Cultural Encounters

Endorsements

Cultural Encounters constructively tackles challenging questions around what it means to be faithful to the Gospel of Christ in a broken world. The journal provides meaningful discourse and reflection around numerous issues that concern the church while embracing a Christ-centered approach to a multitude of injustices and areas of social action that affect the world. Since I first became acquainted with Cultural Encounters more than ten years ago, I've appreciated the thoughtful and meaningful insights that might be gleaned from its contributions.

—Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, executive director Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) and author of several books including Beyond Hashtag Activism: Comprehensive Justice in a Complicated Age and Social Justice Handbook: Small Steps for a Better World.

“What is a faithful witness in our fractured society? Around this question, Cultural Encounters captures the voice of a broader movement. In line with the deep traditions of the Church, we want a better way forward to the common good. A confessional faith in the Risen One, a faith too confident for grasps at power. Moral integrity entwined with empathy. Peacemaking that does not shrink back from conflict. Scholarly work engaged with pastoral concerns, speaking to our common humanity. Sought after here is the faithful witness, that better way.”

—S. Joshua Swamidass MD PhD, Founder of Peaceful Science, Associate Professor of Laboratory and Genomic Medicine, Washington University in St Louis

"If there was ever a time to think clearly and deeply about what the gospel means in our world, cutting through all the religious propaganda and confusion, it is now. Cultural Encounters guides us to put on a trinitarian, christocentric imagination to theologically engage the world in all of its complexity. Accessible, yet still rigorous, it is the kind of resource that the Church needs more of today."

—Daniel D. Lee, PhD, Assistant Provost for the Center for Asian American Theology and Ministry and Assistant Professor of Theology and Asian American Ministry, Fuller Theological Seminary

“Cultural Encounters does a creative and stimulating job of bringing together what is far too often torn asunder. In these pages you will find biblically-grounded, theologically-informed reflections on how we might more faithfully participate in what God is doing in this world—with all of its challenges and assets. CE is an exceptional conversation partner for Christians who want to think deeply about what God has called them to be and do, and is a helpful  resource for those who seek to better understand what generous, thoughtful, faithful Christianity can look like in the 21st century.”

—Kelly D. Liebengood, Dean of the School of Theology and Vocation, LeTourneau University

“Cultural Encounters is a publication that works from a foundation in faith and that works to address contemporary issues thoughtfully, and to engage with experts in a variety of areas to bring their insights to bear. This journal should be interesting to anybody but especially to young people whose futures will intersect with modern issues that deserve careful reflection, and Cultural Encounters recognizes that ignoring those issues is not the same thing as solving them. If you are looking for a lively, engaged, thoughtful, faith-based journal, I strongly recommend Cultural Encounters.”

—Dr. Steven A. Kolmes, Molter Chair in Science, University of Portland

“I am privileged to be a contributor to this outstanding journal that brings together Christ-centered scholarship, cutting edge social issues, and a heart for ministry in the 21st century world. Highly recommended.”

—John W. Morehead, Director of the Evangelical Chapter of the Foundation for Religious Diplomacy and a part of the Multi-faith Matters Collaborative Inquiry Team funded by a grant from the Louisville Institute.

“Cultural Encounters is a timely and important journal because it seeks to understand culture in light of the revelation of the triune God acting within history to reconcile and redeem all aspects of human history, including culture. What makes this a journal that academic theologians will want to read and contribute to is the fact that it aims to reflect on the relation of Christianity and culture in an academically rigorous manner.

—Paul D. Molnar, Professor of Systematic Theology, St. John’s University, New York.

“There is so much quality literature to enrich life experience that I have begun to be critically selective as to what book, or magazine, or blog I will put on my list to read. On rare occasions I might spy out of the corner of my eye some piece not on the list, but still luring me to take a look.  Few of these competitors make it onto my list. Cultural Encounters made the list two years ago. Bright covers, the right length of articles, a wide selection of topics by diverse thought leaders, and subtlety subversive enough to penetrate the density of our current world as a “journal of the theology of culture.” Pick it up and you will not put it down.”  

—Robert Lyman Potter, M.D. Ph.D. Senior Scholar Emeritus for the OHSU Center for Healthcare Ethics, Portland, OR.  

"One sign of the recovery of the importance of a specifically theological engagement with culture was the birth of Cultural Encounters. This journal ... provides a much needed forum for Christians from a variety of ecclesial backgrounds and who represent a diversity of theological viewpoints to engage in a scholarly conversation about the implications of a central evangelical conviction they hold in common, namely, the acknowledgment that Jesus Christ is the Lord of Culture."

—Stanley J. Grenz, author of The Social God and the Relational Self

“It is indeed welcome to have a journal devoted to exploring the interconnections between theology and culture in a sensitive and sincere manner. For those of us coming from contexts where Christianity exists in the midst of economic disparity and religious plurality, the hope is that this journal functions as a forum where triumphalism is problematized; where arrogance is criticized; where insensitivity is interrogated; and self-sufficiency is challenged; and where generally excluded and ignored voices are listened to with respect, in a spirit of honest engagement and interaction, recognizing the polychromatic dimensions of our faith.”

—J. Jayakiran Sebastian, H. George Anderson Professor of Mission and Cultures and Dean of United Lutheran Seminary.