Everyday Theology

Last week, we fostered a healthy debate between Dr. Chris Green and Dr. Thomas Oord about whether or not God knows the future. Welcome to Part 2, where we continue that discussion and dive into a few more topics: Does God need us? Can he prevent evil on his own? If he can't, how can we trust his promises? We are often provided a rigid perspective of faith that we must deconstruct and rebuild throughout our lives. Join us today as we take a look at seemingly contrasting ideas that, together, point to the ever-deepening love of God. 

*Trigger Warning: discussions of sexual assault.* Does God know the future? If he does, why doesn't he stop bad things from happening? If he doesn't, is he really all-powerful? Everyday Theology explored these questions in Season 1, when we brought Thomas Jay Oord and Chris Green on separate episodes to discuss their opposing views on open theism.  In this episode, launching season two, we're bringing it all together: Listen along as Aaron, Oord and Green discuss the limitations, abilities, and power of God as they relate to our understanding of him and our faith as a whole.  Podcast is transcribed on our website here: https://bit.ly/2F1cDsY

How do we advance racial progress when the fabric of American society was built on white supremacy? In today's rebroadcast, Aaron and Ben join Andre Henry — songwriter, speaker, and advocate for social change — to unpack the idea that diversity is not the same as justice. >> Click here for more info about Andre and his advocacy for the world that ought to be. 

The legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. ought to endure and advance our culture today. On this special episode of Everyday Theology, Aaron sits down with Ray Allen, Director of Multicultural Affairs at Southeastern University, to discuss how the church should actively progress MLK's dream as we look toward the future of racial justice.

The recent murder of George Floyd has sparked a global outcry against racism and systemic injustice. White privilege allows people to maintain a comfortable distance from racial issues and hurt Black communities by perpetuating systems of inequality and inequity. In this episode, speaker, pastor and author Ashlee Eiland discusses the importance for all people to walk in solidarity toward a healing reality in our nation and our world.

Is the death penalty an attempt to operate the hand of God? In this episode, Shane Claiborne — renowned author and social activist — walks us through both the Old and New Testament interpretations of cultural violence. Join us as we learn to embody Christian peacemaking in our context today. 

The concept of God's sovereignty has been heavily debated in both classrooms and churches throughout history. We constantly ask: does God's power limit ours?  We have discussed this topic here at Everyday Theology before, on EP:14 with Thomas Jay Oord. In that episode, Oord recommended that we think beyond our traditional "all-controlling" view of God, and consider limitations on God's power.  Today, however, author, artist and theologian Chris Green presents a different perspective: he proposes that we allow room for both a fully active and fully present God in our daily lives.

The process of decolonization requires us first to develop respect for the other. If respect is an inherently Christian value, why do our churches so often demand assimilation?  In this episode, author Kaitlin Curtice, citizen of the Potawatomi Nation, discusses the complexities in deconstructing our faith and spiritual community to understand our true personal and cultural identity. 

God's presence is not only recognized through spoken word, but can also be found in mystery, beauty, and art. In part two of this episode, Marc Byrd, one-half of the band Hammock, discusses the beautiful and artistic process of a participatory relationship with God. 

Learning, knowing, and being with God is not always about the words that are said, but can found in mystery, beauty, and art. In part one of a two-part episode, Marc Byrd, one-half of the band Hammock, talks about how music, mystery, pain, and hope create a world for us to engage with God in often surprising and life-changing ways.