The Two Cities

In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Mario Baghos, who is Senior Lecturer in Theology at the University of Notre Dame Australia. He's the owner of the YouTube channel, TERRA SYMBOLICA, and the author of a recent peer-reviewed essay on Orphic legends and Descent into Hades themes in the hit TV show, Twin Peaks. In our conversation, Dr. Baghos brilliantly and breathlessly surveys the full swath of Twin Peaks and the way it coheres with so many iterations of the Descent into Hades motif. It's a fascinating conversation full of nerdy Twin Peaks insights on religious and mythological imagery germane to the show. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities includes: Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Dr. Kris Song.

In this episode we're joined by Revd Dr Mike Bird, who is Deputy Principal and academic lecturer in theology at Ridley College, Melbourne. He's also the author of numerous books, including the book we're discussing here, the 10th anniversary edition of What Christians Ought to Believe: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine through the Apostle's Creed (published by Zondervan Academic). In our conversation we discuss the enduring value of the Apostle's Creed, and dive into some of its key features as well as some of its missing details. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Adishian, Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Rev. Daniel Parham, and Rev. Dr. Chris Porter.

In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Zach Wagner, who recently completed his DPhil at the University of Oxford, to talk about his new book, Men of Virtue: How the Fruit of the Spirit Forms Male Character in the Modern World (published by Brazos). In our conversation we talk about how the Fruit of the Spirit relates to virtues, whether the virtues are gendered, and what the Fruit of the Spirit looks like uniquely with respect to male embodiment. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: the Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Adishian, Dr. John Anthony Dunne, and Dr. Logan Williams.

In this episode, we're joined by Haejin and Makoto Fujimura. Together they're the authors of Beauty & Justice: Creating a Life of Abundance and Courage (published by Brazos). Haejin Shim Fujimura is a lawyer, entrepreneur, speaker, and strategist whose work bridges justice, beauty, and cultural transformation. She is the founding attorney of Shim & Associates, a law firm rooted in cultural renewal, and the CEO and cofounder of Embers International, a global NGO working to end intergenerational exploitation and prevent human trafficking. Makoto Fujimura is an internationally renowned artist, writer, and arts advocate. His books include Art + Faith, Silence and Beauty, Refractions, and Culture Care. In our conversation, we talk about the relationship between beauty and justice, art and law, and why they desperately need each other. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: the Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Adishian, Rev. Dr. Josh Carroll, and Dr. John Anthony Dunne.

In this episode, we're joined by Dr. T. Christopher Hoklotubbe, who is associate professor of indigenous theological studies at Bexley Seabury Seminary in Chicago and NAIITS: An Indigenous Learning Community, and Dr. H. Daniel Zacharias, who is associate dean and professor of New Testament studies at Acadia Divinity College, and an adjunct faculty for NAIITS: An Indigenous Learning Community. Together, they're the authors of Reading the Bible on Turtle Island: An Invitation to North American Indigenous Interpretation (published by IVP Academic). In our conversation, we talk about interpreting the Bible from a North American Indigenous perspective, the distinctive hermeneutical features of that approach (including an emphasis on the personhood and agency of all of creation), and address the difference between syncretism and contextual interpretation. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Rev. Dr. Josh Carroll and Dr. John Anthony Dunne.

In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Bo Lim, who is professor of Old Testament at Seattle Pacific University in Seattle, Washington, and the author of Contextual Theological Interpretation: An Integrated Model for Reading the Bible (published by Baker Academic). In the course of our conversation we talk about the value and importance of contextualizing our interpretations of scripture to our theological and cultural backgrounds, and we also discuss the relationship between contextual interpretation and historical critical exegesis. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Dr. Brandon Hurlbert.

In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Elizabeth Backfish (PhD, Trinity International University), who is associate professor of biblical studies at William Jessup University, and Dr. Cynthia Shafer-Elliott (PhD, University of Sheffield), who is associate professor of Hebrew Bible / Old Testament at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. And together they're the authors of Grounded Theology in the Hebrew Bible: Exploring the Cultural Context That Formed Ancient Israel (Baker Academic). In our conversation we discuss the relationship between our biblical texts and material culture on a whole host of issues, highlighting how the two need to be understood together for proper interpretation. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Dr. Brandon Hurlbert.

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Jennifer Matheny, who is associate professor of Christian Scriptures at George W. Truett Seminary, Baylor University, in Waco, Texas, and the author of Hesed, the Seed of the Biblical Story: New Life for Old Testament Theology (published by Baker Academic). As we discuss, the term Hesed is notoriously difficult to translate, but by situating its variegated meanings within the stories and the Story of scripture, Dr. Matheny helps to shed new light on its significance. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Dr. Brandon Hurlbert.