The Grind / Jordan Daniel Wood / On Maximus the Confessor, Boston College, and Being a Stay-at-Home Dad

The Grind is a series of interviews with young scholars and PhD students on the many ways of "making a way" in the theological academy, and all the trials and joys therein.

Dr. Jordan Daniel Wood recently published a book with University of Notre Dame Press titled “The Whole Mystery of Christ: Creation as Incarnation in Maximus the Confessor.” He received his PhD in theology from Boston College and is a stay-at-home father of four girls.

In this interview for our podcast series, The Grind, Dr. Wood and I discuss his intellectual formation, his experiences as a PhD student and young scholar, how he’s carved his own way as an academic, and lots more. 

PODCAST LINKS:

Dr. Wood's book: https://undpress.nd.edu/9780268203474/the-whole-mystery-of-christ/

Dr. Wood's academia.edu page: https://bc.academia.edu/JordanWood

Naoki Matcha (Saint Mary's, GA): https://naokimatcha.com/

Brick & Mortar Coffee (Springfield, MO): https://brickandmortar.coffee/

CONNECT:

Website: https://wipfandstock.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wipfandstock

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wipfandstock

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wipfandstock/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvht9V0Pndgvwh5vkpe0GGw

SOURCES MENTIONED:

Maximus the Confessor. On the Cosmic Mystery of Jesus Christ. 

———. On Difficulties in the Church Fathers. Vol, 1, The Ambigua.

———. On Difficulties in the Church Fathers. Vol. 2, The Ambigua. 

The Philokalia. 4 vols. 

Wood, Jordan Daniel. "The Lively God of Sergius Bulgakov: Reflections on The Sophiology of Death." 

———, and Justin Shaun Coyle. "Must Catholics Hate Hegel?"

OUTLINE:

(02:28) – Matcha, raw milk, and Ethiopian coffee

(05:36) – Discovering historical theology

(12:43) – Maximus as Master

(20:44) – PhD days at Boston College

(24:18) – Family and the life of study

(31:01) – On the merits of not working in the academy

(44:13) – Further merits of being an unattached academic

(59:43) – Advice for prospective and current PhD students