Multifaith Matters Episode 1: Wes Markofski and the “other evangelicals”
Evangelicals and Humility in Multifaith Engagement
American Evangelicals are not known for embracing intellectual humility, but there are notable and promising examples. This podcast series explores the topic through the story of how Evangelical Christians and Zen Buddhists in Portland have been able to engage in an intellectually humble exchange of perspectives without compromising their core convictions. The series also includes analysis and commentary from scholars who specialize in the psychology of intellectual humility. As this is time of extreme national polarization on many fronts, this series is especially relevant as it demonstrates that strong religious convictions are not necessarily incompatible with intellectual humility and do not always lead to antagonism between groups. Our hope is that this series is inspiring, and that it demonstrates the need for additional research exploring how those with strong religious convictions develop humility while doing so across worldview-threatening differences.
Episode 1: Wes Markofski and the “other evangelicals”
Wes Markofski is a sociologist at Carleton College, and author of Multiculural Evangelicalism and Ethical Democracy in America (forthcoming). He discusses his research on “reflexive evangelicals.” Despite popular images of white American Evangelicals as the embodied antithesis of intellectual humility, responsiveness to facts, and openness to the other, Markofski discovered that Evangelicals can and do practice intellectual humility in public life while simultaneously holding fast to particularistic religious convictions.
Video: https://youtu.be/ULbFxYiC3qw
Audio: http://johnwmorehead.podbean.com/e/episode-1-wes-markofski-and-the-other-evangelicals/
Exploring further: https://tif.ssrc.org/2018/01/11/the-other-evangelicals/
Episode 2: Evangelicals and Zen Buddhists reflect on 20 years of dialogue
Members of the Evangelical group New Wine, New Wineskins, and Buddhists from Dharma Rain Zen Center reflect on their twenty years of dialogue and relationships. Two leaders from these religious communities, Paul Louis Metzger and Kyogen Carlson, got together in Portland to discuss religious and political divisions after the 2004 re-election of George W. Bush. The talks then expanded to involve other members of these religious communities through common meals.
Video: https://youtu.be/FEBib0emq5k
Audio: http://johnwmorehead.podbean.com/e/episode-2-evangelicals-and-zen-buddhists-reflect-on-20-years-of-dialogue/
Exploring further: https://tricycle.org/magazine/beloved-community/
Episode 3: Daryl Van Tongeren and the psychology of humility
Daryl Van Tongeren is a psychologist at Hope College and a leading researcher on the science of humility. He is the author of Humble: Free Yourself from the Traps of a Narcissistic World. He defines “intellectual humility,” and discusses the psychological challenges we face in exercising humility, particularly in the context of cultural worldviews where religion is a part of our identity. He also shares his thoughts on how we might develop more empathy and bridge divides.
Video: https://youtu.be/tzY-pm8LYkY
Audio: http://johnwmorehead.podbean.com/e/episode-3-daryl-van-tongeren-and-the-psychology-of-humility/
Exploring further: https://www.workman.com/products/humble/hardback
Episode 4: Peter C. Hill and the context of theistic humility
Peter Hill is a social psychologist at the Rosemead School of Psychology at Biola University. His unique contribution to humility research is in exploring considerations related to theistic intellectual humility. He discusses how existing concepts related to intellectual humility have not taken account of the way this is experienced and expressed by theists, the importance of emotions, and how strong religious convictions and exclusivism are not necessarily incompatible with theistic intellectual humility.
Video: https://youtu.be/9mTci8CYmek
Audio: http://johnwmorehead.podbean.com/e/episode-4-peter-c-hill-and-the-context-of-theistic-humility/
Exploring further: https://researchoutreach.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Peter-C.-Hill.pdf
Podcast series produced by the Evangelical Chapter of the Foundation for Religious Diplomacy/Multifaith Matters.
We appreciate the contributions of Wes Markofski, Daryl Van Tongeren, Peter C. Hill, the Dharma Rain Zen Center, and New Wine, New Wineskins.
Learn more about our work at https://www.multifaithmatters.org.
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One-time donation: https://multifaithmatters.org/donate
Become my patron: https://patron.podbean.com
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