The Two Cities Podcast. Biblical Critical Theory with Dr. Christopher Watkin
Biblical Critical Theory with Dr. Christopher Watkin (Podcast)
Show notes:
In this episode we’re joined by Dr. Christopher Watkin to talk about Biblical Critical Theory. Dr. Watkin is Senior Lecturer in French Studies at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, and he’s the author of Biblical Critical Theory: How The Bible’s Unfolding Story Makes Sense of Modern Life and Culture (published by Zondervan). In our conversation, Dr. Watkin talks about how all critical theories speak out against the status quo, and that the Bible itself offers us a storied version of a critical theory. In particular, Dr. Watkin emphasizes how the story of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, invites Christians to a third way to approach culture that is neither simply demolitional nor straightforwardly affirming. It does so, he contends, not as a metanarrative, but as a mesonarrative, a story that unfolds in the midst of history rather than standing over and above it. As he explains, all critical theories make life viable, visible, valuable, and the Bible’s own critical theory does so as well. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. Amber Bowen, Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Stephanie Kate Judd, Rev. Daniel Parham, and Rev. Dr. Chris Porter.
