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Category: World Region
Rodney Stark on the Triumph of Christianity, Part II
Rod Stark rejoins our podcast to discuss the second portion of his book, “The Triumph of Christianity.” We survey the epoch from the Edict of Milan up until the start of the Protestant Reformation, covering topics such as the relationship between Christianity and economic growth, the Church’s role in promoting science, religious opposition to slavery, the supposed demise of paganism, the religiosity of the common folk, and the various “reformations” that were taking place within the Christian Church throughout this era, eventually leading to Luther’s Reformation. We are a free educational podcast series designed to bring quality scholarship to a wider audience. Please tell your friends about us, and become our “friend” on Facebook. [ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ] Richard Flory on Why We Go to Church (and other stuff)
Why do people bother to go to church when a recent Barna Group survey revealed that 60% of all regular attendees could not recall any new insight from their most recent church service? Prof. Richard Flory discusses this finding and several others and speculates on the role the churches play in our lives, arguing that the communal aspect of gathering may be highly underrated when compared with the spiritual education aspect of churches. We also discuss the role that churches can play in the community and whether or not such engagement will help to make church more relevant for youth. Subscribe to us on iTunes for free and never miss an episode! [ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ] Christopher Scheitle’s Religious Road Trip
What do you get when to take a seasoned sociologist and a senior research associate, put them in a rented Dodge Charger for six weeks, and them tell them to find academic enlightenment? A religious road trip, that’s what! Christopher Scheitle tells us tales of his trip with Roger Finke to far flung places such as Memphis, Houston, Colorado Springs, San Francisco, Detroit and Brooklyn in search of what the American religious experience is all about. They visit a wide variety of congregations and take away some important lessons about the diversity and similarities of religious folks in the United States. We also find out who is the better driver – Chris or Roger. Share this experience with your friends and colleagues with our social networking links below. Thanks! [ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ] Matt Boswell on Building Redemption Church, Part II
Back in the fall of 2011, we visited with Pastor Matt Boswell about his effort to create a church within a week’s span of time. We pay a return visit with Pastor Boswell to see what the next several months of church-building entails. We discuss the need to create a set of by-laws, define the requirements of membership, and find ways to establish some permanance even though the congregation meets in a high school auditorium. This is part of our ongoing examination of Redemption Church and its week-to-week and month-to-month operations. Note: This is the church that your host attends on an almost weekly basis. Please tell your friends about our podcast. We endeavor to make the best in scholarly research available to the general public. [ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ] Gary Scott Smith on Presidential Faith
A week before Presidents’ Day, we visit with Gary Scott Smith of Grove City College to survey the religious beliefs of a dozen or so presidents including Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, both Roosevelts, JFK, Jimmy Carter, Barack Obama and a few others. Along the way we discuss why understanding the faith of our presidents is important, why most people do not know much about it, and how we go about studying the topic. Check out our extensive archives for more great podcasts that are free to the general public! [ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ] Rodney Stark on the Triumph of Christianity, Part 1
How does a small group of invididuals in a religiously-hostile environment build a sectarian movement of Judaism into the world’s largest faith tradition? Prof. Rodney Stark (Baylor) discusses the important sociological ingredients for Christianity’s success in the first three centuries of its existence. We examine the religious landscape at the time of Jesus’s birth (including both paganism and Judaism), as well as the sometimes surprising role of that mercy, persecution, wealthy individuals, and gender played in the growth of Christianity. Search our archives for more great podcasts. This is free content courtesy of Baylor’s ISR, so please tell a friend about us with the social network links below. Thank you! [ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ] Allison Pond on Being a Mormon Missionary
What is it like to go on a Mormon mission to Russia? Allison Pond, recently of the Pew Forum and now a journalist with the Deseret News, recounts her two-year religious sojourn to southern Russia. We learn about why she went, her preparation for the trip, what the first day on the ground was like, and the various ups and downs of mission life. We also discuss the changing religious landscape in Russia and what that meant for Latter Day Saints who were in the field. Please tell a friend about our free educational podcast. And don’t forget to subscribe to us on iTunes and Facebook (just click the links on the right hand column of our website). Thanks! [ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ] Scott Thompson on Youth Ministry
Scott Thompson, the youth pastor at Redemption Church in Duvall (WA), reveals his insights into running a youth ministry. We discuss the daily operations of a youth ministry as well as some of the challenges facing junior high and high school students and how a congregation in a rural Washington town attempts to attract and retain students in religious life. This is the third in our series of interviews looking at Redemption Church and includes a special guest appearance by the host’s eleven year old son. If you like this interview, there is a good chance some of your friends will too. Please tell them about it! [ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ] Andrew Hoffecker on Charles Hodge and Princeton Theological Seminary
To help celebrate Princeton Theological Seminary’s bicentennial, Prof. Andrew Hoffecker (Reformed Theological Seminary) joins us to talk about the life and times of Charles Hodge , a major figure in Presbyterian thought who helped influence the American evangelicalism. We trace his life from early childhood through his formative experience in Berlin and then discuss how Hodge viewed various controversies that beset the Presbyterian Church and the American nation in the first half of the 19th century. Our free podcast is a great educational tool for college students and homeschoolers. [ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ] Timur Kuran on Islamic Economics
Timur Kuran (Duke University) discusses the movement known as Islamic economics, focusing on its origins, policy prescriptions, and consequences. We survey the thought of Sayyid Abul-Ala Mawdudi in the middle part of the 20th century, how his ideas spread and were institutionalized in the 1970s. Attention is paid specifically to Islamic banking, interest rates, and social welfare policies. Tell your friends about our podcast using the social media links below! [ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ] |
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