The Institute for Cultural Engagement, an official program of Multnomah University and Biblical Seminary
Dr. Paul Louis Metzger was interviewed on April 17, 2011 on Amplify, a radio program hosted by Catholic Priest Fr. Ron Lengwin. Dr. Metzger and Fr. Lengwin discussed The Gospel of John: When Love Comes to Town. Fr. Lengwin was a gracious and engaging interviewer. Well worth the listen!
Click below for the audio from this interview.
Friday, June 3 from 7 – 9pm : open to the public
Imago Dei Community (1302 SE Ankeny in Portland)
In today’s world, Osama bin Laden symbolizes a lot of things to a lot of people. In our nation alone, his life is celebrated, despaired, and feared by religious groups, political organizations, and individuals. With bin Laden’s recent death, we have been bombarded by a range of responses. From parties, to shrines, to political jockeying, it can be hard to find your own voice. This forum will be an opportunity to develop a Christian response to the death of bin Laden and the world he left behind. We will consider the Church’s public witness on the war of terror by reflections from New Wine leaders, Dr. Paul Louis Metzger and Dr. Brad Harper, and by hearing from several individuals in the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community which is promoting a project called Muslims for Peace.
Watch a video from CBN about the Muslims for Peace project.
Refer to this list of books, articles, films, organizations, etc. relevant to this discussion.
UPDATE: Click here to listen to an audio recording of this event.
I was blessed to spend time with former Underoath drummer/ The Almost frontman Aaron Gillespie and talk with him about his views on worship and where his story has taken him. Aaron recently released his first solo worship album, Anthem Song, and recently wrapped up a 2 month tour in support of that record.
Interview with Aaron Gillespie
This interview comes in anticipation and promotion of New Wine’s Summer conference, Worship 2.0: Culture, Community, and Communication. (click for more info). Pre-registration is open now!
Review of Anthem Song here
Check out Anthem Song here
Check out The Almost here
At this event Dr. Paul Louis Metzger and Abbot Kyogen Carlson will reflect on their friendship as the “odd couple.” This Evangelical professor and Buddhist priest are not the most likely pairing, but thanks to the deep traditions from which each comes, they’ve been able to engage one another’s convictions to embrace a beloved community. Abbot Carlson will give a tour of the Dharma Rain Zen Center’s shrine and explain its significance to their tradition. Dr. Metzger and Abbot Carlson will model how to dialogue amongst seemingly divergent beliefs, not by tip-toeing around the difficult issues or brushing them to the side, but by embracing the strength of their convictions and their shared tradition of compassion. Participants will have an opportunity to practice such dialogue with the Dharma Rain Zen Center community.
To learn more about Dr. Metzger and Abbot Carlson’s friendship, click here to read a profile of them in Tricycle Magazine, Fall 2006.
This event will be held the afternoon of April 28 at Dharma Rain Zen Center. Email newwine@multnomah.edu for more info and to RSVP.
Click here to listen to an audio recording from this event.
You can learn a lot about the relation of American religion and sports from journalist Tom Krattenmaker. You can also learn a lot about Tom Krattenmaker from his personal story with American religion and sports.
So, who is Tom Krattenmaker? Tom serves as a member of USA TODAY’s editorial Board of Contributors and writes regularly for the paper’s “On Religion” commentary page. In addition to authoring the controversial book on American Evangelicalism and sports, Onward Christian Athletes: Turning Ballparks into Pulpits and Players into Preachers (Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2010), his article, “The Evangelicals You Don’t Know” (USA Today, Opinion, June 2, 2008), received critical acclaim as one of the top three pieces of religion commentary in the American Academy of Religion’s 2009 Journalism Awards program.
Dr. Metzger asked Tom for an interview to discuss his journey into the realm of American religion and sports as well as his own faith journey. What makes Tom especially interesting is that he is a reporter who positions himself as a member of the religious and cultural left (attending a Unitarian Universalist Church and serving as Vice-President for Public Affairs and Communications at Lewis and Clark College), who engages American Evangelicalism fairly, openly, and insightfully. Here’s what Evangelical leader Kevin Palau, Executive Vice President of the Luis Palau Association, has to say about Tom and his work. “Tom Krattenmaker—in my opinion—is one of the most informed and relevant writers on the Evangelical movement today. His critique is fair and his knowledge is impressive.” No doubt, some of his insights and expertise in this area derive from Tom experiencing numerous courtships with Evangelicalism over the years, including flings with Young Life and Campus Crusade for Christ. None of these flings with Evangelical Christianity stuck, but his fascination with the movement has not diminished.
Check out this audio clip from the interview. Stay tuned for the whole interview, appearing in Cultural Encounters Volume 6, Number 1.