Ep96. Black Christology and the Quest for Authenticity, John H. McClendon III

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Ep96. Black Christology and the Quest for Authenticity, John H. McClendon III

I sat down with Prof John H. McClendon to discuss his philosophical appraisal of Black Theology/Christology and materialist critique of its claim of authenticity. We discuss how he became interested in the topic through study of Howard Thurman, the relationship between Black Theology and African American theology that preceded it, and the shift from a focus on racism and its attendant structures to whiteness. We also discuss his engagement with and critique of Professor James Cone and the implications he sees in making God dependant on Blackness and Blackness dependant on white oppression. Finally we discuss the whole problem of claiming the existence of an "authentic Christianity" independent of the Christianity we've got.

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Ep93. Transgressive Devotion, Natalie Wigg-Stevenson

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Ep93. Transgressive Devotion, Natalie Wigg-Stevenson

I sat down with Natalie Wigg-Stevenson to talk about theology as performance art. We discuss her new work which weaves together discussions in church basements, notorious works of performance art, and a broad range of theological thinkers to respond to a moment where she felt forgotten by God. Along the way we talk about what it might mean to think about God's omnipotence through a framework of cognitive decline, in turn we discuss how she conceives of the role of humanity through caregiving to God. We also talk about the problems posed by the incarnation, ecclesiology as writing the church (rather than writing about), the role of the Spirit in the conception of Christ, and how infection and risk provide a way into thinking about what it means to be swept up into life with God.

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Ep65. Divine Self-Investment, Tripp Fuller

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Ep65. Divine Self-Investment, Tripp Fuller

I sat down with Tripp Fuller to talk about open and relational Christology. We discuss the pros of going process (or adopting elements of an open and relational theology), why Tripp just keeps talking about Jesus, his three-pronged approach to Christology (historical Jesus, existential register of faith, and metaphysical referent to God), how his approach can address supersessionist ways of thinking of the Incarnation, and what is the hope in a God who maybe doesn’t control or overrule, but invests?

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Ep61. A Very Schleiermacher Episode, Ted Vial

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Ep61. A Very Schleiermacher Episode, Ted Vial

I sat down with Ted Vial to talk about Friedrich Schleiermacher’s political activity, intellectual proclivity, and preacher’s sensitivity. We discuss Schleiermacher’s distinction between religion and theology, why readers benefit by considering his work in other academic disciplines, and why it is helpful to be reminded that the only Christianity we have is the one we have. We end with a great discussion on Schleiermacher’s Christmas Eve: a dialogue and why it’s the perfect entry point to his theological corpus.

This episode is part one of our two-part series: Deus Ex Schleiermacher. Look out for part two with Shelli Poe next week.

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Ep31. In His Own Strange Way, Geoff Thompson

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Ep31. In His Own Strange Way, Geoff Thompson

"These words remind us that God loves the world by doing something concrete for it..."

I sat down with Geoff Thompson to talk about his new book "In His Own Strange Way: a Post-Christendom, Sort-of Commentary on the Basis of Union." We talk about Jesus, the way the BoU wraps the story of the church in the much bigger story of Christ and cosmos, the importance of going 'back to basics' when asking questions of the Bible, and the purpose of Ordained ministers as ensuring "the church keeps its witness to Christ and participation in his mission at heart of why it exists”. Watch on YouTube // Listen in iTunes

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