Podcasts about Eastern Christianity

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: • First up—the U.S.-Iran agreement has now been signed, but many of the deal's most important details remain under wraps. We'll explain what the Trump administration is saying about the agreement, which leaked provisions officials are disputing, and the key questions that still remain about sanctions relief, Iran's nuclear program, and the future of the region. • Later in the show—Russia launches another record-setting aerial assault against Ukraine, striking targets across the country and damaging one of Eastern Christianity's most revered monasteries. We'll examine what happened and why the attack is generating outrage far beyond the battlefield. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief.  YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Blocktrust: Move your retirement into the next generation of assets, go to https://mikebakercrypto.com now to claim your $2,500 Bitcoin bonus. MUD/WTR: Our listeners get an exclusive deal up to 43% off your entire order when you use code PDB at https://mudwtr.com/PDB  Hexclad: Find your forever cookware @hexclad and get 10% off at https://hexclad.com/PDB ! #hexcladpartner #sponsored Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dave Brisbin 5.31.26 Sin is central to Western Christianity. From original sin—understood as a genetic state of depravity, a separation from God unbridgeable by human effort—to our own personal sins—understood as unlawful behavior—all we can do is wait to be saved by an outside power—understood as an event, a granting of approval triggered by ritual practice or mental assent to doctrinal beliefs. I know…putting it that way is a bit hyperbolic. But only a bit. Especially in contrast to Eastern Christianity, which understands salvation as a process of theosis—a life of becoming more and more God-like in awareness, intent, daily presence and practice. By default, we're all legalists, believing we must earn everything we get. That's the physical reality of life around us, and human authority always uses reward/punishment to control behavior through fear. By the third century, the church had codified Jesus' message into more law, ironically missing the fact that Jesus constantly battled the religious legal system of his day that kept the people from their theosis, from direct experience of God. Sin is not behavior at all. Sin is the state of being separated. John sees Jesus as the one who takes away the sin of the world. Sin singular. Not endless acts of unlawful behavior, but the human condition, the egoic perception of separateness. Sin, hataha, is missing the mark of the fullness and oneness of God. The “sin” of becoming aware of self as a separate entity, represented in the Garden by eating of the tree, creates the fear that drives unlawful behavior. We say sin leads to separation, but sin is separation itself. Any act that leads to separation is sinful, but to focus on behavior, on symptom, is to lose sight of the cause—our separation anxiety. The Good News is that God's love is not legal, conditional, but the bedrock reality that any sense of separation is illusion. Pure egoic projection. To wake us from our illusion of separation, take away our sin, is Jesus' mission. For if we believe everything must be earned, nothing is freely received. We're either guilty or entitled. Never grateful. Never free to pursue our theosis.

Dave Brisbin 5.31.26 Sin is central to Western Christianity. From original sin—understood as a genetic state of depravity, a separation from God unbridgeable by human effort—to our own personal sins—understood as unlawful behavior—all we can do is wait to be saved by an outside power—understood as an event, a granting of approval triggered by ritual practice or mental assent to doctrinal beliefs. I know…putting it that way is a bit hyperbolic. But only a bit. Especially in contrast to Eastern Christianity, which understands salvation as a process of theosis—a life of becoming more and more God-like in awareness, intent, daily presence and practice. By default, we're all legalists, believing we must earn everything we get. That's the physical reality of life around us, and human authority always uses reward/punishment to control behavior through fear. By the third century, the church had codified Jesus' message into more law, ironically missing the fact that Jesus constantly battled the religious legal system of his day that kept the people from their theosis, from direct experience of God. Sin is not behavior at all. Sin is the state of being separated. John sees Jesus as the one who takes away the sin of the world. Sin singular. Not endless acts of unlawful behavior, but the human condition, the egoic perception of separateness. Sin, hataha, is missing the mark of the fullness and oneness of God. The “sin” of becoming aware of self as a separate entity, represented in the Garden by eating of the tree, creates the fear that drives unlawful behavior. We say sin leads to separation, but sin is separation itself. Any act that leads to separation is sinful, but to focus on behavior, on symptom, is to lose sight of the cause—our separation anxiety. The Good News is that God's love is not legal, conditional, but the bedrock reality that any sense of separation is illusion. Pure egoic projection. To wake us from our illusion of separation, take away our sin, is Jesus' mission. For if we believe everything must be earned, nothing is freely received. We're either guilty or entitled. Never grateful. Never free to pursue our theosis.

ABOUT THE EPISODEJoin David Schrock and Stephen Wellum as they interview Tony Costa on his COA Longform "The Challenge of Eastern Orthodoxy: Comparing Evangelical and Eastern Orthodox Theology"SponsorThis month's sponsor is Grimke Seminary. Pastors are called to care for the church of God that God called them to. So why do seminaries require men to leave their church to pursue theological studies? At Grimké Seminary, you can get Christ-centered, theological training in the Reformed, Protestant tradition, without leaving your local church. They offer a range of pastoral studies for students of all backgrounds to serve your growth in ministry, from a Bachelor's to a Doctor of Ministry.To apply, go to grimkeseminary.org and use the code “christoverall” to have your application fee waived.Timestamps00:31 – Intro04:30 – Dr. Costa's Ministry and Familiarity with Eastern Orthodoxy07:51 – What Did Dr. Costa See That Made Him Know that EO Would Be a Problem Today?09:40 – Has Dr. Wellum Had Any Engagement with EO?12:13 – The Vibe Online16:03 – What is the Protestant Way to Think through Tradition?19:25 – How EO Thinks of Scripture and Tradition26:40 – Who in the Church is the Final Authority?35:00 – Sponsor: Grimke Seminary36:10 – Is the Canon Closed for EO?41:40 – Do EO and Antisemetic Sentiment Correlate to One Another?43:27 – The Counsel of Jerusalem46:15 – What Will the Priest tell Catechumens to Read as They Join the Church?48:38 – The Doctrine of the Filioque51:37 – Why Would EO Still Deny the Filioque Today?55:25 – Understanding Justification in EO1:01:12 – Assurance & Atonement1:05:40 – Original Sin & Theosis1:08:03 – Counsel to Those Considering EO1:12:10 – Final Thoughts1:13:26 – OutroResources to Click“The Challenges of Eastern Orthodoxy: Comparing Evangelical and Eastern Orthodox Theology” – Tony Costa“Masculinity, Eastern Orthodoxy, and the Search for Stability” – Alexander Breytenbach“A Protestant Appraisal of Rock & Sand: Sola Scriptura Properly Understood” – Tyler Cox“Frank Schaeffer, Former Evangelical Leader, is a Self-Declared Atheist Who Believes in God” – Huffington Post“'The Bible Answer Man' Turns East: An Unlikely Conversion” – Erwin Lutzer“Young Men Leaving Traditional Churches for ‘Masculine' Orthodox Christianity in Droves” – Rikki Schlott“Evangelical Pastors and the Challenge of Eastern Orthdoxy” – Scott Hurst and Christian Clement-Schlimm“Reality: Questions regarding the Authenticity of the Sigillion of 1583” – Joshua Schooping“The Sunday of Orthodoxy 2024”“Service of the Small Paraklesis”“Entrance of the Mother of God into the Temple” – Orthodox Christianity“Debatable, Unnecessary, or Essential? The Virgin Birth and Mary as the Mother of God” – Michael Pereira“Confession of Dositheus”“What is Salvation?” – Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon“Divine Energies: Eastern Orthodoxy's Strangest and Most Important Doctrine” – Knox BrownTheme of the Month: Go West, Young Men: Evaluating the Drift toward Eastern OrthodoxyGive to Support the WorkBooks to ReadDancing Alone: The Quest for Orthodox Faith in the Age of False Religion – Frank SchaefferThe Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity – Timothy WareThrough Western Eyes: Eastern Orthodoxy, A Reformed Perspective – Robert LethamThree Views on Eastern Orthodoxy and Evangelicalism – ed. James J. StamoolisDisillusioned: Why I Left the Eastern Orthodox Priesthood and Church – Joshua SchoopingEastern Orthodoxy: Through the Lens of Sola Scriptura – Samuel S. FaragThe Holy Standards: The Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms of the Eastern Orthodox Church – Joshua SchoopingThe Filioque: History of a Doctrinal Controversy – A. Edward SiecienskiVindicating the Filioque: The Church Fathers at the Council of Florence – Thomas Crean, O.P.The Holy Trinity: In Scripture, History, Theology, and Worship – Robert Letham

ABOUT THE EPISODEYoung Protestants are reportedly departing for Eastern Orthodoxy in droves. What are the major differences between Eastern Orthodoxy and Evangelical Protestant Christianity?SponsorThis month's sponsor is Grimke Seminary. Pastors are called to care for the church of God that God called them to. So why do seminaries require men to leave their church to pursue theological studies? At Grimké Seminary, you can get Christ-centered, theological training in the Reformed, Protestant tradition, without leaving your local church. They offer a range of pastoral studies for students of all backgrounds to serve your growth in ministry, from a Bachelor's to a Doctor of Ministry.To apply, go to grimkeseminary.org and use the code “christoverall” to have your application fee waived.Resources to Click“The Challenges of Eastern Orthodoxy: Comparing Evangelical and Eastern Orthodox Theology” – Tony Costa“Frank Schaeffer, Former Evangelical Leader, is a Self-Declared Atheist Who Believes in God” – Huffington Post“'The Bible Answer Man' Turns East: An Unlikely Conversion” – Erwin Lutzer“Young Men Leaving Traditional Churches for ‘Masculine' Orthodox Christianity in Droves” – Rikki Schlott“Evangelical Pastors and the Challenge of Eastern Orthdoxy” – Scott Hurst and Christian Clement-Schlimm“Reality: Questions regarding the Authenticity of the Sigillion of 1583” – Joshua Schooping“The Sunday of Orthodoxy 2024”“Service of the Small Paraklesis”“Entrance of the Mother of God into the Temple” – Orthodox Christianity“Debatable, Unnecessary, or Essential? The Virgin Birth and Mary as the Mother of God” – Michael Pereira“Confession of Dositheus”“What is Salvation?” – Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon“Divine Energies: Eastern Orthodoxy's Strangest and Most Important Doctrine” – Knox BrownTheme of the Month: Go West, Young Men: Evaluating the Drift toward Eastern OrthodoxyGive to Support the WorkBooks to ReadDancing Alone: The Quest for Orthodox Faith in the Age of False Religion – Frank SchaefferThe Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity – Timothy WareThrough Western Eyes: Eastern Orthodoxy, A Reformed Perspective – Robert LethamThree Views on Eastern Orthodoxy and Evangelicalism – ed. James J. StamoolisDisillusioned: Why I Left the Eastern Orthodox Priesthood and Church – Joshua SchoopingEastern Orthodoxy: Through the Lens of Sola Scriptura – Samuel S. FaragThe Holy Standards: The Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms of the Eastern Orthodox Church – Joshua SchoopingThe Filioque: History of a Doctrinal Controversy – A. Edward SiecienskiVindicating the Filioque: The Church Fathers at the Council of Florence – Thomas Crean, O.P.The Holy Trinity: In Scripture, History, Theology, and Worship – Robert LethamEarly Christian Creed and Hymns, What the Earliest Christians Believed in Word an Song: An Exegetical-Theological Study – Tony CostaThe Biblical Canon: Its Origin, Transmission, and Authority – Lee Martin MacDonaldThe Canon Debate – Lee Martin MacDonald and James A. SandersThe Biblical Canon Lists from Early Christianity: Texts and Analysis – Edmon Gallagher and John D. MeadeThe Old Testament in Eastern Orthodox Tradition – Eugen J. PentiucThe Acts of the Second Council of Nicaea (787) – Richard PriceIcons and Power: the Mother of God in Byzantium – Bissera V. PentchevaThe Orthodox Study Bible – eds. Joseph Allen and Michel NajimProtestant Patriarch: The Life of Cyril Lukaris (1572-1638) Patriarch of Constantinople – G.A. Hadjiantoniou

“If 10 people say the Holy Spirit told them 10 different meanings, how do I know who's right?” A raw conversation on Protestantism, Catholicism, Orthodoxy, and the early Church.He tried to quit porn for the millionth time, sat down in silence, and opened the Bible at random. Proverbs 5 stared back like a warning with his name on it and that was the moment Tremayne Collins (https://www.instagram.com/tremaynecollins001/) stopped being a “fan” of church and started taking Christ seriously. What follows is a story of repentance, recovery, and rebuilding a life around Scripture, mentorship, and real spiritual discipline.Jeremy Jeremiah of Cloud of Witnesses talks with Tremayne Collins about leaving atheism behind, confronting a long battle with pornography, and finding a serious Christian life through repentance, recovery, and Scripture. Then we follow the questions that hit next when sincere Christians disagree on doctrine and church history starts pointing beyond modern Protestantism.• Tremayne's background in Lutheranism, then years away from faith• A moment in Proverbs 5 that sparks repentance and change• Porn addiction recovery, mentorship, and building daily Scripture habits• Why theological disagreement in non-denominational churches creates an authority crisis• Early church fathers and what they teach about Eucharist, baptism, and holiness• Orthodoxy's critique of Western innovations and why the Reformation happened• Purgatory, Mary, papal claims, and what Orthodoxy does and does not affirm• Why sola scriptura depends on later historical conditions and canon choices• A reading recommendation for comparing Protestantism, Catholicism, and OrthodoxyBut a new problem shows up fast: theology. In a non-denominational world, smart and sincere Christians can read the same passage and still end up in opposite places on salvation, assurance, righteousness, and church practice. Tremayne asks the question many people are afraid to say out loud: if everyone claims the Holy Spirit, how do you tell which interpretation is true? That question pushes us into church authority, the limits of private interpretation, and why “Bible alone” can feel impossible to live out without a coherent guide.From there we head into early church history, the church fathers, and the surprising discovery that writers like Irenaeus and Ignatius don't sound like modern Protestantism on the Eucharist and baptism. We also dig into Catholic vs Orthodox differences, the Great Schism, “innovations” in the West, and why Orthodoxy rejects purgatory. Along the way, we recommend Rock and Sand by Father Josiah Trenham for anyone who wants an Orthodox perspective on the Reformation and a grounded introduction to Eastern Christianity.If you're sorting through Protestantism, Roman Catholicism, and Eastern Orthodoxy or you're searching for the historic Christian faith, this conversation will give you better questions and clearer next steps. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves church history, and leave a review with your biggest sticking point: authority, Mary, purgatory, or something else?Questions about Orthodoxy? Please check out our friends at Ghost of Byzantium Discord server: https://discord.gg/JDJDQw6tdhPlease prayerfully consider supporting Cloud of Witnesses: https://www.patreon.com/c/CloudofWitnessesFind Cloud of Witnesses on Instagram, X.com, Facebook, and TikTok.Audio: https://cloudofwitnessesradio.buzzsprout.comPlease leave a comment with your thoughts!

In this fifth episode of Season 5, I interview Professor Thomas C. Schmidt, a historian who focuses on the New Testament, Patristics, and Eastern Christianity. An Associate Professor at Fairfield University, he is currently a 2025-2026 Visiting Fellow at the James Madison Program at Princeton University. Drawing on his new book, Josephus and Jesus (OUP, 2025), we discuss […]

In this fifth episode of Season 5, I interview Professor Thomas C. Schmidt, a historian who focuses on the New Testament, Patristics, and Eastern Christianity. An Associate Professor at Fairfield University, he is currently a 2025-2026 Visiting Fellow at the James Madison Program at Princeton University. Drawing on his new book, Josephus and Jesus (OUP, 2025), we discuss in this Part II of a two-part series the writings of the ancient historian Josephus and what they reveal about the historical identity of Jesus of Nazareth as well as the events surrounding the rise of early Christianity. Hosted by Ryan Shinkel, Madison's Notes is the podcast of Princeton University's James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. The transcript for this interview is available on our new Substack page, “Madison's Footnotes.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In this fifth episode of Season 5, I interview Professor Thomas C. Schmidt, a historian who focuses on the New Testament, Patristics, and Eastern Christianity. An Associate Professor at Fairfield University, he is currently a 2025-2026 Visiting Fellow at the James Madison Program at Princeton University. Drawing on his new book, Josephus and Jesus (OUP, 2025), we discuss in this Part II of a two-part series the writings of the ancient historian Josephus and what they reveal about the historical identity of Jesus of Nazareth as well as the events surrounding the rise of early Christianity. Hosted by Ryan Shinkel, Madison's Notes is the podcast of Princeton University's James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. The transcript for this interview is available on our new Substack page, “Madison's Footnotes.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion

In this fifth episode of Season 5, I interview Professor Thomas C. Schmidt, a historian who focuses on the New Testament, Patristics, and Eastern Christianity. An Associate Professor at Fairfield University, he is currently a 2025-2026 Visiting Fellow at the James Madison Program at Princeton University. Drawing on his new book, Josephus and Jesus (OUP, 2025), we discuss in this Part II of a two-part series the writings of the ancient historian Josephus and what they reveal about the historical identity of Jesus of Nazareth as well as the events surrounding the rise of early Christianity. Hosted by Ryan Shinkel, Madison's Notes is the podcast of Princeton University's James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. The transcript for this interview is available on our new Substack page, “Madison's Footnotes.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biblical-studies

In this fifth episode of Season 5, I interview Professor Thomas C. Schmidt, a historian who focuses on the New Testament, Patristics, and Eastern Christianity. An Associate Professor at Fairfield University, he is currently a 2025-2026 Visiting Fellow at the James Madison Program at Princeton University. Drawing on his new book, Josephus and Jesus (OUP, 2025), we discuss in this Part II of a two-part series the writings of the ancient historian Josephus and what they reveal about the historical identity of Jesus of Nazareth as well as the events surrounding the rise of early Christianity. Hosted by Ryan Shinkel, Madison's Notes is the podcast of Princeton University's James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. The transcript for this interview is available on our new Substack page, “Madison's Footnotes.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/christian-studies

In this fifth episode of Season 5, I interview Professor Thomas C. Schmidt, a historian who focuses on the New Testament, Patristics, and Eastern Christianity. An Associate Professor at Fairfield University, he is currently a 2025-2026 Visiting Fellow at the James Madison Program at Princeton University. Drawing on his new book, Josephus and Jesus (OUP, 2025), we discuss in this Part II of a two-part series the writings of the ancient historian Josephus and what they reveal about the historical identity of Jesus of Nazareth as well as the events surrounding the rise of early Christianity. Hosted by Ryan Shinkel, Madison's Notes is the podcast of Princeton University's James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. The transcript for this interview is available on our new Substack page, “Madison's Footnotes.”

We all know what it feels like to scapegoat—or to be scapegoated. To shift blame, protect ourselves, and make someone else carry what feels too heavy to hold. So what does that have to do with Good Friday? In this episode of the Allender Center Podcast, Mako Nagasawa helps us see that what we call "scapegoating" today is actually a distortion of its original biblical meaning. Looking at Leviticus 16, he explains that the scapegoat was never about blaming or punishing a substitute, but about removing what didn't belong. A way of naming that the problem isn't who we are, but what has taken hold within us. But over time, we've changed that meaning, looking for others to carry the blame instead of facing what's broken in us. This episode invites us to see the cross differently. Rather than reinforcing blame and punishment, Jesus steps into our cycle of scapegoating to break it, revealing a God who is not looking for someone to punish, but is committed to restoring what's broken. This is the hope of Good Friday: not a story of blame, but the beginning of restoration. Special Offer for our Listeners: "Scapegoating as a Spiritual Formation Problem:" A free, four-week discussion group led by Mako Nagasawa with The Anástasis Center. Explore how Penal Substitutionary Atonement theology encourages people to accept arbitrary authority and deploy harsh retributive justice. Explore how Medical Substitutionary Atonement theology from Early and Eastern Christianity can heal our souls, relationships, and public witness. Enroll for free (with donations) at: https://anastasiscourses.thinkific.com/courses/scapegoating  About the Allender Center Podcast: For over a decade, the Allender Center Podcast has offered honest, thoughtful conversations about the deep work of healing and transformation. Hosted by Dr. Dan Allender and Rachael Clinton Chen, MDiv, this weekly podcast explores the complexities of trauma, abuse recovery, story, relationships, and spiritual formation. Through questions submitted by listeners, stories, interviews, and conversations, we engage the deep places of heartache and hope that are rarely addressed so candidly in our culture today. Join the Allender Center Podcast to uncover meaningful perspectives and support for your path to healing and growth. At the Allender Center, we value thoughtful dialogue across a wide range of voices, stories, and lived experiences. In that spirit, our podcast features guests and hosts who may hold differing perspectives. The perspectives shared on this podcast by guests and hosts reflect their own experiences and viewpoints and do not necessarily represent the views, positions, or endorsements of the Allender Center and/or The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology. Stream each episode, plus find transcripts, additional resources, and more at: theallendercenter.org/podcast  To become a supporter of the Allender Center Podcast, visit: https://theallendercenter.org/2025/11/podcast-support/ If you and your organization would like to partner with the Allender Center Podcast, please reach out to Clay Clayton at cclayton@theallendercenter.org   

In this fourth episode of Season 5, I interview Professor Thomas C. Schmidt, a historian who focuses on the New Testament, Patristics, and Eastern Christianity. An Associate Professor at Fairfield University, he is currently a 2025-2026 Visiting Fellow at the James Madison Program at Princeton University. Drawing on his new book, Josephus and Jesus: New Evidence for […]

In this fourth episode of Season 5, I interview Professor Thomas C. Schmidt, a historian who focuses on the New Testament, Patristics, and Eastern Christianity. An Associate Professor at Fairfield University, he is currently a 2025-2026 Visiting Fellow at the James Madison Program at Princeton University. Drawing on his new book, Josephus and Jesus: New Evidence for the One Called Christ (Oxford UP, 2025), we discuss in this Part I of a two-part series the stupendous life of Josephus, the ancient historian who lived in both elite Jewish and Roman circles his whole life, as well as the cultural, religious, and political world of the New Testament as found in his main works. Hosted by Ryan Shinkel, Madison's Notes is the podcast of Princeton University's James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. The transcript for this interview is available on our new Substack page, “Madison's Footnotes.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In this fourth episode of Season 5, I interview Professor Thomas C. Schmidt, a historian who focuses on the New Testament, Patristics, and Eastern Christianity. An Associate Professor at Fairfield University, he is currently a 2025-2026 Visiting Fellow at the James Madison Program at Princeton University. Drawing on his new book, Josephus and Jesus: New Evidence for the One Called Christ (Oxford UP, 2025), we discuss in this Part I of a two-part series the stupendous life of Josephus, the ancient historian who lived in both elite Jewish and Roman circles his whole life, as well as the cultural, religious, and political world of the New Testament as found in his main works. Hosted by Ryan Shinkel, Madison's Notes is the podcast of Princeton University's James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. The transcript for this interview is available on our new Substack page, “Madison's Footnotes.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion

In this fourth episode of Season 5, I interview Professor Thomas C. Schmidt, a historian who focuses on the New Testament, Patristics, and Eastern Christianity. An Associate Professor at Fairfield University, he is currently a 2025-2026 Visiting Fellow at the James Madison Program at Princeton University. Drawing on his new book, Josephus and Jesus: New Evidence for the One Called Christ (Oxford UP, 2025), we discuss in this Part I of a two-part series the stupendous life of Josephus, the ancient historian who lived in both elite Jewish and Roman circles his whole life, as well as the cultural, religious, and political world of the New Testament as found in his main works. Hosted by Ryan Shinkel, Madison's Notes is the podcast of Princeton University's James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. The transcript for this interview is available on our new Substack page, “Madison's Footnotes.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biblical-studies

In this fourth episode of Season 5, I interview Professor Thomas C. Schmidt, a historian who focuses on the New Testament, Patristics, and Eastern Christianity. An Associate Professor at Fairfield University, he is currently a 2025-2026 Visiting Fellow at the James Madison Program at Princeton University. Drawing on his new book, Josephus and Jesus: New Evidence for the One Called Christ (Oxford UP, 2025), we discuss in this Part I of a two-part series the stupendous life of Josephus, the ancient historian who lived in both elite Jewish and Roman circles his whole life, as well as the cultural, religious, and political world of the New Testament as found in his main works. Hosted by Ryan Shinkel, Madison's Notes is the podcast of Princeton University's James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. The transcript for this interview is available on our new Substack page, “Madison's Footnotes.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/christian-studies

In this fourth episode of Season 5, I interview Professor Thomas C. Schmidt, a historian who focuses on the New Testament, Patristics, and Eastern Christianity. An Associate Professor at Fairfield University, he is currently a 2025-2026 Visiting Fellow at the James Madison Program at Princeton University. Drawing on his new book, Josephus and Jesus: New Evidence for the One Called Christ (Oxford UP, 2025), we discuss in this Part I of a two-part series the stupendous life of Josephus, the ancient historian who lived in both elite Jewish and Roman circles his whole life, as well as the cultural, religious, and political world of the New Testament as found in his main works. Hosted by Ryan Shinkel, Madison's Notes is the podcast of Princeton University's James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. The transcript for this interview is available on our new Substack page, “Madison's Footnotes.”

The Evergetinos does not offer us inspiring stories. It offers us a blade. These elders do not behave reasonably. They do not protect their reputations. They do not appeal to due process. They do not defend themselves. They kneel. They ask forgiveness for crimes they did not commit. They accept punishment. They allow their names to be dragged through the dust. And this is exactly where modern religious people begin to choke. We admire Christ until His way threatens our dignity. We praise the Cross until it begins to cost us something that feels personal. We speak of humility until it asks us to surrender our right to be seen as innocent. Then the mind rises up. The lawyer wakes. Natural reason sharpens its pen. We start dissecting the text. Surely this is symbolic. Surely this is exaggerated. Surely there must be limits. But the Gospel has no interest in preserving your image. The divine ethos revealed in Christ is not reasonable. It is cruciform. Look at the Elder who accepts blame for theft. He knows he did not steal. He also knows something far more dangerous. He knows that Christ Himself was accused, beaten and condemned while innocent. So he chooses to stand where Christ stands rather than where the ego demands to stand. He does not argue. He does not clarify. He does not try to control the narrative. He bows. He becomes small. He lets truth be carried by God rather than by his own voice. This is not weakness. It is terrifying strength. In the second account the Deacon accepts public disgrace, penance and exclusion from communion for a crime planted in his cell by envy. He allows his spiritual father and the entire community to think him a thief. Why. Because love of God is worth more than the right to be seen as virtuous. And because hatred of slanderers is more deadly than slander itself. Notice what breaks the demonic power. Not investigation. Not confession extracted by pressure. But the prayer of the one who was falsely accused. Only the slandered man can heal the slanderer. This is the law of the Cross. Wounds heal wounds when they are offered in love. The story of Abba Nikon goes even further. He is beaten, excommunicated and isolated for three years for a crime he did not commit. He stands outside the church every Sunday begging for prayer like a criminal. When his innocence is finally revealed, he does not remain to receive praise. He leaves. He knows that glory is as dangerous as slander. Both feed the ego. Both can poison the soul. This is what divine discernment looks like. Not clever arguments but crucified love. Abba Isaiah gives the rule that offends every modern religious instinct. If you are slandered make a prostration and say forgive me even if you do not know what you did. This is not moral confusion. It is spiritual clarity. It is a refusal to let the heart harden. It is the choice to stand with Christ rather than with self justification. St Maximos explains why this cuts so deeply. The demons cannot always trap us through money or pleasure. So they use slander. They try to provoke hatred. They want you to burn with indignation. They want you to lose love. They want you to step off the Cross and into self defense. To endure slander without hatred is one of the highest ascetical acts. It requires that you look to God alone for vindication. St Ephraim then gives the final warning. Even when the truth comes out do not become proud. Do not feast on your vindication. God delivered you. You did not save yourself. This is why we want to soften these stories. They leave no room for spiritual narcissism. They strip away our moral theater. They expose how deeply attached we are to being right, to being respected, to being seen as good. The Cross does not negotiate with your ego. It kills it. Slander reveals what we truly love. If we love Christ we will accept being misunderstood. If we love ourselves we will fight to be cleared. The Evergetinos does not ask whether this is fair. It asks whether you want to belong to the Crucified. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:01:41 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Page 349 number 2 00:03:19 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Philokaliaministries.org/blog 00:04:07 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: https://www.youtube.com/@philokaliaministries 00:09:55 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Two possible Philokalia Novice Conference Series 00:11:58 Bob Čihák, AZ: P. 349 #2 00:12:46 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: 1. The Inner Grammar of the Eastern Christian Life How the Church actually heals the human person This would be a 10 to 12 week arc that shows how Eastern Christianity is not merely a set of beliefs or practices but a therapeutic and mystical way of being human. Each session takes one essential dimension of the ascetical and sacramental life and shows how it works together with the others. 2. Urban Asceticism: A Prelude to the Way of Hidden Fire These reflections are for those who are trying to live a real spiritual life in the middle of ordinary, complicated, and often exhausting circumstances. Not as an escape from the world but as a way of becoming inwardly still within it. Here we explore the ancient wisdom of the desert fathers and the lived experience of the Church as a way of healing the heart and learning how to dwell with God in hiddenness. This is not a program or a method. It is a way. Two possible Philokalia Novice Conference Series 00:12:56 Janine: Oh those look great! 00:13:18 Bob Čihák, AZ: P. 349 #2 00:13:27 Jacqulyn Dudasko: Reacted to "Oh those look great!" with

We're joined by Hunter Hunt-Hendrix, composer, philosopher, and force behind Liturgy, whose concept of transcendental black metal has redrawn the boundaries between underground music and systematic thought. Her work operates in parallel registers: an experimental music practice that stands on its own terms, and a body of theory moving through theology, psychoanalysis, and philosophy. This episode goes deep into Hunter's provocation that the Byzantine tradition of Christianity (the Eastern lineage that lasted another thousand years after the Latin West began its trajectory toward secularism, science, and industry) might hold resources for navigating the current moment of structural collapse. We discuss the difference between the transcendental (conditions of possibility, historicized horizons, Hegelian self-relating negativity) and the transcendent (a higher realm of intelligibility that is actually, ontically, here), and why critical theory's allergy to the latter might be more ideological than rational. We also get into Hunter's framework for practice: tetraperichoresis, a fourfold structure involving integration (merging ancient and contemporary materials), coalescence (putting philosophy, music, and drama into positive feedback), irrigation (moving between institutional worlds and smashing them against each other), and catalysis (the messianic wager that everything you do could be hastening the Kingdom). References:Hunt-Hendrix, Hunter. "Byzantine Accelerationism: Towards a Universal Orthodox Christianity." Šum Journal #22 (2024).Hunt-Hendrix, Hunter. "Transcendental Black Metal: A Vision of Apocalyptic Humanism." Hideous Gnosis: Black Metal Theory Symposium I (2010).Liturgy, Origin of the Alimonies (2020) — the cosmogonical opera-album.Hunter Hunt-Hendrix's Substack — ongoing philosophical writing and the System of Transcendental Qabala.Katerina Kolozova, Cut of the Real: Subjectivity in Poststructuralist Philosophy (Columbia University Press, 2014).The Seven Ecumenical Councils of Eastern Christianity, particularly the Seventh Council on icon veneration (787 CE) and John of Damascus's theological defense.Maximus the Confessor's Ambigua — discussed in relation to eschatology and the idea that "true humanism has never been tried."Lacan's graph of desire — discussed in relation to masculine/feminine subject positions.The CCRU and chaos magic traditions — referenced in relation to esoteric practice and Nick Land.Sergei Bulgakov's Sophiology and the conception of the divine feminine.

Contribute to the East West Lecture Series fundraiser: theeastwestseries.com Join Jacobs Premium: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/membershipThe book club (use code LEWIS): https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/offers/aLohje7p/checkouthttps://www.keipirestaurant.org/first-things-foundationDr. Jacobs delivers a talk on hospitality in the ancient world, exploring three stories: Abraham entertaining angels, John Cassian learning from Egyptian monks, and Abba Agathon's encounter with a divine visitor. The presentation examines the theological significance of hospitality in Hebrew and Christian traditions, particularly focusing on Eastern Orthodox patristic interpretations. Delivered at a Georgian Supra event hosted by the First Things Foundation in Greenville, South Carolina. Visit Keipi in Greenville for traditional Georgian cuisine. All the links: Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastWebsite: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobsAcademia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobsOther words for the algorithm…Abraham and the angels, Hebrew Bible hospitality, ancient Near East customs, stranger ethics, John Cassian, Desert Fathers, Abba Agathon, Egyptian monasticism, asceticism, monastic hospitality, fasting and feasting, Georgian Supra, Eastern Orthodox theology, patristic theology, John Chrysostom, Basil the Great, church fathers, Orthodox ethics, Christian hospitality, biblical hospitality, sheep and goats parable, love of neighbor, theological virtue, practical theology, ancient world customs, virtue ethics, Christian ethics, moral theology, spiritual formation, monasticism, anachoresis, cenobitic monasticism, apophthegmata patrum, sayings of the Desert Fathers, patristic ethics, biblical interpretation, Old Testament theology, New Testament ethics, Hebrews commentary, Lot and the angels, Road to Emmaus, Tobit, Archangel Raphael, theophany, Christophany, angel visitation, divine testing, covenant theology, Abraham covenant, Sodom and Gomorrah, Job righteousness, ancient virtue, classical virtue, agape love, caritas, philoxenia, Christian hospitality tradition, early Christianity, Byzantine theology, Greek patristics, Eastern Christianity, Western Christianity, East-West theology, theological anthropology, imago Dei, image of God, Matthew 25, eschatology, heavenly feast, messianic banquet, bridegroom theology, joy and fasting, liturgical theology, sacramental life, communion, Eucharist theology, stranger as Christ, Matthew Mathewes, practical philosophy, applied ethics, charitable works, almsgiving, poverty theology, wealth distribution, social justice, Christian socialism, monasticism economics, voluntary poverty, detachment, ascetical theology, spiritual disciplines, prayer and fasting, desert spirituality, Egyptian desert, Palestinian monasticism, Scetes, monastic rules, obedience, humility cultivation, temptation, demonic warfare, spiritual combat, guardian angels, angelology, hierarchy of angels, divine messengers, supernatural encounters, mystical theology, contemplation, theosis, deification, divine energies, Gregory Palamas, hesychasm, Philokalia, nepsis, watchfulness, prayer rope, Jesus prayer, heart prayer, stillness, silentium

In this stream I am joined by Ben of Cleave to Antiquity to discuss his recent conversion to Orthodoxy and the growth of Eastern Christianity in America. Make sure to check it out and let me know what you think. God bless Follow Ben Here: https://www.youtube.com/@CleavetoAntiquity

Greg responds to listener Shandra's heartfelt question about the Catholic Church's historical involvement in injustices like the transatlantic slave trade and the subjugation of Ireland. Drawing from his own conversion journey as a former Protestant, he shares a thought experiment: What if the Church hadn't existed as a societal force? Exploring real historical "control groups" from Eastern Christianity and analogies like C.S. Lewis's grumpy Christian, Greg argues the Church acted as a moderating influence amid human sin, rather than its cause. He avoids detailed apologetics, focusing instead on empathy, facts about historical biases, and theological hope for imperfect vessels. Support this ministry so more people can consider Catholicism! Website: https://www.consideringcatholicism.com/ Email: consideringcatholicism@gmail.com

What if the story of the Cross was never about satisfying a wrathful God, but about defeating the very forces that hold humanity in bondage? In this episode, Tim and Steve unpack the ancient view of the atonement known as Christus Victor—the belief that through Jesus' death and resurrection, sin, death, and Satan were overthrown once and for all. They explore how this early church understanding offers a cosmic perspective of salvation, rooted not in guilt and punishment but in liberation and restoration. Along the way, they revisit the teachings of Irenaeus and Pelagius, challenging centuries-old assumptions and rediscovering the triumphant love revealed at Calvary.Highlights:How Pelagius, often misunderstood as a heretic, actually reflected the sacred anthropology of early Celtic and Eastern Christianity.The contrast between Augustine's doctrine of original sin and Pelagius's view of the divine image in humanity.Why the early church understood the Cross as a cosmic victory over sin, death, and the devil—not divine punishment.Jesus' death as a triumphant descent into death and Hades to rescue humanity, not a ransom paid to God or Satan.The role of the Trinity in the crucifixion: God was in Christ, reconciling the world through self-giving love.How the Christus Victor perspective calls us into a life of freedom, restoration, and participation in Christ's victory.

GUEST Dorothy Little Greco ... writer & photographer who lives outside Boston ... The author of "Making Marriage Beautiful," and most recently, “Marriage in the Middle: Embracing Midlife Surprises, Challenges & Joys” … Dorothy & her husband lead marriage workshops/retreats, speak at conferences nationwide. GUEST Dr Charles Camosy … Prof of Medical Humanities at the Creighton Univ School of Medicine … Charlie spent 14 yrs in Fordham Univ’s theology department, & is author of 7 books, inluding “Beyond the Abortion Wars,” and “Resisting Throwaway Culture” … his most recent book is “Bioethics for Nurses: a Christian Moral Vision”. Thinking - and the mastery of your thought’s through prayer … GUEST Frederica Mathewes-Green .. she's the author of "The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer that Tunes the Heart to God," and "Welcome to the Orthodox Church: an Introduction to Eastern Christianity".See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Alexander Harb, author of The Kingdom of the Heart: Meditations from the Christian East, joins Bear Woznick to explore the heart-centered theology of Eastern Christianity. Together they dive into the mysticism of the early Church Fathers, the origins and meaning of the Jesus Prayer, and the fierce, solitary spirituality of the desert monks like St. Anthony the Great. The discussion centers on how these early Christians pursued holiness not through comfort but through stillness, silence, and struggle—preparing daily for death as the gateway to eternal life.In this episode:⚔️ Spiritual warfare was seen as literal, internal battles with demons and passions.

4:10 PM - Greed’s pull and how to resist it… GUEST Dorothy Little Greco ... writer & photographer who lives outside Boston ... The author of "Making Marriage Beautiful," and most recently, “Marriage in the Middle: Embracing Midlife Surprises, Challenges & Joys” … Dorothy & her husband lead marriage workshops/retreats, speak at conferences nationwide. 4:40 PM - GUEST Chris Martin, author of “Terms of Service: The Real Cost of Social Media” … and most recently, “The Wolf in Their Pockets: 13 Ways the Social Internet Threatens the People You Lead” … his Substack is chrismartinfyi … Chris lives outside Nashville w his family. 5:10 PM - GUEST Rev Dr Dean Weaver ... Stated Clerk of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church ... co-founder and former president of EduNations. 5:40 PM - GUEST Frederica Mathewes-Green .. she's the author of "The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer that Tunes the Heart to God," and "Welcome to the Orthodox Church: an Introduction to Eastern Christianity".See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Being Maundy Thursday: why is it so hard to love one another and why does it matter? … GUEST Rev Dr Dean Weaver ... Stated Clerk of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church ... co-founder and former president of EduNations. Did Jesus institute a new priesthood at the Last Supper? … GUEST Dr Charles Camosy … Prof of Medical Humanities at the Creighton Univ School of Medicine … Charlie spent 14 yrs in Fordham Univ’s theology department, & is author of 7 books, inluding “Beyond the Abortion Wars,” and “Resisting Throwaway Culture” … his most recent book is “Bioethics for Nurses: a Christian Moral Vision” … Charlie advises the Faith Outreach office of the Humane Society of the US & the pro-life commission of the Archdiocese of NY … He & his wife Paulyn have 4 kids, 3 of whom they adopted from a Filipino orphanage in 2016. Look Full in His wonderful Face … GUEST Anne Kennedy ...author of “Nailed It: 365 Sarcastic Devotionals for Angry and Worn Out People” ... She blogs everyday at her substack “Demotivations w Anne”... Anne lives in upstate NY where she mothers 6 children and lives with her husband, an Anglican priest. Thursday night service in the Orthodox Church … GUEST Frederica Mathewes-Green .. she's the author of "The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer that Tunes the Heart to God," and "Welcome to the Orthodox Church: an Introduction to Eastern Christianity". See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this session, biblical scholar John Dominic Crossan explores his proposal to reconstruct Easter, focusing on Paul's understanding of "the mystery of God." Crossan argues that this mystery refers to how God allowed Jesus, as Messiah, to be executed by Roman civilization to reveal its inherent injustice, while simultaneously vindicating Jesus through resurrection to reveal the justice of creation. He proposes that historically, the earliest interpretations of Jesus's exaltation were likely focused on individual ascension rather than resurrection, and that it was Paul who transformed this understanding into universal resurrection as an in-time process rather than merely an end-time event. Crossan contrasts Western Christianity's individual resurrection imagery with Eastern Christianity's universal resurrection imagery, arguing that the Eastern tradition is more faithful to Paul's original vision. He concludes by suggesting that Paul's cosmic justice concept serves as a metaphor for humanity's evolutionary challenge of sustainability, and proposes that both theists and atheists should focus on cosmic evolution rather than debating God's existence. You can WATCH the conversation on YouTube To access all 5 of Crossan's lectures, submit questions, and join future live streams, head here to join the class. John Dominic Crossan, professor emeritus at DePaul University, is widely regarded as the foremost historical Jesus scholar of our time. Previous Podcast Episodes with Dom & Tripp Paul, Josephus, & the Challenge of Nonviolent Resistance Paul, Rome, & the Violent Normalcy of Civilization Paul & the Fictional History of Luke-Acts Paul & Thecla Ask JC Anything Diana Butler Bass & John Dominic Crossan: The Resurrection of Jesus Brian McLaren & John Dominic Crossan: The Message of Jesus & the Judgement of Civilization Brian Zahnd & John Dominic Crossan: God, Violence, Empire, & Salvation Why the Biblical Paul is Awesome Christian Resurrection & Human Evolution The Cross & the Crisis of Civilization The Coming Kingdom & the Risen Christ The Parables of Jesus & the Parable of God How to think about Jesus like a Historian the Last Week of Jesus' Life Jesus, Paul, & Bible Questions Saving the Biblical Christmas Stories the most important discovery for understanding Jesus The Bible, Violence, & Our Future Resurrecting Easter on the First Christmas   From Jesus' Parables to Parables of God  Render Unto Caesar on God & Empire Join Dom Crossan at ...Theology Beer Camp | St. Paul, MN | October 16-18, 2025 3 Days of Craft Nerdiness with 50+ Theologians & God-Pods and 600 new friends. ONLINE CLASS ANNOUNCEMENT: The Many Faces of Christ Today The question Jesus asked his disciples still resonates today: "Who do you say that I am?" Join our transformative 5-week online learning community as we explore a rich tapestry of contemporary Christologies. Experience how diverse theological voices create a compelling vision of Jesus Christ for today's world. Expand your spiritual horizons. Challenge your assumptions. Enrich your faith. As always, the class is donation-based (including 0), so head over to ManyFacesOfChrist.com for more details and to sign up! _____________________ Hang with 40+ Scholars & Podcasts and 600 people at Theology Beer Camp 2025 (Oct. 16-18) in St. Paul, MN. This podcast is a Homebrewed Christianity production. Follow the Homebrewed Christianity, Theology Nerd Throwdown, & The Rise of Bonhoeffer podcasts for more theological goodness for your earbuds. Join over 80,000 other people by joining our Substack - Process This! Get instant access to over 45 classes at www.TheologyClass.com Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

The govt knows AGI is coming (NYT)**… GUEST Chris Martin … director of content at Moody Radio … author of two books about social media: “The Wolf in Their Pockets” and “Terms of Service”. Vitriol … GUEST Rev Dr Dean Weaver ... Stated Clerk of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church ... co-founder and former president of EduNations. GUEST Frederica Mathewes-Green .. she's the author of "The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer that Tunes the Heart to God," and "Welcome to the Orthodox Church: an Introduction to Eastern Christianity".See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Syriac tradition and Eastern Christianity, the cave of Christ's birth is far more than a historical setting; it is a symbol of profound theological truths: Humility: The Infinite God chose a lowly cave as the place of His birth, emphasizing the humility of the Incarnation. Light in Darkness: The cave symbolizes a world darkened by sin, now illuminated by the Light of Christ. Typology: The cave of Christ's birth prefigures the cave of His tomb, linking the Incarnation to the Resurrection. Creation's Renewal: The earth itself (the cave) receives its Creator, pointing to the redemption of all creation. For Syriac Christians, the cave is not merely a location but a theological icon—a place where heaven and earth meet, where the eternal Word becomes flesh to bring light, life, and salvation to the world. For more in depth teachings check our online Academy: www.twinstours.com/academy

John Vervaeke engages in a profound discussion with James Filler, author of 'Heidegger, Neoplatonism, and the History of Being'. They examine the core arguments of Jame's book, which emphasizes relationality as more fundamental than individual existence in understanding reality. The conversation explores Neoplatonism, Heidegger's philosophy, and the convergence of these ideas with contemporary physics and biology. James recounts his journey in developing his dissertation into a pivotal work aimed at reorienting ontological perspectives. John and James also discuss the trajectory of Western and Eastern Christian thought, touching upon relational ontology's scientific and ethical ramifications. James Filler is the author of Heidegger, Neoplatonism, and the History of Being, a groundbreaking work exploring the philosophical underpinnings of relational ontology. His forthcoming book, Substance Ontology and the Crisis of Reason deepens the critique of substance thinking in Western philosophy. Notes:  (0:00) Welcome to the Lectern (1:00) Core themes of Heidegger, Neoplatonism, and the History of Being (3:00) Background of James Filler (5:30) Core argument of the book (10:00) The philosophical debate between Parmenides and Heraclitus (15:00) Ontological relationality and its philosophical implications (25:00) Heidegger's dialogue with Asian philosophy and the Christian trinity (34:00) Western vs. Eastern Christianity - diverging paths (40:00) A critique of Process Philosophy  (48:30) The conceptual and ethical implications of historical Christian interpretations (51:30) Distinction between discursive and non-discursive reasoning (58:30) Substance ontology and the crisis of reason (1:03:00) Addressing the crisis of rationality in modernity (1:11:00) Final reflections on relationality and its broader impacts   ---  Connect with a community dedicated to self-discovery and purpose, and gain deeper insights by joining our Patreon. The Vervaeke Foundation is committed to advancing the scientific pursuit of wisdom and creating a significant impact on the world. Become a part of our mission.   Join Awaken to Meaning to explore practices that enhance your virtues and foster deeper connections with reality and relationships.   John Vervaeke: Website | Twitter | YouTube | Patreon     Ideas, People, and Works Mentioned in this Episode Martin Heidegger  Plotinus Aristotle St. Gregory  Heraclitus  Parmenides Plato Jordan Hall Evan Thompson Relationality  Neoplatonism Substance Ontology Trinity Process Philosophy Virtue Epistemology Humility Dialogical Rationality "Heidegger, Neoplatonism, and the History of Being" by James Filler "Substance Ontology and the Crisis of Reason" by James Filler (upcoming book) "Awakening from the Meaning Crisis" by John "Recovering Plato: A Platonic Virtue Epistemology" by James Filler (published in Episteme) "The Divine Matrix" by David Ray Griffin "The One" by Paas "Being and Time" by Martin Heidegger "The Republic" by Plato "The Enneads" by Plotinus "Metaphysics" by Aristotle   Quotes:   "Relationality is itself more primordial, more fundamental to understanding the nature of reality."   "To be independent in the first place required a relation—because to be independent means there's something you're independent from."   "Our rationality operates best dialogically, not nomologically, which aligns deeply with relational ontology."  

In this episode Dudley continues his conversation with Leigh Scarborough, CEO of Sheild of the Children, and they dive into the complex relationship between the gospel and culture. They discuss how the gospel transcends cultural boundaries and they confront misconceptions about Western Christianity, Eastern Christianity, and more. Leigh shares his experiences from Indonesia and Australia, highlighting issues like church practices that exclude people and the influence of the prosperity gospel, which distorts true teaching of the Gospel. Together, they explore how the Gospel creates its own culture of love and inclusivity, emphasizing the importance of understanding what agape love truly means—unconditional, divine love that shapes authentic Christian community. For more information and resources, visit https://kerygmaventures.com/podcast/ For more information on Leigh's work at Shield of the Children, visit https://raiseyourshield.orgFollow and subscribe:Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/41N9SAP Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3LEIxeo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kerygmaventures Watch our "Conversations At The Ranch" series: https://bit.ly/conversations-at-the-ranch Watch our “Dudley's Monthly Message” series: https://bit.ly/dudleys-monthly-message 

Letting go gracefully: How do we parent our adult children? ... GUEST Dorothy Little Greco ... writer & photographer who lives outside Boston ... The author of "Making Marriage Beautiful," and most recently, “Marriage in the Middle: Embracing Midlife Surprises, Challenges & Joys” ... Dorothy & her husband lead marriage workshops/retreats, speak at conferences nationwide. 5 Things I've learned to go Long-Term in Ministry ... GUEST Rev Dr Dean Weaver ... Stated Clerk of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church ... co-founder and former president of EduNations. St Gregory the Illuminator, who brought the gospel to Armenia (his feast day is this month)... GUEST Frederica Mathewes-Green .. she's the author of "The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer that Tunes the Heart to God," and "Welcome to the Orthodox Church: an Introduction to Eastern Christianity".See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ten-Mile Valley Community Prayer Breakfast ... GUEST Patrick O'Brien ... Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer, Dollar Bank. How to navigate social media in an Election Season ... GUEST Chris Martin ... director of content at Moody Radio ... author of two books about social media: “The Wolf in Their Pockets” and “Terms of Service”. GUEST Rev Dr Dean Weaver ... Stated Clerk of the Evangelical PresbyterianChurch ... co-founder and former president of EduNations. The Transfiguration when Jesus was transformed & Peter, James, John saw him talking w Elijah & Moses ... GUEST Frederica Mathewes-Green .. she's the author of "The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer that Tunes the Heart to God," and "Welcome to the Orthodox Church: an Introduction to Eastern Christianity".See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Parenting Health and Wealth Gospel ... GUEST Dorothy Little Greco ... writer & photographer who lives outside Boston ... The author of "Making Marriage Beautiful," and most recently, “Marriage in the Middle: Embracing Midlife Surprises, Challenges & Joys” ... Dorothy & her husband lead marriage workshops/ retreats, speak at conferences nationwide. Surprising Events in Charleston ... GUEST Frederica Mathewes- Green .. she's the author of "The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer that Tunes the Heart to God," and "Welcome to the Orthodox Church: an Introduction to Eastern Christianity". The Doctrines of Grace for daily living ... GUEST Rev Dr Dean Weaver ... Stated Clerk of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church ... co-founder and former president of EduNations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Readings from a rare study linking ancient spiritual practice with modern neuroscience. Parallels are drawn from these insights with similar ideas of Gurdjieff's Fourth Way, revealing their origins in the instructions to monks on the path of Theosis in the tradition of the Neptic Fathers.Excerpts from the article "Theosis in the Light of Modern Brain and Mind Sciences" by Brother Theophan Miskovic to be published in the anthology "Ascetic Practices and the Mind in Eastern Christianity" by Catholic University Press.

James welcomes Connie Marshner to The Manly Catholic to discuss St. Patrick, the High Cross, ancient Irish Catholicism, and so much more in her latest book "Monastery and High Cross: The Forgotten Eastern Roots of Irish Christianity."  She explains the influence of Eastern Christianity on Irish Christianity, the role of St. Patrick in the conversion of Ireland, and the evidence of early Christians in Ireland before St. Patrick. Marshner also explores the origins of the Irish High Cross and the unique aspects of Irish liturgy. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding our roots and the early history of the Church as men and Catholics.  TakeawaysSt. Patrick played a significant role in the conversion of Ireland, but there were already early Christians in Ireland before his arrival.The Irish High Cross is a unique symbol of Irish Christianity, and its design has roots in Armenian and Egyptian traditions.Understanding our roots and the early history of the Church is important for men and Catholics. Knowing one's roots provides a grounding in reality and a sense of identity.The Catholic Church has shown resilience and strength even in the face of suppression.Saint Dymphna is an important patron saint for those struggling with mental illness.Thoughts to Chew On"The early history of the Catholic Church in Ireland is influenced by Eastern Christianity.""The Irish High Cross is a unique symbol of Irish Christianity, and its design has roots in Armenian and Egyptian traditions.""Knowing your roots gives you a grounding in reality.""The Catholic Church, no matter how much it's tried to be suppressed, always comes back in full force.""I think there was a spirituality and a directness that was lacking in European spirituality."Resources Buy the book here!Check out more of Connie's work here!Support local Irish education here! TAN Books - Become a Saint! TAN is offering 15% off to you! Use code "manlycatholic" at checkout to help support the podcast. Support the showMystic Monk Coffee → For the best coffee for a great cause, we recommend Mystic Monk Coffee. Roasted with prayer by the Carmelite Monks in Wyoming, Mystic Monk Coffee has the ultimate cup waiting for you. See more at mysticmonkcoffee.comTAN Books → TAN has been one of the most well-known and respected Catholic publishers for a long time. Their objective? To make men and women saints. Take 15% off your order and help support the podcast by using the code “manlycatholic” at checkout. Visit TAN Books for more! Contact us directly at themanlycatholic@gmail.com. Support the show on Patreon

As we come toward the end of Step 26 on Discernment, St. John begins to offer us a summary of all that we have considered in the previous pages. In doing this, he alters his typical way of writing. One may speculate that he does this because of the importance of the virtue of discernment; both in fostering it and in protecting it.  Using brief sayings, very much like those found in the Philokalia, St. John begins to lay out for us the path to perfecting this virtue as well as to speak of the fruits of it in our lives.  Our capacity to see spiritual realities in an unimpeded fashion allows us to be attentive to all of the vices as well as the remedies that the fathers set before us for overcoming them. In summarizing the step in this fashion, St. John presents us with the truth very much in the way that we receive it from the gospel. It overturns the worldly way of viewing things. It allows us to experience the discomfort of having our sensibilities challenged in regards to our patterns of thought and our most basic desires. It compels us to ask ourselves, “For whom  do I live? Who do I love above all things?” --- Text of chat during the group: 00:02:46 FrDavid Abernethy: page 215   00:02:51 FrDavid Abernethy: number 85   00:03:29 FrDavid Abernethy: number 185   00:08:47 Tracey Fredman: Thank you, Fr. David for referencing the book "Toward God" by Michael Casey. It's amazing!   00:08:57 FrDavid Abernethy: great!!   00:09:11 FrDavid Abernethy: he's a wonderful writer   00:09:40 Kate : I am reading it too!  It is wonderful.   Like nothing I have read before.   00:09:41 FrDavid Abernethy: his book on lectio divina called Sacred reading is great too   00:26:15 Anthony: Do you have any comments on discerning the origin of thoughts without playing with the thoughts?   00:43:12 Anthony: That makes sense since Eros is a seeking, inquisitive movement.   00:51:38 David Swiderski: Especially prayer with gratitude.   00:52:19 Andy Nguyen: Replying to "Especially prayer wi..."     Yup   00:52:21 Wayne: Reacted to "Especially prayer wi..." with

"Truth and Love are wings that cannot be separated, for Truth cannot fly without Love, nor can Love soar aloft without Truth." (Saint Ephrem the Syrian)   "Look at God within yourself, how 'God is Light.' For his Nature is a glorious, many-splendored Light. He manifests the Light of his Nature to those who love Him in all the worlds…" (John of Dalyatha, Syriac Mystic)   "To be glorified art Thou, the Father Supreme, born of Thy First-born in the silence and tranquility of meditation." (Syriac Acts of Saint Thomas in India)   "There is a silence of the tongue. There is a silence of the whole body. There is a silence of the soul. There is a silence of the mind, and there is a silence of the spirit." (Abraham of Nathpar)   "Open your ears, and I shall speak to you. Give Me yourself, so that I may also give you Myself." (Odes, 9: 1-2)   "What wonders has your love effected! When someone is still alive he has left this world: though his bodily condition remains with the world's bodily condition, yet his spirit has been raised up towards You, so that for a period of time he is where he knows not, being totally raptured and drawn towards You." (John of Apamea)   Several scholars have made a convincing case that the Syriac mystics were a major influence upon early Sufism. And Sufism, as many know, has been an influence on the Sants of India. There is a demonstrable connection between East & West via several sources (Syriac mystics of the Church of the East in the Saint Thomas tradition, Mazdakism, Manichaeism and other schools of Gnosticism) and the Sant tradition of India.   Sebastian Brock, Scholar of Eastern Christianity and Aramaic-Syriac Saints, has translated many wonderful texts of Eastern Saints such as Isaac of Nineveh, Abdusho (Joseph the Visionary), John of Dalyatha, Abraham of Nathpar, Martyrius, Babai, Philoxenus of Mabbug, Aphrahat, Ephrem, John of Apamea, Jacob of Sarug, and others, in great books such as, The Syriac Fathers on Prayer and the Spiritual Life, The Wisdom of St. Isaac of Nineveh, A Garland of Hymns from the Early Church (including Odes of Solomon), The Luminous Eye, and several others. "The text-book and pulpit notion that all Christendom is divided between Greek East and Latin West overlooks an ancient and still continuing third stream of tradition: Syriac Christianity. "Cut off from the rest of the Christian world by theological controversy in the fifth century, Arab conquest in the seventh and Mongol invasions in the thirteenth, Syrian Christians continues to celebrate the Christian mysteries, to meditate on Scripture and to apply its teachings to their lives. "Some of them, attempting to realise here on earth their baptismal potential to re-enter paradise, chose a life of asceticism and single-minded devotion to Christ. Their reflections created across the centuries a rich literature. Some passed into the byzantine tradition; some remained unknown to other Christians and have never until now been translated into a modern language. "These Syriac fathers offer the modern heirs of both Latin and Greek Christendom new, yet ancient and enduring insights on prayer and the spiritual life." (The Syriac Fathers on Prayer and the Spiritual Life, by Professor Sebastian Brock of Oxford University)   In Divine Love (Bhakti), Light, and Sound, At the Feet of the Masters   James Bean Spiritual Awakening Radio Podcasts Sant Mat Satsang Podcasts Sant Mat Radhasoami A Satsang Without Walls Spiritual Awakening Radio Website: https://www.SpiritualAwakeningRadio.com    

Bible Study: (2:02) 1 Jn 3:11-21 Why wasn't Cain's sacrifice acceptable to God?  Jn 1:43-51 Father shares a story from Eastern Christianity that helps illuminate today's Gospel Letters:  (17:55) - Psalm 25 - Remember your tender mercies and your loving kindness (21:53) - Was Mary Magdalene at the cross?  (24:27) - Destroying a Satanic display; is that OK?  (28:16) - Seminarians need to sit in the pews!  Word of the Day: Hates (32:53) Callers:  (35:58) - Friend married a protestant. He is Catholic. Can he receive communion? (39:13) - What does the last paragraph from today's gospel Mean? (43:33) - Luke CH2: 39-40 - Never talks about going to Egypt. Why not? (49:16) - If 2 Catholic soldiers in a war kill each other, does the absolution they may have received allow them to get to heaven?

John Mason Neale was born in London to evangelical parents. His father's early death meant that Neale attended many different schools; he eventually earned a degree from Trinity College, Cambridge. While at Cambridge, Neale moved from an evangelical to a strongly Anglican religious orientation. He helped found the Cambridge Camden Society, which later became the Ecclesiological Society, at Cambridge in 1839; the group's main goal was to align church architecture, decoration, and ritual with its teaching. Neale was ordained a deacon in 1841 and a priest in 1842. His role in mid-19th-century British religious history is complex: many of his innovations, including establishing the Society of Saint Margaret for the nursing of pensioners and the poor, seemed too close to Roman Catholicism for Anglican leaders of the day.  Nonetheless, Neale's literary and religious output was immense. He wrote books and pamphlets on a wide range of spiritual and material issues. Neale's other volumes included novels, books for children, and works on church history. He penned a multivolume History of the Holy Eastern Church (1847, 1850, and a posthumous volume in 1873). Neale's interest in Eastern Christianity led him to translate Hymns of the Eastern Church (1862), though he translated many other kinds of hymns, including from Latin, for Anglican use. Neale is best remembered as a hymnist whose collections include Hymns for Children (1843), Hymns for the Sick (1843), Carols for Christmas-tide (1853), and Carols for Easter-tide (1854). Perhaps his most famous carol is “Good King Wenceslas.” Neale's early death, at age 48, was not widely recognized at the time; however, the archbishop of Canterbury celebrated its centenary.-bio via Poetry Foundation Get full access to The Daily Poem Podcast at dailypoempod.substack.com/subscribe

Sources/Recomended Reading: Gendle, Nicholas (translated by) (1982). "Gregory Palamas: The Triads". In the "Classics of Western Spirituality Series". Paulist Press. Greer, Rowan A. (1979). "Origen: Selected Writings". Classics of Western Spirituality. Paulist Press. Hart, Columba (translated by) (1980). "Hadewijch: Complete Works". Classics of Western Spirituality Series. Paulist Press. Laird, Martin (2004). "Gregory of Nyssa and the grasp of faith: union, knowledge and divine presence". Oxford University Press. Lossky, Vladimir (1944). "The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church". James Clarke & Co. Luibheid, Colm (Translated by) (1987). "Pseudo-Dionysius: The Complete Works". Classics of Western Spirituality. Paulist Press International. McGinn, Bernard. "The Presence of God" Series, in several volumes. Perhaps the best and most comprehensive introduction to Christian mysticism. Published by Crossroad Publishing Co. McGinn, Bernard (2001). "The Mystical Thought of Meister Eckhart: The Man From Whom God Hid Nothing". Crossroad Publishing Co. "Meister Eckhart: The Essential Sermons, Commentaries, Treatises and Defense". Classics of Western Spirituality. Paulist Press. "Meister Eckhart: Teacher and Preacher". Classics of Western Spirituality Series. Paulist Press. Tobin, Frank (translated by) (1997). "Mechthild of Magdeburg: The Flowing Light of the Godhead". Classics of Western Spirituality. Paulist Press.Walshe, Maurice O.C. (translated by) (2010). "The Complete Mystical Works of Meister Eckhart". Crossroad Publishing Company. Ware, Timothy (2015). "The Orthodox Church: An introduction to Eastern Christianity". New Edition. Penguin Books. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Delve into the philosophical and theological parallels that shaped the development of early Christian thought. From the influence of Plotinus and his concepts of the One and the emanation of divine beings, to the fusion of Platonic ideas with Christian theology, this video uncovers the intellectual interplay that helped shape the foundations of Western spirituality. Explore how Neoplatonic concepts, such as the nature of the soul, the hierarchy of being, and the pursuit of the divine, found resonance within Christian doctrines.Sources/Suggested Reading: Gerson, Loyd P. (ed.) (2019). "Plotinus: The Enneads". Cambridge University Press.Gerson, Loyd P (2008). "Cambridge Companion to Plotinus". Cambridge University Press. Greer, Rowan A. (1979). "Origen: Selected Writings". Classics of Western Spirituality. Paulist Press. Laird, Martin (2004). "Gregory of Nyssa and the grasp of faith: union, knowledge and divine presence". Oxford University Press. Lossky, Vladimir (1944). "The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church". James Clarke & Co. Luibheid, Colm (Translated by) (1987). "Pseudo-Dionysius: The Complete Works". Classics of Western Spirituality. Paulist Press International. McGinn, Bernard (2003). "The Mystical Thought of Meister Eckhart: The Man from Whom God Hid Nothing". Independent Publishers Group. O'Meara, Dominic J. (1981). "Neoplatonism and Christian Thought". State University of New York Press. Pine-Coffin, R.S. (Translated by) (2003). "Confessions". Penguin Classics. Proclus "The Elements of Theology: A Revised Text with Translation, Introduction, and Commentary". Translated by E.R. Dodds. Second Edition. Oxford University Press. O'Meara, Dominic J. (1999). "Plotinus: An Introduction to the Enneads". Oxford University Press. Wallis, R.T. (1998). "Neoplatonism". Second Edition. Bristol Classical Paperbacks. Hackett Publishing Company. Ware, Timothy (2015). "The Orthodox Church: An introduction to Eastern Christianity". New Edition. Penguin Books. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pastor Steve discusses the Eastern Church and its evolution between the 9th and 16th centuries. This is a key piece of church history that is missing from most church history classes.

Religion in America is undergoing a revolution. In 1972, 90% of Americans were self-professed Christians. Now, that number is about 64%. There are now large and growing populations of non-Christians, as well as many who have no particular religious beliefs. Such a time of change has made it an exciting time to be a scholar of religion, charged with making sense of the shifting landscape of American religious experience. For today's conversation, Zach Davis sat down with one of those scholars, Charles Stang, the Director of the Center for the Study of World Religions at Harvard Divinity School. Zach went to grad school at HDS and Charlie was one of his very favorite professors. In the conversation, Charlie discusses his life as a scholar of religion, the path his own spiritual life has taken and shares details about the exciting new research initiative he is leading at Harvard called Transcendence and Transformation. Charles M. Stang is Professor of Early Christian Thought at Harvard Divinity School and the Director of the Center for the Study of World Religions. His research and teaching focus on the history and theology of Christianity, in particular asceticism, monasticism, and mysticism in Eastern Christianity. His most recent book, Our Divine Double, was published in 2016 by Harvard University Press.

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