TheoEd—A Modern-day Areopagus

This weekend in Orlando Florida at St. Luke’s UMC, The Candler Foundry will host its 13^th TheoEd event. We gather the best thinkers in the church and the academy and invite them to give a polished, brief talk that engages with their ideas. This is similar to the format of the popular TED Talks but in the realm of theology, faith, and spirituality.

While TheoEd is the creation of our TCF director Ryan Bonfiglio, the notion of what TheoEd does isn’t new. In fact, we can find a good example right in our own Bibles! In Acts 17:16-34, Paul goes to Athens. The writer of Acts says that the Athenians would gather at the Areopagus (a hill in the city) to hear new ideas. It was a neutral place for people to engage new or different concepts and ways of thinking. When some folks hear Paul talking about the resurrection of Jesus, they take him to the Areopagus so that others can hear what he has to say.

As he stands in their midst, Paul begins by stating his own premise: the God ofIsrael is the one God who made the world and the only God deserving of worship. He riffs a little bit on a quotation from the prophet Isaiah but doesn’t specify it as such.

Then Paul quotes some Greco-Roman poetry, words that they are familiar with and that have profound meaning for them: “for in Him we live and move and have our being, a seven some of your own poets have said, ‘for we are also His offspring.’”

After Paul concludes his brief talk atop the Areopagus, some of the attendees say that they want to hear more. What they hear in that (20 minute?) talk sparks questions and discussion. The text tells us that later—as a result—“some joined Paul and believed.” What began as an interesting new idea became a journey faith for some people. It became relationships and community with the rest ofGod’s family.

This is what TheoEd strives to do: to get people together, to hear new or different ideas, and to spark reflection and conversation in the days and weeks afterward. During the event, we invite the audience to submit questions for the speakers to answer and discuss after all the talks have been given. After the event, we not only post the talks on our website, but we also offer free discussion guides so that people can watch the talks together and have more conversation about and from them.

Like the Areopagus, we draw lots of different speakers from different areas of expertise: scientists, activists, writers, clergy, teachers, entrepreneurs, musicians, and artists. Like the ancient Athenians, you never know where the next fresh insight will come from! And like Paul, you might find connections made between seemingly unrelated parts of life and society.

We also try to keep it in an open space. While we occasionally hold the events in churches (like this time), we more often have it in theatres and civic centers. Even if it’s in a decidedly religious space, the talks are not sermons nor are they lectures. They are designed to be accessible for people who just want to have something to think and talk about.

So, rekindle the spirit of ancient Athens and join us on Friday evening for TheoEdOrlando!