DISCERNING Cultural Wisdom & Foolishness with William Dyrness (ep. 27)

On this episode of the podcast, I had the special treat of interviewing my doctoral supervisor, William (Bill) Dyrness about his new book, The Facts on the Ground: A Wisdom Theology of Culture. I tell the story of how I came to study with Bill, and talk shop with him about our shared interest in theology and culture. Among the topics we discuss: 

• Bill's story – which includes work as a missionary, study with Dutch scholar Hans Rookmaaker, theologizing about visual art, and theological reflection on numerous topics – what ties all of these interests together?
• On why it is so important that we deal with "the facts on the ground" and learn to discern "cultural wisdom" as we engage the world in which we live.
• On how we deal with the critique that in our desire to discern God's work within culture, we might be overly optimistic, giving God credit for the wrong things
• On what criteria we might use to discern wisdom from foolishness.
• On how Bill connected with the Kuyperian tradition, what he appreciates about it, and what he thinks we need to critique. 
• The difference between cultural theology and public theology, and what he hopes culturally attuned theologians will give their attention to.

Get Bill Dyrness's new book, The Facts on the Ground: https://www.amazon.com/Facts-Ground-Wisdom-Theology-Culture/dp/1725299631

Get Bill's earlier book, Poetic Theology: https://www.amazon.com/Poetic-Theology-Poetics-Everyday-Life/dp/080286578X