Podcasts about vanderbilt divinity school

This episode is a followup on my interview with Professor Joerg Rieger. The intent of all of Professor Rieger’s work, including the subject of my first interview with him about his book, Theology in the Capitalocene: Ecology, Identity, Class, and Solidarity, is that theology should have an affect on one’s lifestyle and an impact on the world. In order to realize that intent, Professor Rieger established and is the founding Director of the Wendland-Cook Program in Religion and Justice. The Wendland-Cook Program in Religion and Justice is an interdisciplinary program located at Vanderbilt University Divinity School. Its focus is on issues of justice that arise at the intersection of religion, economics, and ecology. Founded in 2019 and supported by a generous gift from Barbara Wendland, the mission of the program is to develop resources and opportunities for students, scholars, clergy, and activists to envision and create a more just and sustainable world for all. In addition to being the founding Director of the Wendland-Cook Program, Professor Rieger is Distinguished Professor of Theology and The Cal Turner Chancellor's Chair in Wesleyan Studies. Joining us in this interview is Gab Lisi. Gab (she/they/he) is the Assistant Director of the Wendland-Cook Program at Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt Divinity School. Gab resides in Columbus, OH and their dog, Franklin (or Frank). They hold an M.Div. from Union Theological Seminary, an MSL from The Ohio State University, and a B.A. in Theology and Criminal Justice from Xavier University (Cincinnati, OH). They are curious about power analysis, class analysis, and Catholicism. In their spare time, you can find them at home reading, camping with Frank, or hanging out with friends. Important links for learning more about the Wendland-Cook Program: Website: https://www.religionandjustice.org/ Solidarity Circles: https://www.religionandjustice.org/solidarity-circles Exchanges Courses: https://www.religionandjustice.org/exchanges Interventions: https://www.religionandjustice.org/interventions Substack: https://religionandjustice.substack.com/ The intro and outro music for this episode is from a clip of a song called ‘Father Let Your Kingdom Come' which is found on The Porter's Gate Worship Project Work Songs album and is used by permission by The Porter's Gate Worship Project.

Jewly Hight is a noted music journalist best known for her work with NPR Music, Nashville Public Radio, The Bitter Southerner and more. She's also a friend of Leah's from their days together in grad school at Vanderbilt Divinity School. In this conversation we talk about how Jewly got into music, her most regrettable tattoo, her feud with the Supertones' singer, clogging, Jelly Roll and so much more. --Do you have a Christian rock story to tell? Want to respond to this episode? Leave us a message at ‪(629) 204-4264‬.If Rock That Doesn't Roll is important to you, support us on Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/rtdr (join via the website, not the iOS app for a 30% discount)If you'd like to make a one-time donation: https://coff.ee/rtdrIf you can't afford a donation, please tell five friends about the show.You can connect with us on Instagram or by emailing RTDRpod@gmail.comSign up for our Substack to keep up with show developments.Buy RTDR merch here.Do you like coffee? Try Larry's Coffee and support the show. The first time you spend $15, we get $30.

On this episode of the Natasha Helfer Podcast, Stan Mitchell joins to discuss LGBTQ inclusivity at church. Stan Mitchell currently serves as a Teaching Pastor at The Village in (Atlanta, GA), Austin New Church (TX), The Well (Phoenix, AZ), Harvest Sarasota (FL), The Grove (Bryson City, NC), and Pine Street Church (Boulder, CO).  He is the Pastor Emeritus of GracePointe Church in Nashville, TN, having served as its Lead Pastor from its inception in 2003 through 2019. In 2015, GP made the move to the full affirmation and celebration of LGBTQ+ people. He now spends his vocational time as a speaker, LGBTQ+ advocate, and consultant within the Progressive Christian movement.  He is a graduate of Vanderbilt Divinity School.    To help keep this podcast going, please consider donating at natashahelfer.com and share this episode. To watch the video of this podcast, you can subscribe to Natasha's channel on Youtube and follow her professional Facebook page at natashahelfer LCMFT, CST-S. You can find all her cool resources at natashahelfer.com.  The information shared on this program is informational and should not be considered therapy. This podcast addresses many topics around mental health and sexuality and may not be suitable for minors. Some topics may elicit a trigger or emotional response so please care for yourself accordingly. The views, thoughts and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or feelings of Natasha Helfer or the Natasha Helfer Podcast. We provide a platform for open and diverse discussions, and it is important to recognize that different perspectives may be shared. We encourage our listeners to engage in critical thinking and form their own opinions. The intro and outro music for these episodes is by Otter Creek. Thank you for listening. And remember: Symmetry is now offering Ketamine services. To find out more, go to symcounseling.com/ketamine-services. There are also several upcoming workshops. Visit natashahelfer.com or symcounseling.com to find out more.

Segment 1  • Ben Sasse faces terminal cancer with a theology that left a 60 Minutes host visibly shaken. • Why did family suddenly matter more than career success and achievement? • What priorities would you change if your time was running out? Segment 2 • What does it actually mean to “die well” as a Christian instead of panicking at the end? • AI could destroy people who “outsource their attention and affections” to technology. • Is your phone quietly reshaping your soul? Segment 3 • Vanderbilt Divinity School graduates unveil ministries involving horses, LGBT activism, and “finding your value.” • A woman throws a “gender reveal” abortion celebration online. • A “pastrix” claims Christians misunderstood Jesus saying He is “the way, the truth, and the life.” Segment 4 • Todd tests AI by having it instantly generate an entire sermon introduction from 1 Peter. • Could future pastors become actors reading AI-generated sermons instead of shepherds shaped by Scripture? • If AI can write better sermons faster than many pastors, what happens to real sanctification and soul care? ___ Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn't be more thankful for you if we tried!

What does it look like when a Jewish New Testament scholar sits down with a Christian host to talk about how two ancient traditions read the same texts — and reach such different conclusions? That's exactly the conversation host Jean Geran has with Dr. Amy-Jill Levine in this wide-ranging episode recorded in Madison, Wisconsin.AJ Levine is University Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School, and one of the most respected voices in Jewish-Christian dialogue today. She recently joined us for our Questions of Faith event in Oshkosh and spent time in Wisconsin as a scholar in residence at First United Methodist Church in Madison.WHAT YOU WILL LEARNHow growing up Jewish in a Portuguese Roman Catholic neighborhood in Massachusetts led AJ to a lifetime of studying the New TestamentWhy the Torah is said to have "70 faces" — and what that means for how Jews and Christians approach interpretation differentlyWhat Jews and Christians share in terms of canon, prayer, and Scripture — and where they meaningfully divergeAJ's surprisingly practical take on salvation, Torah-observance, and whether Jews worry about getting into heavenWhy Jesus used parables — and why he rarely explained themThe difference between Jewish communal identity and Christian individualism, and what each tradition can learn from the otherBaseball vs. football: a memorable analogy for understanding Jewish and Christian orientations toward time, memory, and the futureThe Hebrew concept of tzaddik (the righteous one) and what it means to bless the city you're inWhether shared stories can bridge religious and cultural divides — and AJ's honest, unsentimental answerLament as relationship: what Tevye, the Psalms, and Job have in common, and why arguing with God keeps us in the conversationGUESTAmy-Jill Levine is University Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School and College of Arts and Science, and the author of numerous books including Short Stories by Jesus: The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi and The Misunderstood Jew: The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus.Send us Fan MailCONNECT WITH USSubscribe to The UpWords Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts and visit slbf.org/studio to learn more about our work at the intersection of faith, the academy, and the marketplace.This episode was created by the SLBF STUDIO at Upper House.Produced by Daniel Johnson and Dave ConourEdited by Dave Conour

This one is a preview of something I've been wanting to do for a long time — a class on the history of Christian social ethics that's actually useful for the moment we're in. Cornell West calls Gary Dorrien the greatest living Christian social ethicist, and after spending any amount of time with him, you understand why. Gary and Aaron Stoffer joined me to give people a taste of what's coming in Theology for Troublemakers, and what they gave us was a genuine history lesson that landed like a live wire. We started with Gary's own formation — a rural Michigan kid who never took a school book home until second semester senior year, who walked into a Catholic church and couldn't stop staring at the figure on the cross, who read a biography of King in ninth grade three times and went looking for the theologians King mentioned in the public library and found none of them. That kid became one of the most important social ethicists of our time. From there we moved into Norman Thomas's warning — that American populism always surges toward a dictator who scapegoats the vulnerable — and what the left's recurring failure to build cross-racial, multi-issue coalitions has to do with where we are now. Gary named the nineties as the most demoralizing decade of his life: TINA, triangulation, NAFTA, three-strikes, welfare gutted, and a Democratic Party that treated its progressive base as something to prove it could overcome. He was not gentle about Clinton, or Obama, or the way purity politics has consistently kneecapped the left's ability to organize. He was hopeful, carefully, about cooperatives, about DSA's organizing culture in New York, and about the strange opening the current moment creates for public theology. The class runs the whole history — from the Black Social Gospel and the new abolitionists to the Christian realists to Yoder and Dorothy Day — and Aaron frames it all in terms of what congregations can actually do with it. Go to homebrewclasses.com. This is the class for right now. You can WATCH the conversation on YouTube⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠UPCOMING ONLINE CLASS - Theology for Troublemakers: Christian Social Ethics from the Margins⁠⁠⁠⁠ The injustices we face are immense — but they are not unique. Previous generations confronted the same powers with theological conviction and strategic brilliance. The question is whether we'll learn from them. This 6-week online course, led by Dr. Gary Dorrien and Dr. Aaron Stauffer, recovers the radical tradition of Christian social ethics — from Reverdy Ransom and Reinhold Niebuhr to James Cone and the Welfare Rights Movement — and asks what faithfulness demands of us right now. Weekly lectures, live Q&A conversations, guest lecturers, and an online community included.

What is the sin in Sinners? — and then four of the most brilliant theologians working today spent an hour doing what great theologians do: they cracked the whole thing open. Set in 1932 Mississippi and layered with blues, hoodoo, vampires, and Black survival, Ryan Coogler's film turns out to be a theological event, and this conversation treats it like one. Adam Clark names white supremacy as the film's central sin — parasitic, predatory, embodied in white vampires who can only survive by consuming Black vitality. Kelly Brown Douglas traces the deep dialectic between the blues and the Black church, and how the juke joint functions as a kind of invisible institution keeping Black faith alive from the underside. Juan Floyd-Thomas goes deep on conjure, Papa Legba, and why Sammy at the crossroads isn't just a blues musician but a gateway between the living and the dead. And Stacey Floyd-Thomas brings the womanist lens that names what the film itself only partially names: the women are the most spiritually powerful figures in the story, and they pay the highest price. By the end, someone looks around the room and says what a lot of us were thinking — Theology Beer Camp is a hush harbor. This is one of the most popular sessions from camp this year, and after you listen, you'll understand why. Join 600+ Listeners, 30 theologians, & 30 God-Pods at Theology Beer Camp 2026 this October 8-10 in Kansas City! Panel Members Kelly Brown Douglas is Visiting Professor of Theology at Harvard Divinity School and Canon Theologian at Washington National Cathedral. Juan Floyd-Thomas is Associate Professor of African American Religious History at Vanderbilt Divinity School, where he teaches Black religion, race, religion, and film. Stacey Floyd-Thomas is the Carpenter Professor of Ethics and Society and Chair of African American Studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School. Adam Clark is Professor of Theology and Director of Civic Engagement at Xavier University. Will Rose is the co-host of Systematic Geekology, a podcast exploring theology and pop culture for people who geek out on the deeper things. UPCOMING ONLINE CLASS - Theology for Troublemakers: Christian Social Ethics from the Margins⁠ The injustices we face are immense — but they are not unique. Previous generations confronted the same powers with theological conviction and strategic brilliance. The question is whether we'll learn from them. This 6-week online course, led by Dr. Gary Dorrien and Dr. Aaron Stauffer, recovers the radical tradition of Christian social ethics — from Reverdy Ransom and Reinhold Niebuhr to James Cone and the Welfare Rights Movement — and asks what faithfulness demands of us right now. Weekly lectures, live Q&A conversations, guest lecturers, and an online community are included.

Dr. Yolanda Pierce serves as professor and dean of Vanderbilt Divinity School in Nashville, Tennessee. A distinguished scholar, her research focuses on Literature and Religion, Womanist Theology, and African American Religions. She is the author of several influential books, including In My Grandmother's House, Hell Without Fires, and The Wounds Are the Witness. Dr. Pierce's work weaves together history, theology, and lived experience, illuminating how Black faith traditions hold memory, confront injustice, and cultivate healing. As an educator and leader, she is deeply committed to forming thoughtful, justice-oriented leaders for the church, academy, and public life.

It's time for our weekly Roundabout, where our panel representing views across the political spectrum dives into the biggest headlines of the week. We take a deep look at new details surrounding immigration enforcement in Middle Tennessee, including an investigation by a media collaborative including Nashville Banner, as well as challenges to marriage equality and gender-affirming surgeries. We also discuss the latest developments with the underground Tesla loop. And we hear from you! Call 615-760-2000 with your question of comment. You can also chime in on our live YouTube stream.Guests Sarah Grace Taylor, reporter, Nashville Banner Bill Phillips, former deputy mayor for Bill Purcell and John Cooper, Republican analyst Sophie Esteves Varvella Vicente, MDiv student, Vanderbilt Divinity School

Preaching for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Angela Howard McParland offers a reflection on responding to God's call in a time of despair by choosing hope, resistance, and love: "Like the disciples who left their fishing nets to follow Jesus, people of faith all over our country are showing up, speaking out, and modeling nonviolent love of neighbor."Angela Howard McParland is a member of the Justice Team of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, a co-founder of Nuns Against Gun Violence, and a proud member of cohort 5 of Mercy Global's Emerging Leaders Fellowship. She earned a Master of Divinity at Vanderbilt Divinity School as well as a certificate in Religion, Gender, and Sexuality. She lives in Providence, RI with her three children: Oliver, Lorelai, and Eamon.Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/01252026 to learn more about Angela, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Hey there, we intended to get this episode published last month but life and *waves hands at everything going on in the US* got in the way. HOWEVER! This was an encouraging conversation and a great way to orient ourselves as we kick off a new year under an oppressive, malicious, and very dumb empire. Kat Armas is is a Cuban American writer, speaker, and theologian from Miami, FL. She holds a ThM from Vanderbilt Divinity School, and a dual MDiv and MAT from Fuller Theological Seminary where she was awarded the Frederick Buechner Award for Excellence in Writing. She is also a very thoughtful writer and a great hang. Topics included on this episode:The way Empire trades mystery and memory for conformityHer book dedication on LfREAdvent and how the Incarnation relates to what she's been thinking and writing about latelyHer love of reading and horror moviesand MORE!Check out her upcoming stops on her book tour and take some friends to see her when she's in your area!Buy Liturgies For Resisting Empire (30% off & Free Shipping rn!)Listen on Libby through your local library Shoutouts:The CorrespondentsTell Me EverythingAlien seriesSmall Things Like TheseChildren of MenFollow Kat:InstagramWebsiteSubstackFollow Us:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Philip's Letterboxd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Share Your Questions/Suggestions/Feedback With Us:Email: thesubstancepod@gmail.comDM on InstagramSupport Us: Support the show with an individual donation on CashApp to $TheSubstancePod or become a monthly Patreon supporter at patreon.com/TheSubstancePod

Mary B is joined by Kat Armas to discuss her new book, Liturgies for Resisting Empire: Seeking Community, Belonging, and Peace in a Dehumanizing World. This episode begins with Armas offering an invocation — as she does at the start of each chapter of her latest book. Her invocation is aptly a liturgy for resisting empire. Armas focuses on the important of community as resistance because as she says, “friendship… is the death of empire.” It is in community where one finds new ways to resist and care for their neighbor. Empire insidiously convinces us to think in binary and Armas urges the listener to hold on to complexity in a world that often demands simplicity.Kat Armas (MDiv, MAT, Fuller Theological Seminary) is a Cuban American writer and podcaster and the recipient of Fuller Seminary's Frederick Buechner Award for Excellence in Writing. She is pursuing a ThM at Vanderbilt Divinity School. Armas is the author of three books, Abuelita Faith, Sacred Belonging, and Liturgies for Resisting Empire. She has written for Christianity Today, Sojourners, Relevant, Christians for Biblical Equality, Fuller Youth Institute, Fathom magazine, and Missio Alliance.Get Liturgies for Resisting Empire wherever you buy books (check Baker Books to see if it's still on sale there!). Follow Kat on socials @kat_armas. Check out Kat's Substack at katarmas.substack.comJoin the Found Family crew over on Substack and get your free copy of the Found Family Cheat Sheet! Support the show

Kat Armas, a Cuban American write, speaker and theologian, generously preached this past Sunday - reading a story and answering questions from her new book "Liturgies for Resisting Empire."Armas holds a ThM from Vanderbilt Divinity School and dual MDiv and MAT degrees from Fuller Theological Seminary, where she received the Frederick Buechner Award for Excellence in Writing.

Send us a textHave you ever wished you had superpowers? Maybe we actually do! We may not be able to fly or shoot lasers out of our eyes, but what if we were made for more than that? In this episode, Susan talks with Rev. Smith Lilley about what it means to be human and how the life of Christ within us empowers us to live supernaturally in our everyday lives. ABOUT SMITH: Smith Lilley is an ordained elder in the Mississippi Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and the pastor of Fulton UMC and Verona UMC. He previously served churches in Tupelo and Tremont in northeast Mississippi and in Nashville, Tennessee. Smith's passions in ministry are preaching and teaching, worship, and small group discipleship.Originally from Clinton, Smith is a graduate of Vanderbilt Divinity School, the University of Limerick in Ireland, and Mississippi State University. He is currently a student in the Doctor of Theology program at United Theological Seminary. Prior to ministry he was an officer in the U.S. Air Force.His wife Jessica is a pediatric endocrinologist and native of Belmont. They have three daughters—Emelyn, Abigail, and Alexis. Thanks for listening to the Embodied Holiness Podcast. We invite you to join the community on Facebook and Instagram @embodiedholiness. Embodied Holiness is a ministry of Parkway Heights United Methodist Church in Hattiesburg, MS. If you're in the Hattiesburg area and are looking for a church home, we'd love to meet you and welcome you to the family. You can find out more about Parkway Heights at our website.

This Sunday, we welcome guest preacher Kat Armas. Kat Armas is a Cuban American writer, speaker, and theologian from Miami, FL. She holds a ThM from Vanderbilt Divinity School, and a dual MDiv and MAT from Fuller Theological Seminary. Kat has spoken at seminaries, universities, and conferences nationwide and her work has appeared in the National Catholic Reporter—where one of her essays was shared by the pope!, Plough Magazine, The Christian Century, Christianity Today, Sojornours Magazine, and more. Kat currently lives on a small farm in middle Tennessee with her family—which includes her spouse, young children, chickens, goats, pigs, dogs, and cats. Her new book was released this week. Liturgies for Resisting Empire: Seeking Community, Belonging, and Peace in a Dehumanizing World examines the ideologies of empire that infiltrate daily life and offers a pathway toward liberation. Additionally, Pastor Molly will offer a reflection on our new mission statement, as well as an invitation to participate in our fall stewardship campaign. www.TheLoftLA.org

Kat Armas joins Shifting Culture to talk about her new book, Liturgies for Resisting Empire, a powerful exploration of how empire shapes the way we think about God, community, time, and ourselves. She names the ways control, hierarchy, and productivity have distorted our faith and imaginations, and invites us into practices of resistance rooted in love, rest, and belonging. Kat offers a vision of wholeness that embraces paradox over dualism, kinship over domination, and peace over violence. This conversation points us toward a more human way of living. One where we belong without conditions and find God in the places empire forgets.Kat Armas is a Cuban American writer, speaker, and theologian from Miami, FL. She holds a ThM from Vanderbilt Divinity School, and a dual MDiv and MAT from Fuller Theological Seminary where she was awarded the Frederick Buechner Award for Excellence in Writing.Her first book, Abuelita Faith: What Women on the Margins Teach Us About Wisdom, Persistence and Strength, sits at the intersection of women, decolonialism, the Bible, and Cuban identity. Her second book, Sacred Belonging: A 40-day Devotional on the Liberating Heart of Scripture invites readers to encounter the Bible through a decolonized lens, lifting up themes of creation, wisdom, spirit, the body, and the feminine.Kat has spoken at seminaries, universities, and conferences nationwide and her work has appeared in the National Catholic Reporter—where one of her essays was shared by the pope!, Plough Magazine, The Christian Century, Christianity Today, Sojornours Magazine, and more.Kat currently lives on a small farm in middle Tennessee with her family—which includes her spouse, young children, chickens, goats, pigs, dogs, and cats. Her forthcoming third book Liturgies for Resisting Empire: Seeking Community, Belonging, and Peace in a Dehumanizing World examines the ideologies of empire that infiltrate daily life and offers a pathway toward liberation. It releases November 4th.Kat's Book:Liturgies for Resisting EmpireKat's Recommendations:The CorrespondentTell Me EverythingResident AlienConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@shiftingculturepodcast.comGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky or YouTubeConsider Giving to the podcast and to the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link below Contact me to advertise: jjohnson@shiftingculturepodcast.com Support the show

Dr. Carol Orsborn received a master degree in theological studies from Vanderbilt Divinity School and a doctorate in religion from Vanderbilt University with a specialty in adult development. She has taught at Georgetown University. An internationally recognized thought leader on fulfilling human potential through all life stages, she is the guiding force behind the spiritual aging study and a support group movement that offers in-person and online gatherings of "old souls" worldwide. She's also the author of 36 books about life stage and spiritual development, including her newest publication, Spiritual Aging: Weekly Reflections on Embracing Life. Our conversation focused on that book and the overall challenge of aging as a path of spiritual development. We spoke about working through common stumbling blocks and aging with self-acceptance, freedom, and joy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emily Joy Allison is a writer, poet, and yoga teacher. She holds a degree in philosophical theology and apologetics from Moody Bible Institute and a Master of Theological Studies from Vanderbilt Divinity School. In November 2017, as the #MeToo movement was going viral, Emily came forward with her own story of abuse at the hands of her church and launched the #ChurchToo movement overnight. She has been writing and speaking about religious sexualized violence and its theological underpinnings ever since. Emily lives in Nashville, Tennessee.You can find links to all of her socials as well as info about her book at: https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/author/7702/Emily-Joy-AllisonIf you enjoy listening to the show, please consider heading over to apple podcasts to rate and review us. If you really enjoy the show, we would love to see you in our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/ThereafterPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Also, look for us on social media and shoot us a message to say hello, or chat with us in Twitter spaces on Tuesday mornings in deconstruction coffee hour!Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ThereafterPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@CortlandCoffey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ThePursuingLife⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram/Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ThereafterPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@CortlandCoffey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ThePursuingLifeBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/cortland.mehttps://bsky.app/profile/thepursuinglife.bsky.social

Welcome to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Madang Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠ Madang is the outdoor living room of the world. Here, we invite you to sit and tune into unreserved, remarkable conversations with renown authors, leaders, public figures and scholars on religion, culture and everything in-between. This has been a dream of mine for many years and now it is a reality. Please join me at Madang Podcast hosted by the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Century⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠ This is the 45th Episode with Dr. Yolanda Pierce on her book, "The Wounds are the Witness". Dr. Pierce is a scholar, writer, womanist theologian, and accomplished administrator in higher education. She currently serves as Professor and Dean of the Vanderbilt Divinity School. A widely-published author, she has written several books, essays, and articles for academic and trade journals. Pierce is the creator and curator of “Touching the Sacred,” an exhibit on material religion and the Black Church. In this episode, Pierce shares her book, "The Wounds are the Witness", store-front churches, wounds bear witness, bones tell stories, shame, wounded healer and so much more. I am grateful to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Homebrewed Christianity⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Broadleaf Books ⁠⁠⁠for sponsoring this episode. Please join Homebrewed Christianity's online class, Rise of Bonhoeffer. Please read some of the latest Broadleaf Books that are impacting the world. Please check out their websites for their work, and events and to donate. Please reach out to me if you would like to sponsor the next episode of Madang podcast. Or simply ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠support me on my substack.

This 100th ChangeMakers Podcast episode honors the legacy, career, and calling of Dr. Kenneth S. Robinson, who has been intertwining medicine and ministry for decades to transform lives and communities. Join host Jeremy C. Park as he talks with Rev. Kenneth S. Robinson, M.D., who announced his retirement in June 2024, after serving as President and CEO of United Way of the Mid-South for more than nine years. Dr. Robinson became President and CEO in February 2015 after nearly 25 years as a volunteer and Board member of United Way of the Mid-South, the region's largest public, exclusively charitable foundation.During the interview, Dr. Robinson shares how being born premature and facing illnesses paved the way for his calling to pursue medicine, how his parents fostered a focus on education and faith, and how they instilled the confidence for him to succeed. He discusses how his paths for medicine and ministry started to become intertwined while at Harvard College and Harvard Medical School, and how those callings came with personal sacrifices and hard decisions. Dr. Robinson reflects on meeting his wife and how they've built their family, how and why he balanced working at Vanderbilt while pursing a Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt Divinity School, and then the transition to serving in the Governor's Cabinet as Tennessee's Commissioner of Health from 2003-2007.Dr. Robinson talks about serving as Pastor and CEO of St. Andrew AME Church in Memphis and how they worked to transform South Memphis, and then what led him to United Way of the Mid-South, where his legacy will be the social entrepreneurial approach that he brought to human services through Driving The Dream™ Identifying poverty as the critical, underlying issue impacting every facet of our community, Driving The Dream™, established in 2016, currently connects over 170 independent agencies and organizations in a system of care for people living in, or at risk, of poverty. The network of support allows individuals in need to connect to available resources with a single phone call or visit to a participating agency. Through a shared database and communication system, multiple agencies are able to offer services to families. Driving The Dream™ Care Coordinators, or case managers, assist families in building their own roadmap to self-sufficiency. To date, Driving The Dream™ has helped over 15,000 individuals advance toward financial stability.Dr. Robinson wraps up with some of the lessons learned, his advice and encouragement for those who want to make a difference, and a fun, lightning round of short questions and answers where he shares what he likes to do to relax, his love of the Memphis Grizzlies, favorite Bible verses, and his plans for the future.   About Dr. Kenneth S. Robinson:Dr. Robinson's bi-professional synthesis of medicine and ministry has made him a strong leader in the areas of public policy, health and healthcare, and community development at the highest levels of local, state and national impact. He served in the Governor's Cabinet as Tennessee's Commissioner of Health (2003-2007), guiding significant contracting and grant-making authority within his Department's $548 million budget. Prior to joining United Way, he was the consultant and public health policy advisor to the Mayor of Shelby County (2008-2015) and Chair of “Healthy Shelby,” which was highlighted by United Way Worldwide as a replicable model of public/private collective impact.For 25 years (1991-2016), Dr. Robinson also served as Pastor and CEO of St. Andrew AME Church in Memphis; developing health and human services, high-quality childcare, Pre-K and K-5 education, and economic development initiatives.  He founded an associated CDC, The Works, Inc., a very effective nonprofit that partners with United Way to impact lives locally. The entire St. Andrew Enterprise has become a major stakeholder in creating a healthy, sustainable community; responsible for over $22 million of new investment in South Memphis.In 2000, United Way of America (now United Way Worldwide) awarded him its Community Builder of the Year award; recognizing both his local volunteer work with United Way and his formative community work through St. Andrew. Dr. Robinson has held board and leadership positions with numerous nonprofits, foundations, colleges, civic organizations, health-related entities and “think-tank” groups across the Mid-South and Tennessee.  He holds a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from Harvard College; the Doctor of Medicine degree from Harvard Medical School; and a Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt Divinity School.He and his wife, Marilynn, have twin daughters – both accomplished physicians. The ChangeMakers Podcast is produced by cityCURRENT and powered by Higginbotham Insurance and Financial Services. Be inspired by more positive media by following cityCURRENT here: www.cityCURRENT.com

Send us a textSpecial Guests:Rev. Larissa Romero, Dr. Francisco Herrera, Rev. Darren UtleyQuestion of the Week:Why is the work of community engagement so hard? If I am a Christian in building power and capacity in my congregation and community, particularly for those that are marginalized, where do I start?Vanderbilt Divinity School's Solidarity Circles ProgramFor Listening Guides, click here!Got a question for us? Send them to faithpodcast@pcusa.org! A Matter of Faith website

Episode 054 - A Better Place Than Here (With Jennifer Knapp) What would you learn if you had the opportunity to go back and revisit your spiritual journey of twenty-five years ago? What if that experience happened in community, with folks who were there with you, when it happened? What would you learn? How are you different? What losses and what growth would you notice? The release of Kansas 25, a re-recording of her award-winning album, Kansas, gave singer songwriter, Jennifer Knapp, just that experience. Show Notes Get Kansas 25 Digital, CD & Vinyl Streaming on all major services. Scroll down for a full transcript of this episode. You can also watch and share the video version on Youtube. More about My Conversation Partner Jennifer Knapp is a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, author, speaker, and advocate whose two-decade career has significantly impacted the music industry. With over one million albums sold from her first three releases—"Kansas" (1998), "Lay It Down" (2000), and "The Way I Am" (2001)—Knapp achieved Gold certification for "Kansas" and earned four Dove Awards along with two Grammy nominations. Originating from Kansas, she has performed globally alongside artists like Jars of Clay and participated in the Lilith Fair Tour in 1999 and 2010. Known for her poignant exploration of human experiences and spirituality, Knapp took a seven-year hiatus in 2002, returning with the album "Letting Go" in 2010, which debuted at No. 73 on the Billboard Hot 200 Chart. Beyond music, she is a pioneer in LGBTQ+ advocacy within Christian communities, being the first major artist to openly discuss her identity, which sparked national dialogue and led to appearances on platforms like Larry King Live and TEDx. In 2012, she founded Inside Out Faith, a non-profit organization advocating for LGBTQ+ rights in faith contexts. Recently, she completed a master's degree in theological studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School, reinforcing her commitment to social justice through music and advocacy. Jennifer Knapp's diverse talents and dedication to inclusivity continue to inspire audiences worldwide. Find Jenn at https://jenniferknapp.com Facebook: JenniferKnappMusic Instagram: @JenniferKnappMusic Today's Sponsor The Apprenticehip Notes Newsletter - Monthly-ish writing just for you on spiritual growth in the other-centered, co-suffering way of Jesus. Transcription Marc Schelske 0:00Hey, friends, I'm Marc Alan Schelske, and this is The Apprenticeship Way, a podcast about spiritual growth, following the way of Jesus. This is episode 55: A Better Place Than Here. THIS WEEK'S SPONSORToday's podcast is made possible by The Writers Advance. I'm a writer. I love supporting writers. Five years ago, I created The Writer's Advance. It's exactly what I needed--A writing weekend that has been crafted to be precisely what writers need to push forward their current project. It's not about networking or listening to experts speak or trying desperately to get an agent or editor to notice you. Nope. It's about writing and reconnecting with why writing matters to you. At the end of every writing weekend, I send all the participants an anonymous survey to get feedback so that I can improve the experience. You can read their words on the event website, but I wanted to just read a couple of their comments to you right now, because they really tell the story. This is an anonymous feedback from the retreat two years ago. "This was an amazing weekend. The hosting was on target. The venue was peaceful and offered more than I expected. I loved the pacing. Marc is a great host and guide, and provides just the right amount of encouragement and accountability. So looking forward to the next one." Here's another. This is a comment about last year's event. "This weekend reenergized my commitment to my writing craft. It was an excellent blend of accountability, flexibility,

The headlines are filled with tragic stories of clergy misconduct - abuse, power, control, and church cover-ups. Elizabeth Pankey-Warren, M.Div., MSW, and Spiritual Director (The Living School), has counseled the victims and perpetrators of abuse both as a therapist and as an ordained minister. In her work, she has also encountered clergy abuse in the context of her own church workplace. She shares her personal journey with Ken. It began with a profound spiritual encounter at a Billy Graham Crusade (at the tender age of 13); on through college and seminary (Vanderbilt Divinity School in Nashville); and then to her pastoral roles and finally - her work as a sought-after therapist. Her passion is mind/body/spirit holistic health with specialties in Yoga and nutrition. It's a refreshing, candid, lively conversation with a successful professional who also remains unencumbered by the constraints of fundamentalist religion and conservative politics. SHOW NOTESBecome a Patron | Ken's Substack PageSupport the Show.

Jennifer Knapp is a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, author, speaker and advocate. In her rich musical career, she has earned four Dove Awards and two Grammy nominations. With a considerable fan base and critical and commercial success, Knapp walked away from music in 2002 at the height of her career. After a seven-year hiatus she returned in 2010 with a renewed passion for music. As the first major artist in the Christian music world to speak openly about LGBTQ identity, her unique position created opportunities for national dialogue. In 2012 Knapp founded the non-profit organization Inside Out Faith, through which she continues to speak and perform nationally as an advocate for LGBTQ & faith issues. A true Renaissance woman, Knapp recently completed a Master's Degree in Theological Studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School. *Music shared with permission* Connect with Jennifer Knapp: The Dot Com: https://jenniferknapp.com/ | Patreon: https://jenniferknapp.com/patreon/ | Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferknappmusic/?hl=en Connect with Maggie: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hello_deconstructionists/ | Email: hello.decons@gmail.com Learn more about Amy's music: Amy's Website: ⁠⁠https://www.amyazzara.com/⁠ ⁠⁠ | Foray Music: ⁠⁠https://www.foraymusic.com/⁠⁠ | Amy's Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/amyazzara/⁠

Prisca Dorcas Mojica RodrDespite finding acclaim and recognition in cities like LA and New York, and through her Instagram page @LatinaRebels, she struggles to find her place and feel seen in Nashville. She attributes part of that to being a disruptor- she was the one asking the tough questions and wearing upside down crosses while enrolled at Vanderbilt Divinity School. At the same time, she questions if people in Nashville aren't quite ready for an author like her who is forthright about writing for a Latine audience— not white people. Today we'll talk about her journey to Nashville, what being Latina means to her, and what she wants to see from the Nashville Latine community and Nashville as a whole. This episode was produced by Elizabeth Burton. Further Reading and Listening If you liked what Prisca had to say, pre-order Rodríguez's forthcoming book Tias and Primas: On Knowing and Loving the Women Who Raise Us If you want to learn more about the Nashville Latinx community, listen back to our bilingual episode on Spanish speakers 

This month, the Academy Podcast features Claire K. McKeever-Burgett as she discusses the sacred people, places, and experiences that shaped her new book, Blessed are the Women. Step into the holy conversation of what it means to be - not just a woman - but human - one who is loved, and listened to by the Divine. Blessed indeed are the ones who hear women in the Bible for they, like Christ, will see the Divine Mother face to face. Listen on Beloveds.  Claire K. McKeever-Burgett is an author, creative contemplative, and spiritual leader who has dedicated her life to bridging spirituality and social justice. With a background in English and Professional Writing from Baylor University and a Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt Divinity School, she has served as a clergy, led congregations, and facilitated transformative writing, movement, and liturgical practices centered on healing and embodiment. A mother, certified birth and postpartum doula, and a yoga, dance, and martial arts instructor, Claire lives with her family in Nashville, Tennessee. She writes regularly on Substack, and her book, Blessed Are the Women: Naming and Reclaiming Women's Stories from the Gospels (February 27, 2024), shares stories of women from the Gospels in their words, with their own names, interwoven with Claire's personal story of growing up as a woman with a vision and a voice in a conservative, Southern Baptist, male-dominated world. Claire's writing invites people to pray, dance, sing, and create along with women in ways that help them heal from religious and theological trauma and find a place of welcome and peace within a reimagined, woman-led faith. Those familiar with the Academy Podcast will also recognize Claire as a former host of the podcast. Claire is an alum of Two-Year Academy #41 and previously served on staff as Associate Director for The Academy for Spiritual Formation. JOIN US The Academy for Spiritual Formation presents Spirituality in Practice. This newest offering is a unique six-session hybrid model that consists of three immersive, five-day in-person retreats and three online one-day retreats plus monthly two-hour online practice sessions to support integration of learnings and nurture community. Spirituality in Practice is structured to provide an in-depth spiritual journey while keeping the time and financial commitments at more manageable levels. We are accepting applications now. Session 1 begins September 6, 2024, in Mundelein, IL (near Chicago). Find more details and apply at https://academy.upperroom.org/event/spirituality-in-practice2024/. SHOW NOTES Order Claire K. McKeever-Burgett's new book Blessed are the Women at https://www.clairemckeeverburgett.com/book. Episode tracks: “Far Side of the Sea,” “Versailles,” and “Fearless” by Amy Stroup, used with permission. For more information and resources visit: academy.upperroom.org/resources SUPPORT OUR WORK If the Academy Podcast or any of the ministries of The Academy for Spiritual Formation have benefited your life and spirituality, please consider making a one-time or monthly donation to show your support. You can learn more about how your gifts make a difference at https://academy.upperroom.org/donate/

On today's episode Heather is joined by Kat Armas. Kat is a Cuban American theologian and author who specializes in seeing Scripture in new ways. Her lens for engaging with the Bible reminds us that there is always so much more to Scripture than we notice at first glance. This week there's also more of our new segment Friends in the Kitchen, featuring celebrity chef Danielle Kartes. Today, Danielle is sharing her delicious Chicken Piccata recipe, which you can find on her blog here. Guest Bio Kat Armas is a Cuban American writer and podcaster from Miami, Florida. She holds a dual MDiv and MAT from Fuller Theological Seminary and is currently pursuing a ThM at Vanderbilt Divinity School. Her first book, Abuelita Faith: What Women on the Margins Teach Us About Wisdom, Persistence and Strength, sits at the intersection of women, de-colonialism, the Bible, and Cuban identity. She also explores these topics and more on her podcast, The Protagonistas, which centers the voices of Black, Indigenous, and other women of color in theological spaces. Kat is currently living outside of Nashville where she preaches regularly at Gracepointe church. Her second book, Sacred Belonging: A 40-day Devotional on the Liberating Heart of Scripture is available right now. Host Bio Heather Thompson Day is an associate professor of communication at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She is the author of eight books, including I'll See You Tomorrow and It's Not Your Turn. Reach out to Heather on X, the app formerly known as Twitter, at @HeatherTDay and on Instagram @heatherthompsonday. Get Heather's weekly inspirational email delivered to your inbox every Friday night at 7 p.m. EST. Sign up now at: www.heatherthompsonday.com/links. Viral Jesus is a production of Christianity Today Host and creator: Heather Thompson Day Executive Producer: Ed Gilbreath Producer: Loren Joseph Mix Engineer: Alex Carter Director of CT Podcasts: Mike Cosper Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Author and faith leader Claire McKeever-Burgett is here to share about her new book, Blessed Are the Women.Through a blend of storytelling, poetry, and prayer, Blessed Are the Women invites readers to reimagine worship, embrace women's narratives, and foster healing within themselves and their communities.Buy the book here and be sure to subscribe to Claire's Substack.About ClaireClaire hails from the dry plains of West Texas, and though she's lived in Washington, D.C., Austin, TX, Louisiana, and Nashville since 2013, she still claims Texas as her home. A graduate of Baylor University with a degree in English and Professional Writing, Claire began her career working at Sojourners magazine on Jim Wallis' New York Times bestselling book tour for God's Politics. From there, Claire worked in the nonprofit sustainable food world in Austin, Texas, and then made her way to Vanderbilt Divinity School where she earned a Master of Divinity in 2011.An author, creative contemplative, and spiritual leader, Claire has dedicated her life to bridging spirituality and social justice. She has served as a clergy, led congregations, and facilitated transformative writing, movement, and liturgical practices centered on healing and embodiment. A mother, certified birth and postpartum doula, and a yoga, dance, and martial arts instructor, Claire lives with her family in Nashville, Tennessee.Connect with us!Sign up to receive a little Gospel in your inbox every Monday Morning with our weekly devotional.Check out our website for great resources, previous blog posts, and more.Get some Lady Preacher Podcast swag!Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

Welcome to Chapter 54!My guest is debut novelist, Emily Habeck, author of Shark Heart: A Love Story. Emily has a BFA in Theater from Southern Methodist University's Meadows School of the Arts as well as master's degrees from Vanderbilt Divinity School and Vanderbilt's Peabody College. Since it's release in August, Shark Heart has been named a USA Today Bestseller, a Book of the Month selection, a New York Times book review editor's choice, and was the #1 Indie Next pick for August 2023. She is from Ardmore, Oklahoma and currently lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Connect with Emily: website | Instagram | TwitterPurchase Shark Heart: A Love Story from Bookshop.orgBooks mentioned on the show:You Could Make This Place Beautiful - Maggie SmithSmile - Sarah RuhlBluets - Maggie NelsonFellowship Point - Alice Elliot DarkConnect with J: website | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookShop the Bookcast on Bookshop.orgMusic by JuliusH

"I feel like black women have been, and always will be, the closest approximation of Jesus Christ's salvific work, in our lives." Shantell Hinton Hill is an engineer, pastor, and poet that centers her justice work around Black Feminism(s) and Womanism. She tells stories of finding her voice and the way black women in her life have uplifted, empowered, and resurrected her. Now it is her goal to live out this empowering work and way of life. Shantell connects this work with the women of the Bible who were unnamed, voiceless, yet acted in faith and power. She describes how Black feminism(s) and Womanism point out the way intersectional oppressions may be operating throughout scripture. We hear one of her breathtaking poems from her book, “Black girl magic and other elixirs,” which problematizes how Christians think of suffering, death, and crucifixion. We finish by hearing about the voices who have shaped Shantell's Black feminism(s), her faith, and her writing, as well as encouragement for those who don't know what to do with their faith in the face of all the suffering in our world. Guest's Full Bio: Shantell Hinton Hill is the ultimate Renaissance woman. An engineer turned pastor, Shantell situates her work at the intersections of social justice, public theology, and Black feminism/womanism. A native of Conway, Arkansas, Shantell is married to Rev. Jeremy Hill. They recently welcomed their first child, Sophie June, to their growing family. Shantell obtained a Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt Divinity School. She also earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Colorado State University. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the National Society of Black Engineers. She is also an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Her vocational experiences include work as a Process Control Engineer, a Bible teacher, and as Assistant University Chaplain at Vanderbilt University. Shantell's Book: “Black girl magic and other elixirs”: https://www.shantellhhill.com/shopShantell's Website: https://www.shantellhhill.com/Shantell's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shantellhhill/ and Love, Auntie: https://www.instagrSupport the showFollow us for more ✨bad✨ content: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calledtobebad_podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calledtobebad Website: https://calledtobebad.buzzsprout.com/ Want to become part of the ✨baddie✨ community? Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/calledtobebad Have a ✨bad✨ topic you want to talk about on the show? Get in touch with host, Mariah Martin at: calledtobebad@gmail.com #ctbb #podcast #podcastersoffacebook ...

The Rev. Dr. Robert S. (Stan) Wood is pastor of the Mt. Tabor Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America in Jackson, Tennessee since 2011.  He was Vice President of Academic Affairs/Academic Dean, Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program, Clara Scott Professor of Ministry at Memphis Theological Seminary retiring in 2017. He earned degrees from Bethel College, Memphis Theological Seminary, and Vanderbilt Divinity School. He is an ordained minister in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America.  Prior to his appointment at Memphis Theological Seminary, Dr. Wood was employed by the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America as General Secretary/Stated Clerk (1979-1997) and as Director of Christian Education (1973-1979), working at the church headquarters in Huntsville, Alabama. He and his wife, Patricia, live in Cordova, Tennessee.Music is provided by Pierce Murphy, Caldera Blue. Source:  https://www.freemusicarchive.org/music/Pierce_Murphy/through-the-olive-branches/caldera-blueComments: http://freemusicarchive.org/Additional comments:  modifications made to shorten and loop song for introduction and closing of podcast.Copyright Attribution and License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This Quoircast episode is brought to you by Holy Heretic. We seek to foster honest conversations about the state of religion in the 21st centuryIn this episode we chat with Ellen T. ArmourEllen T. Armour is Professor and E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Chair of Feminist Theology at Vanderbilt Divinity School where she directs the Carpenter Program in Religion, Gender and Sexuality. Her research interests include theology, social media, and visual culture, race, gender, and sexuality studies, and contemporary continental philosophy.You can follow Ellen on:Facebook     Instagram     You can find all things Ellen Armour related on her Vanderbilt websiteYou can purchase Seeing and Believing : Religion, Digital Visual Culture, and Social Justice on Amazon.comYou can connect with This Is Not Church on:Facebook     Instagram      Twitter     TikTok     YouTubeAlso check out our Linktree for all things This Is Not Church relatedPlease like and follow our Quoircast Partners:Heretic Happy Hour     Messy Spirituality     Apostates Anonymous    Second Cup with Keith     The Church Needs TherapyIdeas Digest     The New Evangelicals     Snarky Faith Podcast     Wild Olive     Deadly FaithJonathan Foster     Sacred Thoughts     Holy Heretics     Reframing Our StoriesEach episode of This Is Not Church Podcast is expertly engineered by our producer The Podcast Doctor Eric Howell. If you're thinking of starting a podcast you need to connect with Eric!

Scientific Sense ® by Gill Eapen: Prof. Ellen Armour is Professor and Chair of Feminist Theology at Vanderbilt Divinity School. She also directs the Carpenter Program in Religion, Gender and Sexuality. In addition to Seeing and Believing, she is the author of Signs and Wonders: Theology After Modernity that was featured in a previous podcast. Please subscribe to this channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/ScientificSense?sub_confirmation=1 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scientificsense/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scientificsense/support

— “The term transfiguration points to the radical change that unfolds holistically when we seek to transform our trauma. When we are transfigured, we, too, become illumined in body, mind, spirit, and soul. This means we become conscious, aware, and connected to our thoughts, emotions, and body sensations; we become reconnected to our embodied senses. We come to know ourselves intimately—psycho-emotionally, physically, and spiritually, as we navigate our embodied interior landscape. We become more spiritually attuned with ourselves, others, and the whole of creation. We undergo a transformation on multiple levels of our personhood, and through this transformational process, we become our authentic selves—and we inevitably encounter the Divine Indwelling, the Infinite, or Mystery. We come to understand we are not separated from the divine, one another, or creation. Through our transfiguration, we become who we are meant to be; and, in doing so, we come home to our authentic selves—a place of belonging.” Valeria interviews Ava Dasya Rasa  — She is the author of  “Transfiguration: 30 Meditations Inspired by Transforming Trauma & Spirituality.” Ava Dasya Rasa is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW-C, Transpersonal Psychotherapist specializing in Trauma, Grief, and Contemplative Spirituality & Renewal. She is an author, poet, speaker, teacher, and spiritual director. Ava Dasya holds two graduate degrees: a Master of Social Work and a Master of Arts in Theology. And she earned a graduate Certificate from Vanderbilt Divinity School in Religion, Gender, & Sexuality. She is the Founder of Dragonfly Trauma Counseling Center in Albuquerque, NM, where she serves clients using somatic and neuro-based trauma therapies and Mindfulness-based interventions. The Dragonfly symbolizes opportunity, change, transformation, adaptability, and new beginnings. Ava Dasya believes transformational healing of our trauma inevitably gives birth to our post-traumatic spirituality and authentic selves. She lives in the expansive light and wild beauty of the high desert of Northern New Mexico. For more information about Dragonfly Trauma Counseling Center, please visit: dragonflytrauma.com — for the author's website, please visit avadasyarasa.com               — This podcast is a quest for well-being, a quest for a meaningful life through the exploration of fundamental truths, enlightening ideas, insights on physical, mental, and spiritual health. The inspiration is Love. The aspiration is to awaken new ways of thinking that can lead us to a new way of being, being well. 

When you work in religious studies, sometimes you get to work on really cool subjects, like Dr. Shaily Patel, who works on magic. For centuries, magic had been an integral part of religion. So much so, in fact, that it's hard to really see it as a separate category. So when did we start removing magic from religious practice and putting into the wands of boy wizards and teenage witches, or the hands of bearded old men? Why is magic a Vegas act instead of Church liturgy? The short answer is Christianity. The long answer is what Kelly and John invited Shaily on to talk about this week. Shaily Patel is an assistant professor of early Christianity at Virginia Tech. She earned her Ph.D. from The University of North Carolina in 2017 and holds master's degrees from Vanderbilt Divinity School and The University of Chicago.  You can find her on Twitter @vox_magica

Vanderbilt University's Divinity School is the only one of its kind in the South. It's liberal and interdenominational, and, under the leadership of Dean Emilie Townes, has only grown its reputation as a theological institution leading in the areas of diversity and social justice. Later this month, Townes will step down as dean. She joins us to reflect on her legacy, and how the Divinity School has changed with Nashville over the past decade. But first, we'll respond to listener feedback in our weekly segment @ us! Guest: Emilie M. Townes, theologian, womanist ethicist, author, ordained Baptist clergywoman This episode was produced by Andrea Tudhope. 

In an environment of deconstruction, how do we identify what needs to be torn down? And in the midst of the rubble, what are we rebuilding? Dr. Yolanda Pierce, author of In My Grandmother's House, joins Amy Julia Becker for a conversation about:grandmother theologydeconstructing Christian faithBlack Jesus and unlearning racial hierarchieshope that something true and good and beautiful can be renewed and rebuilt within the church and within our world__Guest Bio:“Yolanda Pierce, PhD, is a scholar, writer, womanist theologian, and accomplished administrator in higher education. She was appointed the Founding Director of the Center for African American Religious Life at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). And she currently serves as Professor and Dean of the Howard University School of Divinity.” Dr. Pierce will soon be Dean of Vanderbilt Divinity School.__Book: In My Grandmother's House: Black Women, Faith, and the Stories We Inherit__Connect Online:Website: yolandapierce.comTwitter: @YNPierce__For the transcript, go to: amyjuliabecker.com/yolanda-pierceThe transcript will be available within one business day on my website, and a video with closed captions will be available on my YouTube Channel.__Season 6 of the Love Is Stronger Than Fear podcast connects to themes in my latest book, To Be Made Well, which you can order here! Learn more about my writing and speaking at amyjuliabecker.com.Connect with me: Instagram Facebook Twitter Website Thanks for listening!

In this episode, Rev. Peggy and Rev. Sarah sit down over Zoom with Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt, President of Starr King School for the Ministry, and Dr. Elias Ortega, president of Meadville Lombard Theological School, to discuss the question animating this season: What is the Central Task for Humanity at this Moment in History?About this week's guests: The Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt became President of Starr King School for the Ministry in Oakland, CA on July 1, 2014. For 13 years, she was Senior Minister of The Fourth Universalist Society in the City of New York, a 175-year old Unitarian Universalist congregation on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, she is a graduate of Yale University and Drew Theological Seminary.The Rev. Ms. McNatt was an editor and widely anthologized writer for more than 20 years before answering the call to ordained ministry. She is a former editor at the New York Times Book Review; the author of three books, including her memoir, “Unafraid of the Dark;” a former contributing columnist for Beliefnet.com; a former commentator on MSNBC; a contributing editor to UU World, the magazine of the Unitarian Universalist Association; and a cultural critic whose work appears regularly in The Huffington Post, The New York Times Book Review, Essence and other print and online publications. Her current projects include serving as a co-editor for a planned anthology of Unitarian Universalist historical writings, as well as continuing research into the multiracial liberal religious coalitions of early 20th century Chicago.Dr. Elías Ortega is an interdisciplinary scholar who received his M.Div. and Ph.D. (Religion and Society, Magna Cum Laude) from Princeton Theological Seminary (2005, 2011). He also holds a B.A. in Communications Arts & Sciences and Philosophy and Religion from Calvin College. Prior to joining Meadville Lombard Theological School, Dr. Ortega served as Associate Professor of Social Theory and Religious Ethics at Drew University Theological School. At Drew Theological, he served as Deans' Council Chair, was a member of the Digital Humanities Advisory Committee, and the Title IX Committee. His primary teaching and research areas are Sociology of Religion, Religious Ethics, Cultural Sociology, Social Movements, Critical Theory, Africana Studies, Latinx Cultural Studies. In addition to teaching at Drew, he has also taught at Princeton University, Princeton Theological Seminary, New Brunswick Theological Seminary, Vanderbilt Divinity School, The College of New Jersey, and Mercer County Community College. In the American Academy of Religion, he serves on the Committee on the Status of Racial and Ethnic Minorities in the Profession, and on the Steering Committees for the Religion and Politics.  

Jessica serves as Senior Program Manager within the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. She is a native of Detroit, Michigan and holds a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management from Ferris State University and Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt Divinity School. Her expertise lies in Black Church studies, a religious movement born out of persistent “othering” within white spaces.Jessica's work endeavors to create the mental and environmental conditions for people to be fully seen, loudly heard, and thrive personally and professionally. In her teaching role over the past decade, she has both challenged and empowered faith leaders and religious communities alike through the de-colonization of sacred text and praxis, and by centering marginalized voices in shaping theological understanding.In her current role, Jessica provides expert and strategic diversity and inclusion direction, coaching, and counsel to departments across the VUMC organization and greater community. Through collaborative efforts, she creates, builds, implements, and assesses DEI initiatives and programs in service of cultivating inclusive and equitable work environments and experiences specific to our outstanding VUMC staff members. Outside of work, Jessica enjoys hosting family and friends, thought-provoking conversations, traveling, and creating memories with her loving husband and adventurous son.In This EpisodeJessica's websiteJessica's email---What's new with The Trauma Therapist Project!The Trauma 5: gold nuggets from my 600+ interviewsThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5739761/advertisement

Over the last month in Nashville TN, the hope for better gun laws, LGBTQ rights and even democracy itself all seem to be on the line.   We're joined on this episode by Dr. Roberto Che Espinoza and Quinn Joy Bacon, both of whom are activists, organizers and theologians based in Nashville, Tennessee. There are a number of issues that are all at the forefront of what's been happening since 6 people were killed in a mass shooting at a school in the Nashville area. The "Tennessee 3" were engaging in nonviolent protest after the shooting when 2 of the #TN3 were expelled from their duly elected offices. That's when democracy itself became an issue at the center of what's happening there.   Roberto Che Espinoza, Ph.D. has been described in a myriad of ways: a scholar-activist, scholar-leader, thought-leader, teacher, public theologian, ethicist, poet of moral reason, and word artist. Dr. Espinoza is the founder of the Activist Theology Project which is now known as Our Collective Becoming, a Nashville-based collaborative project that seeks to work with the dominant culture and produces curriculum at the intersection of scholarship and activism. Dr. Espinoza was named one of 10 Faith Leaders to Watch by the Center for American Progress in 2018.  As a scholar-activist, Dr. Espinoza is committed to translating theory to action. Dr. E writes and creates academic and other valuable resources, such as in the digital realm. He is the author of Activist Theology which came out in 2019 and his latest book Body Becoming which came out last year.   Quinn Joy Bacon is a poet, organizer, neighbor, cook, and theologian. She is a transfem abolitionist currently studying at Vanderbilt Divinity School, seeking an MDiv with concentrations in Religion, Gender, and Sexuality & Prison and Carceral Studies. At Vanderbilt, they are a member of the Queer Faith and Policy Cohort through the Carpenter Program. Quinn credits her perspective to organizing and working around abolition, housing, mental health, public education, mutual aid, and their formal/informal studies. Broadly, Quinn is interested in Abolitionist Trans Liberation Theologies, and ways church resources can aid freedom struggles. Quinn is also pursuing ordination with the PCUSA.   Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.    activistheology.com/give/   robertoche.com/   activistheology.com/   robertoche.com/writing/   www.democracygroup.org/shows/talkin-politics-religion   twitter.com/coreysnathan

In this episode Kat Armas shares her story and how that informs her faith, and we talk about centering the marginalized, how to embody faith, healing the trauma of our past, and more.Kat Armas is a Cuban American writer and podcaster from Miami, FL. She holds a dual MDiv and MAT from Fuller Theological Seminary where she was awarded the Frederick Buechner Award for Excellence in Writing, and is currently pursuing a ThM at Vanderbilt Divinity School.Her first book, Abuelita Faith: What Women on the Margins Teach Us About Wisdom, Persistence and Strength, sits at the intersection of women, decolonialism, the Bible, and Cuban identity. She also explores these topics and more on her podcast, The Protagonistas, which centers the voices of Black, Indigenous, and other women of color in theological spaces.Kat is currently living in Nashville with her spouse and new baby while working on her second book, Sacred Belonging: A 40-day Devotional on the Liberating Heart of Scripture.Kat's Website:www.katarmas.comKat's Recommendation:The Last of UsConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@allnations.usGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook or Instagram at www.facebook.com/shiftingculturepodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/shiftingculturepodcast/Consider Giving to the podcast and to the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link below.Support the show

In this episode of Community Possibilities, you will meet Amy Ard, Executive Director of Motherhood Beyond Bars. Being a nonprofit leader was not Amy's career plan, but sometimes, life takes you in unexpected places. One profound experience in her life that led her back to her home, Atlanta. We talk about how Amy first become aware of  incarcerated women who are pregnant and how this forever changed her life. The fact that shackling pregnant and laboring women was legal in many states, including Georgia. How common is it for women who are incarcerated to be pregnant or have children already. (Hint: We don't know).I ask the question some people may be thinking, Why should I care? The kind of services does Motherhood Beyond Bars provide? How MBB shifted in response to systemic barriers. How does MBB make a difference? (any outcomes you can share).Why I dubbed Amy "the Equalizer."What is challenging for her as a nonprofit leader.How they are measuring the outcomes of MBB for the families they serve.What is next for Motherhood Beyond Bars.Learn More about Motherhood Beyond Bars and follow them on social.Amy's BioAmy Ard is the founding Executive Director of Motherhood Beyond Bars (MBB), a nonprofit serving incarcerated pregnant women and their infants. MBB provides holistic family support with the goal of ending cycles of incarceration in families and is the only organization in Georgia supporting pregnant women in custody and conducting vital research on the impacts of maternal incarceration on infants and families.  Amy is a graduate of Atlanta Public Schools, Denison University, and Vanderbilt Divinity School.  Amy and her husband, Michael Waller, live in her childhood home with Amy's mother, three children, and a handful of quail in the backyard.Like what you heard? Please like and share wherever you get your podcasts!Connect with Ann: Community Evaluation SolutionsHow Ann  can help:Support the evaluation capacity of your coalition or community-based organization.Help you create a strategic plan that doesn't stress you and your group out, doesn't take all year to design, and is actionable.Engage your group in equitable, difficult conversations.Facilitate a workshop to plan for action and get your group moving.Create a workshop that energizes and excites your group for action.Speak at your conference or event.Ann's book with Like what you heard? Please like and share wherever you get your podcasts! Connect with Ann: Community Evaluation Solutions How Ann can help: · Support the evaluation capacity of your coalition or community-based organization. · Help you create a strategic plan that doesn't stress you and your group out, doesn't take all year to design, and is actionable. · Engage your group in equitable discussions about difficult conversations. · Facilitate a workshop to plan for action and get your group moving. · Create a workshop that energizes and excites your group for action. · Speak at your conference or event. Have a question or want to know more? Book a call with Ann .Be sure and check out our updated resource page! Let us know what was helpful. Community Possibilities is Produced by Zach Price Music by Zach Price: Zachpricet@gmail.com

What's it like to be the only Latter-Day Saint (Mormon) in a Southern Divinity School? Mark Mabry is a practicing Latter-Day Saint, formerly known as The Mormons, who moved to the bible belt where he entered The Vanderbilt Divinity School in Nashville, Tennessee. Paul and Mark discuss his faith and his Vanderbilt classroom made up of a diversity of students from various Christian denominations. Students earn a Master of Theological Studies while others are in the Masters of Divinity Program. Most will go on to become Pastors or Chaplains. Because some Christian churches don't believe Latter-Days Saints are Christian, Mark and Paul explore LDS theology and Mark's Christianity. They also talk briefly about Mark's work as an American photographer, cinematographer, and activist, best known for his photographic depictions of Jesus. In 2008 and 2009 Mark published two Reflections of Christ photo books recreating scenes from the life of Jesus.  View Mark's Reflection of Christ serieshttps://reflectionsofchrist.org/ Learn about Vanderbilt's Theological Studies Degreeshttps://www.vanderbilt.edu/gdr/degrees/theology.php Learn more about Latter-Day Saintshttps://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist ABOUT THE HOST PAUL CARDALLOfficial Website - http://www.paulcardall.comFacebook - http://www.facebook.com/paulcardallmusicYotube - http://www.youtube.com/cardallInstagram - http://www.instagram.com/paulcardall LISTEN TO HIS MUSICAPPLE MUSIC - https://music.apple.com/us/artist/paul-cardall/4312819SPOTIFY - https://open.spotify.com/artist/7FQRbf8gbKw8KZQZAJWxH2AMAZON - Ask Alexa to play Peaceful Piano by Paul Cardall Paul Cardall is an artist who has given a new meaning to the phrase, a change of heart and how he used this radical change to take his music to an unexpected place.  Despite being born with a potentially life-threatening heart defect Paul Cardall has become a world recognized pianist. He is even endorsed by Steinway & Sons as one of the finest pianist of our time. A Dove award winner for his Christmas album, Paul's recordings have debuted on 11 No. 1 Billboard charts along with 46 other chart debuts. His music has 25 million monthly listeners with more than 3 billion lifetime streams and is often categorized as Classical, Christian, and Holiday. Although most of albums are instrumental, Paul has songs that feature Grammy winning gospel legend CeCe Winans, Matt Hammitt (Sanctus Real), Kristin Chenoweth, Country duo Thompson Square, David Archuleta, Tyler Glenn (Neon Trees), Audrey Assad, Steven Sharp Nelson (The Piano Guys), and more.    Paul has performed for audiences worldwide including the White House. Forbes, American Songwriter, Jesus Calling, Lifestyles Television, Mix Magazine, and countless other media outlets have share his remarkable journey of receiving a life changing heart transplant and using music as a tool to help God heal spiritual, mental, and emotional hearts.  

Amy-Jill Levine is a prolific author and she is recently retired as University Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies and Mary Jane Werthan Professor of Jewish Studies Emerita at Vanderbilt Divinity School. She currently teaches at Hartford International University for Religion and Peace.  This is a re-release of a... The post Amy-Jill Levine – episode 356 appeared first on Anita Lustrea.

Kat Armas is a Cuban American writer and podcaster from Miami, FL. She holds a dual MDiv and MAT from Fuller Theological Seminary where she was awarded the Frederick Buechner Award for Excellence in Writing and is currently pursuing a ThM at Vanderbilt Divinity School. Her first book, Abuelita Faith: What Women on the Margins Teach Us About Wisdom, Persistence, and Strength, sits at the intersection of women, decolonialism, the Bible, and Cuban identity. She also explores these topics and more on her podcast, The Protagonistas, which centers the voices of Black, Indigenous, and other women of color in theological spaces. Kat is currently living in Nashville with her spouse and new baby while working on her second book, Sacred Belonging: A 40-day Devotional on the Liberating Heart of Scripture. Jo and Kat talk about Abuelita faith, and muse about their common roots as Latin American women in the USA. Listen to connect with a faith that can't be read about in a book, a faith that is rooted deeply in identity and ancestry.   In This Episode 3:19 - Connecting with Abuelita faith to live authentically instead of performing 14:38 - Intellectual wisdom vs embodied wisdom 18:57 - Taking comfort in the fact that your soul will always return to its true home 25:52 - The sacred act of survival 39:07 - Embracing your imperfection and knowing that you are infinitely loved

Joerg Rieger is back on the podcast for some fun theology QnA. In our conversation, we cover… an invitation to Solidarity Circles from the Wendland-Cook Program in Religion and Justice at Vanderbilt Divinity School. the most cancelable theological idea what concept/word should we recover? the nature of solidarity what did you learn from the pandemic? is there… Read more about Joerg Rieger: Divine Justice & our Ultimate Concern

Yvette R. Blair-Lavallais is a womanist public theologian, community pastor, ethnographer, and food justice strategist. Her work focuses on the intersection of food insecurity, famines, displacement, and gentrification of Black, Latinx, and Indigenous peoples. Her doctoral research is "Reframing the Narrative of Food Insecurity: Creating a Faith-Based Policy that Addresses Food Apartheid in the Red Bird Community of Dallas."  She has presented her work on the systemic injustices of food insecurity at national conferences including the Political Theology Network conference at Union Theological Seminary in New York, Bread For the World's Global Advocacy Summit and "Conversation with the White House," the Rural Women's Studies Association Triennial Conference at the University of Guelph (Canada) and the Leadership Academy at Vanderbilt Divinity School. An award-winning writer, Rev. Blair-Lavallais is a Public Voices Fellow of The OpEd Project, a 2018-2020 fellow  of Vanderbilt Divinity School's Public Theology and Racial Justice Collaborative cohort, and a 2017 academic fellow of Princeton Theological Seminary's prestigious Black Theology and Leadership Institute. She earned her Doctor of Ministry in "Land, Food and Faith" at Memphis Theological Seminary and she graduated Magna Cum Laude from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.  Rev. Blair-Lavallais is a native of Dallas, Texas, and holds a BA in Journalism from the University of North Texas. She and her husband, the Rev. Carl Lavallais, live in Dallas. Her new book is entitled "Scrimpin' and Scrapin': The Hardships and Hustle of Women and Food Insecurity in Texas" which you can purchase at her website yvetteblair.com, You can also connect with her at PreacherGirl716 on Instagram and @YvetteRevYBlair on Twitter.

In this second part of the episode on Ella Baker, I talk to Gerald Taylor. We discuss the influence Baker's approach and vision had on him as an organizer, how he sees her understanding of organizing play out on the ground, and his own involvement in myriad grassroots democratic initiatives. Along the way, he recounts a compelling set of stories and reflections on what it means to do organizing in the spirit of Ella Baker. GuestGerald Taylor was a national senior organizer with the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) for  nearly 35 years, and for much of this time he was the IAF's Southeast Regional Director. In 2015, he co-founded Advance Carolina, the first state-wide Black led 501c (4) in North Carolina focused on building Black political power. His organizing career began as a teenager through involvement in the civil rights movement, with him eventually being elected as New York State President of the NAACP Youth and College Division at 17 years old. He then organized with the National Democratic Party of Alabama, an interracial third political party, in their historic election victories of 1970. He went to be involved in numerous organizing initiatives in the US, most notably in New York City, Baltimore, Memphis, Nashville, Atlanta, and Jackson, Mississippi. Immediately after Hurricane Katrina, he spent four years organizing African American communities along the Mississippi Gulf Coast to receive disaster relieve leading to the formation of a coalition that negotiated nearly one billion dollars in disaster relieve funding for these communities. He has trained thousands of leaders, including clergy, over the past forty years in community organizing and congregational development. He has also lectured at colleges and universities, including Shaw Divinity School, Hood Divinity School, North Carolina Central Law School, Duke Divinity School, Vanderbilt Divinity School, Garrett Evangelical Methodist Seminary, and UNC Chapel-Hill on theories of social change, community organizing, and leadership. He has also worked internationally with organizations such as Bread for the World, the Sidney Alliance in Australia, and been a consultant to democratization initiatives in Swaziland, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.Resources for Going DeeperSee the show notes for the previous episode

Dr. Devan Stahl is Assistant Professor of Religion at Baylor University. She holds an MDiv from Vanderbilt Divinity School and a Ph.D. from St. Louis University. She previously was an Assistant Professor of Clinical Ethics at Michigan State University and has experience teaching bioethics and medical humanities to undergraduates, medical students and residents, nursing students, and veterinary students. She has also worked as a clinical ethicist in tertiary hospitals and has trained as a hospital chaplain. Devin's experience with MS has led her to become a leading voice in the conversation about a Theology of Disability, which is the topic of our conversation.  https://www.baylor.edu/religion/index.php?id=962728 –––––– PROMOS Save 10% on courses with Kairos Classroom using code TITR at kairosclassroom.com! –––––– Sign up with Faithful Counseling today to save 10% off of your first month at the link:  faithfulcounseling.com/titr or use code TITR at faithfulcounseling.com –––––– Save 30% at SeminaryNow.com by using code TITR –––––– Support Preston Support Preston by going to patreon.com Venmo: @Preston-Sprinkle-1 Connect with Preston Twitter | @PrestonSprinkle Instagram | @preston.sprinkle Youtube | Preston Sprinkle Check out Dr. Sprinkle's website prestonsprinkle.com Stay Up to Date with the Podcast Twitter | @RawTheology Instagram | @TheologyintheRaw If you enjoy the podcast, be sure to leave a review. www.theologyintheraw.com

“Was Jesus married?” Margaret embarked on her own journey to uncover the truth about the lost bride of Christ after reading Holy Blood, Holy Grail. In her research, she found that the church has been trying to suppress the sacred marriage between Jesus and Mary Magdalene for thousands of years.    As she went deeper into her inquiry, she found compelling clues that Mary was indeed Jesus' most beloved companion. The anointing of Jesus by a woman with the alabaster jar was mentioned in all four gospels, implying the importance of this event. The gospel of John revealed the woman's identity to be Mary. Jesus himself instructed her to bring the fragrance to his tomb after his crucifixion. A look at the Scriptures shows that Mary Magdalene is mentioned first on seven of eight lists, hinting at her status in the community. These are some of the allusions that point to the sacred marriage.  Christianity has always emphasized the image of a male celibate God and a virgin mother all the while rejecting Mary as the bride of Christ. In doing so, Christianity also rejects the divine feminine because the sacred marriage represents the partnership between the masculine and feminine energies. Without it, we lack compassion and connection. The holy union is also symbolic of the unity of flesh and divinity. God is within us and works through us. We fail to fully embody the teachings of Christianity by being blind to the divine in us.  Margaret Starbird holds BA and MA degrees from the University of Maryland where she concentrated in comparative literature, medieval studies, and German language. She later studied theology at Vanderbilt Divinity School in Nashville. Margaret is the author of seven books that honor the Divine Feminine and the Sacred Marriage at the core of the Christian story. Her work has been credited as the inspiration for Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code. What we discuss: 02:25 - Margaret's conversion experience 08:50 - Was Jesus married? 19:55 - A rosary for Mary Magdalene 25:31 - Lauren's relationship with Christianity 34:11 - Early Christianity before the Romans 38:08 - Divinity in the flesh 44:09 - The tragedy of the patriarchy 52:11 - Healing deep wounds from Christianity 56:19 - The meaning of Magdalene 1:00:21 - What's the message of the Divine Mother to us?   Learn more from Margaret:  Website: www.margaretstarbird.net