Smaller Politics - A Conversation with Jeff Wheeldon

Initially, my childhood friend Jeff Wheeldon thought he was going to be a pastor. Then, he thought he was going to be a theology professor. But then, he ended up in politics. Some of you may be excited to hear I’m interviewing a Christian who happens to be in politics. Some of you might get a little skittish. If you’re in the latter category, stick with us. I think you’ll find that Jeff is breaking the mold in terms of what it means to be a Christian in politics. We talk about theology, politics, political theology, and… swans. Note: Because Personalist Manifesto(s) strives to be non-partisan, it is important to mention that this conversation is not a political ad or endorsement. It’s simply one friend speaking to another about the above topics.

Bio

Jeff Wheeldon loves his family, playing tabletop games with his friends and kids, and managing complex systems to make a better world. He paints miniatures, is working on his first novel, and serves as a municipal councillor in Brighton, Ontario. He's a big fan of Jesus, and is learning to love himself and everyone else too.

Links

Jeff's blog: https://jeffwheeldon.ca/blog/

Jeff's publications: https://sociologyandchristianity.org/index.php/jsc/article/view/281

Additional Resources

Astra Taylor, Massey Lectures / The Age of Insecurity: https://www.cbc.ca/radiointeractives/ideas/2023-cbc-massey-lectures-astra-taylor

Marva Dawn, Powers, Weakness, and the Tabernacling of God: https://www.eerdmans.com/9780802847706/powers-weakness-and-the-tabernacling-of-god/

Walter Wink, The Powers Trilogy: https://www.goodreads.com/series/55665-powers

Greg Boyd, Satan and the Problem of Evil: https://reknew.org/book/satan-the-problem-of-evil-constructing-a-trinitarian-warfare-theodicy/

Donella Meadows, Thinking in Systems: https://www.chelseagreen.com/product/thinking-in-systems/

Michael Banner, Ethics of Everyday Life: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/ethics-of-everyday-life-9780198722069?cc=ca&lang=en&

Club of Rome, Limits to Growth: https://www.clubofrome.org/publication/the-limits-to-growth/

Jacques Ellul, Theology and Technique: https://wipfandstock.com/9781725259775/theology-and-technique/

Jonathan Haidt, The Righteous Mind: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/73535/the-righteous-mind-by-jonathan-haidt/

E.F. Schumacher, Small is Beautiful: https://www.amazon.ca/Small-Beautiful-Economics-People-Mattered/dp/0099225611