Theology Lab: Courage & Curiosity for Everyday Faith

In this Theology Lab podcast, Notre Dame theologian David Cloutier introduces viewers to Pope Leo XIV, the newly elected Pope and head of the Roman Catholic church. Prof. Cloutier introduces us to Pope Leo XIV, the significance of his choice of name (Leo) and some things to expect in his papacy. The conversation also touches on his American roots and American politics. Whether you’re curious about...

This episode features Dean Dennis Edwards, New Testament Professor and dean of North Park Theological Seminary. In this final episode in Highrock's Black Theology course, Dennis speaks to the dynamic nature of Black faith and its endurance over time. He also addresses resistance to the idea of Black Lives Matter and shows how a focus on the particularity of Black lives leads us to greater concern...

This theology related episode explores how Womanist theology emerges. It is part of Highrock's Black theology course, featuring Prof. M. Shawn Copeland. This episode dives deep into how faith, Scripture, and theology speak to the lived experiences of Black women, addressing themes of justice, liberation, and resilience. Rooted in Black theology and African American faith traditions, Womanist Theol...

Rev. Dr. Dennis Edwards (dean, North Park Seminary) teaches the faith underpinnings that fueled the Civil Rights Movement. In this powerful and thought-provoking episode, Dr. Edwards explores the spiritual roots of the movement, revealing the ways in which Black theology and faith informed the actions and decisions of its leaders. From the role of the Black Church to the intersection of faith and...

Catch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zli9ETZZLv4 Explore the foundations of Black theology in this insightful conversation with Professor Michelle Clifton. This episode unpacks the rich history, biblical roots, and social justice implications of Black theology, offering a powerful perspective on faith, Scripture, and the Black church. Perfect for those passionate about Ch...

Video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/6Ft8QRYoAT0 Prof. Aaron Griffith (Duke Divinity School) features in fourth class in Highrock's Black Theology course. Aaron's talk focuses on the troubling but important history of lynching in the United States. As part of the Black Theology class, Aaron sheds light on the connection between lynching history and the cross, a central symbol to the Chr...

YouTube version of this episode: https://youtu.be/mQYxZQAql1Q Black Spiritual Songs, by Prof. Tom Baskett (Berklee College of Music). What are the African American Spirituals (the Black Spirituals)? Where does what's often described as Gospel music come from? In this video Prof. Baskett introduces us to Black spiritual songs, which he describes as "the earliest Black theology." It is a devotionall...

Explore the profound relationship between African Americans and the Bible in this enlightening recording featuring insights from theologian M. Shawn Copeland. This deep dive into Black theology and African American faith examines how scripture has been used in different ways, including as a source of resilience, liberation, and hope. Perfect for viewers passionate about theological learning, curio...

Welcome to Highrock's Black Theology course, available on Highrock Online's YouTube channel and the Theology Lab (a Highrock Ministry) YouTube channel, and here on the podcast. "Black Faith and Perseverance" with Rev. Dr. Alex Gee, host of the Black Like Me podcast (linked below), introduces viewers to Black theology through an accessible and powerful overview of African American history, American...

YouTube version of this podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fxfYFehdro&t=5s Welcome to Highrock's Black Theology course, available on Highrock Online's YouTube channel and the Theology Lab (a Highrock Ministry) YouTube channel. This video introduces the Black Theology course. Tom Baskett, professor at Berklee College of Music, introduces the course and what viewers can hope to get out of...

The New Testament letter of 1 Peter often gets short changed. But what if this letter holds a special relevance for us today? This conversation with Dr. Janette Ok, professor of New Testament at Fuller Seminary, brings to light how we can continue to connect this ancient letter to Christian life today and how the letter's author uses 'ethnic reasoning' to help shape Christian community. Scott and...

Theology Lab, Scripture & Tradition, with Pete Enns from the Bible for Normal People podcast In this conversation, moderator Scott Rice is joined by Pete Enns, biblical scholar and host of the well known podcast, the Bible for Normal People and Faith for Normal People. Scott and Pete have a conversation on these topics and questions: biblical interpretation, the diversity of Scripture, how to...

This interview with Dr. Dennis Edwards features his new book, Humility Illuminated (InterVarsity Press). Scott interviews Dean Edwards on the topics of biblical interpretation, virtues and the Bible, how to read the Bible with humility and conviction, social context, race, ethnicity and faith. Key questions: How can we read Scripture with both humility and conviction? What differences does our soc...

Recorded on January 16, 2024. This episode features Tim Mackie from the BibleProject. It explores questions of biblical interpretation, Scripture, faith and history, and, as the BibleProject emphasizes, how the Bible comes together to form a unified story. Highrock's Scripture & Tradition series looks at some of the basic tools that can help us understand the Bible. How can we view the Bible a...

Have you ever wondered what to do with some of the challenging parts of the Bible, such as passages and stories of apparently divinely inspired violence and war? If you're interested in how we might approach such passages -- along with the Bible as a whole — with honesty, curiosity, and especially humility, then you'll likely appreciate this session! Moderator Scott Rice is joined by Karen Keen, a...

How do we keep our spiritual formation fresh? One way is by regularly exercising our theological imaginations! Our first offering of this series looks at a diverse set of engagements with “Scripture & Tradition.” In conversational interviews with experts in their field, we’ll explore a proposal on understanding the complexities of the Bible and how it came together as tools that help create (a...

Critical Conversations Theology Lab is free/open to all: https://highrock.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/1433/responses/new More information on Theology Lab's series and Highrock here: https://www.highrock.org/calendar/criticalconverastions/ Theology Lab's 2024/25 discussion series, "Critical Conversations," is about entering into topics that often divide Christians and learning skills to have more frui...

What gives us hope that life is more than money? That real, abundant life is found in freedom toward God and others? Certainly, testimonies to lives of generosity and transformation can. That's what this session, the final installment in our God & Money series, is all about. Nikki Toyama-Szeto (Christians for Social Action) and Paul Hawkinson (Transform Capital) share how God has showed up in...

The seventh session of Theology Lab's 2023-2024 series, "God & Money." In this discussion, guest speakers Prof. Jonathan Tran (Baylor University) and Prof. Dwight N. Hopkins (University of Chicago), along with moderator Scott Rice, discuss the connection between faith, capitalism, and race. Is capitalism a means for human flourishing or should people of faith think more critically about a syst...

In this discussion with José Humphreys III and Adam Gustine, co-authors of the new book, "Ecosystems of Jubilee: Economic Ethics for the Neighbor," along with moderator Meghan DeJong, explore the following questions (and others): How do we connect our faith to the places in which we live? How can biblical ideas like Sabbath and Jubilee help us contend with fears that we will not have enough and th...

The fourth session of Theology Lab's 2023-24 series, "God & Money." In this session, we're joined by Grace Chiang Nicolette (Center for Effective Philanthropy and co-host of the Giving Done Right podcast ) and Gregory Baumer (author of God and Money: How We Discovered True Riches at Harvard Business School ) for a conversation on faith and generosity. We explore questions like What God's? What...

Recorded on November 12, 2023. The third session of Theology Lab's 2023-2024 series, "God & Money." In this discussion, guest speakers Dennis Edwards Jr. and Soong-Chan Rah, along with moderator Scott Rice, discuss what the Bible says about money and its application to the life of faith communities today. Listen in for a stimulating conversation on the following questions (and more): How can t...

Recorded on October 15, 2023. David Cloutier, Hauna Ondrey, and moderator Scott Rice discuss the church's relationship to wealth and luxury. How does the church's historical relationship to money, positively and negatively, impact us today? How do we make challenging but important decisions about using our resources well while avoiding the deforming effects of luxury? Part of Theology Lab's "God &...

Recorded on September 17, 2023. The first session of Theology Lab's 2023-2024 series, "God & Money." In this discussion, guest speakers Ruth Padilla DeBorst and Al Tizon explore how money connects to faith, common obstacles that prevent us from seriously engaging this topic, field a question on materialism and the need for a nuanced relationship to capitalism, and more. Learn more about Highro...

After a series of discussions with several high profile figures from both within and outside of evangelicalism, we are led to ask, "So what?" How have these discussions shaped us? What new questions do they raise? And what hope do we have for individuals and faith communities who have been shaped by evangelicalism? In this final segment of the American Evangelicalism Theology Lab, panelists Meghan...