Theology on Zoom
About Theology on Zoom (TOZ)
We are all on a faith journey. We all travel on our own path and we all travel at our own
speed. Wherever you are on your faith journey (or if you are looking to find a path), you
are welcome to join our TOZ friends in faith who meet over Zoom every Wednesday
night from 7:00 pm to around 8:30 pm.
Theology is the study of religious belief, with a focus on the nature of divinity and the
history behind religion. While we principally discuss Christian theology, we also consider
all monotheistic and other faith traditions.
We organize our discussions around a study book (selected by the TOZ participants).
The study book is usually authored by a pastor, religion professor, faith leader, or other
social or moral authority. It usually takes us about two to three months to discuss each
book.
We apply exegesis and hermeneutics in our discussions. We typically reference
relevant passages from the Holy Bible, but we may also reference relevant passages
from the Hebrew Tanakh, the Muslim Quran, and even works of classical philosophy
and literature.
It is helpful – but not at all necessary – to read each week’s assigned book chapter. By
each Monday morning, we distribute a study outline and review questions for the week’s
reading assignment. These “Cliff Notes” outlines help us prepare for the week’s
discussion. Don’t have time to read the assigned chapter or the outline? No worries!
Just bring your faith – and your life experiences. You can actively join in the discussion
– or just listen to the others talk.
On TOZ each week, we explore what you believe. More importantly, we explore why
you believe what you believe. Each week we learn from each other. We challenge each
other. And we appreciate that we all have our own faith beliefs, traditions, and journeys.
Since theology is a study, each week we try to learn one new thing. It could be the
definition of a Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek word from an original biblical text; it could be
a historical fact about the Bible itself or a biblical event; or it could be the definition of a
new theology term (like exegesis or hermeneutics!). But whatever we learn (from each
other or from the study book), that insight helps each of us move along our faith journey.
All PCB members, guests, and community friends are invited to join TOZ each and
every week – or whenever you happen to have a free Wednesday night.
For more information, including the current Zoom invitation meeting ID and passcode,
please contact Robert Reilly at robertfreilly.cpa@gmail.com.
Theology on Zoom Updates!
UPDATE FOR WEEK OF OCTOBER 6:
As our study book for the autumn season, our friends in faith have selected Backslide, Reclaiming a Faith and a Nation After the Christian Turn Against Democracy. The author of Backslide is Robert P. Jones. Jones is the president and founder of the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) and an award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of several religion-related books. Backslide is published by St. Martin’s Publishing Group, New York.
The premise of this brand new book (published in September 2026) is that Christians in America have allowed (and perhaps encouraged) our government to implement programs and policies that are inconsistent with a fundamental principle of Jesus’s teaching. That principle is: God expects you to love your neighbor – and everyone is your neighbor. The question that Backslide addresses is: how do Christians recognize
and respond to this “backslide” away from the inclusive and compassionate tenets we claim to believe in?
We will begin our discussion of Backslide on Wednesday October 14 th . The book has 11 chapters, and we expect to discuss one chapter each week. With “sabbatical” weeks off around Thanksgiving and Christmas, this discussion series should take us through the end of the year.
All PCB members and friends are invited to join the TOZ discussions. Each discussion is independent, so we totally welcome “drop in” participants. And TOZ is not like college. If you didn’t get a chance to read the assigned chapter this week, no problem at all! Just bring your faith, your intellect, your curiosity, and your willingness to share your ideas with the group. At TOZ, we strive for a supportive environment – where no opinion is ever wrong or disrespected.
Please join our friends in faith as we discuss Backslide and consider how Christians should respond when we see societal tends that we think are “backsliding”. For more information, please contact TOZ moderator Robert Reilly at robertfreilly.cpa@gmail.com or at (847) 207-7210.
