002: David Larsen on Christian Placemaking

In this thought-provoking episode of Working Theology, hosts Brandon Giella and Parker Smith engage with special guest, David Larsen, PhD, a senior research fellow at the Kirby Lang Center for Public Theology in Cambridge, to delve into the concept of 'placemaking' within theology, work, and technology. Beginning with a discussion on AI-powered deepfake tools and their potential to transform our reality perception and create immersive virtual worlds, they transition into an in-depth examination of 'placemaking.' Introduced by Larsen from his doctoral research, this term refers to the crafting of meaningful experiences in physical spaces, with his focus being on 'Christian Placemaking' or 'Canonical Placemaking.' This episode intertwines this concept with the 'Kingdom of God,' explores its physical aspects, and reflects on its alignment with scriptural elements and our everyday creations. Additionally, the hosts explore the grand Biblical narrative from the placemaking perspective, considering humanity's role in this divine process and the intertwining of salvation within the grander placemaking narrative. Concluding with a heartfelt benediction by Larsen for theologians and biblical scholars, this episode weaves together theology, philosophy, and technology, stimulating profound discussions about placemaking and its implications on our lives and work.

Links:

• Full body deepfakes including background using Runway Gen-1 & Elevenlabs
• RunwayML

workingtheology.com