Cross Connections

About Cross Connections

Finding our connection points and the turns in our lives and faith journeys together. Podcast by St. David's, Radnor an Episcopal Church in Wayne, PA.

Publisher

St. David's Church, Radnor

Category

religion & spirituality

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

1 Feb 2023

Latest episode

28 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

134 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   28 Oct 2026

   God, the Unfinished Universe, and AI with Franciscan Sister and Neuroscientist, Ilia Delio

   This week we conclude our Science and Faith series with a conversation with Sister Ilia Delio, a Franciscan sister and theologian who trained as a neuroscientist before entering religious life. She tells us how looking at a single neuron under an electron microscope first opened her to “the mysteries of creation.” From there we turn to evolution as the great story of our age, and to how an unfinished, still-unfolding universe might change the way we picture God. We hear about the remarkable and lonely life of the Jesuit paleontologist Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, and how the women in his life kept his work from being lost. Finally, we ask what all of this means for artificial intelligence: a technology some of us love and some of us fear. More about Ilia: Ilia Delio, OSF, PhD, is a Franciscan Sister of Washington DC, and Professor at Villanova University. She is the Founder and Executive Director of the World Institute for Science, Religion and Culture, an online educational forum focused on integrative thinking and personal formation. She is the author of over twenty-five books. Ilia graduated with a B.S. in Biology from DeSales University, a master’s degree in biology from Seton Hall University, a doctorate in Pharmacology from Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School, and a doctorate in Historical Theology from Fordham University. She is also the recipient of four Honorary degrees, as well as the Association for Catholic Colleges and Universities Monika Hellwig Award for her contributions to the Catholic Intellectual Tradition. Her area of research is Systematic-Constructive theology with a focus on religion and evolution, following the vision of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. She continues to develop a new framework of God, self, and world through the integration of science and religion, mapping the next level of human evolution in an age of artificial intelligence. Some of Sister Ilia Delio’s books The Unbearable Wholeness of Being: God, Evolution, and the Power of Love (https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-unbearable-wholeness-of-being-god-evolution-and-the-power-of-love-ilia-delio-o-s-f/ad8e50e7c4254d77) (Orbis, 2013). The hosts quote its preface. The Not-Yet God: Carl Jung, Teilhard de Chardin, and the Relational Whole (https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-not-yet-god-carl-jung-teilhard-de-chardin-and-the-relational-whole-ilia-delio/463b786e83935a03) (Orbis, 2023) The Christian Mutation: Reclaiming the Dynamic God of Jesus (https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-christian-mutation-reclaiming-the-dynamic-god-of-the-jesus-ilia-delio/9ada061559385915) (Orbis, forthcoming - October 28, 2026) Re-Enchanting the Earth: Why AI Needs Religion (https://bookshop.org/p/books/re-enchanting-the-earth-why-ai-needs-religion-ilia-delio/34b3f242ccebb1c5) (Orbis, 2020) Theology and religion Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (https://bookshop.org/beta-search?keywords=Pierre+Teilhard+de+Chardin): the cosmic Christ, the Omega Point, the noosphere, and his question, “Who will give evolution its own God?” Robert Bellah, Religion in Human Evolution (https://bookshop.org/p/books/religion-in-human-evolution-from-the-paleolithic-to-the-axial-age-robert-n-bellah/6066a74f2b41b654) (2011) Karl Jaspers on the Axial Age (The Origin and Goal of History (https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-origin-and-goal-of-history-karl-jaspers/34b522f8e5354a5b)) John D. Caputo, The Weakness of God (https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-weakness-of-god-a-theology-of-the-event-john-d-caputo/306bdce707c93051) (2006) Pope Leo XIV, Magnifica Humanitas (https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html) (dated May 15, 2026), his encyclical on AI Thank you for listening to Cross Connections. Be sure to follow or like us on your favorite podcasting app to find us easily each week, or join our email list at ⁠⁠⁠https://stdavidschurch.org/crossconnections/ (https://stdavidschurch.org/crossconnections/) We love getting your questions and comments! Leave us a voicemail at 484.588.5656 or send us an email at crossconnections@stdavidschurch.org (mailto: crossconnections@stdavidschurch.org). If you like what you hear, please share this episode with your friends and rate us in Spotify and Apple podcasts so other people can find us as well. And if you really love what you hear, you can donate to St. David's Church at https://stdavidschurch.org/giving/ (https://stdavidschurch.org/giving/ )and write "Cross Connections" in the memo line. Logo graphic design by Natalee Hill. Podcast editing by BLiNCK Studios https://www.blinckstudios.com/ (https://www.blinckstudios.com/) in collaboration with our hosts. Stock Media Music provided by Marscott and MoodMode / Pond5. Cross Connections is a ministry of St. David’s Episcopal Church in Wayne, PA. You are welcome to learn more about all of St. David’s worship and ministries at https://stdavidschurch.org/ (https://stdavidschurch.org/)

2. 

   21 Oct 2026

   Understanding Origin Stories: Is there truth in both Genesis and evolution?

   In this second part of this Science and Faith series, your hosts take on one of the biggest sticking points between faith and science: The origins of the universe and of humanity. Elliot begins by telling a story of how a class on evolution nearly pushed him into atheism until an Old Testament professor taught him to read Genesis "literarily, not literally." The hosts then look at the two creation stories in Genesis and come to the conclusion that a literal “six-day creation” was never the traditional reading. Along the way, they talk about Galileo, the "firmament," divine accommodation, and how a Latin mistranslation of Romans 5:12 helped shape the doctrine of original sin. They close by declaring that these holy and ancient stories are really about who God is and who we are, and they set up next week's conversation with Franciscan nun and noted scientist Sister Ilia Delio. Some resources mentioned in this episode: Paula Fredriksen, “Sin: The Early History of an Idea (https://bookshop.org/p/books/sin-the-early-history-of-an-idea-paula-fredriksen/c889324701d97971)” (2012). “AlphaGo (https://youtu.be/WXuK6gekU1Y?si=rUXrX2dPocP0PFMZ)” (2017). A film that is available online. The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy (https://library.dts.edu/Pages/TL/Special/ICBI_1.pdf), 1978. The Latin Vulgate's reading of Romans 5:12 (https://vulgate.org/nt/epistle/romans_5.htm) ("in whom all have sinned"). Also, check out these earlier Cross Connections episodes on Genesis and reading the Bible: Genesis: The Beginning (1-21) (https://open.spotify.com/episode/3oSZHFOEXtOVf9NzyJDj4b?si=tog6BxDATbmm9FuBvvE-Ww) Genesis: The Beginning (1-21) BONUS Content (https://open.spotify.com/episode/5l1CiloUY4magBTt4xuYP8?si=S1LUM3IfTf-gT7n7avwoeQ) Genesis: Chapters 22-50 (end) (https://open.spotify.com/episode/5ILQ6F0Hhz4S5mrYJGolKD?si=1c-B8epVReyBdsO0WgIdRQ) How do I read the Bible? (https://open.spotify.com/episode/00jEiR2cOBkk2CKkBdwChD?si=Sr_wNNguSwyNcnOtb444qQ) [BONUS] Answering your Bible Questions (https://open.spotify.com/episode/182EJDxfJb7YMo6g2Qa4zO?si=lFvLc4KzRt-pwmISDGoSqQ) Thank you for listening to Cross Connections. Be sure to follow or like us on your favorite podcasting app to find us easily each week, or join our email list at ⁠⁠⁠https://stdavidschurch.org/crossconnections/ (https://stdavidschurch.org/crossconnections/) We love getting your questions and comments! Leave us a voicemail at 484.588.5656 or send us an email at crossconnections@stdavidschurch.org (mailto: crossconnections@stdavidschurch.org). If you like what you hear, please share this episode with your friends and rate us in Spotify and Apple podcasts so other people can find us as well. And if you really love what you hear, you can donate to St. David's Church at https://stdavidschurch.org/giving/ (https://stdavidschurch.org/giving/) and write "Cross Connections" in the memo line. Logo graphic design by Natalee Hill. Podcast editing by BLiNCK Studios (https://www.blinckstudios.com/) in collaboration with our hosts. Stock Media Music provided by Marscott and MoodMode / Pond5. Cross Connections is a ministry of St. David’s Episcopal Church in Wayne, PA. You are welcome to learn more about all of St. David’s worship and ministries at https://stdavidschurch.org/ (https://stdavidschurch.org/)

3. 

   14 Oct 2026

   Are Science and Faith at Odds?

   Today we begin a new series on faith and science, where we look at whether these two disciplines are compatible, how the intersection of faith and science have personally affected the three hosts, and whether Rick can prove the existence of God with some fancy astrophysics. As the hosts mention in the episode, science and faith is a regular topic among young people and people struggling with their faith. While some may assume that one can’t “believe in science” while also being a Christian, there are many Christians who think that actually…you can. In the second episode in this three-part series, we’ll talk about the origins of the universe and of humanity, and in the final episode we’ll talk to scientist and Franciscan nun, Sr. Ilia Delio on how science and faith can inform each other. Here are some resources mentioned in this episode: “Faith Unraveled (https://bookshop.org/p/books/faith-unraveled-how-a-girl-who-knew-all-the-answers-learned-to-ask-questions-rachel-held-evans/26b15394eebfa898 )” (formerly “Evolving in Monkey Town”) and “Searching for Sunday (https://bookshop.org/p/books/searching-for-sunday-loving-leaving-and-finding-the-church-rachel-held-evans/74ed7766cd451120 )” by Rachel Held Evans. “Just Six Numbers (https://bookshop.org/p/books/just-six-numbers-the-deep-forces-that-shape-the-universe-martin-rees/5e7c382892b4b4a0 )” by Lord Martin Rees. A video by Rick Morley (https://youtu.be/QwWdvWEnmpU?is=1-D1-ZxqFN9-RSDD) which summarizes the findings in Rees's book. Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism (https://bookshop.org/p/books/rescuing-the-bible-from-fundamentalism-a-bishop-rethinks-this-meaning-of-script-john-shelby-spong/b18158b218dd179b )” by John Shelby Spong. Thank you for listening to Cross Connections. Be sure to follow or like us on your favorite podcasting app to find us easily each week, or join our email list at ⁠⁠⁠https://stdavidschurch.org/crossconnections/ (https://stdavidschurch.org/crossconnections/) We love getting your questions and comments! Leave us a voicemail at 484.588.5656 or send us an email at crossconnections@stdavidschurch.org (mailto: crossconnections@stdavidschurch.org). If you like what you hear, please share this episode with your friends and rate us in Spotify and Apple podcasts so other people can find us as well. And if you really love what you hear, you can donate to St. David's Church at https://stdavidschurch.org/giving/ (https://stdavidschurch.org/giving/) and write "Cross Connections" in the memo line. Logo graphic design by Natalee Hill. Podcast editing by BLiNCK Studios in collaboration with our hosts. Stock Media Music provided by Marscott and MoodMode / Pond5. Cross Connections is a ministry of St. David’s Episcopal Church in Wayne, PA. You are welcome to learn more about all of St. David’s worship and ministries at https://stdavidschurch.org/ (https://stdavidschurch.org/)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

20 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

15 ratings

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Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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