gcr's Podcast
A weekly Progressive Christian podcast from co-hosts Carol Howard Merritt and Derrick Weston.

Didn’t get everything you wanted for Christmas?  How about this special GCR podcast with Meredith Gould?  Join Derrick and Carol as they chat with Meredith about her book “Desperately Seeking Spirituality” about spirituality through the lenses of sociology, theology, psychology, and social media.  They also spend some time talking about the spiritual stressors of our current culture and recent political events. Learn more about Meredith at meredithgould.com.

 

Direct download: Meredith_Gould2.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 11:01am CDT

Carol is joined by Norman Wirzba, Duke University professor of Theology and Ecology and author of “Way of Love: Recovering the Heart of Christianity.”  The pioneering scholar and author of Food and Faith and Living the Sabbath asserts that Christianity has slid off its rightful foundation, arguing that the faith only makes sense and can only be expressed in a healthy way if it seen as based on love, with a mission of training others in the way of love.

It’s often said that God is love, yet his message of compassion and caring for others is often overshadowed by the battles dividing us politically, culturally, and religiously. Why does Christianity matter if it isn’t about love?

The Way of Love invites readers to experience Christianity that is centered on love. Extensive theological training cannot replace the way of love that transforms and connects each of us to God and the faith, Wirzba contends. Interweaving illuminating testimonials, historical references, and Scripture, he reveals how love allows us to move into the fullness of life; when we do not love we lose our faith. “To fail to love,” he reminds us, “is to lose God.”

Direct download: Norman_Wirzba.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 1:44pm CDT

We have been created to live and work in community. But all too often we see ourselves primarily as individuals and run the risk of working at cross-purposes with the organizations we serve. Living faithfully in a neighborhood involves two interwoven threads: learning and action. In Reading for the Common Good, C. Christopher Smith, coauthor of Slow Church, looks at the local church as an organization in which both learning and action lie at the heart of its identity. He explores the practice of reading and, in his words, "how we can read together in ways that drive us deeper into action." Beyond this interview with Carol, you can find out more about his activities and events at www.slowchurch.com.

Direct download: C_Christopher_Smith.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 9:44pm CDT

Direct download: Ruth_Everharts_Ruined_-_8_2_16_11.17_AM.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 10:25am CDT

Direct download: BruceReyesChowAHat.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 8:33pm CDT

Teresa B Pasquale, LCSW, E-RYT 200 wears many hats including: author, trauma specialist, educator, trainer, yoga teacher, "crooked mystic," contemplative-actioner bringing mindfulness and healing into action and activist contexts, and a meditation & retreat facilitator.  Teresa believes strongly in the potential in everyone to overcome hardship, be stronger than they ever thought possible, and the capacity for people to not just survive life but thrive in the process of living.

In this episode, Derrick speaks with Teresa about her new book Sacred Wounds about healing from the spiritual traumas of our lives.

Direct download: Teresa_Pasquale_Mateus.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 6:54pm CDT

Derrick interviews Drew Hart on the church’s view of racism followed by Carol and Derrick reflecting together.  Drew Hart is a writer, speaker, and PhD candidate in theology and ethics with ten years of pastoral ministry experience. Regularly speaking at churches, conferences, and colleges, Drew brings together his pastoral experience with his academic training to challenge the Church on a variety of topics. Most recently he has been especially invested in conversations on white supremacy and racism and Christianity, but also routinely speaks on Christian discipleship to Jesus, western Christendom, Christian history, peacemaking and nonviolence, urban ministry, social media, etc.

Drew has a Christian Century hosted blog entitled ‘Taking Jesus Seriously’, while also writing occasionally for The Mennonite’s and Biblical Seminary’s blog as well. His own personal site is http://www.drewgihart.com. He sneaks in tweets with the handle @DruHart and can also be found on Facebook.  He is the author of Trouble I’ve Seen: Changing the Way the Church Views Racism.

Direct download: Drew_Hart.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 2:55pm CDT