Context Matters

Read some of Dr. Lee’s writings with Missio Alliance HERE  Among other things, Dr. Lee edits an online journal you can access HEREAnd follow Dr. Lee on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/kyuboem    

 Read some of Dr. Lee’s writings with Missio Alliance HERE  Among other things, Dr. Lee edits an online journal you can access HERE And follow Dr. Lee on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/kyuboem   

Do you have a memory of a time when science and religion clashed in your brain? Or when what you thought you knew for a fact ended up not being true at all? These experiences can be disorienting but they also can lead to a richer, deeper, and more thoughtful faith. This week I interview Dr. Ken Kihlstrom who is the chair of the Physics Department at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA. Issues related to science are the foundation for much of my curiosity about how Dr. Kihlstrom wrestles with faith, but we ended up talking more about how to approach religion with humility and an attitude of curiosity. We also spend a lot of time talking about how context influences every area of life — from the sports team you adore to the impact of experiential education. When we recorded this conversation the Coronavirus was not yet the global beast it proved to be. We had a dream team made up of Ken his wife Cathy, Gabe and I, and we organized an incredible Europe Semester for Westmont students that capitalizes on the power of experiential education. Sadly, that trip has been postponed for a year — so I would like to dedicate this podcast episode to all the students who are scrambling to reschedule what their fall will look like. My heart goes out to all of you.

Dr. Kamionkowski’s faculty page is HEREA link to her commentary is HEREDo not forget to check out the online educational site she has! https://kamionkowski-bet-midrash.com  And we talked briefly about Carol Meyes. You can find one of her books HERE.

Dr. Kamionkowski’s faculty page is HEREA link to her commentary is HEREDo not forget to check out the online educational site she has! https://kamionkowski-bet-midrash.com  And we talked briefly about Carol Meyes. You can find one of her books HERE.

Can a Rights of Passage experience help students go through this process of shaking off the beliefs of others and taking responsibility over their own faith decisions? Dr. Muhia Karinjahi describes the essential elements of a rights of passage experience and the importance of getting an entire community involved.

Muhia Karinjahi grew up in a village just outside of Nairobi. His parents were first generation Christians, he went to a Muslim primary school, and worked in an Indian engineering firm. We discuss how living cross culturally in his own country prepared him to love people well. We also discuss how each shift in Muhia's context impacted his religious beliefs.

What is experiential learning? Can we engage the whole mind, body, and emotions in the learning process? Dr. Rob Ribbe talks about the powerful experience of being in a place (say the wilderness) in which we are not in control. This feels so true of our current COVID19 context. We are in an uncomfortable time that push all of us into places of discovery about who we are.

What can we learn from the foundation of an Israelite house? And is the faith system for normal people in normal villages excitedly like what we read in the Bible? Archaeology has something to say about the real life of real people. This week I continue the conversation with Cynthia Shafer Elliott. She draws us into the value of archaeology and the spiritual practices of the majority of Israelites who are not the primary characters in the biblical text. We talk about the difference between finding an artifact and interpreting the function of the artifact.For more information:Click HERE to read more about Cynthia Shafer ElliottLink to books:The Five-Minute Archaeologist BookFood in Ancient Judah Book Link to figurines:https://www.imj.org.il/en/collections/198066

Have you ever wondered what it is like to be an archaeologist? Or what actually happens to an artifact from when it is discovered in the dirt to when it ends up in a museum?  Well this week I talk with Cynthia Shaffer Elliot, an archaeologist who specializes in domestic archaeology with a focus on economics, food preparation and consumption, religion, and the roles and relationships of the family.Click HERE to read more about Cynthia Shafer ElliottLink to books:The Five-Minute Archaeologist BookFood in Ancient Judah BookHere is the link to Israel Museum's picture of the shrine: https://www.imj.org.il/en/collections/372506Cooking pot images from the Museums in Israel website:https://museums.gov.il/en/items/Pages/ItemCard.aspx?IdItem=ICMS_IMJ_371398https://museums.gov.il/en/items/Pages/ItemCard.aspx?IdItem=ICMS-MPC-91-543Link to figurines:https://www.imj.org.il/en/collections/198066