Click here to download! In this episode, taking their lead from the themes of the previous episode, Lydia and Kevin reflect on how different people and ideas are included in and excluded from the Orthodox community. Topics discussed include: The nature of community Experiences of inclusion and exclusion What criteria are (or are not) used as the basis for including or excluding someone from the church community

Click here to download! In this episode, taking their lead from the themes of the previous episode, Lydia and Kevin reflect on the nature and exercise of authority in the Orthodox Church. Topics discussed include: The nature of priestly and episcopal authority The ways that authority is embodied and enacted by the clergy and the laity The history of church hierarchy and structure Roles of the ordained and the non-ordained Ways that ministry can be extended beyond the purview of one person, the parish priest Passing On The following books, blogs, podcasts, and articles were used in preparing this episode. Please check them out for more information and discussion on the subjects we dove into today! “Reflections on the Wise Words of Cartman,” by Dr. David Dunn “Grace and the Inverted Pyramid,” by Fr. Stephen Freeman “The Inverted Pyramid,” by Abbot Tryphon “Power and Pity,” by Fr. Josiah Trenham “Causing Our Savior to Marvel,” by Fr. Josiah Trenham “Shared Ministry and Divine Grace: Restoring the Diaconate in Orthodoxy,” by Rev. Dr. Nicholas Denysenko “Women Deacons in Africa; not in America,” by Carrie Frederick Frost Thinking Through Faith: New Perspectives from Orthodox Christian Scholars, ed. Aristotle Papanikolaou and Elizabeth Prodromou Religious Knowledge, Authority, and Charisma: Islamic and Jewish Perspectives, ed. Ephrat and Hatina The Bible Made Impossible, by Christian Smith Fraudulent Authority, by Wade Burleson Tune in next time to hear Lydia and Kevin discuss the book and recent film of The Shack!

Click here to download! In this episode, Lydia and Kevin reflect on the novel Small Gods, by the late Sir Terry Pratchett. Topics discussed include: Religious certainty and delusion The ways belief works (or doesn’t work) How can we know anything about God? Passing On The following books and articles were used in preparing this episode. Please check them out for more information and discussion on the subjects we dove into today! The novel itself, Small Gods, by Terry Pratchett The Folklore of Discworld: Legends, Myths, and Customs from the Discworld with Helpful Hints from Planet Earth, by Terry Pratchett and Jaqueline Simpson The Terry Pratchett website “Alzheimer’s leads atheist Terry Pratchett to appreciate God,” by Robert Watts “Imaginary Worlds, Real Stories,” by Terry Pratchett, in Folklore 111:2 Tune in next time to hear Lydia and Kevin discuss the nature of authority!

Wherein we respond to the interview in the previous episode. Click here to download! In this episode, Lydia and Kevin reflect, react, and respond to our interview in the last episode with Dr. Jeana Jorgensen, Ph.D., and the topics we discussed with her. Dr. Jorgensen’s work can be found online in the following places: The Foxy Folklorist at Patheos Her personal webpage Her sex education webpage and on MySexProfessor.com Topics discussed include: Good versus bad Platonism Monasticism and its influence on Orthodox theology The context of patristic literature The significance of symbols and images Passing On The following books and articles were used in preparing this episode. Please check them out for more information and discussion on the subjects we dove into today! Theological Disambiguations: An Unconventional Handbook of Orthodox Theology, by Fr. Vladan Perišić “Pushing Back: ‘Greek Thinking’ vs. ‘Jewish Thinking’ is a Dualistic Error,” by Brad Jersak “Gender as Icon and Vocation,” Orthodox Institute 2012 The Burden of the Flesh: Fasting and Sexuality in Early Christianity, by Teresa M. Shaw “The Monk and the Married Christian: Some Comparisons in early Monastic Sources,” by Metropolitan Kallistos Ware, Eastern Churches Review, 6:1 (1974), 72-83 Tune in next time to hear Lydia and Kevin review the late Sir Terry Pratchett’s fantasy novel Small Gods.

An Interview with Dr. Jeana Jorgensen Click here to download! [Note: about 54 minutes in there is some major distortion in the audio recording that we didn’t notice during the recording process. Since Dr. Jorgensen’s comments are still discernible, and very important, we decided to keep this in, but be aware of this, and feel free to skip ahead 6 or 7 minutes if it’s beyond your ability to endure :-) ] In this episode, Lydia and Kevin interview Dr. Jeana Jorgensen, Ph.D., folklorist, sex educator, and belly dancer extraordinaire! Dr. Jorgensen’s work can be found online in the following places: The Foxy Folklorist at Patheos Her personal webpage Her sex education webpage and on MySexProfessor.com Topics discussed include: Feminism The difference between sex and gender What Orthodox Christians and other religious groups and leaders can do to promote healthy sexuality Passing On As suggested reading on the subjects we discussed today, here are two books you may find helpful Gender Trouble, by Judith Butler Gender and Sexuality for Beginners, by Jaimee Garbacik and Jeffrey Lewis Tune in next time to hear our companion episode, where Lydia and Kevin react and respond to the interview you heard today, and for further resources.

Hellbound? by Kevin Miller Click here to download! In this episode, Lydia and Kevin examine Hellbound?, a 2013 documentary film on different Christian visions of hell by Kevin Miller. Topics discussed include: Subjectivity and objectivity in interpretation The nature of salvation and damnation Emotional motivations for visions of the afterlife The art of documentary filmmaking Good preaching and bad preaching Passing On To purchase a DVD or a download of the film, as well as additional materials, such as the discussion guide, check out the Hellbound website. Also, you might be interested in the following books, articles, podcasts, and videos on the subjects of Salvation, the Gospel, Good and Evil, and Hell: “The Mirror of Hell,” a roundtable discussion on Hellbound? between Abp. Lazar Puhalo, Brad Jersak, Ron Dart, and Kevin Miller. “The Death of Death,” a sermon by Brad Jersak “Apocatastasis: The Heresy That Never Was,” by Fr. Aidan Kimel “‘The Satan’ with Brad Jersak and Michael Hardin,” an episode of the Beyond the Box podcast Life After Death: A History of the Afterlife in Western Religion, by Alan Segal The Origin of Satan: How Christians Demonized Jews, Pagans, and Heretics, by Elaine Pagels Tune in next time to hear our interview of Dr. Jeana Jorgensen, Ph.D., folklorist, sex educator, and belly dancer extraordinaire!

Pastrix: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner & Saint, by Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber Click here to download! In this episode, Lydia and Kevin examine Pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber’s theological memoirs, Pastrix, published in 2014. Topics discussed include: Liturgical innovation The role of women in the church The nature of authority and priestly ministry Pastoral vulnerability Grace and the Gospel message Passing On Buy a copy of Pastrix on Amazon! Listen to Rev. Bolz-Weber’s interview about Pastrix with the Nomad Podcast here … … and her interview with NPR’s On Being podcast here! Also, you can listen to sermons by Pastor Nadia and others at her parish, House for All Sinners and Saints in Denver, CO, on the church website, here!

Our first episode! Click here to download! In this episode, our intrepid hosts talk to each other about their journeys as Orthodox academics and the backgrounds they bring to the conversation they are starting with the podcast. Topics discussed include: Culture and community Authority Language Seeking the truth Different understandings of concepts and theories What do we really mean by terms like “the Church” and “Orthodoxy”? Passing on In order to understand our perspectives and background, each host recommended some reading material. Lydia suggested “Religious Folklore,” by Larry Danielson as an introduction to how folklorists investigate religious subjects. Kevin suggested the book Socrates Meets Jesus, by Peter Kreeft, which was the first book of philosophy he ever read, and set him off on the pursuit of Truth and Wisdom.