Podcasts about mere orthodoxy

In this episode, Nathan and Cameroon dive deep into the rising tide of AI in theological education, especially its implications for seminaries, spiritual formation, and the future of pastoral training. Drawing from Cameron Schaefer's provocative article on Mere Orthodoxy, they discuss how AI may soon outpace traditional online seminary models and why Christian institutions must shift from being sources of information to curators of formation. Join as they explore the irreplaceable value of embodied ministry, human mentorship, and habitual wisdom in the digital age. Is AI a tool, a threat, or a catalyst for rethinking how we form Christian leaders? Listen for robust theological dialogue, real-world applications, and a hopeful vision for a hybrid future.

Andrew Arndt is back on the podcast today. He's a pastor and author who's challenging how we typically understand the gospel. His new book, "A Strange and Gracious Light," explores what it means to see Jesus as a living presence that intersects with our real, complicated lives. We'll discuss how the gospel isn't just about personal salvation or afterlife insurance, but a transformative story that speaks directly into our current cultural moment - with all its complexity, pain, and potential. Andrew brings a fresh, albeit an ancient perspective on how Jesus encounters us in our everyday struggles, political tensions, and personal challenges. This conversation is about reimagining the good news of Jesus as something far more expansive and immediate than we've traditionally understood. We'll explore what it means to experience Christ's presence in a way that's both deeply personal and broadly transformative. So join us as we facilitate encounters with the living God. Andrew Arndt is the Lead Pastor of New Life East (one of seven congregations of New Life Church in Colorado Springs), where he also hosts the Essential Church podcast, a weekly conversation designed to strengthen the thinking of church and ministry leaders. Prior to joining New Life's team, he served as Lead Pastor of Bloom Church: a neo-monastic, charismatic, liturgical, justice-driven network of house churches in Denver. He received his MDiv from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, is working on his Doctor of Ministry at Western Theological Seminary, and has written for Missio Alliance, Patheos, The Other Journal, and Mere Orthodoxy. He lives in the Springs with his wife Mandi and their four kids.Andrew's Book:A Strange and Gracious LightSubscribe to Our Substack: Shifting CultureConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@allnations.usGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky or YouTubeConsider Giving to the podcast and to the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link below The Signpost Inn PodcastFind peace, clarity, and companionship for your spiritual journey.Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show

I mean, I don't know you. Maybe you didn't grow up in an evangelical Christian subculture. But if you did, there's a high likelihood that the ideas you absorbed about how men and women behave—and what it even means to be masculine or feminine—were influenced heavily by C.S Lewis' famous Space Trilogy: Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength.On this fascinating episode, Kathryn Wagner (returning guest and medieval lit scholar) and Robin Harris (writer and incoming seminarian) stopped by to evaluate Lewis' takes on gender against both more modern feminist sensibilities and much older writers and theologians in the Christian tradition.You should absolutely join us.★ About Our Guests:Robin Harris is a North Carolina based freelance writer and editor who specializes in Bible curriculum. She is on the board of the Davenant Institute. Her writing has appeared in Mere Orthodoxy, Ad Fontes, and the Theopolis Institute. As of Fall 2025, she will be a student at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary (MATS, 2027). She writes at robinjeanharris.substack.com/ and can be reached at robinjeanharris [at] gmail.com.Kathryn Wagner is the Director of Academic Programming at the Center for Christianity and Scholarship at Duke University. She studies the literature and religious culture of the late Middle Ages and teaches courses that aim to form students in virtue through the practices of the liberal arts. She can be reached at kathryn [at] mogkwagner.net.—★ Timestamps(00:00) #62 - Evangelicals' Gender Ideas Came from C.S. Lewis' Space Trilogy - with Robin Harris and Kathryn Wagner(04:20) Evangelicals who leaned on C.S. Lewis and the Space Trilogy(13:12) The Space Trilogy tackles gender(24:46) But can archetypes live in the real world?(38:44) God does not have a body: Metaphors in Christian scripture(53:28) Confusion and contraception are tied together(01:00:58) God as our mother?(01:06:39) Lewis's thinking evolution: widening the gender box(01:24:44) Replacing theoretical masculinity and femininity with real friendships(01:33:24) What would Lewis think of today's transgender conversation?(01:40:31) In the Christian tradition on gender, Lewis is the test run—★ Links and ReferencesThese well-read people dropped a lot of names and references. For your ease of Google searching, here are the ones we caught:John and Stasi Eldridge (books: Wild at Heart, Captivating), Jordan Peterson Jungian thinking, Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, Elisabeth Elliot (book: Let Me Be a Woman), complementarianism and egalitarianism, Michael Ward (book: Planet Narnia), apophatic theology, platonic forms and Aristotle's hylomorphism, Thomistic/ Thomas=Thomas Aquinas, Pope John Paul II (book/writings: Theology of the Body), Anselm of Canterbury talked about God as our mother, Julian of Norwich said a similar thing; Joy Davidman, Dorothy Sayers, philosopher Elizabeth Anscombe, Sister Penelope Lawson, Ruth Pitter, C. S. Lewis (books: The Four Loves, A Grief Observed), Kevin Vanhoozer (theologian).—★ Send us feedback, questions, comments, and support!Email: communionandshalom@gmail.com | Instagram: @newkinship | Substack: @newkinship | Patreon: @newkinship —★ CreditsCreators and Hosts: David Frank, TJ Espinoza | Audio Engineer: Carl Swenson, carlswensonmusic.com | Podcast Manager: Elena F. | Graphic Designer: Gavin Popken, gavinpopkenart.com ★ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newkinship.substack.com

In this episode of The Biggest Table, I welcome Malcolm Foley, a pastor, historian, and special advisor to the president for equity and campus engagement at Baylor University. We discuss Foley's new book, 'The Anti Greed Gospel,' which addresses the connections between greed, racism, and the economic exploitation inherent in global systems. Foley advocates for a form of Christian socialism focused on sharing resources and combating exploitation and violence. Key topics include the role of the church in challenging societal injustices, the importance of deep economic solidarity, creative anti-violence, and prophetic truth-telling. The conversation also delves into how Christians can navigate their witness in a world dominated by greed and economic disparity, with practical steps for community engagement.Malcolm Foley (PhD, Baylor University) is a pastor, historian, and speaker who serves as special adviser to the president for equity and campus engagement at Baylor University. He has written for Christianity Today, The Anxious Bench, and Mere Orthodoxy. He just released his first book from Brazos Press, entitled, The Anti-Greed Gospel: Why the Love of Money Is the Root of Racism and How the Church Can Create a New Way Forward. Foley copastors Mosaic Waco, a multicultural church in Waco, Texas, where he lives with his wife, Desiree.Follow Malcolm:Bluesky: @malcolmbfoley.bsky.socialInstagram: @revdocmalcThis episode of the Biggest Table is brought to you in part by Wild Goose Coffee. Since 2008, Wild Goose has sought to build better communities through coffee. For our listeners, Wild Goose is offering a special promotion of 20% off a one time order using the code TABLE at checkout. To learn more and to order coffee, please visit wildgoosecoffee.com. 

Radical shifts in the United States are sending shockwaves abroad.   Host Curtis Chang welcomes back “founding friend” David French to examine how Trump's foreign policy is reshaping America's global standing. From strained alliances with Canada to shifting U.S. support for Ukraine, and the dismantling of USAID, David and Curtis explore whether the nation has abandoned its long-standing commitment to liberal democracy. Drawing from scripture, historical Christianity, and even the Declaration of Independence, they discuss the deeper implications of the current moment for America's national character and global trust.   Don't miss the second half of this episode, where David French answers listener questions!   Send written questions or voice memos for “Ask Curtis” episodes to: askcurtis@redeemingbabel.org   Send Campfire Stories to: info@redeemingbabel.org   Resources or references mentioned in this episode: The Truth About Fentanyl at the Canada-US Border Tariffs on Canada Colossians 1:15-17 (New Living Translation) The Declaration of Independence Michael Gerson's role in PEPFAR George W. Bush's 2023 Op-Ed about the need for PEPFAR George W. Bush's White House Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives The Evangelical vote in 2024 Listen to David's NYT conversation with Jessica Riedl about DOGE and the deficit Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson's Abundance Jake Meador's Mere Orthodoxy article The Doom of Choice Jake Meador's Mere Orthodoxy article Tolkien's Holy Fools Explore The After Party with Russell Moore, David French, & Curtis Chang More From David French: David French's New York Times pieces HERE Follow David French on Threads Register for the 2025 Illuminate Arts & Faith Conference   Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook   Sign up: Redeeming Babel Newsletter

When U.S. foreign aid is frozen, what happens to the people who depend on it? In this episode, Dr. Matthew Loftus and Amy Julia Becker dive into the effects of USAID cuts, including:The life-or-death consequences for HIV patientsThe difficult choices clinics and hospitals now faceThe political and religious divisions driving the debateWhat it means to be pro-lifeHow concerned Americans can respondMENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:Amy Julia's Substack email newsletter about USAID: Caring for Humans is Slow, Messy, and BeautifulNYT opinion essay by Leah Libresco Sargeant, Matthew Loftus, Kristin M. Collier, and Kathryn Jean Lopez: “As Fellow Pro-Lifers, We Are Begging Marco Rubio to Save Foreign Aid”ProPublica article:"The Trump Administration Said These Aid Programs Saved Lives. It Canceled Them Anyway."Washington Post articleMatt's thesis: Discipline and FlourishAfrican Mission HealthcareSubscribe to Amy Julia's weekly email_WATCH this conversation on YouTube by clicking here. READ the full transcript and access detailed show notes by clicking here or visiting amyjuliabecker.com/podcast._ABOUT:Matthew Loftus lives with his family in East Africa, where he has taught and practiced Family Medicine since 2015. He is especially passionate about Family Medicine education and mental health care in mission hospitals. He grew up in a family of 15 children and did all of his medical training in Baltimore. He also holds an M.A. in Theology from St. Mary's Ecumenical Institute in Baltimore and has written for several publications, including Christianity Today, Mere Orthodoxy, First Things, and The New York Times. You can learn more about his work and writing at www.matthewandmaggie.org___Let's stay in touch. Subscribe to my newsletter to receive weekly reflections that challenge assumptions about the good life, proclaim the inherent belovedness of every human being, and envision a world of belonging where everyone matters.We want to hear your thoughts. Send us a text!Connect with me: Instagram Facebook YouTube Website Thanks for listening!

Dr. Malcolm Foley joins Mariah Humphries and Katie Mullin for a surprisingly joyful episode of Peace Talks. While explaining how greed is at the root of racism, Dr. Foley reveals beautiful truths about Jesus and the Church. This episode is full of 'aha' moments that challenge the American way of living.Malcolm Foley (PhD, Baylor University) is a pastor, historian, and speaker who serves as special adviser to the president for equity and campus engagement at Baylor University. He has written for Christianity Today, The Anxious Bench, and Mere Orthodoxy. His book, The Anti-Greed Gospel: Why the Love of Money Is the Root of Racism and How the Church Can Create a New Way Forward, released in February of 2025. Foley copastors Mosaic Waco, a multicultural church in Waco, Texas, where he lives with his wife, Desiree. » Subscribe to PEACE TALKS Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/peace-talks/id1590168616About the Center for Formation, Justice and Peace:Justice and peace come from the inside out—from the overflow of a transformed heart. This belief led our founder, Bishop Todd Hunter, to start the Center for Formation, Justice and Peace in 2021. The Center brings together a diverse, interdenominational community of people who want to be formed in love to heal a broken world. Because “religion” is often part of the problem, we've created a brave, Jesus-centered space for dialogue, questioning, creating, and exploration. PEACE TALKS introduces you to women and men who are working to undo oppression, leading to lives of deeper peace for all.*Connect with The Center Online!*Visit The Center's Website: https://centerfjp.orgFollow The Center on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/centerfjpFollow The Center on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/centerfjp/Support the show

What is the difference between being liberal and postliberal? Who better to talk with than Susannah Roberts, a writer, editor, and podcaster. We talk about her life growing up in New York City (where she still lives part of the year), her conversion to Christianity from agnosticism, and why liberalism is losing its popularity.  Susannah (@suzania) is the editor of Plough Quarterly and Mere Orthodoxy.  

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: Will@faithfulpoliticspodcast.comIn this thought-provoking episode of Faithful Politics, co-hosts Josh Burtram and Will Wright sit down with Dr. Malcolm Foley, a historian, pastor, and advisor at Baylor University, to discuss his latest book, The Anti-Greed Gospel: Why the Love of Money is the Root of Racism and How the Church Can Create a New Way Forward. Dr. Foley unpacks the historical and theological connections between greed, economic exploitation, and racial violence, challenging the conventional narratives about race and capitalism. He explores how the desire for profit fueled the transatlantic slave trade, sustained Jim Crow laws, and continues to shape modern economic and political inequalities. Through a compelling discussion of history, theology, and practical application, this episode invites listeners to examine how greed operates in their own lives and communities—and what the church must do to counteract it.Guest Bio: Dr. Malcolm FoleyDr. Malcolm Foley is a historian, pastor, and special advisor to the president for equity and campus engagement at Baylor University. He earned his PhD in religion from Baylor, specializing in African-American Protestant responses to lynching from the late 19th to early 20th centuries. He serves as the director of Black Church Studies at Truett Theological Seminary and co-pastors Mosaic Waco, a multicultural church in Waco, Texas. Dr. Foley has been featured in Christianity Today, The Anxious Bench, and Mere Orthodoxy, where he addresses racial violence, economic injustice, and the church's role in promoting equity and inclusion. His latest book, The Anti-Greed Gospel, provides a bold theological critique of capitalism, calling for a reformation of Christian priorities away from wealth accumulation and toward communal care. Support the showPlease Help Support the showhttps://donorbox.org/faithful-politics-podcastTo learn more about the show, contact our hosts, or recommend future guests, click on the links below: Website: https://www.faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/ Faithful Host: Josh@faithfulpoliticspodcast.com Political Host: Will@faithfulpoliticspodcast.com Twitter: @FaithfulPolitik Instagram: faithful_politics Facebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcast LinkedIn: faithfulpolitics Subscribe to our Substack: https://faithfulpolitics.substack.com/

If you are a Christian, chances are you know someone who has deconstructed their faith or is doing so right now. You want to help them reconstruct their faith in Jesus, but you don't know how to act or what to say. “The truth is that we can't control someone's reconstruction,” writes Ian Harber. “What we can do is create environments — both in our interpersonal relationships and in our churches — that help minimize the intensity of someone's deconstruction by being a non-anxious presence, creating healthy relationships and churches full of trust and care, and having a more robust understanding of our faith to talk through with them.” In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Harber about what deconstruction is and how to be a better Christian friend and church community for someone who is experiencing a crisis of faith. I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Ian Harber is author of Walking Through Deconstruction, published by InterVarsity Press. A writer and Christian media producer, he has written for The Gospel Coalition, Mere Orthodoxy, and RELEVANT. He writes about reconstructing faith in his newsletter Back Again, and about faith, media, and technology at Endeavor. He lives in Denton, Texas, with his wife and sons. ————— This episode of the Influence Podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Discipler. The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Discipler equips you with an understanding of the Holy Spirit's role in your life. As a resource for both laypeople and ministry leaders, it also imparts practical insight for anyone discipling others in receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit. For more information about The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Discipler visit MyHealthyChurch.com.

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: Will@faithfulpoliticspodcast.comIn this episode of Faithful Politics, hosts Josh Burtram and Will Wright sit down with Ian Harber, a Christian writer and media producer, to discuss his latest book, Walking Through Deconstruction. Ian shares his deeply personal journey of faith, doubt, and ultimate reconstruction, offering profound insights into the challenges of navigating a crisis of faith. From growing up in a strict Christian environment to questioning core doctrines and enduring profound personal loss, Ian's story sheds light on the complexities of deconstruction. The conversation delves into the cultural and doctrinal drivers of deconstruction, the role of suffering in spiritual growth, and the importance of patience and community during such transformative periods. Ian also provides actionable advice for churches and individuals supporting those grappling with faith crises, making this a must-listen episode for anyone seeking to understand or assist in the process of spiritual reconstruction.Purchase Walking Through Deconstruction: https://a.co/d/4DD3NbvGuest Bio:Ian Harber is a writer, Christian media producer, and the author of Walking Through Deconstruction. He has contributed to prominent outlets like the Gospel Coalition, Relevant, and Mere Orthodoxy. Through his newsletter, Back Again, Ian explores topics of faith, media, and technology, offering hope and guidance for those navigating the complexities of deconstruction and reconstruction. Residing in Denton, Texas, Ian lives with his wife and sons, passionately engaging with the intersection of faith and cultural dynamics. Support the showPlease Help Support the showhttps://donorbox.org/faithful-politics-podcastTo learn more about the show, contact our hosts, or recommend future guests, click on the links below: Website: https://www.faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/ Faithful Host: Josh@faithfulpoliticspodcast.com Political Host: Will@faithfulpoliticspodcast.com Twitter: @FaithfulPolitik Instagram: faithful_politics Facebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcast LinkedIn: faithfulpolitics Subscribe to our Substack: https://faithfulpolitics.substack.com/

This is a conversation about how to faithfully engage culture as a Christian in a disorienting time. Our guest is Patrick Miller. He is a Pastor, Podcast host, and co-author of the book "Joyful Outsiders." In this conversation, Patrick shares how he was drawn to a church that was actively engaged in the community - supporting nonprofits, influencing local businesses, and making a real impact. As he's grown in his faith, he's had to wrestle with the tension of resisting the culture around us, while also cultivating and caring for that culture. The world has changed a lot, Patrick says. Christianity has gone from an insider position to more of an outsider status in America. And that creates a challenge - how do we live like Jesus in the midst of this? Do we hunker down and resist? Do we try to conform and fit in? Or is there a third way? Patrick lays out six different approaches - the Trainer, the Advisor, the Protester, the Ambassador, the Artist, the Builder. Each one represents a different way of engaging the world around us. And he argues we need all of these voices, working together in harmony, if we're going to faithfully follow Jesus. It's a nuanced, thoughtful conversation about an issue that's causing a lot of division and angst in the church today. But Patrick offers a hopeful vision - one where we embrace the tension, value our diversity, and work together to build something lasting for the next generation. It's a conversation I think you'll find really compelling. So join us as we learn to live in the tension of resistance and cultivation. Patrick Miller pastors at The Crossing in Missouri, cohosts the podcasts Ten Minute Bible Talks and Truth Over Tribe, and has coauthored one book. His weekly newsletter, Endeavor, explores the intersection of faith, culture, media, and technology. His writing can be found at The Gospel Coalition, Mere Orthodoxy, Christianity Today, and Newsweek. He graduated from Covenant Theological Seminary (MDiv). He and his wife, Emily, live in Columbia, Missouri, with their two children.Patrick's Book:Joyful OutsidersPatrick's Recommendation:Infinite JestJoin Our Patreon for Early Access and More: PatreonSubscribe to Our Substack: Shifting CultureConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@allnations.usGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky or YouTubeConsider Giving to the podcast and to the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link belowEmail jjohnson@allnations.us, so we can get your creative project off the ground! The Bible is Alive! - Read the Bible in a Year - NIVWelcome to the "The Bible is Alive!" where we read through the entire Bible and...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show

There is increasing speculation and concern about the role of AI in the future of the arts. Surprisingly, many Christians are already embracing the use of AI to produce images of the saints. In this episode, Thomas and Susannah Black Roberts make the argument for why AI art is a contradiction in terms. It is analogous to pornography in that it scratches the itch to “create” without actually achieving the object of the desire in question. We should not use technology to replace the human specialties: “God won't accept worship that we outsource.” Plus, the danger of demonic influence through AI should not be overlooked. Susannah Black Roberts is a senior editor of Plough and has written for publications including First Things, Fare Forward, Front Porch Republic, Mere Orthodoxy, and The American Conservative.  Links Susannah's thread on Twitter https://x.com/suzania/status/1866516737057083862 Plough Quarterly https://www.plough.com/ PloughCast 66: The Technology of Demons w/ Paul Kingsnorth https://www.plough.com/en/topics/life/technology/the-technology-of-demons Robert Cotton, “Augustine, AI, and the Demon Heuristic” https://mereorthodoxy.com/augustine-ai-and-the-demon-heuristic The Anchored Argosy https://argosy.substack.com/ DONATE to make this show possible! http://catholicculture.org/donate/audio SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters

Welcome to the Pinkleton Pull-Aside Podcast. On this podcast, let's step aside from our busy lives to have fun, fascinating life giving conversation with inspiring authors, pastors, sports personalities and other influencers, leaders and followers. Sit back, grab some coffee, or head down the road and let's get the good and the gold from today's guest. Our host is Jeff Pinkleton, Executive Director of the Gathering of the Miami Valley, where their mission is to connect men to men, and men to God. You can reach Jeff at GatheringMV.org or find him on Facebook at The Gathering of the Miami Valley.Patrick Miller pastors at The Crossing in Missouri, cohosts the podcasts Ten Minute Bible Talks and Truth Over Tribe, and has coauthored Truth Over Tribe. His writing can be found at The Gospel Coalition, Mere Orthodoxy, Christianity Today, and Newsweek. He graduated from Covenant Theological Seminary (MDiv). He and his wife, Emily, live in Columbia, Missouri, with their two children.

Like the episode? Let us know!What does it mean to be human in the digital age where we can get lost in online worlds and create internet identities separate from our bodies? And what about transhumanism and AI? In this episode, Y4Life Director Michelle and Y4Life Assistant Cori chat with Vicar Josh Pauling, analyzing these challenging issues, how we must ground our identity in the wonders of the created and redeemed body, and how the incarnation of Christ is the ultimate answer to such questions. From this proper foundation, Vicar Pauling gives practical tips to help better serve and love our neighbors in body and soul and be prepared to sacrifice and suffer, too.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Joshua Pauling is vicar at All Saints Lutheran Church, contributing editor at Salvo, columnist at Modern Reformation, and has written for a variety of other publications including Areo, Forma Journal, Front Porch Republic, Logia: A Journal of Lutheran of Lutheran Theology, The Lutheran Witness, Mere Orthodoxy, Merion West, Public Discourse, Quillette, The Imaginative Conservative, Touchstone Magazine, among others. He is a frequent guest on Issues Etc. Radio Show/Podcast. Josh also taught high school history for thirteen years in the public school setting and now spends a portion of his time as a classical educator and running his own business making custom furniture and restoring vintage machinery. He also speaks and writes at the intersections of Christianity and culture. He studied at Messiah University, Reformed Theological Seminary, and Winthrop University, and is continuing his studies at Concordia Theological Seminary.Read Are We All Cyborgs Now?: Reclaiming Our Humanity from the Machine by Josh Pauling and Robin PhillipsOther books referenced in the episode:The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan HaidtAmusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business by Neil PostmanDiscover your Gospel-motivated voice 4 Life at Y4Life.org.

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them)In this episode of Faithful Politics, hosts Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram sit down with Professor Paul D. Miller, a Georgetown scholar and former CIA analyst, to explore Christian nationalism and its impact on faith, politics, and national identity. Miller critiques the belief that America is a Christian nation whose government should enforce that identity, arguing it contradicts the principles of both Christianity and democracy.The conversation examines Donald Trump's influence on modern theology and how his rhetoric has reshaped the way many Christians perceive the relationship between their faith and the state. Drawing on his global expertise, Miller also discusses how Christian nationalism in nations like Russia impacts American foreign policy and national security, offering insights into just war theory and the ethical responsibilities of governments in conflicts such as those in Ukraine and Israel.Miller closes with a message of hope, reminding listeners of the enduring strength of democracy and the higher citizenship Christians hold in the Kingdom of Heaven. This episode invites reflection on living out faith in a politically charged world.The Religion of American Greatness What's Wrong with Christian Nationalism: https://www.ivpress.com/the-religion-of-american-greatnessGuest Bio:Paul D. Miller (PhD, Georgetown University) is Professor of the Practice of International Affairs at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and co-chair of the Global Politics and Security concentration. He spent a decade in public service as director for Afghanistan and Pakistan on the National Security Council staff, an intelligence analyst for the Central Intelligence Agency, and a military intelligence officer in the US Army. Miller's writing has appeared in Foreign Affairs, The Dispatch, The Washington Post, Providence Magazine, Mere Orthodoxy, The Gospel Coalition, Foreign Policy, and elsewhere. He is the author of Just War and Ordered Liberty. "The Faith Roundtable" is a captivating spinoff from the Faithful Politics podcast, dedicated to exploring the crucial issues facing the church in America today. Hosted by Josh Burtram, this podcast brings together faith leaders, theologians, and scholars for deep, respectful discussions on topics at the heart of American Christianity. From the intersection of faith and public life to urgent matters such as social justice and community engagement, each episode offers insightful conversations Support the showTo learn more about the show, contact our hosts, or recommend future guests, click on the links below: Website: https://www.faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/ Faithful Host: Josh@faithfulpoliticspodcast.com Political Host: Will@faithfulpoliticspodcast.com Twitter: @FaithfulPolitik Instagram: faithful_politics Facebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcast LinkedIn: faithfulpolitics Subscribe to our Substack: https://faithfulpolitics.substack.com/

“For those of us who are drawn into church  history and church tradition and to reading theology,  there is very little as transformative as realizing that history is populated by women and men like us who tried to follow Christ in their own time and place and culture and circumstances,  some of whom succeeded. … Looking at the saints, they make me want to be a better Christian. They make me want to be a saint.” (Brad East, from the episode)In his recent book, Letters to a Future Saint: Foundations of Faith for the Spiritually Hungry, theologian Brad East addresses future generations of the Church, offering a transmission of Christian faith from society today to society tomorrow. Written as a fellow pilgrim and looking into the lives of saints in the past, he's writing to that post-literate, post-Christian society, where the highest recommendation of faith is in the transformed life.Today, Drew Collins welcomes Brad East to the show, and together they discuss: the importance of being passed and passing on Christian faith—its transmission; the post-literacy of digital natives (Gen Z and Gen Alpha) and the role of literacy in the acquisition and development of faith; the significance of community in a vibrant Christian faith; the question of apologetics and its effectiveness as a mode of Christian discourse; the need for beauty and love, not just truth, in Christian witness; how to talk about holiness in a world that believes less and less in the reality of sin; the difference between Judas and Peter; and what it means to study the saints and to be a saint.About Brad EastBrad East (PhD, Yale University) is an associate professor of theology in the College of Biblical Studies at Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas. In addition to editing Robert Jenson's The Triune Story: Collected Essays on Scripture (Oxford University Press, 2019), he is the author of four books: The Doctrine of Scripture (Cascade, 2021), The Church's Book: Theology of Scripture in Ecclesial Context (Eerdmans, 2022), The Church: A Guide to the People of God (Lexham, 2024), and Letters to a Future Saint: Foundations of Faith for the Spiritually Hungry (Eerdmans, 2024).His articles have been published in Modern Theology, International Journal of Systematic Theology, Scottish Journal of Theology, Journal of Theological Interpretation, Anglican Theological Review, Pro Ecclesia, Political Theology, Religions, Restoration Quarterly, and The Other Journal; his essays and reviews have appeared in The Christian Century, Christianity Today, Comment, Commonweal, First Things, Front Porch Republic, The Hedgehog Review, Living Church, Los Angeles Review of Books, Marginalia Review of Books, Mere Orthodoxy, The New Atlantis, Plough, and The Point. You can found out more, including links to his writing, podcast appearances, and blog, on his personal website: https://www.bradeast.org/.Show NotesLetters to a Future Saint: Foundations of Faith for the Spiritually Hungry  by Brad EastThe importance of being passed and passing on Christian faith—its transmissionSpencer Bogle, the reason Brad East is a theologianThe post-literacy of Gen Z and Gen Alpha and the role of literacy in the acquisition and development of faithThe question of apologetics and its effectiveness as a mode of Christian discourseThe need for beauty and love, not just truth, in Christian witnessChristianity pre-exists you, and pre-existed literate society. So it can survive post-literacyTik-Tok and getting off it“We have to have a much broader vision of the Christian life.”The Doctrine of Scripture, by Brad East, Foreword by Katherine SondereggerCartesian Christianity: me alone in a room, maybe with a flashlight and a bibleSpiritual but not religious (H/T Tara Isabella Burton)We're not saved individuallyAlice in Wonderland and “believing 17 absurd things every day”Is Christian apologetics sub-intellectual and effective?Gavin Ortlund, taking seriously spiritual and moral questions with pastoral warmth and intellectual integrity—”a ministry of Q&A”Bishop Robert Barron and William Lane Craig“People are not going to  be won to the faith through argument. They're going to be won by beauty.”Beauty of lives well-lived, integrity, virtue, and martyrdom“What lies beyond this world is available in part in this world and so good it's worth dying for.”Is Christian apologetics actually for Christians, rather than evangelism?“A person's life can be an apologetic argument.”James K.A. Smith: “We don't want to be brains on sticks.”“You're just going to look bizarre.”“Come and see. … If you see something unique or uniquely powerful here, then stick around.”Saintliness and a cloud of witnessesWhy do the saints matter?The protagonist of Augustine's Confessions is actually St. Monica.“I want to be like Monica…”“For those of us who are drawn into church  history and church tradition and to reading theology,  there is very little as transformative as realizing that history is populated by women and men like us who tried to follow Christ in their own time and place and culture and circumstances,  some of whom succeeded. … Looking at the saints, they make me want to be a better Christian. They make me want to be a saint.”How to talk about holiness in a world that believes less and less in the reality of sin.Is holiness just connected to purity culture?Holiness is very difficult to describe.Hauerwas: “Humans aren't holy. Only God is holy.”Holiness as being like God and being set apart and conformed to his likenessHoliness is, by rights, God's alone.Appreciating the “everyday saints” among usSanctification as an utterly passive actThe final words of Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict), “Jesus, ich liebe dich!” (”Jesus, I love you.”)Peter and JudasLucy Shaw poem, “Judas, Peter” (see below)“There is a way to fail as a Christian. It's to  despair of the possibility of Christ forgiving you.”What it means to journey as a pilgrim towards holiness is, is not to get everything right.Shusaku Endo, Silence“What I say is we're all Kichichiro. We're all Peter and Judas. We're all bad Christians. There are no good Christians.”Kester Smith and returning to baptism“Sometimes it might be difficult for me to believe that God loves me.”“Judas, Peter”by Lucy Shawbecause we are all betrayers, taking silver and eating body and blood and asking (guilty) is it I and hearing him say yes it would be simple for us all to rush out and hang ourselvesbut if we find grace to cry and wait after the voice of morning has crowed in our ears clearly enough to break out hearts he will be there to ask us each again do you love me?Production NotesThis podcast featured Brad East & Drew CollinsEdited and Produced by Evan RosaHosted by Evan RosaProduction Assistance by Zoë Halaban, Alexa Rollow, Emily Brookfield, and Kacie BarrettA Production of the Yale Center for Faith & Culture at Yale Divinity School https://faith.yale.edu/aboutSupport For the Life of the World podcast by giving to the Yale Center for Faith & Culture: https://faith.yale.edu/give

Brad East joined the pod to discuss his new book, The Church: A Guide to the People of God. From the publisher (Lexham Press):The Bible tells the story of God and his people. But it is not merely history. It is our story. Abraham is our father. And Israel's freedom from slavery is ours.Brad East traces the story of God's people, from father Abraham to the coming of Christ. He shows how we need the scope of the entire Bible to fully grasp the mystery of the church. The church is not a building but a body. It is not peripheral or optional in the life of faith. Rather, it is the very beating heart of God's story, where our needs and hopes are found.Brad East (PhD, Yale University) is an associate professor of theology at Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas. He is the editor of Robert Jenson's The Triune Story: Collected Essays on Scripture (Oxford University Press, 2019) and the author of four books: The Doctrine of Scripture (Cascade, 2021), The Church's Book: Theology of Scripture in Ecclesial Context (Eerdmans, 2022), The Church: A Guide to the People of God (Lexham, 2024), and Letters to a Future Saint: Foundations of Faith for the Spiritually Hungry (Eerdmans, 2024).His articles have been published in Modern Theology, International Journal of Systematic Theology, Scottish Journal of Theology, Journal of Theological Interpretation, Anglican Theological Review, Pro Ecclesia, and Political Theology; his essays have appeared in The Christian Century, Christianity Today, Comment, Commonweal, First Things, The Hedgehog Review, The Los Angeles Review of Books, The New Atlantis, Mere Orthodoxy, Plough, and The Point.Find Crackers and Grape Juice on Instagram, Facebook, and Substack.

Jake Meador is the editor-in-chief of Mere Orthodoxy and author of multiple books. His writing has appeared in the Atlantic, Commonweal, First Things, the Dispatch, Comment, Christianity Today, and elsewhere. He lives in his hometown of Lincoln, NE with his wife and family. Our conversation is wide ranging, from culture, to history, to politics, to technology. I found Jake to be both delightful and thoughtful, especially when it comes to his analysis of culture and technology.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Miles Smith IV recently decided to comb through most of the major publications by self-proclaimed exvangelicals. The end result was a provocative piece for Mere Orthodoxy. We also recommend the interview he did with Aaron Renn. One major factor he identifies is a form of clericalism that stems from a weak ecclesial structure. Join us as we dive into this discussion.  

In the summer of 2015, a seismic shift began in conservative Christian circles, sparked by a Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage. This event set in motion a complex journey that would reshape religious and political discourse in America. The evolution of "postliberal" Christianity shows how a movement initially focused on preserving faith communities in a changing culture transformed into a political force aligned with strongman politics. Jake Meador from Mere Orthodoxy offers valuable insights into the religious, political, and cultural landscape of the past decade. 

Ours is a deeply materialistic age. In this context, we tend to regard everything and everyone in instrumental terms. Leaking pipes need plumbers; broken cars need mechanics; broken humans need doctors, therapists, and fitness coaches. While we're not disparaging any of these professions, we will make the case that human beings are more than the sum of their parts. Our thoughts were stirred by Jake Meador's helpful essay that appeared in Mere Orthodoxy.

You may have heard the term ex-vangelical. An ex-vangelical is someone who formerly identified as an evangelical, but no longer does so. The phenomenon has created a sub-genre of books from memoirs – such as those by Josh Harris, Rachel Held Evans, and others -- to more journalistic accounts, such as Sarah McCammon's “The Ex-Vangelicals.” But is there really a groundswell of people leaving evangelicalism? Are these books fair representations of evangelicalism? Is the rejection of the ex-vangelicals really a rejection of Christianity, or a rejection of a certain brand of evangelicalism defined more by culture and politics than theology? These are questions Miles Smith set out to answer. He read many of the ex-vangelical books and wrote a helpful article about it called “Reading The Exvangelicals” for Mere Orthodoxy. Miles Smith is a historian by training. He attended university at the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina, and got a Ph.D. from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. He now teaches at Hillsdale College. But he has come on strong in recent years as a public intellectual. I have found his commentaries helpful and highly readable. In addition to  Mere Orthodoxy, he has written for The Gospel Coalition, Public Discourse, The Federalist, and The University Bookman. The producer for today's program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database, editorial, and other support from Christina Darnell, Kim Roberts, Casey Suddeth, and Stephen Dubarry. Please join me on Friday for our round up of the week's news, with my co-host Natasha Cowden. Until then, may God bless you.

Gretchen loves rich theology rooted in real life. She created Gospel Mentoring, a training program for intergenerational discipleship, and is the co-host of Freely Given, a podcast on living free in Christ. She has articles published at 1517, Christianity Today, Mere Orthodoxy, and regularly speaks at events. Her books include: Ragged: Spiritual Disciplines for the Spiritually Exhausted, and “The Story of Katie Luther: the Nun Who Escaped to Freedom” coming out in August of 2024 with Crossway, and has an upcoming book on God's patience for for us, to be published with Lexham Press sometime in 2025. She enjoys knitting, reading many books at the same time, and embarrassing her teenagers in public. She's married Knut, who is a 4th generation farmer in Minnesota. They have 6 kids who are now elementary through college age. She is a member at Good Shepherd Lutheran Brethren Church in Fergus Falls, MN.

Travis and Jake continue their conversation discussing his book, "What Are Christians For?" Surprisingly, there is a great deal of confusion as to what the role of Christians should be in society. Is it only to be disciples who make disciples? Is it to glorify God and enjoy Him forever? What about in our public life? What role does our Christian faith play in the political sphere? Our vocation? Does it have any effect on the environment? The answer may surprise you. Jake is the editor-in-chief of Mere Orthodoxy, an online periodical seeking to be a voice of sanity in the midst of craziness. His writing has appeared in First Things, Books & Culture, Christianity Today, Commonweal, Front Porch Republic, National Review and Fare Forward. He is the author of two books, In Search of the Common Good: Christian Fidelity in a Fractured World and What are Christians for?: Life Together at the End of the World. Travis and Jake discuss Lincoln, Nebraska, Tanzania, Wendell Berry, N.T. Wright, Herman Bavinck, Francis Schaeffer, Elisabeth Elliot, and what our role as Christians is to be in the world. Episodes referred to in this episode: Listen to #234 | What Are Christians For? with Jake Meador, Pt. 1Learn more about Jake. Check out Mere Orthodoxy.Sign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help water-thirsty souls by partnering with Apollos Watered!

What Are Christians For? Is it only to be disciples who make disciples? Is it to glorify God and enjoy Him forever? What about in our public life? What role does our Christian faith play in the political sphere? Our vocation? Does it have any effect on the environment? The answer is an unequivocal, yes! Jake Meador is today's guest on Apollos Watered, discussing his book, What Are Christians For? Jake is the editor-in-chief of Mere Orthodoxy, an online periodical seeking to be a voice of sanity in the midst of craziness. His writing has appeared in First Things, Books & Culture, Christianity Today, Commonweal, Front Porch Republic, National Review and Fare Forward. He is the author of two books, In Search of the Common Good: Christian Fidelity in a Fractured World and What are Christians for?: Life Together at the End of the World. Travis and Jake discuss Lincoln, Nebraska, Tanzania, Wendell Berry, N.T. Wright, Herman Bavinck, Francis Schaeffer, Elisabeth Elliot, and what our role as Christians is to be in the world. Learn more about Jake. Check out Mere Orthodoxy.Sign up for the class, "God's Greatness | Your Mission" here! Sign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help water-thirsty souls by partnering with Apollos Watered!

How do we build communities of collaboration and care? Are our communities in the West in crisis? What are the “common objects of love” that we share, and how do we—average Christians who care—seek those out and build on them?We were delighted to talk with Jake Meador on some of these questions, which he touches on in his first book, In Search of the Common Good. Join us as we consider different angles on the practices we engage with that can change the imagination of our time.Jake Meador (jakemeador.com) is a writer, speaker, and editor from Lincoln, Nebraska. He writes about place, politics, culture, and the ways that Christian faith speaks to all of the various questions that those topics raise. He also wrote a thesis on Kwame Nkrumah, a mid-20th century Ghanaian politician. He's the author of two books, In Search of the Common Good: Christian Fidelity in a Fractured World and What Are Christians For?: Life Together at the End of the World. He serves as the editor-in-chief at Mere Orthodoxy (mereorthodoxy.com), a contributing editor with Plough magazine, and a board member with the Davenant Institute.Timestamps(02:23) A crisis of common life(10:21) Example: Declining birth rates as a social problem(19:07) Practical recs: asking for help, offering home(29:04) The historical church on property rights(34:16) Practices for communities: caught, not taught(38:22) Roots we don't choose(44:23) Identity is particular; Christianity is still bigger(47:31) Who's on the land, who's good for the land?(01:03:48) OK but we gotta talk about Kwame Nkrumah. Wild.Links and References in This EpisodeYa'll. Jake is a well-read man. We got a long list of books for your perusing pleasure (and easier searching).* Strangers in a Strange Land: Living the Catholic Faith in a Post-Christian World, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput (2017)* The Benedict Option: A Strategy for Christians in a Post-Christian Nation, Rod Dreher (2017)* Resurrecting the Idea of Christian Society, R. R. Reno (2016)* The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America, George Packer (2014)* Out of the Ashes: Rebuilding American Culture, Anthony Esolen (2017)* Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community, Robert Putnam (2000)* Nancy Pearcey (author)* Kirkpatrick Sale (author)* Remaking the World: How 1776 Created the Post-Christian West, Andrew Wilson (2023)* Wendell Berry (author)—I don't even know what to tell you, he's written a lot.* Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution, Carl Trueman (2020)* Why Marx Was Right, Terry Eagleton (2018)* An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States, Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz (2015)* Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants, Robin Wall Kimmerer (2015* Pope Francis on a “throwaway” society (article link)* John Paul II on a “culture of death” (Evangelium Vitae (1995))* The Cold War and the Color Line: American Race Relations in the Global Arena, Thomas Borstelmann (2003)—And here are some additional resources or terms mentioned in this episode, not a resource, exactly, but it might make this conversation searchable/accessible to global listeners:L'Abri is a “Christian residential study center ministry”Several theologians, church fathers, and theorists talked about property rights: John Calvin, St. Basil of Caesarea in Cappadocia, John Locke, and Emil Brunner on “the inner infinity of God's law”.If you like this podcast, please consider…→ Sharing feedback or questions! www.podpage.com/communion-shalom/contact→ Supporting us on Patreon! patreon.com/communionandshalom→ Following us on Instagram! @communionandshalom—CreditsCreators and Hosts: David Frank, TJ EspinozaAudio Engineer: Carl Swenson (www.carlswensonmusic.com)Podcast Manager: Elena This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communionshalom.substack.com

This week in the nation's capital ... GUEST Greg Clugston ... SRN News White House Correspondent. Dynamics of Public Speaking ... GUEST Calvin Troup ... President of Geneva College and Adjunct Professor at Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary. The Misunderstood Reason Millions of Americans Stopped Going to Church: The defining problem driving people out is ... just how American life works in the 21st century ... GUEST Jake Meador ... Editor-in-Chief of Mere Orthodoxy ... author of “In Search of the Common Good: Christian Fidelity in a Fractured World” and “What are Christians for?: Life Together at the End of the World”.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tessa Carman and Ashley reminisce about their time at the Front Porch Republic Conference before moving on to discuss the educational and life philosophy of Charlotte Mason. Tessa Carman writes and teaches in Maryland. With J.C. Scharl in 2022, she translated the Old English vision poem The Dream of the Rood. Her writing can be found at tessacarman.wordpress.com. Here are a few pieces that may be of interest to DO listeners: “Children Are Born Persons: Exploring Charlotte Mason's First Principle of Education” “Nurturing Goodness: Exploring Charlotte Mason's Second Principle of Education” “Authority and Docility: Exploring Charlotte Mason's Third Principle of Education” “Fleeing the Ephemeral and Pursuing the Eternal,” Front Porch Republic, July 4, 2023 "Joining the Dance: Setting Aside Screens to Build the City,” Front Porch Republic, November 15, 2022 “Following Christ in the Machine Age: A Conversation with Paul Kingsnorth,” Mere Orthodoxy, September 13, 2022 “A Time to Replant, a Time to Rebuild,” Fare Forward, May 26, 2021

Matt sits down with Matthew Lee Anderson to discuss his new book, Called into Questions. Matt Anderson is an author and professor of philosophy at Baylor University, as well as the founder of Mere Orthodoxy (https://mereorthodoxy.com/). You can learn more about Matt at https://matthewleeanderson.com/

Joining me this week to talk about the love of learning within the life of faith is Matthew Lee Anderson. Matt is an assistant professor in Baylor University's Honors College and the Associate Director of Baylor in Washington. He founded Mere Orthodoxy and co-hosts Mere Fidelity, a podcast on faith, theology, and ethics. His new book is titled Called Into Questions. Follow him on Twitter: @mattleeanderson. RELATED CONTENT 1) Conversations About Books - Byron Borger & Richard Leiter (Episode # 140) 2) What It Means To Be Human - Jeff Brauch (Episode # 81) The episode was produced by Josh Deng, with music from Vexento. A special thanks to Nick and Ashley Barnett for their contribution in making this podcast possible. Cross & Gavel is a production of CHRISTIAN LEGAL SOCIETY.

Do we know what it means to question well? Author Matthew Lee Anderson talks with us about his thought-provoking book Called into Questions: Cultivating the Love of Learning Within the Life of Faith. Matthew is an Associate Professor of Ethics and Theology at Baylor University's Honors College. He has a D.Phil. in Christian Ethics from Oxford University and is a Perpetual Member of Biola University's Torrey Honors College. In 2005, he founded Mere Orthodoxy. Currently, he writes on Substack and can be found on Twitter (X) at x.com/mattleeanderson. Also this hour, Chuck Bentley from Crown Financial helps us understand another aspect of finance. Chuck is CEO of Crown Financial Ministries, a global Christian financial ministry, founded by the late Larry Burkett. He is the host of two daily radio broadcasts, The Crown Money Minute and My MoneyLife.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We speak about the theory and practice of a state organized according to Christian principles, which flavor and intensity of Christianity may apply, how to advocate for a religious solution in an era of dwindling faith, and much more. Stephen Wolfe is a country scholar at Wolfeshire in central North Carolina where he lives with his wife and four children. He recently finished a postdoctoral fellowship at Princeton University's James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. Wolfe is co-host of the Ars Politica podcast and has written for Mere Orthodoxy, First Things, Chronicles Magazine, and History of Political Thought. He is also the author of “The Case for Christian Nationalism”. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/aksubversive/message

Friedrich Nietzsche and a guy named Bronze Age Pervert want to return to the Bronze Age of Greek civilization to reinvigorate our culture with abundant vitality. The trouble is, Greek paganism, like all paganism, lacks the vitality they so desire. The life force they want can't fulfill their desires. What can? Susannah Black Roberts, Senior Editor of Plough and Mere Orthodoxy, joins the show to discuss her essay, The Birth of Comedy, which offers a critique of this view. We discuss Nietzsche's misreading of Homer's Odyssey and how Jesus' words to St. Peter about the Gates of Hades are misunderstood by Christians today. Follow Susannah on X (formerly Twitter) @suzania The Birth of Comedy: https://mereorthodoxy.com/the-birth-of-comedy Mere Orthodoxy: https://mereorthodoxy.com/ Plough: https://www.plough.com/en Susannah also wrote a fairy tale! The Good People: https://kirkcenter.org/essays/the-good-people/ ************************************************************************************************************* Follow me on Twitter @AaronIrber Donate to my Patreon - I Might Believe in Faeries https://www.patreon.com/imightbelieveinfaeries Like my Facebook page - I Might Believe in Faeries Battle Of The Creek by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Logo Art by Linnea Kisby *************************************************************************************************************

A lecture given at the Spring 2023 Regional Convivium by Paul Shakeshaft entitled "C.S. Lewis: Author of Literary Criticism, Children's Fiction, and…Papal Encyclicals? Love and Friendship in Lewis, Pieper and Ratzinger" Paul Shakeshaft is a Research Fellow with the Davenant Institute and holds an M.A. from the University of Buckingham where he was trained in philosophy by Sir Roger Scruton. He holds a J.D. from Regent University Law School and a B.A. from Elmhurst College. His popular writing has been published in Mere Orthodoxy, The Federalist, and Providence Magazine, and he is a former scholar-in-residence of the Kilns, the home of C.S. Lewis. Paul is currently on the development staff of the Manhattan Institute.

In 2022, an AI generated work of art won a US state art competition. The artist used Midjourney, one of the popular AI systems that also include Dall-E and Stable Diffusion. They are trained on the millions of images scattered through the internet, using a deep learning program called a ‘generative adversarial network', or GAN for short. It works by taking in text prompts, where you type in what you want the artwork to look like, and the AI then draws on the huge database of artworks, to generate a new work that conforms to the prompts. But to create a great AI work, it's not as simple as typing ‘create some great art'. The artist who won that competition put in lengthy complex prompts, working up hundreds of iterations before he arrived at the final work. So, is this really art? When we see an AI art creation, it genuinely feels ‘creative'. But is there something humans do when we create which is qualitatively different to AI? Like AI in every domain it has touched, AI art is challenging us to rethink our categories and even to ask us to question what it means to be human.Our guests for this conversation are both experts in the intersection between art and technology. Professor Ahmed Elgammal has actually constructed AI systems that have created artworks that are so good, a majority of people believe they are truly original human creations. Michael Sacasas,on the other hand, sees AI art as missing an essential ingredient, no matter how good its style is. It'll never convey the deep connection between artist and viewer that we all crave.GuestsAhmed ElgammalDr. Ahmed Elgammal is a professor at the Department of Computer Science and an Executive Council Faculty at the Center for Cognitive Science at Rutgers University. He is the founder and director of the Art and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at Rutgers. He is also the founder and CEO of Playform AI, a platform that is dedicated to give artist access to the latest generative AI tech. In 2017, he developed AICAN, an autonomous AI artist and collaborative creative partner, which was acclaimed in an Artsy editorial as “the biggest artistic achievement of the year.” In 2021, he led the AI team that completed Beethoven's 10th symphony, which received worldwide media coverage. He received M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in computer science from the University of Maryland, College Park.Michael SacasasMichael writes The Convivial Society, a popular newsletter on technology, culture, and the moral life. Michael has written for The New Atlantis, Comment, Plough, The New Inquiry, Real Life Magazine, Mere Orthodoxy, The American, and Second Nature Journal. His work has also been featured in The Atlantic, Vox, and the New York Times. He is the Executive Director, Christian Study Centre in Florida, and earned his MA in Theological Studies from Reformed Theological Seminary in 2002. He was later a doctoral candidate at the University of Central Florida studying the relationship between technology and society with a focus on the work of Hannah Arendt. He is an Associate Fellow in Ethics and Culture at the Greystone Theological Institute.Your hosts are Lloyd Vogelman and Emile Sherman. Find Lloyd @LloydVogelman on Linked in Find Emile @EmileSherman on Linked In and Twitter. This Podcast is Produced by Jonah Primo and Bronwen Reid Find Jonah at jonahprimo.com or @JonahPrimo on Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why are fewer and fewer Americans attending church? Many are trying to answer this question as pews are left empty on Sunday in congregations across the country. Jake Meador from the publication Mere Orthodoxy joins Boyd and discusses ways to increase the connectedness and community that church attendance is meant to foster. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Freedom. Liberty. Rights. Democracy. These are the stock terms of our American political lexicon, and they come to us from the tradition known as liberalism. Whether right, center, or left, we're all liberals in our political philosophy. However, as Christians, we need to embrace both the good and the limits of liberalism. In a recent essay at Mere Orthodoxy, Bob highlights the major problem with a view of freedom that places individual rights and autonomy at the center. What David Brooks calls "autonomy-based liberalism" is in fact the only kind of liberalism there is once we abandon a Judeo-Christian framework. Articles: https://mereorthodoxy.com/david-brooks-and-the-limits-of-liberalism https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2023/06/canada-legalized-medical-assisted-suicide-euthanasia-death-maid/673790/

Here is Jon's piece in Mere Orthodoxy: https://mereorthodoxy.com/possessed-in-america

Friend of the show, Pastor Timothy Keller, has entered into glory. He was a pivotal player in Evangelicalism over the last generation, and a great encourager of many ministers, including the cast and crew of Mere Fidelity. To pay tribute to his life and legacy, Derek, Alastair, and Matt talk to Editor-in-Chief of Mere Orthodoxy, Jake Meador. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. Timestamps: The End of an Era [0:00] Dechurching Countercurrent [3:02] Model Pastor [7:56] Collegiality [17:04] Bridges vs Branding [20:37] Change and Formation [24:59] Commitments and Flexibility [30:43] Passing on the Vision [38:05]

If you are a regular listener / viewer of our podcast, you've undoubtedly heard of the term Christian Nationalism. For better or for worse, most of the commentary provided on this show has painted this religious ideology as something negative. However, as we commonly do, on Faithful Politics, we wanted to present a counter argument to the Christian Nationalism debate, so we decided to talk with the person who literally wrote the book on building a case for Christian Nationalism, Stephen Wolfe. In The Case for Christian Nationalism, Stephen Wolfe offers a tour-de-force argument for the good of Christian nationalism, taken from Scripture and Christian thinkers ancient, medieval, and modern. We asked him a wide range of questions ranging from the role of Christian Nationalism in the January 6th riots to how civil and social customs would look under a Christian Nation. We then talk about modern theonomy and what connections Christian Nationalism has with Dominionism and/or the seven mountain mandate. There were many more topics we covered to include explanations about several passages in his book. This cordial and friendly interview was definitely informative and we appreciated the conversation and hope you will too. Guest bio:Stephen Wolfe (PhD, Louisiana State University) is a country scholar at Wolfeshire in central North Carolina where he lives with his wife and four children. He recently finished a postdoctoral fellowship at Princeton University's James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. Wolfe is co-host of the Ars Politica podcast and has written for Mere Orthodoxy, First Things, Chronicles Magazine, and History of Political Thought. The Case for Christian Nationalism is his first book.Support the showTo learn more about the show, contact our hosts, or recommend future guests, click on the links below: Website: https://www.faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/ Faithful Host: Josh@faithfulpoliticspodcast.com Political Host: Will@faithfulpoliticspodcast.com Twitter: @FaithfulPolitik Instagram: faithful_politics Facebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcast LinkedIn: faithfulpolitics

Have we focused too much on contextualization and not enough on who God is? This week, we talk to J. Chase Davis, author of Trinitarian Formation: A Theology of Discipleship in Light of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In this episode, we explore how the doctrine of the Trinity can deepen our understanding of discipleship in the current cultural moment, discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the missional movement, and explore the need for a common definition of discipleship. Discover the inspiration behind the book and gain practical insights on how churches can shift their focus back to making disciples. Don't miss this engaging conversation on the heart of discipleship in today's world. J. Chase Davis (M.Div, Th.M, Denver Seminary) is Lead Pastor of Ministry of The Well Church in Boulder, Colorado. Chase is married to Kim and they have two sons. He is the author of Trinitarian Formation: A Theology of Discipleship in Light of the Father, Son, and Spirit (2021). He also hosts the podcast Full Proof Theology. You can find more of Chase's writing at jchasedavis.com. Read Chase's article on Mere Orthodoxy, Colonized by the City, here. Watch this episode on ABWE's YouTube channel here. This episode is sponsored by Radius International. You can learn more about Radius International and their gap year program at radiusinternational.org. Enter to win our RMC23 giveaway: missionspodcast.com/rmc23. Believe in our mission? Support this podcast. The Missions Podcast is a ministry resource of ABWE. Learn more at abwe.org. Want to ask a question or suggest a topic? Email alex@missionspodcast.com.

This week's episode of The Church Revitalization Podcast takes a little lighter tone. We explore the diverse landscape of American evangelicalism by taking a quiz based on an article by Mere Orthodoxy called "The Six Way Fracturing of Evangelicalism." Of the six categories outlined in the article where will we end up? You'll hear it unfold in real time as we go through it and anxiously await the results of the quiz. Mere Orthodoxy article: "The Six Way Fracturing of Evangelicalism" - https://mereorthodoxy.com/six-way-fracturing-evangelicalism/ To read today's show notes, visit: https://malphursgroup.com/182

Links from the show:* The Religion of American Greatness: What's Wrong with Christian Nationalism* What is Christian Nationalism?* Follow Ryan on Twitter* Support the showAbout my Guest:Paul D. Miller (PhD, Georgetown University) is Professor of the Practice of International Affairs at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and co-chair of the Global Politics and Security concentration. He spent a decade in public service as director for Afghanistan and Pakistan on the National Security Council staff, an intelligence analyst for the Central Intelligence Agency, and a military intelligence officer in the US Army. Miller's writing has appeared in Foreign Affairs, The Dispatch, The Washington Post, Providence Magazine, Mere Orthodoxy, The Gospel Coalition, Foreign Policy, and elsewhere. He is the author of Just War and Ordered Liberty. Get full access to Dispatches from the War Room at dispatchesfromthewarroom.substack.com/subscribe

The human person is an autonomous, self-governing and self-actualizing being. It has individual rights that no government or obligation should infringe upon. At least, that is the traditionally American, classically liberal way of viewing a human being. But does this view match up with a Christian anthropology? And what does that mean for how Christians should engage in the public sphere? This week, Ashley and Zac are joined by Susannah Black Roberts to discuss all of this and more. Susannah is a senior editor at Plough Quarterly and Mere Orthodoxy and the co-host of “The Ploughcast” podcast. During Signs of the Times, the hosts give an overview of a new interview with Pope Francis and talk about his disdain for “long homilies.”  Links from the Show:  Pope Francis gives major interview on his critics, sex abuse, decriminalizing homosexuality and more Pope Francis: Long homilies are ‘a disaster'—keep it under 10 minutes Our post-liberal moment: What do we want? The common good! When do we want it? Now! Susannah Black Roberts and Christian Post-Liberalism Is Christianity Opposed to Liberalism? Plough Quarterly The Anchored Argosy: Alastair & Susannah Roberts' freight of wonders What's on tap? Cosmopolitan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Links from the show:* The Case for Christian Nationalism* Connect with Stephen on Twitter* Connect with Ryan on TwitterAbout my guest:Stephen Wolfe (PhD, Louisiana State University) is a country scholar at Wolfeshire in central North Carolina where he lives with his wife and four children. He recently finished a postdoctoral fellowship at Princeton University's James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. Wolfe is co-host of the Ars Politica podcast and has written for Mere Orthodoxy, First Things, Chronicles Magazine, and History of Political Thought. The Case for Christian Nationalism is his first book. Get full access to Dispatches from the War Room at dispatchesfromthewarroom.substack.com/subscribe

Learn more about Mere Orthodoxy at www.mereorthodoxy.com.

Should churches be quick to adopt therapeutic approaches when caring for their members? Do therapeutic categories help or hinder good pastoral care? In this episode, we seek to answer these questions by discussing a recent article from Jake Meador at Mere Orthodoxy. https://blogs.mereorthodoxy.com/jake/church-and-the-therapeutic-ctd/

Today, I'm sharing a recent conversation with Andrew Arndt about his book Streams in the Wasteland. In it, he shares the ancient wisdom of the desert fathers and mothers who journeyed to the wilderness to seek a closer journey with Christ. Andrew shares some of the parallels between their experience with Rome then and our experience today. I was first introduced to the desert fathers and mothers in the late 1980s when I read Henri Nouwen's The Way of the Heart: Desert Spirituality and Contemporary. It was his sharing of the wisdom of the desert fathers and mothers, especially about solitude, silence, and prayer, that launched me on a very different spiritual trajectory than the frantically busy one I'd been on up until then. Andrew Arndt is the lead pastor of New Life East, one of seven congregations of New Life Church in Colorado Springs. Prior to joining New Life's team, he served as the lead pastor of Bloom Church, a network of house churches in Denver. He is the host of the Essential Church podcast, a weekly conversation designed to strengthen the thinking of church and ministry leaders. Andrew received his MDiv from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and is currently working on his DMin with Western Theological Seminary. He has written for Missio Alliance, Patheos, The Other Journal, and Mere Orthodoxy. He is the author of Streams in the Wasteland and All Flame. Andrew lives in Colorado Springs with his wife, Mandi, and their four kids. Connect with Alan at the Unhurried Living website.

The Queen has died.   When those words were heard and repeated, over and over last Thursday, people around the world knew immediately which queen. In fact, few are alive today who can remember a time when she was not on Britain's throne. She lived to 96, not only the longest reigning monarch in British history but the second longest reigning monarch in all of history, surpassed only by King Louis XIV of France, the “Sun King.” Among the many anecdotes that put her life in historical context, Elizabeth II was queen for a full third of the existence of the United States of America as a nation.   When Elizabeth ascended to power, Winston Churchill was the prime minister. Just two days before she died, in a final act of royal duty, Elizabeth received a 15th person into that high office. When she began her rule in 1952, there was a British Empire, and not just in name. Though every nation within the empire would gain independence, she remained head of state of a dozen of them, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other smaller countries around the world.  Elizabeth's historic tenure as queen might have never happened, except for a domestic turmoil that has never quite seemed to leave the House of Windsor alone. Her father, George VI, assumed the throne only because her uncle abdicated it for an illicit romance. Her sister's temperament did not, shall we say, “fit” her royal duties. Her eldest son, now King Charles III, entered a loveless marriage in the midst of his own extramarital affairs, while her second son ruined his place in the world by falling in with Jeffrey Epstein. Her grandson Prince Harry is full of bitter words and accusations about the royal family.  In this way, the royal family was a reflection of changes seen across the Western world during the Queen's reign. Marriage rates in the U.K. have dropped by double digits in the last few decades, and divorces have increased by several orders of magnitude. While the Britain she inherited in her youth famously stood up for liberty and democracy against tyranny, corporate and government powers often enforce conformity and silence. Weekly church attendance in Britain has dropped to less than a million each week in a population of nearly 70 million. Add in technological change, war, globalization, populism, the rise and fall of global powers, and it may be that the Queen's most remarkable achievement was preserving the monarchy as a legitimate institution amidst the flux and chaos of the last few decades.   As one who could, as Kipling once put it, “walk with Kings, nor lose the common touch,” she played the part of elegant empress, with an impish sense of humor and a delightfully ordinary demeanor. As such, Queen Elizabeth was, in many ways, an always-relevant anachronism. She was an incarnation of G.K. Chesterton's call for a “democracy of the dead” or C.S. Lewis' warning against “chronological snobbery.” In an age that confuses change as progress, her life was a reminder that certain truths and duties do not change with the times—eternals that are not subject to our whims or imaginations—but are revealed, at least in part, through the accumulated wisdom of the ages.  In fact, “duty” is the word most commonly used to describe Elizabeth II, as if she inherited her father's sense of it along with the throne. As Bloomberg's Adrian Woolridge noted on Twitter, “The Queen grasped Edmund Burke's great dictum that, for a true conservative, the point of change is to stay the same, at least in the things that really matter. Monarchy is a restraint on modernity or it is nothing.”  She was barely an adult when she declared, “I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.” Near the end of her life, she reflected back on that promise, “When I was 21, I pledged my life to the service of our people, and I asked for God's help to make good that vow. Although that vow was made in my salad days, when I was green in judgement, I do not regret, or retract, one word of it.”  There are few contentions more despised today than the idea that our rights must be balanced by our duties, but Elizabeth thought of the crown as a calling, a part of something greater than herself. How she carried out those duties in an ever-changing world points to a commitment that goes beyond tradition or even the monarchy. As she put it herself, monarchs do not lead troops into battle or rule from on high anymore. So, she committed to lead by serving, which is of course the way of Jesus, who said the greatest among us are servants. In many of her annual Christmas radio messages, she pointed to Christ as the One she sought to follow and emulate. Leading by serving is one of the things that the New Testament calls the “fruit” of faith.  Having reached the end of her era, it's difficult to imagine what the monarchy will become. As Jake Meador from Mere Orthodoxy observed, “After she and Benedict XVI pass, I think European Christendom will be conclusively gone from this world. Something else will come and God will continue to work. But the loss is still immense.”   Indeed, it is, but what makes a person “great” has not changed. Around the world, followers of Christ are living faithful lives, committed to what God has called them to, in truth and service. Their stage may not be as global or their mistakes as public, but their lives point to the Sovereign who sits on the throne of heaven and earth and whose kingdom shall have no end. That faithfulness is, in God's economy, greatness.