The Seminary Explores

Dr, Christianson and Sue Hill discuss the life and writing of Elsie Singmaster.  Elsie Singmaster was one of the best-known authors of her day, appearing in anthologies along with Ernest Hemingway.  Her stories of Gettysburg citizens who were caught in the battle and still managed to serve the wounded and dying are worth discovering again.

In this episode, a theologian, Dr. Largen, and a historian, Rev. Dr. Maria Erling, talk about the construction of Lutheran identity, and how it relates both to theological doctrines and also social, historical context.  The issue of slavery is discussed as one example of such identity construction.

Dr. Christianson speaks with Dr. Bradley Hoch, Pediatrician and author of The Lincoln Trail in Pennsylvania about President Lincoln’s religious evolution. Lincoln developed throughout his life, beginning as (what his neighbors called) an “infidel” and moving on to a doctrine of “necessity” before coming to terms with Providence.  In 1862, probably because of the horrifying numbers of casualties and the death of his son Willie, the president began to affirm a personal deity. In the Second Inaugural he envisions a God who has purposes for humankind, although they may not be ours.

Dr. Christianson speaks with Ambassador Lawrence Taylor who describes the current tensions in eastern Ukraine and suggests that the U.S. and NATO were surprised by Russia’s incursions. On the other hand, Vladimir Putin was not prepared for the resistance from the new government in Ukraine.  He suggests that we take seriously Russia’s claim to protect Russians everywhere and do so unilaterally, but also try to bridge the gap between the Old Europe (“Mother Russia”) and the New.

Listen to the insightful and interesting reflections on the current crisis in the Holy Land from the Rev. Dr. Angela Zimmann, who recently returned from serving at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Jerusalem.

Dr. Strobert continues the discussion around apocalyptic with Dr. Maria Erling by defining of the term apocalyptic from its biblical roots to its present expression in United States society.   Dr. Erling then moves on to identify events in American history that initiated apocalyptic themes from various denominations.

Dr. Strobert talks with Dr. Charles Brown, Distinguished Professor of Christian Ethics at Payne Theological Seminary about the background, work and continuing legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Dr. Richard Carlson, Glatfelter Professor of Biblical Studies at Gettysburg Seminary, discusses apocalyptic in the New Testament, first by showing how it grew as a response to the failure of wisdom literature (e.g. Proverbs) to satisfy the religious needs of Israel in the century and a half before Jesus. In the New Testament Carlson uses examples from Paul and Mark to show how apocalyptic was changed by the coming of Christ through an emphasis on the “already, but not yet” and on hope for things to come. As a means of understanding evil apocalyptic encourages perseverance in the face of what Paul calls the powers of sin and death and the new life “in Christ.”