Philip Friesen brings 40 years of mission experience on four continents to his work among international scholars at the University of Minnesota where he serves at Stadium Village Church and leads the scholarly efforts of the Galilean Fellows, a community of scholars engaging the culture and thought of the contemporary world with Jesus and the Scriptures.
He is a graduate of Wheaton College and holds advanced degrees from Northwestern University and Bethel Seminary. His ministry has taken him to Africa, Latin America, East Asia, and the University of Minnesota. He has just completed writing a book called The Old Testament Roots of Nonviolence for Jesus.
Philip lives in Minneapolis with his wife, Kim (Vu Thi Thien Kim), who serves on the Executive Board of MC USA.
Subject #1: Mysticism and Faith
Description of Content: Topics on mystery, marriage, meditation deal with the mystery of life in the confusing world of sex and religion, both of which point to God.
The Mystery of Marriage and the Mystery of God
Buddhist Mysticism and the New Testament
Subject #2: Violence, War, and Peace in the Bible
Description of content: Each topic speaks to one aspect of material in the speaker’s new book, The Old Testament Roots of Nonviolence for Jesus, summarized as follows: Force controls force in a world deficient of trust. Social structures of domination, specifically, patriarchy, monarchy, and slavery came into existence in a world where only the fittest survive. Grace entered that world of the Old Testament, but not without struggle. Jesus brought that grace to its zenith and restored the trust needed for ending all structures of domination and for building a new order. Electronic copies of the manuscript are available by contacting the author.
Topics: Origins of Institutional Violence in Scripture
Social Vision and Military Affairs according to scripture
Wars of the Gods and Divinely Ordained Violence
Jesus’ Influence on Social Change (How Things Actually Change)