197. Rebecca Copeland | Wicked Problems and Unoriginal Sin
Theologian Rebecca Copeland joins Jim Stump to talk about how we think about sin in a world full of wicked problems—complex, interconnected issues like climate change, inequality, and mistrust in science. Our usual theological categories often fall short: sin as personal moral failure doesn’t capture the systemic nature of these problems, and sin as an inherited condition can leave us feeling powerless. Copeland offers another way of understanding sin—what she calls unoriginal sin—that helps us recognize both our complicity in broken systems and our capacity for repentance and healing. The conversation moves from deep theology to practical questions about how we live responsibly and hopefully in a tangled, imperfect world.
Theme song and credits music by Breakmaster Cylinder. Other music in this episode by Nick Petrov, courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc.
Check out Rebecca's Book, Entangled Being, here.
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108. Debra Rienstra | The Discipline of Hope
Our best scientific models make it clear that society needs a big change at a global scale in order to limit irreversible damage—what good can individual actions and attitudes do in the face of this immense problem? Today’s guest, Debra Rienstra, argues that the right relationship with the Earth can actually make all the difference and that new worlds of hope are built in hidden refuges amidst the surrounding devastation. Genuine lament and grief help reorient us toward the beauty and majesty of creation. Only once this groundwork has been laid can we truly repent for what we have done—and begin the work of hope for a better future.
Additional Resources:
Learn more about Debra's book, Refugia Faith
Sign up for the Refugia newsletter
Find new episodes of Refugia Podcast
Theme song and credits music by Breakmaster Cylinder. Other music in this episode by Pink Marble courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc.
This episode originally aired on Mar 10, 2022.
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196. Cool Creatures | Ticks
Ticks are among the most detested creatures in all of nature—but what happens when we look closer? In this Cool Creatures episode, Colin follows Calvin University professor Will Miller and some of his students into the field as they study ticks and the diseases they carry. As we explore ticks we find ourselves asking questions about public health, parasitism, and theology. Are ticks only dangerous pests or can they also open our eyes to the complexity and beauty of creation?
Helpful Resources:
CDC Tick Bite Guidance
Mayo Clinic Guide to Ticks and Diseases
Theme song and credits music by Breakmaster Cylinder. Other music in this episode by Evan MacDonald, Pavel Yudin, Nathan King, Cosmo Lawson, Vesper Tapes, Ricky Bombino & Elizabells, courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc.
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195. Rob Dunn & Aminah Bradford | The Spirituality of Paying Attention
What happens when a theologian and an evolutionary biologist walk into a lab together—one asking questions about God through the strange world of microbes, the other studying the tiny ecosystems in our armpits and sourdough starters? In this episode, we hear the answer through the story of Aminah Al-Attas Bradford, a theologian who found herself researching yeast in the ecology lab of Rob Dunn, a biologist known for uncovering the microbial life all around us. Their collaboration leads to surprising questions about dust, microbes, matter, and meaning, and shows what can happen when science and theology meet in the middle in curious, unshielded conversation.
Theme song and credits music by Breakmaster Cylinder. Other music in this episode by Babel, courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc.
Check out Rob's book The Call of the Honeyguide: What Science Tells us About How To Live Well with the Rest of Life
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194. Sy Garte | Life’s Deeper Logic
Far from the old picture of life as a mindless, mechanical process, new research is showing that even the simplest organisms—like bacteria—exhibit signs of purpose, agency, and decision-making. Biologist and author Sy Garte returns to Language of God to talk about how this might be a pointer to God. Following from his new book, Beyond Evolution: How New Discoveries in the Science of Life Point to God, Sy invites us into a fascinating and accessible look at how recent developments in biology are shifting our understanding of evolution. Without overstating or oversimplifying, he explores how the science of life opens space for wonder, meaning, and even theological reflection.
Theme song and credits music by Breakmaster Cylinder. Other music in this episode by Diverse Music courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc.
Ireland