The Materiality of Early Christ Devotion: A chat with Bruce Longenecker

Are you applying to PhD programs in religion? Or thinking about it? This episode is for you.In this episode, Zen shares about the process for applying to Baylor's graduate program in religion. He speaks with current students, Lanie Walkup and Tyler Fulcher, and Carlos Cardoza-Orlandi, a graduate faculty member. They discuss how to write a strong application and how to survive the process.The episode also includes a promo for "The End of Civility" by Ryan Andrew Newson, a new book from Baylor University Press. Learn more here.

In today’s episode, Claire is joined by Baylor faculty member and GPD Deirdre Fulton. She is a zooarchaeologist that specializes in animal bones in the Southern Levant. Her excavations in Ashkelon, Tel Shimron and as part of the Jezreel Valley Regional Project help inform questions related to diet, sacrifice, and economy. Learn more about this branch of study and how “man’s best friend” shows up in ancient Near Eastern archaeology.Deirdre Fulton joined the Department of Religion at BaylorUniversity in the fall semester 2013. Her area of research focuses on the Persian Period, specifically the books of Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah. Fulton is also interested in zooarchaeological related research, connecting text and artifact. She is involved in several ongoing excavations in Israel, including the Leon Levy Ashkelon Excavations, Tel Shimron Excavations, and also the Jezreel Valley Regional Project. Her interest in archaeology helps inform questions related to diet, sacrifice, and economy.Deirdre is a member of the Steering committees on Literature and History of the Persian period for the Society of Biblical Literature and the Feasting and Foodways for the American Schools of Oriental Research. She is also a member of the Catholic Biblical Association and American Institute ofArchaeology. 

Have you ever wondered what happened between the time of the early church and figures like Paul and later Christianity as represented by Augustine? Second-Century Christianity is an often-neglected time period but full of exciting changes in biblical theology, heresiology, and more. Ignatius, Irenaeus, Justin Martyr, and Polycarp are just a few of the prominenttheologians of this time period. In this episode, Claire is joined by Mike Bird and Scott Harrower editors of A Handbook to Second-Century Christianity a forthcoming book from Baylor University Press. Michael Bird is an Australian biblical scholar and Anglicanpriest who writes about the history of early Christianity, theology, and contemporary issues. He is Deputy Principal and Lecturer in Theology at Ridley College in Melbourne, Australia. He is the author of over thirty books including Evangelical Theology, Seven Things I Wish Christians Knew About the Bible, Romans (SGBC), The Gospel of the Lord: How the Early Church Wrote the Story of Jesus, What Christians Ought To Believe, and with N.T. Wright, The NewTestament in its World.Scott Harrower is a lecturer in Christian Thought at RidleyCollege in Melbourne, Australia and an ordained Anglican minister. He was brought up by missionary parents in Argentina and has wide-ranging ministry experience in several countries. He has published articles on SyrianChristianity, comparative hagiography, and Augustine of Hippo, as well as books on women in the early church and the Trinity. Scott is also a former nurse and has written extensively on how we can relate psychological science and theology for the sake of human flourishing in our churches, including Dawn of Sunday: The Trinity and Trauma-Safe Churches, and God of All Comfort: A Trinitarian Response to the Horrors of this World.

In a previous episode, Cynthia Shafer-Elliott, a field archaeologist and professor in Baylor’s Department of Religion, discussed household archaeology and household religion. In this episode, she discusses household worship and figurines in more detail. She further illuminates the place of women within the household structure and how they held a prominent place in subsistence living households. While some only see women as oppressed figures in this society, women had a vital role.

In this episode I am joined by Bruce Longenecker to discuss his upcoming Baylor University Press book, The Materiality of Early Christ Devotion: Artistic Innovation at Four Archaeological Sites. He explains how the sites of Ostia,  Dura-Europos, Smyrna, and Pompeii offer an exciting glimpse into the creativity and imagination that these Christfollowers used to express their devotion. They are clever, creative, and at times cryptic with how they convey this devotion.Our Guest:Dr. Bruce Longenecker specializes in the origins of Christianity, including the following emphases: Early Christianity in its Greco-Roman context; Pauline theology and chronology; women in early Christianity and the Greco-Roman world.He joined the Baylor faculty in August 2009, having taught previously at St Andrews University (Scotland, 1999-2009), Cambridge University (England, 1995-1999) and Durham University (England, 1991-1995). 

In this episode, Claire speaks with Christina Olson about archaeology and its importance when studying the Hebrew Bible. She helps listeners who may not be familiar with archaeology understand the terminology and demonstrates the significance of studying broad cultural contexts to understand the Hebrew Bible. She also shares some of her personal experiences and exciting discoveries.Christina Olson is a recent graduate from the Baylor Religion Department, receiving her Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. She is interested in the use of social memory studies to explore death and burial practices in both the biblical text and the archaeological data. Her dissertation focuses on how burial practices and memory of the dead contributed to the developing national identity in Persian period Jerusalem. Christina has been actively involved in archaeological projects for over a decade, primarily at Tell Es-Safi/Gath, Israel and most recently at Baylor’s 2022 San Guiliano Archaeological Research Project in Italy.

In this episode, Zen speaks with Claire Mummert, the incoming host and producer of Currents in Religion.Our GuestClaire is a second year PhD student at Baylor University, specializing in the Hebrew Bible.

Show SummaryIn this episode, I am joined by Michelle Knight, author of The Prophet’s Anthem: The Song of Deborah and Barak in the Narrative of Judges, which was recently published by Baylor University Press (link below). We talk about how the story of Deborah in Judges 4 relates to the song of Deborah in Judges 5, and how both function as a critical interpretive key to the whole narrative of Judges. We also talk a little about the way Deborah, as a judge, stands out among the others—as an exemplary leader in the history of Israel. Our GuestMichelle Knight is Associate Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. She also serves as Senior Reviewer for the Historical Books for the New Living Translation. Find her book here: https://www.baylorpress.com/9781481321594/the-prophets-anthem/Other Relevant EpisodesThe book of...Judges? with Julian Chike: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6oKFIaMTUGBmFW7kQWZ5bl?si=CzqDe3WzQ8WfpqhtnD04EwTrauma, Resilience, and the Psalms with Rebecca Poe Hays: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0B475O1XqN0hA0795xWCWL?si=gQ4idTWeQqCx9VRP9d316QClimate Change, Preaching, and the Apocalypse of Place with Jerusha Neal: https://open.spotify.com/episode/79uXLCcysx7MHR4DpyIQUR?si=mN8wEoN2QQOe6czbVMMqdQ

In this episode, I speak with Blake Burleson about his long career of studying and teaching world religions at Baylor University. He tells the story of how he became a scholar of world religions and how studying world religion has shaped his own spiritual practices. He also shares why he thinks studying world religions is critical for the present moment. I especially enjoyed hearing Blake talk about how meditative learning activities can equip students to listen well in this age of distraction and contention. I think you’ll find this conversation insightful and challenging, sobering and encouraging and, perhaps, a little provocative. Blake Burleson has been at Baylor for more than forty years. Among other roles and accomplishments, Blake has served as a senior lecturer and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies. He contributes regularly to the Waco Tribune. The Spring of 2024 will be his final semester at Baylor as he enters retirement. Relevant EpisodesBlack Contemplative Preaching with E. Trey Clark: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6Nf1w59GeWEtLstDRerk9t?si=xvCcecIqTM-9SJDEgGQudATheology, Ethics, and a Church in Conflict: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7DXKtwkSWGOMhkLQKuMqUp?si=KWvca3c-TVG_KelW8KLlHgInterdisciplining Theology: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1F7vdM2k59iVygibvhWQq4?si=FQc75otnRKmoT67ojZBHpQ

In this episode, we feature the work of three scholars affiliated with the Baptist Scholars International Roundtable (BSIR). They discuss the collegial process of BSIR and their research on northern Baptist women and their missions. Our GuestsDr. Laine Scales is the guest host for this episode. Laine is a professor and the PhD program director in the Diane R. Garland School of Social Work here at Baylor. She is also a co-director of BSIR.Nadia Andrilenas is a PhD candidate in the Department of Religion in Historical Studies at Baylor University. Her research examines women’s experiences in Christianity, especially in East and Southeast Asia, and draws from World Christianity methodologies. Her dissertation will investigate how women and gender shaped early 20th century Vietnamese evangelicalism.Dr. Laura Rodgers Levens. Laura is the Associate Professor of Christian Mission and the Director of the Master of Arts in Ministry Studies Program at BSK Theological Seminary. She specializes in interdisciplinary courses that integrate multiple academic disciplines for practical theological inquiry and training. In addition to teaching, Laura has written for numerous publications, serves on various academic and ecclesial committees, and regularly guest preaches in local churches. Other Episodes Featuring BSIRJoão Chaves and Ronilso Pacheco: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5w8Py2063b3uYrRXBEaw9D?si=twyX2DkjS5icXL4sVCUlhgLaine Scales, David Goatley, and Brad Creed: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3Ix2UztGrdZXAs5xspNfSs?si=TgdbDgq_RWqUR_T8hmCkJgJoão Chaves, Felipe Hinojosa, and Stephen Di Trolio: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Zg9lJjGr2sA581pfQosv5?si=tk9LFYZERRawusevrWFxtQLaine Scales and João Chaves: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0qABw70AEevYv9OwXDtDMY?si=CDVwcFIGQ5S3X4kYHhBkjw