Episode 29: Criminalization in Acts of the Apostles with Jeremy L Williams

It Means What It Means

In this conversation, Dr. Jeremy L. Williams discusses his research on criminalization in the book of Acts and its relevance to contemporary issues of power and justice. He explores the concept of criminalization as a cultural artifact and the ways in which it is influenced by socio-political location. Dr. Williams also examines the terminology of missionary and evangelism, highlighting the subversive nature of gospel proclamation. He emphasizes the need to challenge power structures and reevaluate perspectives in order to create a more just world. Dr. Jeremy L. Williams discusses his book and the importance of using antiquity to understand mass incarceration. He emphasizes the need to be faithful to Christian origins and to approach scripture with a hermeneutic of ignorance. Dr. Williams also explores the role of imagination in reimagining systems and linking criminalized peoples across time. He recommends reading Afrofuturist literature for fun and shares his thoughts on doom scrolling and dreaming better dreams.