The Scandal of Reading

Tiffany Kriner joins Claude Atcho in continuing the exploration of the fruits of the Spirit. This week's selection of LaRose by Louise Erdrich focuses on Peace. The novel opens with a horrific accident that sends two closely related families and an entire community into a deep spiral of trauma. Progressing through the novel, the reader is confronted with a question: Can a community, a family, reco...

Winn Collier joins Austin to discuss the work of American novelist and poet Wendell Berry. Within the fictional town of Port William, the pair discuss the power of incarnation and the sense of time and place. The idea of geographical theology is brought to life as the location of Port William is juxtaposed against the inherent danger of the fragmented and abstracted growing digital culture. Port W...

In the final episode for this season's spin-off series, Lit Pulpit , hosts Claude Atcho and Austin Carty discuss Walker Percy's award-winning novel, The Moviegoer. Written in 1961, Percy's book is from the beginning of our modern age, when it was hard to create imaginative work that spoke the truth of the gospel and when the language around Christianity had been tarnished by its embodiment at the...

Guest Daniel Nayeri joins Jessica to talk about their shared love for Bill Watterson's  Calvin and Hobbes.  In the discussion, a theory is posited that as we move towards a more and more visual culture (i.e., graphic novels, prestige television, and YouTube),  Calvin & Hobbes  marks the ascendancy of that visual medium and the decline of the traditional novel. The Theology of Calvin and Hobbes...

Alan Paton's novel is widely regarded as a source of hope and endurance amid pain and significant suffering. As The Scandal of Reading continues season 3's theme about the Fruits of the Spirit, Claude Atcho interviews author S.D. Smith, who arrived in South Africa when Mandela was released from prison and left when he became president. S.D. Smith shares his perspective on Paton's work having first...

The search — what is it and why does it matter? Claude and Austin tackle this important theme from Walker Percy’s The Moviegoer Whether you are reading along with us or simply want to know more about this important novel, join us as journey through this novel. Be sure to check out our Lit Pulpit Facebook group where you can ask questions and share thoughts on the novel: The Lit Pulpit Facebook Gro...

To start this new season of Lit Pulpit, Claude and Austin recap lessons from James Baldwin’s Go Tell It on the Mountain , look back at important themes in the novel, discuss and interpret John’s conversion experience, and announce the next book for Lit Pulpit. About the Host Claude Atcho: Claude is the Vicar (Planting Pastor) for the Charlottesville church plant of the Diocese of Christ Our Hope,...

This week's Fruit of the Spirit is Love. This week's guest author is medievalist, Grace Hamman. The two discuss the work of Revelations of Divine Love by Julian of Norwich. Revelations of Divine Love , by Julian of Norwich Jesus through Medieval Eyes , by Grace Hamman Information on the Host:   Jessica Hooten Wilson is a Senior Fellow at Trinity Forum, the inaugural Visiting Scholar of Liberal Art...

The Fruits of the Spirit theme continues for Season 3 with acclaimed author Phillip Yancey. Together host Jennifer, the duo discuss the devotionals of John Donne (1571 - 1631 A.D.), a cleric in the Church of England and the exhibited virtue of patience. Where the Light Fell: A Memoir by Phillip Yancey Information on the Host:   Jessica Hooten Wilson is a Senior Fellow at Trinity Forum, the inaugur...

Shemiah Gonzales talks with Jessica to kick off Season 3 of  The Scandal of Reading  to discuss the edited collection of  Joy: 100 Poems . Shemiah is working on her own book called,  Undaunted Joy  and the pair discuss the constant debate on how to define "joy" that eludes the academic and the lay person.  Joy: 100 Poems , edited by Christian Wiman Information on the Host:   Jessica Hooten Wilson...

In Episode 5, Claude and Austin continue the discussion of “Gabriel’s Prayer” in James Baldwin’s Go Tell It on the Mountain . In this discussion they explore the concept and practice of forgiveness and how Gabriel's domineering and toxic character is influenced by forgiveness. Whether you are reading along with us or simply want to know more about this important novel, join us as we journey throug...

In Episode 4, Claude and Austin discuss religious power, toxic faith, and the complications of conversion by looking at “Gabriel’s Prayer” in James Baldwin’s Go Tell in on the Mountain.  Whether you are reading along with us or simply want to know more about this important novel, join us as we journey through this novel. Be sure to check out our Lit Pulpit Facebook group where you can ask question...

Cornelius "Neal" Plantinga Jr. joins Austin to discuss one of the most celebrated novels in American history, The Grapes of Wrath . The pair discuss the ability of John Steinbeck's novel to comment on systemic corruption and evil in the American dream during the Great Depression of the 1930's. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck The Scandal of Reading  is sponsored by  Brazos Press . Information...

Alan Noble joins Jessica to discuss the 20th century Elliot's process of looking back into his tradition as the means of of writing poetry. The pair focus on The Four Quartets with an emphasis on the final of the four poems, Little Gidding while setting the stage of T.S. Elliot's life and situation during the writing of what is considered by many, including Elliot, to be his finest work. " For us,...

Associate Professor of Sociology Angel Adams Parham joins Claude to provide historical context to the life of poet Phillis Wheatley. The pair take a fresh look at Wheatley's most influential work, On Being Brought from Africa to America and discuss why a widely held perception of the poem's meaning may not be as accurate when put into the context of Wheatley's life and other works. On Being Brough...

In Episode 3, Claude and Austin discuss Part 2 “Florence’s Prayer” and the way that time functions in Baldwin’s novel, drawing out the intergenerational dynamics that move people towards or away from God’s grace.   Whether you are reading along with us or simply want to know more about this important novel, join us as journey through this novel. Be sure to check out our Lit Pulpit Facebook group w...

Mary W. McCampbell joins the show to talk about Graham Greene's novel, The Power and the Glory. Themes discussed by Jessica and Mary in the show revolve around the "Whiskey" priest's overt sinfulness as well as the gifting to be able to see the wretchedness of other human beings with the ability to love them. Books Referenced: The Power and the Glory , by Graham Greene The Brothers Karamazov , by...

Writer, Author, and ThD student Kaitlyn Schiess joins Jessica to talk about their love for Dorothy L. Sayers' Zeal of Thy House and her works on human flourishing. Topics the duo discuss within Sayers works include how we relate to our vocations with the labels of "Christian" applied to a brand, the dignity of vocation that is not expressly "ministry", and the value of those who do work in the wor...

Claude and Austin discuss their impressions of the Baldwin’s cast of characters and the critical importance of setting–the world, the church, and streets–in the opening sections of the novel. Is Baldwin’s depiction of a toxic Christianity a fatal critique of the faith or a critical gesture toward true religion? How does place and setting factor into the novel’s message? Whether you are reading alo...

On this special episode, co-host Claude Atcho turns the tables and interviews Jessica Hooten Wilson regarding her forthcoming book, Reading for the Love of God . Jessica recounts her love and unique way of consuming literature in her formative years while she was attending college for theology and literature and how the two disciplines influenced how she consumed both. In this book Jessica relates...

D.L. Mayfield joins host Jessica Hooten Wilson to discuss the life and writings of the social worker and self described anarchist who renounced material possessions to live a life of a pacifist activism for the poor. Books Referenced: Unruly Saint : Dorothy Day’s Radical Vision and its Challenge for our Times by D.L. Mayfield The Long Loneliness: The Autobiography of the Legendary Catholic Social...

Austin and Claude start with a quick overview of James Baldwin’s debut novel then dive into its opening paragraph to explore the novel’s religious context and the psychological dynamics of church life. What happens when we come of age in religious spaces that mean well but do damage? Whether you are reading along with us or simply want to know more about this important novel, join us as journey th...

Jessica is joined by Patti Callahan Henry to discuss their shared love for C.S. Lewis and how his relationship with Joy Davidman influenced his last fictional work. Books Referenced: The Paris Wife  by Paul McLain Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold   by C.S. Lewis Becoming Mrs. Lewis  by Patti Callahan The Scandal of Reading  is sponsored by  Brazos Press . Information on the Host:  Jessica Hooten...

Jessica is joined by Matthew Mullins to discuss their shared love for poetry and Anne Bradstreet.  Books Referenced:  Books Referenced: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing  by Judy Blume The Overstory  by Richard Powers Green Ember Series   by SD Smith The Betrothed  by Alessandro Manzoni, tran. Michael F. Moore The Outsider  by Richard Wright Crossroads  by Jonathan Franzen Heavenly Participation  by...

Jessica is joined by poet and pastor, Drew E. Jackson to discuss Howard Thurman's  Jesus and the Disinherited .  Books Referenced:  Jesus and the Disinherited  by Howard Thurman The Scandal of Reading  is sponsored by  Brazos Press . Information on the Host:  Jessica Hooten Wilson is a Senior Fellow at Trinity Forum, the inaugural Visiting Scholar of Liberal Arts at Pepperdine University, and the...