Church Potluck: A Smorgasbord of Christian Curiosity

Send us Fan Mail Is monasticism an outdated concept or can its principles still be of value in today's fast-paced world? We had a riveting discussion about monasticism and contemplative Christianity with our esteemed guests, Drs. Michael Papazian (philosophy), Larry Marvin (history), and Marshall Jenkins (counseling). Together, we explored various features of monastic lifestyles and the relev...

Send us Fan Mail Can faith and fitness converge to create stronger Christians? Join our esteemed guests Drs. Christy Snyder, Michael Bailey, and Jon Parker as we explore the fascinating concept of "Muscular Christianity" and its impact on church and society. We'll dive into the historical context of Muscular Christianity's emergence in mid-19th century England and its eventual...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered what fuels the beliefs of Flat-Earth proponents? Join us in this episode as we sit down with Drs. Clint Peters, Todd Timberlake, and Mike Bailey to explore the intriguing world of Flat-Earth theories and their connections to religion and the Bible. We first dive into the history of the spherical Earth and the astronomical evidence that has shaped our underst...

Send us Fan Mail The coronation of King Charles III prompts questions about the relationship between Church and State. How did Church and State interact in medieval times? How about now in the modern era? Does Church or State benefit most from their intermingling? (Hint: It's not the Church.) Join newcomer Dr. Larry Marvin (European history) and regular guest Dr. Michael Bailey (political sci...

Send us Fan Mail At its foundation, the coronation of King Charles III will be an act of Christian worship. What makes it so? What religious meanings will be embedded in all of the pageantry and music? And what does a coronation tell us about the relationship between Church and State in Great Britain? In this episode of Church Potluck, we will ask these questions and more with Rev. Dr. (and Canadi...

Send us Fan Mail This week's Church Potluck features three graduating seniors from Berry College: Darla Gore, Grace Segars, and SK Smith. Each discusses the ways that their faith was simultaneously challenged yet strengthened while at college. They also explore the ways that academics, student life, the chaplain's office, and special programs work to provide fertile soil for spiritual gr...

Send us Fan Mail Jesus had a special relationship with those who are poor in this world. The Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) encourages young adults to follow in Jesus' footsteps by living in an impoverished region in the United States and practicing the core values of spirituality, community, simple living, and social justice. In this episode, we talk to two members of the JVC: Gabriel Barrenec...

Send us Fan Mail The Church is called to be "one body and one Spirit," yet we have a long history of fracturing into separate traditions and denominations. What should we make of such divisions? Join Dr. Michael Papazian (philosophy), Jon Parker (biblical studies), and Dale McConkey (sociology) as we discuss the schisms in each of our respective Christian traditions. The first half of th...

Send us Fan Mail We conclude our trilogy of Easter episodes with a discussion of the Atonement. With Good Friday approaching, Christians prepare to commemorate Jesus saving us on the cross. But what is Jesus saving us from? And how does crucifixion on the cross actually save us? And who is being saved? And why are there so many opinions on these matters within Christianity? Join Dr. Matthew Lee (p...

Send us Fan Mail Often, Christians reduce Holy Week to Palm Sunday and Easter Day, but numerous crucial moments occur between these two days. Join Rev. Dr. Parker as he takes us on a brisk journey through each of the days of Holy Week, with Dr. Jordan Rowan Fannin and Rev. Dr. Dale McConkey adding their insights as well. Here's the path we take: PALM SUNDAY: JESUS THE VICTOR HOLY MONDAY: JESU...

Send us Fan Mail Christians over the globe are preparing to celebrate their conviction that Jesus of Nazareth rose from the dead. How essential is this Easter proclamation for Christian faith? Join Jon Huggins (chaplain), Michael Papazian (philosophy), Mike Bailey (political science), and Dale McConkey (sociology, pastor) as they deliberate the Resurrection from a variety of angles. The views expr...

Send us Fan Mail Are Christian Colleges compatible with liberal arts learning? Do these colleges restrict students with regard to both their intellectual and social life? What role do Christian colleges play in the contexts of academia and the larger culture? Join Tom Kennedy, Abbie Vegter, and Mike Bailey as we consider these questions. Also, we bid a fond farewell to and bestow gifts upon two of...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to our St. Patrick's Day episode! Dr. Michael Bailey (political science) and Rev. Dr. Dale McConkey (sociology) pepper Dr. Michael Papazian (philosophy, religion) with a myriad of questions about St. Patrick and his day. What do we know about Patrick historically? What are the myths that have developed over the years? Why and how did he become a saint? (Also, how do p...

Send us Fan Mail What responsibilities do Christians have to care for the environment? What specific steps should Christians take? Do our personal efforts make any difference in protecting the environment, or are large-scale changes needed? What's a Christian to do in a consumption-oriented culture? Join Christian ethicists Tom Kennedy and David Barr along with Bible scholar Jonathan Parker a...

Send us Fan Mail UFOs. Aliens. Extraterrestrial life.  The possibility of these phenomena is getting increasingly serious attention from the media, the government, and true believers. How about the Church? Would the existence of alien life change the way we understand our faith? Join special guest Todd Timberlake (physics) along with Jon Parker (theology) and Mike Baily (political science) as we e...

Send us Fan Mail Today's episode features three adults who share their reflections on growing up as a PK (preacher's kid). Sarah Allred (sociology), Hannah McDonald (student), and Abbie Vegter (political science) discuss the unique challenges -- but also the great joys -- that children can experience when their parent is also the leader of their church family. Enjoy! The views expressed...

Send us Fan Mail The revival at Asbury University is approaching two full weeks of continuous prayer and worship that people are describing as an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Church Potluck is honored to speak with Matthew Haugen, a Berry College alumnus who has strong ties with Asbury and currently lives on campus very close to the locus of the revival. After an enlightening conversation with M...

Send us Fan Mail It's a question we have debated since the founding of the country and there is little hope of providing a definitive answer. Nevertheless, we throw our mortarboards into the ring and share our thoughts on the relationship between Christianity and the United States. Join new guest Christy Snider (history), Brian Carroll (communication), Mike Bailey (political science), and Dal...

Send us Fan Mail BONUS EPISODE! If you're looking for advice on making that special someone feel loved on Valentine's Day, go look somewhere else. But if you are looking for thoughtful conversation on Saint Valentine, the holiday that is named after him, and the nature of Christian love, then you have come to the right place. Join Michael Papazian (religion and philosophy), Tom Kennedy (...

Send us Fan Mail This week's episode explores Christian Nationalism from a sociological perspective. Dr. Sam Perry (sociology, University of Oklahoma) leads our discussion, along with Abbie Vegter (political science) and David Barr (Christian ethics). Following our primary conversation about Christian Nationalism, we have a rather large "second helping" where we discuss the relation...

Send us Fan Mail Notre Dame philosopher Meghan Sullivan joins us for a discussion about her popular course on "God and the Good Life" and her corresponding book, The Good Life Method (Penguin, 2022). After Meghan provides an overview of her course and book, chaplain Jon Huggins and philosopher Matthew Lee (and a friend of Meghan) join the discussion. We also take time to chat a little ab...

Send us Fan Mail What does it mean for a Christian to live a good life? That's the question religion and philosophy professor and former dean Tom Kennedy discusses with us as we contemplate his book, Performing a Christian Life: God and the Good Life (Cascade Books). Tom is joined by Sarah Allred (Sociology), David Barr (Christian Ethics), and Dale McConkey (Sociology;  UMC pastor).  The view...

Send us Fan Mail Join Dr. Brian Carroll (Communication), Dr. Tom Kennedy (Philosophy), and host Dr. Dale McConkey (Sociology) as we explore the religious dimensions of football and sports in general. How is football sacred? Is football displacing and/or replacing Christian worship? Do sports have the ability to create and sustain community bonds? Join us as we explore these and many other question...

Send us Fan Mail Join Dr. Michael Bailey (political scientist) and host Dale McConkey (sociologist, pastor) in a one-on-one discussion that continues our exploration of technology we began in our previous episode. Are things getting better or worse with modern technology? How is it impacting our relationship with God and others? Is today's digital technology qualitatively different than previ...

Send us Fan Mail Church Potluck returns for 2023! In this episode, Rev. Dr. Jonathan Huggins (college chaplain) cautions Christians about the distracting and disruptive features of modern technology. Dr. Huggins is joined by Matthew Lee (philosophy), Michael Bailey (political science), and host Dale McConkey (sociology). The focal point of the conversation is Chaplain Huggins' article, "...