The Nathan Jacobs Podcast

Get updates when class registration goes live: https://forms.gle/pKYCWnHA1gToDxZv9Why Would God Make the Damned? https://youtu.be/H2Ja5WeOo1AIn this episode, Dr. Jacobs examines the contrasting views on divine foreknowledge between Western and Eastern Christian traditions. He'll explore the perspectives of Augustine, Aquinas, and John Duns Scotus from the Latin West juxtaposed against John of Damascus, Basil of Caesarea and Origen from the Christian East. Dr. Jacobs clears up misconceptions and shows that the Eastern Church Fathers were not open theists. The answers from the east may surprise you. All the links: X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastSubstack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs00:00:00 Intro 00:06:58 The various views of divine foreknowledge 0015:16 The Latin West on foreknowledge 00:41:39 The Christian East on foreknowledge 

Get updates when class registration goes live: https://forms.gle/pKYCWnHA1gToDxZv9In this sixth and final installment on the Problem of Evil, Dr. Jacobs explores the Eastern Fathers' understanding of The Fall, demonic influence, and animal suffering. The episode examines how the church fathers interpreted humanity's departure from divine communion and its consequences. The Eastern tradition frames suffering within creation's journey toward the 8th Day—a restoration and fulfillment beyond fallen existence. This final episode synthesizes the patristic view of evil's nature and God's redemptive plan for all creation.All the links: X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastSubstack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs

https://www.academia.edu/41586437/The_Metaphysical_Idealism_of_the_Eastern_Church_FathersIn this fifth installment on the Problem of Evil, Dr. Jacobs examines the patristic narrative, exploring how the early church fathers understood creation's purpose and humanity's relationship with the divine. The episode investigates the Genesis narrative through a patristic lens, revealing how creation was designed for communion and participation in divine life. Learn how partaking in the divine will offers a framework for understanding evil not as God's creation, but as a privation of good. All the links: X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastSubstack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs00:00:00 Intro 00:10:22 The nature of God 00:41:58 God & Creation 01:02:32 Why even create creatures with free will? 01:05:31 The Genesis creation narrative 

Dr. Jacobs gives feedback on the recently viral Cliffe & Stuart Knechtle clip with an Orthodox college student. You'll get a rundown of some specific differences between Eastern and Western Christianity and why they can't be ignored in discussions like this. Specifically you'll hear about basic misunderstandings of grace and works. All the links: YouTube: www.youtube.com/@TheNathanJacobsPodcastX: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastSubstack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs 

Dr. Jacobs explains the Eastern Christian understanding of Christ's descent into Hades, distinguishing it from Hell. The letter clarifies how Eastern Church fathers viewed Christ's descent as destroying death's power and liberating humanity. A comparison with Western theological perspectives reveals fundamental differences in how these traditions understand this doctrine.All the links: YouTube: www.youtube.com/@TheNathanJacobsPodcastX: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastSubstack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs 

In this fourth installment on the Problem of Evil, Dr. Jacobs explores the complex relationship between divine providence and human freedom. What does it mean that God delegates subsovereignce to creation? And how does divine foreknowledge interact with human self-determination? Tune in as we examine biblical figures like Abraham, Job, and Saul alongside the desecration of goodness and the atheist's problem with evil. This episode lays crucial groundwork for understanding the synergistic nature of providence before our final exploration of theodicy.All the links: X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastSubstack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:13 The rational ordering principle00:13:17 What is the individual? 00:32:05 Divine foreknowledge 00:40:08 Abraham, Job, & Saul 00:52:06 Providence: blueprint or synergy? 01:01:29 The desecration of goodness01:08:28 The atheist's evil problem 01:18:51 So why doesn't God intervene? 01:34:30 God delegates subsovereignce  01:46:06 A critical feature of providence 01:49:51 What DOES God do? 01:56:49 The divine energies 02:16:40 The synergistic nature of providence 02:27:17 Engaging in self-determinationOther words for the algorithm… Leibniz, A defense of God, Epicurus, David Hume, Heraclitus, The Problem of Pain, The Problem of Divine Hiddenness, Christianity, Eastern Christianity, Orthodox Christian, Christianity, Evangelical, Protestant, Catholicism, Catholics, pantheism, Empedocles, body-soul dualism, metaphysical dualism, Manichaeism, Augustine of Hippo, Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, Nicene Creed, The Arian Dispute, Christology, Seven Ecumenical Councils, Jonathan Pageau, Fr. Josiah Trenham, Jordan Peterson, Pints With Aquinas, Christian apologetics, theology, Alex O'Connor, John of Damascus, Alvin Plantinga, modal logic, Scholastics, the consequent will of God, Origen, complex goods, Theism, philosophy of religion, natural theology, moral philosophy, ontological argument, teleological argument, cosmological argument, ancient philosophy, patristics, church fathers, suffering, existentialism, free will, determinism, sovereignty, divine attributes, omnipotence, omniscience, benevolence, theological ethics, moral evil, natural evil, comparative religion, religious epistemology, divine justice, meaning of suffering, spiritual formation, rationalism, empiricism, atheism, agnosticism, William Lane Craig, Ravi Zacharias, Bishop Barron, apologetics debate, philosophical theology, Thomas Aquinas, divine providence, spiritual warfare, eschatology, redemptive suffering, qualified omnipotence

In this third installment on the Problem of Evil, Dr. Jacobs lays the groundwork for understanding Eastern patristic theodicy. Why can God do no evil, despite having free will? And why don't these conditions apply to humans? Tune in because this will lay the foundation for the finale episode on the problem of evil. All the links: X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastSubstack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs 00:00:00 Intro 00:05:18 The narrative of the problem of evil 00:18:29 A refresher: goodness, evil, and the great chain of being00:33:03 If God has free will and can't commit evil, why can't humans do the same? 01:02:55 The permissive will of God 

Go to 33:15 to skip the recap of the first installment  In this second installment on the Problem of Evil, Dr. Jacobs looks at the notion that our world is an orchestral expression of divine goodness. But this insight reveals the uncomfortable fact that not all goods can co-exist and many goods are entangled with evils. So, though we may casually speak about the idea that God can do anything, the choices of providence are far more complex than the average person admits. 00:00:00 Intro and recap of part 1 00:33:15 The great chain of being 00:52:29 The myopic focus on evil over goodness 01:07:55 The complex puzzle of making man 01:26:30 God must forego certain goods 01:34:09 Complex goods 01:57:53 Is some amount of evil tolerable? All the links: X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastSubstack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs 

My Wild Ride to Orthodoxy https://youtu.be/yRYBsOXX3e0Part 1 on Problem of Divine Hiddenness: https://youtu.be/J7uP9uFNThYToday Dr. Jacobs will examine the basic philosophical and theological elements of the Problem of Evil. He'll explore perspectives from Christian tradition and philosophical discourse. The episode tackles key concepts including free will, divine permission, and whether a sinless world would be preferable.All the links: X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastSubstack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs00:00:00 Intro 00:10:34 What is the Problem of Evil?00:14:34 What is evil? (Illusion, metaphysical dualism, or privation) 00:31:25 Why Christianity is the most compelling option (And the atheist's coherence problem)00:47:36 Problems with the anti-proofs 01:01:39 The Free Will Defense 01:13:42 The Possible Worlds Theory 01:25:59 Is a sinless world preferable? 01:30:08 The permissive and consequent will of God 01:49:25 The Christian narrative  

Find the original episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJHCg8xt_l8The early church fathers went to great lengths to ensure that the followers of Christ did not innovate but rather perpetuate “the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 1:3), and this conversation seeks to understand what they meant, where we may have gotten off track, and what it means to become truly human through Christ. Topics discussed include: - Balancing academic research and writing with artistic innovation and creation- A search for authenticity and authority led Jacobs to study the early church fathers, such as Athanasius of Alexandria, where he came to realize the difference of thought between Eastern and Western Christianity- Ephesians, examining the use of the term “energeia” by Paul, and understanding that faith and works are not in opposition- Ecumenical councils where early church fathers defended the faith by answering the question “What is the faith that we received handed down by the apostles?”- Biblical illiteracy, historical ignorance, and troubling Trinitarian analogies- The importance of a Trinitarian God as opposed to Unitarian- The sophistication of the early church fathers and our anachronistic belief that we are more intelligent than our ancestors, theologically speaking or otherwise- Distinguishing between creation and types of causation- Biblical terminology getting lost in translation and the linguistic advantage the early church fathers had over the scholars that proceeded them- Understanding the balance between rationality and mystery- Addressing the Holy Mystery of the Eucharist- Objectivity in academics, distinctions between different systems of thought, and the systems of thought creating the biggest divide between Eastern and Western Christianity- The difficulty of communicating complex issues in a soundbite culture- The importance of Christians being part of a church community; and should Christians confess their sins?

This week's episode, Jacobs delves into Jesus' uncomfortable teachings  about wealth and salvation with guest Charles Lelon, an Orthodox Christian and private equity investor. The two tackle the question of whether the rich can be saved or must sell all they have to become poor to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.All the links: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheNathanJacobsPodcastX: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastSubstack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs

Original article with citations: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/p/on-apokatastasis-and-universal-salvationBack to the theological letter series to explore a key distinction that's often missed: universal salvation isn't the same as apokatastasis. Dr. Jacobs dives into what early Christian thinkers really meant by these terms, untangling common misconceptions and showing why it matters for modern discussions of salvation. From the nature of human corruption to the difference between Hades and Hell, this episode will show new ways of thinking about universal salvation through the lens of Eastern Orthodox tradition.All the links: X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastSubstack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs

This week Dr. Jacobs gives a rundown of mystery in Eastern Orthodox Christianity. You'll get definitions, how he thinks the misunderstanding devolved, and the Chuch Fathers' on natural theology. You'll also get a little side tangent about the future of Orthodoxy in America. All the links: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheNathanJacobsPodcastX: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastSubstack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs00:00:00 Intro 00:07:31 What is mystery?00:14:13 How did the understanding of “mystery” shift? 00:20:57 “The nous is more than mind” is true, but…00:29:46 St. Paul and Philosophy00:36:08 Orthodoxy in America, the best and worst cases00:52:51 Are the Church Fathers anti natural theology? 

Join us for Part Two of our Hollywood Taxidermy series, where Dr. Jacobs explores intellectual property and creative adaptation. Through the lens of natural law and rights theory, he'll examine what it means to faithfully adapt stories from page to screen while honoring creators' original visions. All the links:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheNathanJacobsPodcast X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/ Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/ Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs 00:00:00 Hollywood taxidermy & examples  00:12:13 An overview of rights 00:26:43 An overview of natural law  00:46:19 Invention versus discovery 01:11:24 Ownership and destruction 01:35:06 A guide for stewardship in adaptation  02:01:46 A few examples of Hollywood's many violations  02:10:48 Han shot first  02:19:46 The permissibility of knockoffs 

Part 1: https://youtu.be/J7uP9uFNThY Part 2: https://youtu.be/9B1G44hywd0 Dr. Jacobs' Class Survey Link: Survey Link https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdCCSj9URmUSo5YE8JyxCTDo0ESjUKZ7eZMD_SFwmbG10aAsw/viewform?usp=sharing In this third episode on the problem of divine hiddenness series, Dr. Jacobs takes a closer look at the premise. Is God truly hidden? Through anthropological and theological lenses, he investigates how our status as creatures might affect our ability to perceive God, and whether divine hiddenness serves a purpose in redemption. He'll also explore whether you are ultimately morally culpable for non-resistant unbelief.  All the links:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheNathanJacobsPodcast X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/ Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/ Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs 00:00:00 Intro  00:02:51 The timing of belief in God  00:13:32 The requisite conditions for unveiling God  00:18:44 Anthropology  00:26:31 The nature of creatureliness  00:38:59 Objective and subjective hiddenness  00:54:16 Why is God not more evident?  01:10:25 Hiddenness & redemption 01:16:23 Are you ultimately morally culpable for non-resistant unbelief? 

Part 1: https://youtu.be/J7uP9uFNThY Dr. Jacobs' Class Survey Link: Survey Link https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdCCSj9URmUSo5YE8JyxCTDo0ESjUKZ7eZMD_SFwmbG10aAsw/viewform?usp=sharing Episode on Free Will: https://youtu.be/3KEhWydyFfA In this second episode of the divine hiddenness series, Dr. Jacobs delves deeper into another element of the problem — whether non-resistant unbelief is possible. He examines whether people can genuinely be open to belief in God yet remain unconvinced. The discussion explores psychological barriers to faith, the role of evidence in religious belief, and how different philosophical and theological traditions have dealt with seekers who think they cannot believe. You'll get a deeper glimpse into proofs for God, and free will.  All the links:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheNathanJacobsPodcast X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/ Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/ Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs (00:00:00) Intro  (00:01:38) What is the problem of divine hiddenness?  (00:07:00) Knowledge as a requirement for responsibility (00:11:10) The defense of God  (00:15:01) A recap of realism & is Christianity committed to realism? (00:32:28) The assumptions in Schellenberg's case  (00:44:54) Is rational analysis the way to God?  (00:53:54) How ought God unveil himself and how has he revealed himself?  (00:59:12) Non-resistant unbelief  (01:16:49) Is God actually hidden?  (01:24:54) The genealogy of religion & the numinous  (01:34:25) Perception is mystical 

Survey Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdCCSj9URmUSo5YE8JyxCTDo0ESjUKZ7eZMD_SFwmbG10aAsw/viewform?usp=sharing Episode on the Nones: https://youtu.be/pBH9TTduBAE Episode on Free Will: https://youtu.be/3KEhWydyFfA Episode Man's Place in the Cosmos: https://youtu.be/uohc2aWOJbw Hell, Hades, & Christ's Descent Part 1: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/p/hell-hades-and-christs-descent-part?r=r1mfj On Universal Salvation: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/p/on-apokatastasis-and-universal-salvation?r=r1mfj In today's episode, Dr. Jacobs explores the philosophical problem of divine hiddenness — the question of why God, if real, isn't more obviously apparent to all people. He examines whether rational unbelief in God is possible and discusses how divine hiddenness might actually serve a spiritual purpose, while engaging with topics like free will, proofs for God's existence, and universal salvation. All the links:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheNathanJacobsPodcast X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/ Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/ Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs 00:00:00 Intro  00:01:42 The religiously unaffiliated 00:13:12 What is the problem of divine hiddenness?  00:16:50 Is there a thing as rational unbelief?  00:20:31 If proofs worked, everyone would believe in God  00:37:04 The value of divine hiddenness 00:58:35 Spiritual maturity  01:08:53 A deficiency in the free will defense  01:20:48 The proofs for the existence of God  01:42:20 Not everybody is created equal  01:52:32 Universal salvation  01:58:09 Divine hiddenness is unnatural 

Survey Link https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdCCSj9URmUSo5YE8JyxCTDo0ESjUKZ7eZMD_SFwmbG10aAsw/viewform?usp=sharing The Traditions of the Virgin Mary: https://youtu.be/9TkSiOBwo04 Critical Drinker video on Rings of Power: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kquNKboBtJw Today, we venture into Hollywood. In this first of two parts, Dr. Jacobs uses the new Netflix movie about the Virgin Mary to explore the many pitfalls that Hollywood falls into when trying to create a movie for Christians. He'll also get prescriptive. Who can fix these problems and how?  All the links:  X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/ Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/ Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs 00:00:00 Intro  00:00:24 Take the survey  00:02:57 The IP problem in Hollywood  00:11:59 Hollywood, Faith, & Propaganda  00:29:00 Hollywood doesn't know how to make these movies  00:41:41 Background on Dr. Jacobs and the Mary movie  00:45:24 Choosing Protestant, Catholic, or the Orthodox versions of the Mary story 00:50:12 Mary and Joseph: To romance or not to romance?  00:54:21 Mary's early life in the temple  00:57:39 The Netflix approach to Satan in their movie  00:59:38 When writers rip off other writers  01:04:42 Back to Satan in the movie  01:06:32 Inexplicable story changes  01:11:40 Filling in the gaps in biblical storytelling  01:18:08 Honoring the worldview of the source material  01:29:14 Girlbosses subverting the men  01:35:59 Cringe :/ 01:45:31 How to make a successful organically Christian movie  01:55:30 The myth of secular neutrality  01:59:35 Depth in storytelling (Tolkien vs. Lewis) 02:13:00 The Hollywood taxidermists  02:26:04 Can Hollywood self-correct? 

Today we repost another episode from the Hank Unplugged podcast. They'll tackle one of the most misunderstood aspects of Orthodox practice: the use of icons in worship. Together they examine the historical and biblical foundations for iconography, drawing on the teachings of John of Damascus and exploring how those who oppose icons might be missing key aspects of Christ's incarnation. The conversation moves from the practical role icons played in spreading the faith in pre-literate societies to their continued relevance and profound impact in today's world.  Original episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=updb-fkGCwE All the links:  X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/ Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/ Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs (00:00) Intro (05:30) John of Damascas and his defense of icons  (08:55) Do those who are against icons, iconoclasts, have an inadequate view of the incarnation?  (16:40) Explaining the veneration of icons  (29:30) The historical role of icons in a world of illiteracy and oral traditions that didn't have the biblical texts that we often take for granted today  (34:15) The appeal and potential profundity of icons in our world today as evangelical examples  (41:20) Does the Bible Answer Man's son believe he has left the Christian faith?

Watch Dr. Nathan Jacobs and Bible Answer Man host Hank Hanegraaff explore Eastern Orthodox perspectives on faith, works, and Mary's role in Christianity. Together they unpack common misconceptions about Orthodox beliefs, diving deep into why Mary's significance extends far beyond being Jesus's mother, and how Eastern Christians view the relationship between faith and salvation. Originally aired on the Hank Unplugged Podcast on March 3, 2020.  Original episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IkWN4WgIKc All the links:  X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/ Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/ Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs (03:37) Why do some Evangelicals believe that Hank Hanegraaff left the Christian faith when he became Eastern Orthodox?  (07:37) Discussing the differing framework of faith and works in the East and the West  (20:47) We are not saved by good works, but for good works (23:42) Discussing the Dormition of the Mother of God, Mary  (26:37) The perpetual virginity of Mary  (34:47) The role of Mary in the Incarnation and the profound theological implications  (38:17) A preview of the next conversation in this podcast series with Nathan Jacobs on Sola Scriptura

You're surely familiar with the popularized details of the Mary and Nativity stories. This week, Dr. Jacobs is going to deep dive into the extra Biblical tradition of Mary and the birth of Christ, as well as exploring what the devil was up to while the Christ child was gestating in Mary's womb.  https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/p/on-mary-the-mother-of-god-1-of-2?r=r1mfj All the links:  X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/ Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/ Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs (00:00:00) Intro  (00:01:02) The common Nativity Story (00:05:56) Christian Tradition: the stories and practices beyond the Bible  (00:25:06) Extra Biblical texts (the Gospel of James and Nicodemus) (00:30:16) The lesser known details about the Mary's origins  (00:48:08) A brief note on Mary's perpetual virginity and the birth of Jesus Christ (00:54:37) Who were the wisemen (Magi) and Herod's search for the newborn King  (00:58:19) Bringing the Christ child to the temple  (01:01:32) The Christian perspective on the origin of evil  (01:10:06) The rebellion of angels  (01:20:48) An analysis of miracles  (01:37:02) The devil and the Nativity story

Dr. Jacobs is feeling some Christmas nostalgia today and wondered, "What is this feeling, so sudden and new?" To get to the bottom of this, of course, he's going to explore the topic of human nature and divine essence and energies. Diving back into the history of ideas and coming out the other side with the answer: all creation groans. All the links:  X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/ Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/ Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs (00:00:00) Intro (00:00:00) Christmas, longing, and nostalgia (00:10:39) What is the nature of man? (00:13:28) Aristotle, essance, and energies (00:18:06) Philo of Alexandria, essance, and energies (00:20:22) The communicable nature of God (00:26:06) Saint Paul and energia (00:30:04) Plato, Deuteronomy, images, and archetypes (00:37:57) The nature of creation (00:52:04) Man is a microcosm of all that God has made (01:09:03) How God's energies interact in the world (01:21:31) The deeper feeling

Dr. Jacobs takes a look at the history of ideas through the lens of free will, from Socrates to the stoics to Augustine. He responds to Neil deGrasse Tyson and Charles Liu's scientific perspective on human choice. Find out in this episode if Dr. Jacobs believes in libertarian freedom. Also he gives a preview of his upcoming series on the problem of evil. Predestination Part 1: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/p/a-brief-history-of-predestination?r=r1mfj Predestination Part 2: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/p/a-brief-history-of-predestination-d60?r=r1mfj Predestination Part 3: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/p/a-brief-history-of-predestination-cb9?r=r1mfj All the links:  X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/ Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/ Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs (00:00:00) Intro  (00:03:25) What is determinism?  (00:12:18) What is incompatibalism?  (00:14:31) Libertarian freedom  (00:19:07) Compatibalism  (00:29:49) Fate vs determinism  (00:32:09) Libertarianism in the ancient Pagan philosophers (Aristotle, Plato, Cicero, and the epicureans) (00:35:08) Stoicism, libertarian freedom, and fatalism  (00:41:52) The church fathers and free choice (00:48:02) God is good (problem of evil teaser)  (01:06:38) Challenges of free will for the church fathers (foreknowledge and predestination)  (01:18:33) Dr. Jacobs' opinion (01:29:06) Do Calvinists deny free will?  (01:33:43) The divide of philosophy and theology  (01:37:25) The philosophical case for free will  (01:58:23) Why people doubt free will  (01:59:57) The scientific case against free will (responding to Neil deGrasse Tyson, Charles Liu, & Chuck Nice on StarTalk)  (02:10:41) Leibniz, the Principle of Sufficient Reason, and equipoise (02:42:44) Things above and below reason 

Original essay: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/p/on-free-will Dr. Jacobs gives an overview on free will, responding to a listener's question about compatibilism and predestination. You'll get the broad brushstrokes on various positions on free will, from hard determinism to libertarianism. while explaining why the Eastern Church Fathers rejected compatibilism in favor of libertarian free will. This will be a good primer for an upcoming episode delving deeper into the topic.  All the links: X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/ Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/ Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs

Dr. Jacobs reads his chapter in the second volume "Turning East" (publication TBD). You'll hear him discuss how he came to convert to Eastern Orthodox Christianity, starting from his growing years, doing LSD in late adolescence, his distaste for Western Christianity, and how he came to find and love Eastern patristics. All the links: X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/ Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/ Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs (00:00) Intro (02:52) Early Life (08:31) A Spiritual Awakening (16:10) A Disappointing Investigation (23:52) A philosophy of process (36:00) Encountering the Eastern Church Fathers (58:03) The Journey East

Dr. Jacobs tackles your philosophical and theological questions in today's episode. He answers audience comments on topics ranging from how humans participate with external reality beyond mere mental images, examines nature human nature versus shared traits, delve into divine foreknowledge via Jeremiah, discuss the doctrine of double effect and the trolley problem, and investigates classical perspectives on free will. From metaphysical realism to patristic traditions, this discussion offers fresh insights into age-old questions. Stay tuned for our upcoming series on the problem of evil later this month.  All the links:  X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/ Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/ Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs (00:01:55) The Most Important Question background  (00:03:03) Is Darwinism just nominalism applied to biology?  (00:26:39) How can materialism / utilitarianism co-exist with social engineering?  (00:38:23) How does realism apply to adoption?  (00:58:36) Participation vs. manifestation  (01:12:37) How could God know us before we existed?  (01:25:58) What is true freedom?  (01:40:24) The trolley problem and the doctrine of double effect  (01:44:49) Can realism and nominalism both be correct?  (01:52:00) What makes human nature unique from other shared traits?

Christ's Descent Into Hades part 1: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/p/hell-hades-and-christs-descent-part Christ's Descent Into Hades part 2: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/p/hell-hades-and-christs-descent-part-370 Documentary with Michael Heiser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThmF7OErkxY Dr. Jacobs takes a last look at Halloween topics. He'll cover classic questions like the origins of Halloween (are you a devil worshiper if you go trick-or-treating?), walk through what the church fathers said about where souls go after death (where exactly is Hades?), and examine some interesting parallels between alien encounters and the spiritual realm. He also discusses practical questions about haunted houses and spiritual encounters. Plus, you'll get a preview of the upcoming series on the problem of evil. All the links:  X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/ Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/ Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs (00:00:00) Intro  (00:02:22) Is Halloween a pagan holiday? Am I a devil worshiper for celebrating it?  (00:09:56) A genetic fallacy in the very question  (00:13:39) Defining “ghost” (00:16:16) Josephus and Philo of Alexandria on Hades  (00:20:09) Reading Biblical text literally — the thief on the cross (St John Chrysostom)  (00:24:41) How the church fathers read the Garden of Eden (Saint Basil of Caesarea and the Cappadocians)  (00:26:39) Where is Hades? Where is Paradise? (Saint Gregory of Nyssa and Saint Macrina)  (00:32:46) The Gospel of Nicodemus dialogue between the Devil and Hades  (00:34:24) The anthropomorphism of Hades  (00:37:31) Are all encounters with spirits demonic?  (00:41:58) Practical advice related to contact with spirits  (00:50:09) Participation of divine energies  (00:56:51) Relics and holy places  (01:00:39) Haunted houses  (01:09:22) The quest for re-mythologized world & the problem of divine hiddenness  (01:21:31) Live & dead options and cognitive minorities  (01:26:03) A materialist belief in aliens can be… like an intelligent design argument?  (01:29:17) The new alien religions (01:31:39) Spiritual patterns in alien interactions (01:34:01) Are aliens just spiritual entities?  (01:41:45) Vampires and Christian symbols then and now (01:51:38) Hollywood portrayal of demonic possession (02:00:13) Is demonic possession always oppressive?  (02:04:18) Are women possessed more often than men?  (02:05:10) Why does God allow demonic possession? 

In today's episode, Dr. Jacobs offers his thoughts on the recent dialogue between Jordan Peterson and Richard Dawkins, which covers a variety of topics, including archetypes, biblical inspiration, and the truth of Christianity. Dr. Jacobs remarks will focus on Peterson and a question he has long been wondering: Is Jordan Peterson a non-realist? All the links:  YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thenathanjacobspodcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/ Website: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/ Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs

Episode 1 on the Religiously Unaffiliated: https://youtu.be/pBH9TTduBAE?si=k0Y8BnDRiLqm6i0V Episode 2 on the Religiously Unaffiliated: https://youtu.be/V3wMW1UwkwE?si=zNIDTCAtAhK6cZhs Find Dr. Jacobs here: ⁠https://linktr.ee/thenathanjacobspodcast⁠

Dr. Jacobs' letters on providence: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/p/a-peculiar-feature-of-providence https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/p/a-brief-word-on-providence Listen to Dr. Timothy Patitsas's episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/57AHQFrxDTXIGKNf6RUu6x?si=-PpTNuQZQQyZJDvaBKgiyw Find Dr. Jacobs here: https://linktr.ee/thenathanjacobspodcast

Find Dr. Jacobs here: https://linktr.ee/thenathanjacobspodcast

Original post: https://open.substack.com/pub/nathanajacobs/p/on-belief-in-fairies?r=r1mfj&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web Find Dr. Jacobs here: https://linktr.ee/thenathanjacobspodcast

Find the written letter here: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/p/why-would-god-make-the-damned Find Dr. Jacobs here: https://linktr.ee/thenathanjacobspodcast

Find Dr. Jacobs here: https://linktr.ee/thenathanjacobspodcast

Original episode: https://youtu.be/OxLeGHNquGQ Follow the podcast on Instagram for short sharable clips: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast/ Funding Transhumanism: https://youtu.be/tLXdoqXbC6k Find Dr. Jacobs social media, writing, & website here: ⁠https://linktr.ee/thenathanjacobspodcast

Find Dr. Jacobs here: https://linktr.ee/thenathanjacobspodcast

We are pleased to be joined today by Dr. Timothy Patitsas, Academic Dean of Hellenic College. Find him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beautyfirstfilms/ Website: https://www.beautyfirstfilms.com/ Book: https://www.stnicholaspress.net/ethics-of-beauty Academia: https://hchc.academia.edu/TimothyPatitsas Hellenic College: https://www.hchc.edu/undergraduate-programs/ Find Dr. Jacobs here: https://linktr.ee/thenathanjacobspodcast

Find Dr. Jacobs social media, writing, & website here: ⁠https://linktr.ee/thenathanjacobspodcast

Find Dr. Jacobs' post on AI here: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/p/can-ai-create-art?utm_source=publication-search Find Dr. Jacobs social media, writing, & website here: ⁠https://linktr.ee/thenathanjacobspodcast

In today's episode, you'll finally get the answers to some of the most controversial and divisive questions probably in American history. And because of the ongoing projects Dr. Jacobs is working on right now (my forthcoming Leibniz book, House of David, and some other projects I hope to share with you soon) we'll keep it short and sweet today. Find Dr. Jacobs social media, writing, & website here: ⁠https://linktr.ee/thenathanjacobspodcast

Dr. Jacobs is joined by Fr. Stephen De Young from The Lord of Spirits Podcast to talk about the modern quest for re-enchantment.

Dr. Jacobs discusses his journey from nominalism to realism and makes the argument for why realism is the only sensible option. Find Dr. Jacobs social media, writing, & website here: ⁠https://linktr.ee/thenathanjacobspodcast

There's been a surge of religiously unaffiliated (or "nones") returning to religion. Why did they leave in the first place and what's bringing them back? Dr. Jacobs explores in today's episode. Check out Becoming Truly Human here: https://t.ly/DJX12Find Dr. Jacobs social media, writing, & website here: ⁠https://linktr.ee/thenathanjacobspodcast

Dr. Jacobs dives into the religiously unaffiliated (or "nones"). Who are they and what do they believe? Find Dr. Jacobs social media, writing, & website here: https://linktr.ee/thenathanjacobspodcast

Dr. Jacobs fields questions from the comments sections from the last month, such as, Can God make a rock so big he can't lift it? And does realism and classical thought inevitably lead to authoritarianism? Be sure to like, follow, and comment. Not only does that help the algorithm, but your question might show up on a future Q&A episode. Find Dr. Jacobs social media, writing, & website here: https://linktr.ee/thenathanjacobspodcast

Today, you'll hear Dr. Jacobs' conversation with Dr. Chris Firestone, where they deconstruct some all-too-common misconceptions about the Enlightenment. Was the Enlightenment spawned by atheist empiricists on a mission to disprove religion? Were those who preceded this awakening little more than dogmatic simpletons? Find out today on The Nathan Jacobs Podcast.Find more from Dr. Firestone here: https://tiu.academia.edu/ChrisFirestone | https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-l-firestone-7487873a/Find more from Dr. Jacobs here: https://linktr.ee/thenathanjacobspodcast

Today's episode offers a reply to Tucker Carlson's recent interview with Russian philosopher, Alexander Dugin (a.k.a., “Putin's Brain”). Dugin offers his thoughts on liberalism and its role in the demise of Western culture. Dr. Jacobs wades through various points of resonance in their thoughts, as well as where they diverge. Follow the podcast on Instagram for short sharable clips: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast/ Funding Transhumanism: https://youtu.be/tLXdoqXbC6k

Can a people own a dialect? How far do property rights extend? Dr. Jacobs explores two different historical schools of thought to get to the bottom of it.

Tune in to hear Dr. Jacobs discuss the essence / energies distinction with Dr. David Bradshaw. You can find a comprehensive list of Dr. Bradshaw's work on his Academia profile. Find his books on Amazon. Aristotle East and West: Metaphysics and the Division of Christendom Divine Energies and Divine Action: Exploring the Essence-Energies Distinction

Dr. Nathan Jacobs provides an overview on realism and nominalism, tracing their history from Plato to the present day. He then explains how these ideas relate to contemporary cultural divisions.