New Creation Conversations Episode 69 - Dr. Brent Waters on Ordinary Virtues and the Theological and Ethical Significance of Everyday Life

Welcome to episode sixty-nine of New Creation Conversations. I’m excited to get to share with you today my recent conversation with Dr. Brent Waters. Brent has just recently retired after serving for several years as Professor of Christian Social Ethics and Director of the Jerre L. and Mary Joy Stead Center for Ethics and Values at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. Brent is an alum of the University of Redlands. He has both an MDiv and DMin degrees from Claremont School of Theology and has a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Oxford. Brent has written eight books and dozens and dozens of articles and papers on Christian economics, bioethics, technology, genetic research, and even the ethics of family life.

Our conversation primarily focusses on his new book Common Callings and Ordinary Virtues: Christian Ethics for Everyday Life (from Baker Academic). Every day, we do commonplace things and interact with ordinary people without always reflecting deeply on those interactions. In this book Brent reflects deeply and theologically about the ethical significance of our daily activities and relationships – especially about how practices that seem mundane are actually expressions of love of neighbor and are vitally important to our wellbeing. In other words, our faith gives our ordinary life meaning. It’s a wonderful book and a thoughtful conversation.