Conversations on Hope

How does Christian hope inform our creative work for reconciliation and justice? In this episode, I chat with David Bailey, the Founder and Executive Director of Arrabon, an organization that builds reconciling communities in the midst of a digital, diverse and divided world. David describes his work as helping people who understand that there is a problem with racial justice in America figure out what to do about it. We talked about how we reduce the problem to fit a small theology, how innovation for the Christian is about living from the future rather than imitating the world, and how we can be angry without becoming bitter. In a key part of the interview, David outlined the key components of becoming a reconciling community and not simply a diverse community. 

Glenn Packiam hosts a conversation with David Taylor, Associate Professor of Theology and Culture at Fuller Theological Seminary. David offers a theologically comprehensive and concise definition of Christian hope, and describes how the Psalms inform our understanding of hope— particularly its relationship to lament and vengeance. As one who has written and lectured widely about the arts, David offers insight into how art ignites our imagination of and invites our participation in new creation.

In this debut episode of a new series of short videos, Glenn Packiam interviews John Swinton, Professor of Practical Theology and Pastoral Care at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. Swinton was given the Oskar Pfister Award by the American Psychiatric Association for making an outstanding contribution to religion and psychiatry in 2018. His latest book is called, "Becoming Friends of Time: Disability, Timefulness, and Gentle Discipleship". In this conversation, Swinton describes his view of Christian hope, how his work relates to hope, what a song of hope is, and the power of music for those suffering from dementia and Alzheimer's.