This episode is guest hosted by BP intern, Emma Baker, a senior at George Fox University and double-major in theology and psychology. She's joined by Preston Hill, who's one of our most popular guests of all time (see the earlier episode on the feed). They have an in-depth and personal conversation about matters of faith and trauma.

Find Emma on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-baker-/

Find Preston at his website: https://www.drprestonhill.com/

More resources at www.psychforministry.com

This episode is guest hosted by Emma Baker, BP intern from George Fox University. Her guest is Dave Eckert, ordained minister and trained social worker, doing dynamic work at the intersection of these worlds.

Find Emma on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-baker-/

More resources at: www.psychforministry.com

Resources mentioned by Dave:

https://www.accessservices.org/services/intersect/

https://spiritualitymindbody.tc.columbia.edu/

https://www.hud.gov/offices/fbci#:~:text=The%20Center%20for%20Faith%2DBased,HUD)%2C%20the%20White%20House%20and

The Blueprint 1543 team concluded 18 months of qualitative research, summarily called “In Search of Theological Scientists” (ISOTS), and emerged with 5 important themes and 20 specific project sketches for activating progress in science-engaged theology. These findings have been thoughtfully captured in two documents: “A Strategy Document for Funding Bodies” and “Example Projects and Programs.”

This episode focuses on what it looks like to create opportunities for constructive collaborations across theology and the sciences. We also make a case for including scientists and theologians at every step.

theologicalscientists.com

blueprint1543.org

(Episode 4 of 4 ISOTS episodes)

The Blueprint 1543 team concluded 18 months of qualitative research, summarily called “In Search of Theological Scientists” (ISOTS), and emerged with 5 important themes and 20 specific project sketches for activating progress in science-engaged theology. These findings have been thoughtfully captured in two documents: “A Strategy Document for Funding Bodies” and “Example Projects and Programs.”

In this episode we talk about building trust, when coming from very different perspectives.

theologicalscientists.com

blueprint1543.org

(Episode 3 of 4 in the ISOTS series)

The Blueprint 1543 team concluded 18 months of qualitative research, summarily called “In Search of Theological Scientists” (ISOTS), and emerged with 5 important themes and 20 specific project sketches for activating progress in science-engaged theology. These findings have been thoughtfully captured in two documents: “A Strategy Document for Funding Bodies” and “Example Projects and Programs.”

Here, we dig into how to "Inspire Integration" and what it means to "Get Specific" about your questions.

theologicalscientists.com

blueprint1543.org

(Episode 2 of 4 in the ISOTS series)

The Blueprint 1543 team concluded 18 months of qualitative research, summarily called “In Search of Theological Scientists” (ISOTS), and emerged with 5 important themes and 20 specific project sketches for activating progress in science-engaged theology. These findings have been thoughtfully captured in two documents: “A Strategy Document for Funding Bodies” and “Example Projects and Programs.”

theologicalscientists.com

blueprint1543.org

(Episode 1 of 4 in the ISOTS series)

Pam King started working with youth in churches not long after college. She got curious about how faith made some young people so resilient when facing challenges and learned that psychology offered tools for understanding these connections. Following this curiosity connected her with her life's purpose: helping people be who God intends them to be.

⁃           Download the Psych for Theology Workbook

⁃           About Dr. Pamela Ebstyne King

⁃           Telos, Technology, and Thriving by Pamela Ebstyne King for Fuller Magazine

⁃           The Thrive Center

⁃           The Reciprocating Self by Pam King

⁃           Measuring Spirituality, Hope, and Thriving Among Salvadoran Youth: Initial Findings from the Compassion International Study of Positive Youth Development

⁃           Big 5 Personality Test

⁃           Bill Damon on Purpose

⁃           The 5 A’s of Agility

Blueprint 1543 develops projects that draw on both theology and the sciences towards creating a better world. We consult with individuals, groups, and organizations to create robust integration strategies, research communities, and exemplary projects at the intersections of faith and the sciences.

Lindsey admits it freely - she's a science nerd. But that's because she's compelled to help folks who feel stuck in some way, get unstuck. Her research in forgiveness and its benefits bears this out, as does her clinical practice (because Lindsey likes to wear different hats). In this conversation, she helps us understand what some of those different roles look like and offers ideas about the supportive role of the church in mental health progress.

⁃           Download the Psych for Theology Workbook

⁃           About Dr. Lindsey Root Luna

⁃           Grace for the Afflicted by Matthew S. Stanford

⁃           Video Lectures about Dr. Luna’s research

⁃           Positive Psychology for Theology free course

⁃           Ev Worthington’s work on forgiveness and the REACH method

Blueprint 1543 develops projects that draw on both theology and the sciences towards creating a better world. We consult with individuals, groups, and organizations to create robust integration strategies, research communities, and exemplary projects at the intersections of faith and the sciences.

Trauma has become a prominent topic in recent decades. But what is trauma exactly and how can Christian theology contribute to the conversation? Preston Hill has done a lot of thinking about this and has come up with powerful answers. A little research shows us that trauma has left its marks all over our broken world and that the Christian tradition, while engaging the resources of psychology, has resources to offer hope.

⁃      Download the Psych for Theology Workbook

⁃           About Dr. Preston Hill

⁃           St Andrews University Logos Institute

⁃           The Dawn of Sunday: The Trinity and Trauma Safe Churches

⁃           Unspeakable: Preaching and Trauma-Informed Theology

⁃           The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology (Allender Center)

⁃           God of All Comfort by Scott Harrower

⁃           Cathy Caruth books

⁃           Shelly Rambo books

⁃           Trauma and Recovery by Judith Herman

⁃           John Swinton

⁃           Tasia Scrutton

⁃           The duck-rabbit optical illusion

⁃           Viktor Frankl

Blueprint 1543 develops projects that draw on both theology and the sciences towards creating a better world. We consult with individuals, groups, and organizations to create robust integration strategies, research communities, and exemplary projects at the intersections of faith and the sciences.

Tyler is someone who thinks science can bring a lot of clarity to things that matter to Christians. That's part of why he ended up unexpectedly pursuing a psychology PhD after finishing a ministry degree. It's sent him down a path of helping those in ministry gain tools for helping people. He also believes that when we become more aware of our strengths, we are empowered to work on our weaknesses in a way that can help the church support people .

⁃           Download the Psych for Theology Workbook

⁃           Some of Dr. Tyler Greenway’s popular work and research

⁃           The Psychology of Prayer: A Scientific Approach by Bernard Spilka and Kevin L. Ladd

⁃           The Fuller Youth Institute and the Character and Virtue Development in Youth Ministry initiative

⁃      Ev Worthington’s work on forgiveness and the REACH method

⁃      Positive Psychology for Theology free course

⁃           Michael Leffel’s Model of Spiritual Transformation (Point Loma)

⁃           Can Prayer Increase Charitable Giving? By Tyler Greenway et. al.

Blueprint 1543 develops projects that draw on both theology and the sciences towards creating a better world. We consult with individuals, groups, and organizations to create robust integration strategies, research communities, and exemplary projects at the intersections of faith and the sciences.

Kutter likes to give seminary students strange and unexpected assignments. Many of them have never encountered meditation practices or asked themselves "What would I write in a letter... to my body?" Kutter's dual PhDs have given him a deep appreciation for embodiment, and he thinks Christians should take this to heart. As a lifelong Baptist, he applies some of this integrative thinking to the latest scandals of the Southern Baptist Convention.

⁃           Download the Psych for Theology Workbook

⁃           About Dr. Kutter Callaway

⁃           The Wisdom of Your Body by Hillary McBride

⁃           You Are Gods by David Bentley Hart

⁃           Art Seeking Understanding initiative by the Templeton Religion Trust

⁃           Southern Baptist Sex Abuse Report summary

Blueprint 1543 develops projects that draw on both theology and the sciences towards creating a better world. We consult with individuals, groups, and organizations to create robust integration strategies, research communities, and exemplary projects at the intersections of faith and the sciences.

Erin has a big vision for shaping culture. She sees a future where Christians in the sciences have a seat at the table when the world is facing big problems. Holding a psychology research-shaping position at her institution means she's in just the right spot to make a difference. We're glad her initial plans to work for a rental car company fell through!

·     Download the Psych for Theology Workbook

·     About Dr. Erin Smith and her Research

·     The TheoPsych Primer

·     Trauma Informed Children’s Ministry book

·     First Aid Mental Health

·     Thinking Like a Psychological Scientists (NOBA Resources) by Erin I. Smith

·     The effect of socially supportive church ministry on children’s prosocial behavior: An experimental study of Latin American Protestant Congregations

·     Open source psychology resources (NOBA)

Blueprint 1543 develops projects that draw on both theology and the sciences towards creating a better world. We consult with individuals, groups, and organizations to create robust integration strategies, research communities, and exemplary projects at the intersections of faith and the sciences.

Nothing gets Laird more excited than talking about ritual. "It's so important!" he reminds us. Rituals are tools that engage our bodies, reinforce beliefs, shape our character, and can powerfully transform social groups. Our Christian communities discern together what rituals are practiced and what they mean. But like most tools, they can be used for harm as well. Laird offers a vision of hope for how the church can harness the power of rituals to help us become the force for good we're meant to be.

⁃           Download the Psych for Theology Workbook

⁃           About Dr. Laird Edman

⁃           The Ritual Animal by Dr. Harvey Whitehouse

⁃           When God Talks Back by Tanya Luhrmann (and an NPR piece about this)

⁃           Demetrius Xygalatas on Extreme Ritual

Blueprint 1543 develops projects that draw on both theology and the sciences towards creating a better world. We consult with individuals, groups, and organizations to create robust integration strategies, research communities, and exemplary projects at the intersections of faith and the sciences.

Mark McMinn made a career of showing how integration isn't just possible, but it's part of living a full, beautiful life. Living on a small farm in Newberg, Oregon, McMinn and his wife (a spiritual director and sociologist) seek to embody a life of beauty and service, which draws on both scientific and spiritual ways of knowing.

⁃      Download the Psych for Theology Workbook

⁃      About Dr. Mark McMinn

⁃      Dr. McMinn’s books

⁃      Mark’s interview on No Small Endeavor

⁃      Article on cosmic significance vs social significance

⁃      Research on mortality rates and religious involvement

Blueprint 1543 develops projects that draw on both theology and the sciences towards creating a better world. We consult with individuals, groups, and organizations to create robust integration strategies, research communities, and exemplary projects at the intersections of faith and the sciences.

Ryan S. Peterson is a theologian at BIOLA in Souther California. He greatly cares about the spiritual formation of his students and follows his curiosity about what a human person is, and how we can change. This eventually led him to seek insights from psychology to support his richly biblical and theological orientation as a scholar.

This episode begins with a sample of a lecture from Mari Clements, an expert in marriage and family dynamics, explaining attachment theory. About halfway through, we switch to a great conversation with theologian Adamson Co, who's been applying attachment theory to his understanding of the theological doctrine of union with Christ.

Russian literature forced the question for Alina Beary: how to be the type of person who grows through suffering, rather than withers. This philosophical and theological question turned her into an Aquinas expert, which soon begged for engagement in the psychological sciences. Check out her story...

Alina Beary

Josh A. Reeves is a calm, thoughtful voice amid the frenzy. His book "Redeeming Expertise" is a call to nuance our understanding of Christianity's relationship to science. A lot of assumptions are made about this dynamic nowadays, and Josh's thesis helps us have higher quality conversations in this space, apart from generalization.

Redeeming Expertise: Scientific Trust and the Future of the Church

Justin Ariel Bailey has room for beauty, art, and science in his theology and Christian practice. In this episode, he explains how he drew on psychology to flesh out his understanding of human imagination, and argues that beauty is often a missing value in our approach to apologetics.

Justin A. Bailey's website

Reimagining Apologetics: The Beauty of Faith in a Secular Age

It turns out that rituals are a big part of how we make meaning from our life experiences. And what human experience is more intense than losing a loved one? Claire White is a cognitive scientist who studies the psychological mechanisms that undergird human behavior, especially those we might label "religious." This is a fascinating conversation about the rituals we pursue when we lose a loved one, and the cross-cultural similarities/differences across cultures.

Here is a link to download Claire White's presentation deck (warning: contains images of dead bodies).