Homebrewed Christianity

The Future of Religion: Live From Theology Beer Camp

May 8, 2025

Pete Enns, a biblical scholar and co-host of the Bible for Normal People podcast, engages with Ilia Delio's provocative keynote on the future of religion. They discuss how humanity fits into the vast cosmic narrative, advocating for a 'religion of the Earth' that embraces evolution and spirituality. Delio argues that if faith doesn't evolve, technology may replace it as our guiding principle. Their dynamic dialogue challenges traditional dogmas and highlights the need for a playful, conscious spirituality that honors our ties to the universe.

01:14:33

Episode guests

Peter Enns

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Ilia Delio argues for a transformative vision of religion that integrates evolution, encouraging a creative relationship with cosmic processes.

The podcast emphasizes the importance of adapting spirituality to contemporary scientific understanding to ensure relevance in a technological world.

Participants at Theology Beer Camp engage in dynamic dialogues, fostering community and reimagining theological perspectives in an informal setting.

Deep dives

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Intro

2min

Exploring the Future of Religion

7min

Evolving Faith: The Intersection of Science and Spirituality

26min

Embracing the Divine Within: A Call for New Religious Consciousness

8min

Humor and Philosophy in the Quest for Understanding

3min

Evolving Beliefs and Cosmic Connections

24min

Building a Community Around Curiosity and Faith

2min

In this thought-provoking episode, former neuroscientist-turned-Franciscan sister Ilia Delio offers a radical vision for the future of religion at Theology Beer Camp. Speaking to a community of spiritual seekers, Delio places humanity within our cosmic context—mere seconds in the universe's 13.8 billion-year story—while arguing that we are the universe becoming conscious of itself. She challenges institutional religion's static cosmologies, drawing on Teilhard de Chardin's integration of evolution and faith to advocate for a "religion of the Earth" that recognizes God as "in love with matter." With urgency, Delio warns that if religion doesn't evolve beyond dogma into creative participation with cosmic processes, technology will replace it as humanity's guiding force. The conversation, complemented by responses from biblical scholar Pete Enns, exemplifies the kind of boundary-pushing theological dialogue that makes Theology Beer Camp a unique gathering for those reimagining faith at the intersection of science, ecology, and spirituality.

Join us at Theology Beer Camp this October 16-18 in St. Paul, MN.

You can WATCH this session on YouTube

Theology Beer Camp is a unique three-day conference that brings together of theology nerds and craft beer for a blend of intellectual engagement, community building, and fun. This event features a lineup of well-known podcasters, scholars, and theology enthusiasts who come together to "nerd out" on theological topics while enjoying loads of fun activities. Guests this year include John Dominic Crossan, Kelly Brown Douglas, Philip Clayton, Stacey Floyd-Thomas, Jeffery Pugh, Juan Floyd-Thomas, Andy Root, Grace Ji-Sun Kim, Noreen Herzfeld, Reggie Williams, Casper ter Kuile, and more! Get info and tickets here.

Ilia Delio, OSF, PhD is a Franciscan Sister of Washington, DC, and American theologian specializing in science and religion, with interests in evolution, physics, and neuroscience and the import of these for theology.

Previous Episodes with Ilia Delio

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"⁠Rediscovering the Spirit: Hand-Raisers, Han, and the Holy Ghost⁠" is an open-online course exploring the dynamic, often overlooked third person of the Trinity. Based on Grace Ji-Sun Kim's groundbreaking work on the Holy Spirit (pneumatology), this class takes participants on a journey through biblical foundations, historical developments, diverse cultural perspectives, and practical applications of Spirit theology. Moving beyond traditional Western theological frameworks, we'll explore feminist interpretations, global perspectives, and innovative approaches to understanding the Spirit in today's world. Whether you've felt the Spirit was missing from your faith journey or are simply curious to deepen your understanding, this class creates space for thoughtful discussion, personal reflection, and spiritual growth.

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⁠⁠⁠Hang with 40+ Scholars & Podcasts and 600 people at Theology Beer Camp 2025 (Oct. 16-18) in St. Paul, MN. ⁠⁠⁠

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