Westminster John Knox Press Radio

WJK Radio 19: Sharon Baker “Razes” Traditional Notions of Hell

Sixty percent of Americans believe in hell, as do ninety-two percent of those who attend church every week. Sharon L. Baker is here to speak candidly about our traditional views of hell. In her accessible and engaging new book, Razing Hell: Rethinking Everything You’ve Been Taught about God’s Wrath and Judgment, Baker explores how these traditional views have damaged our understanding of a loving God. She ultimately proposes an alternate theology of hell that is more consistent with the image of God as a loving creator who desires to liberate us from sin and evil.

Sharon L. Baker is Associate Professor of Theology and Religion and Coordinator of the Peace and Conflict Studies Program at Messiah College in Grantham, Pennsylvania. She has published numerous articles and speaks frequently throughout the United States on nonviolent atonement and hell. A former stay-at-home mom, Baker received her PhD from Southern Methodist University in 2006. She is the mother of four grown boys. For more information, visit http://baker.wjkbooks.com.

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Related Resources:
Keith Wright, The Hell Jesus Never Intended
Rowan Williams, Tokens of Trust: An Introduction to Christian Belief

Music Credit:
“Shadows,” by David LaMotte

WJK Radio 18: Amy Pauw discusses Belief: A Theological Commentary on the Bible

Amy Plantinga Pauw discusses WJK’s newest Bible commentary series: Belief: A Theological Commentary on the Bible, which she developed with William C. Placher. Each volume will explain the theological importance of Scripture for the church today by connecting the words of the Bible to the church's doctrines and practices, as well as to the life of faith in the Christian community. The first two volumes, Mark by William C. Placher and Luke by Justo L. González, will be available this summer.

Amy Plantinga Pauw is Henry P. Mobley Jr. Professor of Doctrinal Theology at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary.

William C. Placher† worked with Amy Plantinga Pauw as a general editor for this series until his untimely death in November 2008. Westminster John Knox Press wishes to dedicate the entire series to his memory with affection and gratitude.

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Related Resources:

Lamar Williamson Jr., Mark (Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching)

Fred B. Craddock, Luke (Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching)

Gail R. O’Day and David L. Peterson, editors, Theological Bible Commentary 

Music Credit:

"Shadows,” by David LaMotte

WJK Radio 17: Cynthia Woolever and Deborah Bruce on Who’s Going Where...And Why!

Who ever thought stats could be so much fun? Cynthia Woolever and Deborah Bruce are here to talk about the latest trends and changes in congregational life. Complete with tables, statistics, and hilarious cartoons, their latest book, A Field Guide to U. S. Congregations, Second Edition, compiles the results of the U. S. Congregational Life Survey, the largest and most representative profile of worshipers and their congregations ever developed in the United States.

Cynthia Woolever is Research Manager of the U.S. Congregational Life Survey, former Professor of Sociology of Religious Organizations, Hartford Seminary, and a researcher for the PC(USA) Research Services office.

Deborah Bruce is Associate Research Manager for PC(USA) Research Services, and a member of the Religious Research Association, the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, the Association for the Sociology of Religion, and the International Society for the Sociology of Religion.

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Related Resources:

Cynthia Woolever and Deborah Bruce, Places of Promise: Finding Strength in Your Congregation’s Location

Cynthia Woolever and Deborah Bruce, Beyond the Ordinary: Ten Strengths of U. S. Congregations

Music Credit:

"Shadows,” by David LaMotte

WJK Radio 16: John Goldingay on the book of Genesis . . . for Everyone!

John Goldingay joins us for a delightful and thoroughly engaging discussion about Genesis for Everyone, Part One and Genesis for Everyone, Part Two, the first volumes in the new “Old Testament for Everyone” commentary series from Westminster John Knox Press. Goldingay’s lively and accessible style makes it easy to develop a deeper understanding of the spiritual and theological significance of the Old Testament books.

John Goldingay is David Allan Hubbard Professor of Old Testament at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. He is an international authority on the Old Testament.

To purchase this new resource please call 1-800-554-4694.

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Related Resources:

N. T. Wright, For Everyone Gospel Set

Donald L. Griggs and W. Eugene March, Genesis from Scratch: The Old Testament for Beginners

Music Credit:

“Shadows,” by David LaMotte

WJK Radio 15: Walter Brueggemann posits neighborliness as a way toward a greater common good

Respected author and theologian Walter Brueggemann joins us today for a penetrating look at today’s most pressing issues, including terrorism, health care, and the recent economic collapse. He offers guidance for navigating through these challenging times through neighborliness, covenanting, and reconstruction. His new book, Journey to the Common Good, is now available from Westminster John Knox Press.

Walter Brueggemann is William Marcellus McPheeters Professor of Old Testament Emeritus at Columbia Theological Seminary. He is the world’s leading interpreter of the Old Testament and is the author of numerous books, including Westminster John Knox Press best sellers such as Genesis and First and Second Samuel in the Interpretation series, An Introduction to the Old Testament: The Canon and Christian Imagination, and Reverberations of Faith: A Theological Handbook of Old Testament Themes.

To purchase this new resource, call 1-800-554-4694.

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Related Resources:

Jim Wallis, Rediscovering Values: On Wall Street, Main Street, and Your Street.

Walter Brueggemann, Mandate to Difference: An Invitation to the Contemporary Church. To purchase, contact The Thoughtful Christian at 1-800-554-4694.

Music Credit:

“Shadows,” by David LaMotte

WJK Radio 14: Alyce McKenzie on crafting creative sermons

From Frederick Buechner to Stephen King, Alyce McKenzie explores how fiction writers approach the task of writing novels, and what preachers can learn from them to enhance their sermons. She speaks with Dan and Jana about these techniques, outlined in her new book, Novel Preaching: Tips from Top Writers on Crafting Creative Sermons.

Alyce M. McKenzie is Professor of Homiletics at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. She is the author of a number of books, including Parables for Today and Preaching Proverbs: Wisdom for the Pulpit from Westminster John Knox Press.

To purchase this new resource, contact The Thoughtful Christian.com at 1-800-554-4694.

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Related Resources:

Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft.

Sondra B. Willobee, The Write Stuff: Crafting Sermons That Capture and Convince. To purchase, contact TheThoughtfulChristian.com at 1-800-554-4694.

Music Credit:

“Shadows,” by David LaMotte

WJK Radio 13: John F. Haught offers a theology of evolution

Must evolutionary science and Christian faith be mutually exclusive? John F. Haught suggests that, rather than necessarily contradicting one another, theologians and Darwinian scientists actually share an appreciation of the underlying meaning and awe-inspiring mystery of evolution. Today he speaks with Dan and Jana about the importance of evolution for Christian theology and Christian faith today. He is the author of the newly released book, Making Sense of Evolution: Darwin, God, and the Drama of Life.

John F. Haught is a Senior Fellow specializing in Science and Religion at the Woodstock Theological Center, Georgetown University, and Professor of Theology Emeritus, Georgetown University. A leading voice in the emerging field of science and religion, Haught is the author of eighteen books, including God and the New Atheism: A Critical Response to Dawkins, Harris, and Hitchens, published by Westminster John Knox Press. For more information, visit http://haught.wjkbooks.com.

To purchase Dr. Haught’s intriguing new book contact The Thoughtful Christian.com at 1-800-554-4694.

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Related Resources:

John F. Haught, God and the New Atheism: A Critical Response to Dawkins, Harris, and Hitchens. To purchase, contact TheThoughtfulChristian.com at 1-800-554-4694.

Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species.

Music Credit:

“Shadows,” by David LaMotte

WJK Radio 12: Craig Detweiler Offers his Expert Take on Video Games – and Religion!

Hot on the heels of James Cameron’s award-winning blockbuster film Avatar, Craig Detweiler joins us today for a serious look at a fun subject—video games!  David Thomas, author of "Video Game Reviews," distributed by King Features Syndicate, praised Halos and Avatars for “moving beyond the tired debate of whether videogames are good or evil, probing a deeper, more interesting question: Where is God in the world of games?" 

Detweiler is the editor of the first exploration of video games and their theological dimensions: Halos and Avatars: Playing Video Games with God. Fans and anyone fascinated with modern society’s obsession with games like Myst, Halo, Guitar Hero, Christian-themed games like Left Behind, and even controversial games like BioShock and Second Life, will find much to consider here!

To purchase this fascinating new book contact The Thoughtful Christian.com at 1-800-554-4694.

For more information about Craig Detweiler, visit http://detweiler.wjkbooks.com. He also blogs at craig.purplestateofmind.com.

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Related Resources:

Henry Jenkins, Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide.

Gabriel McKee, The Gospel according to Science-Fiction: From the Twilight Zone to the Final Frontier. To purchase, contact TheThoughtfulChristian.com at 1-800-554-4694.

Music Credit:

“Shadows,” by David LaMotte

WJK Radio 11: Lee McDonald on the forgotten scriptures of early Christianity

The twenty-seven books of our present New Testament were not the only source materials available to the early Christian church. So, what happened to the rest? Lee Martin McDonald joins us for a fascinating conversation about the “forgotten” books that helped shape early Christianity. He is the author of Forgotten Scriptures: The Selection and Rejection of Early Religious Writings, now available from WJK.

Lee Martin McDonald is President Emeritus and Professor of New Testament Studies Emeritus at Acadia Divinity College in Wolfville, Nova Scotia.  He writes extensively on canon formation.

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Related Resources:

Eileen M. Schuller, The Dead Sea Scrolls: What Have We Learned?

Lee Martin McDonald, The Biblical Canon: Its Origin, Transmission, and Authority

John Barton, Holy Writings, Sacred Text: The Canon in Early Christianity

Music Credit:

“Shadows,” by David LaMotte

WJK Radio 10: David Kelsey on what it means to be a human being

What does it mean to be a human being? Our guest today, David Kelsey, ambitiously tackles this challenging question in his masterful study of humanity in relationship to God. His magnum opus, the two-volume Eccentric Existence: A Theological Anthropology, has just been released from Westminster John Knox Press.

David H. Kelsey is Luther A. Weigle Professor of Theology Emeritus at Yale University Divinity School. Among his books are Imagining Redemption and To Understand God Truly, both published by WJK.

Running Time: 31:10 minutes

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Helpful Terms:

Theological anthropology: an account from the perspective of the Christian faith of what it means to be a human being.

Eccentric existence: eccentric means having your center outside of yourself and existence means living as a human being. Thus, eccentric existence can be defined as having your center outside of yourself as a human being.  Kelsey argues that the basis for human reality and value both lie outside of human beings; they lie in God.

Eschatological consummation: refers to the transformation of all creatures at the end of history into the kingdom of God or eternal life. According to Kelsey, eschatological consummation is the second of three distinct ways in which God relates to us: God creates us; God is there at the end of all things eschatologically; and God reconciles us when we are alienated from God.

Music Credit:

“Shadows,” by David LaMotte