Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:05:44 — 91.1MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Email | RSS | More

This episode begins a series on peacemaking. I learned of the book, Peacemaking and the Challenge of Violence in World Religions by Drs. Irfan Omar and Michael Duffey. The authors are professors in the Department of Theology at Marquette University. In conjunction with the book, the authors held a one-day symposium by the same title. The book (and symposium) consists of seven scholars representing seven of the world’s religions. Each scholar is also a practitioner of the religion she or he represents. What each scholar/practitioner provided was an essay/presentation on resources for peacemaking from her or his religion. This essay/presentation was followed by a response from two of the other participants.

I thought this book provided an excellent model for developing my series. I will be seeking to have conversations with scholar/practitioners of peacemaking from different world religions, discussing the resources from my guest’s faith that contribute to peacemaking and her or his own peacemaking efforts/experiences.

My guest today is one of the contributors from the book. Dr. Tink Tinker is Emeritus Professor in the Iliff School of Theology, a Methodist graduate school in Denver Colorado. Dr. Tinker is a member of the wazhazhe, Osage Nation. He teaches courses in American Indian cultures, history, and religious traditions; cross-cultural and Third-World theologies; and justice and peace studies and is a frequent speaker on these topics both in the U.S. and internationally. His publications include American Indian Liberation: A Theology of Sovereignty (2008); Spirit and Resistance: Political Theology and American Indian Liberation (2004); and Missionary Conquest: The Gospel and Native American Genocide (1993). He co-authored A Native American Theology (2001); and he is co-editor of Native Voices: American Indian Identity and Resistance (2003), and Fortress Press’ The Peoples’ Companion to the Bible (2008).

The Tink Tinker Program Endowment Fund was launched following the celebration of Tink’s career. Donations can be make to this fund here.

The title of his contribution to Peacemaking and the Challenge of Violence in World Religions is, ‘The Irrelevance of euro-christian Dichotomies for Indigenous Peoples: Beyond Nonviolence to a Vision of Comic Balance (Chapter 7).’

The 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. You can learn more about the album and the Worship Project at theportersgate.com.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:42 — 62.2MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Email | RSS | More

In this episode I begin a series of conversations with other-than-Christian folks. As the dominant religion in the United States, Christianity has often acted oppressively  and hostilely to non-Christian groups. The Christian Left has contributed to those actions with its tendency toward moral and academic elitism and with its complicity in supporting oppressive and hostile structures. Some confessing and repenting on our part as Christians needs to occur as well as some efforts at taking steps to bring healing and reconciliation. Initiating such steps in its on modest way is, in part, what this on-going series is intended to begin.

As I said in the trailer for this episode at the end of the last episode, doing this series connects two values of my own experience that overlap. The first value is my heritage as the type of Baptist I was raised to be. In that Baptist tradition, cooperation on what one has in common with another is more important and useful than breaking or excluding relationships due to differences. A lot can be accomplished with others, despite significant differences, that cannot be achieved alone which makes the things better locally, nationally, and globally when such cooperation is undertaken. That desire for cooperation has not always been extended, but can and should be extended beyond fellow Baptists or Christians to all people of good will seeking to increase the common good. The second value is my own patriotism. Among the many things about my nation about which I am thankful and value deeply is its vision of creating a place where people of radically differing faiths/world views/values/perspectives/interests/etc. can live together in peace and even harmony without resorting to violence and war. However, to be a citizen of such a nation requires certain habits and people skills to realize that cultural environment and goal. Included among these habits and people skills are behaviors such as respect, tolerance, and peacemaking. Such actions help contribute to the declared purpose of our nation stated in our Constitution to establish a more perfect union. The values of my kind of Baptists and that of our nation have worked hand in hand in seeking to realize these goals. Having conversations with others of significant difference that seek understanding, respect, and areas of commonality and cooperation is one way to help realize both faith and national goals.

A group with whom Christians have had especially tragic and terrible experiences are those from Pagan communities. Witch trials are among the more notable examples. Large groups of Christians assume that paganism is synonymous with satanism. To help bring some clarity, dispel misunderstanding, and to begin to build bridges of reconciliation and respect, I want to introduce to you the gracious and delightful Byron Ballard, Wiccan High Priestess.

The 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. You can learn more about the album and the Worship Project at theportersgate.com.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 57:24 — 79.6MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Email | RSS | More

In this episode I have a conversation with the Reverend Robert Randolph. He was a pastor who, in his early 30s had two strokes. He discusses his experience of surviving and of continuing in ministry as a chaplain. He also gives us a clearer understanding about strokes and insight into the experiences of stroke survivors. In doing this Robert equips us and enables us more fully, in both a caring and encouraging way, to relate to and journey along side of stroke survivors.

Robert has written an article that gives the details he discusses in the interview: ‘Out of Exile: A Spiritual View of Stroke Recovery,’ Nurturing Faith, Vol. 39, Issue 2, March/April 2020, pp. 40-41.

The 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. You can learn more about the album and the Worship Project at theportersgate.com.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:01:04 — 84.6MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Email | RSS | More

In this episode I begin the first of what will be a series of conversations with Steady State economists. Steady State Economics is an alternative to both Neoclassical free-market capitalism and socialism, which, if I understand Steady State economists correctly, they classify as being growth-oriented economies. I have been persuaded by Steady State economists description of the limitations of existing approaches to the economy, particularly in light of climate change, pollution, and global poverty, and by what they have to offer as solutions. Many people do not know of this alternative, so I hope to help bring about greater awareness of this type of economy through an on-going dialogue over time with various Steady State economists and advocates.

My guest is Rob Dietz, who was the Executive Director for Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy (CASSE) and is presently Program Director at Post Carbon Institute. You can learn more about CASSE at steadystate.org and Post Carbon Institute at postcarbon.org.

I am interviewing Rob about the book he co-authored with Dan O’Neill called Enough Is Enough: Building a Sustainable Economy in a World of Finite Resources.

The 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. You can learn more about the album and the Worship Project at theportersgate.com.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 52:40 — 73.1MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Email | RSS | More

In this episode, my guest, Donna Marie Todd, treats us to the wonderful art form of storytelling. Donna Marie calls herself a singer of stories. Stories are one of the most ancient forms of entertainment, education, and insight. The International Storytelling Festival held in Jonesboro, Tennessee each year celebrates this art form.

In this episode, Donna Marie introduces us to a particular kind of storytelling called Biblical storytelling. Jewish and Christian scripture, referred to by Christians as the Bible, is full of stories and the overall arch of Jewish and Christian scripture is that of story. Christian hymns such as ‘I Love to Tell the Story,’ ‘Tell Me the Story of Jesus,’ and ‘I Will Sing the Wondrous Story’ make reference to that overarching story.

Jewish Rabbis use story extensively as commentary on the Torah and as a tool for moral instruction. Rabbi Jesus followed that tradition in his use of parables.

In Biblical storytelling, the storyteller uses a passage of scripture as the basis for the story. Sometimes the passage is quoted verbatim with vocal and bodily dramatic emphases. Sometimes the scripture passage is blended with creative additions or paraphrased in creative ways. In all of its forms, Biblical storytelling brings insight out of the passage that causes ‘Ah!’ and ‘A-ha!’ moments.

In this episode, Donna Marie tells us the story of David, Bathsheba, and Uriah.

You can learn more about Donna Marie on her website at donnamarietodd.com

Donna Marie is also the editor of The Biblical Storyteller.

You can learn more about Network of Biblical Storytellers International and get a subscription to The Biblical Storyteller on their website: nbsint.org 

The music from this episode comes from the CD, Faith of Our Fathers: An Acoustic Celebration of Old Hymns which Donna Marie made in partnership with Will Straughan and Chris Rosser, and is used by permission.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 38:16 — 53.4MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Email | RSS | More

In this episode I explain why I am doing this show and the ideas and experiences that are shaping my thinking and approach. I describe the cultural, political, and theological contexts that motivate me.

The music for the episode is the anthem, ‘A Place at the Table,’ words by Shirley Erena Murray, music by Mary McDonald, published by Hope Publishing Company and is used by permission.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 58:47 — 81.5MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Email | RSS | More

This episode is a continuation of the discussion on racial reconciliation. My guest for this episode is Dr. Michael Hawn who is University Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Church Music and Adjunct Professor and Director of the Doctor of Pastoral Music Program in the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. Dr. Hawn discusses cross-cultural worship and especially the use of music as a valence or combining and binding medium for facilitating racial reconciliation through cross-cultural worship. He establishes the practice of cross-cultural worship in the event of the first Christian disciples at Pentecost, which was a boundary-crossing experience. Dr. Hawn discusses many of the concepts and practices developed in his book, One Bread, One Body: Exploring Cultural Diversity in Worship.

The music for the episode is the anthem, ‘A Place at the Table,’ words by Shirley Erena Murray, music by Mary McDonald, published by Hope Publishing Company and is used by permission.