We’ve had a fun summer of sharing recommendations with staff and faculty at the Candler School of Theology and Pitts Theology Library, and we hope you’ve enjoyed reading along with us!
Our final summer reading recommendation post for this summer comes from Israel Díaz-Freytes, Candler’s Senior Instructional Designer. In that role, Israel works with both the Office of Digital Learning and the La Mesa Academy for Theological Studies. This week, let’s see how Israel is entertaining himself when he’s not busy supporting digital coursework.
First on Israel’s list is Engaging Technology in Theological Education: All That We Can’t Leave Behind by Mary Hess. About this influential book, he says,
“I came across Mary E. Hess’ work as I was working on my doctoral thesis. I appreciated that Hess not only offers a critical look at the challenges posed by digital technologies in theological education, but also recognizes the reality that we are to engage in its use.”
This book is a staple for religious educators, even many years after its publication. By encouraging teachers to incorporate new media and technology into their pedagogy, Hess explores the ways we can critically engage technology while still staying true to Christian teachings.
Engaging Technology in Theological Education is available at Pitts.
Next is The Church of God and Its Human Face: The Contribution of Joseph A. Komonchak to Ecclesiology by Martin Madar. Joseph Komonchak is an influential Catholic theologian and priest engaged in ecclesiology. About this book devoted to Komonchak, Israel says,
“I appreciated Martin Madar’s engagement of Joseph Komanchak’s work on the local church within the context of Catholic ecclesiology in the 20th century. I particularly found his chapter on Vatican II and the Shift in Catholic ecclesiology helpfully in tracing the different ecclesial ideologies leading to Vatican II and the challenges that followed.”
The Church of God and Its Human Face is available at Pitts.
Finally, Israel recommends a podcast called The Bible for Normal People.
“I enjoy this podcast as it offers an eclectic cast of contributors to speak on contemporary critical issues relating to the Bible.”
The B4NP podcast is part of a larger organization that offers courses and publishes books and blogs, seeking to make Biblical scholarship more accessible to the general public.
The Bible for Normal People is available on their website and wherever you listen to podcasts.
