What if our well-intentioned efforts to promote mental health inadvertently perpetuate systems that cause mental unwellness? What if the resilience we encourage only equips individuals to endure rather than challenge structures detrimental to their well-being? Why do mental health experiences vary so drastically across cultures, with Western societies seemingly posing the greatest challenges for certain conditions? Against the backdrop of escalating ecological dramas that devastate our world and its climate, do we ever wonder what ecological suffering might imply for our mental health? With this poignant, impassioned book Seeking Sanctuary, Finding Shalom, John Swinton invites us to begin exploring avenues toward addressing these daunting and interrelated issues.
John Swinton is a consulting faculty member at Duke Divinity and professor in practical theology and pastoral care and chair in divinity and religious studies at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. For more than a decade he worked as a registered mental health nurse. He also worked for a number of years as a hospital and community mental health chaplain alongside of people with severe mental health challenges who were moving from the hospital into the community. In 2004, he founded the University of Aberdeen's Centre for Spirituality, Health, and Disability. He has published widely within the area of mental health, dementia, disability theology, spirituality and healthcare, end-of-life care, qualitative research, and pastoral care. Swinton is the author of a number of monographs including a previous book, Finding Jesus in the Storm: The Spiritual Lives of People With Mental Health Challenges (Eerdmans 2020), which won the Aldersgate book price for interdisciplinary theological research, and his book Dementia: Living in the Memories of God, which won the Archbishop of Canterbury's Ramsey Prize for excellence in theological writing. Swinton is a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and was recently elected as a fellow of the British Academy.
In today's episode, Philip Ziegler joins the podcast to talk about his new Baylor Press book God's Adversary and Ours. Ziegler leads us on a cautious but determined biblical-theological exploration of the identity, ontology, and agency of "that old serpent," the Enemy, whose image becomes most discernible and salient in direct contact with the person and work of the Savior. Fixing attention upon the figure of the devil in a soteriological context confronts us with what the devil does; what the devil might be trails behind. Treating diabolical temptation, demonic possession, and devilish falsehood in turn, Ziegler demonstrates what resistance to—and faithful disbelief of—these three aspects of the devil’s business might mean for the shape of a Christian life.Professor Philip G. Ziegler is a theologian specializing in systematic theology, historical theology, and ethics. He holds the personal chair of Professor of Christian Dogmatics at the University of Aberdeen's School of Divinity, History, Philosophy & Art History. Previously, he taught at the Atlantic School of Theology in Canada and held postdoctoral fellowships at Princeton University. Ordained in the United Church of Canada since 1996, he also serves as an associated elder at St Machar Cathedral and Trustee of the Church of Scotland's General Assembly. His research focuses on Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Karl Barth, and apocalyptic theology, with recent work exploring Christology, ethical responsibility, and divine freedom.
In this conversation, Beverly and Jamie discuss their new books, exploring themes of Pauline theology, the concept of 'theology on the run', and the interplay between apocalyptic and pastoral elements in Paul's letters. They delve into the cosmic implications of sin, death, and God's glory, emphasizing the transformative power of the gospel and its relevance to contemporary issues.
Jamie Davies (PhD, St Andrews) is Tutor of New Testament and Director of Postgraduate Research at Trinity College, Bristol (UK). His research largely concerns apocalyptic thought in the New Testament and other Second Temple Jewish and Christian literature, with a focus on the letters of Paul and the book of Revelation.
Dr. Beverly Roberts Gaventa is Distinguished Professor of Religion in Baylor University’s College of Arts and Sciences. She is a graduate of Phillips University (BA), Union Theological Seminary (MDiv) and Duke University (PhD). Dr. Gaventa is one of the leading New Testament scholars in the world who engage in theological and historical interpretation of the Christian Scriptures, particularly the letters of Paul, and has lectured on university and seminary campuses around the world. The author or editor of 14 books, including Our Mother Saint Paul and When in Romans, she also has published more than 70 articles and essays and is currently writing a commentary on Paul’s Epistle to the Romans for the New Testament Library Series.
In this episode of Currents in Religion, a panel of graduate students from Baylor University shares their experiences and insights on applying to PhD programs and navigating graduate school. They discuss the importance of organization, seeking advice, handling rejections, and the emotional support needed throughout the process. The conversation also highlights the excitement of interviews, the challenges of the first year, and the impact of faculty relationships and classes on their academic journeys.
When applying to different PhD programs, prospectivestudents will hopefully make it to the interview process at multiple schools. While each school has its own procedure, Baylor’s Religion Graduate School hosts Preview Weekend. In today’s episode, Michelle Hunt and Madde Ely join me to talk about Preview Weekend, what to expect, and more.
Michelle Hunt is a doctoral candidate in the Religion Department, with a concentration in Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. She has a B.A. in Christian Ministry (University of Mary Hardin-Baylor), an M.A. in Biblical History and Geography (Jerusalem University College), and an M.A. in Theological Studies (Houston Christian University). Michelle’s research focuses on the compositional development of Joshua 18–19 and how later scribal initiatives may have been motivated by other literature in the Hebrew Bible, such as Numbers, Judges, and Chronicles. Before coming to Baylor, Michelle taught Bible and biblical language classes at a Christian high school in Houston.Madde Ely is a PhD student in Religion with a concentration in Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. She has a B.A. in Biblical Languages and a M.Div. from Truett Theological Seminary. Madde's research focuses on the intersection of food, politics, and justice throughout the Hebrew Bible.
Are you applying to PhD programs but not sure where to start? In today's episode, Susan Benton joins Claire to talk about choosing schools, the statement of purpose, and more to help you prepare for the PhD process.
Susan E. Benton joined the faculty in Religion in Fall 2023 as a Lecturer and member of the Ministry Guidance team. Susan’s recent research focuses on examining inscriptions featuring women in leadership roles in ancient Greco-Roman associations and pointing to how those roles can allow us to reimagine the activities of women in early Christ groups. Her first book, Women Patrons and Mothers in Associations and the New Testament (Mohr Siebeck), presents a profile of responsibilities and influence for envisioning the work of Phoebe as a deacon and a patron, and of Prisca as a leader of a local ekklesia.
In this episode we are featuring more work from participantsof the Baptist Scholars International Roundtable which you will hear often as BSIR for short. We’ve had some episodes highlighting BSIR before and you can find links to some of those in the episode description. Joao Chavez will be ourguest host for this episode.
Dr. Chavez is a professor is an Assistant Professor of the History of Religions in the Americans at Baylor University. He specializes in the history of religion in the Americas, US Protestantism’s impact in Latin America, and Latin American/Latinx religious networks in the U.S. He has authored several books, including Migrational Religion and many others. He’s also a co-director of BSIR. He speaks with a researcher with BSIR, Grace Vargas.
Dr. Grace Vargas is currently an Assistant Professor of Latinx Religious Traditions at Texas Christian University. Inspired by Rubem Alves, Dr. Vargas sees the task of history as one of recovery and sacramental dissemination. Her work centers on the history of Christianity in Latin America, particularly the Protestant Church.
In this episode, Zen speaks with Katherine Ellis about gettinga PhD in Baylor's Religion Department. We talk about the various stages of the program, from course work to dissertation. We talk about funding and what it's like to be at an R1 institution in Waco. Katherine also confirms that I am the most fun person in the Department. This episode will be of interest to prospective students who would like to know more about our doctoral program. If you still have questions, you can email the new host at claire_mummert1@baylor.edu.
Katherine Ellis is an alumni from Baylor University's Religion Department. She has a Ph.D. in theology.
Are you applying to PhD programs in religion? Or thinking about it? This episode is for you.
In this episode, Zen shares about the process for applying to Baylor's graduate program in religion. He speaks with current students, Lanie Walkup and Tyler Fulcher, and Carlos Cardoza-Orlandi, a graduate faculty member. They discuss how to write a strong application and how to survive the process.
The episode also includes a promo for "The End of Civility" by Ryan Andrew Newson, a new book from Baylor University Press. Learn more here.
In today’s episode, Claire is joined by Baylor faculty member and GPD Deirdre Fulton. She is a zooarchaeologist that specializes in animal bones in the Southern Levant. Her excavations in Ashkelon, Tel Shimron and as part of the Jezreel Valley Regional Project help inform questions related to diet, sacrifice, and economy. Learn more about this branch of study and how “man’s best friend” shows up in ancient Near Eastern archaeology.
Deirdre Fulton joined the Department of Religion at BaylorUniversity in the fall semester 2013. Her area of research focuses on the Persian Period, specifically the books of Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah. Fulton is also interested in zooarchaeological related research, connecting text and artifact. She is involved in several ongoing excavations in Israel, including the Leon Levy Ashkelon Excavations, Tel Shimron Excavations, and also the Jezreel Valley Regional Project. Her interest in archaeology helps inform questions related to diet, sacrifice, and economy.
Deirdre is a member of the Steering committees on Literature and History of the Persian period for the Society of Biblical Literature and the Feasting and Foodways for the American Schools of Oriental Research. She is also a member of the Catholic Biblical Association and American Institute ofArchaeology.
Have you ever wondered what happened between the time of the early church and figures like Paul and later Christianity as represented by Augustine? Second-Century Christianity is an often-neglected time period but full of exciting changes in biblical theology, heresiology, and more. Ignatius, Irenaeus, Justin Martyr, and Polycarp are just a few of the prominenttheologians of this time period. In this episode, Claire is joined by Mike Bird and Scott Harrower editors of A Handbook to Second-Century Christianity a forthcoming book from Baylor University Press.
Michael Bird is an Australian biblical scholar and Anglicanpriest who writes about the history of early Christianity, theology, and contemporary issues. He is Deputy Principal and Lecturer in Theology at Ridley College in Melbourne, Australia. He is the author of over thirty books including Evangelical Theology, Seven Things I Wish Christians Knew About the Bible, Romans (SGBC), The Gospel of the Lord: How the Early Church Wrote the Story of Jesus, What Christians Ought To Believe, and with N.T. Wright, The NewTestament in its World.
Scott Harrower is a lecturer in Christian Thought at RidleyCollege in Melbourne, Australia and an ordained Anglican minister. He was brought up by missionary parents in Argentina and has wide-ranging ministry experience in several countries. He has published articles on SyrianChristianity, comparative hagiography, and Augustine of Hippo, as well as books on women in the early church and the Trinity. Scott is also a former nurse and has written extensively on how we can relate psychological science and theology for the sake of human flourishing in our churches, including Dawn of Sunday: The Trinity and Trauma-Safe Churches, and God of All Comfort: A Trinitarian Response to the Horrors of this World.
In a previous episode, Cynthia Shafer-Elliott, a field archaeologist and professor in Baylor’s Department of Religion, discussed household archaeology and household religion. In this episode, she discusses household worship and figurines in more detail. She further illuminates the place of women within the household structure and how they held a prominent place in subsistence living households. While some only see women as oppressed figures in this society, women had a vital role.
In this episode I am joined by Bruce Longenecker to discuss his upcoming Baylor University Press book, The Materiality of Early Christ Devotion: Artistic Innovation at Four Archaeological Sites. He explains how the sites of Ostia, Dura-Europos, Smyrna, and Pompeii offer an exciting glimpse into the creativity and imagination that these Christfollowers used to express their devotion. They are clever, creative, and at times cryptic with how they convey this devotion.
Our Guest:
Dr. Bruce Longenecker specializes in the origins of Christianity, including the following emphases: Early Christianity in its Greco-Roman context; Pauline theology and chronology; women in early Christianity and the Greco-Roman world.
He joined the Baylor faculty in August 2009, having taught previously at St Andrews University (Scotland, 1999-2009), Cambridge University (England, 1995-1999) and Durham University (England, 1991-1995).
In this episode, Claire speaks with Christina Olson about archaeology and its importance when studying the Hebrew Bible. She helps listeners who may not be familiar with archaeology understand the terminology and demonstrates the significance of studying broad cultural contexts to understand the Hebrew Bible. She also shares some of her personal experiences and exciting discoveries.
Christina Olson is a recent graduate from the Baylor Religion Department, receiving her Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. She is interested in the use of social memory studies to explore death and burial practices in both the biblical text and the archaeological data. Her dissertation focuses on how burial practices and memory of the dead contributed to the developing national identity in Persian period Jerusalem. Christina has been actively involved in archaeological projects for over a decade, primarily at Tell Es-Safi/Gath, Israel and most recently at Baylor’s 2022 San Guiliano Archaeological Research Project in Italy.
In this episode, Zen speaks with Claire Mummert, the incoming host and producer of Currents in Religion.
Our Guest
Claire is a second year PhD student at Baylor University, specializing in the Hebrew Bible.
Show Summary
In this episode, I am joined by Michelle Knight, author of The Prophet’s Anthem: The Song of Deborah and Barak in the Narrative of Judges, which was recently published by Baylor University Press (link below). We talk about how the story of Deborah in Judges 4 relates to the song of Deborah in Judges 5, and how both function as a critical interpretive key to the whole narrative of Judges. We also talk a little about the way Deborah, as a judge, stands out among the others—as an exemplary leader in the history of Israel.
Our Guest
Michelle Knight is Associate Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. She also serves as Senior Reviewer for the Historical Books for the New Living Translation.
Find her book here: https://www.baylorpress.com/9781481321594/the-prophets-anthem/
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In this episode, I speak with Blake Burleson about his long career of studying and teaching world religions at Baylor University. He tells the story of how he became a scholar of world religions and how studying world religion has shaped his own spiritual practices. He also shares why he thinks studying world religions is critical for the present moment. I especially enjoyed hearing Blake talk about how meditative learning activities can equip students to listen well in this age of distraction and contention. I think you’ll find this conversation insightful and challenging, sobering and encouraging and, perhaps, a little provocative.
Blake Burleson has been at Baylor for more than forty years. Among other roles and accomplishments, Blake has served as a senior lecturer and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies. He contributes regularly to the Waco Tribune. The Spring of 2024 will be his final semester at Baylor as he enters retirement.
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In this episode, we feature the work of three scholars affiliated with the Baptist Scholars International Roundtable (BSIR). They discuss the collegial process of BSIR and their research on northern Baptist women and their missions.
Our Guests
Dr. Laine Scales is the guest host for this episode. Laine is a professor and the PhD program director in the Diane R. Garland School of Social Work here at Baylor. She is also a co-director of BSIR.
Nadia Andrilenas is a PhD candidate in the Department of Religion in Historical Studies at Baylor University. Her research examines women’s experiences in Christianity, especially in East and Southeast Asia, and draws from World Christianity methodologies. Her dissertation will investigate how women and gender shaped early 20th century Vietnamese evangelicalism.
Dr. Laura Rodgers Levens. Laura is the Associate Professor of Christian Mission and the Director of the Master of Arts in Ministry Studies Program at BSK Theological Seminary. She specializes in interdisciplinary courses that integrate multiple academic disciplines for practical theological inquiry and training. In addition to teaching, Laura has written for numerous publications, serves on various academic and ecclesial committees, and regularly guest preaches in local churches.
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In this episode, Zen speaks with several people who contributed to a new Baylor University Press book called God of the Whirlwind. The book collects stories and reflections from the Black Waco community that revolve around the Black storytelling tradition in Waco related to two significant events: a lynching and a deadly tornado.
Guests
Linda Jann Lewis describes herself as a 1960's Baby Boomer who worships at the altar of Voting Rights and Civil Rights. She is a writer, having contributed to the Austin Villager, Nokoa, and multiple books. She has been featured in a film about Molly Ivins. And she helped found and remains involved with Austin Community Radio’s kazifm.org.
George Oliver is the Assistant Director of Huntsville Hornet Drama, a 1998 graduate of Huntsville High School, received his BFA in Theatre from Sam Houston, and earned a MDiv from Andover Newton Seminary (at Yale Divinity School). George is Co-Producer on the short film Ado, starring Jennifer Lewis, which was just invited to both the Florida Film Festival and the Cleveland International Film Festival, and made its Festival debut at the Flickfest Short Film Festival in Australia. He plans to begin studying Commercial Real Estate Development in the year to come.
Tyler B. Davis is a Research Administrator, Adjunct Professor in the Mexican American Studies Program and Department of Theology, and Affiliate Faculty in the Center for Catholic Studies at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas. He is also a graduate of Baylor University’s Religion Department.
Links
Buy God of the Whirlwind: https://www.baylorpress.com/9781481322560/god-of-the-whirlwind/
Was the Apostle Paul a Stoic? Mm, probably not. But some people in Corinth who Paul taught about Christ may have appropriated Stoicism, subordinating it to flesh out their understanding of their new faith. That is what Timothy Brookins joins us to talk about today.
This Episode's Guest
Timothy earned his PhD from Baylor University, working on First Corinthians, Stoic philosophy, and economics. He’s gone on to publish several books, including recently Rediscovering the Wisdom of the Corinthians (Eerdmans, 2024). Timothy taught at Houston Christian University for more than a decade before making a move to University of St. Thomas and St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston, Texas.
Links
Rediscovering the Wisdom of the Corinthians: https://www.eerdmans.com/9780802883230/rediscovering-the-wisdom-of-the-corinthians/
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