Hope Alive

Join our upcoming class, FAITH & POLITICS FOR THE REST OF US!




Join us at Theology Beer Camp October 17-19, 2024!


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Grace Ji-Sun Kim & Susan Shaw: Surviving God

I recently returned to my old hometown, Winston-Salem, NC, for a live podcast at Lot63 in Old Salem. There, I was joined by two of my old Profs at Wake Forest University Divinity School, Dr. Bill Leonard and Dr. Craig Atwood,  the brand new Dean of the Divinity School, Dr. Corey Walker, and music from a fellow alum Kyle Caudle.
In this half of the live show, I talk with my former Church History Professor, Bill Leonard, and the new Dean of Wake Forest University Divinity School, Corey Walker. It was one epic live show and a powerful and provocative conversation!
Corey D. B. Walker is Dean of the School of Divinity at Wake Forest University. As a scholar, he’s committed to a broad vision of human flourishing. His research, teaching, and public scholarship span the areas of African American philosophy, critical theory, ethics, and religion and American public life. An accomplished scholar and academic leader, Dean Walker has held faculty and academic leadership appointments at Brown University, University of Virginia, Virginia Union University, and Winston-Salem State University and visiting professorships at Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Union Presbyterian Seminary, and the University of Richmond. Dean Walker is the 2023-2024 Phi Beta Kappa Frank M. Updike Scholar. He is author and editor of several books and has published over sixty articles, essays, and book chapters in a wide variety of scholarly journals and publications. A much sought after speaker, Dean Walker engages congregations and communities across the nation and has appeared on a variety of media programs in the United States and abroad.
Bill Leonard is the Founding Dean and Professor of Divinity Emeritus at Wake Divinity. Leonard’s research focuses on Church History with particular attention to American religion, Baptist studies, and Appalachian religion. He is the author or editor of some 25 books including Christianity in Appalachia (1999); Baptist Ways: A History (2003); The Challenge of Being Baptist (2010); Can I Get a Witness?: Essays, Sermons and Reflections (2013); and  A Sense of the Heart: Christian Religious Experience in the U.S., (2014). In March 2015 he delivered the William James Lecture on Religious Experience at Harvard Divinity School and in February 2017 he gave the William Self Lectures on Preaching at McAfee School of Theology, Mercer University. His newest book, The Homebrewed Christianity Guide to Church History: Flaming Heretics and Heavy Drinkers, was  published by Fortress Press in July 2017. Leonard is on the board of the Journal of Disability and Religion, The Baptist Quarterly (England), the Day1 Preaching Network, the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, and the Governing Board of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Leonard writes a twice-monthly column for Baptist News Global,

Corey Walker & Bill Leonard: Losing Sleep Before God

I recently returned to my old hometown, Winston-Salem, NC, for a live podcast at Lot63 in Old Salem. There, I was joined by two of my old Profs at Wake Forest University Divinity School, Dr. Bill Leonard and Dr. Craig Atwood,  the brand new Dean of the Divinity School, Dr. Corey Walker, and music from a fellow alum Kyle Caudle.
In this half of the live show, I talk with my former historical theology Professor, Craig Atwood. Not only did I take historical theology with him, but he facilitated one of the most fun and intense independent studies on the thought of Friedrich Schleiermacher. Dr. Craig Atwood is the premier Moravian historical theologian. He is best known for his books Community of the Cross: Moravian Piety in Colonial Bethlehem, which won two major awards, and Theology of the Czech Brethren from Hus to Comenius. He is also the author of over 50 academic articles, chapters in books, encyclopedia articles, book reviews, and church publications.
If you live in Winston-Salem, you can join us LIVE at Lot 63 for a zesty podcast recording. Info here.
If you’re considering a future in theological education, Wake Forest University’s Divinity School is a top choice. My family and I are proud alumni, and we all cherish the education and experiences we gained there. With the dynamic leadership of Corey Walker as the new Dean, the future of the school is bright!





Join us at Theology Beer Camp October 17-19, 2024!

 



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Toasting Tolkien on his 131st Birthday #TolkienBirthdayToast

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