Psychology Cross-Training for Theologians Programme

Psychology Cross-Training for Theologians Podcast

Science EN ↓ 7 episodes

This series features Research Fellows from the Psychology Cross-Training for Theologians Program exploring how insights from psychology and theology can support the work of religious practitioners. Episodes address listening in community life; moral injury and abuse in Catholic contexts; race and faith in the Church of England; perceptions of God’s “where-being” and contemplative prayer; evaluating spiritual care; ageing as a liminal experience; and the faith lives of people with intellectual disabilities. Produced by University of Birmingham, funded by John Templeton Foundation.

Author

Psychology Cross-Training for Theologians Programme

Episodes

Episode 7 – The social impacts of listening in community settings 17.04.2026 22:36

In this episode, Dr Steve Taylor, a Christian minister and theological educator from Aotearoa New Zealand, discusses his action research project exploring the social impact of spiritual listening practices within Christian communities. Drawing on the psychology of listening alongside established Christian practices such as Lectio Divina and communal silence, Steve examines whether practising these...

Episode 6: A Tale of Two Perspectives: Chaplain and Patient Perceptions of Success 27.11.2025 50:38

In this episode, Dr. Scott Donahue-Martens - affiliated with Boston University School of Theology, Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Capital University, and Providence Newberg Medical Center - discusses his project examining chaplain and patient perspectives on successful spiritual care visits in hospital settings. Scott developed and deployed a non-burdensome questionnaire to compare assessments, guid...

Episode 5: The Where-Being of God as Transcendent, Immanent, or Indwelling and Associations with Contemplative Prayer 27.11.2025 33:47

In this episode, Research Fellow Dr Ela Łazarewicz-Wyrzykowska - Affiliated Researcher at the Two Wings Institute in Wrocław, Poland, and a Visiting Lecturer at the Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology in Cambridge, UK - discusses her project investigating how Catholics perceive God as transcendent, immanent, or indwelling, and associations with contemplative versus ritualized prayer. Ela devel...

Episode 4: Necessary Interdisciplinary Reflections? How Can Psychological Research Enhance the Church of England’s Theological Conversation and Praxis around Racism? 27.11.2025 28:09

In this episode, Research Fellow Revd Dr Carlton Turner - tutor in Contextual Theology and Mission Studies, as well as Deputy Director of Research, at the Queen's Foundation, Birmingham - discusses his project exploring how psychological research can deepen the Church of England’s theological discussions and practices on racism, particularly for the flourishing of UK Minority Ethnic (UKME) and...

Episode 3: Exploring the God and Self-Representations of Christians with Intellectual Disabilities 27.11.2025 22:52

In this episode, Research Fellow Dr Keith Dow - who is visiting researcher with Martin Luther University College and serves as pastor and theologian on the Organizational and Spiritual Life team at Karis Disability Services - discusses his project examining God and self-representations among Christians with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Keith uses qualitative interviews (up to...

Episode 2: Moral Injury, Spiritual Damage, and Abuse in Catholic Contexts 27.11.2025 23:38

In this episode, PCTP Research Fellow Dr Carolina Montero Orphanopoulos - faculty member at Universidad Católica Silva Henríquez in Santiago, Chile - discusses her project re-conceptualising the spiritual damage and moral injury caused by Catholic clergy abuse. Drawing on an adapted Systematic Literature Review of existing bibliography and comparative analysis of ten victim autobiographies through...

Episode 1: Ageing in a Liminal Time 27.11.2025 27:49

In this episode, Research Fellow Dr Allen G. Jorgenson - who holds the William D. Huras Chair in Ecclesiology and Church History at Martin Luther University College at Wilfrid Laurier University - discusses his project exploring the liminal experiences of retirement, particularly among theology and religious studies educators. Allen examines how social communities foster meaning-making, identity s...