Voices of World Christianity

Voices of WC co-host, Thiu and David, talk with Prof. Stan Chu Ilo on the Laudato Si encyclical, African traditional eco-consciousness, and his construction of an Ubuntu Eco-Ethics. This is a rich conversation that supplements the Alexander Duff Lecture delivered by Prof Stan Chu Ilo at the University of Edinburgh. Do look out for a recording of the Duff Lecture that should become available online.

In this episode, Nuam and Thiu talk with Dr. Tore Johnsen about his newly published book, Sámi Nature-Centered Christianity in the European Arctic: Indigenous Theology beyond Hierarchical Worldmaking. Tore is an alumnus of the Centre for the Study of World Christianity, University of Edinburgh.
"The book unpacks the theological significance of North Sámi indigenous Christianity, demonstrating how the tension between Sámi nature-centered Christianity and official Norwegian Lutheranism has broad theological relevance."

In this episode, Thiu talks with Elia Maggang, a PhD candidate from Indonesia who is working towards a theology of the sea in his doctoral research at the University of Manchester. We discuss contemporary realities of climate crisis and threats to the sea from the perspective of the Indonesian archipelago and how ‘maritime theology’ seeks to engage these critical and urgent challenges. We also consider alternate ‘blue reading’ of select scriptural passages that are encountered in Elia’s research. I particularly enjoyed the insights and wisdom from indigenous knowledge from coastal communities of East Indonesia, and how Elia’s research bring them in conversation with (western) Christian thinkers and theologians—that was very special indeed. We hope you enjoy this one!

In this episode, Nuam and Chao talk with Dr. Elizabeth Marteijn about her research with Palestinian Christians. The conversation focuses on the topics of contextual theology and lived religiosity and is based on two of Elizabeth's published articles: The Revival of Palestinian Christianity: Developments in Palestinian Theology and Martyrdom, Liberation, and Belonging: An Ethnography on the Popular Saint George Veneration among Palestinian Christians.

In this episode, we (Thiu and Chao) speak with Axolile on his PhD research at New College, the Univerity of Edinburgh, and his recent paper presented at the Centre for the Study of World Christianity seminar. We discuss why animal sacrifice is a current dilemma in Xhosa Christian communities and the importance of comprehending the Greco-Roman background of the New Testament for understandin contemporary Xhosa Christians and sacrificial practices.

In this special Black History Month episode, we talk with Dr. Kimberly D. Hill, Assistant Professor of History at the University of Texas at Dallas, about her research on African American missionaries, the complex relationship between race, mission, and empire, and the process of researching historical figures and doing justice to their voice and legacy.

In this episode, Nuam and Chao interview a recent graduate of New College, Dr. Andrew Ong. We discuss Andrew's thesis "Toward a Chinese American Evangelical Theology: The Promise of Neo-Calvinism" as well as his pastoral role at a multiethnic church in northern California.

In this episode we talk with Dr Alex Chow, Senior Lecturer in theology and world Christianity at the University of Edinburgh, who shares his insights on digital theology and how digital culture, tech, and media impacts the way we think about church and World Christianity... and wonders how on earth professional Youtubers are a thing!A lot of fun!

Welcome to the Voices of World Christianity Podcast! We are Nuam, Chao, and Thiu, PhD students at the Centre for the Study of World Christianity at the University of Edinburgh. This is the first episode in which we introduce ourselves, our podcast project, and our "locations." Link for more details: Yale-Edinburgh Conference 2021