Episode 5: Interview With Dr. Jorgensen, Companion Episode

Wherein we respond to the interview in the previous episode.

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In this episode, Lydia and Kevin reflect, react, and respond to our interview in the last episode with Dr. Jeana Jorgensen, Ph.D., and the topics we discussed with her.

Dr. Jorgensen’s work can be found online in the following places:

• The Foxy Folklorist at Patheos
• Her personal webpage
• Her sex education webpage
• and on MySexProfessor.com

Topics discussed include:

• Good versus bad Platonism
• Monasticism and its influence on Orthodox theology
• The context of patristic literature
• The significance of symbols and images

Passing On

The following books and articles were used in preparing this episode. Please check them out for more information and discussion on the subjects we dove into today!

• Theological Disambiguations: An Unconventional Handbook of Orthodox Theology, by Fr. Vladan Perišić
• “Pushing Back: ‘Greek Thinking’ vs. ‘Jewish Thinking’ is a Dualistic Error,” by Brad Jersak
• “Gender as Icon and Vocation,” Orthodox Institute 2012
• The Burden of the Flesh: Fasting and Sexuality in Early Christianity, by Teresa M. Shaw
• “The Monk and the Married Christian: Some Comparisons in early Monastic Sources,” by Metropolitan Kallistos Ware, Eastern Churches Review, 6:1 (1974), 72-83

Tune in next time to hear Lydia and Kevin review the late Sir Terry Pratchett’s fantasy novel Small Gods.

Episode 4: Interview with Dr. Jeana Jorgensen

An Interview with Dr. Jeana Jorgensen

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[Note: about 54 minutes in there is some major distortion in the audio recording that we didn’t notice during the recording process. Since Dr. Jorgensen’s comments are still discernible, and very important, we decided to keep this in, but be aware of this, and feel free to skip ahead 6 or 7 minutes if it’s beyond your ability to endure :-) ]

In this episode, Lydia and Kevin interview Dr. Jeana Jorgensen, Ph.D., folklorist, sex educator, and belly dancer extraordinaire!

Dr. Jorgensen’s work can be found online in the following places:

• The Foxy Folklorist at Patheos
• Her personal webpage
• Her sex education webpage
• and on MySexProfessor.com

Topics discussed include:

• Feminism
• The difference between sex and gender
• What Orthodox Christians and other religious groups and leaders can do to promote healthy sexuality

Passing On

As suggested reading on the subjects we discussed today, here are two books you may find helpful

• Gender Trouble, by Judith Butler
• Gender and Sexuality for Beginners, by Jaimee Garbacik and Jeffrey Lewis

Tune in next time to hear our companion episode, where Lydia and Kevin react and respond to the interview you heard today, and for further resources.

Episode 3: Hellbound? by Kevin Miller

Hellbound? by Kevin Miller

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In this episode, Lydia and Kevin examine Hellbound?, a 2013 documentary film on different Christian visions of hell by Kevin Miller.

Topics discussed include:

• Subjectivity and objectivity in interpretation
• The nature of salvation and damnation
• Emotional motivations for visions of the afterlife
• The art of documentary filmmaking
• Good preaching and bad preaching

Passing On

To purchase a DVD or a download of the film, as well as additional materials, such as the discussion guide, check out the Hellbound website.

Also, you might be interested in the following books, articles, podcasts, and videos on the subjects of Salvation, the Gospel, Good and Evil, and Hell:

• “The Mirror of Hell,” a roundtable discussion on Hellbound? between Abp. Lazar Puhalo, Brad Jersak, Ron Dart, and Kevin Miller.
• “The Death of Death,” a sermon by Brad Jersak
• “Apocatastasis: The Heresy That Never Was,” by Fr. Aidan Kimel
• “‘The Satan’ with Brad Jersak and Michael Hardin,” an episode of the Beyond the Box podcast
• Life After Death: A History of the Afterlife in Western Religion, by Alan Segal
• The Origin of Satan: How Christians Demonized Jews, Pagans, and Heretics, by Elaine Pagels

Tune in next time to hear our interview of Dr. Jeana Jorgensen, Ph.D., folklorist, sex educator, and belly dancer extraordinaire!

Hellbound? preview

In our next episode, we will be reviewing and interacting with the film Hellbound?, a documentary made in 2012 by filmmaker Kevin Miller.

As a preview of what we’ll be talking about, here is the trailers for the film.

Episode 2: Pastrix

Pastrix: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner & Saint, by Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber

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In this episode, Lydia and Kevin examine Pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber’s theological memoirs, Pastrix, published in 2014.

Topics discussed include:

• Liturgical innovation
• The role of women in the church
• The nature of authority and priestly ministry
• Pastoral vulnerability
• Grace and the Gospel message

Passing On

Buy a copy of Pastrix on Amazon!

Listen to Rev. Bolz-Weber’s interview about Pastrix with the Nomad Podcast here …

… and her interview with NPR’s On Being podcast here!

Also, you can listen to sermons by Pastor Nadia and others at her parish, House for All Sinners and Saints in Denver, CO, on the church website, here!

Episode 1: Introductions

Our first episode!

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In this episode, our intrepid hosts talk to each other about their journeys as Orthodox academics and the backgrounds they bring to the conversation they are starting with the podcast.

Topics discussed include:

• Culture and community
• Authority
• Language
• Seeking the truth
• Different understandings of concepts and theories
• What do we really mean by terms like “the Church” and “Orthodoxy”?

Passing on

In order to understand our perspectives and background, each host recommended some reading material.

Lydia suggested “Religious Folklore,” by Larry Danielson as an introduction to how folklorists investigate religious subjects.

Kevin suggested the book Socrates Meets Jesus, by Peter Kreeft, which was the first book of philosophy he ever read, and set him off on the pursuit of Truth and Wisdom.