Share
The Two Cities
Episode #205 - Trauma Theologies with Dr. Karen O'Donnell
•
CW: generational trauma, genocide
Dr. Karen O’Donnell is Academic Dean and Lecturer in Worship and Human Community at Westcott House at the Cambridge Theological Federation. She is the author of Broken Bodies and The Dark Womb, and the co-editor of Feminist Trauma Theologies and Bearing Witness. (Bonus note: Her co-editor is next week’s guest Katie Cross.)
In this episode we explore trauma theologies with Dr. O’Donnell, who introduces us to the concept of trauma theologies and relates those to trauma theories. She helps us to understand how trauma and processing trauma affects our bodies, and she explains how various types of trauma connect with the work of Christ–both in the Incarnation and in the Eucharist.
And while you’re at it, be sure to check out our previous episode with Dr. O’Donnell about theology and reproductive loss (here).
Series Disclaimer: This series explores the concept of “trauma,” its sources, and its expressions from a range of perspectives. Some of our guests are licensed mental health professionals; some are those with formative experiences of trauma; and others are those who explore trauma through various theoretical frameworks. We hope that this series provides useful information to all that enables them to begin to be trauma-informed and to love others and themselves better. Our series is by no means meant to replace the important work of one-on-one time with a trauma-informed professional.
More episodes
View all episodes
Episode #241 - The Divine Heartset in Philippians with Dr. Crispin Fletcher-Louis
01:03:45|In this episode we're joined by Dr. Crispin Fletcher-Louis, who is a Fellow at the University of Gloucestershire and the author of the book that we’re discussing in this episode, The Divine Heartset: Paul’s Philippians Christ Hymn, Metaphysical Affections, and Civic Virtues (published by Cascade). Over the course of our conversation, we talk about Dr. Fletcher-Louis’s massive volume on the Christ Hymn in Philippians 2, in which he makes several fascinating exegetical decisions rooted in a close reading of the passage and extensive research into Greek texts that have not been as extensively incorporated into the conversation previously. We discuss ancient practices of “bride-napping,” why certain portions of the Hymn are often poorly translated, and the pastoral implications of reading the Hymn the way that Dr. Fletcher-Louis does. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities includes: Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Dr. Madison Pierce, Rev. Dr. Chris Porter, and Dr. Logan Williams.Here is a link to the book’s website for people to purchase digital copies, if desired: www.divineheartset.comEpisode #240 - Embedded Genres with Professor Jeannine Brown
48:19|In this episode we’re joined by Professor Jeannine Brown, who is David Price Professor of Biblical Foundations at Bethel Seminary, a member of the NIV translation committee, and the author of a number of books on Hermeneutics and the Gospels as well as the book that we’re excited to discuss in this episode, Embedded Genres in the New Testament: Understanding Their Impact for Interpretation (published by Baker). In our conversation we talk about the interpretative difference it makes to recognize how discrete genres appear within other broader genres (such as poetry within letters, riddles within Gospels, etc.), and how the embeddedness itself creates an interplay where both the broader genre and the embedded genre take on fresh characteristics as a result. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Dr. Madison Pierce, and Dr. Sydney Tooth.Episode #239 - Modern Genre Theory with Rev. Dr. Andrew Judd
01:04:20|In this episode we’re joined by Rev. Dr. Andrew Judd, who is Deputy Principal and Lecturer in Old Testament at Ridley College in Melbourne, Australia, and the author of the book we’re discussing in this episode, Modern Genre Theory: An Introduction for Biblical Studies (published by Zondervan Academic). Over the course of our conversation, Dr. Judd talks with us about the weird ways that scholars in biblical studies talk about genre, which is not often in line with modern literary studies and specifically modern genre theory. The conversation is fun and engaging, and is full of interesting examples and correctives. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Dr. Brandon Hurlbert, Stephanie Kate Judd, and Rev. Dr. Christopher Porter.Episode #238 - Christian Dominionism & Nationalism with Dr. Valerie Hobbs
59:09|In this episode we're joined by Dr. Valerie Hobbs (@vhobbs5), Senior Lecturer in the School of English at the University of Sheffield and author of No Love in War: A Story of Christian Nationalism (@MayflyBooks). In this episode we discuss Dr Hobb’s autoethnographic book about growing up in Christian Dominionism and the violence she witnessed and experienced, as well as the ways these ideologies continue to inflict harm. We also discuss the power of sharing our stories when it comes to truth-telling and the impact of witnesses who see and believe those stories. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Stanley Ng (@pstanng) and Dr Sydney Tooth (S_E_Tooth).Episode #237 - The Life of Eugene Peterson with Dr. Winn Collier
54:19|In this episode we're joined by Dr. Winn Collier (@winncollier), Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology and Christian Imagination and Director of the Eugene Peterson Center for Christian Imagination at Western Theological Seminary (@westernsem) and author of A Burning in My Bones: The Authorized Biography of Eugene Peterson (@authenticmedia). In this episode, we talk about the life of Eugene Peterson and the themes that shaped his ministry and writing, especially his concern for pastoral integrity and his emphasis on living faithfully in one’s own context. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. Sydney Tooth (S_E_Tooth).Episode #236 - The Art of Biography Writing with Lucy S. R. Austen
42:30|In this episode we're joined by Lucy S. R. Austen (@LucySRAusten) writer, editor, and author of the biography Elisabeth Elliot: A Life (@crossway). Over the course of our conversation, we discuss the process of biography writing and how one seeks to tell the story of a complex and influential person like Elisabeth Elliot. We explore the various cultural and relational influences on Elliot’s life and teaching and discuss how biographies can raise questions about our own view of ourselves and our lives. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. Sydney Tooth.Episode #235 - The Art & Purpose of Life Writing with Dr. Charles Marsh
01:18:41|CW: suicide and mental healthIn this episode, we're joined by Dr. Charles Marsh, Commonwealth Professor of Religious Studies and Director of the Project on Lived Theology (@LivedTheology) at the University of Virginia and author of Strange Glory: A Life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer (@AAKnopf) and Evangelical Anxiety: A Memoir (@HarperOneBooks). In this conversation we discuss the art of life-writing, exploring how to write honestly about the complexity of life and theology through biographies and memoirs and the formative role such works can through depicting lived theology. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. Brandon Hurlbert and Dr. Sydney Tooth.Episode #234 - Sexvangelicals with Jeremiah Gibson and Julia Postema
56:24|In this episode we’re joined by Jeremiah Gibson and Julia Postema, licensed psychotherapists and certified sex therapists based in Utrecht, The Netherlands, hosts a podcast called Sexvangelicals. As we talk about in our discussion with them, their specialization as therapists is helping couples coming out of negative religious backgrounds. In our conversation we talk about their perspective on topics like evangelical purity culture, sexuality and religion, etc., from their professional vantage point as people who themselves grew up in conservative Christian contexts. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Dr. Grace Sangalang Ng, the Rev. Dr. Christopher Porter, and Dr. Logan Williams.Episode #233 - The Christmaker with Professor James McGrath
01:02:49|In this episode we’re joined by Prof. James McGrath, who is the Clarence L. Goodwin Chair in New Testament Language and Literature at Butler University and the author of the book that we’re discussing here, Christmaker: A Life of John the Baptist (published by Eerdmans). Over the course of our conversation, we talk about biographical details that we can glean about John the Baptist, whether and how Mandaean literature can fill out our knowledge of the historical figure, how John innovated ritual immersion, John’s potential relationship to Qumran, and why the Gospel authors seem so anxious to clarify how John relates to Jesus. Team members from The Two Cities on the episode include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Dr. Logan Williams.