Season 3
In this podcast I explore how images influence our understanding of reality and the sacred through conversations with thought leaders on art, visual culture, and religion. Each episode delves into a different area of visual theology, opening to spiritual wisdom while deconstructing an image-saturated world.
You can also access all episodes in Radix Magazine. The podcast is also featured on the website for the Foundation for Spirituality and the Arts.
Podcast Platforms
Listen and subscribe on your favorite apps
EPISODE 1
Mark McInroy
Theological Aesthetics Explored
Mark is Professor of Theology and Founding Co-Director of the Claritas Initiative on Beauty, Goodness, and Truth at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is a constructive and historical theologian with interests in theological aesthetics, theology and the arts, mystical theology, and theories of perception, along with other arenas of inquiry.
​
He is the author of Balthasar on the Spiritual Senses: Perceiving Splendour, and co-edited Image as Theology: The Power of Art in Shaping Christian Thought, Devotion, and Imagination, and The Oxford Handbook of Hans Urs von Balthasar.
​
In this conversation, Mark and I discuss the meaning and importance of theological aesthetics and its emphasis on materiality as a means of divine disclosure, as well as how it might address ideas about judgment and the problem of evil. We also consider the influence of Hans Urs von Balthasar on contemporary ideas related to art and religion, the meaning of beauty as a divine attribute, and the role of beauty, truth, and goodness across various disciplines, including education and science.
EPISODE 2
Jennifer Awes Freeman
Evolving Religious Imagery
Jennifer is the Associate Professor and Program Director of Theology and the Arts at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities. Her recent publications include The Good Shepherd: Image, Meaning, and Power and The Ashburnham Pentateuch and its Contexts. Jennifer earned her PhD in Religion (Historical Studies) from Vanderbilt University, where she focused on early medieval art and theological controversies. Before that, she graduated with an MAR in Visual Studies from the Institute of Sacred Music at Yale Divinity School.
​
In this conversation, Jennifer and I explored the agency of images, the implications of iconoclasm, and the evolution of religious representation as it applies to the concepts of the Good Shepherd and the Trinity. We also delved into ritual theory, viewer reception, and the impact of digital culture on our engagement with religious images. Our conversation also addressed the materiality of art, the way perspectives on imagery vary across different Christian traditions, and the importance of presence in both religious and secular art. ​
EPISODE 3
Rina Arya
Abjection and Aesthetics
Rina is a Professor of Critical and Cultural Theory at the University of Hull, UK. She started her academic career working on the role of the sacred in death of God culture, especially in the paintings of Francis Bacon and writings of Georges Bataille, resulting in her acclaimed book Francis Bacon: Painting in a Godless World. Her work on Bacon led to research in abjection where she wrote a number of articles and books on the subject, notably Abjection and Representation. Rina is completing her next book on the cultural appropriation of Hinduism.
​
In this conversation, Rina and I explored the areas of intersection between contemporary art and theology, focusing on theological aesthetics, embodiment, abjection, and the role of materiality in religious practices. We also discussed how contemporary artists engage with religious motifs, the impact of digital culture on spiritual experiences, and the importance of contemplative spaces in art. Additionally, we spoke about the evolving nature of religious expression in art and considered the potential for interfaith dialogue through artistic practices.
EPISODE 4
Peter Casarella
Cultural Symbols in Religion
Peter has been a Professor at Duke Divinity School since 2020. Before Duke, he taught at Notre Dame and was the founding director of DePaul’s Center for World Catholicism and Intercultural Theology. He has published a monograph, Word as Bread: Language and Theology in Nicholas of Cusa. On November 15, 2024, his edited volume of the essays of Louis Dupré, Thinking the Unknowable, appeared with the University of Notre Dame Press.
​
In this conversation, Peter and I explored the relationship between art and theology with a focus on both theological aesthetics and the prophetic role of art. We discussed the influence of the Holy Spirit in the creative process, the significance of cultural symbols, and the contributions of Santero artists in Latin American culture. Our dialogue also touched on the impact of Thomas Merton in visual art, the role of reredos and moradas in Christian art history, and the blending of Spanish and indigenous traditions in Latino art as a reflection of cultural identity and spirituality.
EPISODE 5
Elissa Yukiko Weichbrodt
Transforming Through Art
Elissa is an associate professor of art and art history at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia, and a Norris and Billie Little Endowed Scholar. She received her M.A. and PhD in art history from Washington University in St. Louis, where her research focused on contemporary art, the body, and empathy. Her scholarly publications include essays on contemporary Black female photographers, patronage of Hawaiian landscape paintings, and photographs of the Japanese American internment. Elissa’s broader writing and teaching explores representations of race and gender and the relationship between art and spiritual formation. Her first book, Redeeming Vision: A Christian Guide to Looking at and Learning from Art was published in 2023 and won several awards.
​
In this conversation, Elissa and I explored how art can play a transformative role in our spiritual journey. We discussed the role of the Christian viewer, the ethical dimension of visual culture, and the importance of engaging with art in a way that helps us grow in our faith. We talked about how art can challenge our perceptions, encourage curiosity, and foster deeper connections with the divine and with each other.