The Rise and Fall of American Social Christianity with Heath W. Carter

Where do Christian faith and politics meet? And how is the church called to address inequality?

Once every term, ICS hosts a Scripture, Faith, and Scholarship Seminar where we bring in a scholar, public intellectual, or social activist to talk to the ICS community about the work and/or research that they do and about the way it intersects with their faith lives.

Back in January, we were joined by Dr. Heath W. Carter, associate professor of history at Valparaiso University in Chicago, who had just been awarded the 2018 Emerging Public Intellectual Award. Dr. Carter talked to us about legacies of social Christianity in the U.S. and the "New Gilded Age" of current American politics, as well as raised questions of how Christians today might work to address the realities of social and political inequality.

Critical Faith is sponsored by the Centre for Philosophy, Religion, and Social Ethics at the Institute for Christian Studies in Toronto. For more, visit www.icscanada.edu.

Own It with Samir Gassanov

And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

-Acts 2:44-45

This week, we're joined by Samir Gassanov, ICS PhD student and former Bay Street property lawyer. In this episode, Sam sheds some light on his unfolding research into a Christian understanding of property, asking what it might mean to have a more deeply human view of ownership, and takes us on his winding journey into, out of, and back to academics.

Check out this week's Don't Miss This! items:

• March 15 - This is the submission deadline for this year's Undergraduate Workshop: God & Politics: Religion and Public Life in the 21st Century!

• March 25, 5:15-7:15pm - Beautiful God: The Incarnation & the Arts lecture by Christina Labriola at Regis College - food provided!

Step Out Bravely with Ronald A. Kuipers

How do you discern a calling to graduate studies?

This week, ICS President and Senior Member in Philosophy of Religion Dr. Ronald A. Kuipers rejoins the podcast to continue the narration of his academic journey. Last time, he reflected on his undergraduate years. This time, he shares with us factors and mentors that shaped his decision to pursue an MA and PhD.

Check out this week's Don't Miss This! items:

• New poetry book Mumbles in Hollywood, California by Ben Robinson
• A Lenten reading list from Peter Rollins: Atheism for Lent

The Technology of Religion with Dean Dettloff

What has technology to do with Christianity?

This week, we're joined by Dean Dettloff, ICS PhD candidate and podcasting master. Dean is a founding father of Critical Faith, and we're very excited to have him join us once again to share the latest on his journey to ICS, his current dissertation research on technology and Christianity, and his teaching and social activism. After this introduction to what Dean's doing, you can hear more from him (and his co-host Matt Bernico) on their own podcast on Christianity and the Left: The Magnificast.

Check out this week's Don't Miss This! items:

• The 2019 TrueCity Conference in Hamilton, ON: March 1-2
• Art Gallery Ontario's new exhibit: Impressionism in the Age of Industry: Monet, Pissarro & More

Compassion in Exile with Jim Olthuis

Voila! We're back to our regularly scheduled programming!

This week, we're joined by Jim Olthuis, ICS Emeritus professor of philosophical theology and practicing psychotherapist. Jim has been at ICS from the beginning and has spent his life thinking about and living out love. Join us as he leads us through the wild spaces and reflects on his academic journey.

Check out this week's Don't Miss This items:
ICS's Undergraduate Workshop - God & Politics: Religion and Public Life in the 21st Century

The Sad Boys Literary Society's poetry reading on March 6

Big Questions at ICS with Grace Carhart Pt. IV: Worldview

What is worldview and why does it matter?

This is the final episode in our short series on thinking through some of life's big questions. So far, ICS Junior Member Grace Carhart has interviewed Senior Members Nik Ansell, Ronald A. Kuipers, Rebekah Smick, and Bob Sweetman on the themes of wonder, heartbreak, and hope from within their respective disciplines.

This week, Grace and our SMs wrap things up by reflecting on how all these big questions might pertain to our everyday lives and vice versa.

Big Questions at ICS with Grace Carhart Pt. III: Hope

Is hope dangerous?

This is the third in a short series of Critical Faith episodes based on thinking through some of life's big questions. ICS Junior Member Grace Carhart has conducted a series of interviews with ICS Senior Members Nik Ansell, Ronald A. Kuipers, Rebekah Smick, and Bob Sweetman; asking them to reflect on the themes of wonder, heartbreak, hope, and worldview from within their respective disciplines.

This week, Grace and our SMs consider the dangers and possibilities of hope.

Big Questions at ICS with Grace Carhart Pt. II: Heartbreak

How do we live with heartbreak--and live well?

This is the second in a short series of Critical Faith episodes based on guiding worldview questions. ICS Junior Member Grace Carhart has conducted a series of interviews with ICS Senior Members Nik Ansell, Ronald A. Kuipers, Rebekah Smick, and Bob Sweetman; asking them to reflect on the themes of wonder, heartbreak, hope, and worldview from within their respective disciplines.

This week, Grace asks our SMs to share their insights on the heartbreak.

Big Questions at ICS with Grace Carhart Pt. I: Wonder

Do you ever wonder?

This is the first in a short series of Critical Faith episodes based on guiding worldview questions. ICS Junior Member Grace Carhart has conducted a series of interviews of ICS Senior Members, asking them to reflect on the themes of wonder, heartbreak, hope, and worldview from within their respective disciplines.

This week, Grace guides us through a deep and deepening discussion of wonder.

Breathing Life into Practice with Emily Briggson & Nik Ansell

To jump into the new year, this week's episode is a change of pace and a chance to highlight some voices of the broader ICS community.

For the first portion of this episode, we're taking a moment to express our thanks to those who came to our Open House in December by featuring some vignettes of their hopes for the future of ICS. And in the second portion, we're joined by Senior Member in theology Nik Ansell and friend of ICS and yoga instructor-in-training Emily Briggson for a conversation about the connections and differences between their studies and practices.

Enjoy!

Creative Thinking, Creative Speaking & Creative Writing with Julia De Boer

Can dead languages yield life-giving and life-guiding principles? Can we see truth in poetic creativity?

This week, Mark and Danielle talk with ICS Junior Member, PhD student, and linguistics-lover Julia De Boer about her longstanding fascination with studying the dynamics and structures of language.

We want Critical Faith to give you a glimpse into the everyday life of ICS. So we're talking with Senior Members, Junior Members, and friends of the Institute to hear about what got them here, what they're working on, and why it matters for them.

This week's Don't Miss This! items:

Christmas concert at St. Peter's by the Park (705 Main St. E. in Hamilton) on December 15

The Facilitator's Guidebook from the CPRSE's Faith & Settlement Partnerships case study

Dialoguing Well with Héctor Acero Ferrer

What does it take to enact forgiveness, reconciliation, and processes of social change in climates of violence and oppression?

This week, Danielle and Mark talk with Junior Member and Associate Director of the CPRSE Héctor Acero Ferrer about his academic journey and his work researching the ongoing peace process in Colombia, interfaith dialogue in Canada, and our deeply human need for narrative.

We want Critical Faith to give you a glimpse into the everyday life of ICS. So we're talking with Senior Members, Junior Members, and friends of the Institute to hear about what got them here, what they're working on, and why it matters for them.

This week's Don't Miss This! items:

• ICS's Scripture, Faith, and Scholarship Seminar with Dr. Esther Acolatse: Thursday, December 6 at 3:00pm at 59 St. George Street
• New Yorker article by Hannah Arendt: "Remembering W.H. Auden"
• Winter 2019 ICS course from Junior Member Dean Dettloff: Organized Religion: Christianity and Anti-Capitalism in the U.S. and Canada

Walking Among Giants with Bob Sweetman

How do you find your feet when walking among giants?

This week, our hosts Mark and Gideon chat with Senior Member and H. Evan Runner Chair in the History of Philosophy Bob Sweetman about studying Thomas Aquinas, mining your intuitions, and discerning emulatio (a spiritual practice of emulation) in the contemporary spirit of competition.

We want Critical Faith to give you a glimpse into the everyday life of ICS. So we're talking with Senior Members, Junior Members, and friends of the Institute to hear about what got them here, what they're working on, and why it matters for them.

Links to this week's Don't Miss This! items:

ICS Open House and Advent Concert this Saturday December 1

Wine Before Breakfast campus ministry