CULTURE | Aliens & Multiverse Theories

05/24/22 • 68 min

In this episode, Abigail Favale shares a conversation with philosophy professor Isaac Choi spanning from the existence of aliens to artificial intelligence takeover. Does Christian Theology actually lend itself to the possibility of extra-terrestrial life? How does ancient philosophy address ideas that we might consider to be “science fiction?” What are the most prominent contemporary theories about the multiverse?

Dr. Isaac Choi studied physics and chemistry at Harvard College. He received two masters from Princeton Theological Seminary in philosophy and theology, writing a thesis on divine action, quantum mechanics, and computer simulations. His doctoral dissertation in philosophy at the University of Notre Dame was on the nature and epistemology of expertise, centered on the question of how we should decide between disagreeing experts.

Professor Abigail Favale completed her doctorate at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, where she was a recipient of the competitive Overseas Research Award. In 2011, her dissertation was granted the Samuel Rutherford Prize for the most distinguished thesis in English literature.
Check out Abigail's academic profile.

To connect with more of her work, visit her website.

These podcasts are also all video recorded and on our YouTube channel! You can also visit our website at https://georgefox.edu/talks for more content like this.

To connect with more of her work, visit her website.

These podcasts are also all video recorded and on our YouTube channel! You can also visit our website at https://georgefox.edu/talks for more content like this.

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WELLNESS | Diversity in Healthcare

In this episode, Daniel Kang talks with Dr. Amber Nelson and Dr. Danny Rodriguez about how a patient’s cultural identity affects the experience of the healthcare system. What does it mean to be a minority group patient? How can mentorship and inter-professional education help shape a more effective and inclusive healthcare system? What does the system look like when it is operating well?

Dr. Amber Nelson joined George Fox as an assistant professor of clinical psychology in 2019. An alumna of George Fox, from which she earned a doctorate in clinical psychology (2016) and both master’s (2014) and bachelor’s (2009) degrees in psychology, she worked the previous three years as a pediatric psychologist at the Kennedy Krieger Institute & Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, where she completed two years of postdoctoral fellowship and joined as a licensed staff psychologist in August of 2018.

Dr. Danny Rodriguez is an assistant professor of clinical psychology in the Doctor of Psychology program at George Fox University.

An alumnus of George Fox, from which he earned both a doctorate in psychology (2019) and a bachelor’s degree in the discipline (2013), he worked the previous year as a behavioral health provider for the Providence Medical Group in Sherwood, serving as a licensed psychologist for patients confronting depression, anxiety, mood disorders, and other issues. In the year prior, he was a postdoctoral fellow (2019-20) and psychology intern (2018-19) with I Ola Lãhui Rural Hawaii Behavioral Health in Hawaii.

The host for this episode, Dr. Daniel Kang, joined George Fox’s Department of Physical Therapy as an assistant professor of physical therapy in 2013. Previously, he worked for nine years as owner and lead physical therapist of Kang Physical Therapy Inc. of Ventura, California. His teaching experience includes stints as an instructor of kinesiology at California State University of Channel Islands and as a teaching assistant of anatomy and physiology at Loma Linda University. He is in the process of earning a graduate certification of medical physiology with a specialization in cardiovascular/renal physiology and pathophysiology from the University of Florida. He holds a doctor of physical therapy degree (2004), a master’s degree in physical therapy (2002) and a bachelor’s degree in health science (2002), all from Loma Linda University.

These podcasts are also all video recorded and on our YouTube channel! You can also visit our website at https://georgefox.edu/talks for more content like this.

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THEOLOGY | Cultural Lenses & Traditional Education

In this episode, Joseph Clair meets with Dr. Angel Adams Parham to discuss classical education, sociology, homeschooling, and more. How do cultural lenses affect the way we read classical literature? How could the concept of a “generous Canon” change how we understand history?

Angel Adams Parham is Associate Professor of Sociology and senior fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture at the University of Virginia. She works in the area of historical sociology, engaging in research and writing that examine the past in order to better understand how to live well in the present and envision wisely for the future. Her research and teaching are inspired by classical philosophies of living and learning that emphasize the pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty. She shares this love of classical learning with her daughters and through Nyansa Classical Community, an educational non-profit which seeks to cultivate knowledge and wisdom to transform a generation.

Our host, Joseph Clair, serves as the executive dean of the Cultural Enterprise at George Fox University, which encompasses the humanities, theology, education, and professional studies. He is also an associate professor of theology and culture. Before joining the George Fox faculty in 2013, he earned his PhD in the religion, ethics and politics program at Princeton University while also working as an assistant in instruction. Prior to Princeton, Clair earned an MPhil at the University of Cambridge as a Gates Cambridge Scholar. He also holds master’s degrees from Fordham and Duke University, as well as a bachelor’s degree from Wheaton College.

These podcasts are also all video recorded and on our YouTube channel! You can also visit our website at https://georgefox.edu/talks for more content like this.