Dale McConkey, Host public
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Church Potluck serves up thoughtful, friendly, informal conversation at the intersection of Christianity and contemporary culture. Just like a church potluck, we offer variety: a variety of topics, a variety of academic disciplines, and a variety of Christian traditions. Guests are friends and colleagues who are also experts in the fields of sociology, political science, theology, philosophy, divinity, and more.
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Explore the life of Jesus as it's represented in the modern film series, The Chosen. Join Rev. Dr. Jonathan Huggins and the exuberant Gabrielle Roes along with host Dale McConkey as we discuss the merits of this cinematic blockbuster within the Christian community. We peel back the layers of film and television portrayals of Jesus to reveal how mov…
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As Church Potluck makes its return from an extended break, we're setting the table to feast on a diversity of Christian experiences and insights. Our latest episode serves up an intimate look at the complex and controversial intersection of faith and transgender identity. We are joined by two transgender clergy members, Rev. Kimble Sorrells and Rev…
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Weeeee'rrre Baaaack!!! After an extended hiatus, Church Potluck has returned! In this episode (recorded a few months ago), brace yourself for a journey through the ethical labyrinth of modern science with Dr. Michael Bailey and Dr. Michael Papazian as our guides, discussing Christian and philosophical perspectives on the latest biotechnological mar…
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It's the long-awaited Oppenheimer episode! We explore the man, the myth, the movie: J. Robert Oppenheimer, the “father of the atomic bomb." Our esteemed guests are Drs. Todd Timberlake (physics), Kirsten Taylor (international relations, and Clint Peters (literature and film). This episode offers an engaging blend of history, science, and ethics as …
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Crusades = Bad. It's that simple, isn't it? Join us for a deep dive as we explore the Crusades from multiple angles from three historians. First, Larry Marvin explores how the Crusades were not primarily an attempt to convert Muslims. Next, Kelsey Rice discusses the Crusades from the vantage point of medieval Muslims. Finally, Christy Snider discus…
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Is America losing its religion? Statistics indicate yes, with a rapid decrease in church affiliation and a marked increase in people who don't identify with organized religion. This episode of Church Potluck features Curt Hersey (Communication), Michael Bailey (political science), and Michael Papazian (philosophy), who each help us explore the fall…
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Brace yourselves for a chilling journey as we traverse the shadowy realms of horror and Christianity in the latest season of Church Potluck. Picture this: you're plunged into a world where spine-tingling tension meets a quest for spiritual insight. Sounds like a thrilling ride, right? Buckle up as Clint Peters (creative writing), Curt Hersey (commu…
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Season 2 of Church Potluck has officially begun! To kick off the new season, we are exploring the potential impact of Artificial Intelligence on religious faith. Join Christy Snider (history), Michael Papazian (philosophy), Michael Bailey (political science), and me (sociology) as we question the spiritual implications of AI in our lives. The title…
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Buddhism and Christianity. How do they differ? How are they similar? Our esteemed guest, Dr. Jeffrey Lidke (religious studies), shares his personal experiences as well as his academic explorations of Buddhism. Drs. Bailey (political science) and Papazian (philosophy) add their questions and insights regarding Jesus and Buddha. Also, find out how we…
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Is it time for the Southern Baptist Convention to reevaluate its traditional views on women serving as pastors? In an eye-opening conversation, we tackle the question of whether these views reflect sound biblical theology or are simply remnants of outdated sexist ideology. Our guests are Southern Baptist preacher Rev. Dr. Stephen Drake along with D…
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On this week's episode, we discuss the four-part documentary Shiny Happy People: Secrets of the Duggar Family (Amazon Prime, Freevee). We address sexual scandals, abuses of authority, gender roles, parenting styles, and more. Our guests are Drs. Christy Snider (history) and Michael Papazian (philosophy). Our conversation delves into the Duggar fami…
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Is monasticism an outdated concept or can its principles still be of value in today's fast-paced world? We had a riveting discussion about monasticism and contemplative Christianity with our esteemed guests, Drs. Michael Papazian (philosophy), Larry Marvin (history), and Marshall Jenkins (counseling). Together, we explored various features of monas…
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Can faith and fitness converge to create stronger Christians? Join our esteemed guests Drs. Christy Snyder, Michael Bailey, and Jon Parker as we explore the fascinating concept of "Muscular Christianity" and its impact on church and society. We'll dive into the historical context of Muscular Christianity's emergence in mid-19th century England and …
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Have you ever wondered what fuels the beliefs of Flat-Earth proponents? Join us in this episode as we sit down with Drs. Clint Peters, Todd Timberlake, and Mike Bailey to explore the intriguing world of Flat-Earth theories and their connections to religion and the Bible. We first dive into the history of the spherical Earth and the astronomical evi…
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The coronation of King Charles III prompts questions about the relationship between Church and State. How did Church and State interact in medieval times? How about now in the modern era? Does Church or State benefit most from their intermingling? (Hint: It's not the Church.) Join newcomer Dr. Larry Marvin (European history) and regular guest Dr. M…
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At its foundation, the coronation of King Charles III will be an act of Christian worship. What makes it so? What religious meanings will be embedded in all of the pageantry and music? And what does a coronation tell us about the relationship between Church and State in Great Britain? In this episode of Church Potluck, we will ask these questions a…
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This week's Church Potluck features three graduating seniors from Berry College: Darla Gore, Grace Segars, and SK Smith. Each discusses the ways that their faith was simultaneously challenged yet strengthened while at college. They also explore the ways that academics, student life, the chaplain's office, and special programs work to provide fertil…
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Jesus had a special relationship with those who are poor in this world. The Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) encourages young adults to follow in Jesus' footsteps by living in an impoverished region in the United States and practicing the core values of spirituality, community, simple living, and social justice. In this episode, we talk to two members …
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The Church is called to be "one body and one Spirit," yet we have a long history of fracturing into separate traditions and denominations. What should we make of such divisions? Join Dr. Michael Papazian (philosophy), Jon Parker (biblical studies), and Dale McConkey (sociology) as we discuss the schisms in each of our respective Christian tradition…
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We conclude our trilogy of Easter episodes with a discussion of the Atonement. With Good Friday approaching, Christians prepare to commemorate Jesus saving us on the cross. But what is Jesus saving us from? And how does crucifixion on the cross actually save us? And who is being saved? And why are there so many opinions on these matters within Chri…
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Often, Christians reduce Holy Week to Palm Sunday and Easter Day, but numerous crucial moments occur between these two days. Join Rev. Dr. Parker as he takes us on a brisk journey through each of the days of Holy Week, with Dr. Jordan Rowan Fannin and Rev. Dr. Dale McConkey adding their insights as well. Here's the path we take: PALM SUNDAY: JESUS …
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Christians over the globe are preparing to celebrate their conviction that Jesus of Nazareth rose from the dead. How essential is this Easter proclamation for Christian faith? Join Jon Huggins (chaplain), Michael Papazian (philosophy), Mike Bailey (political science), and Dale McConkey (sociology, pastor) as they deliberate the Resurrection from a …
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Are Christian Colleges compatible with liberal arts learning? Do these colleges restrict students with regard to both their intellectual and social life? What role do Christian colleges play in the contexts of academia and the larger culture? Join Tom Kennedy, Abbie Vegter, and Mike Bailey as we consider these questions. Also, we bid a fond farewel…
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Welcome to our St. Patrick's Day episode! Dr. Michael Bailey (political science) and Rev. Dr. Dale McConkey (sociology) pepper Dr. Michael Papazian (philosophy, religion) with a myriad of questions about St. Patrick and his day. What do we know about Patrick historically? What are the myths that have developed over the years? Why and how did he bec…
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What responsibilities do Christians have to care for the environment? What specific steps should Christians take? Do our personal efforts make any difference in protecting the environment, or are large-scale changes needed? What's a Christian to do in a consumption-oriented culture? Join Christian ethicists Tom Kennedy and David Barr along with Bib…
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UFOs. Aliens. Extraterrestrial life. The possibility of these phenomena is getting increasingly serious attention from the media, the government, and true believers. How about the Church? Would the existence of alien life change the way we understand our faith? Join special guest Todd Timberlake (physics) along with Jon Parker (theology) and Mike B…
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Today's episode features three adults who share their reflections on growing up as a PK (preacher's kid). Sarah Allred (sociology), Hannah McDonald (student), and Abbie Vegter (political science) discuss the unique challenges -- but also the great joys -- that children can experience when their parent is also the leader of their church family. Enjo…
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The revival at Asbury University is approaching two full weeks of continuous prayer and worship that people are describing as an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Church Potluck is honored to speak with Matthew Haugen, a Berry College alumnus who has strong ties with Asbury and currently lives on campus very close to the locus of the revival. After an…
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It's a question we have debated since the founding of the country and there is little hope of providing a definitive answer. Nevertheless, we throw our mortarboards into the ring and share our thoughts on the relationship between Christianity and the United States. Join new guest Christy Snider (history), Brian Carroll (communication), Mike Bailey …
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BONUS EPISODE! If you're looking for advice on making that special someone feel loved on Valentine's Day, go look somewhere else. But if you are looking for thoughtful conversation on Saint Valentine, the holiday that is named after him, and the nature of Christian love, then you have come to the right place. Join Michael Papazian (religion and phi…
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This week's episode explores Christian Nationalism from a sociological perspective. Dr. Sam Perry (sociology, University of Oklahoma) leads our discussion, along with Abbie Vegter (political science) and David Barr (Christian ethics). Following our primary conversation about Christian Nationalism, we have a rather large "second helping" where we di…
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Notre Dame philosopher Meghan Sullivan joins us for a discussion about her popular course on "God and the Good Life" and her corresponding book, The Good Life Method (Penguin, 2022). After Meghan provides an overview of her course and book, chaplain Jon Huggins and philosopher Matthew Lee (and a friend of Meghan) join the discussion. We also take t…
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What does it mean for a Christian to live a good life? That's the question religion and philosophy professor and former dean Tom Kennedy discusses with us as we contemplate his book, Performing a Christian Life: God and the Good Life (Cascade Books). Tom is joined by Sarah Allred (Sociology), David Barr (Christian Ethics), and Dale McConkey (Sociol…
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Join Dr. Brian Carroll (Communication), Dr. Tom Kennedy (Philosophy), and host Dr. Dale McConkey (Sociology) as we explore the religious dimensions of football and sports in general. How is football sacred? Is football displacing and/or replacing Christian worship? Do sports have the ability to create and sustain community bonds? Join us as we expl…
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Join Dr. Michael Bailey (political scientist) and host Dale McConkey (sociologist, pastor) in a one-on-one discussion that continues our exploration of technology we began in our previous episode. Are things getting better or worse with modern technology? How is it impacting our relationship with God and others? Is today's digital technology qualit…
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Church Potluck returns for 2023! In this episode, Rev. Dr. Jonathan Huggins (college chaplain) cautions Christians about the distracting and disruptive features of modern technology. Dr. Huggins is joined by Matthew Lee (philosophy), Michael Bailey (political science), and host Dale McConkey (sociology). The focal point of the conversation is Chapl…
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Christmas is supposed to be a happy, joyful time full of festive celebration. So what happens when you don't feel like celebrating? Join us for an informative and heartfelt discussion about the challenges of grieving during the holidays. Why can the holidays be so difficult? What do we in the Church do well -- and not so well -- when it comes to he…
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BONUS "LEFTOVER" EPISODE! After our Christmas and Culture church potluck (Episode 4), we noticed that Curt Hersey (Communication) still had a lot on his plate. So we packed up the leftovers and warmed them up for this episode on Christmas media: TV shows, movies, and music. Is Hollywood conspiring to take Christ out of Christmas? What's the story b…
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If you are looking for a deep scholarly dive into the biblical and liturgical meanings of Christmas, this is the podcast for you! What does the Church get wrong about Christmas? How do different traditions understand the Nativity? Join Jonathan Parker and Jordan Rowan Fannin (religion professors and church leaders) along with Michael Papazian (phil…
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Why is Christmas so commercialized? Why has it become politicized? How should Christians respond to these trends? Join Curt Hersey (Communication), Tom Kennedy (Philosophy), Mike Bailey (Political Science), and Dale McConkey (Sociology) as they share their personal reflections and cultural analyses of Christmas in our contemporary culture. The view…
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The panelists from our inaugural episode return to discuss the 2022 midterm elections in greater detail. After an overview of the results, we consider the impact of abortion policy on young voters and Christian conservatives. We also explore the religious rhetoric in the Raphael Warnork - Herschel Walker senate race and then briefly consider other …
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Welcome to our inaugural episode of Church Potluck: A Smorgasbord of Christian Thought! Thanks for bearing with us as we learn the ropes of this new medium for us. Our first episode begins with a look at Hulu's new documentary, "God Forbid: The Sex Scandal That Brought Down a Dynasty," which explores the events surrounding Jerry Fallwell, Jr., depo…
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