“Lessons from Thomas Aquinas for the Practice of Clinical Psychiatry” with Warren Kinghorn

On September 9, 2025, Duke University theologian and clinical psychiatrist Warren Kinghorn spoke in Professor Charles Marsh’s fall seminar on anxiety. His lecture examined the theological and philosophical foundations of mental health treatment, focusing on how agency, freedom, and medication intersect in theological contexts. Drawing on Thomas Aquinas, he showed how classical theological anthropology can inform our understanding of mental illness and psychiatric care. Read More

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On the Lived Theology Reading List: The Improbable Community

At its core, it is the aspiration of equality, inclusion, and mutual respect. While these principles may appear simple, true examples of communities that have embodied them are rare. Camp Woodland is one of those rare examples. Its founder, Norman Studer, shaped by the social and political upheavals of World War II, sought to create a summer camp that would model cultural inclusion, progressive education, and democratic values. Bill Horne, a camper deeply influenced by the lessons he learned there, later chronicled the camp’s importance within the broader sweep of American history in his book The Improbable Community. Read More

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On the Lived Theology Reading List: My Family and I

Narratives about Mississippi often focus on segregation and discrimination in the Magnolia State; however, Adam Gussow’s story chronicles love and reexamines race relations. Without dismissing Mississippi’s tumultuous history, Gussow shares his own experience, in which an interracial couple is embraced by their community in the midst of racial protests and the Black Lives Matter movement. Read More

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On the Lived Theology Reading List: Deadheads and Christians

Music and religion are often intertwined for the emotional connectivity, catharsis, and fulfillment that an individual song offers; however, rarely is a band’s cultural impact compared to biblical foundations. Finding parallels between the rise of Deadhead communities and the early Christian movement, Coogan urges readers to consider the depth of spiritual energy as it pertains to other walks of life. Read More

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On the Lived Theology Reading List: When in Romans

“When in Rome” is a well-worn phrase that encapsulates the tourist experience. Similarly, it reflects how most people engage with Paul’s letters—fleeting moments with worthwhile highlights. As a metaphor for the book of Romans, Gaventa’s work “When in Romans” invites readers to venture off the beaten path, making Romans accessible to new audiences without undermining the complexity of the letters. Read More

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On the Lived Theology Reading List: Black Religion in The Madhouse

Between the 18th and 19th centuries, a significant number of African Americans were institutionalized for a psychosis known as “religious excitement.” During this Jim Crow era, Black spirituality was often pathologized by white psychiatrists as a form of mental illness. Where a white Christian might have been praised as pious, a Black Christian would be considered delusional or deranged. Weisenfeld’s book, Black Religion in the Madhouse, explores the religious institutionalization of Black Americans and draws powerful connections to contemporary racism, particularly within mental health systems and police encounters. Read More

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