karen swallow prior

Words by writer, speaker and columnist Karen Swallow Prior are heard often on The Common Good, but today Brian and Aubrey get to interview her about her most recent book: The Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images, and Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis.

The book unpacks the social imaginary, or the collective metaphors and understandings, that a group might have and pass on without even realizing it. In this case, Karen explores those held by evangelicals--for example, the concept of conversion, which was largely forgotten in the 18th century because of the relationship between the church and the state, but was brought back into vogue by evangelicals. 

Most significantly, Karen shares how the book became increasingly her personal story as she was finishing it; what started out as a more academic examination became a personal story.

Follow The Common Good on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Follow Karen Swallow Prior: @KSPrior

Hosted by Aubrey Sampson and Brian From

Produced by Laura Finch and Keith Conrad

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frederick Douglas once said, “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” And that famous philosopher, Dr. Suess once gave this directive for a flourishing life: “Fill your house with stacks of books, in all the crannies and all the nooks.” One of the greatest gifts God has given to us is the ability to read. But in today’s world, constraints on our time and our increased focus on screens has crowded out reading for most of us and for most of our kids. We need to recover a love for reading, as good reading will shape and form us in good ways. It’s because we believe this to be true that we’re chatting with author Karen Swallow Prior about the power of good books to shape our lives, our kids, our families, and our youth ministries, on this episode of Youth Culture Matters.

From classical literature to throw-away tweets, communication and language are part of how we reflect the image of a God who is revealed by his Word. This time on PEP Talk, Andy and Kristi speak with US academic and author Karen Swallow Prior, exploring the touchpoints we have with the entire human race in the great books and stories of our culture. How can we make use of these when sharing the gospel?

Dr Karen Swallow Prior is Research Professor of English and Christianity and Culture at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She has written a number of books including On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life through Great Literature (Brazos 2018). Her writing has appeared at Christianity Today, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, First Things, Vox, Relevant, Think Christian, The Gospel Coalition, Religion News Service, Books and Culture and other places. She is a founding member of The Pelican Project, a Senior Fellow at the Trinity Forum, a Senior Fellow at the International Alliance for Christian Education, and a member of the Faith Advisory Council of the Humane Society of the United States. 

Facebook: Karen Swallow Prior

Instagram: karenswallowprior

Twitter: @KSPrior