Episode 39
#39. Living Purposefully: Testing the Practices that Shape Daily Life
Dr. Dru Johnson explores the inescapable impact of ordinary and extraordinary routines. With examples ranging from tooth brushing to baptism, he encourages everyone to "examine our ritual lives."
Those examinations can deepen our understanding about the traditions that define life and religion — the ways in which individuals and communities are different and similar.
What You’ll Learn:
- Where to find rituals in everyday life
- The importance of identifying why rituals are taught
- How Christians can learn from the traditions in other denominations and other religions
About the Guest:
Dr. Dru Johnson is an Associate Professor of biblical and theological studies and the Director of the Center for Hebraic Thought at the King’s College in New York City.
He is the author of several books including Human Rites: The Power of Rituals, Habits, and Sacraments.
Before that, he was a high-school dropout, skinhead, punk rock drummer, combat veteran, IT supervisor, and pastor — all things that he hopes none of his children ever become.
Scripture Related to Episode:
Ephesians 5: 15-16; Making the Most of Time
1 Thessalonians 5: 21; Examine Everything
Examples of Baptism in the Hebrew Scriptures
Links Related to Episode:
Human Rites: The Power of Rituals, Habits, and Sacraments
Timestamped Show Notes :
01:11 - Topic: How Our Religious Rituals and Habits Shape Us and Our Beliefs
02:20 - The Blessing of a Adoptive Family
03:54 - Habits, Rituals and Rites that Shape Everyday Life
04:28 - What Makes and Activity a Ritual
08:24 - iPhones, Rituals and Stewardship
09:27 - Do I Really Perform Rituals?
10:16 - Rituals in the Human Experience
10:38 - TikTok and the Way Rituals Effect Everyone
12:01 - What Gives You the Right to Tell Me What to Do?
13:09 - Taking Stock and Making Changes, Examples from Finance and Fitness
15:25 - Improvising, Fitness and Rituals
17:38 - Surprising Rituals in the Church
18:18 - Prayer across Different Denominations
19:54 - Improvising Weddings
21:34 - The Meaning of Graduations
21:58 - Which Denominations Got Communion Right?
22:49 - Communion in the Time of Covid
24:01 - Modern Day Interpretations of Rituals
24:32 - Where Does Baptism Come From?
27:02 - How All Religious Communities Benefit from Examining Rituals
28:57 - Reframing Animal Sacrifice in Scripture
30:06 - Purpose of Rituals in Scripture
31:13 - Individualism and the Body of Christ
33:46 - Similarities in Islam and Judaism
35:37 - Learning from Muslim and Jewish People
38:01 - A Dad Joke that Makes You Go Hmmm
39:04 - Contacting Dru Johnson
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