Universalism Against the World

In this episode I try to explain my reasons for considering Catholicism and why I may stop podcasting altogether. Roy Schoeman's witness testimony: https://youtu.be/EWDevlijGUI Luke Thompson on consciousness: https://youtu.be/6B0D3QVYTas Chris Langan on Godel and self-reference: https://ctmucommunity.org/wiki/Common_CTMU_objections_and_replies#Russell.27s_paradox_and_Godel.27s_incompleteness_theorem_prove_that_the_CTMU_is_invalid.

Another chat with Peter L'Esperance. We delve more into my upbringing and Hare Krishna.

A longform exchange between Jason and myself in which we try to understand the necessity and nature of the Incarnation. 1 Corinthians 8:6, NASB: "yet for us there is only one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him." Pageau and Fr. De Young on the God-Man: https://youtu.be/g4XeV3O2gew My conversation with Jacob: https://youtu.be/bJvy2RSuw_Y Bible Study with Jacob and Jason: https://youtu.be/83QwcDDIe-Y Christopher Langan: hology.org

Radical Christology/Soteriology (God is Salvation)

Peter L'Esperance moderates a discussion between atheist Christopher Lazarro and myself. Miscellaneous solo reflections follow. Link to Peter's new podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/7njfWVzH2LUGJPts3eBSUx?si=7RgutIpuTymVzc6gKobD3w&utm_source=copy-link Link to Peter's album: https://open.spotify.com/album/3IFYOO62N1fQ1uqziACOLm?si=_fIREKoPRUCCk1OPsfou1g&utm_source=copy-link Link to Nate Hile's conversation with Jordan Daniel Wood: https://youtu.be/f1JNy1uw0ss Link to random video of Luke Thompson just being awesome: https://youtu.be/6B0D3QVYTas Christopher Langan's work: hology.org

Patchwork episode featuring clips from Nate and Jason. Unfortunately this episode is not so much a conversation as it is a smorgasbord of clips recorded in our group chats on the Signal app. Grail Country/Nate: https://youtu.be/d9YDXBppk4E David K Bernard: https://youtu.be/yyftqYNPVnY John Milbank on Grace Saves All: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGF2aWRhcnRtYW4ubmV0L3BvZGNhc3Q_Zm9ybWF0PXJzcw/episode/NWVhMDkzY2U4NzgxMjEyNjFkODAzYzViOjVmNzNiZTQ4MDViYjMzNGZjNDY3NWYyOTo2MjE5MmM0Yjk1NDE4MTExOWMxZGE5NjM?ep=14

Description in episode. Here is the link to the song referenced in the first couple recordings ("Christ Jesus" by Deer Tick): https://youtu.be/hobfo6Cs8uI

Rajat and I do a brief reaction video to the conversation that Joe Schmid hosted between Joshua Rasmussen and Eric Reitan, in which they responded to various philosophical and theological criticisms of universalism. Link to the source video: https://youtu.be/sxQyKw04Ncg

Peter L'Esperance takes the initiative in setting up an interview with Andrew Hronich, probably the single-most comprehensive expositor of Christian universalism despite his young age. (Toward the end of the conversation, Peter takes over the interview as well.) We discuss issues of Christian eschatology including moral philosophy, free will, biblical eschatology, and the experience of hell among other topics.

Conversation with Peter L'Esperance: Two amateur theologians discuss Christology, eschatology, Bill Wiese, and NDEs. "Bonus content" at 2:14:20 More thoughts on Oneness Christology pulled from my Signal conversations with Jason, Luke Thompson, and Luke J. In these exchanges, I have a tendency to throw out ideas or even near-quotations without attribution, so I here I would like to cite Asher Walden, Howard Storm, David Bentley Hart, and--as ever--Christopher Langan as major influences on what I say here. Link to the Grail Country video referenced in the recordings: https://youtu.be/I6vHqJlvkV8

This episode consists of a series of voice messages I sent to listener Peter L'Esperance, who weighed in with his reasons for believing universalism to be the most plausible form of Christian eschatology. My response is a sort of mini-meditation on the nature of desire/desirability, the image of God, and free choice. In so doing, I cannot help but sound a tiny bit like the otherwise inimitable David Bentley Hart (as well as two of my other big influences, Christopher Langan and Daniel Siegel).

Description in episode. Mistakenly refer to John Milbank as John Milton in the first few minutes so please excuse the error.

In this conversation, Jason and I sit down with Peter Hiett, a universalist pastor based in Colorado. Hiett's biblical interpretations are some of the most interesting I have encountered and I strongly encourage checking out his website, relentless-love.org youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/PeterHiett podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sanctuary-downtown-relentless-love/id499682116?ign-mpt=uo%3D4&mt=2 church website: https://thesanctuarydenver.org/ Jason's YouTube channel (Almond Tree): https://youtube.com/channel/UCcL1sJjhPDHONZo6GiSttkw Mentions: Christopher Langan George MacDonald Georg Hegel David Bentley Hart Jordan Peterson TS Eliot Sam Lebens Bernardo Kastrup Richard Rohr Karl Barth Julian of Norwich Jason Pratt Luke Thompson

"Abstract": Standard approaches to the problem of evil seem to treat good and bad events as objective and rank-ordered on an absolute scale. Intuitively, however, whether something is good or bad depends on what you value, and what you value in turn depends on what kind of person you are and the events that have shaped the course of your life. In desiring any significantly different existence, therefore, you risk wishing away the very circumstances that make it possible for you to appreciate whatever it is you are wishing for. Conversely, the best of all possible worlds--or at least the best possible past--has a way of being whatever actually happened, almost purely in virtue of the fact that it happened. These reflexive observations make the problem of evil--effectively the question of whether our circumstances bespeak divine providence or negligence--"inevaluable" as standardly posed. Such "inevaluability" is the key theme that this episode circles around. For it and other insights I am indebted to my friend Luke Thompson, to whom this episode is dedicated.

Wayne Fair ("Sovereign Love") invites me to share my spiritual journey. Sovereign Love YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/user/MrHwaynefair

(In which I descend into the chaos of metaphysical speculation once again.) This episode is a sequel of sorts to "Saying Yes to God" and, like its predecessor, deals with the likelihood of confident versus hopeful universalism. As a result it also touches on topics such as the nature of sin/love, time/eternity, possibility/actuality, free will, and causation. Apologies for the characteristically terrible audio quality toward the end.

Almond Tree stalwarts Jason and Mitch join me in responding to Andrew Hronich's biblical case for restorationism as presented on Cameron Bertuzzi's YouTube channel, Capturing Christianity. Link to original video: https://youtu.be/1f_9jCX7NHc

Featuring Craig and Jason from Almond Tree

Most will not understand this episode at all. Those who do will most likely not be happy with it (as neither will many of those who did not understand it). I am not happy with it. My dog, who resented the random pauses during our morning walk, was not happy with it. But I am posting it anyway. Relevant notes: In my thought, the limit that the Manifest God (or Second Person) approaches is the Unmanifest God (or First Person). The limit that your higher self approaches is Christ or the Second Person. The limit that your momentary experience approaches is your higher self.

Michael Sartori and I discuss creation, possible worlds, and universal salvation. Michael's channel: https://youtube.com/user/mlts9984

Thoughts on the (necessarily) corrective nature of afterlife punishment.

A meditation on confident versus hopeful universalism.

In this unintentionally somewhat comical episode, I indulge my oratorical side, giving a 24-minute debate-style statement to an audience of no one except my one-year-old son, who lends his own voice to the first few minutes. This monologue was recorded on a windy morning in an otherwise secluded park, with a noisy freeway not too far from us. Given that this talk was also recorded using the microphone of a cheap pair of wired earbuds, the resulting audio quality was (at least at times) as hellish as its subject matter. If you dare to listen to this recording, you will have to excuse the occasional unintelligible phrase as well as extreme microphone popping. Again, caveat auditor. The recording is in two segments because, at the end of the first, another car pulled up to the park for a minute only to leave as inexplicably as it arrived. (Perhaps the driver saw me and concluded that I was a lunatic.) In terms of substance, this address weaves together many universalist themes from stalwarts such as George MacDonald, Thomas Talbott, and (to a subtler extent) David Bentley Hart. I must also thank the YouTube annihilationist Mark Corbett for the two citaitons from Hebrews which support my/Talbott's interpretation of Matthew 25:46, tending as they also do to support the conditionalist interpretation of that verse. The extemporaneous nature of the speech is evident at various points but most especially in its ending, which even I have to admit falls a bit flat. The reason I decided to post this audio despite its numerous flaws is that it does a good job of conveying my recent thinking, including a few new insights which are perhaps original to me. It is the distillation of almost two years' reflection on theology following 12-14 years of atheism/materialism. I pray that God will give me many more years in which to make up for the lost time.

Some brief thoughts on the doctrine of divine simplicity

In this conversation, I talk with self-described evangelical universalist and trinitarian apologist Jason Pratt. (Following my guest's penchant for abbreviation, I will hereafter refer to him as JPratt to distinguish him from my other friend named Jason.) In this episode, we discuss debating strategies for universalists as well as the trinitarian logic underpinning JPratt's cumulative case for evangelical universalism.

This is a long and somewhat disorganized episode on the topic of eternal punishment with special reference to Matthew 25:31-46. It is a meta-episode cobbled together out of smaller episodes, some of which were released previously as standalones but then retracted for reasons explained at the outset. Suffice it to say, I make quite a few mistakes in this episode, both logical and "empirical" (with respect, for example, to Biblical Greek--toward the beginning of the episode I say "aidios" means endless whereas the correct term is "ateleutos" among others). I hope these errors will not necessarily detract from the substance of what I have to say here.

This episode is a response to an article by Fr. Lawrence Farley titled "David Bentley Hart's That All Shall Be Saved: A Review and Rejoinder" (link below). More accurately, this episode is a series of reflections prompted by reading Fr. Farley's article. In this episode, I sometimes respond to Fr. Farley as though he were Protestant or evangelical, which he is decidedly not. What I'm really doing in those instances is responding to similar arguments that could be made within the more Protestant world that I inhabit. As such, the Calvinist annihilationist Chris Date also receives several mentions. Fr. Farley's article is excellent and well-written, and I encourage everyone to check it out even if I remain on the side of David Bentley Hart. "Here I stand, I can do no other." https://blogs.ancientfaith.com/nootherfoundation/david-bentley-harts-that-all-shall-be-saved-a-review-and-rejoinder/

Two approaches to scripture and to Christian Universalism. Miscellaneous reflections thereafter.

Jason Schweizer and I respond to a biblical argument from Jason Pratt, and, later, Jason's friend Mitch jumps in to pose some questions for universalism. Topics include universal salvation in scripture, the nonduality of love, and the nature of repentance/forgiveness as well as spiritual death. My apologies for the jumpy editing as there were a few interruptions.

Having discussed the Hitler Dilemma for Annihilationism, Rajat and I move on to discuss various philosophical questions pertaining to annihilationism as well as what constitutes a meaningful afterlife. By way of clarification, I should point out that Rajat is a theist but does not subscribe to any one religious tradition. Accordingly, his questions and answers tend to come from an uncorrelated philosophical point of view, while mine are largely within the Christian frame.

Since the first thirty minutes of our conversation were mostly dedicated to my in-depth presentation of the so-called "Hitler Dilemma for Annihilationism, " I decided to package it as a standalone episode. The rest of the conversation is available as a part two.

In this episode, I lay out two fairly comprehensive arguments, one against annihilationism and one against eternal conscious torment, noting interesting parallels in their internal logical structure. Both arguments begin with some intuition about justice or fairness whose violation incurs unwelcome consequences for God's goodness, with attempts to avoid these violations also incurring negative consequences for God's goodness. The conclusion that this "meta-argument" tends toward is that both annihilationism and eternal conscious torment should be rejected in favor of universal reconciliation. P.S. While this episode is listenable, I apologize for the poor audio quality. I also misspeak confusingly at 9:56, saying that an annihilationist could attempt to say that annihilation does not represent finite punishment (which is not a view I would argue against; i.e., I think annihilation amounts to an infinite punishment). I really meant to say that an annihilationist could attempt to say that annihilation does not represent infinite punishment; i.e., the annihilationist could attempt to say that annihilation is in its way a finite sentence or penalty, a view which I go on to argue against. I apologize again for the confusing language and hope everything is clearer in its overall context.

In this episode, I have my first full-length conversation with Sam, a Biblical Unitarian friend of mine from the Paul Vander Klay online community. Sam is the host of the Transfigured podcast, in which he discusses Christology and patristics from a unitarian point of view (link below). In this conversation, we discuss a number of topics, including Trinity, Christology, annihilationism, and universal reconciliation. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/transfigured/id1559094234

In this third part of my recent reflections on the Book of Revelation, I respond to the opening of a debate between Chris Date and Keith Giles on annihilationism versus universalism in the Bible. The full debate was hosted by Cameron Bertuzzi and can be found on his channel at the link below. I bookend my debate responses with some personal thoughts on why I find annihilationism unconvincing, at least at this point in time.* *For example, consider the following retributive dilemma that I did not fully discuss in the episode. It takes the form of a brief imaginary dialogue: Is it right that Hitler just be quietly annihilated, suffering the same fate as some petty criminal? "No, he has to be tortured some amount beforehand." Is there any amount he can be tortured that would be enough? If yes, why not let him go after he has "paid the last penny"? "There is no amount of torture that would be enough." If there's no amount that would be enough, then why even try? Why only torture him some random amount? More pressingly, why not torture him for literally ever, if you admit that no amount of torture would ever be enough? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbg4w4FPVIc&t=2396s

Jason joins me as I continue to explore Revelation's implications for biblical universalism. We discuss similar topics as in my conversation with Jon (e.g., hermeneutics, open theism, value theory); however, this time, there is more emphasis on eschatology in the context of the whole Bible. Footnote: Here are some comments that occurred to me upon listening back through this episode: 12:31 That is, it will be an arc (or "U-shaped journey"). 15:57 The low-stakes game would be either: that some will choose Him freely, but not all; or that all will eventually choose Him, but not freely. 1:04:40 John's use of the word "dogs" to describe those outside the city seems inappropriate for people who are (or at least once were) in the image of God. However, if the use of this word was indeed inspired by Our Lord, it cannot but recall Jesus' encounter with the Syro-Phoenician woman, in which He commended the faith of a gentile who dared to believe that the mercy of the Kingdom might extend even to the dogs at the edge of the children's table. 2:25:18 Part of the quotation returns to me but not the source (although it was initially shared by my friend Nate Hile): "... [T]he God who is simultaneously a reflection of one's true self as well as the intimate stranger."

In this episode, I revisit the question of whether Revelation admits of a universalist interpretation with my friend Jon. In addition, we discuss hermeneutics, good and evil, free will, value theory, open theism, and the dialectical nature of identity, the infinite, and (arguably) God.

In this episode, I chat with Kolten from the Bridges of Meaning Discord about Calvinism and Reformed Theology broadly. Kolten has a lot of zeal for God which comes through in this conversation.

In this roundtable discussion, Jason, Abigail, Shari, and I discuss a range of topics including evil, forgiveness, psychological integration, and the dialectical nature of love and the infinite. Views expressed by other discussants do not necessarily reflect my own. Abigail's YT channel: https://youtube.com/c/ErulasseAranel Jason's YT channel: https://youtube.com/channel/UCcL1sJjhPDHONZo6GiSttkw

In this episode, Rajat and I engage in some meta-commentary, responding to a YouTube response video ("Contra Green"). The response video by Original Win Productions features a panel of amateur theologians (John, Alex, Christian) defending the doctrine of eternal conscious torment against objections originally leveled by the atheist YouTuber and podcaster Emerson Green. Rajat and I deliver some counter-objections to their objections and close by watching some clips from Emerson's original video. Links to the response video and the original video, respectively, are given below. Note: For unknown reasons, Zoom failed to record about 10 minutes of audio/video around the 1:25:00 mark. I apologize for the jarring transitions there and elsewhere, as our conversation as a whole was interrupted multiple times. https://youtu.be/a5sejzBUuug https://youtu.be/iYXI9e8M6d4

In this conversation we discuss biblical interpretation, universalism, and different thinking styles.

This is a hard conversation to follow in many ways, and the fact that I am putting it up at all highlights the degree to which this podcast is a personal project rather than a commodity or consumer product. This episode is a conversation between me and my friend Luke, a discussion largely animated by my recent concerns over my young son's development and whether he may have an autism spectrum disorder. Regular listeners will note that, prior to my ever having such concerns, autism was a recurring topic on this podcast--partly due to my training as a speech therapist and partly because of what I take to be its theological implications. More than anything else, though, my lifelong fascination with autism probably owes to my own psychological affinities with that condition, affinities which I note despite never having received an official diagnosis of autism. This episode begins with something like a voice message that I left on Luke's phone a few weeks prior to our actual conversation. In the message, I discuss different possible topics and struggle to express certain intuitions and concepts. Throughout the message and the conversation that follows, I sometimes fail to clarify the connections between my thoughts, and I do not always word topics sensitively or clearly distinguish my own views from ironic positions and/or caricatures. I hope that, whenever possible, listeners will give me the benefit of the doubt, assuming coherence and lack of intent to offend wherever my language may seem questionable. In that vein, I hope that listeners will also excuse my swearing in this episode's "introduction"--I considered editing it out, but couldn't find a smooth or graceful way to do so. With all that being said, I'd like to thank my listeners for their continued patience and support. Any messages, feedback, or prayers you'd like to send my way are highly appreciated. Video links are forthcoming.

Highly speculative thoughts on the incarnation as the overlap between God and creature. Christology. Fractality. Synecdoche.

Rajat and I are two friends united by a mutual interest in philosophical theology but separated by circadian rhythms. (I am a morning person; he is a night owl.) However, we finally got a chance to talk, and we discussed the similarities and differences between my Christian universalism and Rajat's more philosophically driven "optimistic theism." There are a couple things I regret about this conversation: First, I really need to upgrade to a proper microphone sometime soon. Second, in my excitement over the topics Rajat brought up, I interrupted him too frequently. Hopefully in the near future we will get a chance to converse again at greater length. In the meantime, here is the link to Rajat's YouTube channel, which explores theology and political philosophy from a libertarian perspective: Unorthodox Libertarian Theology https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUnBXHg3M6AZ6z-PLLyAmAQ Christian universalists will be interested to learn that Rajat interviews the brilliant Eric Reitan on this channel along with several other high-caliber thinkers in more secular areas.

Wayne Fair is a database manager and former pastor who, like myself, moonlights as an amateur theologian. Both his and my amateurishness become apparent at many points during this conversation, and we both struggle to stay on topic at times. That being said, this ended up being one of my all-time favorite conversations, and I strongly recommend you check out Wayne's YouTube channel, Sovereign Love. (I myself have watched every video.) Below are links to all the YouTube videos and podcasts that we reference throughout this conversation. I particularly recommend listening to John Milbank's appearance on the Grace Saves All podcast by David Artman. Seekers of Unity: Eriugena https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zszjA21plE Milbank's appearance on Grace Saves All (see especially 34:40 - 45:00) https://www.davidartman.net/podcast/ep-77-john-milbank-on-radical-orthodoxy-paradox-david-bentley-hart-apocatastasis-mystery-and-practicality Seekers of Unity: Interview with Ihsan Alexander (Jewish-Muslim interfaith dialogue) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdLu9_EoYbM&list=PL_7jcKJs6iwVlsj4eCjvj-DJDLo-wZEeN&index=5 Robert Hart's appearance on Grace Saves All https://www.davidartman.net/podcast/ep-80-robert-warren-hart-jr-on-the-universal-virtue-limit-with-a-brief-appearance-from-his-dog-savannah Wayne's Youtube channel, Sovereign Love https://www.youtube.com/user/MrHwaynefair Finally, two beautiful quotations from Nicholas of Cusa, selected by Wayne: “For Thou, the Absolute Being of All, art as entirely present to all as though Thou hadst no care for any other… Thou, Lord, dost regard every living thing in such wise that none of them can conceive that Thou hast any other care but that it alone should exist… and that each thinketh all other existing things exist for the purpose of serving this end, namely, the best state of him whom Thou beholdest.” (Pg. 14-15) “Thou art the Father of the whole world, and of each individual. Each saith Our Father, and because of it Thy fatherly love comprehendeth each and all of Thy sons. For a father so loveth all his sons as he doth each one, because he is as much the father of all as he is of each one. He so loveth each of his sons that each may imagine himself to be favored above all.” (Pg. 34) -- Nicholas of Cusa, The Vision of God

Since the summer of 2020 when I regained my faith in God, I have been fascinated by the testimony and character of Howard Storm, an American artist who had a near-death experience (NDE) in France in 1985. His story has been well-publicized and beautifully portrayed in Mr. Storm's own book, My Descent Into Death: A Second Chance at Life. The first link below is to an early interview of Mr. Storm in which he discusses the details of his experience. If you are unfamiliar with them, I suggest watching the video because our conversation does not dwell much on the content of Mr. Storm's NDE. The second link is to Mr. Storm's website, which showcases his beautiful original artwork and provides details on his ministry work in Belize, which currently involves building a community center that will double as a hurricane shelter. The third link is to the construction project's GoFundMe page. My sincerest thanks in advance to all who donate to or help publicize this beautiful project, and I hope you find this conversation as uplifting as I did.  P.S.: The conversation begins "in medias res" or in the middle of things, as many of my episodes increasingly tend to do. ("When you're learning the infinite, any starting point is as good as any other.") I think the subject matter becomes clear pretty quickly, however. I felt it more important not to miss anything than to provide a smooth introduction. Please note also that this episode contains some profanity although it is not especially harsh or distasteful. Thank you as always for your indulgence! P.P.S.: Some will note that I quoted Terrence Malick's To the Wonder in my closing prayer without attribution. I want to take this opportunity to give credit where credit is due for the beautiful wording. (See fourth YouTube link for the scene from which the words were originally taken, and thanks to my friend Luke Thompson for first sharing it with me! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi3e16JY6UM https://howardstorm.com/ https://www.gofundme.com/f/community-center-in-san-victor-belize?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=poster https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJCfS_OyxGk&t=183s

In this episode, I get to speak with a new friend from Bulgaria, Atanas Nikolov. I consider him a brother and kindred spirit in many ways. Very broadly, we discuss systematic theology as amateur theologians. Below is the link to the conversation in which I first heard Atanas share his views on theology, and I wholeheartedly encourage everyone to check it out as well. https://youtu.be/_t4R0XVkW2I

In this episode, Lance and I talk about our spiritual journeys, the interpretation of Scripture, and, of course, universal salvation. Lance closes by reading a striking passage from The Ethics of Beauty by Timothy G. Patitsas and shares his understanding of it in connection with creation and the atonement. 

This episode begins and ends somewhat abruptly, so this description will have to serve as both introduction and conclusion. This episode is my reading and commenting on the opening of Jonathan Edwards' A Dissertation Concerning the End for Which God Created the World. Despite the exasperated tone in which I sometimes respond to this essay, I have deep respect for Edwards as a theologian, and I consider this work in particular to be a gem of Reformed theology. This episode concludes with some remarks on time as well as protology or first things, with special reference to God's love for each individual. If anyone would like to me to read and comment on more of this dissertation, please let me know, and I may make it an ongoing series. Otherwise, I will let this episode stand on its own although I'm sure that I'll have more to say about Edwards in the future. 

I originally recorded this conversation with Luke sometime last fall; however, I didn't initially upload it here because I thought I wasn't at my sharpest in this exchange. Recently, though, my reflections on Scripture have made me think of Matthew Korpman's appearance on the Reluctant Theologian podcast, on which he discussed his book Saying No to God. It was a brilliant performance, one that has had a lasting effect on me. Rather than record a new reaction to it, I thought I would air the original conversation I had with Luke about it. Luke is characteristically perceptive here, and his command of scripture shows the extent to which he has taken the Bible seriously in attempting to answer many of the same questions as Korpman. The link to Korpman's original conversation with Ryan Mullins on the Reluctant Theologian podcast can be found here: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8yNjU4ODAucnNz/episode/ZDQxOTlmZGYtNGVmMi00NGMxLTgyMDMtMWE0ZDM2YjFkY2I1?ep=14

In this episode, I chat with Josiah Gorter, a young Reformed pastor, about Calvinism and Reformed theology broadly. Although I probe and critique some Calvinist doctrines, I also try to highlight the motivations--biblical and theological--behind them in order to give Calvinism a more balanced treatment than it usually gets on my podcast. I let Josiah lay out his views at some length and distinguish his personal hunches and predilections from what you might call "orthodox" Reformed theology, for which he does not claim to be a spokesperson (although his credentials seem strong to me). Hopefully there will be more conversations like this to follow.

In this episode I revisit the question of how "Biblical" universalism is and try to honestly examine some of the weaknesses in that case. I conclude with some higher level thoughts on the nature of interpretation as well as the relationship between the spirit and the letter of scripture.