Theologian Daniel Lee Hill Discusses “Doing Theology Today” on CTI Podcast
In this episode, CTI Member Daniel Lee Hill explores what it means to do theology in a world marked by rapid cultural, social, and technological change. He begins by characterizing theology not as a static body of knowledge but as an ongoing, vibrant conversation between faith and the world. Accordingly, Hill maintains that theology must be at once deeply grounded in Christian tradition and actively responsive to the challenges presented by its current contexts. Hill contends that in our context such theology cannot remain abstract but must instead engage topics such as justice, identity, and human flourishing with intellectual honesty and pastoral sensitivity.
Throughout the discussion, Hill emphasizes two further virtues that he considers essential for contemporary theology: humility and courage. Humility, he notes, allows theologians and church leaders to listen carefully to marginalized voices and to recognize the limits of their own perspectives. Courage, by contrast, empowers theologians to critique long-held assumptions and address vexing questions facing the church and society. For Hill, both virtues are necessary for theology to proceed as a communal practice carried out within the shared life of believers, and for theology to enhance that life by informing the community’s worship and witness.
Hill concludes his reflections by considering the future of theology and theological education, envisioning a discipline that blends scholarly rigor with practical faith. He calls for a theology that remains rooted in Scripture while grappling with emerging global realities, from digital culture to pluralism and ecological concern. By integrating historical wisdom with contemporary insight, Hill offers a compelling vision for “doing theology today” as a transformative practice that shapes Christian understanding and work in the world.
Daniel Lee Hill is Assistant Professor of Christian Theology at Baylor University’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary. He is the author of Bearing Witness: What the Church Can Learn from Early Abolitionists and Gathered on the Road to Zion: Toward a Free Church-Ecclesio-Anthropology.