6-21-26 - Embracing the Uncomfortable: From Smallpox to AI
These are the readings for the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost; Genesis 21:8-21 and Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17, Jeremiah 20:7-13 and Psalm 69:7-10, (11-15), 16-18, with Romans 6:1b-11, and Matthew 10:24-39. This week in the podcast, we explore themes of fear, rejection, and trust in God's presence even in uncomfortable or uncertain moments. Our science tie-in dives into the controversial 1721 Boston smallpox inoculation campaign led by Cotton Mather and Dr. Zabdiel Boylston, sparked by the knowledge of an enslaved African man named Onesimus, and the violent backlash they faced for embracing this early breakthrough. We draw a modern parallel to the fears surrounding AI, especially its growing role in medicine. Tune in for a reflection on how faith calls us to embrace change, stay open to new ideas, and trust that God remains with us through it all. Let me know what you think of it.
Remember to answer this week's question:
Where do you need more reflection? #FaithandSciPod [https://twitter.com/hashtag/faithandscipodcast?src=hashtag_click]
If you're wanting to hear other podcasts on these texts check out:
6-25-23 - Migrating Beyond our Borders! [https://thefaithandsciencepodcast.podbean.com/e/6-25-23-migrating-beyond-our-borders/]
6-21-20 - Persecution is Part of Our Christian Character [https://thefaithandsciencepodcast.podbean.com/e/6-21-20-persecution-is-part-of-our-christian-character/]
I look forward to all of your feedback,
Tyler Bublitz
Music used in the podcast:
March On by Silent Partner
Porches and Universes by Puddle of Infinity
Social Media:
X: @FaithandSciPod [https://x.com/faithandscipod]
Facebook Group: Faith and Science Podcast Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/1112862982859854]
Facebook Company Page: The Faith and Science Podcast [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084933650990]
LinkedIn: Faith and Science Podcast [https://www.linkedin.com/company/89939213]
Email: thefaithandsciencepodcast@gmail.com [http://gmail.com/]
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FaithandSciPod [https://www.youtube.com/@FaithandSciPod]
References:
The Green Blades Preaching Roundtable (Weekly) or Green Blades Rising Publications (Monthly) reach out to ecofaith@nemnsynod.org [ecofaith@nemnsynod.org] and say which you would like to sign up for! - https://nemnsynod.org/ecofaith-network/ [https://nemnsynod.org/ecofaith-network/] https://www.ecofaithnetwork.org/ [https://www.ecofaithnetwork.org/]
Beyond the Argument: Where Science and Scripture Meet - By Esong Ngidie Teddy [https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/4ffiebrcqwh6ijn3/ACFrOgDMW_Iq4awNdsHlgSQP_sra0QracKW03QS-FG8tuoBFWkn28QyffBw2TXiCaOT1TTl8q7BaAAjeAOnRovIZLkHyBvwa22FRl_umnRvdcelgsPODGqtdyb6nJ_dExItM4MMbwrhH6nYHoL2k5RFP_qXy-fpUa_KObxLrog_9atwd.pdf]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1721_Boston_smallpox_outbreak [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1721_Boston_smallpox_outbreak]
https://www.massmoments.org/moment-details/dr-boylston-experiments-with-smallpox-inoculation.html [https://www.massmoments.org/moment-details/dr-boylston-experiments-with-smallpox-inoculation.html]
https://historyofvaccines.org/blog/black-history-month-onesimus-spreads-wisdom-that-saves-lives-of-bostonians-during-a-smallpox-epidemic-2/ [https://historyofvaccines.org/blog/black-history-month-onesimus-spreads-wisdom-that-saves-lives-of-bostonians-during-a-smallpox-epidemic-2/]
https://oldnorth.com/blog/bostons-smallpox-epidemic-18th-c-quarantine-and-inoculation/ [https://oldnorth.com/blog/bostons-smallpox-epidemic-18th-c-quarantine-and-inoculation/]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zabdiel_Boylston [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zabdiel_Boylston]
https://www.masshist.org/object-of-the-month/objects/feb-2021 [https://www.masshist.org/object-of-the-month/objects/feb-2021]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8IPrAKtDe0 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8IPrAKtDe0]