Currents in Religion

Show Summary In this episode, I am joined by Michelle Knight, author of The Prophet’s Anthem: The Song of Deborah and Barak in the Narrative of Judges , which was recently published by Baylor University Press (link below). We talk about how the story of Deborah in Judges 4 relates to the song of Deborah in Judges 5, and how both function as a critical interpretive key to the whole narrative of Jud...

In this episode, I speak with Blake Burleson about his long career of studying and teaching world religions at Baylor University. He tells the story of how he became a scholar of world religions and how studying world religion has shaped his own spiritual practices. He also shares why he thinks studying world religions is critical for the present moment. I especially enjoyed hearing Blake talk abo...

In this episode, we feature the work of three scholars affiliated with the Baptist Scholars International Roundtable (BSIR). They discuss the collegial process of BSIR and their research on northern Baptist women and their missions. Our Guests Dr. Laine Scales is the guest host for this episode. Laine is a professor and the PhD program director in the Diane R. Garland School of Social Work here at...

In this episode, Zen speaks with several people who contributed to a new Baylor University Press book called God of the Whirlwind. The book collects stories and reflections from the Black Waco community that revolve around the Black storytelling tradition in Waco related to two significant events: a lynching and a deadly tornado. Guests Linda Jann Lewis describes herself as a 1960's Baby Boomer wh...

Was the Apostle Paul a Stoic? Mm, probably not. But some people in Corinth who Paul taught about Christ may have appropriated Stoicism, subordinating it to flesh out their understanding of their new faith. That is what Timothy Brookins joins us to talk about today. This Episode's Guest Timothy earned his PhD from Baylor University, working on First Corinthians, Stoic philosophy, and economics....

In this episode, guest host João Chaves speaks with Ronilso Pacheco about Samuel Sharpe's libertarian and anti-slavery preaching. Ronilso Pacheco is the Jackson Scholar of Latin American Studies, director of programming at the Instituto de Estudos da Religião (Brazil). He is also a Ford Global Fellow. João Chaves is the Assistant Professor of the History of Religion in the Américas at Baylor U...

Episode Summary In this episode, Zen speaks with Rachel Toombs about her Baylor University Press book, Good News Resounding, which is available to pre-order now. This book includes contributions from an wonderful group of scholars and artists, including works of academic prose, poetry, creative nonfiction, and visual art. It offers the reader glimpses of the beautiful world of theology and literat...

Episode Intro In today’s episode, the Rev. Dr. Malcolm Foley joins us again to discuss his recently published book, The Anti-Greed Gospel: Why the Love of Money is the Root of Racism and How the Church Can Create a New Way Forward (Brazos Press 2025). I can’t imagine a more relevant book for the church, given the intense economic anxiety that is so pervasive in America and beyond. I’m excited for...

In this episode, Zen speaks with Melody Escobar about her new book Revelations of Divine Care (Baylor University Press: 2024). You can learn more about the book at this link: https://www.baylorpress.com/9781481320559/revelations-of-divine-care/ Melody Escobar is a research associate with the Collaborative on Faith and Disability in the Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities at Baylor Univers...

In this episode, Laine Scales guest hosts a conversation with David Goatley and Brad Creed about the Baptist Scholars International Roundtable. They discuss recent research emerging from the Roundtable as well as how the Roundtable cultivates an international, intergenerational, and interdisciplinary community of scholarship through intentional mentoring. David Goatley is the sixth president of Fu...

In this episode, Zen speaks with Leah Lomotey-Nakon, one of the newest faculty members in Baylor's Religion Department. Leah shares some of her story and discusses her research on religion and reproductive health. Learn more about Dr. Lomotey-Nakon here: https://religion.artsandsciences.baylor.edu/person/leah-lomotey-nakon-phd Other Episodes You Might Like An era of soft eugenics with Devan Stahl:...

In this episode, Zen speaks with Christopher Seitz about his new book The Heights of the Hills are His Also . Learn more about the book here: https://www.baylorpress.com/9781481322454/the-heights-of-the-hills-are-his-also/ Other Episodes You Might Like Bill Bellinger on the psalms and faith: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3MEUD4045KXTY3GtNhXRNy?si=HbVy3bRkTWqwdAmMYvIQCw Rebecca Poe Hays on the P...

In this episode, Zen speaks with Sameer Yadav, one of Baylor's newest religion faculty. The son of Indian immigrants, Sameer was raised in a Hindu home in rural Idaho. His childhood experiences of religion are the beginning of Sameer's story of becoming a theologian. Hear more about his journey in this episode. Listen until the end to hear Sameer discuss whether mysticism has a place in Christian...

In this episode, Zen speaks with John Duncan about teaching introductory courses on the Bible and church history. The discussion includes reflections on the challenges of teaching courses like these, such as navigating issues raised by having students of various faith backgrounds in the room. John also offers strategies and examples of in-class activities he uses to teach the class. Learn more abo...

In this episode, João Chaves joins as guest host, facilitating a conversation with guests Felipe Hinojosa and Stephen Di Trolio. They discuss Christian nationalism, the colonial history of Christian nationalism, and the impact histories of Christian nationalism have on the church today. This episode is a special collaboration with the Baptist Scholars International Roundtable. Learn more about the...

In this episode, Zen speaks with Jerusha Neal (Duke Divinity School) about her new book Holy Ground: Climate Change, Preaching, and the Apocalypse of Place. How might our discourse, teaching, and preaching about climate change differ if we listened more carefully to the voices of displaced people? Listen to hear what Jerusha Neal thinks. Holy Ground is available November 2024 from Baylor Universit...

In this episode, guest host Natalie Carnes (Baylor University) speaks with Kutter Callaway (Fuller Theological Seminary) about the past, present, and future of theology and the arts. Other Currents Episodes You Might Like: Mikeal Parsons and Robin Jensen on early Christians and their arts: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6yQRLp1wcReeYgd5X8rdtL?si=HShgW_EqSECM-CAL-LzHfw Elise Edwards on architectu...

Summary In this episode, Deirdre Fulton joins us to share about the process of updating the NRSV, and to tell us a little about her role in that process. Deirdre Fulton is Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament here at Baylor University. Themes Bible translation, text criticism, NRSVue Relevant Baylor Press Books Baylor handbooks on original languages (NT Greek, Hebrew Bible, Septuagint...

In this episode, Zen speaks with Tyler Mowry about teaching religious studies in online settings, using digital humanities, and assigning AI. Tyler is a Hebrew Bible PhD student and Learning Management System Content Specialist at Baylor University. Links to the digital humanities tools Tyler mentions in the interview will be posted in due course. The essay on assigning AI (written by Ethan and Li...

In this episode, Zen speaks with Leslie Garrote about American Evangelicalism: its history, the challenges of studying a living religious movement, and best practices. Leslie is currently a PhD student in Baylor's Religion Department. She is a Hispanic Theology Initiative scholar and a recipient of the Louisville Institute's doctoral fellowship. Leslie's Recommended Readings: Mark Noll...

In this episode, Zen speaks with E. Trey Clark about his new book, Black Contemplative Preaching: A Hidden History of Prayer, Proclamation, and Prophetic Witness (Baylor University Pres: https://www.baylorpress.com/9781481321990/black-contemplative-preaching/). Related Episodes: Malcolm Foley on Cone's The Cross and the Lynching Tree: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cross-and-the-lyn...

In this episode, Zen speaks with Dr. Joel Burnett about his cutting edge research on the Amman Theater Statue, a larger-than-life, Iron Age statue discovered in 2010. We discuss the statue's origin, its features, and its religious function. Along the way, Joel helps us understand how this statue relates to and sheds light on other ancient Near Eastern societies, including Israel and Judah only...

In this episode, Zen speaks with Beverly Gaventa about Paul's letter to the Romans. Her New Testament Library commentary is out now with Westminster John Knox (https://www.wjkbooks.com/Products/0664221009/romans.aspx). This episode also features special music from Paul Zach (ft. Jon Guerra, Tristen Stuart-Davenport, and IAMSON). Listen to the full track on Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube. Cad...

In this episode, Zen speaks with Barry Harvey about the story that led to the Barmen declaration, how Dietrich Bonhoeffer factors into that story, and how Barmen remains relevant today, even after 90 years. Barry Harvey is professor of theology in the Religion Department as well as in the Great Texts program of the Honors College here at Baylor University. Among other specialties, Barry is a Bonho...

In this episode, Zen speaks with Micheal O'Siadhail about his new collection of poetry, Desire, which is out now from Baylor University Press. Micheal O’Siadhail is an award-winning Irish poet. He received the Irish American Cultural Institute prize for poetry in 1982; the Marten Toonder prize for Literature in 1998. And one of his other Baylor University Press books, The Five Quintets, receiv...