Carmen House Podcast
Monthly topics from our Speaker Series are recorded in-person at The Ohio State University and then published on this podcast. Each explores how Jesus Christ could be relevant to learning and human flourishing.
Dr. Joy Walton
Faith in the Field: Seeking an integrated life in a compartmentalized world
Many have noted today that we constantly feel pressured to live fragmented lives. Faith seems to be relegated to the private sphere, quite separate from our public lives. This experience can be felt in the field of healthcare, as much as any other field of work in our society.
Hear from Joy Walton, MD, an OSU alum and former professor in the College of Medicine at Ohio State, as she discusses the pressures of fragmentation that can be faced with her work in healthcare, and what it might mean to pursue an integrated life today.
Dr. Steven Garber
What is Vocation? An Afternoon Tea with: Dr. Steven Garber
Christians tend to use the word vocation interchangeably with one’s job. But is there more to it?
Hear from Dr. Steven Garber, author of Visions of Vocation: Common Grace for the Common Good, as we discuss what it means to have a vocation in God’s world.
Dr. Timothy Norman
Forgiveness in a World of Hostility: A Historical and Biblical Exploration
In our increasingly polarized culture, bitterness and resentment can seem not only justified, but appropriate. When we have been offended or harmed by another we tend to turn a cold shoulder, if not scheme to pay them back. Our circles are increasingly made up only of those we perceive are safe enough not to hurt us. This is not new. Followers of Jesus in antiquity likewise lived in a cultural context that exhibited retribution rather than forgiveness. And yet, these early Christians discovered and embodied a new and distinct way of life.
Dr. Marlena Graves
Momento Mori: Remembering our Mortality for a Meaningful Life
We live in an age that sanitizes death. For many of us death seems like a distant concept, so far on the horizon of life that it feels unreal. We live in the moment by ignoring our mortality. But perhaps there are others of us that have gone through deep heartache, so many dark thoughts, that death feels like a fog hanging over us. What if remembering our mortality could be more than a downer, more than an escape, but a means to a life well-lived?
Join us as Dr. Marlena Graves explores the Christian spiritual practice known as Momento Mori.
Dr. Ingrid Faro
Is There Evil? Retrieving the Language of Evil in the Public University for the Common Good.
When we look at the world around us, and even our own lives, we have the sense that all is not right. We are eager to name injustices and to alleviate suffering. And yet, in our polarized society we can have competing stories of what exactly is wrong with the world. How did the world become so broken? The severity of all that is wrong can leave us confused or despairing.
Join us as we explore how Christian Scripture might have resources to name what is wrong, while providing a vision for becoming and being agents for good in God’s world.
Rich Nathan
Love of Neighbor in an Age of Fear: What the Bible teaches us about Immigrants.
When it comes to encountering people that are different than us, and in the midst of our societal turmoil, it is easy to feel anxiety. In light of the presence of those from other cultures and places, some might wonder if life as they’ve known it is at stake. Is there more to the story?
Former OSU business law professor and founding pastor at Vineyard Columbus, Rich Nathan, will examine some key passages from Christian Scripture on God’s heart for immigrants among us.
Dylan Crosson
How have Christians observed Good Friday, & why does it matter?
As many Christian practices increasingly focus on the "happy" elements of the faith, Good Friday observances are in danger of becoming nothing more than a nominal holiday: a fleeting thought that occurs roughly two days before Easter egg hunts. Why is such a trend troubling, why might this trend be taking place, and what do Christians stand to gain from a renewed interest in Good Friday? Dylan N. Crosson is a Ph.D. Candidate at The Ohio State University where he studies Musicology.
Dr. Ben Burkholder
Why Does Virtue Still Matter in a Secular Age?
Does character matter? What are virtues and are they relevant today? How might faith help or hinder one’s character formation? Theologian Dr. Ben Burkholder (PhD, Duquesne) spoke on the topic of the relevancy of virtue ethics for today, followed by audience Q&A.