The Two Cities

In this episode we are talking about representation of Asian American Christianity in the Netflix and A24 production of the show BEEF starring Steven Yeun and Ali Wong. Joining us for this conversation is Pastor Jason Min, who is lead pastor at Citizens LA in downtown Los Angeles and cohost of the podcast, Off thePulpit, and was a consultant on the show for the worship scenes in the show and also played the electric guitar on stage alongside the character Edwin, the worship leader who was played by Jason’s brother, Justin. This conversation provides a lot of great behind-the-scenes insights into the show BEEF, including Pastor Jason’s reflections on how the show portrays Asian American Christianity. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. Brandon Hurlbert, Stanley Ng, Dr. Grace Sangalang Ng, Rev. Dr. Chris Porter, Dr. Kris Song, and Dr. Logan Williams. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, which is part two of a two-part conversation, we are joined by Prof. Esther Lightcap Meek to talk about teaching as a celebration of the 20th anniversary of her book, Longing to Know: The Philosophy of Knowledge for Ordinary People (published by Baker). Prof. Meek is Professor of Philosophy emeritus at Geneva College and Senior Scholar at The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology. In this conversation we continue our conversation on Prof. Meek’s approach to epistemology as laid out in her classic book, and then we turn to talk about the process of teaching and pedagogy that gets past a “knowledge as information” paradigm. In particular we discuss how the teacher’s job is not strictly to communicate information and force students to memorizeinformation, but rather the teacher has to teach so that students feel it in their bodies. Teachers should strive to make students lovers of the real. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. Amber Bowen, Dr. John Anthony Dunne, and Dr. Kris Song. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, which is part one of a two-part conversation, we are joined by Prof. Esther Lightcap Meek to talk about learning as a celebration of the 20th anniversary of her book, Longing to Know: The Philosophy of Knowledge for Ordinary People (published by Baker). Prof. Meek is Professor of Philosophy emeritus at Geneva College and Senior Scholar at The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology. In this conversation we talk about Prof. Meek’s approach to epistemology as laid out in her classic book, and then we turn to talk about the process of learning that gets past a “knowledge as information” paradigm. Of special note, we discuss how Chat GPT reinforces the problematic epistemology that Prof. Meek is calling us away from. We conclude by comparing and contrasting Prof. Meek’s description of riding a bike with Chat GPT’s guide for riding a bike. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. Amber Bowen, Dr. John Anthony Dunne, and Dr. Kris Song. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the final episode in our series on Disability and Theology, we are joined by Rev. Dr. Kirk Patston, who is the Director of the Centre for Preaching and Pastoral Ministry at Sydney Missionary Bible College and the co-founder of Our Place Christian Communities, to talk about the research he did for his doctoral thesis at the University of Sydney, entitled, “Job, Otherness and Christian Theology of Disability.” This conversation pulls on several threads discussed throughout our series as we circle back to discuss a biblical text together. Rev. Dr. Patston draws upon the writings of Bakhtin and Levinas in particular to approach the dialogues that Job has with his friends. The primary emphases that emerge for Rev. Dr. Patston is that stigmas toward those who are “other” to us should be replaced by wonder and play as postures of curiosity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, which is the penultimate episode in our series on Disability & Theology, we’re talking about Becoming the Baptized Body with Dr. Sarah Jean Barton, who is Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy and Theological Ethics at Duke Divinity School, and the author of Becoming the Baptized Body: Disability and the Practice of Christian Community (published by Baylor University Press). In our conversation, we talk about how baptism is often denied in Christian churches to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and Dr. Barton explains that baptismal denial is not strictly a Credobaptist issue, since Paedobaptists might also deny someone’s baptism, not by withholding an ordinance, but by failing to continue to uphold these individuals in their discipleship and participation in the community. The Christian ritual of baptism makes one an indispensable member of the Body of Christ, so neglecting to co-labor coalitionally alongside people with disabilities in our churches is an abdication of baptismal responsibility to the fullness of Christ’s Body. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Stephanie Kate Judd, and Rev. Daniel Parham.            Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we’re talking about Autism and the Church with Professor Grant Macaskill, who is Kirby Laing Chair of New Testament Exegesis and co-director of the Centre for Autism and Theology at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland and he is the author of several books, including: Autism and the Church: Bible, Theology, and Community (published by Baylor University Press). In this episode Prof. Macaskill talks about his own experience with Autism and how the book is to provide an approach to Autism that avoids deficiency accounts that assume Autism is a negative thing. Towards that end he aims to explore how the Bible can constructively resource theologies of Autism, and he challenges inappropriate uses of the Bible in relation to Autism. In particular, Prof. Macaskill stresses how neurodiversity challenges the notion of a “neutral” way of reading the Bible, which is really an ableist form of reading. In addition to hermeneutical issues, we also address practical ecclesial matters regarding the environment of the church gathered as it pertains to people with Autism.Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Stanley Ng, Dr. Madison Pierce, Dr. Kris Song, and Dr. Sydney Tooth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we discuss Virtue, Agency, and Christian Caregiving with Dr. Keith Dow, who is the Manager of Organizational and Spiritual Life with Christian Horizons, a nonprofit charitable organization working with people with intellectual disabilities in Canada and around the world. Dr. Dow is also the author of Formed Together: Mystery, Narrative, and Virtue in Christian Caregiving (published by Baylor University Press). In our conversation, Dr. Dow tells us about his background and how he got interested in caregiving for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Given his theological interests in ethics and virtues, he explains what his understanding of a distinctive ethic of Christian care might look like in terms of the agency of those who receive care and the humility of those who provide it. Team Members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Stephanie Kate Judd. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we talk about mutuality in ministry with friends and nature with Melissa and Ben Conner. Melissa Conner is executive director and certified advanced therapeutic riding instructor at Renew Therapeutic Riding Center in Holland, Michigan. Dr. Benjamin Conner is Professor of Practical Theology and Director of the Graduate Certificate in Disability and Ministry at Western Theological Seminary (Holland, Michigan), and the author of Amplifying Our Witness (published by Eerdmans) and Disabling Mission, Enabling Witness (published by IVP Academic). As they share with us in this episode, both Melissa and Ben are committed to a holistic vision of ministry inclusive of people with disabilities and the broader world of nature. In particular, Ben tells us about how his thinkingshifted away from ministering to people with disabilities towards ministering alongside and with them. Along those lines, he helps to organize a center at the Seminary where he teaches, called Friendship House, where people with intellectual and developmental disabilities can live and be integrated into the life of the Seminary. Melissa similarly tells us about how, within her work as therapeutic riding instructor who offers equine-assisted services (EAS) for people with disabilities, she views the horses at her center as having a vocation and calling to serve alongside her and her colleagues as partners in ministry. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Stephanie Kate Judd, Dr. Grace Sangalang Ng, Rev. Daniel Parham, and Dr. Madison Pierce. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we’re joined by Professor Brian Brock to reflect on disability from within the Christian theological tradition. Prof. Brock holds the personal chair in moral and practical theology at the University of Aberdeen (in Scotland), and he’s the author of Wondrously Wounded: Theology, Disability, and the Body of Christ (published by Baylor University Press) and Disability: Living into the Diversity of Christ’s Body (published by Baker Academic). Prof. Brock explains how he became interested in Disability Studies by setting out in an education in the field of medical ethics, and as he came to rethink the framework of the field, his first son was born, Adam (featured below), who has Down Syndrome and Autism. Prof. Brock’s chief interest in the space of Disability Studies became the desire to set it into conversation with mainstream Christian theology, since theological work within Disability Studies was almost entirely reserved to liberation theology. One of the key questions that we discuss with Prof. Brock throughout this episode is, given his life lived with his son Adam, who is non-verbal, how do we speak about people who can’t speak for themselves? Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Stephanie Kate Judd and Dr. Madison Pierce. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode in our Disability & Theology series, we are joined by Dr. Shane Clifton to talk about virtue ethics and what it means to live a good life with a disability. Dr. Clifton is a disability ethicist and theologian, Principal Policy Officer and Director of Respect & Inclusion at the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation against People with Disability, and an Honorary Associate for the Centre of Disability Research and Policy, the University of Sydney. He’s also the author Crippled Grace: Disability, Virtue Ethics, and the Good Life (Published by Baylor University Press). During our conversation, Dr. Clifton shares with us his experience of a spinal cord injury that left him with quadriplegia and the way that experience compelled him to re-explore happiness, or eudaimonia, within the virtue tradition as a pursuit specifically for people with disabilities. This conversation is rich with discussion on virtue ethics and full of raw and honest reflections on pain and pleasure. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Stephanie Kate Judd. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.