Carmen House Podcast

You might be aware that Carmen House is an emerging Christian Study Center on the doorstep of OSU. A key marker of a Christian Study Center is that it would be a welcoming place for  faculty  to let down their guard, share a table and a conversation, and talk about what truly matters.  Our unity in Christ supersedes whatever preconceptions we may hold… as we host the executive direc...

We’re used to seeing Jesus as a figure for the afterlife, but we rarely talk about his insights for  this  life. Whether you’re a believer or a skeptic, there’s no denying the legacy of the life and teachings of Jesus in our world. A widely respected historian and Bible scholar, Jonathan Pennington (PhD, St. Andrews), hosted this conversation on the possibility of Jesus as the ultimate p...

Many have noted today that we constantly feel pressured to live fragmented lives. Faith seems to be relegated to the private sphere, quite separate from our public lives. This experience can be felt in the field of healthcare, as much as any other field of work in our society. Many people of faith are left confused about how their faith is relevant to their work. Attempts at integrating faith with...

Christians tend to use the word vocation interchangeably with one’s job. But is there more to it? Hear from Dr. Steven Garber, author of Visions of Vocation: Common Grace for the Common Good , as we discuss what it means to have a vocation in God’s world. Dr. Steven Garber has been a teacher of many people in many places for many years, a professor for undergraduates, graduates, and people at work...

In our increasingly polarized culture, bitterness and resentment can seem not only justified, but appropriate. When we have been offended or harmed by another we tend to turn a cold shoulder, if not scheme to pay them back. Our circles are increasingly made up only of those we perceive are safe enough not to hurt us.  This is not new. Followers of Jesus in antiquity likewise lived in a cultur...

We live in an age that sanitizes death. For many of us death seems like a distant concept, so far on the horizon of life that it feels unreal. We live in the moment by ignoring our mortality. But perhaps there are others of us that have gone through deep heartache, so many dark thoughts, that death feels like a fog hanging over us. What if remembering our mortality could be more than a downer, mor...

When we look at the world around us, and even our own lives, we have the sense that all is not right. We are eager to name injustices and to alleviate suffering. And yet, in our polarized society we can have competing stories of what exactly is wrong with the world. How did the world become so broken? The severity of all that is wrong can leave us confused or despairing. Join us as we explore how...

When it comes to encountering people that are different than us, and in the midst of our societal turmoil, it is easy to feel anxiety. In light of the presence of those from other cultures and places, some might wonder if life as they’ve known it is at stake. Is there more to the story? Former OSU business law professor and founding pastor at Vineyard Columbus, Rich Nathan, will examine some key p...

As many Christian practices increasingly focus on the "happy" elements of the faith, Good Friday observances are in danger of becoming nothing more than a nominal holiday: a fleeting thought that occurs roughly two days before Easter egg hunts. Why is such a trend troubling, why might this trend be taking place, and what do Christians stand to gain from a renewed interest in Good Friday? To answer...

Does character matter? What are virtues and are they relevant today? How might faith help or hinder one’s character formation? Theologian Dr. Ben Burkholde r (PhD, Duquesne) spoke on the topic of the relevancy of virtue ethics for today, followed by audience Q&A. This was recorded live during the Carmen House Speaker Series event on the campus of The Ohio State University.