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 Interweaving illuminating testimonials, historical references, and Scripture, he reveals how love allows us to move into the fullness of life; when we do not love we lose our faith.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