Shows
The Two CitiesEpisode #269 - The Prophet's Anthem with Dr. Michelle KnightIn this episode we’re joined by Dr. Michelle Knight, who is Associate Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and the author of the book that we’re discussing in this episode, The Prophet’s Anthem : The Song of Deborah and Barak in the Narrative of Judges (published by Baylor University Press). In this conversation we talk about Deborah’s role in the book of Judges, how scholars have been reticent to regard her a proper judge and prophet, and some of the intertextual connections between Deborah’s song and her story in the Psalms and...2025-03-1956 minThe Two CitiesEpisode #267 - Becoming the Pastor's Wife with Professor Beth Allison BarrIn this episode we’re joined by Professor Beth Allison Barr, who is the James Vardaman Professor of History at Baylor University and the author of Becoming the Pastor's Wife: How Marriage Replaced Ordination as a Woman's Path to Ministry (published by Brazos). Over the course of our conversation we talk about how the common notion in certain Christian circles that the pastor’s wife is the highest path to ministry for women is a post-Reformation construction that is socially conditioned. Professor Barr talks about some of the weird how-to books that she engaged for this project, and some of the...2025-03-0558 minThe Two CitiesEpisode #266 - Religion, Theology, and Stranger Things with Dr. Andy Byers, Dr. Adam Powell, Dr. Siobhán Jolley, Dr. Brandon Grafius, and Dr. Jana RiessIn this episode we’re talking about the new volume on Religion, Theology, and Stranger Things: Studies from the Upside Down on Evil, Ethics, Horror, and Hope (Rowman & Littlefield). We’re joined by the editors Dr. Andy Byers (lecturer in New Testament at Ridley Hall in the Cambridge Theological Federation) and Dr. Adam Powell (lecturer in medical humanities at Durham University), as well as a few of the many contributors, including: Dr. Siobhán Jolley (Howard and Roberta Ahmanson Research Fellow in Art and Religion at the National Gallery), Dr. Brandon Grafius (Associate Professor of Biblical Studies and Academic Dean at Ec...2025-02-261h 04The Two CitiesEpisode #265 - The LOST Documentary with Leslie GarciaIn this episode we debrief and review the new documentary about the hit TV show from the mid and late 2000s—LOST. The documentary (Getting LOST) is a nostalgic treat for fans made by fans 20 years after the airing of the pilot in 2004 with loads of creative and acting representation (available on Amazon Prime). Joining us for this conversation is Leslie Garcia, an MSt student at the University of Oxford, who formerly received a ThM from Dallas Theological Seminary and, like all of us, is a huge LOST nerd. Over the course of our conversation together, we talk about some of...2025-02-1954 min
It Means What It MeansEpisode 57: Submitted for Your Approval: Judges As Anthology with Brandon HurlbertBrandon Hurlbert (one of the hosts of The Two Cities podcast) discusses his article “Deconstructing the Downward Spiral: Anthology as Coherence in the Book of Judges,” arguing that it should be viewed as an anthology of narratives rather than a unified story depicting a downward spiral of moral decay. He explores the editorial processes behind ancient texts, the complexity of biblical narratives, and the presence of humor and irony within the stories. Hurlbert also evaluates the common downward spiral thesis through a series of tests, ultimately challenging its validity and emphasizing the interpretive freedom readers have when approaching these text...2025-01-291h 18It Means What It MeansEpisode 57: Submitted for Your Approval: Judges As Anthology with Brandon HurlbertBrandon Hurlbert (one of the hosts of The Two Cities podcast) discusses his article “Deconstructing the Downward Spiral: Anthology as Coherence in the Book of Judges,” arguing that it should be viewed as an anthology of narratives rather than a unified story depicting a downward spiral of moral decay. He explores the editorial processes behind ancient texts, the complexity of biblical narratives, and the presence of humor and irony within the stories. Hurlbert also evaluates the common downward spiral thesis through a series of tests, ultimately challenging its validity and emphasizing the interpretive freedom readers have when approaching these text...2025-01-291h 18The Two CitiesEpisode #259 - Squid Game 2In this episode we discuss the second season of the hit Netflix show, Squid Game. We chat about what we appreciated most about season 2 relative to season 1, how this season builds upon previous questions that the show raises about capitalism and makes the stakes more jarring as we think about its effects on younger generations and democracy itself, and we also offer up some theories about where the show is headed in the upcoming third season. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Dr. Brandon Hurlbert, Dr. Grace Sangalang Ng, Stanley Ng, Dr...2025-01-081h 11The Two CitiesEpisode #258 - Religion for Realists with Professor Sam PerryIn this episode we’re joined by Professor Sam Perry, who is Sam K. Viersen Presidential Professor at the University of Oklahoma is the Department of Sociology, and the author of several books, including, most recently, Religion for Realists: Why We All Need the Scientific Study of Religion (with Oxford University Press). In our conversation we talk about the importance of the sociological study of religion, especially with respect to the political climate in which we find ourselves around the globe. Some of the key insights that emerge from this are the ways that theological ideas are subsumed to group id...2025-01-011h 00It Means What It Means2025 PreviewHappy New Year! To close out 2024, we’re going to share clips of what we have in store for 2025. Guests in the new yea will include Nadya Williams, Amber Dillon, Kyle Rouse, Jason Borges, Shalom Hotz, Matthew Monger, Brandon Hurlbert, Caryn Tamber-Rosenau, David Moffitt, Clair Mesick, and Michael Kochenash. Reach out with guest suggestions or feedback at itmeanswhatitmeans@gmail.com. If you want to support the podcast financially, go to patreon.com/ItMeansWhatItMeansPodcast. Thanks for your support!
Rabbi Reuven Klein has a book available in hardcover and paperback, and I neglected to add it to the...2024-12-311h 00It Means What It Means2025 PreviewHappy New Year! To close out 2024, we’re going to share clips of what we have in store for 2025. Guests in the new yea will include Nadya Williams, Amber Dillon, Kyle Rouse, Jason Borges, Shalom Hotz, Matthew Monger, Brandon Hurlbert, Caryn Tamber-Rosenau, David Moffitt, Clair Mesick, and Michael Kochenash. Reach out with guest suggestions or feedback at itmeanswhatitmeans@gmail.com. If you want to support the podcast financially, go to patreon.com/ItMeansWhatItMeansPodcast. Thanks for your support!
Rabbi Reuven Klein has a book available in hardcover and paperback, and I neglected to add it to the...2024-12-311h 00The Two CitiesEpisode #256 - How to Study the Bible's Use of the Bible with Professor Gary Edward Schnittjer and Dr. Matthew HarmonIn this episode we’re joined by Professor Gary Edward Schnittjer, who is Distinguished Professor of Old Testament in the School of Divinity at Cairn University in Pennsylvania, and Dr. Matthew Harmon, who is Professor of New Testament Studies at Grace Theological Seminary in Indiana. Together they are the authors of How to Study the Bible’s Use of the Bible: Seven Hermeneutical Choices for the Old and New Testaments (published by Zondervan). Over the course of our conversation we talk about this resource that Prof. Schnittjer and Dr. Harmon have developed to help students and pastors study biblical inte...2024-12-181h 15The Two CitiesEpisode #255 - Recapping SBL & AAR 2024In this episode we talk about the presentations we gave at the 2024 SBL & AAR conferences in San Diego and reflect on some of our highlights. We also took the mic around the book stalls for short interviews with various people, including: Prof. Steve Walton, Dr. Andy Judd, Dr. Holly Beers, Dr. Joshua Mobley, Dr. Jonathan Lett, Hakeem Bradley, Dr. Melissa Tan, Victoria Nay, Michael Thompson, and Dr. Christoph Heilig. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Jennifer Guo, Dr. Brandon Hurlbert, Dr. Madison Pierce, the Rev. Dr. Chris Porter, and Dr. Kris Song.2024-12-1157 min
The Weekly Dose of JoelSpotlight on Broadway's Alternates, Ensembles, and SwingsIn this week’s episode of Broadway Time, Joel Crump celebrates the incredible artists who make Broadway magic happen behind the scenes: alternates, ensemble, and swing members! Joel chats with an amazing lineup of performers, including Autumn Hurlbert (Tammy Faye), Brittany Nicholas (& Juliet), Shavey Brown (Sunset Boulevard), Diego Andres Rodriguez (Sunset Boulevard), Trista Dollison (A Wonderful World), Brandon Louis Armstrong (A Wonderful World), Natalie Charle Ellis (Death Becomes Her), and J. Savage (Elf on Broadway). Joel also gives a "Broadway Grosses Overview" following Thanksgiving week, shares some Broadway history, and discusses what’s happening this week on Broadway (Dec. 1-6...2024-12-0623 min
TheologyUTarantino and Old Testament Violence: Dr. Brandon HurlbertDr. Brandon Hurlbert is a lecturer in Hebrew Bible/Old Testament at Durham University. He focuses on violence in the Old Testament and how to read these violent texts as Christian Scripture.
In this episode, he draws connections between Tarantino films and the Old Testament to propose a better way to read difficult texts. 2024-11-2259 minThe Two CitiesEpisode #252 - A Revolutionary Jesus with Dr. Jesse NickelIn this episode we’re joined by Dr. Jesse Nickel, who is a member of the Faculty of Biblical Studies at Columbia Bible College in Abbotsford, British Columbia and the author of the new book, A Revolutionary Jesus: Violence and Peacemaking in the Kingdom of God (published by Fortress). Over the course of our conversation, we talk about Jesus’s non-violent kingdom and his call to peacemaking, noting, among other things, how pacifism is not passive-ism. As we reflect on Dr. Nickel’s book we make connections to the post-election climate in the States. Team members on the episode from The Tw...2024-11-2056 minThe Two CitiesEpisode #249 - Christian Nationalism with Professor Sam PerryIn this episode we’re joined by Professor Sam Perry, who is Sam K. Viersen Presidential Professor at the University of Oklahoma is the Department of Sociology and the author of several books, including two on the topic of Christian Nationalism, Taking America Back for God (with Andrew Whitehead, published by Oxford University Press), and The Flag and the Cross (with Philip Gorski, published by Oxford University Press). In this episode, Professor Perry talks about Christian Nationalism as an Ideology, identity, and political strategy. He also distinguishes between patriotism (which is about stewardship) and nationalism (which is about exclusion and rival...2024-10-3056 minThe Two CitiesEpisode #239 - Modern Genre Theory with Rev. Dr. Andrew JuddIn this episode we’re joined by Rev. Dr. Andrew Judd, who is Deputy Principal and Lecturer in Old Testament at Ridley College in Melbourne, Australia, and the author of the book we’re discussing in this episode, Modern Genre Theory: An Introduction for Biblical Studies (published by Zondervan Academic). Over the course of our conversation, Dr. Judd talks with us about the weird ways that scholars in biblical studies talk about genre, which is not often in line with modern literary studies and specifically modern genre theory. The conversation is fun and engaging, and is full of interesting examples and...2024-08-211h 04The Two CitiesEpisode #235 - The Art & Purpose of Life Writing with Dr. Charles MarshCW: suicide and mental healthIn this episode, we're joined by Dr. Charles Marsh, Commonwealth Professor of Religious Studies and Director of the Project on Lived Theology (@LivedTheology) at the University of Virginia and author of Strange Glory: A Life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer (@AAKnopf) and Evangelical Anxiety: A Memoir (@HarperOneBooks). In this conversation we discuss the art of life-writing, exploring how to write honestly about the complexity of life and theology through biographies and memoirs and the formative role such works can through depicting lived theology. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include...2024-07-241h 18The Two CitiesEpisode #229 - The Qu'ran in Conversation with the Bible with Prof. David PechanskyIn this episode we’re joined by Prof. David Pechansky, who is Professor Emeritus at the University of St. Thomas, and the author of the book we’re discussing in this episode, Solomon and the Ant: The Qu’ran in Conversation with the Bible (published with Cascade). Over the course of our conversation we talk about various thematic parallels that emerge when the Bible is intentionally juxtaposed with the Qu’ran. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Dr. Brandon Hurlbert. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.co...2024-06-1252 minThe Two CitiesEpisode #224 - The Rise and Fall of Dispensationalism with Dr. Daniel HummelIn this episode we’re talking about Dispensationalism with Dr. Daniel Hummel, who is the Director of the Lumen Center and Upper House in Madison, WI, a research fellow in the History Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the host of the UpWords podcast, and the author of The Rise and Fall of Dispensationalism: How the Evangelical Battle Over the End Times Shaped a Nation (Eerdmans, 2023). Over the course of our conversation we talk about what Dispensationalism is, how the system of thought developed and became so widespread within Christianity since the 19th century, and also how it fell apart at...2024-05-081h 00The Two CitiesEpisode #214 - Trauma & Moral Injury with Dr. Brian PowersCW: wartime violence, civilian casualities, suicideDr. Brian Powers is Vann Fellow in Christianity and the Armed Forces and Executive Director of the International Centre for Moral Injury at Durham University.In this episode Dr. Powers defines the term “moral injury” and helps us to understand some of the applications of this term with respect to military personnel, veterans, and frontline healthcare workers. He relates moral injury and trauma, and he also illustrates instances of moral injury through modern war films as well as his own experiences. Team members on the e...2024-02-2853 minThe Two CitiesEpisode #213 - Trauma & The Hebrew Bible with Dr. Alexiana FryCW: sexual assault, forced migration, intimate partner violence.Dr. Alexiana Fry is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Copenhagen and the author of Trauma Talks in the Hebrew Bible.In this episode, we talk about how she began working on this topic as well as several different texts that have or could be read in light of trauma (e.g., Judges 19; Lamentations). She offers helpful complications for thinking about these difficulties in ways that are attentive to our own experiences. We also talk about forced migration and how the interpretations of significant...2024-02-211h 03The Two CitiesEpisode #200 - Celebrating 200 EpisodesCelebrating our 200th episode, we engage listener feedback with a variety of content, including: answers to your theological and practical questions, Logan singing in Hebrew, bloopers, and the new music that we will be using for the next 100 episodes. Cheers to you, and thanks for listening!Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. Amber Bowen, Dr. Josh Carroll, Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Dr. Grace Emmett, Jennifer Guo, Dr. Brandon Hurlbert, Stephanie Kate Judd, Dr. Grace Sangalang Ng, Stanley Ng, Rev. Dr. Chris Porter, Rev. Daniel Parham, Dr. Madison Pierce, Dr. Kris Song, Dr...2023-11-221h 24The Two CitiesEpisode #188 - Barbenheimer: Movie Reviews of Barbie and OppenheimerIn this episode we give a joint review of the two Summer movies, Barbie and Oppenheimer. Over the course of our conversation we talk about the themes that emerge when the two ostensibly different films are juxtaposed and interpreted together, including: death, existential angst, technology, feminism, and power, and we have a lot of fun along the way. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Barbie (Dr. Madison Pierce), Ken (Dr. Brandon Hurlbert), and Allan (Dr. John Anthony Dunne). Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2023-08-3041 minThe Two CitiesEpisode #181 - Black Mirror Season 6 ReviewIn this episode some of our team members get together to talk about the new season of one of our favorite TV shows, Black Mirror. The newest season (season 6) of this dystopian anthology just came out on Netflix last month and we discuss it all here. We start with some quick thoughts on the new season as a whole, followed by discussion on each of the five episodes in order. At the very end of the episode, we record an epilogue to add some more of our thoughts and even some clarification on some of the things said in the...2023-07-121h 22The Two CitiesEpisode #174 - BEEF & Asian American Christianity with Pastor Jason MinIn this episode we are talking about representation of Asian American Christianity in the Netflix and A24 production of the show BEEF starring Steven Yeun and Ali Wong. Joining us for this conversation is Pastor Jason Min, who is lead pastor at Citizens LA in downtown Los Angeles and cohost of the podcast, Off thePulpit, and was a consultant on the show for the worship scenes in the show and also played the electric guitar on stage alongside the character Edwin, the worship leader who was played by Jason’s brother, Justin. This conversation provides a lot of great be...2023-05-2453 minThe Two CitiesEpisode #149 - SBL 2022 ReviewIn this episode we review the recent annual meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature. In the first half of the episode our team members share a bit about our respective highlights as well as the papers we presented, including the following team members from The Two Cities: Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Jennifer Guo, Dr. Brandon Hurlbert, Dr. Madison Pierce, Rev. Dr. Chris Porter, and Dr. Sydney Tooth. Then in the second half of the episode we switch over to hear from various scholars in the book stalls and the craft beer reception (SBLAAR), including (in order of appearance): Prof...2022-11-3054 minThe Two CitiesEpisode #145 - Lament & Hope in the Face of the Occupation with Lamma MansourIn this episode we close out our series on Palestinian Liberation Theology by discussing Lament and Hope in the face of the occupation with Lamma Mansour, who is a Palestinian Christian from Nazareth currently pursuing her doctorate in social policy at Oxford University. Over the course of the conversation, we talk with Lamma about how the occupation affects higher education, and how that drives her current research on social policy. Lamma also offers us her vision of hope in the midst of the occupation, which provides a rich note with which to end our conversation on this topic. Team members...2022-11-0257 minThe Two CitiesEpisode #143 - Women Behind the Wall with Shadia QubtiIn this episode we continue our series on Palestinian Liberation Theology talking about Women Behind The Wall with Shadia Qubti, who is a Palestinian Christian from Nazareth and has worked in peacebuilding and advocacy initiatives for 15 years in Israel and Palestine. She is the host of Women Behind the Wall, which features stories of women living in Israel and Palestine, and she is currently pursuing a degree in Interreligious and Indigenous Studies at Vancouver School of Theology (Canada). Over the course of our conversation we discuss the importance of indigenous theologies for thinking through the Israel-Palestine conflict better. We also...2022-10-191h 01The Two CitiesEpisode #142 - Palestinian Identity & Theology from a Feminist Perspective with Marah SarjiIn this episode in our series on Palestinian Liberation Theology we discuss the intersectionality of the Palestinian experience by discussing matters of identity from a feminist perspective with Marah Sarji, who is a Christian Palestinian working on a master’s degree in Anthropology from Tel Aviv University. Over the course of the episode, Marah talks with us about the complexities of her identity, being a Christian Palestinian woman living in Jerusalem. In particular, Marah shares so much with us about her lived experience feeling unable to identify fully with the broader culture, sometimes passing as an Israeli, and hearing men “brea...2022-10-1248 minThe Two CitiesEpisode #141 - Palestinian Liberation Theology with John MunayerIn this episode we talk about Palestinian Liberation Theology with John Munayer, who is an instructor at Bethlehem Bible College, and who serves at Musalaha ministry, which promotes reconciliation between Palestinians and Israelis. In our conversation, John explains what Palestinian Liberation Theology is and how it relates to other forms of Liberation Theology by way of its similarities and distinct contextual emphases. Along the way we ask John a number of questions about specific points of interest to glean what Palestinian Liberation Theology might specifically contribute to the conversation of the Israel-Palestine conflict, such as the question of the land...2022-10-051h 09The Two CitiesEpisode #140 - The History of Zionism and the Nakba with Yousef AlKhouriIn this episode we’re beginning a short series on Palestinian Liberation Theology, starting with a discussion on Zionism and the Nakba with Yousef AlKhouri, who is a Christian Arab Palestinian residing in Bethlehem, Palestine, where he is a lecturer in Biblical Studies and Mission at Bethlehem Bible College, and he is currently working on his doctorate in contextual interpretation at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Over the course of our conversation, Yousef provides helpful historical context for Zionism and the traumatic experience of the Nakba, when Palestinians were forcefully displaced from their homes. As he articulates this, he shares many gut-wrenching st...2022-09-281h 14The Two CitiesEpisode #137 - Disaster Films & The Bible with Dr. Michelle FletcherIn this episode we turn to discuss the intertextual relationship of Disaster Films and the Bible as an epilogue to our series on Jesus films with Dr. Michelle Fletcher, who used film theory to analyze citations of the Hebrew Bible in Revelation in her book, Reading Revelation as Pastiche: Imitating the Past (with Bloomsbury T&T Clark). Dr. Fletcher is Research Fellow at King’s College, London on the Visual Commentary on Scripture. Over the course of our conversation we discuss a number of disaster films, which function like secular apocalypses ripe for consideration alongside ancient apocalypticism, including: Don’t Look...2022-09-0754 minThe Two CitiesEpisode #135 - Jesus' Enemies in Jesus Films with Prof. Adele ReinhartzIn this penultimate episode of our Jesus film series, we talk about the enemies of Jesus in Jesus films with Prof. Adele Reinhartz, who is Professor in the Department of Classics and Religious Studies at the University of Ottawa, and the author of a number of important studies on Jesus films and Bible films, including: Jesus of Hollywood (Oxford University Press) and Bible and Cinema (Routledge). Over the course of our conversation we talk especially about the portrayal of Judas, the Pharisees, and Satan in Jesus films. Some of the films discussed include: Godspell (1973), The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965), Intolerance (1916...2022-08-2457 minThe Two CitiesEpisode #134 - Costuming in Jesus Films with Dr. Katie TurnerIn this episode of our Jesus Film series, we’re talking about costuming with Dr. Katie Turner. Dr. Turner is an independent scholar who completed her PhD at King’s College, London and has a forthcoming monograph, entitled, Costuming Christ (with T&T Clark). Over the course of our conversation we discussed the difference between ancient clothing and modern costuming in Jesus films, what evidence we have for ancient dress in the second temple period and the Greco-Roman world, and how Christian art informs costuming decisions in Jesus films and communicates certain exegetical decisions, some of which have harmful consequences. Team...2022-08-1757 minThe Two CitiesEpisode #133 - Mary Magdalene in Jesus Films with Dr. Siobhán JolleyContinuing our series on Jesus films, we are joined in this episode by Dr. Siobhán Jolley to discuss the representation of Mary Magdalene. Dr. Jolley recently completed her PhD at the University of Manchester with a thesis entitled, “Reimaging the Magdalene: Liberative Reception Criticism and the Counter-Reformation Magdalene.” In our conversation Dr. Jolley talks to us about how little we actually know about Mary Magdalene from the Gospels themselves, and how her legend and myth evolves in art history and church history to present her as a sex worker, among other things. We review some of the films that refle...2022-08-1044 min
The Two CitiesEpisode #132 - Gospel Scholarship & Jesus Films with Dr. Mark GoodacreIn this episode we discuss the relationship of scholarship on the Gospels and the historical Jesus with Dr. Mark Goodacre, who is Frances Hill Fox professor of Religious Studies at Duke University, the author of a number of important studies on the historical Jesus, the Gospels, particularly the Synoptic Problem, and the Gospel of Thomas, and the creator of one of the original biblioblogs, called NTBlog, as well as one of the original biblical studies podcasts, called the NTPod. Over the course of our conversation we discuss a number of aspects of Jesus films and how those relate to contemporary...2022-08-0356 min
The Bloody Bible PodcastRape, Murder, and MutilationIn this episode, Em and Caz turn their attention to a particularly bloody narrative - Judges 19-21 - which depicts gang rape, murder, dismemberment, and sex trafficking. By making connections with some contemporary cases of violent crime, they shine a light on the ways that toxic masculinity and patriarchy shape the horrific gender violence that’s portrayed in this biblical story. Show notesFind us on Twitter @BloodyBiblePod, on Facebook @TheBloodyBiblePodcast, and on Instagram @bloodybiblepodcast. You can also email the podcast at BloodyBiblePodcast@gmail.com.Our podcast music is ‘Stalker’ by Alexis...2022-07-2640 minThe Two CitiesEpisode #130 - 100 Bible Films with Matthew PageIn this episode we're kicking off a Summer series on Jesus films! Today we're joined by Matthew Page to talk about his new book, 100 Bible Films (published by The British Film Institute with Bloomsbury). In our conversation, Matthew talks about the history of movies according to Bible films. He highlights the ways that Bible films can teach us about cinema more broadly rather than strictly about the Bible, though he does address the topic of Bible films specifically as adaptations of literary source material. Key film discussions emerge around Darren Aronofsky's Noah (2014) and mother! (2017), Amos Gitai's Esther (1986), and the must-be-watched-to-be-believed...2022-07-2049 min
The Two CitiesEpisode #122 - Theology and Black Mirror: Part Two with Dr. Jeremiah Bailey, Elizabeth Culhane, Prof. James McGrath, and Dr. Nathaniel WarneIn this episode we’re once more talking about the new book, Theology and Black Mirror (published by Lexington and Fortress Academic, imprints of Rowman & Littlefield), that was edited by team members from The Two Cities podcast, Dr. Amber Bowen and Dr. John Anthony Dunne. Joining us for this conversation are four additional contributors to the volume, who each discuss what they would like to see from a new season of Black Mirror (in light of the recent announcement of a forthcoming sixth season on Netflix) as well as the ideas addressed in their respective essays. Our guests are Dr...2022-05-251h 06
The Two CitiesEpisode #111 - Anti-Judaism and the Gospel of John with Prof. Adele ReinhartzJoining us for a conversation on Anti-Judaism and the Gospel of John, we are joined by Professor Adele Reinhartz, who is Professor in the Department of Classics and Religious Studies at the University of Ottawa. She is also the general editor of the journal of biblical literature, the president of the Society of Biblical Literature, and the author of a number of studies on the representation of Jesus in film and the Gospel of John, including Cast Out Of The Covenant: Jews and Anti-Judaism in the Gospel of John (published Fortress/Lexington). Over the course of our discussion, Prof. Reinhartz...2022-03-091h 07
The Two CitiesEpisode #104 - Gun Rights & Conspiracies with Dr. Mike AustinIn this episode we are joined by Dr. Mike Austin to discuss Gun Rights & Conspiracies. Dr. Austin is Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Eastern Kentucky University, and the author of God and Guns in America published by Eerdmans. This episode extends our conversation on American Gun Culture from a biblical perspective into philosophical and legal arenas. In particular, as we discuss the right to bear arms in America, Dr. Austin draws our attention to the important distinction between legal and moral rights. In the end, we transition to think about guns from a conspiratorial stand point, and we...2022-01-1952 min
The Two CitiesEpisode #103 - God & Guns with Prof. Carly Crouch and Prof. Christopher B. HaysIn this episode we’re taking about American Gun Culture from a biblical perspective with Prof. Carly Crouch and Prof. Christopher B. Hays. Prof. Carly Crouch is Professor of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and Ancient Judaism, and Chair of the Department of Textual, Historical and Systematic Studies of Judaism and Christianity at Radboud University, Nijmegen (Netherlands), and Prof. Christopher B. Hays is D. Wilson Moore Professor of Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary (USA). Together they are co-editors of the book that we are discussing on this episode, God and Guns: The Bible Against American Gu...2022-01-1253 min
The Two CitiesEpisode #100 - Celebrating 100 EpisodesIn this episode we celebrate 100 podcast episodes! In the spirit of celebration, we have an eclectic episode full of feedback from some of our previous guests as well as questions from listeners and responses from all twelve of our podcast hosts. In addition we conclude the episode with a number of bloopers followed by the origin story of our theme music, and the unveiling of our new theme music for the next 100 episodes! Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. Amber Bowen, Dr. Josh Carroll, Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Dr. Grace Emmett, Jennifer Guo, Brandon Hurlbert...2021-12-221h 00
The Two CitiesEpisode #98 - Reviewing The Rise & Fall of Mars Hill with Aimee Byrd and Dr. Michael BirdIn this episode we debrief our experiences listening to Christianity Today's podcast series, The Rise & Fall of Mars Hill, which is all about Mark Driscoll's leadership at a megachurch in Seattle from 1996 to 2014. Joining us for this conversation are Aimee Byrd, the author of Recovering from Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (published by Zondervan), and Dr. Michael Bird, who is Academic Dean and Lecturer in Theology at Ridley College, Melbourne. You can find the two of them chatting on together on their podcast and YouTube series, "Birds of a Feather." Over the course of the conversation we express our appreciations...2021-12-081h 08
The Two CitiesEpisode #97 - Society of Biblical Literature 2021 ReviewIn this episode we reflect on our experiences participating in the annual biblical studies, theology, and religion conferences that take place every November, including the Society of Biblical Literature, which most of our team participates in, as well as the American Academy of Religion and the Institute of Biblical Research (among others). In our conversation we talk about the papers that we presented, the things that stood out to us about the unique nature of the conference this year because the sessions were held both in person in San Antonio as well as virtually for those who weren't able to...2021-12-0148 min
The Two CitiesEpisode #93 - Dune Movie Review with Matthew William BrakeIn this episode we review the new Dune film by Denis Villeneuve with Matthew William Brake, the series editor for the Theology and Pop Culture series published by Fortress and Lexington Press. Over the course of our conversation we talk about our appreciation of the film, how it did as an adaptation of Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel, and how it compares to David Lynch’s much-maligned film version from 1984. Key themes that we dig into include: cultural representation and a lack of other-worldliness in the new film, the relationship of individuals to the larger group, Messiah tropes, prophecy, and “future memori...2021-11-0358 min
St Nics Durham1 Thessalonians | Week 5I Thessalonians – Week 5 | What is Christian Holiness? | 1 Thess. 4:1-12 | Preaching: Brandon Hurlbert 2021-08-1524 minThe Two CitiesEpisode #79 - Does Apologetics Help Us Read The Old Testament? With Dr. Brent StrawnContinuing our conversation on Apologetics we want to take the next two episodes to ask whether apologetics helps us read Scripture. This week we want to ask that question in relation to the Old Testament specifically. We are joined by Dr. Brent Strawn, Professor of Old Testament at Duke Divinity School and Professor of Law at Duke University. He is the author of The Old Testament Is Dying: A Diagnosis and Recommended Treatment (Baker), and more recently, Lies My Preacher Told Me: An Honest Look at The Old Testament (Westminster John Knox). In our wide-ranging conversation, we talk about a...2021-07-2857 min
St Nics DurhamNehemiah | Week 4Nehemiah – Week 4 | Rebuilding | Nehemiah 4:13-23 | Preaching: Brandon Hurlbert2021-05-0922 minThe Two CitiesEpisode #65 - Art & Film with Dr. Kutter CallawayConcluding our Art & Culture series with our fifth and final episode, we turn to discuss the artistic nature of film with Dr. Kutter Callaway, who is Associate Professor of Theology and the co-director of Reel Spirituality at Fuller Seminary. With the 93rd Annual Academy Awards ceremony (“the Oscars”) just around the corner, we discuss in particular the artistry of the Best Picture Nominees from the past year (spoilers throughout). After discussing why Christians should care about film, and after lamenting our various experiences with Christian approaches to film exemplified by organizations like Plugged In, we turn to chat about key them...2021-04-211h 10
St Nics DurhamMicah | Week 7Palm Sunday 2021 | Micah – Week 7: Dangerous Hope | Micah 7 | Preaching: Brandon Hurlbert2021-03-2828 minThe Two CitiesEpisode #60 - Anger Amidst Lament: Reactions to AtlantaIn this episode we process the horrific events that took place in Atlanta earlier this week in which a twenty-one year old white male attacked three Asian-owned business, including spas and massage parlors in the broader metro area. We also address the narrative that has emerged about the motivation for the murders. Was this a racialized hate crime? Or was it a sexualized crime rooted in the shooter’s “sexual temptation”? We affirm that this is in fact a false dichotomy and that intersectional thinking is required to do justice to the full complexity of the issues at play here...2021-03-1955 minThe Two CitiesEpisode #59 - Reflections on the Gender SeriesIn this episode we recap and reflect on the gender series that we’ve been doing since mid-November 2020. The series spans eighteen episodes, beginning with “Paul and Masculinity with Grace Emmett” (November 11, 2020) and ending with “The Great Sex Rescue with Sheila Wray Gregoire” (March 10, 2020). As we explain in this conversation, we regard every episode in between these two episodes as being part of the series, including the ones on racial matters, such as, “Whiteness in Biblical Scholarship with Dr. Ekaputra Tupamahu,” “Critical Theory: Fact, Fiction, or Fallacy? With Dr. Matthew Arbo and Dr. Scott Coley,” and “African American Readings of Paul with Dr. Lisa B...2021-03-1748 min
St Nics DurhamMicah | Week 1Micah – Week 1: The Word of the Lord Comes to Micah | Micah 1 | Preaching: Brandon Hurlbert | Valentine's Day & Racial Justice Sunday 20212021-02-1425 minThe Two CitiesEpisode #47 - Women in Matthew's Genealogy of Jesus with Dr. Jeannine BrownIn this episode we talk about the significance of the women mentioned in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus. For this conversation, Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Brandon Hurlbert are joined by Dr. Jeannine Brown, Professor of New Testament at Bethel Seminary (St. Paul, MN), member of the NIV Translation Committee, and author of a few commentaries on Matthew. We talk about why genealogies are worth digging into rather than skipping, why it's significant that women are mentioned at all in a genealogy in the Bible, and what's significant about the four named women in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth...2020-12-2337 minThe Two CitiesEpisode #46 - Women in 1 Corinthians with Dr. Lucy PeppiattCarrying on in our conversation on gender, we turn to discuss women in 1 Corinthians with particular attention given to the passage about head coverings in 1 Cor. 11 and women being silent in the church in 1 Cor. 14. In this episode, Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Brandon Hurlbert, and Dr. Logan Williams are joined by Dr. Lucy Peppiatt, who is Principal of Westminster Theological Centre in the UK and author of a number of related books, including Women and Worship at Corinth (Cascade, 2015), Unveiling Paul's Women (Cascade, 2018), and Rediscovering Scripture's Vision for Women (IVP, 2019). Dr. Peppiatt's background is in Systematic Theology, so she identifies...2020-12-1645 min
St Nics DurhamWitnesses to Christ: Turning Scars into StoriesWitnesses to Christ – week 2: Turning Scars into Stories | Matthew 8:1-4, 14-17 | Preaching: Brandon Hurlbert2020-11-0824 minThe Two CitiesEpisode #39 - Abortion & Single Issue Voting with Jennie RileyAs another installment in our series on faith and politics, we discuss abortion and single issue voting in the United States. Joining Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Brandon Hurlbert, Tim McNutt, and Dr. Chris Porter for this discussion is our special guest, Jennie Riley, who recently submitted her PhD thesis in Theology at Durham University (England), focusing on the relationship between Evangelical Christianity and Medial Practice. As she explains in the episode, for her doctoral research she interviewed several medical doctors in the UK, who all self-identify as evangelical, about a whole host of issues from the more mundane to medical...2020-11-0248 minThe Two CitiesEpisode #36 - War & Political Theology with Michael SpalioneContinuing our conversation on the role of faith in our political discourse and political engagement, in the present episode Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Brandon Hurlbert talk with Michael Spalione about his doctoral research on the topic of war within political theology. Having just recently passed his viva in pursuit of a PhD in political theology from Trinity College, Bristol through the University of Aberdeen, Michael helps us think about the topic of war from a Christian perspective in a way that gets beyond partisan emphases on strong militaries, etc, and builds upon a perspective that attempts to be consistently...2020-10-1446 minThe Two CitiesEpisode #35 - Faith and Politics with Rev. Baroness Maeve SherlockIn this tumultuous election season in the States, in which partisan entrenchment often leads to a lack of kindness and respect across the aisle, we have brought in a guest from across the pond to help sort us out. Joining Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Brandon Hurlbert is special guest Rev. Baroness Maeve Sherlock, who is Curate at St. Nics Durham in England, and is also a member of the House of Lords in the British Parliament. In this episode we discuss the differences between British and American politics, the legitimacy of one-issue voting, the separation of church and state...2020-10-0743 minThe Two CitiesEpisode #32 - The Enneagram & Stress in 2020In this episode we carry on our conversation on the Enneagram from last week ("The Enneagram—What Is It?") by diving more deeply into how we have all responded to the unique challenges of 2020. Engaging this topic is our largest panel of team members to date on The Two Cities podcast: Amber Bowen (Type 4), Dr. Josh Carroll (Type 7), Dr. John Anthony Dunne (Type 7), Paloma Herrera (Type 7), Brandon Hurlbert (Type 1), Grace Sangalang Ng (Type 6), Rev. Daniel Parham (Type 3), and Dr. Chris Porter (Type 3). Over the course of the episode we cover multiple topics from movements in stress, how our wings impact ou...2020-09-1652 minThe Two CitiesEpisode #31 - The Enneagram—What Is It?The Enneagram is a well-known "personality test." For many, it is used as a simple means of compartmentalizing people. For others, it is a helpful tool to raise personal awareness and promote healthy growth. In this initial episode on the Enneagram, Dr. Josh Carroll, Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Brandon Hurlbert, and Rev. Daniel Parham promote the idea of viewing the Enneagram as a tool rather than a test. We begin by overviewing the nine types, situating them within the three intelligence centers (8, 9, and 1 in the body center, 2, 3, and 4 in the heart center, and 5, 6, and 7 in the mental center). From there...2020-09-0947 minThe Two CitiesEpisode #29 - Science & Faith with Seth PricePresently in our global situation, science is playing a crucial role in helping to squash the pandemic. Some, however, are skeptical of scientific expertise and tend to favor fringe ideas and conspiracy theories. In this episode, we wanted to take a step back and talk about the relationship between science and faith more broadly. It seems that many of the scientific skepticism flows downstream from a rejection of evolution, climate change, and other scientific consensuses. Joining Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Brandon Hurlbert to discuss this issue is Seth Price, a PhD Candidate in Physics at Durham University, who shares...2020-08-2652 minThe Two CitiesEpisode #27 - PhDs & the Preaching LifeFollowing up on an earlier episode, “PhDs & The Devotional Life," from April 22nd, 2020, John Anthony Dunne and Brandon Hurlbert discuss the dynamics of preaching in the local church with PhD level education. How does a PhD help one prepare for preaching? In what ways does it hinder preaching? How can we ensure that we are genuinely connecting with the people in our churches and not simply preaching 'at them'? Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2020-08-1223 min
St Nics Durham"I am the Door of the Sheep" - John 10:1-10I AM Series - Week 3, Scripture: John 10:1-10, Preacher: Brandon Hurlbert2020-07-1926 min
St Nics DurhamThe Way of Jesus in a World on Fire - 1 Peter 3:8-22Hope for Exiles - Week 5 (including a post-sermon reflection of an original song written by Seth Price exploring verses from 1 Peter 3:8-22 and Psalm 34)Scripture - 1 Peter 3:8-22Preacher - Brandon Hurlbert2020-06-0738 minThe Two CitiesEpisode #11 - PhDs & the Devotional LifeGetting a PhD is tough. What are the unique challenges that come with getting a PhD in theology? In particular, how can we maintain a vital devotional life in the midst of the stresses of a PhD program? In this episode John Anthony Dunne talks with The Two Cities team member Brandon Hurlbert to discuss this tricky subject; John went through a PhD program in New Testament at the University of St Andrews (Scotland), and Brandon is currently in the midst of a PhD program in Old Testament at Durham University (England) under the supervision of Professor Walter Moberly....2020-04-2230 minThe Two CitiesEpisode #10 - Are We Living In A Black Mirror Episode?With the novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) continuing to spread throughout the world, all around the world we are turning to technology like never before to facilitate our regular lives—our work, our church life, our interpersonal relationships, etc. For some of us, the majority of the people that we typically interact with are now confined to our screens and laptops, mediated through FaceTime, Google Hangouts, Zoom, and Skype. It sort of feels like we're living in a strange episode of Black Mirror. In this podcast episode, John Anthony Dunne, Brandon Hurlbert, and Amber Bowen discuss this dystopian anthology TV show ab...2020-04-1532 min
St Nics DurhamEaster Sunday: The Road to Emmaus – Luke 24:13-35Easter Sunday Scripture: Luke 24:13-35, Preaching: Brandon Hurlbert2020-04-1224 minThe Two CitiesEpisode #7 - Gathering Together Virtually: Communion Conversation ContinuedThis is a follow up podcast on our earlier conversation called “Is Virtual Communion Valid?" (posted on March 25th, 2020). In that discussion we talked through the tricky issues of taking communion during this time of social distancing in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19). We addressed how we should frame the conversation in terms of "less ideal and more ideal," and that even though taking communion in our homes under normal circumstances would not be recommended, in this difficult time where we long to be together, there are good reasons to continue the practice of communion in order to ma...2020-04-0632 minThe Two CitiesEpisode #4 - Is Virtual Communion Valid?In this episode we discuss the difficulty of doing church and being the church in the midst of the present Coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19). To what extent is virtual communion valid? Given the mandates around the world to practice social distancing, and in some sectors sheltering in place, what does the communion of the saints look like in isolation? Additionally, what does the sacramental practice of communion, or the Eucharist, look like during these days? Representing different ecclesial traditions from Baptist to Presbyterian to Anglican, a panel of team members from The Two Cities, including John Anthony Dunne, Kris Song, Logan...2020-03-2541 min
St Nics DurhamTrust & Rest – Exodus 16:1-17Exodus – Week 12, Scripture: Exodus 16:1-17, Preacher: Brandon Hurlbert2020-03-2227 minThe Two CitiesEpisode #2 - Parasite (Movie Review)Parasite (dir. Bong Joon-ho) is a Korean black comedy about wealth disparity, and is the winner of four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, which made history since it was the first international film in a foreign language to do so. In this episode John Anthony Dunne, Kris Song, and Brandon Hurlbert discuss the themes of hope, wealth, and metaphors in the film. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2020-03-1831 minThe Two CitiesEpisode #3 - Reading the Book of Judges as ScriptureThe Book of Judges from the Old Testament is quite puzzling from the vantage point of Jesus' teachings. It is full of characters who do not represent the paragons of morality that we might expect from the Bible. In fact, it is perhaps the most violent and sexual of all the texts in the biblical canon. What are we to make of this as Christians? Can we read the Book of Judges as Christian Scripture? In this episode John Anthony Dunne discusses this topic with Brandon Hurlbert, a PhD Candidate at Durham University who is doing his thesis on the...2020-03-1827 min
St Nics DurhamPassover: Our Hope in the Darkness – Exodus 12:1-30Exodus – Week 9, Scripture: Exodus 12:1-30, Preacher: Brandon Hurlbert2020-03-0131 min
St Nics DurhamThe God Who Calls – Exodus 4:1-17Exodus – Week 4, Scripture: Exodus 4:1-17, Preacher: Brandon Hurlbert2020-01-2621 min
St Nics DurhamTwo Ways of Relating to God – Galatians 4:21-31One in Christ – Week 9 – 6:30pm service, Scripture: Galatians 4:21-31Preacher: Brandon Hurlbert2019-10-2725 min
St Nics DurhamWhat is Christian Unity – Galatians 2:1-10One in Christ – Week 3 – 6:30pm service, Scripture: Galatians 2:1-10, Preacher: Brandon Hurlbert2019-09-1527 min
St Nics DurhamAll about Grace - Galatians 1:1-10One in Christ - Week 1, All about Grace - Galatians 1:1-10, Brandon Hurlbert2019-09-0121 min