The Alabaster Jar

In this conversation, Dr. Amy Brown Hughes and Dr. George Kalantzis join Dr. Lynn Cohick to explore the significance of baptism, Eucharist, and relics in the worship of the fourth and fifth centuries. It delves into the political and social implications of these practices, highlighting how they challenged societal norms and hierarchies. The conversation also emphasizes the importance of the physic...

In this conversation, Reverend Kaye Kolde joins Dr. Lynn Cohick and Kelly Dippolito to share her journey of discerning her call to the pastorate and her subsequent roles in the church. She discusses the challenges and joys of leadership, the importance of submission, collaboration, and accountability, and the need for self-care and refreshment. Kaye also reflects on the challenges facing denominat...

In this episode, Dr. Grace Hamman joins Dr. Lynn Cohick to discuss the medieval mystic Julian of Norwich and her theological reflections on Jesus as a mother. Julian of Norwich, a 14th-century anchorite, had a series of visions and wrote about them in her book 'The Shewings.' She used the metaphor of Jesus as a mother to explore the character of God's love and the church's relationship with Christ...

In this conversation, Dr. Carol M. Kaminski joins Dr. Lynn Cohick to discuss the Old Testament background of Easter and the importance of understanding the Old Testament with the New Testament. They explore the concepts of blessing and curse in the Old Testament, the failure of Israel to obey God's laws, and the significance of the New Covenant. They also delve into Paul's explanation in Galatians...

In this conversation, Dr. Sandra Glahn, Dr. Lynn Cohick, and Dr. Amy Brown Hughes discuss the stories of strong women in the early church, focusing on Helena, the mother of Constantine. They share their experiences of discovering lesser-known women in church history, such as the sisters Praxides and Pudenziana. The conversation explores Helena's role in Christianizing the Roman Empire and her pilg...

In this conversation, Rev. Dr. Helen Painter joins Dr. Lynn Cohick to discuss her book, Blessed Are the Peacemakers: A Biblical Theology of Human Violence, and the topics of peacemaking, violence, and the Bible. She shares her inspiration for writing the book and her hopes for readers as well as explores the definition of violence and its presence in human cultures. Dr. Painter delves into the sig...

In this conversation, Dr. Sandra Glahn and Dr. Lynn Cohick are joined by guest Jazmine Sánchez to discuss various art media on the Visual Museum of Women and Christianity website. They explore mosaics, frescoes, sculptures, and paintings, highlighting their historical significance and unique characteristics. Jazmine shares her favorite artists, including Giotto and Michelangelo, and discusses nota...

In this episode of The Alabaster Jar, Dr. Lynn Cohick is joined by Mary Jo Sharp as she discusses her journey from atheism to Christianity and the importance of doubt. She also addresses the issue of hypocrisy in the church and how to heal from church wounds. Dr. Sharp emphasizes the need to appreciate the beauty of women in the church while recognizing the objectification that takes place for so...

In this conversation, Dr. Sandra Glahn, Dr. Matthew Milliner, and Christine Calareso Bleecker discuss the absence of depicting the body of the first person of the Trinity in Christian art and how it has shaped perceptions of women. Dr. Milliner explains that early Christian art depicted the Trinity through sarcophagi and male embodiments of Christ, but the depiction of the Father went underground...

On this episode of The Alabaster Jar, Dr. Lynn Cohick is joined by Dr. Carol M. Kaminski as she shares insights from her work on the books of 1 & 2 Chronicles and how the stories of the kings point to qualities like prayer, humility, and trusting God. Specific passages on King Jehoshaphat and King Manasseh are examined to show themes of repentance, forgiveness, and God's faithfulness. This con...

In this conversation, Dr. Sandra Glahn, Dr. George Kalantzis, and Christine Calareso Bleecker discuss the stories of women in the Bible and extra-biblical content. They explore the lives of Anna in the temple and Elizabeth, as well as the concept of virginity in Christianity. They also delve into the stories of young women martyrs and the virtue and courage they displayed. The conversation highlig...

In this conversation, Dr. Marion Taylor, Professor of Old Testament and Graduate Director at Wycliffe College joins Dr. Lynn Cohick, to discuss the contributions of women exegetes throughout history. She shares her serendipitous discovery of women interpreters in the 19th century and highlights their diverse range of topics, from technical grammatical analysis to sermons for women. Dr. Taylor also...

In this conversation, Dr. George Kalantzis and Dr. Amy Brown Hughes join Dr. Lynn Cohick to discuss the figure of Thecla and the concept of virginity in early Christianity. They explore the significance of Thecla's story and its impact on the development of Christianity as well as the theological and social implications of virginity, including the redefinition of power dynamics and the assertion o...

In this conversation, Dr. Lynn Cohick is joined by Dr. Bethany N Sollereder to discuss her book 'Why Is There Suffering?' They discuss the book's format, the distinction between God's love and goodness, the role of Scripture in understanding suffering, and the unique desires of love and original sin. They also explore the difference between altruism and love, the impact of fear on understanding lo...

In this episode of the Visual Museum Podcast Series, Dr. Amy Brown Hughes joins Dr. Lynn Cohick to discuss the stories of women martyrs in the early church, focusing on Perpetua, Felicitas, and Blandina. These women faced persecution and death for their faith, but their testimonies and courage inspired generations. The conversation explores the theological significance of their martyrdom, their ro...

On this episode of The Alabaster Jar, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Kelly Dippolito are joined by Dr. Beth Allison Barr to discuss her research on women's lives in the medieval period, focusing on the role of clerical texts and sermons in understanding their experiences. She explores the importance of figures like Mary and Eve in medieval sermons and the treatment of single women in medieval society. Barr a...

In this episode of the Visual Museum Podcast Series, Dr. Lynn Cohick is joined by Dr. Kimberly Majeski to discuss her research on Priscilla and the Priscilla Catacomb in Rome. She shares her interest in the topic and the questions that led her to study the role of women in the early church. This conversation also explores the history and significance of the Priscilla Catacomb, including its burial...

On this episode of The Alabaster Jar, Dr. Lynn Cohick is joined by Dr. Carol M. Kaminski to discuss the importance of genealogies in the books of 1 and 2 Chronicles. They explore the period and context in which these books were written, highlighting the return from exile and the challenges faced by God's people. They also delve into the significance of starting the story with genealogies, emphasiz...

To kick off the Visual Museum Podcast Series, Kelly Dippolito interviews the principals of the Visual Museum of Women in Christianity: Dr. Sandra Glahn, Dr. Lynn Cohick, and Dr. George Kalantzis to discuss the origins and importance of this project. They highlight the need to see and tell the stories of women in the history of Christianity, challenging the traditional narratives that often overloo...

Welcome to the brand-new Visual Museum podcast series! Kelly Dippolito interviews Christine Calareso Bleecker, Director of the Visual Museum Podcast Series, to discuss the women that will be featured in this series which include female biblical figures but also female historical church leaders. She also provides an overview of the topics and art that will be discussed and why they are arranged the...

On this episode of The Alabaster Jar, Dr. Lynn Cohick is joined by Dr. Holly J. Carey to discuss her book " Women Who Do: Female Disciples in the Gospels ." In this episode, Dr. Carey analyzes stories of women in the Gospels and finds that female disciples consistently modeled virtuous characteristics of discipleship, in contrast to male apostles. The conversation explores what can be learned from...

On this episode of The Alabaster Jar, Dr. Lynn Cohick and Kelly Dippolito are joined by Dr. Michelle Lee-Barnewall to discuss her book “A Longing to Belong: Reflections on Faith, Identity, and Race”. During this episode, Dr. Michelle Lee-Barnewall reflects on her journey as an Asian-American Christian and how that has shaped her biblical scholarship studying the New Testament. She also shares her...

On this episode of The Alabaster Jar, Dr. Lynn Cohick, Sareen Musselman, and Kelly Dippolito are joined by Rev. Dr. Jessica LaGrone to discuss her book "Out of Chaos: How God Makes New Things from the Broken Pieces of Life". They delve into how Dr. LaGrone uses the concepts of chaos and order in her book, drawing from terms in the Genesis creation narrative like "formless and void" and the Holy Sp...

In this episode of The Alabaster Jar, Dr. Lynn Cohick is joined by Dr. Carol M. Kaminski to examine the story of Abraham as they provide important background about Abraham's upbringing in the idolatrous city of Ur to show he came from a pagan context. The conversation challenges common oversimplifications of Abraham as a "good man" and instead presents him as a sinner who believed in God. It's a t...

On this episode of The Alabaster Jar, Dr. Lynn Cohick is joined by Marg Mowczko to discuss the topic of celibacy in the early church. They talk about how celibacy was viewed more positively in the ancient world than today and explore references to celibacy in pastoral epistles like 1 Timothy. They also help listeners understand the cultural context around "one woman husband" concepts that are ofte...