In our very second episode, we look at the pressure to meet the standards of the middle-class measuring rod and what happens to our faith when we achieve those comforts.

Reading List

Big Brains, 2019, “Why Chasing the Good Life is Holding Us Back with Lauren Berlant,” The University of Chicago [YouTube video]

Dussel, Enrique, 1979. “The Kingdom of God and the Poor,” International Review of Mission, 220, p 115-130

Gruber, June, Iris B. Mauss, and Maya Tamir, 2011, “A Dark Side of Happiness? How, When, and Why Happiness is Not Always Good,” Perspectives on Psychological Science, 6:222

Guignion, David, 2021, “What is Cruel Optimism? | Lauren Berlant | Keyword,” Theory & Philosophy [YouTube video]

Lloyd, Vincent, 2011, The Problem with Grace: Reconfiguring Political Theology

Mauss, Iris B., Maya Tamir, Craig L. Anderson, and Nicole S. Savino, 2011, “Can Seeking Happiness Make People Unhappy? Paradoxical Effects Valuing Happiness,” American Psychological Association

Shorter, Rosie, C., 2019, “Cruel Christianity: Joshua Harris and the Promise of Evangelical Purity Culture,” Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Tobore, Tobore Onojighofia, 2023, “On the Beauty of Sadness: It’s Okay to Say I am Sad, Thank You,” Communicative & Integrative Biology, 16(1).

Waters, Sonia, E, 2014, “I Surrender All: Subverting the Cruelty of Capitalist Optimism with Affective Expressions of Worship,” Pastoral Psychology

In our inaugural episode, we ask the unfortunately pertinent question: Is God a White Racist?

Reading List:

> Berton, Pierre. The Comfortable Pew. Hodder, 1966.

> Cone, James Hal. Black theology and Black Power. Alexandria, VA: Alexander Street Press, 1969.

> Cone, James H. 2000. Black Liberation Theology and Black Catholics: A Critical Conversation. Theological Studies, 61(4), 731-747.

> Das, Rupen. “Ancient Israel.” Compassion and the Mission of God: Revealing the Invisible Kingdom. Langham Creative Projects, 2016,

> Jantzen, Matt R. 2020 “Neither Ally, Nor Accomplice: James Cone and the Theological Ethics of White Conversion.” Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics 40, (2): 273–90.

> Jones, William R. Is God a White Racist?: A Preamble to Black Theology. Beacon Press, 1973.

> Lloyd, Vincent. 2016. “For What Are Whites to Hope?” Political Theology 17 (2): 168–81.

> Norris, Kristopher. 2020. “James Cone’s Legacy for White Christians.” Political Theology 21 (3): 207–24.

> Rowe, William L. 1979. “The Problem of Evil and Some Varieties of Atheism.” American Philosophical Quarterly, 16 (4): 335–41.