Dr. Joerg Rieger: Theology in the Capitalocene

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Joerg Rieger. Dr. Rieger is Distinguished Professor of Theology in the Divinity School at Vanderbilt University, the Cal Turner Chancellor’s Chair of Wesleyan Studies, and the Founding Director of the Wendland-Cook Program in Religion and Justice. Previously he was the Wendland-Cook Endowed Professor of Constructive Theology at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. He received an M.Div. from the Theologische Hochschule Reutlingen, Germany, a Th.M. from Duke Divinity School, and a Ph.D. in religion and ethics from Duke University. Rieger’s work brings together the study of theology and of the movements for liberation and justice that mark our age, exemplified by the following questions: Considering the multiple relations of religion and power, what difference does religion make, for good and for ill, and what might be the constructive contributions of theology? What are the implications of various embodiments of faith for politics, economics, and ecology? What options and alternatives can we envision and how might the tools of theology help us make appropriate choices? Rieger’s constructive work in theology draws on a wide range of historical and contemporary traditions, with a concern for the roles that images of the divine play in the pressures of everyday life, locally, nationally, and internationally. He is the author and editor of 24 books and more than 165 academic articles.  In this episode, we discuss his latest book: Theology in the Capitalocene: Ecology, Identity, Class, and Solidarity.  https://www.fortresspress.com/store/productgroup/2056/Theology-in-the-Capitalocene We explore: Riding motorcycles as a spiritual discipline  The "capitalocene" The nature of theology  Why we're afraid of class and labor relations  The "unite & conquer" strategy and why this is unhelpful for working class white people  The difference between privilege and power  Rethinking transcendence and immanence  How to think about sin from a systemic perspective  Albert Schweitzer and a “reverence for life” Paul Tillich (ultimate concern) & Friedrich Schleiermacher (absolute dependence) Deep solidarity  Toxic masculinity in light of Rieger's project   Website: https://www.joergrieger.com https://www.religionandjustice.org