The Pugcast

Post-Protestant, Post-Literate

The Pugcast — Mon, 11 May 2026 07:28:00 +0000

This week, the Pugs discuss an article by our friend Aaron Renn dealing with the loss of literacy and the decline of Protestantism in America. Is there a connection between the two? If so, which causes the other? What is the historic connection between literacy and Protestantism? The guys discuss these and other related subjects in this episode.

Article: https://www.aaronrenn.com/p/post-protestant-post-literate?triedRedirect=true

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Learn more about First Pres. Battle Ground: https://www.solochristo.org/

Connect with WileyCraft Productions: https://wileycraftproductions.com/

What a Friend We Have in AIJesus?!

The Pugcast — Mon, 04 May 2026 07:41:00 +0000

The pugs engage the recent trends of AI companions, from AI friendships to AI Therapists and Soul-Care. Most disturbing are the developments of Grieftech and Religioustech. On the one side, we have virtual reanimations of loved ones who have died but are now continuing with us as AI versions of themselves; on the other side, we have AI Jesus, who we can enter into a online relationship with and receive spiritual guidance and care. The pugs have a lot to ‘bark’ about in this episode.

Article: https://www.the-independent.com/tech/ai-chatgpt-jesus-buddhabot-muslim-b2955282.html

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The Problem of Human Rights Law

The Pugcast — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 07:34:00 +0000

Tom and Glenn welcome J.P. Sanchez to the show today. J.P. is a Mexican lawyer currently studying international human rights law at the University of Notre Dame. In this conversation, they explore the practical challenges of human rights work, examine the often shaky philosophical foundations of modern human rights theory, and discuss what a thoughtful Christian response should look like in today’s world.

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Must Artists be Saints?

The Pugcast — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 07:09:00 +0000

Today Chris reflects on artists whose art he admires, but he would never want to be like. When you think of Roald Dahl, Shel Silverstein, or even Mozart, must you boycott them when you discover things about them that you find distasteful? Today the Pugs wonder aloud, must artists be saints?

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Learn more about First Pres. Battle Ground: https://www.solochristo.org/

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An Interview with Illustrator Stephen Crotts

The Pugcast — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 07:03:00 +0000

Stephen Crotts is an artist and graphic designer who is doing the illustrations for Malcolm Guite’s soon to be released Arthuriad. In this episode, the Pugs talk with him about his art, developing the illustrations for Guite’s epic poem, and the emergence of a Christian ecumenism around a new appreciation of beauty. Stephen’s an interesting and skilled artist, and we’re excited to introduce him to you.

Order Galahad and the Grail (Merlin's Isle: An Arthuriad, 1): https://www.rabbitroom.com/merlinsisle

Malcolm Guite smoking a hobbit-worthy pipe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghxx9MsR4l8

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Learn more about First Pres. Battle Ground: https://www.solochristo.org/

Connect with WileyCraft Productions: https://wileycraftproductions.com/

Is Nature Conscious?

The Pugcast — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 07:03:00 +0000

In this episode, the Pugsters begin with a discussion of panpsychism, the idea that everything has a form of consciousness. In a world where even trees communicate with each other, how should we think about panpsychism? Is consciousness at the base of reality as some physicists and philosophers suggest? And what about the Orthodox (and unorthodox) ideas of panentheism? These are some of the questions the guys talk about in this episode.

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Learn more about First Pres. Battle Ground: https://www.solochristo.org/

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An Introduction to Critical Theory with Bradley G. Green

The Pugcast — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 07:10:00 +0000

Today Chris and Glenn welcome an old friend of Chris’s, Bradley G. Green, faculty of Union University in Jackson, Tennessee, soon to be faculty of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Brad comes on the show to discuss his new book with Crossway Publishing, What Is Critical Theory? It was a fun and interesting conversation, even though the guys miss Tom. Enjoy!

Order ‘What Is Critical Theory?: A Concise Christian Analysis’: https://a.co/d/03Rc2Sg8

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Learn more about First Pres. Battle Ground: https://www.solochristo.org/

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Too Healthy for Our Own Good!

The Pugcast — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 08:05:00 +0000

The Pugs engage a fun piece by Malcolm Guite entitled: In Defense of Pints and Pipes. Here they delve into the fashionable cultural obsession with physical health and wellness which has led ironically to all sorts of psychological unhealthiness. Could the issue be a loss of a proper view of the human, especially a view that has no place for the human soul?

Article: https://www.plough.com/en/topics/life/health/in-defense-of-pint-and-pipe

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Learn more about First Pres. Battle Ground: https://www.solochristo.org/

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Mother Ann Lee was Nuts: So, Why does the NPR Crowd Love Her?

The Pugcast — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 08:27:00 +0000

There is a new biopic about the founder of the Shakers entitled, The Testament of Ann Lee. If you've heard of the Shakers it is probably because of their furniture. This week the Pugs respond to a critical review of the new film in The Spectator World by Damian Thompson, entitled, Testament to Ignorance. Chris is quoted in the review because of an article he wrote on the Shakers. He has mixed feelings about them, as he explains in the show. But he suspects there is something going on with liberalism in the US and an attempt by liberals to recover their own version of American Christianity and that the biopic is part of a larger effort. Tune in to see if you agree.

Spectator Article: https://spectator.com/article/the-problem-with-the-new-shakers-biopic/?edition=us&fbclid=IwY2xjawQVh6FleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAEwAAEeqwHZmAt6XJKBJkvbQdfROjImhSiQ2wHHwAmsHTqWX2Lq3wToNKoL8jkb4GY_aem_QRjZgbJghxePthAtHKkYew

C.R. Wiley Article: https://www.touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=24-04-017-v&fbclid=IwY2xjawQVh65leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAEwAAEeSZAAqidPifGEMM67DdHsMUyHSX1J3lmxe6U6qezgNCwHCBs_meovZETbduE_aem_H1EU9hYLJVYqfkOVEJDhgw

Ken Burn’s Shakers Documentary: https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/the-shakers/?fbclid=IwY2xjawQViLRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAEwAAEe4iQ0JzupT0tqAEgJW7Rwrw4D7P2ut1bHCDS6nHbdEjYmdGsDxT5NdWvjsp8_aem_fZUmGSCxslbsxJAMUZUIKQ

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Learn more about First Pres. Battle Ground: https://www.solochristo.org/

Connect with WileyCraft Productions: https://wileycraftproductions.com/

J.R.R. Tolkien, the Christian West and the Temptation of Nordic Neo-Paganism

The Pugcast — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 07:18:00 +0000

Glenn introduces the Pugsters to David Engels, a conservative Belgian historian and philosopher who focuses on a revival of Western civilization. Using one of his articles as a jumping off point, the guys discuss the marriage of ancient pagan virtues with Christian ideas of the Good, a combination which produced the chivalric ideal embraced by Tolkien in Middle Earth. But as usual, they cover a wide range of topics ranging from history to philosophy, to theology, to story, and others besides. It’s a fascinating discussion of the good in ancient paganism and the failure of neo-paganism to uncover what they think they are looking for.

Article:

https://davidengels.substack.com/p/jrr-tolkien-the-christian-west-and

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Learn more about First Pres. Battle Ground: https://www.solochristo.org/

Connect with WileyCraft Productions: https://wileycraftproductions.com/

Bodyoids and Zombie Bioethics

The Pugcast — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 10:16:00 +0000

In this episode, the pugs discuss a recent article by Christian Bioethicist and Psychiatrist Aaron Kheriaty in First Things concerning disturbing trends in the field of medicine where the production of living human bodies without consciousness are developed for scientific experimenting and use, especially organ harvesting. Drawing on Kheriaty's insights (and work elsewhere), the pugs unpack the radical implications of new medicine as it moves away from Hippocratic commitments.

First Things Article:

https://firstthings.com/zombie-bioethics/?fbclid=IwY2xjawQKpotleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAEwAAEeIEAeie6tJ1Lx-yY74Iy1gJUHZWqTO944x2Zg5IpA4YLGP2HEI8R-1YHybtY_aem_4nipo3kkaADILuYFWExd8w

MIT Article:

https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/03/25/1113611/ethically-sourced-spare-human-bodies-could-revolutionize-medicine/amp/?fbclid=IwY2xjawQKp2lleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAEwAAEeGmqimTl34lvudX46-tes97dv-_2No8xOiTFh1dW8JK0CAzNHsE-d4jS9u3k_aem_sp-LecNbwjCqNbn7K1PycQ

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Learn more about First Pres. Battle Ground: https://www.solochristo.org/

Connect with WileyCraft Productions: https://wileycraftproductions.com/

Dr. Timothy Padgett on Constructive Ecumenism

The Pugcast — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 08:13:00 +0000

The Pugsters welcome Dr. Timothy Padgett, Theologian in Residence and Glenn’s colleague at the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, for a conversation on constructive ecumenism. Working across denominational and theological lines raises a range of questions: how do you do it without compromising things you believe are true? Can evangelical and Reformed Christians work with Catholics? How about Mormons? What is the difference between ecumenism and co-belligerency? As usual, the guys have a wide-ranging conversation about these and other (mostly) related topics.

Links mentioned on the show:

What Would You Say: Are Mormons Christians: https://breakpoint.org/are-mormons-christians/

What Would you Say: What is Christian Nationalism?: https://breakpoint.org/what-is-christian-nationalism-exactly/

You can find Dr. Padgett’s work at https://breakpoint.org/

To learn more about the Colson Center, visit https://colsoncenter.org/

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Learn more about First Pres. Battle Ground: https://www.solochristo.org/

Connect with WileyCraft Productions: https://wileycraftproductions.com/

Leisure, the Basis of Despondency?

The Pugcast — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 08:33:00 +0000

Today the guys reflect on an essay in the February 2026 edition of First Things by Liel Leibovitz entitled, AI as Liberation. Mr. Leibovitz strikes an optimistic note in the dirge preceding the triumph of AI over all things human. While the Pugs give him points for looking on the bright side, they're skeptical. Tune in and find out why AI is probably more likely to increase drug addiction than a revival of singing around the piano.

Article: https://firstthings.com/ai-as-liberation/

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Learn more about First Pres. Battle Ground: https://www.solochristo.org/

Connect with WileyCraft Productions: https://wileycraftproductions.com/

Nature and Grace

The Pugcast — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0000

In this episode, the Pugsters discuss the relationship between nature and grace. In theology, this usually deals with how the two work in human life, and that’s where the guys start. But the topic can be bigger than that, so Glenn leads the discussion into whether grace can be conveyed through the physical world, such as the elements in the Lord’s Supper, and whether places can become sanctified or the opposite. It’s a wide-ranging conversation around topics that Reformed guys don’t often talk about.

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Learn more about First Pres. Battle Ground: https://www.solochristo.org/

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Why the 'Woke' Won't Go Away?!

The Pugcast — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 07:32:00 +0000

Today the pugs look at recent events in culture where the 'woke warriors' appear to be at it again, especially in the recent march by immigration activists into an evangelical church worship service. The pugs analyze and speculate a bit about what appears to be going on with the most recent forms woke activism is taking culturally.

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Learn more about First Pres. Battle Ground: https://www.solochristo.org/

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The Unintended Consequences of "Knowledge is Power"

The Pugcast — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 11:17:00 +0000

Today the Pugs discuss whether it matters or not if Francis Bacon was a sincere Christian. His ideas had consequences. In scholarly circles it is a matter of intense debate, but where the rest of us live, it doesn't matter--we're living in the world he helped to create. The Pugs discuss the consequences of "knowledge is power."

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Learn more about First Pres. Battle Ground: https://www.solochristo.org/

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The Gen Z Religious Awakening

The Pugcast — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 08:31:00 +0000

An article in Tablet magazine discussing the segment of the Gen Z population that is turning to conservative and demanding forms of religious practice provides the jumping off point for this episode. The article suggests that the turn toward rigorous religions comes from a reaction to the chaos of a rootless culture more than from a turn to faith. The guys discuss this idea and its implications for worship and for ministry to Gen Z.

Article: https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/belief/articles/gen-z-religious-awakening?fbclid=IwY2xjawPU68FicmlkETFwT0VSR3JLRGFtTnBaSU1qc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHhYGocf3wl0nQ0rVeyaRZ0UZmoU_qiDjJcgT2fXaSc1YIB79rxn0lj0HZJnZ&brid=lWLmG5JSQ5QY8SI1aRYC1w

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Learn more about First Pres. Battle Ground: https://www.solochristo.org/

Connect with WileyCraft Productions: https://wileycraftproductions.com/

Dr. Scott Masson and Reforging The Sword of Anduril!

The Pugcast — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 10:08:00 +0000

Today the Pugs welcome Dr. Scott Masson of Tyndale University onto the show. Scott is an Associate Professor of English and an authority on Romanticism. He also is known for his commitment to a recovery of classical learning. Today Scott reflects on the broken relationship between the humanities and theology and the disastrous consequences for higher education. He notes that this strikes right at the heart of the Christian faith because it separates the divine and human natures of the Son of God. He compares this to the broken sword Aduril from The Lord of the Rings and notes that the right ordering of our loves and the restoration of culture won't occur until the sword is reforged in the West. Join us for a great conversation.

The Anduril Moment - A Call to Return to Christian Humanism: Dr. Scott Masson’s lecture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2IWBJcN5kk

Dr. Masson’s Substack: https://drscottmasson.substack.com/

Paideia Today: https://www.paideiatoday.com/

Recommended videos from Dr. Masson’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/c/DrScottMasson

i) How the Ideology of the French Revolution Destroyed Human Nature:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEYyIHiA0kE

ii) The History of Literary Theory (An overview):

https://youtu.be/0QsnNzFq9cs?si=yw06YOzRR1R6H0LN

iii) The Legacy of Romanticism:

https://youtu.be/2-ethRyqhzQ?si=K5KEkrlN0E77izN6

iv) The History of Cultural Marxism: https://youtu.be/lC7q26ddu2k?si=m1R03Cu3fYdDqzDk

www.paideiatoday.com

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Learn more about First Pres. Battle Ground: https://www.solochristo.org/

Connect with WileyCraft Productions: https://wileycraftproductions.com/

Empiricist Deformations of Augustinian Theology

The Pugcast — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 10:13:00 +0000

In this episode the Pugs engage some of the theological roots that gave rise and shape to Western empiricism, especially in the Scottish Tradition of David Hume. In particular, they engage how the pessimistic view of fallen human reason take on a distorted shape when severed from the rich theological setting of Augustine's theology, and then lead to secular reappropriations by secular thinkers like Hume and others.

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Learn more about WPC Battle Ground: https://www.solochristo.org/

Connect with WileyCraft Productions: https://wileycraftproductions.com/

Matthew B. Crawford on "Craftsmanship in the Culture Industry"

The Pugcast — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 09:04:00 +0000

Today the Pugs reflect on an essay by Matthew B. Crawford (author of Shop Class as Soulcraft) from his Substack entitled: Craftsmanship in the culture industry. The event that prompted the essay is the bid by Netflix to buy Warner Brothers (the film studio). What particularly interests Crawford is something broader, the decay of craftsmanship in our world, and what "managerialism" has to do with that. If you care about film, or just craftsmanship generally speaking we think you will enjoy the conversation.

Article: https://open.substack.com/pub/mcrawford/p/craftsmanship-in-the-culture-industry?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

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Learn more about WPC Battle Ground: https://www.solochristo.org/

Connect with WileyCraft Productions: https://wileycraftproductions.com/

Christmas and the True Myth

The Pugcast — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 10:56:00 +0000

C.S. Lewis came to faith once he realized that the Gospel was both myth, appealing to his heart, and fact, appealing to his mind. The Pugs discuss what he meant by myth and apply the idea to the Christmas story—how it embodies archetypes found in myth and legend throughout history.

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Learn more about WPC Battle Ground: https://www.solochristo.org/

Connect with WileyCraft Productions: https://wileycraftproductions.com/

Adolescent Mental Health and the Chatbot Therapist

The Pugcast — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 09:06:00 +0000

On today's show the Pugs engage the rapidly growing turn to AI chatbots for mental health needs by teenagers. In what realistic ways can the church step into the situation? What hurdles and limits do we encounter as we set out ways to address this growing crisis, especially among the disadvantaged? The Pugs wrestle through these complex matters in this episode.

Article: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/dec/09/teenagers-ai-chatbots-mental-health-support

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Learn more about WPC Battle Ground: https://www.solochristo.org/

Connect with WileyCraft Productions: https://wileycraftproductions.com/

Peter Thiel and the Antichrist

The Pugcast — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 09:50:00 +0000

In today's Pugcast Chris shares a little from his experience attending Peter Thiel's Antichrist lectures. Those in attendance promised not to divulge what they heard, but the contents of the lectures are now widely known since the contents have either been leaked to the press, or discussed in interviews Thiel has given. With those things in mind, Chris limits his reflections to what can be learned in a simple Google search: "Peter Thiel and Antichrist." Even with those limitations there is a lot to talk about, for instance, which should we fear more: Armageddon or the Antichrist? Thiel's answer is "Antichrist!"--tune in and find out why.

The Philosophy of Language: A Conversation with Eugene Terekhin

The Pugcast — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 07:07:00 +0000

In this episode, Tom and Glenn welcome Eugene Terekhin, a Russian translator and the man behind the Substack “The Philosophy of Language.” The conversation ranges over Heideger’s ideas about language and their connection to the Inklings, the idea of primordial language and its connection to poetry, and a variety of other nerdy language-related topics.

The Philosophy of Language Substack: https://substack.com/@eugeneterekhin

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Learn more about WPC Battle Ground: https://www.solochristo.org/

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Weimar America?

The Pugcast — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 10:42:00 +0000

When we look at the conditions in Weimar Germany, we see a lot of economic turmoil, hyperinflation, and declining expectations. Zoomers today are facing similar challenges, though not as extreme, which helps explain the appeal of white nationalism, antisemitism, and the “woke right.” The Pugsters discuss the parallels between America today and Weimar Germany and talk about how to respond to the problems facing young white men.

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Learn more about WPC Battle Ground: https://www.solochristo.org/

Connect with WileyCraft Productions: https://wileycraftproductions.com/

Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve - A Conversation with Josh Herring

The Pugcast — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 09:44:00 +0000

Today the Pugs are joined by Josh Herring, author of a forthcoming book entitled, "Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve." If that title sounds familiar it is probably because you're a fan of the Chronicles of Narnia and of C. S. Lewis. In his book Josh explores Lewis's writing on sex and gender and finds a few things that might come as a surprise. Lewis was a defender of the traditional understanding of the relationship of the sexes, of course--but he dug deeper than most people who have written on the subject, and consequently he has richer insights to share. Join the Pugs as they discuss the value of Lewis's thoughts with Josh Herring!

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Educating for Reality

The Pugcast — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 08:11:00 +0000

On today's show the pugs converse and reflect upon the various ways in which modern and technological formation shape us, often in ways that counter our overall good. Reflecting on the fact that there are no ‘meaningless’ practices, the pugs reflect on ways our Christian faith, especially catechesis, help us wean from vices and dispositions that cloud our ability to see reality clearly and help us relate to it in healthy and properly ordered ways.

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Learn more about WPC Battle Ground: https://www.solochristo.org/

Connect with WileyCraft Productions: https://wileycraftproductions.com/

Stockholm Syndrome Christianity and The Sin of Empathy: A Conversation with John West and Joe Rigney

The Pugcast — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 09:13:00 +0000

John West’s Stockholm Syndrome Christianity and Joe Rigney’s The Sin of Empathy both look at problems in American Christianity today. In this episode recorded at the Equipping the Saints Conference in Tacoma, Washington, Glenn interviews them about their books and how we can avoid some of the problems they address.

Order John West’s Stockholm Syndrome Christianity: https://stockholmsyndromechristianity.com/

Order Joe Rigney’s The Sin of Empathy: https://canonpress.com/products/the-sin-of-empathy?srsltid=AfmBOooIuCv1xXIHvui4dPKjiWuwE2npYqnW12J1uC9bb86VBOyEQegm

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Learn more about WPC Battle Ground: https://www.solochristo.org/

Connect with WileyCraft Productions: https://wileycraftproductions.com/

Universal Basic Income and the Meaning of Life

The Pugcast — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 08:31:00 +0000

The tech savants of Silicon Valley have issued dire warnings about an impending wave of unemployment due to advances in artificial intelligence and robotics. Essentially we're told humans are too slow, too unintelligent, and too expensive to be relied upon for economic productivity. We're obsolete and will soon be replaced. Don't worry we're told, universal basic income will feed and house us. But is this a good thing? What would UBI likely mean for the meaning of our lives? Today the Pugs conduct a thought-experiment: what will become of meaning in a world without work?

Mo Gawdat Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tHo94jTiZg

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Life After Secularism with Andrew Walker

The Pugcast — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 09:09:00 +0000

Today's advertisement for the Life After Secularism Conference features Dr. Andrew Walker of World Magazine and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Secularism is in the rearview mirror--but where is Western culture heading? Andrew gives us a little sample of where he thinks Christians should lead to. Tune in and find out what he has to say. And, join us November 14-15 in Battle Ground, Washington for the conference!

Learn more about WPC Battle Ground: https://www.solochristo.org/

Protestantism and Modernity

The Pugcast — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 08:53:00 +0000

Recently, Trad Catholics and Orthobros who are no fans of modernity have been blaming it on the Protestant Reformation. The argument takes a variety of forms, but how should we evaluate it? Using Charles Taylor’s A Secular Age as a jumping off point, the Pugs weigh some of the key pieces of the argument and place them in the larger context of intellectual movements in Europe in the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. It turns out it’s not as simple as the argument makes it.

Thank you to our Patron Kenneth for the question!

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An Invitation from C.R. Wiley: Life After Secularism Conference

The Pugcast — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 09:10:00 +0000

Welcome to this brief invitation to the Life After Secularism Conference, November 14-15 in Battle Ground, Washington. Today Chris presents the topic and aim of the conference, explaining the need to discuss the collapse of Secularism. The theme isn't meant to imply that Christianity will automatically fill the void left by the retreating tide of secularism; it's going to be a free-for-all and Christianity is just one of the contestants in the days ahead. Follow the link to learn more.

Learn more about WPC Battle Ground: https://www.solochristo.org/

Jonathan Pageau on Fairy Tales (among other things)!

The Pugcast — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 07:33:00 +0000

Jonathan Pageau of The Symbolic World joins the Pugs today to discuss fairy tales, iconography, Nominalism, why art is beside the point, and lots of other things! The guys enjoyed their time with Jonathan and we hope you enjoy this free range conversation with him, too. Be sure to check out his podcast and many other ventures.

Check out Jonathan’s work at https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/

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Aaron Renn: Life After Secularism Conference Speaker Interview

The Pugcast — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 08:05:00 +0000

Welcome to this brief preview of the Life After Secularism Conference, November 14-15 in Battle Ground, Washington. Today Chris interviews Aaron Renn to get a little sample of what he'll be talking about at the conference. The theme isn't meant to imply that Christianity will automatically fill the void left by the retreating tide of secularism; it's going to be a free-for-all and Christianity is just one of the contestants in the days ahead. Follow the link to learn more.

Learn more about WPC Battle Ground: https://www.solochristo.org/

A Dive into the Estuary with Paul VanderKlay

The Pugcast — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 09:41:00 +0000

Regular listeners will remember our conversation with Annie Crawford about the Midwestuary conference. In this episode, the Pugs talk with Paul VanderKlay, the originator of the estuary concept. They discuss what Estuaries are, how they work, This Little Corner of the Internet, and the importance of having open, free conversations with people. There’s a lot of practical wisdom in his ideas and approach, so join us in this episode to take a dive into the Estuary.

Paul VanderKlay on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PaulVanderKlay

Learn more about the Estuary: https://www.estuaryhub.com/

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Connect with Glenn and Every Square Inch Ministries at https://www.esquareinch.com/

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Medical Hypocrites and the Hippocratic Oath

The Pugcast — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 07:48:00 +0000

On today's episode the pugs talk about disturbing comments made by some medical practitioners who publicly celebrated the Kirk murder as a social good. The discussion jumps into important issues concerning medical ethics, human life, and the compassionate treatment of all divine image bearers.

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Against the Machine! (Some Reflections on Paul Kingsnorth's New Book)

The Pugcast — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 08:49:00 +0000

Paul Kingsnorth, the award winning novelist and essayist has a new nonfiction book coming out and Chris got an advance review copy. Ostensibly it's about artificial intelligence, but what Kingsnorth is really aiming as is modernity itself, aka the post-enlightenment West. And he's got a good point. There are two Wests--the old West of Christendom, and the new West--what Kingsnorth refers to as The Machine. Paul would like to go home, but where can you call home when the machine has colonized the world? The guys find themselves largely in agreement with Paul's take on things. There are quibbles here and there, but over all the Pugs give it 5 stars. Tune in to find out why.

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Connect with Glenn and Every Square Inch Ministries at https://www.esquareinch.com/

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Imagination and Truth

The Pugcast — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 07:41:00 +0000

C.S. Lewis said that “reason is the natural organ of truth, but imagination is the natural organ of meaning.” In this episode, the Pugsters explore his ideas on this, noting that he is using the word “truth” in a very specific way and making a case that imagination is a vehicle to discover truth just like reason is. Not convinced? Tune in and hear the conversation.

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Connect with Glenn and Every Square Inch Ministries at https://www.esquareinch.com/

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Connect with WileyCraft Productions: https://wileycraftproductions.com/

Robot Wombs for Human Babies?

The Pugcast — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 08:43:00 +0000

It’s nearly possible. Is it a good thing? The Pugs engage the topic of ‘ectogestation’ and ‘ectogenesis’ in this episode, and ponder the spiritual and moral implications of such advancing technologies.

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Connect with Glenn and Every Square Inch Ministries at https://www.esquareinch.com/

Learn more about WPC Battle Ground: https://www.solochristo.org/

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Annie Crawford and Midwestuary

The Pugcast — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 08:50:00 +0000

The Pugsters welcome Annie Crawford back, this time for a discussion based on the Midwestuary conference held in August. Annie explained the history and concept behind the Estuary movement started by Paul Vanderklay. The guys discussed a range of ideas jumping off of that with Annie. Not sure what the Estuary is? Join us and find out!

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Connect with Glenn and Every Square Inch Ministries at https://www.esquareinch.com/

Learn more about WPC Battle Ground: https://www.solochristo.org/

Connect with WileyCraft Productions: https://wileycraftproductions.com/

Will Artificial Intelligence Make Creative People More Efficient?

The Pugcast — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 07:05:00 +0000

Today Chris raises the question expressed in the title of this episode. Enthusiasts for Artificial Intelligence promise that chatbots will make everyone more efficient and productive--even novelists and scholars. But is that really possible considering what history's most famous creatives tell us about how they went about their work? People who've looked into their daily routines such as Oliver Burkeman (author of, Four Thousand Weeks, Time Management for Mortals) and Mason Currey (author of, Daily Rituals) inform us that people like Charles Darwin and Flannery O'Connor only worked 3 to 4 hours a day on the things we remember them for. The rest of the time they did other things--mostly unrelated. So, would they have gotten more done with the help of artificial intelligence? The Pugs have their doubts. Tune in and find out why.

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Connect with Glenn and Every Square Inch Ministries at https://www.esquareinch.com/

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Christian Humanism

The Pugcast — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 07:17:00 +0000

Jumping off an article by Bradley Birzer, the Pugs discuss the idea of Christian humanism. After Glenn summarizes the history of humanism dating back to the Renaissance, the guys discuss the difference between Renaissance and Christian humanism with secular humanism, Christian humanism in the 20th century (including the Inklings), the contributions humanism has made to culture, and the need for a recovery of Christian humanism today.

Article Referenced: https://theimaginativeconservative.org/2025/08/seeking-christendom-christian-humanism-twentieth-century-bradley-birzer.html

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Connect with Glenn and Every Square Inch Ministries at https://www.esquareinch.com/

Learn more about WPC Battle Ground: https://www.solochristo.org/

Connect with WileyCraft Productions: https://wileycraftproductions.com/

Lambeth, Birth Control, and Eugenics

The Pugcast — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 08:28:00 +0000

On today's show the pugs engage an article by Oxford historian Andrew Moeller on the complicated aims and compromises of the 1930 Lambeth Conference, a watershed moment in Christianity in the West. The pugs discuss the 'gamble with the devil' that the Church of England made, with its embrace of a modern technological understanding of reality even as it sought to remain Christian by accommodating and compromising with it. The pugs note how much of Protestantism followed suit, especially Evangelical Christianity of late.

Article Referenced: https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/03F1600B83A0FB3EE62F81EE31A36111/S002204692300060Xa.pdf/eugenics-and-the-approval-of-birth-control-at-the-1930-lambeth-conference.pdf

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Connect with Glenn and Every Square Inch Ministries at https://www.esquareinch.com/

Learn more about WPC Battle Ground: https://www.solochristo.org/

Connect with WileyCraft Productions: https://wileycraftproductions.com/

Timon Cline and the Work of American Reformer

The Pugcast — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 08:20:00 +0000

The Pugs conclude their interviews at the PCA General Assembly in Chattanooga, TN as they welcome Timon Cline back onto the show. Timon is a good friend, and Chris serves on the Advisory Board of the magazine. Today the pugs discuss the work of the publication as well as the state of the world and the church. It's a free-wheeling conversation, as normal. We hope you enjoy it

Learn more about American Reformer: https://americanreformer.org/

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Michael Foster and William Wolfe on Redeeming Institutions

The Pugcast — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 08:18:00 +0000

The Pugs continue their time at the PCA General Assembly with a conversation with first time guests, Michael Foster and William Wolfe. Michael is a well known pastor from Ohio and is the co-author of, It's Good to be a Man, and William worked in the first Trump Administration. Both of them have a lot to say about why we should fight for the institutions that make up our society, especially ecclesial ones such as the PCA and the SBC. Enjoy!

The Center for Baptist Leadership: https://centerforbaptistleadership.org/

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Matthew Everhard and the Jonathan Edwards Study Bible

The Pugcast — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 06:43:00 +0000

The Pugs continue their interviews at the PCA General Assembly in Chattanooga, TN with a conversation with Matthew Everhard, the editor of The Jonathan Edwards Study Bible; soon to be released by Thomas Nelson Publishing. The towering influence of Edwards casts a long shadow over American evangelicalism, and even more broadly into the national memory. It's a fun and free-wheeling conversation which will give you an even greater appreciation for the man even secular liberals consider the greatest mind our nation has produced. Enjoy!

Find Matthew Everhard on his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MatthewEverhard

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George Grant on why "Everything You've Heard about Christopher Columbus is Wrong"

The Pugcast — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 21:21:00 +0000

What if everything you've heard about Christopher Columbus is wrong? Well, the Pug's good friend, George Grant comes onto the show to explain why. By the time he's done, you'll not only have a better understanding of Christopher Columbus, you'll se why he's still very relevant to the crises of our time. As usually, George is a fountain of information and we really enjoyed the conversation. We think you will too.

Order ‘The Last Crusader: The Untold Story of Christopher Columbus’ by George Grant at https://canonpress.com/products/the-last-crusader-the-untold-story-of-christopher-columbus?srsltid=AfmBOoqXCOuSbPAIOfv4LYCSqfdm316gztUVD4zB7xSnSwdPkGEti9pS

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Zach Garris and Honor Thy Fathers

The Pugcast — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 08:06:00 +0000

The Pugs continue their podcasts from the 2025 PCA General Assembly and welcome Zach Garris onto the show! Zach is well known in Reformed circles for his writing on masculinity and Christianity. Today the Pugs discuss two of his books, Masculine Christianity and Honor Thy Fathers. The focus of the conversation is the teaching of the Reformers on the roles of men and women, not only in households and in the church, but in broader society as well. We hope you enjoy the conversation!

Order Honor Thy Fathers from New Christendom Press at https://www.newchristendompress.com/fathers

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Aaron Renn and Evangelical Elites (or why there aren’t any)

The Pugcast — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 07:28:00 +0000

The Pugs are at the PCA General Assembly! And for their first interview from Chattanooga they welcome Aaron Renn back onto the show. After catching up with Aaron about his life following the Three Worlds of Evangelicalism phenomenon he's responsible for, the conversation shifts to evangelicalism and elites--or, why evangelicals can't seem to really develop any. By contrast, Roman Catholics have no trouble developing an elite class who go on to cultural prominence. So, why isn't that the case for evangelicals? Tune in and find out!

Follow Aaron Renn on Substack at https://www.aaronrenn.com/

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A Mainline Reconquista with Pastor Jake Dell!

The Pugcast — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 09:42:00 +0000

Today the Pugs welcome Jake Dell onto the show. Jake is the pastor of the historic First Congregational Church of Woodbury, Connecticut (est. 1659). But he's also a man with a dream and a plan to win back to orthodox Christianity mainline congregations from liberal denominations. Join us today for a fascinating conversation concerning how this seemingly impossible task actually isn't all that quixotic. Jake's plan has potential. Listen in to see if you agree.

Project Return - Mission Brief https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Em4kSK74XFjs9vqtYmsRKDKf5kolmuW5HPLMAOxqOlU/edit?usp=sharing

Case Study: Reclaiming Historic Protestant Churches Through a Donor Intent Litigation Trust https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yP5cWzuC4UyrRANecKkjglY0rD-TeMfTLZfaXzcFLyU/edit?usp=sharing

The First Congregational Church of Woodbury, Connecticut http://www.firstchurchwoodbury.org/

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Throwback: Who Is Tom Bombadil?

The Pugcast — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 09:35:00 +0000

Unable to meet this week, the Pugcast decided to share an episode from the 2019 archives. Tune in for this blast from the past!

Perhaps the most controversial character in all of Tolkien's writing is Tom Bombadil. People seem to either love him or hate him. But regardless how you feel about him, most people can't figure out why he's even in the Lord of the Rings. What's the point of the man in the blue jacket and the yellow boots? Certainly Peter Jackson thought he was expendable. He isn't even in the film version of the story. Was he inserted to make Tolkien's children happy? Was Tolkien providing a little filler to buy time because he was still working out the plot? Chris thinks that Tolkien was up to far more than people give him credit for when it comes to Bombadil. Chris actually thinks that you don't really understand Tolkien, or the Lord of the Rings, until you receive Bombadil into your heart. Listen in as Chris, Tom, and Glenn discuss the meaning of the mysterious Tom Bombadil!

Order In the House of Tom Bombadil by CR Wiley, released 2021: https://canonpress.com/products/in-the-house-of-tom-bombadil?srsltid=AfmBOooq7248sFOcSr4AN7DXIDcAH0efflvAA8EcY6WSJcm3K-Ulg-zG

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Is Technology-Worship America's New Religion?

The Pugcast — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 09:23:00 +0000

Today the Pugs discuss a provocative essay in the English publication, AirMail by Tara Isabella Burton. In this article she explores a new and very self-conscious religious disposition that is taking hold among tech elites in Silicon Valley. While there has been some buzz about a revival of interest in Christianity there, this is something very different, somewhat Gnostic, and very neopagan. Join the pugs as they reflect on it.

Article Referenced: https://airmail.news/issues/2025-5-24/the-view-from-herefbclid=IwY2xjawKsh8NleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETEyVnZXc29rSGpwaEFsQjRsAR5DHSu0LY04GYS7rDcYlDWzeZXQYiZ7OxvHCNAxLWdcqmfN05x5VHG8P2U6Ww_aem_Oj0e41ftR3pRfMQGqMQrhA

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Father Mark Perkins and Educating Boys to Become Men

The Pugcast — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 07:35:00 +0000

Today the Pugs welcome Fr. Mark Perkins of St. Dunstan's Academy in Virginia onto the show! St. Dunstan's brings together Christian formation in the Anglican tradition alongside an education in the classics, skilled trades, and agriculture. Its vision is to help boys grow into mature Christian manhood through rites of passage and through a deep engagement with embodied reality. It’s a wonderful vision for the education of boys. We hope you enjoy the show!

Learn more about St. Dunstan's Academy: https://stdunstansacademy.org/

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The Spiritual Side of Mental Health

The Pugcast — Mon, 26 May 2025 08:15:00 +0000

On today's episode the Pugsters welcome clinical mental health counselor Dr. Natalie Atwell onto the show. Dr. Atwell noticed a tremendous increase in the unusual number of rare mental health cases in her practice, many of which were in people who were engaged in occult practices. This has led her to work discerning the boundaries between mental health and spiritual warfare. Dr. Atwell’s ideas and experience generate conversation about the practical aspects of her work, the implications of Heiser’s work for mental health, and a variety of other related topics.

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Racial Essentialism and Multiculturalism

The Pugcast — Mon, 19 May 2025 08:25:00 +0000

This week, Glenn brings up a dangerous idea that is growing in some Reformed circles: the idea of racial essentialism, that is, that different races have immutable characteristics that affect their worth. The guys talk about the image of God, the origins of the modern idea of race, and the challenges of working and ministering in a multicultural context.

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Overcoming Language?

The Pugcast — Mon, 12 May 2025 09:36:00 +0000

Is the human capacity for language something that should be overcome? Some tech-gurus think so. Today’s show explores that topic by delving into the Christian understanding of human language as a core aspect of being made in the image of a God who is eternal Logos. Is the war on language ultimately a war on God? Join the Pugs in this rich conversation.

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Why Do Church Affiliated Colleges Always Trend Left?

The Pugcast — Mon, 05 May 2025 07:28:00 +0000

Recently James K. A. Smith said Calvin University should sue for divorce from the denomination that sponsors it because the governing body of that denomination says the university should enforce the biblical sexual teachings of that denomination. While this is the latest challenge to ecclesial authority at a ostensibly Christian college, it's definitely not the first. Across the church world similar battles between denominations and their colleges are being fought. But why does it happen in the first place? Today the Pugs--who've seen these fights from the inside many times--give their takes on how these colleges drift from the doctrinal standards of their sponsoring churches and what those churches can do about it.

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Ryan Lauterio and The Maker Institute

The Pugcast — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 07:47:00 +0000

Today the Pugs are pleased to welcome Ryan Lauterio of The Maker Institute of Richmond, Virginia onto the show! Ryan is an academic and artist who taught at Virginia Commonwealth University and is now the Chief Executive Officer of The Maker Institute. The mission of the Institute is to develop Gospel-gripped, theologically minded, adept culture makers who faithfully seek to glorify Christ in all things. The Pugs enjoyed a free ranging conversation about the arts generally speaking and the current state of arts education.

Learn more about The Maker Institute: https://themakerinstitute.org/

The Builder documentary referenced: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z74o1Ld5eUE

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

A Conversation with Malcolm Guite

The Pugcast — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 07:24:00 +0000

This week, the Pugsters are excited to welcome poet, priest, and theologian Malcolm Guite to the show. Chris leads off the conversation with Mariner, Guite’s biography of Samuel Taylor Coleridge which uniquely among studies of Coleridge brings out the importance of his return to Trinitarian Christianity to his life. The conversation uses Coleridge’s life and work as a jumping off point to move on to other topics, including Lewis’s concept of joy and the nature and importance of imagination. It’s a fascinating discussion with a fascinating individual, and we think you’ll find it as stimulating as we did.

Follow Malcolm Guite on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MalcolmGuitespell

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

On the Atonement

The Pugcast — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 07:22:00 +0000

After the last episode on Anselm didn’t get to his theory of the atonement, our resident historian Glenn decided we needed to go back and take another look at Anselm. But along with Anselm’s satisfaction theory, the guys look at a wide range of other ways Christians have understood the atonement over the past two millennia. Particularly at the beginning of Holy Week, this is a good time to broaden our thinking about the atonement and come to a deeper appreciation of what Christ has done for us.

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Prayer and Contemplation with Saint Anselm

The Pugcast — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 07:53:00 +0000

On today's episode Tom introduces Saint Anselm, one of the most influential Western theologians whose impact remains significant on Western Christianity in particular. The pugs discussion of this founding teacher of scholastic Christianity lead into some of the riches of Christian history and theology, as well as into such fascinating territories of faith and reason, the ontological proof of God in particular, and the nature of the atonement. The relevance of the Saint for engaging our times is also discussed from many important angles.

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

The Strong Gods Are Back!

The Pugcast — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 07:51:00 +0000

Today Chris presents Rusty Reno's thesis from his book, Return of the Strong Gods: Nationalism, Populism, and the Future of the West. Reno's thesis is that since WW2 western leaders and intellectuals have worked to weaken natural affections that call for loyalty and sacrifice. The weak gods used to promote the program have been weakening and we now live in a world in which the old affections are growing stronger. The Pugs reflect on this development--both in hope, but also with a little caution.

Order Return of the Strong Gods: Nationalism, Populism, and the Future of the West: https://www.regnery.com/9781684512690/return-of-the-strong-gods/

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Emerging Technopaganism

The Pugcast — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 07:54:00 +0000

The Pugsters take a walk on the weird side with a conversation on UFOs (or, as they are now called, UAPs), AI, and quantum computing as interrelated parts of a new, emerging religion that Glenn calls Technopaganism. There's a whole lot going on in these areas and a lot of it is very strange. Join us as Glenn takes us through a survey of some of the terrain using the work of professor of religion Diana Pasulka as a jumping off point. But be prepared for a lot of things that don't fit the way we've been taught to see the world!

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Moral Wisdom and Natural Law

The Pugcast — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 08:10:00 +0000

On today's show Tom, Glenn, and Chris trace the theological heritage of historic Christian and Reformed moral theology as it drew upon and developed natural law thinking as one resource for moral wisdom and engagement with culture. As we address moral challenges of our age, we have a rich heritage in our faith, from the early Church through various Protestant and Reformed lines, to draw upon as we aim to unpack biblical ethical wisdom in our time. The natural law tradition is one such line which the Reformed line classically embraced and developed in light of its core theological insights. The pugs enjoy a lively conversation around this important contribution to moral theology.

The Right Use of Moral Philosophy by Pierre de La Place: https://www.amazon.com/Philosophy-Sources-Modern-Economics-Ethics/dp/1949011062

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Haunted Cosmos--The Interview and the Book!

The Pugcast — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 07:13:00 +0000

Today the Pugs are pleased to interview Brian Suave' and Benjamin Garrett about their new book, Haunted Cosmos. It's a fun and free-ranging interview about a cosmos that is more than just "stuff." During the conversation the question, "Why are Reformed believers seemingly less willing to entertain the ongoing activity of angels and demons in our world?" is considered, along with many other fascinating questions. Tune in and prepare to hear a discussion that discusses fairies, cryptids, and aliens and what we should make of them. Fun!

Order Haunted Cosomo: Doing Your Duty in a World that’s Not Just Stuff: https://www.newchristendompress.com/cosmos

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Apple Pie and Rocket Ships, Is a Wholesome Technological Future Possible?

The Pugcast — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 08:15:00 +0000

Today Chris shares some of his work on artificial intelligence and the prospects for a wholesome humanism. The question he's attempting to answer is, "Is it possible to preserve permanent things such as traditional family life when the technology we have developed can easily tears wholesome life to shreds?" In other words, is dystopia inevitable, or can we have an apple pie American wholesomeness and still have rocket ships? Join us for a little science fiction fun!

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Catch our documentary ‘A Pugcast Pilgrimage: Lewis, Oxford, and Our Postmodern Age’ at https://youtu.be/7OYYuK2Y7d0

Family Law & Manufactured Babies: An Interview of Jeff Shafer of the Hale Institute

The Pugcast — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 09:52:00 +0000

Today the Pugs interview Jeff Shafer about the brave new world of children without biological parents. What happens when children become products that we assemble from the gene pool and sell to the highest bidder? We don't have to wonder, it's already here. Jeff is a lawyer and the director of the Hale Institute. His recent lecture, "Machine Anithumanism and the Inversion of Family Law" was published on a couple of prominent Substacks and came to the attention of Tom and Chris at a recent Hale Institute event they both participated in. Tune in a learn about the talk that has Matthew B. Crawford and N. S. Lyons buzzing. Our scientists are up to some disturbing antihuman stuff.

Read Machine Antihumanism and the Inversion of Family Law at https://theupheaval.substack.com/p/machine-antihumanism-and-the-inversion

Learn more about the Hale Institute: https://www.haleinstitute.org/

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Catch our documentary ‘A Pugcast Pilgrimage: Lewis, Oxford, and Our Postmodern Age’ at https://youtu.be/7OYYuK2Y7d0

There’s Something about Mary

The Pugcast — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 10:19:00 +0000

In this episode, the Pugsters take a look at Mariology from a Protestant perspective. While they don’t agree with a number of elements of the Catholic doctrines of Mary, the guys agree that Protestants don’t pay enough attention to her and that there are many valuable things she can teach us. As usual, the conversation ranges over a variety of topics, including the term “Mother of God” vs. Theotokos, prayer to saints, what virginity meant in the ancient world, and relics.

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Catch our documentary ‘A Pugcast Pilgrimage: Lewis, Oxford, and Our Postmodern Age’ at https://youtu.be/7OYYuK2Y7d0

What if Screwtape Were Female? An Interview with Tilly Dillehay

The Pugcast — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 09:40:00 +0000

Today the Pugs are pleased to welcome to the show Tilly Dillehay, author of My Dear Hemlock. Tilly has taken Lewis's ingenious book, The Screwtape Letters as inspiration for her book in which Madame Hoaxrot (a female Screwtape) instructs a junior temptress named Hemlock (her Wormwood) in the fine art of leading a young woman astray. It's a fun episode, and one with many reflections on the spiritual hazards that women find tempting. We hope you enjoy the show--if "fun" and "enjoy" can be thought of as the right words for such a diabolical subject.

Order My Dear Hemlock at Canon Press: https://canonpress.com/products/my-dear-hemlock

Find Tilly on the Home Fires Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/home-fires/id1530704128

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Catch our documentary ‘A Pugcast Pilgrimage: Lewis, Oxford, and Our Postmodern Age’ at https://youtu.be/7OYYuK2Y7d0

Anthony Esolen on Artificial Intelligence and the Desecration of the Word

The Pugcast — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 08:07:00 +0000

Today the Pugcast is pleased to welcome Anthony Esolen on the show! Tony is a prolific author and translator. Perhaps his best known work is his translation of Dante's Divine Comedy. Today the pugs ask Tony for his thoughts on Artificial Intelligence, particularly Chatbots and Large Language Models (LLMs). As you might infer from the title of the show, he is less than impressed. The conversation is free-flowing and we think Tony's thoughts are always erudite and fascinating. We hope you agree!

Follow Dr. Esolen on Substack: https://anthonyesolen.substack.com/

Order his translation of Augustine’s Confession: https://a.co/d/290ikNB

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Catch our documentary ‘A Pugcast Pilgrimage: Lewis, Oxford, and Our Postmodern Age’ at https://youtu.be/7OYYuK2Y7d0

Called to Freedom—An Interview with Brad Littlejohn

The Pugcast — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 08:21:00 +0000

The Pugcast is pleased to welcome Brad Littlejohn back on the show to discuss his latest book, Called to Freedom. If there's one thing western culture seems to celebrate, it's freedom. But just what are we talking about when we speak of it? Does freedom mean doing anything you want, just so long as no one gets hurt? If so, is that even possible? That seems to imply freedom is either amoral or even immoral, and that can't be right. Fortunately we have rich wells to draw from in scripture and western philosophy on the matter and Brad is a faithful guide to those riches. Join the show and learn what it means to be free--spiritually, morally, politically, and even corporately.

Order ‘Called to Freedom: Retrieving Christian Liberty in an Age of License (Christ in Everything)’ https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/called-to-freedom-P005841102

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Catch our documentary ‘A Pugcast Pilgrimage: Lewis, Oxford, and Our Postmodern Age’ at https://youtu.be/7OYYuK2Y7d0

A Pugcast Pilgrimage: Now on Youtube!

The Pugcast — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 12:46:00 +0000

While we don’t have a full podcast episode for you today, we do have something even better! A Pugcast Pilgrimage: Lewis, Oxford, and Our Postmodern Age (Our Pugcast Documentary filmed Spring 2024) is now publicly available on Youtube. Thank you again to all our Indiegogo supporters who made this possible!

Follow this link to find it: https://youtu.be/7OYYuK2Y7d0

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Are Men Bibliophobes?

The Pugcast — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 09:13:00 +0000

If men would only read more, especially more fiction, would not political nightmares, such as our current presidential turn, be avoided? The feminized cultural commentators continue to think so. The pugs engage a recent Vox article that takes seriously such a claim, and while the article finds the claim to be built on a questionable statistic, it nevertheless promotes the idea that reading more fiction could save men from their attraction to toxic masculinity. Tom, Chris, and Glenn have a bit of fun with the articles’ working assumptions and key claims, all while noting the detachment from reality needed to take them seriously.

Article: https://www.vox.com/culture/392971/men-reading-fiction-statistics-fact-checked

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Catch our new documentary ‘A Pugcast Pilgrimage: Lewis, Oxford, and Our Postmodern Age’ on Canon+: https://canonplus.com/tabs/discover/videos/34865?fbclid=IwY2xjawF-J-9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHXqj6CIhUs6mTwkMc-AHhKiP1E4dPAtOm60rgu69RZ2LfhqYLJg2JHx4uQ_aem_LV-nOWc1vnhV6scW9cGZpA

The Reality War

The Pugcast — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 08:42:00 +0000

Today the Pugs reflect on a Substack article by N. S. Lyons entitled, The Reality War. This insightful piece notes that we are living through a revival of the most pernicious of all heresies--Gnosticism. The bitter irony of our time is it is occurring in what many people have wrongly assumed is the triumph of materialism. Lyons begins with recounting the bloody Crusade the Medieval Church waged against the Cathars, then he explores three manifestations of Gnosticism in our time: "Scientific Gnosticism," "Luxury Gnosticism," and finally, and counter-intuitively, "Reactionary Gnosticism." The Pugs consider each and wonder how we can fight them in our time.

Article: https://theupheaval.substack.com/p/the-reality-war?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Magic [Systems?] in Fantasy Literature

The Pugcast — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 09:12:00 +0000

A recent post at Screen Rant complained that C.S. Lewis never explained Narnia’s magic system. This is an example of completely missing the point, as myth and legend never explain magic, though in recent fantasy lit, detailed out magic systems are almost an essential. For his part, Tolkien believed that fantasy had to make rational sense for it to work. The guys get go from these observations into a wide-ranging discussion of magic in fantasy, including Chris talking about the logic of magic in his fantasy series. They also get into a difference between the “magic” of the Elves and the magic of the Enemy in Middle Earth in light of Tokien’s essay “On Faerie Stories.”

Screenrant Article: https://screenrant.com/narnia-questions-greta-gerwig-netflix-reboot-answer/

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/media-podcasts

The Scandal of the Incarnation

The Pugcast — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:58:00 +0000

Today's episode delves into how the mystery of God assuming human flesh has continued to upturn paradigms of what it means to be a human creature, of what it means to be divine, and how the two are related. The pug’s engage this rich and timely topic by delving into the history of the scandal such teaching has evoked and ways we can draw upon this most profound mystery to challenge the fashionable distortions of our age and be led into a deeper appreciation of this amazing revelation in history. Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8 Catch our new documentary ‘A Pugcast Pilgrimage: Lewis, Oxford, and Our Postmodern Age’ on Canon+: https://canonplus.com/tabs/discover/videos/34865?fbclid=IwY2xjawF-J-9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHXqj6CIhUs6mTwkMc-AHhKiP1E4dPAtOm60rgu69RZ2LfhqYLJg2JHx4uQ_aem_LV-nOWc1vnhV6scW9cGZpA The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/media-podcasts

The State of the Culture, 2024

The Pugcast — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 08:46:00 +0000

Today the Pugs discuss a post by Ted Gioia on his Substack, The Honest Broker. The title of the post is, "The State of the Culture, 2024" Gioia is a well known music critic, and is actually the brother of Dana Gioia (the poet). Ted Gioia's Substack is nearing 200,000 subscribers--that's very impressive. In the post the Pug discuss he outlines the demise both of art and entertainment by two new forces unleashed by Silicon Valley. It isn't a pretty picture. The guys respond with suggested spiritual disciplines that can counter the developments Gioia describes. Tune in to see if you agree!

Substack Article: https://www.honest-broker.com/p/the-state-of-the-culture-2024?r=3mqy0&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/media-podcasts

How to Build a Family Economy: An Interview with Rory Groves

The Pugcast — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 08:53:00 +0000

Today the Pugs welcome Rory Groves, author of Durable Trades, and a new book, The Family Economy: Discovering the Family as It was Designed to Work. Rory transitioned out of a high tech career a few years back in order to build a family based economy with his wife and children. It took time, and there were many challenges, but he learned some important lessons along the way that he wants to share with people who would like to do the same thing. Tune in and find out if there's something to learn that could help you do it as well!

Find Rory at https://gatherandgrow.us/

Order The Family Economy: Discovering the Family as It Was Designed to Work: https://a.co/d/gEjjDwh

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/media-podcasts

Against Christian Civilization?

The Pugcast — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 09:14:00 +0000

Today the Pugs are joined by writer and editorialist, Bethel McGrew to discuss Paul Kingsnorth’s Erasmus Lecture for First Things. The Pugs found themselves both barking when they found disagreement as well as agreement, with a slight weight given to disagreement. We hope that you enjoy the show.

Paul Kingsnorth’s Erasmus Lecture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3hMSZqatHI

Bethel’s Substack: https://www.furtherup.net/

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/media-podcasts

Cloning, Sheepzilla, and Transhumanism

The Pugcast — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 09:16:00 +0000

Article: https://breakpoint.org/bioethics-and-big-sheep/

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/media-podcasts

An Interview with Vishal Mangalwadi

The Pugcast — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 10:40:00 +0000

In this episode, Glenn and honorary Pug John West of the Discovery Institute interview Indian Christian philosopher Vishal Mangalwadi about his life, his proposals for recovering the role of the church in higher education, and his analysis of where Western culture epistemology went wrong. This last point generated a lively discussion about general and special revelation between Vishal and John.

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/media-podcasts

Who Are the Techno-Utopians?

The Pugcast — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 09:11:00 +0000

Today Chris shares some thoughts on techno-utopianism--namely, what characterizes it? He proffers six distinctives and asks the guys to reflect with him on them. He suggests that while very few people would say they're on board with all six, most people seem to at least think that technology inevitably makes the world a better place. But is that necessarily so, or are we presented with a set of tradeoffs when it comes to technology?

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Connect with Trinity Chattanooga: https://www.trinitychattanooga.com/

The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/media-podcasts

Life on the Silent Planet!

The Pugcast — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 08:32:00 +0000

Today the Pugs welcome Rhys Laverty (all the way from the UK!) to discuss a new collection of essays on C. S. Lewis's Ransom Trilogy (sometimes misleadingly known as the Space Trilogy). The collection is being published under the title 'Life on the Silent Planet' by the Davenant Trust. Contributors include many friends of the Pugcast, including Michael Ward, of Planet Narnia fame. The Pugs enjoy a free-ranging discussion about everything from whether or not Lewis believed in intelligent life on other worlds to whether or not we're living in the world Lewis described in, That Hideous Strength. Join the fun!

Order Life on the Silent Planet: https://davenantinstitute.org/life-on-the-silent-planet

Connect with the Davenant Institute: https://davenantinstitute.org/

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/media-podcasts

Are Russell Brand and Jordan Peterson Idolatrous Pseudo-Christians? Purist Conversions, In a Liberal Key!

The Pugcast — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 08:55:00 +0000

This week's episode engages an article by moral theologian, Luke Bretherton of Oxford, who suggests that the recent swath of conversions by public intellectuals like Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Paul Kingsnorth, and flirtations with Christianity by figures like Jordan Peterson, Douglas Murray and Luise Perry are best understood as idolatrous pseudo-conversions which are more about preserving Western Culture than his brand of genuine Christianity, which is anti-fascist, anti-racist, and working tirelessly for democracy. The pugs are not convinced. And they show a host of reasons why.

Article: https://comment.org/the-conversion-of-public-intellectuals/

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

What Do We Do with the Body?

The Pugcast — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 08:22:00 +0000

Unconfirmed reports coming out of North Carolina of the government simply bulldozing areas affected by Hurricane Helene without searching for bodies prompted Glenn to raise the question of how we think of and treat the bodies of the dead. Historically, Christians have always believed that we belong, body and soul, to the Lord, and thus even after death the body was treated with respect and buried, not burned, in token of the resurrection. How do we treat bodies today, and with that, how do we view death? The guys explore these and related topics in a show that deals with uncomfortable and personal realities that we will all need to come to grips with sooner or later.

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

A Talk with Allan C. Carlson : October 25-26 Fatherhood Intensive : TRAD DAD 2024

The Pugcast — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 08:47:00 +0000

Trad Dad is back (Oct 25-26) in Battle Ground, Washington for our Second Annual Fatherhood Intensive. This year we will hear from Scott Yenor, Allan C. Carlson, and C.R. Wiley on Pro-Natal Fatherhood and the recovery of a proper philosophical, political, and most importantly, Biblical perspective on children.

Today’s conversation features CR Wiley and Allan C. Carlson, Professor of History at Hillsdale College, Founder of the World Congress of Families.

October 25-26 Fatherhood Intensive: A Short Conversation with Scott Yenor : TRAD DAD 2024

The Pugcast — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 08:47:00 +0000

Today’s conversation features CR Wiley and Scott Yenor, Professor of Political Science at Boise State University, Washington Fellow at Claremont Institute.

Dark Enchantment

The Pugcast — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 09:01:00 +0000

On today's show Chris leads the Pugs in a reflection on the story of Jonah--not the Biblical prophet, but the seminary student Rod Dreher interviewed for his book, Living in Wonder. Jonah was raised in an evangelical home, and was even homeschooled, yet fell into a spell of dark enchantment that included visions of demons and the use of psychedelic drugs. Eventually he was delivered through exorcism. What happened, and why does Jonah now say his evangelical upbringing did almost nothing to prepare him for any of this? Tune in and learn what the Pugs think.

Living in Wonder: Finding Mystery and Meaning in a Secular Age, by Rod Dreher: https://a.co/d/1EIlSua

Knowledge is Power (Icon Science): How Magic, the Government and an Apocalyptic Vision Helped Francis Bacon to Create Modern Science, by John Henry: https://a.co/d/3RNoQym

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

Are We Really Becoming Pagans Again?

The Pugcast — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 19:12:00 +0000

On today's show Tom brings along Paul Kingsnorth’s article, The Illusion of a Pagan West, for the Pugs to engage. Topics delved into range from why we still talk about Roman Civilization to the theatrics of subversive woke culture. Most interesting is Kingsnorth’s claim that we are not returning to paganism but are locked into to a shallow culture which subverts Christianity all the while being indebted to its ethical legacy, ending with nothing really worth living or dying for.

Article: https://unherd.com/2024/09/the-illusion-of-a-pagan-west/

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

Ideological History

The Pugcast — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 09:54:00 +0000

In this episode, Glenn the History Pug gets into revisionist histories on the left and the right that both argue that history has been distorted to favor elites, and that they have the real story about what happened. Oddly, they both identify people like Churchill as villains, though for different reasons, and functionally try to at least soften our view of the people traditionally seen as the bad guys. This opens up discussions with Chris and Tom on a whole set of related issues.

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

Take Your Pick--Agency or Autonomy?

The Pugcast — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 07:34:00 +0000

Today the Pugs revisit Matthew B. Crawford's book, Shop Class as Soulcraft. Among the many fascinating things discussed in it is the essential difference between autonomy and agency. Ironically, we live in a world of manufactured illusions of autonomy. We're led to make choices between options presented to us by parties that profit no matter what choice is made. On the other hand, there are people who possess true agency. Those are the people who get things done, and consequently are people we respect. And yet most people chose the illusion of autonomy over agency. Why is that? Join the Pugs as they discuss why.

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

Whatever Became of Methodism?

The Pugcast — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 07:31:00 +0000

Today the Pugs are shorthanded because Tom is in great demand. Never fear, Glenn and Chris are joined by Tim Adams, erstwhile conservative Methodist Minister. I know what you’re thinking, isn’t that an oxymoron? Sadly it seems so, but Methodism has a remarkable history and once was the fastest growing Protestant denomination in the United States. So, what happened? That’s what the show is about today. Join us for the cautionary tale of Methodism.

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

The Delusion of Having a Meaningful Job

The Pugcast — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 08:16:00 +0000

Can we really have a ‘meaningful job’? Is such a notion delusional? Tom initiates discussion with the other Pugs around the topic of whether the very notion of a ‘meaningful job’ in the contemporary understanding is delusional. Introducing the topic by way of Stuart Whately’s recent article in Unherd, the Pugs unpack rich threads of conversation sparked by the article as it engages the contrast between the excessively practical-oriented lives of those pursing individual satisfaction within their career ambitions and those who pursue something altogether ‘useless’ by today’s standards.

Article: https://unherd.com/2024/05/the-delusion-of-having-a-meaningful-job/?=newsroomindexfrmemail

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

The Artistic and Intellectual Temperaments

The Pugcast — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 07:10:00 +0000

In this episode, the Pugs use an article from The Imaginative Conservative called “The Artistic and Intellectual Temperaments” by Michael De Sapio as a jumping off point to discuss art, intellectual life, and the connections and disconnections between the two. The guys discuss medieval and Renaissance art, modern art, Romanticism, poetry, intellectual life and academia, and roller skating down the Gugenheim.

Article: https://theimaginativeconservative.org/2024/07/artistic-intellectual-temperaments-michael-de-sapio.html

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

The Grizzly Truth about the West

The Pugcast — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 08:12:00 +0000

Today the Pugs discuss a fascinating article by Jacob Howland that was published in the always interesting online journal, "Unherd." The article reflects on the sad story of Timothy Treadwell documented by film maker Werner Herzog in his 2005 documentary, Grizzly Man. But that's just the occasion for reflecting on the even sadder story of the crisis of the west--a crisis with an ending prophesied in Euripides ancient tragedy, Bacchae. Tune in and learn why things might get even weirder in the days ahead, and why we can know what's coming.

Article: https://unherd.com/2024/07/the-grizzly-truth-about-the-west/

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

Who Counts as a Theologian? Reflections on Lewis with Dr. Jahdiel Perez

The Pugcast — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 07:06:00 +0000

Who counts as a theologian? Who gets to address the deep things of God and creation? Tom is at the helm this week and he is joined by a special guest, Dr. Jahdiel Perez of Villanova University. Dr. Perez is a C. S. Lewis scholar, writing the first doctoral dissertation in ‘theology’ at the University of Oxford on C. S. Lewis. Wrapping up our Lewis theme, Tom and Jahdiel discusses many of the rich ‘theological’ insights of C. S. Lewis, from questions of evil and suffering in light of God’s goodness to questions of Christian enjoyment of created goods in contrast to Nietzsche’s criticism of Christian faith as wholly joy denying. The highlight of the conversation centers around C. S. Lewis as a theologian, not merely as apologist or academic.

Special appearance by Glenn Sunshine, whose personal computer may have been hacked by the ghost of Rousseau during the show.

Dr. Perez’s latest Open Access article on Lewis: https://doi.org/10.1111/heyj.14306

Dr. Perez’s Faculty Page: https://www1.villanova.edu/university/liberal-arts-sciences/programs/humanities/faculty/biodetail.html?mail=jahdiel.perez@villanova.edu&xsl=bio_long

Dr. Perez on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jahdielnperez?igsh=MXJ3bjJwMGQ1MW5xZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

Thank God for Bitcoin?

The Pugcast — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 07:45:00 +0000

Thank God for Bitcoin?

On today's show Glenn and Chris interview Jordan Bush--the man behind the "Thank God for Bitcoin Conference." If this sounds a bit odd to you, here's something else to consider--Glenn and Chris both spoke at this year's conference in Nashville. So, what is this Bitcoin thing, and why should Christians be grateful for it? Tune in and hear why and judge for yourself whether or not you should be grateful for Bitcoin!

Order Thank God for Bitcoin: The Creation, Corruption, and Redemption of Money: https://a.co/d/6lO35ZP

Learn more about Thank God For Bitcoin Media: https://tgfb.com/

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

Oxford Wrap Up

The Pugcast — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 08:12:00 +0000

On today's show the Pugs look back on their trip to Oxford and talk about some of the things they learned and enjoyed from the trip. Glenn leads off with three things he got a deeper appreciation for about C. S. Lewis, each of which brings in further discussion, ideas, and tangents from Chris and Tom. Throughout the conversation, all of the Pugs share experiences, ideas, and appreciation for Oxford and their time there.

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

Oxford and Architecture

The Pugcast — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 07:53:00 +0000

After a week at Oxford, surrounded by some of the best buildings to be found anywhere in the world when it comes to higher education, the Pugs discuss architecture on today's brief episode. "Why does beauty matter?" and “Why are all the science buildings ugly?” are among a host of questions addressed. Tune in as the guys long for a world that builds things the way they used to.

Today’s episode is sponsored in part by David Stocker and SHM Architects: https://www.shmarchitects.com/

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

C. S. Lewis, Oxford Don: An Interview with Dr. Simon Horobin

The Pugcast — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 08:37:00 +0000

The Pugs continue their adventure in Oxford with an interview with Dr. Simon Horobin, the man behind the recently released book C. S. Lewis's Oxford. Dr. Horobin is an authority in medieval literature and teaches at Magdalen College. The Pugs joined Dr. Horobin in his room at Magdalen, not for from the rooms where Lewis taught and met with the Inklings. The conversation was rich and covers a lot of ground. Enjoy!

Order C. S. Lewis's Oxford: https://a.co/d/05QZ0wdj

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

Post-Mortem for Christian Colleges? An Interview with Dr. Phil LaFountain

The Pugcast — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 07:38:00 +0000

Another Christian college has closed its doors. This time, one of Chris's alma maters, Eastern Nazarene College, aka, ENC. ENC was a small Christian college on the south shore of Massachusetts, not far from Boston. The usual things were cited by the Trustees of the college as reasons for its demise--declining enrollment, financial challenges, etc. What the announcement didn't mention was the growth of liberalism, or in contemporary parlance, "wokeism" among the faculty and administration, and how that undermined the support of the school among its constituency. Today the Pugs are joined by Dr. Phil LaFountain, an old friend and classmate of Chris's. Phil was a professor of theology at ENC for 20 years, and at the end, one of the few conservatives still there. Listen in as the guys discuss what happened at ENC, and what might be happening at a Christian college you might be connected to.

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

Science and Beauty: A Conversation with Ken Boa

The Pugcast — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 07:21:00 +0000

The Pugsters welcome back Dr. Ken Boa to talk about the importance of beauty for the Christian. Ken talks about seeing the beauty of the natural world and how we can use it as a force multiplier for our faith. This connects into a discussion of science and how it reveals the beauty in the world. The guys also talk with Ken about his upcoming events at the Museum of the Bible in Washington DC, and his Museum of Created Beauty app, both of which are designed to help Christians see and appreciate the wonders of creation and through that to enhance our worship.

Learn more about Reflections Ministries and Ken Boa at https://reflections.org

Find the Museum of Created Beauty app in your App Store or online at https://museumofcreatedbeauty.org/

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

C. S. Lewis, Writer and Philosopher: An Interview with Dr. Michael Ward

The Pugcast — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 07:36:00 +0000

The Pugs are still in Oxford, and today they're at the Kilns (Lewis's home) with their friend, Dr. Michael Ward, author of Planet Narnia and After Humanity: A Guide to C. S. Lewis's Abolition of Man. The conversation naturally cover's Dr. Ward's books. Join us for a conversation over tea at the Kilns as the Pugs speak with him about Narnia and the post-human dystopia Lewis predicted would follow a loss of objective value.

Connect with Dr. Ward and find his books at michaelward.net

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

C. S. Lewis Apologist: An Interview with Dr. Alister McGrath

The Pugcast — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 06:42:00 +0000

The Pugs are still enjoying themselves at Oxford, and today they are joined by the venerable Alister McGrath at the Lamb and Flag, a pub known to have been frequented by C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and the other Inklings. (The famed Eagle and Child pub is just across the street and hopefully soon to reopen follow a Covid shutdown and change in ownership.) The crew is also joined by a live audience of loyal Pugcast fans at the end of an entertaining pub crawl across the city! The conversation with Dr. McGrath is rich, ranging widely over both Lewis's work in apologetics and Dr. McGrath's.

Order Christian Apologetics: An Introduction by Dr. McGrath: https://a.co/d/05lejP2B

Order C. S. Lewis -- A Life: Eccentric Genius, Reluctant Prophet by Dr. McGrath: https://a.co/d/0g8DyDzG

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

At the Bodleian Library

The Pugcast — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 07:18:00 +0000

While in Oxford, the guys had the opportunity to visit the Duke Humfrey's Room at the Bodleian Library. This houses part of the library’s collection of rare books as well as some more recent sets. The conversation ranges over volumes in the collection that caught the attention of one or the other of the Pugsters, the architecture and decorations of the room, and the importance of the atmosphere and the sense of place in rooms like this for scholarly work. This is an episode you’ll want to see!

Learn more about Duke Humfrey’s Library: https://www.oxfordvisit.com/university-and-colleges/old-library-duke-humfreys/

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

Ben Merkle, Tom Price, and what they Learned about Learning at Oxford

The Pugcast — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 07:21:00 +0000

Today begins the first of the shows recorded in Oxford! Today Tom and Chris are joined by Dr. Ben Merkle, President of New Saint Andrews College. Ben was visiting Oxford at the same time as the Pugs, and this afforded an opportunity to discuss with Tom and Chris what Ben learned at Oxford about post-secondary education and how those lessons are being applied at New Saint Andrews College half a world away.

A Look at the Sacraments

The Pugcast — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 06:02:00 +0000

On today's show the Pugsters consider the definitions of sacraments vs. ordinances before taking a closer look at baptism and the Lord’s Supper. They spend some time on the less discussed images of baptism in the New Testament (the Flood and the Exodus) and the use of the Greek word baptizo in the Septuagint. They then talk about the Lord’s Supper, noting the use of the phrase “body of Christ” in 1 Corinthians and both the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the Supper.

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

If We're Not Saved by Our Works Why Work at All? A Conversation with Steve Jeffery

The Pugcast — Mon, 27 May 2024 07:15:00 +0000

Today the Pugs interview Dr. Steve Jeffery, one of the minds behind The Works Based Conference being held in the Dallas/Fort Worth area June 28-29. The guys not only discuss the nature of the conference, the conversation addresses a theology of work, and even how our works will have a more enduring character than we generally appreciate. Included in the discussion is nature of our vocations in this creation, and the one to come. Enjoy!

Learn more about the Works/Based Conference June 28/29 in Dallas/Fortworth: https://www.worksbased.com/

Buy Tickets: https://www.worksbased.com/tickets

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

Academic Herd-Minds and Twitter Mobs

The Pugcast — Mon, 20 May 2024 08:42:00 +0000

Today the Pugs react to an article in New Oxford Review entitled, "How Cowardice, the Herd Mind & Twitter Mobs Threaten Academia by Jason M. Morgan and Mark Ramseyer. If you're still under the impression that higher education is a disinterested pursuit of truth, think again. It has been reduced to political advocacy and ressentiment. (Yes, that's spelled correctly--https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ressentiment.) Morgan and Ramseyer had the temerity to correct conventional wisdom on something known as "the Comfort Women" of World War 2. There's no space here to treat this fully, but suffice it to say their scholarship was not received warmly by academic feminists. This resulted in a campaign to get them both cancelled. We're happy to report the cancelation failed. But the whole sorry episode has at least given the Pugs something to reflect upon.

Article Referenced: https://www.newoxfordreview.org/documents/how-cowardice-the-herd-mind-twitter-mobs-threaten-academia/

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

UK Public Events - A Pugcast Announcement!

The Pugcast — Fri, 17 May 2024 07:58:00 +0000

It’s only a few days till our Pugcast crew heads across the pond and we realized that our public events have been shared over email and social media, but not yet on the podcast. Glenn goes over the details in the update, but here they are again:

On May 23rd, in conjunction with New Saint Andrew College:

6:00pm - 7:00pm Live Pugcast

Oxford Presbyterian Church- 18 St Michael's St, Oxford OX1 2DU, United Kingdom

7:00- afterparty at the Plough Inn

On May 26th, rain or shine, the Theology Pugcast will host a Pub Crawl across Oxford, concluding with a live show recording at the Lamb & Flag featuring guest Dr. Alister McGrath.

Approximate Pug Crawl schedule:

4:00 Eastgate Hotel

4:45 King's Arms

5:30 White Horse

6:00 Brief moment of silence/selfies at Eagle & Child

6:15 Lamb and Flag for dinner and show

7:00 Live podcast with Alister McGrath

Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/dK2V8RkrfANEwBqM9

Let us know if you’ll make either event (if you haven’t already) via our contact form:

https://thetheologypugcast.com/contact/

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

Boredom, Nihilism, and Endless Entertainment

The Pugcast — Mon, 13 May 2024 08:18:00 +0000

On today's show Tom introduces the topic of boredom and its relation to a world that finds no meaning apart from the endless choices we draw from to gratify and distract ourselves. Glenn and Chris help unpack this timely topic, with its spiritual and historical roots and its impact upon the contemporary church.

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

The Pugs Answer Your Questions!

The Pugcast — Mon, 06 May 2024 07:18:00 +0000

Today the Pugs answer questions prosed by supporters of the show on Patreon. Listen in to learn (among other things), where the guys first met and became friends, what they think about Annihilationism, why it really might come down to choosing between Aristotle and Nietzsche, why getting dressed up for church is a good thing--even though your salvation can't be boiled down to that, and a whole lot more!

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

The 4B Movement, Misandry, and Anti-Natalism

The Pugcast — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 08:16:00 +0000

In this episode, the guys talk about the 4B movement that originated in Korea and is getting some buzz in America. The 4Bs (in Korean) are no dating, no sex, no marriage, and no children. It’s partly responsible for the collapsing birthrate in Korea. The guys discuss the roots and implications of the movement with a tangent into ecology and forest management, though how they got there is anybody’s guess.

Article link: https://www.thefp.com/p/south-korea-america-having-kids

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The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

Men & Social Status, Women & College Debt, Hypergamy, and More!

The Pugcast — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 07:07:00 +0000

Today Chris takes the Pugs into the dark recesses of social status and asks questions few are willing to ask. For example: Why do so many women who apply to rent Chris's apartments have so much student loan debt, and such low credit scores? Why do young men in the trades with no debt and good income still lose out to flashy guys with tons of debt who flash shiny objects? And, can contemporary culture change its ways of measuring worth to reflect reality and not the image-generated fantasies of people on the make in higher education, corporate America, and left-wing ideologues? Tune in for these questions and many more!

Leon Podles on the Aaron Renn Show Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leon-podles-the-deep-roots-of-mens-alienation-from-church/id1530654244?i=1000651785160

Leon Podles Interview Transcript on Aaron’s Substack: https://www.aaronrenn.com/p/leon-podles-the-deep-roots-of-mens?utm_source=profile&utm_medium=reader2

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The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

Creation, Theophany, and Transcendence

The Pugcast — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 08:26:00 +0000

Today’s show builds on the conversation about imagination and C. S. Lewis last week. Tom and the guys continue the interaction with Lewis’ rich sacramental vision and its implications for how our human created natures are enriched and helped to come into their own principally by the vertical, our relation to God, but secondarily by the good gift of others that God has supplied for us to transcend and yet become ourselves in the rich fabric of created reality. Listen in!

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The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

Imagination and Meaning

The Pugcast — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 07:56:00 +0000

C.S. Lewis said, “Reason is the natural organ of understanding, but imagination is the organ of meaning.” "Working off Holly Ordway's book "Apologetics and the Christian Imagination," the guys discuss what imagination is, how it connects to meaning, and how it is foundational to reason. They also discuss the role of imagination in Lewis’s conversion, the “good dreams” of paganism, and how these things can help lead people to Christ.

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The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

Bonus Q&A: Anthony of the Desert and Defeating the Demons of Our Time

The Pugcast — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 08:38:00 +0000

Listen in for a short Q&A session following our previous episode.

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The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

Anthony of the Desert and Defeating the Demons of Our Time

The Pugcast — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 08:33:00 +0000

It's Chris's show today and he returns to a theme he's addressed a number of times--how can we resist the inhuman forces of the new totalitarianism? We're up against a Borg-like globalist cabal that uses artificial intelligence, surveillance technology, and psyops to manipulate us. Surprisingly, Chris suggests Saint Anthony of the Desert as a guide. Chris maintains there are a number of things he can teach us about resistance--in particular, getting the hook out, and discerning spirits. Chris and Glenn are joined by Larson Hicks and the show was recorded in front of a live audience in Huntsville, AL. Tune in and join the fun!

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The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

Immodesty and the Image of God

The Pugcast — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 07:43:00 +0000

As new forms of immodesty become fashionable and impact our everyday wolds in innumerable ways, dimensions of what is broken in us often remain what is 'hidden' or ignored. Tom and the guys engage this topic, especially from the insight that as image bearers we are imitative by nature, and when this is broken in us, we imitate badly, and also want to be imitated in our broken image.

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The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

How Civilizations Collapse

The Pugcast — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 08:23:00 +0000

In this episode, Glenn talks about four causes of civilizational collapse: mass migration combined with corrupt and ineffectual government; sexual license; loss of belief in society and its values, and massive deficit spending. The guys talk about each of these, and, given that they are all are in place in America right now, discuss how we should be responding in our families and churches.

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The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

The ‘C. S. Lewis Option’ for Renewing Christendom

The Pugcast — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 07:21:00 +0000

Today we are joined by Annie Crawford, a cultural apologist, a classical educationalist, and home-school mom. Today we discuss the incredible C. S. Lewis, a Pugcast favorite, and the wealth of his contribution to preserving ancient wisdom as it was received and refashioned in accordance with the Christian faith, especially its sacramental vision of reality in Christ. We cover a wide range of topics, including home-school education, classical Christian education, and how Lewis has been and should continue to be a key resource for directing us towards those rich resources in our Christian heritage which help us navigate our way during these confused and disoriented times.

Find more from Annie: http://anniecrawford.net/writing/

Join Annie at the Houston Christian University Apologetics Day: https://hc.edu/school-of-christian-thought/events-in-the-college/hcu-apologetics-day/#:~:text=Saturday%2C%20March%2023%2C%202024%20at%20Houston%20Chinese%20Church

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The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

Begging the Question of Christ and Culture

The Pugcast — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 09:18:00 +0000

Richard Niebuhr's classic, Christ and Culture has shaped the way we understand the relationship of the church and culture by assuming that what we mean by "Christ" when we discuss Christ and culture is Christian ethics. But is that the right place to start? Shouldn't ontology be the starting place since all things were created by Christ and for him? (Col. 1:15-17) If we take this as our starting point, what becomes of Niebuhr's famous archetypes of Christ and Culture? Join the Pugs today as they ruminate on the theme!

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The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

The Diseased Defects and Effects of Popular Culture

The Pugcast — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 09:38:00 +0000

Culture, especially its charged symbolism. After unpacking insights from church fathers like Tertullian and Augustine, in their Christian critiques of Public Spectacle Events, the gang enters into important discussion about the impact, function, and role of current Celebrity, Popular Culture, and Spectacles like the Super Bowl, and ponder Christian ways of reading, relating to, going to war with the spiritual character in which these are cloaked.

Article about ‘Adult AI’ mentioned by CR: https://www.digitalliturgies.net/p/christians-are-not-ready-for-the

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The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

Antisemitism in the Church

The Pugcast — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 09:04:00 +0000

Today’s episode was prompted by responses to an admittedly provocative post Glenn put up on Facebook that generated some virulently antisemitic remarks from Christians. The guys explore the problem of antisemitism, the common ground between the far right and the progressive left, group identity, and a range of related topics.

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The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

Political Theology with Timon Cline!

The Pugcast — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 09:24:00 +0000

Today the Pugs are joined by the Executive Editor of American Reformer, Timon Cline. Timon is a lawyer, and a writer, and a deep thinker about the political implications of the Christian faith. Political theology might be a new term for you, and if you had a public school education--and even a certain form of Christian education--the term might even seem sinister to you. But hopefully by the time the conversation is done you'll see that Christianity is public truth and that necessarily means it has political applications.

Follow American Reformer: https://americanreformer.org/

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The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

The Lies of Our Anti-Christian Age: An Interview with Rosaria Butterfield

The Pugcast — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 09:45:00 +0000

Today the Pugs are a little short-handed--Tom isn't feeling well. But we do have Rosaria Butterfield with us to discuss her new book, Five Lies of Our Anti-Christian Age. It was a wonderful and free-ranging discussion that touched on many things, among them the subject of what time it is. And while it was a sober assessment on the sorry state of Big Eva and the heretical trends in that world, it was hopeful because of the invincible Christ of the Gospel. Tune in and enjoy the show!

Order Rosaria’s book, Five Lies of Our Anti-Christian Age: https://rosariabutterfield.com/five-lies

Check out Rosaria’s recent Convocation talk at Liberty University: https://www.youtube.com/live/iEtQ-z9o9_I?si=coYfh8GAAB6sFHYS&t=2021

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The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

Everything You Know about Plato is Wrong! (An Interview with David Talcott)

The Pugcast — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 08:02:00 +0000

Today the Pugcast welcomes Dr. David Talcott, professor of philosophy at New Saint Andrews College and all around good guy to the show. David has a new book on Plato published by Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing. Today on the show we ask David to clear up a number of falsehoods people believe about Plato. It was an enjoyable conversation and we welcome you to listen in!

Order Dr. Talcott’s Book: https://www.prpbooks.com/book/plato

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The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

Forbidden Knowledge!

The Pugcast — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 08:22:00 +0000

Today Chris shares some fascinating passages from a book entitled: Intellectual Appetite--A Theological Grammar by Paul J. Griffiths. In the book Griffiths contrasts two forms of intellectual appetite: "curiositas" and "studiositas" and why one form of knowledge enriches the soul while the other degrades it. Join us as we discuss forbidden knowledge!

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The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

The Golden Age of Islam?

The Pugcast — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 07:32:00 +0000

In this episode, Glenn gives a quick history of Islam’s Golden Age in Spain and its role in spreading Greek thought into Europe. The guys talk about the impact of Aristotelian texts coming out of Spain, the roots of nominalism and voluntarism in Islamic thought, and the end of the Hellenistic Islam of the Golden Age due to a resurgence of conservative Islam.

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The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC, visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

The Betrayal of the Evangelical Elites

The Pugcast — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 09:40:00 +0000

Have you ever wondered why evangelical elites when they get a platform in The New York Times, or The Atlantic Monthly never have anything good to say about their fellow evangelicals? We have too. Turns out Andrew T. Walker, Opinions Page Editor at World Magazine is wondering why too. So, he wrote about it in National Review. Andrew is one of the editors that Chris works with regularly, and Andrew has asked him to write about it as well. So these two things led the Pugs to think aloud about it. Join them as they do.

Some audio issues on this episode. Still worth a listen!

National Review Article: https://www.nationalreview.com/2023/12/can-evangelical-journalists-say-anything-good-about-evangelicals/

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The Theology Pugcast is a ministry of Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville Alabama. To view more media from TRC visit their website: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/trc-media/

Contrasting Visions of Glory and Suffering: Augustinian Reflections

The Pugcast — Mon, 01 Jan 2024 09:39:00 +0000

Today’s show looks at the topic of ‘glory’ and suffering in light of the Incarnation of Christ. Tom introduces the topic and draws upon Augustine’s early chapters of the City of God, where Augustine engages the topic of suffering and glory as he contrasts the Christian vision with Pagan (especially Roman) notions. Glenn and Chris help unpack this important topic as the gang draws out a wealth of wisdom and insight form Augustine from his encounters with various challenges to the Christian vision.

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Order The Making of Evangelical Spirituality by Jason Cherry: https://a.co/d/2SyDFwb

Christmas Paradoxes

The Pugcast — Mon, 25 Dec 2023 08:22:00 +0000

In this episode, the Pugsters talk about the Christmas sermons preached by St. Augustine, focusing particularly on his descriptions of all of the paradoxes of the Incarnation. Christ’s Incarnation combines the infinite and the finite, the transcendent and the immanent, and so provides lots of fodder for discussion and especially for wonder. Merry Christmas!

Sermon’s referenced by Glenn: https://wesleyscholar.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Augustine-Sermons-184-229.pdf

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Order The Making of Evangelical Spirituality by Jason Cherry: https://a.co/d/2SyDFwb

That Hideous Strength, the Most Accurate Dystopia of Them All?

The Pugcast — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 09:20:00 +0000

The 20th century might go down as the most horrific century of them all with hundreds of millions killed by their own governments. But there were authors who predicted that things would get even worse. There was George Orwell, of course, and 1984, and Aldous Huxley, and Brave New World, and even Ray Bradbury, and Fahrenheit 451. But each of those visions has a blind spot. But the most prescient may well be C. S. Lewis's, That Hideous Strength. There was so much Lewis had right, and best of all, it has a happy ending. And Lewis saw deeply, more deeply than even Bradbury. Ironically, this is because Lewis discerned demonic activity behind the superficial materialism--and post-humanism--that was sweeping the world. But is it truly dystopian literature then? Chris believes so, and he makes the case on today's show.

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Order The Making of Evangelical Spirituality by Jason Cherry: https://a.co/d/2SyDFwb

Christmas Realism: Fully Supernatural, Partially Apocalyptic, Not Utopian

The Pugcast — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 08:28:00 +0000

On today's show Tom introduces a timely topic about the birth of Christ and some of its historical consequences. Chris and Glenn jump in with a host of insights and reflections. What exactly did the angelic announcement of 'peace on earth and goodwill towards men' mean now that the Prince of Peace has arrived? What does it mean for us? Also, how are we encouraged by the biblical imagery to revamp our reality vision and recognize that the Peace of Christ and His triumph over evil does not imply pacifism or utopia but spiritual warfare and battle until all things are brought into subjection to Him who is truly Peace itself?

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Order The Making of Evangelical Spirituality by Jason Cherry: https://a.co/d/2SyDFwb

Biblical Cryptids

The Pugcast — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 08:13:00 +0000

Kemper Crabb joins the Pugsters once again for a conversation about mysterious creatures mentioned in the Bible, including particularly satyrs (Hebrew sa’iyr) and dragons (Hebrew taninim or leviathan), with cameos by behemoth and Lilith. The conversation then turns to how Christians can recover a supernatural worldview and the necessity to do so, given that much of the culture is already moving in that direction.

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Order The Making of Evangelical Spirituality by Jason Cherry: https://a.co/d/2SyDFwb

Techno-Realism and Bioengineered Babies

The Pugcast — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 09:16:00 +0000

Today Chris reflects on an OpEd he wrote for World Magazine responding to an article in the Wall Street Journal: "What if Men Could Make Their Own Egg Cells?" While the title seemed entirely speculative the article revealed that some scientists are actually making "progress" when it comes to this. Why is it that so many people--including some Christians--can't see the down side to technological developments? And if there are down sides, how can Christians help their neighbors see them? Are we heading to a future in which Christians who actually believe in intelligent design become the new Amish?

Read C.R.’s article: https://wng.org/opinions/begotten-not-made-1699295019

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Order The Making of Evangelical Spirituality by Jason Cherry: https://a.co/d/2SyDFwb

Away with Humanity! The Rising Embrace of Anti-Humanism

The Pugcast — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 09:19:00 +0000

On today's show Tom introduces the topic through a few articles written in response to Adam Kirsch's new book: The Revolt Against Humanity, where Kirsch unpacks and positively promotes the case for welcoming 'the end of humanity's reign'. Two writers from a symposium respond to this disturbing trend: Noel Gertz and Gilbert Meilaender. The guys interact with the content and engage the trend from a variety of their own insights. At the core: reject the true God, the bearer of the 'image of God' becomes a problem too.

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Order The Making of Evangelical Spirituality by Jason Cherry: https://a.co/d/2SyDFwb

Where Did Evangelicalism Go Wrong? Part 2—An Interview with Garrett Craw

The Pugcast — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 08:32:00 +0000

Two themes swept through evangelicalism in the 1980s and 90s--they were "Church Growth" and "Contextualization." Both were the promoted by Fuller Theological Seminary. The Church Growth faculty at Fuller drew on social science, and research on what was successful in foreign mission fields. What they failed to incorporate into their theories is the intellectual tradition of the post Christian west. Church growth turned against ecclesiology in favor of marketing, confusing that with evangelism. But there have been successful church planters who have not betrayed sound theology in the name of reaching people. One of them is Garrett Craw.

Unfortunately, we had a technical issue with the audio this time around, so forgive the poor quality there. Still worth a listen!

Learn more about King’s Cross in Buda, TX: https://www.kingscrossatx.org/

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Order The Making of Evangelical Spirituality by Jason Cherry: https://a.co/d/2SyDFwb

Where Did Evangelicalism Go Wrong? Part 1—An Interview with Michael Clary

The Pugcast — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 09:54:00 +0000

Do you have the feeling that something has gone terribly wrong with evangelicalism? Today the Pugs talk with Michael Clary author of, God’s Good Design. The topic is the drift into approval of sexual sin by a growing number of Pastors and Christians throughout the western world. What happened, and what can be done? Michael and the pugs discuss the prospects for evangelicalism.

Order God’s Good Design: https://a.co/d/ildHolk

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https://calendly.com/familybankingnow/30min

Check out the Got a Minute? Podcast with Rich Lusk and Larson Hicks: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fswVZmNEfSXA1JLZzgPhj

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Israel, Hamas, and the Laws of War

The Pugcast — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 08:38:00 +0000

Working off a Breakpoint article written by Glenn, the guys discuss the situation in Israel and Gaza. Glenn begins with a brief overview of Zionism and the history of modern Israel before the discussion moves to the conduct of war, terrorism, and the worldview ideas that connect the woke left and Hamas.

Read Glenn’s Article:https://breakpoint.org/barbaric-norms-hamas-israel-and-just-war/

Conversation with Rev David Paleggi, rector of Christ Church, Jerusalem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaVp7IJxtYc

Contact Private Family Banking at banking@privatefamilybanking.com

For a free e-book entitled "How to Build Multi-Generational Wealth Outside of Wall Street and Avoid the Coming Banking Meltdown" go to https://protectyourmoneynow.net/

To set up a FREE 30-Minute Consultation, use the link below:

https://calendly.com/familybankingnow/30min

Check out the Got a Minute? Podcast with Rich Lusk and Larson Hicks: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fswVZmNEfSXA1JLZzgPhj

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Regime Change! Patrick Deneen on the Post-Liberal Future

The Pugcast — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 08:15:00 +0000

Increasingly many people think the world we live in is unsustainable. When that is said in some circles climate change comes to mind. But at a social level, with the continued erosion of social life, healthy families, and a loss of local control at a community level, social conservatives say the same thing. What's happening? Today the Pugcast is joined by political philosopher, Patrick Deneen, author of, Why Liberalism Failed, and his most recent book, Regime Change. Tune in an find out what a post-liberal future might look like.

Find Patricks’ work at https://www.postliberalorder.com/

Contact Private Family Banking at banking@privatefamilybanking.com

For a free e-book entitled "How to Build Multi-Generational Wealth Outside of Wall Street and Avoid the Coming Banking Meltdown" go to https://protectyourmoneynow.net/

To set up a FREE 30-Minute Consultation, use the link below:

https://calendly.com/familybankingnow/30min

Check out the Got a Minute? Podcast with Rich Lusk and Larson Hicks: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fswVZmNEfSXA1JLZzgPhj

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Joel Salatin and Rogue Food are coming to WPC in Vancouver, Washington!

The Pugcast — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 09:25:00 +0000

Here’s a little sample of what’s in store for the Rogue Food Conference at WPC, November 3-4.

Grab your tickets to Joel Goes Rogue: the Bible and Food Freedom on November 3rd:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/joel-salatin-goes-rogue-tickets-716483149387?aff=oddtdtcreator

Grab your tickets to The Rogue Food Conference on November 4th:

The Rogue Food Conference is a separate one-day event (not sponsored by Westminster Presbyterian Church). https://roguefoodconference.com/

Check out these books by Joel and John:

Folks, This Ain't Normal: A Farmer's Advice for Happier Hens, Healthier People, and a Better World

https://a.co/d/6iPSbdD

The Marvelous Pigness of Pigs: Respecting and Caring for All God's Creation

https://a.co/d/fQuYSHt

The Frugal Homesteader: Living the Good Life on Less

https://a.co/d/0kgfAqF

The Elderberry Book: Forage, Cultivate, Prepare, Preserve

https://a.co/d/00QUMQ5

The New Technology of Entertainment--Opportunities for Christian Film Makers and Writers: An Interview with Jason Farley of Loor TV

The Pugcast — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 08:28:00 +0000

We live in interesting times. One of the more interesting features of it has to do with arts and entertainment and how new technologies are upsetting the applecart of established media. With streaming services little guys can now compete with the big guys. Today the Pugs interview Jason Farley of Loor TV about these opportunities and how Christians who happen to be film-makers and writers are taking advantage of them at Loor TV.

Check out Loor TV at https://www.loor.tv/

Contact Private Family Banking at banking@privatefamilybanking.com

For a free e-book entitled "How to Build Multi-Generational Wealth Outside of Wall Street and Avoid the Coming Banking Meltdown" go to https://protectyourmoneynow.net/

To set up a FREE 30-Minute Consultation, use the link below:

https://calendly.com/familybankingnow/30min

Check out the Got a Minute? Podcast with Rich Lusk and Larson Hicks: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fswVZmNEfSXA1JLZzgPhj

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Your Pugs on Everything from Eschatology to the Nature of Rationality

The Pugcast — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 08:22:00 +0000

Have you ever wanted to ask the Pugcast a question? Today Glenn, Tom, and Chris respond to questions from supporters of the Pugcast on Patreon. The conversation covers a great span of matters--tune in and find out if they discuss something you've wondered about! And if you'd like them to answer one of your questions you can join their Patreon and ask!

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Contact Private Family Banking at banking@privatefamilybanking.com

For a free e-book entitled "How to Build Multi-Generational Wealth Outside of Wall Street and Avoid the Coming Banking Meltdown" go to https://protectyourmoneynow.net/

To set up a FREE 30-Minute Consultation, use the link below:

https://calendly.com/familybankingnow/30min

Check out the Got a Minute? Podcast with Rich Lusk and Larson Hicks: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fswVZmNEfSXA1JLZzgPhj

The Cluster B Society

The Pugcast — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 07:51:00 +0000

Cluster B is a recognized set of psychological disorders. In this episode, the Pugsters discuss an article by Christopher Rufo that argues that our culture, government, and educational system has promoted these as virtues, with the result that society is being driven by Cluster B personalities. Along with looking at the problem, the guys discuss ideas about what to do about it.

Twitter Video Referenced: https://twitter.com/realchrisrufo/status/1704521862888444022?fbclid=IwAR1rRSSAZW_CO5K2kVGk8aJanmmkxeQ1rfjEvGfBnjAStJosX6b2iAlbeS0

Contact Private Family Banking at banking@privatefamilybanking.com

For a free e-book entitled "How to Build Multi-Generational Wealth Outside of Wall Street and Avoid the Coming Banking Meltdown" go to https://protectyourmoneynow.net/

To set up a FREE 30-Minute Consultation, use the link below:

https://calendly.com/familybankingnow/30min

Check out the Got a Minute? Podcast with Rich Lusk and Larson Hicks: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fswVZmNEfSXA1JLZzgPhj

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Christian Stockholm Syndrome? A Conversation with Dr. John West

The Pugcast — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 08:29:00 +0000

Today the Pugcast is live at Evangelical Reformed Church in Tacoma, Washington and Chris and Glenn are joined by Dr. John West of the Discovery Institute. Together they discuss the strange and disconcerting tendency of evangelical intellectuals to prefer the company and approval of secular elites to fellow Christians. Tune in and learn about Christian Stockholm Syndrome!

Connect with the Discovery Institute: https://www.discovery.org/

Contact Private Family Banking at banking@privatefamilybanking.com

For a free e-book entitled "How to Build Multi-Generational Wealth Outside of Wall Street and Avoid the Coming Banking Meltdown" go to https://protectyourmoneynow.net/

To set up a FREE 30-Minute Consultation, use the link below:

https://calendly.com/familybankingnow/30min

Check out the Got a Minute? Podcast with Rich Lusk and Larson Hicks: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fswVZmNEfSXA1JLZzgPhj

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

The Apostle Paul’s School For Tentmaking: Conference Teaser with Dylan Stinson

The Pugcast — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 11:32:00 +0000

https://trinityreformedkirk.com/tentmaking/

The Apostle Paul was not only the best-educated apostle, and one of the most influential intellectuals in the history of the world, he was a tradesman. He made tents for a living. It was the perfect trade for a man on the road.

In 1 Corinthians 9 he made the case for making a living from the gospel, yet he didn’t take advantage of his right to do so. He even said, “But I have made no use of (my) rights, nor am I writing these things to you to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting.” (1 Cor. 9:15) Could you say that? Would you like to be able to?

Because Paul was able to support himself financially he enjoyed the sort of freedom that many pastors today can only dream of. But not all pastors. There are a few who even today enjoy the sort of freedom Paul boasted of. And they’ve done it while seeing their ministries actually prosper because of it. Would you like to learn how? Join us, October 17th in Huntsville, Alabama to hear more.

Order and Liberty--Will They Ever Be Seen Together Again?

The Pugcast — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 08:17:00 +0000

Today the Pugs reflect on a short essay by Patrick Deneen published in the Post-Liberal Substack, entitled, In Defense of Order. In the essay Deneen reflects on a book, originally published in 1974 by Russell Kirk, The Roots of American Order. The call to order is hardly heard today over the cacophony of voices praising, and demanding liberty. Yet according to classical thinkers, liberty without order ultimately leads to tyranny. And more and more that seems to be the case in our time. Join the Pugs today as they ruminate on the nature of ordered liberty.

In Defense of Order - Part 1, by Patrick J. Deneen:

https://www.postliberalorder.com/p/in-defense-of-order-part-1?fbclid=IwAR182VsBMRYAgHaTk1PB5_G_FAsUuPo8GeDvoZjnQmdwVD1tc2jIKLQ2gGI

Contact Private Family Banking Partners (The Pugcast’s first sponsor!) at www.protectyourmoneynow.net and download a free copy of their latest e-book entitled "Protect Your Money Now! How to Build Multi-Generational Wealth Outside of Wall Street and Avoid the Coming Banking Meltdown" or email them directly at Banking@privatefamilybanking.com

To set up a free 30 Minute Consultation, click the link below to make an appointment for a day and time the works best for you:

https://calendly.com/familybankingnow/30min

https://trinityreformedkirk.com/tentmaking/

Check out the Got a Minute? Podcast with Rich Lusk and Larson Hicks: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fswVZmNEfSXA1JLZzgPhj

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

The Apostle Paul’s School For Tentmaking: Conference Teaser with Troy Albee

The Pugcast — Fri, 15 Sep 2023 14:16:00 +0000

https://trinityreformedkirk.com/tentmaking/

Is STEM Beautiful? An Interview with Mitch Stokes

The Pugcast — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 08:17:00 +0000

Since C. P. Snow's landmark book, The Two Cultures intellectuals have wondered whether or not it is possible to bridge the divide between the sciences (or STEM), and the humanities. Another way of putting it is, "What's the connection between facts and values?" Today on the Pugcast the guys welcome philosopher and engineer, Mitch Stokes of New Saint Andrews College. Mitch was recently awarded a grant to explore this very question. And Mitch's intriguing thesis is beauty is the bridge. Join us for a free-flowing conversation!

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Check out the Got a Minute? Podcast with Rich Lusk and Larson Hicks: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fswVZmNEfSXA1JLZzgPhj

Tolkien and Thomism: An Interview with Jonathan McIntosh

The Pugcast — Mon, 04 Sep 2023 08:36:00 +0000

Just how deep a dive is possible when it comes to Tolkien and metaphysics? About as deep as Thomas Acquinas goes, according the New Saint Andrews Fellow, Jonathan McIntosh. In this free ranging discussion the Pugs dive into the creation story of the Silmarillion, the nature of power and language, G. K. Chesterton, and dozens of other things. Tolkien nerds will now be able to nerd out in a whole new way!

Order The Flame Imperishable: Tolkien, St. Thomas, and the Metaphysics of Faerie: https://a.co/d/ivZ1YJO

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Check out The Good Life Podcast with Matt Carpenter: https://mattcarpenter.podbean.com/

Tolkien and Thomism: An Interview with Jonathan McIntosh

The Pugcast — Mon, 04 Sep 2023 08:36:00 +0000

Order The Flame Imperishable: Tolkien, St. Thomas, and the Metaphysics of Faerie: https://a.co/d/ivZ1YJO

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Check out The Good Life Podcast with Matt Carpenter: https://mattcarpenter.podbean.com/

Chestertonian Calvinism? with Douglas Wilson

The Pugcast — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 08:15:00 +0000

Are you a Calvinist who has a weakness for G. K. Chesterton? Join the club! What attracts readers to Chesterton is the combination of artful prose, joyous gratitude, and serious attention to perennial truths. Wouldn't it be great if more Calvinists were like him? Well, according to Douglas Wilson we once were and we can be again. Join us for a wide-ranging conversation with Doug on all things Chesterton and Reformed. And check out his informative book for yourself.

Order Chestertonian Calvinism: https://a.co/d/8uLWdy4

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Check out The Good Life Podcast with Matt Carpenter: https://mattcarpenter.podbean.com/

Identity Politics & Original Sin: An Interview with Dr. Joshua Mitchell

The Pugcast — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 08:39:00 +0000

Today the Pugs are joined by political philosopher, Dr. Joshua Mitchell of Georgetown University. Dr. Mitchell is the author of American Awakening: Identity Politics and Other Afflictions of Our Time. Unlike many thinkers who blame cultural marxism for the slide of the Left into identity politics, Dr. Mitchell believes the true source of the problem is a Christian heresy. The Left has turned doctrines like sin and atonement into a framework for a political program of purgation. Certain groups are scapegoated in the interest of cleaning the stain of social sins such as racism. The problem, of course, is this doesn't truly atone for anything. Our only hope for atonement is found in Christianity. Without a revival of genuine Christian faith the American experiment will end in failure.

Order American Awakening: Identity Politics and Other Afflictions of Our Time: https://a.co/d/fNuvOxd

Watch Dr. Mitchell's video essay for First Things: https://www.firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts/2023/01/identity-politics-guilt-and-the-scapegoat?fbclid=IwAR3mZsPqD3aaPMthXDx3TlCKggFy1uImr6gMexnNwg_mZcPp8h1itSyoGZ0

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Check out The Good Life Podcast with Matt Carpenter: https://mattcarpenter.podbean.com/

Is Our ‘Conscience’ Final in Matters of Truth and Goodness?

The Pugcast — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 09:43:00 +0000

Today’s show looks at the theological ramifications of deformed versions of Christian teaching about ‘liberty of conscience’. Tom introduces the topic with some recent examples of Liberty of conscience gone awry. Glenn and Chris move the conversation along with a wealth of insight and perspective.

The Shattered Image of the Thirteenth Century

The Pugcast — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 07:48:00 +0000

The Pugsters return to Glenn’s turf this week, discussing the introduction of an article by John Mark Reynolds which modifies Lewis’s idea of a “discarded image” in the loss of the medieval worldview, to a “shattered image,” in which elements of the medieval worldview survive, but in fragmented form. The conversation ranges from plague (another of Glenn’s favorite topics), to the nature of the Renaissance, to the development of science, to the idea of progress, and a host of other related topics.

Article: https://theimaginativeconservative.org/2023/05/shattered-image-thirteenth-century-john-mark-reynolds.html

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Order The Making of Evangelical Spirituality by Jason Cherry: https://a.co/d/2SyDFwb

The Over Administered Life

The Pugcast — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 08:48:00 +0000

Today the Pugs respond to an article by Matthew B. Crawford--the author of Shop Class as Soulcraft--entitled: What is Vitalism? After distinguishing what Crawford is talking about from the vitalism of earlier thinkers, the Pugs sympathetically reflect on his main argument--namely, that the over-management of life by the professional managerial class infantilizes people and makes them weak and incompetent. His solution is a return to the real world and manual and mental competence. Tune in and see if you agree!

Read the article on Matthew Crawford’s Substack: https://mcrawford.substack.com/p/what-is-vitalism?r=3mqy0&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post&fbclid=IwAR20QRIS_sScRMtVs-r9LfHcbEnA29RONe3obeHunV6pAOKgw3jMrQdexpg

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Order The Making of Evangelical Spirituality by Jason Cherry: https://a.co/d/2SyDFwb

Fashionable Euthanasia?

The Pugcast — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 09:32:00 +0000

An increasing trend has sprung up in the West, the Netherlands and Canada most recently, where assisted suicide and euthanasia have become fashionable options for people not merely suffering interminable diseases during the latter days of their lives but for young and old who are just tired of living for one reason or the other, whether its recurrent depression, an eating disorder, or a bad break-up. Tom introduces this disturbing trend, and the guys engage it from many angles, offering theological and ethical analysis on the one side, but also ministerial and sound counsel on the other.

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Order The Making of Evangelical Spirituality by Jason Cherry: https://a.co/d/2SyDFwb

Bonus Q&A: Atheists Advocating Christianity

The Pugcast — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 13:55:00 +0000

Listen in for a short Q&A session following our previous episode.

Article Referenced:https://europeanconservative.com/articles/commentary/believe-in-believers/

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Check out the Got a Minute? Podcast with Rich Lusk and Larson Hicks: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fswVZmNEfSXA1JLZzgPhj

Atheists Advocating Christianity

The Pugcast — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 08:52:00 +0000

The Pugsters were together live again this week, meeting at the Preservation Company in Huntsville, Alabama. The guys talked about an article called “Believe in Believers,” an appeal by a conservative English secularist to his fellow atheists and agnostics not to view the “Religious Right” as their enemies, but to see them as essential to the battle against the Woke. The Pugsters talked about the practical and theoretical parts of the article’s ideas.

Article Referenced:https://europeanconservative.com/articles/commentary/believe-in-believers/

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Check out the Got a Minute? Podcast with Rich Lusk and Larson Hicks: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fswVZmNEfSXA1JLZzgPhj

The Glory God Is and the Beauty We Make

The Pugcast — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 10:40:00 +0000

On today’s episode Tom and Glenn are joined by two guests, Architect David Stocker and Philosopher Doug Groothuis, while Chris is tending denominational business at the PCA General Assembly. The conversation surrounds aesthetics, beauty, and its connection to divine glory. David’s insights from the world of architecture are fascinating and richly practical in helping us get started bringing beauty into our homes and lives. Doug’s insights from philosophy likewise help us shape a larger vision of beauty as we embody divine glory.

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Check out the Got a Minute? Podcast with Rich Lusk and Larson Hicks: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fswVZmNEfSXA1JLZzgPhj

Bonus Q&A: Pursuing Beauty, Goodness, and Truth with George Grant

The Pugcast — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 09:28:00 +0000

Listen in for a short Q&A session following our previous episode. Also--learn what E. M. Bounds has to do with George and his preaching ministry!

Keep up with George at https://georgegrant.net/

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Pursuing Beauty, Goodness, and Truth with George Grant

The Pugcast — Thu, 06 Jul 2023 09:27:00 +0000

On today's show the gang is recording in Memphis again, and this time they're joined by George Grant. George has many writing projects, but one of his recent ones addresses the life and ministry of Thomas Chalmers. George Grant is a remarkable pastor and scholar, and if he's impressed with Thomas Chalmers, that's saying something. Listen in as George waxes grandio-eloquent about this important 19th century Scots churchman, encourages us to read deeply, and reminds us of the hope a joyful church gives to our broken world. Enjoy!

Keep up with George at https://georgegrant.net/

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Check out the Got a Minute? Podcast with Rich Lusk and Larson Hicks: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fswVZmNEfSXA1JLZzgPhj

An Introduction to The American Reformer: A Short Interview with Ben Dunson

The Pugcast — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 08:18:00 +0000

While at the PCA General Assembly in Memphis the Pugcast caught up with Dr. Ben Dunson, the editor of The American Reformer. This short interview is an introduction to a young, but increasingly influential journal that has been recently cited by the New York Times as playing a role in the conservative resurgence in the Southern Baptist Convention.

Follow The American Reformer: https://americanreformer.org/

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Fire in the Streets: Bonus Q&A

The Pugcast — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 13:14:00 +0000

Listen in for a short Q&A session following our previous episode, Fire in the Streets.

Order Dr. Groothuis’s book: https://a.co/d/bOpecl7

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Fire in the Streets

The Pugcast — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 08:22:00 +0000

The Pugsters recorded in Memphis this week, where Chris was attending the PCA General Assembly. In this show, the guys have another conversation with Doug Groothuis, Professor of Philosophy and Apologetics at Denver Seminary, about his latest book, Fire in the Streets. The book and the discussion focus on Critical Race Theory and Critical Theory more broadly. The guys talk about the various ideas that make up CRT and critique them from the perspective of a biblical worldview.

Order Dr. Groothuis’s book: https://a.co/d/bOpecl7

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Check out The Good Life Podcast with Matt Carpenter: https://mattcarpenter.podbean.com/

Jonathan Edwards on Preaching, Praying, and Publishing

The Pugcast — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 08:00:00 +0000

The Pugs are down one member today--Glenn couldn't make it. But don't panic, they are joined by another historian, Christian Cuthbert, authority on Jonathan Edwards and all around good guy. Jonathan shares the content of a paper he is presenting at the Jonathan Edwards conference in Belgium in July of 2023. Chris and Tom have fun interacting with Christian as the show is recorded in person at the beautiful Blake Center for Faith and Freedom of Hillsdale College, located in Somers, CT. It's a short show this week, but a rich one. Enjoy!

The Wartime Sermons of Jonathan Edwards: https://wipfandstock.com/9781725287877/the-wartime-sermons-of-jonathan-edwards/

Learn about the Blake Center: https://blakecenter.hillsdale.edu/

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Check out The Good Life Podcast with Matt Carpenter: https://mattcarpenter.podbean.com/

God and Axiology--or, Why We Value the Things We Do

The Pugcast — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 07:52:00 +0000

On today's show Chris introduces the discipline of Axiology to listeners. Axiology is a division of philosophy--like metaphysics, ethics, or epistemology, but with the focus on the concept of value. Chris uses his recent talk at the Thank God for Bitcoin Conference as the starting point for this discussion. Before the end the Pugs discuss the differences between intrinsic and extrinsic value, value and its relationship to the Real, and what the classic film, Casablanca can teach us about value in a world that is falling apart. Enjoy!

CR’s article in American Reformer: https://americanreformer.org/2023/06/bitcoin/

Join us in Memphis on June 14th for 2 live show recordings, conversation, and refreshments. 3pm-7pm at the Courtyard Marriott in Downtown Memphis at 75 Jefferson Ave.

Join us in Huntsville Alabama June 16th for a live show recording at Fractal Brewing at 7pm.

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Check out The Good Life Podcast with Matt Carpenter: https://mattcarpenter.podbean.com/

Converting the Vikings

The Pugcast — Thu, 08 Jun 2023 08:45:00 +0000

Working off an article about the inability of modern writers on the Vikings to understand their conversion to Christianity, the guys discuss the weaknesses of Norse religion and the answers Christianity offered them. Glenn tells a number of stories about Vikings and explains how Norse Christianity saw itself as the fulfillment of pagan mythology. To round out the discussion, the guys talk about Lewis and Tolkien’s love of “Northerness,” the real virtues of Norse culture in the midst of its vices, and the need to recapture those virtues purged of its pagan vices.

Article link: https://mereorthodoxy.com/the-end-of-viking-vitalism/

Join us in Memphis on June 14th for 2 live show recordings, conversation, and refreshments. 3pm-7pm at the Courtyard Marriott in Downtown Memphis at 75 Jefferson Ave. No RSVP needed!

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Check out The Good Life Podcast with Matt Carpenter: https://mattcarpenter.podbean.com/

Woo in the Silicon Valley?

The Pugcast — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 08:17:00 +0000

On today’s show Tom and the guys look at how technocratic rationalists are increasingly longing for something deeper and fuller even though their search mostly remains within the bounds of modernist assumptions and relativism. The guys look at Tara Burton’s article Rational Magic: Why a Silicon Valley culture that was once obsessed with reason is going woo in the New Atlantis. The range of topics this episode engages is rich and timely.

Article Referenced: https://www.thenewatlantis.com/publications/rational-magic?fbclid=IwAR0d4vZwY914UGnjbzXve4EA8otCxvtVu7d25ZEhKSZBEYYjpVtolvmpsmY

Join us in Memphis on June 14th for 2 live show recordings, conversation, and refreshments. 3pm-7pm at the Courtyard Marriott in Downtown Memphis at 75 Jefferson Ave. No RSVP needed!

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Check out The Good Life Podcast with Matt Carpenter: https://mattcarpenter.podbean.com/

Teaser: Pugcast Live In Memphis with George Grant!

The Pugcast — Wed, 31 May 2023 13:13:00 +0000

Here’s a teaser of the inimitable George Grant giving us a little sample of what he will talk about with the pugs at one of our live Pugcasts in Memphis —John Witherspoon, educator, Founding Father, and Presbyterian minister. Join us at the Courtyard Marriott in downtown Memphis, Wednesday, June 14th for two live recordings of the Theology Pugcast from 3:00-7:00pm. Food, fellowship, and fun with Tom, Glenn, Chris, and George Grant!

Magnanimity: A Forgotten Virtue

The Pugcast — Thu, 25 May 2023 09:30:00 +0000

In this week’s episode, the Pugsters riff off a Twitter thread and article contrasting the way Aragorn is portrayed in the movies and in the books. But Aragorn isn’t really the point. His character in the books but not in the movies displays magnanimity, or great-souledness (if that’s a word). The guys talk about the ideas roots in Aristotle, how the concept was Christianized in the Middle Ages, and why we should recover it.

Twitter thread referenced: https://twitter.com/ChivalryGuild/status/1648463680735162372?fbclid=IwAR1fP4SrOko6DNHtn2Wb-ep0y0Ji3t5BWU-1AZjRFSr0v5aSLVGsVKuCTFo

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Check out The Good Life Podcast with Matt Carpenter: https://mattcarpenter.podbean.com/

Can Public Education Be Saved?

The Pugcast — Thu, 18 May 2023 08:17:00 +0000

In today's show the Pugs respond to an article published in First Things entitled: Don't Spare the Rod, by Daniel Buck. Buck is a public school teacher and in the article he describes the break down of the order that had once at least partly been kept in public school classrooms. The guys reflect on their own educations in public schools and wonder aloud, "What should Christians do about public education?"

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Check out The Good Life Podcast with Matt Carpenter: https://mattcarpenter.podbean.com/

Away With God, Away With Humanity

The Pugcast — Thu, 11 May 2023 08:15:00 +0000

On this week's episode Tom engages insights from Vigen Goroian's article (and book chapter) on Chesterton, Rallying the Really Human Things. The guys join Tom in discussing things human and the humane and the requisite theological and trascendent frame which grounds such things. For example, Christian virtues ripped from their theological mooring become barbaric and inhumane once unleashed on a civiliazation apart from God in Christ.

Article Referenced:

https://theimaginativeconservative.org/2013/04/chesterton-rallying-really-human-things-vigen-guroian.html?fbclid=IwAR0spJ2dKXeE2y0qjQIctjRiTkIsY6RqVHRkagDJJVzotGIoP1t_7PEQS-s

Thank God For Bitcoin Conference in Miami FL: https://tgfb.com/

You can get 15% off any of the TGFB23 tickets (including the livestream for those who can't make it in person) with promo code PUGCAST

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Check out The Good Life Podcast with Matt Carpenter: https://mattcarpenter.podbean.com/

The Role of the Imagination

The Pugcast — Thu, 04 May 2023 07:07:00 +0000

Malcolm Guite’s book, Lifting the Veil: Imagination and the Kingdom of God, provides the Pugster’s with the starting point for this week’s episode. After a summary of some of Guite’s ideas about imagination as the means by which reason and intuition are united, making the imagination an essential tool for understanding reality, the guys engage in their usual wide-ranging discussion taking Guite’s ideas in new directions and ending with some suggestions on how to grow and stretch our imaginations.

Thank God For Bitcoin Conference in Miami FL: https://tgfb.com/

You can get 15% off any of the TGFB23 tickets (including the livestream for those who can't make it in person) with promo code PUGCAST

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Check out The Good Life Podcast with Matt Carpenter: https://mattcarpenter.podbean.com/

An Interview with Kemper Crabb

The Pugcast — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 09:38:00 +0000

Kemper Crabb is a musician who was involved in the “Jesus Music” of the late ‘70s and ‘80s that later turned into CCM, an Anglican priest working in a Missouri Synod Lutheran Church, and a scholar of medieval literature and history, among other things. On today’s episode the Pugsters have a wide ranging conversation with Kemper, including an inside look at the history of Christian and popular music, the influence of medieval music and instruments in Kemper’s work, Tolkien, and things we need to recover from the medieval mind.

Find more more Kemper: https://www.kempercrabb.net/

Connect with Kemper’s church in Katy TX: https://newchurch.love/

Thank God For Bitcoin Conference in Miami FL: https://tgfb.com/

You can get 15% off any of the TGFB23 tickets (including the livestream for those who can't make it in person) with promo code PUGCAST

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Check out The Good Life Podcast with Matt Carpenter: https://mattcarpenter.podbean.com/

Theology, the Queen of the Sciences?

The Pugcast — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 08:03:00 +0000

Once upon a time Thomas Aquinas referred to theology as the "Queen of the Sciences"--but what was he referring to? Today the Pugsters take up the crisis of knowledge. The tendency today is to reduce everything to material and efficient causes--in other words, to a material basis. Whole dimensions of human life are now considered too subjective to warrant referring to them as knowledge. Nevertheless, into the void ideology has inserted itself, and now, not only is every discipline aping the material sciences, everything is now politics--especially leftist politics. But once theology held things together to the glory of God. Today the Pugsters express their longings for a return of theology to its royal calling.

Thank God For Bitcoin Conference in Miami FL: https://tgfb2022.com/

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Order Glenn’s most recent book, 32 Christians Who Changed Their World: https://a.co/d/fooO3B9

Order Jason Cherry’s The Making of Evangelical Spirituality: https://a.co/d/5LdNXiu

Angels, Demons, and Christus Victor

The Pugcast — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 07:52:00 +0000

A timely discussion of the biblical reality of the spiritual realm, the angelic, the demonic, and Christ’s victory over Satan, death, hell, and the grave. Tom introduces the problematic placement of the place of angels and demons in contemporary theology and the need to retrieve the rich biblical vision which shaped classic Christian orthodoxy. Chris and Glenn chime in with a wealth of insight and perspective as the guys unpack this theme. Further, Tom brings into the discussion the biblical atonement theme of Christus Victor, Christ’s triumph over Satan and the bondage he has held creation under until Christ’s triumph over evil on the Cross. The guys each contribute to the import of such a biblical emphasis in having a full understanding of the work of Christ over evil and our confidence in Him.

Thank God For Bitcoin Conference in Miami FL: https://tgfb2022.com/

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Order Jason Cherry’s The Making of Evangelical Spirituality: https://a.co/d/5LdNXiu

The Return of the Old Gods

The Pugcast — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 09:31:00 +0000

Today’s Pugcast is a discussion of Naomi Wolfe’s Substack piece, “Have the Old Gods Returned?” which is a reflection and development of the ideas in Jonathan Cahn’s The Return of the Gods. The premise is that with the rejection of Christianity, God’s protection over the Western world has been withdrawn and the old gods—demonic entities that were pushed to the margins by Christianity—have now returned. The guys discuss some specifics of the pieces and reflect on the biblical and historic Christian ideas of the demonic and its influence on culture. A resurgence of demonic activity may be the best explanation for the unprecedentedly rapid spread of cultural and social chaos and the way governments, education, media, and big tech are marching in lockstep across the globe to promote these destructive ideologies and practices.

Naomi Wolfe's Substack article: https://naomiwolf.substack.com/p/have-the-ancient-gods-returned

Traditional Fatherhood Intensive in Vancouver WA: https://www.solochristo.org/fatherhood-conf

Thank God For Bitcoin Conference in Miami FL: https://tgfb2022.com/

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Order Jason Cherry’s The Making of Evangelical Spirituality: https://a.co/d/5LdNXiu

And All that Jazz

The Pugcast — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 08:03:00 +0000

The Pugsters welcome apologist and philosopher Doug Groothuis to the show this week to talk about neither apologetics nor philosophy but music. Doug is a jazz fan who has published articles and concert reviews for “All About Jazz.” We talk about the elements that make jazz what it is, jazz performers and standards, and how jazz points to an approach to other activities beside music, including Pugcasts and teaching.

Find more from Doug:

https://www.douglasgroothuis.com/

https://www.lifeaudio.com/truth-tribe-with-douglas-groothuis/

https://www.allaboutjazz.com/articles-by-douglas-groothuis

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Order Jason Cherry’s The Making of Evangelical Spirituality: https://a.co/d/5LdNXiu

An Interview with Nathan Spearing about a Theology of Violence—and more!

The Pugcast — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 13:57:00 +0000

Today Chris interviews another speaker from The Traditional Fatherhood Intensive--Nathan Spearing, retired Army Ranger and host of The Life on Target Podcast. Nate shares briefly on a theology of violence, as well as on how to become more dangerous. If you'd like to hear more, sign up for the Traditional Fatherhood Intensive which will be May 5-6 in Vancouver, Washington. Here's a link to the Eventbright page: ⁠https://www.eventbrite.com/e/traditional-fatherhood-intensive-purpose-provision-protection-tickets-559053583317?aff=ebdshpsearchautocomplete⁠

And here's a link to The Life on Target Podcast: ⁠https://www.spearing.co/content_type/podcasts/life-on-target

Interview with Rory Groves about The Traditional Fatherhood Intensive

The Pugcast — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 13:56:00 +0000

In this brief bonus show C. R. Wiley interviews Rory Groves, author of Durable Trades, about what he will be speaking about at The Traditional Fatherhood Intensive. TFI is a two-day conference being held in Vancouver, Washington, May 5-6, 2023 and will feature C. R. Wiley, Rory Groves, and Nate Spearing. To learn more and to register simply follow this link-- ⁠https://www.eventbrite.com/e/traditional-fatherhood-intensive-purpose-provision-protection-tickets-559053583317?aff=ebdshpsearchautocomplete⁠

BTW, he's a link to Rory's book on Amazon: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/Durable-Trades-Family-Centered-Economies-Stood/dp/1725274140/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=rory+groves+durable+trades&qid=1678921876&sprefix=rory+gr%2Caps%2C157&sr=8-1⁠

Why the Mental Health of Liberal Girls Sank First and Fastest

The Pugcast — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 07:19:00 +0000

Today the Pugs reflect on a remarkable essay by Jon Haidt in which he correlates the mental health of young people since 2013 and their sex and political outlook. The mental health of all young people has been getting worse, but it is worst for liberal girls and it is best for conservative boys. Why 2013? And why does sex and political outlook make a difference? These are the questions that the Pugs ponder. Please join us for the conversation. Here's a link to the article if you'd like to read it yourself--https://www.thefp.com/p/why-the-mental-health-of-liberal

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Order Jason Cherry’s The Making of Evangelical Spirituality: https://a.co/d/5LdNXiu

Civilizational Madness

The Pugcast — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 07:03:00 +0000

Today's show looks at Jacques Ellul's 'Those whom God wishes to destroy He first Makes Mad' from his book The Betrayal of the West. Tom introduces the topic by looking at how civilizational self-contempt became a defining orientation of Western cultures once it took a nihilistic and idolatrous turn from the Christian vision. Once culture lost its ground and aims in true transcendence the meaning and purpose at the heart of things was eclipsed and everything become seen as limiting and oppressing the only cultural value left: absolute autonomy. The guys join the discussion with fascinating insights into how irrationality and madness now largely define the times.

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Order Jason Cherry’s The Making of Evangelical Spirituality: https://a.co/d/5LdNXiu

The Man Who Was Thursday

The Pugcast — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 09:48:00 +0000

The Man Who Was Thursday is considered by many critics to be G.K. Chesterton’s masterpiece. Published in 1908, it has never gone out of print. It’s simultaneously a comedy, a mystery, a philosophical action-thriller, a spoof on anarchism and German philosophy, and a serial romp from the real into the surreal and back. The guys talk about the book, its themes, and its relevance for today. Spoiler alert: you can’t deal with the book without giving away some of the plot, but hopefully not too much. And even with the spoilers, the book has a lot more going on than just the plotline.

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Order Jason Cherry’s The Making of Evangelical Spirituality: https://a.co/d/5LdNXiu

Are You a Plastic Pleasure Monkey?

The Pugcast — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 07:51:00 +0000

Today the Pugsters take up the notorious Klaus Schawb's prediction for an ideal future: "You will own nothing and you will be happy." Just what sort of human being would you need to be in order for this to be appealing, or even make sense. Chris proposes--you would need to be a plastic pleasure monkey. But is that so? Or are there other truer ways to think about human beings? If so, what are they? On today's show the guys turn to Christian metaphysics, Aristotle, and the US Declaration of Independence to find out!

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Order Jason Cherry’s The Making of Evangelical Spirituality: https://a.co/d/5LdNXiu

Artificial Society and Technological Culture

The Pugcast — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 10:13:00 +0000

This week’s show engages one dimension of our current identity crisis in the West by attending the increasing loss of our ability to discern, define, and acknowledge the distinction between created natures and purposes and the artificial and constructed. Tom, Chris and Glenn unpack the topic by looking at the history of this loss and some of its core ingredients: theological and philosophical errors about divinity, creation, humanity and the increased use of scientific technique in bending nature to our will and wishes. In looking at the character and consequences of this shift in Western thought and culture, the guys discuss some of the rich analysis of Oliver O’Donovan in his classic work: Begotten or Made? and Mathias Desmit’s work: The Psychology of Totalitarianism.

Order Begotten of Made? from the Davenant Institute: https://davenantinstitute.org/begotten-or-made

Order The Psychology of Totalitarianism: https://a.co/d/5m2mK54

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Order Jason Cherry’s The Making of Evangelical Spirituality: https://a.co/d/5LdNXiu

The Blake Center for Faith and Freedom

The Pugcast — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 10:56:00 +0000

This week’s Pugcast has another special guest. While Glenn is still away, Tom and Chris are joined by Labin Duke, the Executive Director of the Blake Center for Faith and Freedom of Hillsdale College in Somers, Connecticut. Labin introduces our audience to the fascinating history, mission, and vision of the Center. Extending the reach of the Hillsdale vision of faith and freedom into the spiritual and political barrenness of New England is bold yet opportune. The gentleman unpack the challenges as well as opportunities of such a venture as Mr. Duke further gives details about the upcoming programs offered by the Center. You’ll not want to miss this rich interview.

Learn more about the Blake Center at blakecenter.hillsdale.edu

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Like The Theology Pugcast? Check out another show sponsored by Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville AL: ‘Got a Minute?’ Theology, Philosophy, Economics, Politics (and more) for normal people. Featuring Rich Lusk, Larson Hicks, and the occasional special guest!

https://open.spotify.com/show/4fswVZmNEfSXA1JLZzgPhj

The Reactionary Mind with Michael Warren Davis

The Pugcast — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 10:16:00 +0000

On today’s show Chris and Tom host the show without Glenn, but they are joined by Michael Warren Davis, author of the entertaining and informative book, The Reactionary Mind. Mike helps the pugs understand the differences between conservatives and reactionaries, and why genuine conservatives are actually the latter. Along the way the conversation ambles from Savonarola (a good guy) to Nom Chomsky (a very bad one). Tune in and see why you might actually be a reactionary and why that’s a good thing.

Find Michael at https://commonman.substack.com/

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Like The Theology Pugcast? Check out another show sponsored by Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville AL: ‘Got a Minute?’

Theology, Philosophy, Economics, Politics (and more) for normal people. Featuring Rich Lusk, Larson Hicks, and the occasional special guest!

https://open.spotify.com/show/4fswVZmNEfSXA1JLZzgPhj

Sabine Baring Gould: A Way of Life Lost to Modern Specialization

The Pugcast — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 09:35:00 +0000

Few people today know about the remarkable career of Sabine Baring Gould. Anglican priest, father of fifteen, archaeologist, anthropologist, author of novels, short stories, hymns, biographies, and travelogues, amateur painter and ironworker, translator, preserver of folk music, the list goes on and on. Tony Esolen commented that he could only have lived in the nineteenth century. Using Baring Gould’s life as a starting point, the guys discuss Tony’s comment, examining why the nineteenth century produced such a wide-ranging genius, where we might find them today, and what we can do to begin recovering similar capacities today.

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Like The Theology Pugcast? Check out another show sponsored by Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville AL: ‘Got a Minute?’

Theology, Philosophy, Economics, Politics (and more) for normal people. Featuring Rich Lusk, Larson Hicks, and the occasional special guest!

https://open.spotify.com/show/4fswVZmNEfSXA1JLZzgPhj

Bonus Q&A: The New Asceticism

The Pugcast — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 11:01:00 +0000

Listen in for a quick Q&A following yesterday’s episode: The New Asceticism

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Like The Theology Pugcast? Check out another show sponsored by Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville AL: ‘Got a Minute?’

Theology, Philosophy, Economics, Politics (and more) for normal people. Featuring Rich Lusk, Larson Hicks, and the occasional special guest!

https://open.spotify.com/show/4fswVZmNEfSXA1JLZzgPhj

The New Asceticism

The Pugcast — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 10:52:00 +0000

In some pockets of the Protestant world ‘asceticism’ is a dirty word. It brings works righteousness and unbiblical acts of self-abuse to mind. But is that the whole story? Jesus said, ‘When you fast’ not ‘If you fast.’ In other words, it’s expected, and there’s a right way to do it. So, perhaps it comes as a surprise that self-denial is actually growing in popularity, and it’s doing so outside the church. Why is it happening, and what should we think about it. Tune in for the conversation!

Article by Matthew Crawford: https://unherd.com/2022/12/the-politics-of-masturbation/

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

https://open.spotify.com/show/4fswVZmNEfSXA1JLZzgPhj

The Art of the Inimitable Jack Baumgartner

The Pugcast — Thu, 19 Jan 2023 09:39:00 +0000

Today the Pugcast welcomes the versatile artist Jack Baumgartner. Jack is a farmer living with his wife and six children outside of Wichita, Kansas. Jack is a musician (the banjo you hear on this episode is Jack), a painter, printmaker, woodworker, furniture maker, and puppeteer. He’s also a thoughtful Christian whose faith is reflected in all of his work. Chris has collected Jack’s work for years. By the end of the show you’ll probably want to too.

Find Jack at https://baumwerkshop.com/, https://theschoolofthetransferofenergy.com/, and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/baumwerkj/

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Varieties of Atheism

The Pugcast — Thu, 12 Jan 2023 10:56:00 +0000

On today’s show Tom introduces the topic of atheism and its various types. Drawing from John Gray’s book: Seven Types of Atheism, the conversation unpacks and engages each type mentioned by Gray. Noting how not all atheisms are the same, the guys critically interact with each, showing the various kinds of challenges each bring to the cultural context. The result is a rich conversation around unbelief and it’s weaker and more challenging forms which require a more substantive theological critique.

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Tolkien and Mythology

The Pugcast — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 08:40:00 +0000

In this episode, the guys discuss mythology and its significance for Tolkien. Glenn presents several theories about myths and their roles in cultures as a doorway into understanding Tolkien’s goal of creating a mythology for England. In the process, the guys explore some of our current cultural mythologies and the lessons and deeper meaning of myth in general and Tolkien in particular.

Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Knowledge Is Power—But Is That All?

The Pugcast — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 09:06:00 +0000

Today Chris responds to the truism attributed to Francis Bacon, "Knowledge is power." The question he raises is, "If that is all there is to it, what does that imply--that forms of knowledge that don't lead to power are worthless, do they fail the test of knowledge then?" Chris warns, this is the road to totalitarianism. It isn't a fast road, necessarily--but it certainly gets you there eventually. Tune in to see what the Pugsters have to say about why the old truism isn't entirely true.

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Incarnation, Joy Incarnate, the Opening of Heaven to Earth, and Music

The Pugcast — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 10:26:00 +0000

Christmas is around the corner and the guys reflect on the Incarnation and some of its implications. Reflecting upon Luke 2:8-20, Shepherds and Angels, Tom introduces the topic of what is implied by the heavens being open upon the Incarnation. The guys take the topic in many fascinating directions, including the issue of joy and beatitude, and music in light of Christ.

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C.S. Lewis on the Tao

The Pugcast — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 10:24:00 +0000

As suggested by a Grumbler on Facebook, the Pugsters discuss C.S. Lewis’s ideas on the Tao from The Abolition of Man. For Lewis, the Tao is a kind of natural law that is the foundation for human knowledge, ethics, etc. The guys tease out some of the implications of the idea of the Tao in the Abolition of Man as well as pursuing some of their own thoughts on the topic.

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Up the Hierarchy!--Hans Boersma & Dionysius the Areopagite on Why We Have Hierarchy All Wrong

The Pugcast — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 09:28:00 +0000

Today the Pugcast welcomes Dr. Hans Boersma, author of Heavenly Participation and many other edifying books onto the show. In this episode Dr. Boersma reflects on a talk he gave recently at the Touchstone Conference in Chicago. In the talk he up-ended many misconceptions concerning hierarchy in the Christian understanding of God and his creation. He does this by reflecting on the work of the man who coined the term, "hierarchy"--Dionysius the Areopagite. Tune in and have your thinking turned upside down!

Find Dr. Boersma’s work: https://www.hansboersma.org/

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The Roots of Nihilistic Politics

The Pugcast — Thu, 01 Dec 2022 09:27:00 +0000

This week’s Pugcast presents a rich conversation with Dr. Michael Hanby, Associate Professor of Religion and Philosophy of Science at the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family at the Catholic University of America. Dr. Hanby has been at the forefront of cultural analysis with works critically engaging modern science and sociology, unmasking their problematic theological and philosophical underpinnings, unpacking the cultural havoc such underpinnings have resulted in. In view of his recent talk at the Touchstone Conference, The Politics of Nothingness, where Dr. Hanby digs deeply into the flood of causes which have led to the present crises in our culture, the Pugsters have a deep conversation with Dr. Hanby, especially about the important work of Augusto Del Noce on the Problem of Atheism. This conversation is a real treat!

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The Case for Kids with Kevin DeYoung

The Pugcast — Thu, 24 Nov 2022 10:09:00 +0000

What happened to fertility around the world? The numbers have dropped dramatically. Once we talked about the "Population Bomb.” Now people talk about the "Birth Dearth.” It seems counterintuitive that we have fewer kids the more we can afford them. Kevin DeYoung recently discussed the Case for Kids in an important essay published in First Things in the November 2022 issue. The Pugsters talk to Kevin about this important subject and why he thinks that it is a spiritual malaise that is at the root of it.

Connect with Kevin’s work at https://kevindeyoung.org/

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Discovering the Discovery Institute

The Pugcast — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 09:13:00 +0000

Today on the Pugcast Glenn and Chris interview Dr. John West of the Discovery Institute of Seattle, Washington. Glenn and Chris had the privilege of speaking alongside Dr. West at the Slaying Leviathan conference sponsored by Evangelical Reformed Church in Tacoma. The interview covers a wide range of topics including: intelligent design, Darwinism and its weaknesses, and why there is a drift in Christian higher education into liberalism. Enjoy!

Find more about the Discovery Institute at https://www.discovery.org/

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What Is Protestant Social Teaching?

The Pugcast — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 09:33:00 +0000

Today the Pugcast is joined by Brad Littlejohn and Steven Wedgeworth of The Davenant Institute to discuss a new book entitled, Protestant Social Teaching. The Pugsters have long admired the work of the Davenant Institute and are impressed with their new book. Please join us as we think about social issues in light of the Christian faith and the contributions Protestants have made to the teachings of the Church.

Learn more about The Davenant Institute: https://davenantinstitute.org/

Order Protestant Social Teaching: https://davenantinstitute.org/protestant-social-teaching

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Mere Christianity is Merely Great

The Pugcast — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 08:39:00 +0000

Mere Christianity might be the most important work of apologetics in the last 100 years or more. Copies sold are in the millions. But it is not only a popular success, it is a profoundly insightful and deep work--C. S. Lewis understood the Christian faith better than any other writer in living memory, with the possible exception of G. K. Chesterton. Today the Pugsters reflect on the riches of Lewis's greatest apologetic work.

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The Elites vs. Humanity

The Pugcast — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 10:22:00 +0000

On today’s ‘live’ episode Tom unpacks insights from John Rist's book: What is a Person? After noting the rich conception of the human person which arose out of classical realist and Christian theological sources, which supplied a robust view of the unique gift and dignity of each human made in the image of God, called by the Gospel to eternal communion with God, Rist then notes the rise of philosophical and political elites who rejected the transcendent vision of Christianity, and embraced philosophies which undercut the personhood of human beings, to the point that apart from themselves, elites began to promote visions which saw the bulk of human beings as inferiors and dependent on their lies for their own safety and survival. Glenn and Chris bring into the discussion many fascinating insights, and all three recognize the elitist agenda continues today, often out in the open.

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Bonus Q&A: The Elites vs. Humanity

The Pugcast — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 09:15:00 +0000

Listen in for a quick question and answer session following yesterday's episode: The Elites vs. Humanity.

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Witches Then and Now

The Pugcast — Thu, 20 Oct 2022 09:39:00 +0000

Since we’re getting close to Halloween, Glenn brings the topic of witchcraft to the table today. The guys begin by discussing historic ideas of witchcraft and the witch trials of Renaissance and early modern period. Note that some of these beliefs get us into PG-13 territory. The Pugsters then turn to witchcraft in the modern world, discussing Wicca and witchcraft around the world as well as the growing belief in the supernatural among college students. Although the kinds of witches described in witch hunting manuals only existed in the minds of the people of the day, the guys agree that demonic manifestations are very real even if only obvious in some parts of the world today.

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"Dirty Harry" is a Christian Film? Are You Crazy? (Maybe.)

The Pugcast — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 09:34:00 +0000

Dirty Harry is one of Clint Eastwood's best known films. It is also violent, full of profanity, and sprinkled with gratuitous nudity. How could anyone possibly mistake it for a Christian film? Today Chris makes a case for just that--he's not saying you should watch it as a family--or even that you should watch it. He makes the argument instead that it is a film that only makes sense within a Christian worldview--within a Christian framework of meaning. It is filled with subtle allusions to Christ--but the Jesus hinted at in Dirty Harry is not meek or mild. He's angry--and for good reason.

Today's episode was inspired by an essay published in Law and Liberty by Titus Techera--you can find it here: https://lawliberty.org/dirty-harrys-justice/

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The Thomist Tolkien (an interview with Yannick Imbert)

The Pugcast — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 08:42:00 +0000

Today the Pugcast welcomes French Reformed theologian Yannick Imbert onto the show! Yannick is the author of a new book on J. R. R. Tolkien, "From Imagination to Faerie: Tolkien's Thomist Fantasy". The book is a scholarly treatment of Tolkien's theological outlook and how it shaped Tolkien's understanding of language, myth and imagination. The Pugsters focus in primarily on Tolkien's views on language and how those conflict with contemporary understandings which are largely based on a set of assumptions informed by materialism. Enjoy!

Purchase From Imagination to Faerie: Tolkien's Thomist Fantasy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Imagination-Faerie-Tolkiens-Thomist-Fantasy/dp/1666710458

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What if Christians Had Their Own Version of NPR? (We Do.)

The Pugcast — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 09:11:00 +0000

Today the Pugcast is joined by Ken Myers, the man behind Mars Hill Audio. Mars Hill Audio was founded by Ken in 1993 after working for National Public Radio and serving as editor of Eternity Magazine. Among conservative Christian intellectuals Mars Hill Audio is an important resource for keeping up with the intersection of Christian thought and cultural trends in the western world. Ken is a long time friend of Chris, but all the Pugsters are big supporters of Ken's work. By the time the interview is over you'll probably want to download the Mars Hill Audio app to your phone. Unfortunately there were some technical glitches during the recording of the interview--but we think this is a pretty great episode nonetheless. We hope you enjoy it!

Visit https://marshillaudio.org/ to find Ken’s work with Mars Hill Audio.

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Christ All in All: Christology and Reality

The Pugcast — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 08:06:00 +0000

On today’s show Tom unpacks insights from Rhys Laverty's article: A Theory of Everything: Christology as a Hope for Evangelical Metaphysical Revival. The guys delve into fascinating topics of how the early theologians of the Church redefined the philosophical as they put its tools and insights into the service of unpacking the Biblical doctrines of Trinity and Christology. The guys look into the question of how Christology in particular gave a set of categories which can help us today in clarifying the biblical understanding of human nature and ethics by supplying it with resources to spell out these core claims in fuller and richer ways, helping us engage the philosophical and metaphysical claims of today's pagan alternatives with a robust Christian vision of completeness in Christ.

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Technology and the Return of the Old Gods

The Pugcast — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 09:21:00 +0000

Today’s show returns to the subject of the disenchantment and reenchantment of the world. The Pugsters discuss an article arguing that technology in the form of the bots and algorithms that control so much of online life function today much like the angels and demons of the premodern world, with the tech gurus who are behind it all functioning like priest-kings with data analysts as their prophets. A lively conversation around techno-paganism, techno-gnosticism, and the implications of online life in general follows.

Article: https://thesymbolicworld.com/articles/technology-and-the-return-of-the-old-gods/

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Where Totalitarians Come From

The Pugcast — Thu, 08 Sep 2022 09:32:00 +0000

There is something new under the sun—totalitarianism. Often confused with authoritarianism or tyranny, totalitarianism is a modern phenomenon, only possible in modernity. It is also uniquely deadly in its implications. So, what is it about modernity that makes totalitarianism feasible, and what makes it different from earlier forms of political oppression? The pugsters explore the modern character of totalitarianism on today’s Pugcast.

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All Things G. K. Chesterton—Especially Distributism

The Pugcast — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 09:10:00 +0000

Today the Pugcast welcomes Dr. David Deavel on to the show to discuss G. K. Chesterton in all of his enormity. Perhaps best known among evangelicals for his book Orthodoxy, Chesterton also wrote detective fiction about a priest named, Father Brown, as well as longer works of fiction such as the remarkable, The Man Who Was Thursday, biographies about Francis of Assisi and Thomas Aquinas. He’s also known for a “Third Way” economic theory known as Distributism. Today’s show ranges over all the large legacy of this larger than life man. Enjoy!

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After the Virus: Tyranny Rising

The Pugcast — Thu, 25 Aug 2022 08:03:00 +0000

On today’s show Tom unpacks Hans Boersma’s short article: Viral Submission: on the Emerging Totalitarianism of the New Biopolitics. The guys define and engage biopolitics and how the recent pandemic exposed how it’s encroachment into the sacred territories of our life, health, work, and community relationships are becoming claimed by governing and global political agendas at fundamental odds with true human flourishing and our higher spiritual ends.

Article (Available to Touchstone Subscribers) : https://www.touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=35-03-021-v

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Our recording platform has been dealing with some bugs lately, so please excuse the bit of glitchiness at points.

Cyberpunk and the Metaverse

The Pugcast — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 08:02:00 +0000

Today’s Pugcast walks through a blog post by Jason Ananda Josephson Storm, an important secular philosopher who, among other things, is engaged in a systematic critique of Postmodernism and where things should go from there. This post deals with Zuckerberg’s Metaverse and assesses it from the perspective of 1990s Cyberpunk, where the term originated. Hint: Cyberpunk always presented a dystopian vision of the future; Zuck and others missed the point and have turned it utopian. The Pugsters walk through the blog post and riff on ideas of cultural despair, escapism, consumerism vs. capitalism, and transhumanism, among other things.

Article: https://absolute-disruption.com/2021/11/04/hack-the-metaverse/

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Is Sweat Really Necessary?

The Pugcast — Mon, 08 Aug 2022 09:03:00 +0000

In today's show the Pugs discuss a recent article in First Things by Joshua Mitchell, By the Sweat of Our Brow. It's a free ranging, yet profound treatment of the erosion of competence in daily life, among other things. Mitchell makes the argument that citizenship requires "mediating institutions" (families, small businesses, churches, neighborhoods, and the like), because without them people lack the environments in which their actions have any meaningful difference in the world. And it is only when our actions matter that we learn competence. And competence is necessary for citizenship.

Article: https://www.firstthings.com/article/2022/08/by-the-sweat-of-our-brow?fbclid=IwAR3xPk1N9oE9KgRnH3aVgZ4G2Els149nFpJfS9MQ7nGDM-gFmpYyFvMpH8A

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Apocalyptic AI: Cyber Theosis?

The Pugcast — Thu, 04 Aug 2022 09:09:00 +0000

On today’s show Tom brings into discussion themes from Robert Geraci’s book: Apocalyptic AI: Visions of Heaven in Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, and Virtual Reality. The conversation focuses on ways in which the Western Christian Apocalyptic emphasis gets changed and rethought by several key figures in the Robotics and AI research fields and promoted as a new form of salvation and immortality. Glenn and Chris add a wellspring of insight and drive the topic into fascinating places.

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James Wood and Welcome to Negative World!

The Pugcast — Tue, 02 Aug 2022 15:00:00 +0000

Join us for a mini-episode of the Pugcast in which Chris talks to James Wood about the talks he will be delivering in September at the Welcome to Negative World Conference, September 9-10 in Battle Ground, Washington!

To learn more about the conference: https://www.negworldconference.com/

Why Everyone Should Believe in Fairies

The Pugcast — Thu, 28 Jul 2022 09:00:00 +0000

That’s the provocative title of a series of articles that the guys discuss today. Belief in nature spirits was universal around the world, including among the church fathers and Christian theologians, until the 17th century, when Enlightenment rationalism consigned them to the realm of superstition. Even today, though, there are people who talk about encountering them. So what are we to make of this? Is it possible that God created intelligent beings invisible to us in most circumstances but part of the natural world? The Pugsters discuss the possibilities suggested in the articles.

Articles Referenced:

https://classicalu.com/why-everyone-should-believe-in-fairies/

https://classicalu.com/why-everyone-should-believe-in-fairies-part-two/

https://classicalu.com/why-everyone-should-believe-in-fairies-part-three/

https://classicalu.com/why-everyone-should-believe-in-fairies-part-four/

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Joe Rigney and Welcome to Negative World!

The Pugcast — Thu, 21 Jul 2022 15:00:00 +0000

Join us for a mini-episode of the Pugcast in which Chris talks to Joe Rigney about the talks he will be delivering in September at the Welcome to Negative World Conference, September 9-10 in Battle Ground, Washington!

To learn more about the conference: www.negworldconference.com

To learn more about Bethlehem College and Seminary: https://bcsmn.edu/

Justice and Reality

The Pugcast — Thu, 21 Jul 2022 09:00:00 +0000

On today’s show Chris guides a conversation on the nature of justice and its relationship to the given order of nature. For many intellectuals “justice” is an ideal that is imposed on society. Innate differences between people should be either compensated for, denied, or surgically removed. But is this really just? Perhaps the differences we see between individuals, or the sexes, are actually givens to be received with gladness and were intended to enrich our lives by making us mutually dependent on each other. Join the Pugcast as the guys discuss the limits of justice and the gifts of creation.

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Aaron Renn and Welcome to Negative World!

The Pugcast — Thu, 14 Jul 2022 15:00:00 +0000

Join us for a mini-episode of the Pugcast in which Chris talks to Aaron Renn about the talks he will be delivering in September at the Welcome to Negative World Conference, September 9-10 in Battle Ground, Washington!

To learn more, follow this link: www.negworldconference.com

Christian Wayfaring

The Pugcast — Thu, 14 Jul 2022 08:06:00 +0000

The trials and triumphs of Christian life as pilgrims in the world but not of the world. Tom introduces the topic by way of David Elliot’s article: Passing through the Sirens, the Trials of the Christian Wayfarer in the World. The conversation discusses the various biblical senses of ‘world’ and engages the biblical call to live a life resisting and renouncing the fallen world and its lingering impact while journeying deeper into the joy of Christ in Union with God. Chris and Glenn enrich the conversation, especially noting many of ways in which the contemporary church embraces much of the fallen world to its detriment.

Article Referenced:

https://www.touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=25-04-034-f&readcode=&readtherest=true&fbclid=IwAR2Jc9XELqbBzsCCNlZSZkHkEPZs3ACvSdiCS-DrCvBR7QrgCdWLCHLLlUA#therest

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The Most Reluctant Convert

The Pugcast — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 15:51:00 +0000

This week, the Pug has a special guest, Max McLean, the founder of the Fellowship for the Performing Arts. Max has brought to the stage “The Screwtape Letters,” “The Great Divorce,” and “The Most Reluctant Convert,” the story of C.S. Lewis’s conversion; most recently staring in a film adaptation of the last of these. For the first half hour of the show the pugsters spoke with Max about his work and C.S. Lewis, but continued the conversation after Max left for another interview.

C. S. Lewis and Miracles

The Pugcast — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 09:00:00 +0000

We wouldn’t have Christianity without miracles, and one miracle in particular—the resurrection and ascension of Jesus of Nazareth. Odd then, isn’t it, that not so long ago, there were some people who said that we could? C. S. Lewis knew that was nonsense, and he set out in his great book, “Miracles,” to set down a case for miracles in general, and specifically, the miracles that gave us Christianity. Join the Pugcast in this episode as they discuss C. S. Lewis and Miracles.

Medieval Courtesy Books

The Pugcast — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In this episode, the Pugsters look at the idea of courtesy and manners through the lens of medieval courtesy books. These were instructions to children on how to behave derived from chivalry and from instructions to novices in monasteries. Their goal was to inculcate virtue in children before they had a chance to develop vices. The guys discuss how manners reflect how we think about other people and note that William Wilberforce’s decades-long campaign to abolish the slave trade in England was accompanied by a “reformation of manners” to change how people thought about each other as a necessary preliminary to abolition. The need to recover courtesy in our day is obvious, especially given online interactions.

Article Referenced:

https://theimaginativeconservative.org/2021/08/time-return-medieval-courtesy-books-john-horvat.html?fbclid=IwAR0WKjJ3ZOFdDTYoSOuwnNuEF4RIAZRUfAGga4hq9z3OQzlfvCJCnGro710

Secular and Nihilistic Eschatologies and Political Theologies

The Pugcast — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 09:29:00 +0000

In today’s show Tom introduces the topic: how contemporary secular and nihilistic thinking owes its form to material deviations from the classical Christian understanding of God and final things. Once set in play, such altered understandings about God and final things led to the wide host of competing secular and nihilistic views about the end game of our actions and lives. Glenn and Chris bring into the talk angles and insights which show the many ways such secular and nihilistic thinking creeps into the church.

God and History in Acts and The Academy

The Pugcast — Thu, 09 Jun 2022 09:09:00 +0000

Is writing objective history impossible? Many today believe so. To these folks everything is "text,” meaning something we can interpret however we please, the implication being facts must be interpreted, and since we're the only interpreters "history" is nothing more than one person, or group's tendentious interpretation of things. (You have your interpretation and I have mine, in other words, and who's to say who is right?) This presupposes that facts don't have an author. But if there is a creator, and if he makes his purposes known, then history truly is possible, and is worth the effort. Today we explore these ideas in relation to the Book of Acts (among other things). There we get a glimpse of the end of history and what it all is leading to. Join the Pugsters as they discuss God and history in Acts and the academy.

Hopeless Romantics

The Pugcast — Thu, 02 Jun 2022 09:37:00 +0000

In this semi-live episode, the Pugsters return to Romanticism, a topic we’ve touched on in a number of other Pugcasts. After a quick explanation of Romanticism as a response to cultural stress, the guys discuss some of the pathologies that have entered Western society as a result of the Romantic movement, including Expressive Individualism. But it turns out that not everything about Romanticism was a negative. Both C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien were influenced by a positive version of Romanticism that rejected elements of modernity in favor of a more traditionalist vision of society.

Truth and Falsehood In a Lying Age

The Pugcast — Thu, 26 May 2022 09:00:00 +0000

On today’s show the guys unpack aspects of contemporary culture and its move away from ontological truth. Language, once it’s detached from referencing the real, becomes a field of competing power plays and conflict. How are Christians to enact truthfulness, avoid falsehood in their discernment of truth, and speak the truth as it become increasingly costly to do so? The Pugsters consider such questions and various ways forward.

Will the Real Conservative Intellectuals Please Stand Up? : An Interview with Dr. Luke Sheahan

The Pugcast — Thu, 19 May 2022 09:06:00 +0000

Today the Pugsters are joined by Dr. Luke Sheahan, President of The Academy of Philosophy and Letters, and Editor of The University Bookman. Among other things, Luke is an authority on the intellectual history of conservatism in the United States. The conversation includes a discussion of some of the more important luminaries in American Conservatism, the nature of "freedom of association" and why traditionalist conservatives from a range of theological traditions often have more in common with each other than with people in their own communions.

Why Associations Matter: The Case for First Amendment Pluralism

Amazon; Kansas

Academy of Philosophy and Letters (APL)

www.philosophyandletters.org

Conference in College Park, MD, June 2-4

Conference Schedule

The University Bookman

https://kirkcenter.org/bookman/

Russell Kirk

The Conservative Mind (1953)

Robert Nisbet

The Quest for Community (1953)

Edmund Burke

Robert P. George, Princeton University

History of the Postwar Conservative Movement

The Importance of Story: A Conversation with Moira Greyland Peat and Rachel Fulton Brown

The Pugcast — Thu, 12 May 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Moira Greyland Peat and Rachel Fulton Brown return for the first time together as Pugcast guests to explore the importance of story and imaginative fiction as a vehicle for communicating truth in ways that can transcend nonfiction. Along the way, Moira, Rachel, and the Pugsters talk about what makes stories fail, the impact of substituting ideology for truth in pop culture, the relevance of these ideas to music, and a host of related ideas.

Moria’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Last-Closet-Dark-Side-Avalon-ebook/dp/B0787XLK4H?fbclid=IwAR2Q0CTcN3yBO_dtI682Pk8TsycvpXYAgBgLWX_mpp4Njk--gcvC3JyxBGs

Moria’s Music: https://soundcloud.com/moira-greyland?fbclid=IwAR3zoziXcVJZBQvR7D-Buolej162FLLBO_RMWVhjCLhaktXnYjVFMroetlE

Rachel’s Poetry: https://www.dragoncommonroom.com/?fbclid=IwAR0NjL42V6WBsw-6fquyvUpeAcgO5dkRwOfPe_GXl902TsyY3gL3pxrsA10

The Medieval Mind of C. S. Lewis

The Pugcast — Thu, 05 May 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Today the Pugsters are happy to welcome Jason Baxter on the show! Jason is the author of a new book on C. S. Lewis entitled: The Medieval Mind of C. S. Lewis: How Great Books Shaped a Great Mind. Have you ever wondered why no one seems to come close to C. S. Lewis when it comes to apologetics and fiction (except J. R. R. Tolkien, of course). Jason Baxter knows why--C. S. Lewis had a medieval mind and all of his admirers have think like modern people. So, what does it mean to think like a Medieval man? Well, for one thing, you need to read old books, really old books. But that's just a start. Listen in and find out what else is involved. We hope you like the show!

Find more from Jason at jasonmbaxter.com

Here Comes Transhumanism, Ready or Not!

The Pugcast — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Ever feel like an upgraded body would be good to have? You're not alone, and there are people who are ready to help--for a price. How about an extra 10 years of life, wouldn't that be nice? Why stop there? Why not an extra 20, or 100, or 10,000? Believe it or not, there are people who think that mortality is an engineering problem. Now here's another wrinkle, there are theologians that agree. What should we think about all of this? Today the Pugsters take up the topic of H+ (or Humanity 2.0).

The Dumbest Generation Grows Up! : An Interview with Mark Bauerlein

The Pugcast — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Today the Pugcast is joined by Mark Bauerlein, professor emeritus of English at Emory University and an editor at First Things. Mark made waves back in 2008 with his book, The Dumbest Generation: How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans and Jeopardizes Our Future (Or, Don’t Trust Anyone under 30). He was accused of being a luddite, and an alarmist in those halcyon days of Web 2.0. Unfortunately for us all, he turned out to be right in many of his predictions. It wasn't so much that the millennials he describes were incorrigible so much as they were betrayed by their so-called educators and technophile utopians. Tune in and find out how bad things are and what can be done about it!

Pagan Easter?

The Pugcast — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 09:37:00 +0000

This is the time of year when we get a lot of memes about how Easter is a warmed-over pagan holiday. Everything from the name “Easter” to the use of eggs and rabbits is a claimed to be connected to a pagan fertility goddess. Our resident historian Glenn takes great delight in debunking these kinds of myths, and in this episode he and the guys talk about the historical and linguistic facts about Easter and how it is celebrated along with the implications of C.S. Lewis’s idea of the “good dreams” of the pagans and why Christians buy into these misrepresentations of their own history.

Varieties of Relativism

The Pugcast — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Tom introduces one of the driving assumptions that is underwriting the flux and chaos of current social trends: the assumption that truth is relative, perspectival, unable to be attained apart from our individual or group filters. The guys join in with many historical and contemporary insights into some key figures and ideas which have played into the rise and dominance of contemporary relativism and they set forth some initial steps in engaging it from a rich Christian vision.

Relativism (New Problems of Philosophy) by Maria Baghramian and Annalisa Coliva:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T3DQ4Y5/ref=KC_GS_GB_US_nodl#

In Defense of Mysticism

The Pugcast — Thu, 31 Mar 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Many Christians today reject altogether the idea of Christian mysticism, but it has a long history in the church going back to the first centuries. The early church recognized three different types of mysticism: scriptural, which involved looking for symbolic or allegorical meanings in Scripture; liturgical, focused usually on the Eucharist; and contemplative. The guys discuss each of these, arguing that although excesses have occurred, mysticism in these senses can be a legitimate expression of the faith. So if you’re skeptical about Christian mysticism, tune in to see if your misconceptions are valid!

Duck Season! Rabbit Season! The Notorious Duck/Rabbit Problem!

The Pugcast — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Well, which is it, a duck or a rabbit? Today the Pugsters examine the notorious duck/rabbit problem. You probably have seen the drawing, look at it one way, and you see a duck, look at it another way and you see a rabbit. Often the drawing is used to illustrate the ambiguity of signs, and the inevitably subjective character of interpretation. But are we doing justice to the signs, or the world we live in? What if the world at large represents something larger and more real than itself? Perhaps it's not interpretation all the way down so much as it is signs pointing to the source of all meaning. Join the Pugsters as they discuss the problem.

Überhobbits: Engaging the Will To Power with Tolkien and Nietzsche

The Pugcast — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 11:00:00 +0000

Tom unpacks themes from David Blount's essay on Hobbits, Tolkien and Nietzsche in relation to the differing way power and is understood and related to. Blount compares the Hobbits rejection of becoming Überhobbits in contrast to Nietzsche's dark vision of embracing the will to power. The guys engage in a variety of matters related to power, the will to power, the ring of power, and the counter vision which Christianity offers, especially as it’s expressed in the rich form of Tolkien's stories and characters.

Welcome to Negative World: An Interview with Aaron Renn

The Pugcast — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Aaron Renn joins the show once again, this time to discuss an article he wrote for First Things entitled, The Three Worlds of Evangelicalism. It’s hard to miss that the social climate in which Christian ministry is conducted in the western world has become more antagonistic towards the Christian faith. What social and political developments have contributed to that, and how should Christians respond? Tune in and see what Aaron and the Pugsters think!

Find more from Aaron at aaronrenn.substack.com

Ukraine and Russia: History and the Theology of Nationalism

The Pugcast — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 10:00:00 +0000

With the Russian invasion of the Ukraine, Glenn thought it a good time for a history lesson on Ukraine and Russia. As you might expect, he started over 1000 years ago, but noted especially more recent history and why the Ukrainians want to get out from under Russian domination. Along the way, he noted some genuine problems with Ukraine and their treatment of Russian minorities, part and parcel of the messy way borders work in Central and Eastern Europe. The guys finish with a discussion of the theological significance of nations, noting that they seem to survive in a purified form into eternity.

Philip Rieff and His Life Among the Deathworks

The Pugcast — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 03:02:00 +0000

Philip Rieff was one of the most incisive critics of the postmodern turn in western culture of the last 50 years. A secular Jew, he longed for a world that reflected a sacred order. His insights were as penetrating as those of Charles Taylor, but with this important difference—while Taylor described our secular age, Rieff wanted to destroy it. Tune in as Chris describes his own process of incorporating Rieff’s insights into his own thinking and writing. Naturally, Tom and Glenn have plenty to add.

Fine Art and Cancel Culture: An Interview with Award-Winning Painter Arthur Kwon Lee

The Pugcast — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 03:36:00 +0000

What does it take to make it in the highly competitive world of New York City art? Arthur Kwon Lee knows, he’s a young painter who won awards and was featured in prestigious galleries. He worked hard and developed his skills, but led a secret life as a conservative and a Christian. Then, everything changed when he came out of the closet. Soon he was blacklisted. Join the Pugcast today as we talk about the creative process, aesthetics, and beauty—as well as what sticking to what you know to be true can cost you.

Find more about Arthur Kwon Lee at arthurkwonlee.com

Find more about the Genesis Council at genesiscouncil.com

Talking About God Improperly

The Pugcast — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 03:00:00 +0000

Tom adds to his previous topic of speaking properly about God and takes it into the other direction. He notes that shifts in ideas of God led to shifts in ideas about Creation, the Human, and language in particular. By making God part of the same chain of 'being', language become 'capable' of referencing God without radical qualification. This leads to two idolatrous ways of referencing God: Univocally and Equivocally. The guys introduce what this means and add many insights into the significance of such a change in language for our reference to God and all else.

Sacred Architecture and the New Urbanism

The Pugcast — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 03:00:00 +0000

Today the Pugcast is joined by David Stocker, architect, and one of the principals of SHM Architects in Dallas, Texas. David is a great friend of the show, and a long-time friend of Chris. Today David will help the Pugsters reflect on the ways in which architecture speaks to us theologically--especially sacred architecture and the larger lived-in spaces known as neighborhoods, towns, and even cities.

The Fairy Tale Wars

The Pugcast — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 03:00:00 +0000

This weeks Pugcast was recorded live (for Chris) at Fractal Brewing in Huntsville, Alabama, with Glenn and Tom coming in virtually. The topic, “The Fairy Tale Wars,” was based on an article from Touchstone by Vigen Guroian (see the link below). Glenn walked the guys through some of the key ideas in the article, particularly how modern scholars of fairy tales don’t like them much, and modern retellings of fairy tales twist them to support contemporary agendas and sensibilities. Chris and Tom talk about the philosophical ideas and assumptions that lead to this kind of distortion of fairy tales, including particularly the rejection of traditional wisdom in favor of current fashionable interests.

https://www.touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=33-02-045-f

The Theology Pugcast: Incarnation and Its Significance For Understanding All Things

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 30 Dec 2021 03:00:00 +0000

Tom delves into many of the often taken for granted reality implications of the Christian teaching about the Incarnation of God the Son. He explores the riches of wisdom such biblical teaching has for a true understanding of divinity, humanity, creation and its relation to God. Chris and Glenn bring into the conversation many fascinating insights, angles, and draw out further some of the deep implications of the riches we’ve been given in Christ.

The Theology Pugcast: A Requiem for the Church Growth Movement

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 03:00:00 +0000

Welcome to a funeral for the Church Growth Movement, Pugsters! In today's show Chris explains what the Church Growth Movement was, how it changed the character of evangelicalism and helped to destroy it, and why the movement has been killed by Covid-19, and the Woke-world that has followed. Church Growth was supposed to save the church--so why is it a good thing that it is dead? Join the Pugcast crew as they reflect on what's next for Christianity in the west now that Church Growth is dead.

The Theology Pugcast: Culture and Worldview: What’s the Difference?

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 03:00:00 +0000

In today's show the Pugsters continue their Pacific Northwest Tour--this time from a boatyard in Everett, Washington! The crew is being hosted by Trinitas Presbyterian Church and the guys are addressing a question put to them by the leadership of the church--"What's the difference between 'worldview' and 'culture'? How does a worldview relate to culture, and what implications does this have for Christian ministry?"

The Theology Pugcast: The Prohibitive Cost of a Seminary Education

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 25 Nov 2021 03:00:00 +0000

Has inflation made a ministerial education unaffordable? It seems like it. Today a Master of Divinity degree—something that most Reformed denominations require for ordination—can leave the typical ministerial student tens of thousands of dollars in debt. This might be forgivable if pastors were paid like medical doctors, but they’re not. But we need an educated clergy, so what can be done? Join the Pugcast today for a short episode on the subject as they talk about the problem with a couple of men in Oregon City, Oregon who are trying to address the problem.

Learn more about Reformation Bible Institute at rbioc.org

The Theology Pugcast: Reformation 21 – Build, Defend, Repeat

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 11:00:09 +0000

The Pugcast Pacific Northwest Tour continues in Vancouver, Washington! In today’s show the Pugcast crew address the cultural crisis the church finds itself in. It seems like the proverbial curse, “May you live in interesting times!” applies to Reformed Christians today. To meet the challenges of our time the guys look to the resources of the Reformation and the broader Christian tradition. Enjoy!

The Theology Pugcast: Owen Barfield’s ‘Saving the Appearances’

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 11:00:00 +0000

This week, the Pugsters turn to another Touchstone article by Louis Markos, this one on Owen Barfield. Barfield was one of the Inklings along with C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien and helped nudge Lewis toward Christianity. He also was heavily influenced by Rudolph Steiner’s esoteric thought and tried to Christianize it. In this episode, the Pugsters discuss Barfield’s ideas about the relationship of human beings and the natural world, which argued that in the past people had a simple, spiritual relationship with the natural world but lost it with the Scientific Revolution. The goal, according to Barfield, is to bring the two together. On the way, the guys talk about Francis Bacon, Galileo, and whether you can keep the benefits of science and technology while losing their downsides.

Article Referenced: https://www.touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=34-06-027-f

The Theology Pugcast: A Monk Without a Monastery

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Tom introduces an article by Louis Markos entitled: Detectives of Significance. This article addresses an earlier time in Christian history which had a much deeper and wider view of reality and meaning. Part of the task of theology was to interpret such deeper meanings guided by the richly layered meanings communicated in the Bible and in creation. Markos then turns to detective stories, Sherlock Holmes and The Name of the Rose, to show how even rationalist characters desire something more than a narrow reading of reality. Chris and Glenn jump in with many insights into the rich web of meaning Christianity offers when seen in light of its engagement with truth, beauty, and goodness.

Article Referenced: https://www.touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=25-05-030-f

The Theology Pugcast: Tolkien’s “On Fairy Stories:” Escape

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 10:00:00 +0000

In this episode the Pugsters return to Tolkien’s essay “On Fairy Stories,” focusing particularly on the legitimacy of escape as a function of fantasy literature. Tolkien pointed out that “escape” is a positive term in all contexts except literary criticism, which points to a problem with the critics’ use of the word. The guys also get into discussions of the metaphysics of fantasy building off of Tolkien’s comments in the essay.

The Theology Pugcast: The Slavery Show

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Evidence indicates that slavery was a universal institution. It was practiced on every inhabited continent. It isn’t a particularly western institution at all. What has been peculiar to the West is the effort to abolish it. That effort has been largely successful when it comes to legislation—nevertheless slavery is still with us. Why is that? What are the conditions in which slavery spontaneously emerges, and how can a culture address those? And what is it about Christianity that got the effort to abolish slavery underway? Tune in to learn what the Pugcast guys think.

The Theology Pugcast: Technology, Wisdom, and Virtue

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Tom returns to the big topic of technology and addresses the rapid changes to our conceptions and interactions with its impingement upon reality. Glenn and Chris jump into the topic with Tom by supplying various insights into how the riches of Christian wisdom and virtue provide a path through the thickets of changes which allows us to use and relate wisely to the increasing impingement of technology in all aspects of our lives.

The Theology Pugcast: Pilgrimage

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 10:00:00 +0000

This week, the guys discuss pilgrimage. Glenn summarizes the early history of pilgrimage, noting both the practice and the arguments against it even in the early church. From there, the guys discuss more of the history of pilgrimage and talk about whether there are “thin places” made somehow holy by long centuries of prayer, or alternatively, made evil by great evil done in them in the past.

The Theology Pugcast: The Soul of Man Under Socialism

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 10:31:00 +0000

Today Chris introduces the guys to Christopher Lasch and a chapter in his book, The Revolt of the Elites and the Betrayal of Democracy. The chapter is, The Soul of Man Under Secularism. In the chapter Lasch riffs on Oscar Wilde’s, The Soul of Man Under Socialism. Wilde believed that Socialism would free people from the responsibilities of property and manual labor so that they could pursue the development of “personality”. If that sounds self-indulgent and unrealistic, that’s because it is. But that is remarkably similar to the way so many young people and tech gurus think in our time. The pugsters use Lasch and Wilde as a basis for reflection on the loony character of our time. Tune in and join the conversation!

The Theology Pugcast: Magic, Enchantment, and Worldview

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 10:00:00 +0000

In today’s show Tom introduces themes from Paul Tyson’s book - 7 Brief Lessons in Magic. In the book, Paul defines classical ways of seeing reality beyond the reductive naturalism of our modern way of thinking. Unpacking these classical ways, Paul engages magic and enchantment, and the ways in which they related to meaning, value, and other realities which modern reductionism cannot make intelligible within the narrow confines of its worldview. Glenn and Chris join in with various aspects of the classical vision and the distinct Christian worldview.

The Theology Pugcast: The Philosophy of the Vampire

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 10:00:00 +0000

With Halloween merch already showing up in stores, it’s a good time to do a Pug take on vampires, so this week, the Pugsters riff off an article by John Schuler looking at the implicit philosophical ideas in Bram Stoker’s Dracula. They start off with a discussion of the difference between modernity and the “old centuries” before moving on to scientism, the nature of evil, natural and artificial symbols (in Schuler’s terms), meaning, natural law and the supernatural, and a bunch of other rabbit trails suggested by the article.

Article Referenced:

Learn more about Davenant Hall’s online courses:

The Theology Pugcast: Welcome to the Metaverse!

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 10:09:00 +0000

Today Chris introduces the "Metaverse"--what's that? you may ask. According to Wikipedia it is: "...the sum of all virtual worlds, augmented reality, and the Internet." Or as Robin Phillips in a recent blog post at Salvo put it, "Imagine that the relationship between the real world and the internet becomes so porous that it is impossible to tell which is which." Regardless of whether or not the masters of the universe in Silicon Valley can pull it off, the very idea that something that further blurs the distinction between Reality and virtual reality would be a good thing says a lot about the people who make the technology that we rely on everyday. It also says something about our society as well, and the philosophical undercurrents that are moving beneath it. As you can imagine the guys have a lot to say about it--and their big concern is idolatry.

Article referenced:

Learn more about Davenant Hall’s online courses:

The Theology Pugcast: Sophistry Past and Present

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 11:00:00 +0000

Tom introduces a classic debate between Truth, reality, and language and the removal of language from truth and reality (sophistry). He engages the ancient debate and sees similarities between it and today's deconstructive tendencies and political use of language to manipulate people. Chris and Glenn bring into the conversation many insights which help illuminate the sinister aspects of sophistry and their ever present danger in undermining the relation of truth and language.

Learn more about Davenant Hall’s online courses:

The Theology Pugcast: The Rise and Fall of Heroes

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 11:00:00 +0000

This week, the guys look at the idea of heroes. Back in Homer’s day, “hero” was almost synonymous with the heavily armed and armored warriors that were the subjects of the Iliad, and not just the big names like Odysseus, Achilles, or Ajax. They exemplified the warrior virtues: prowess, toughness, courage, loyalty, and honor, understood as recognition and deference by others. The Middle Ages saw a major change in this largely under the influence of Christianity: humility, generosity, protection of the weak, and the like became part of chivalry, the warrior code. Today, in films ranging from The Lord of the Rings to Game of Thrones and The Green Knight, these virtues are ignored, inverted, or deliberately downplayed or distorted as unrealistic and untrustworthy. The guys reflect on what this means about our culture and the loss of nobility of character even as an ideal in our cultural imagination.

Learn more about Davenant Hall’s online courses:

The Theology Pugcast: Darwinian Conservatism?

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 22:18:00 +0000

In today's show Chris presents an article that was published by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI), entitled, Darwinian Conservatism Versus Metaphysical Conservatism. The article is something of a departure for ISI, but it addresses a significant debate within conservative circles--can Darwin's evolutionary theories be used to support conservative social ethics, and conservative politics. The author, Larry Arnhart, Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Northern Illinois University says yes--the Pugsters--as you probably can imagine--say, No! Chris, Tom, and Glenn are strong advocates of Metaphysical Conservatism, and they endeavor to defend it during the course of the show.

Find the article here:

The Theology Pugcast: Meaning in History: Part Three

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 12 Aug 2021 09:10:00 +0000

How emancipatory views of history draw upon yet distort Christian views of teleology in history. The guys discuss Hegel, Marx, Wokeness, liberation theology and more.

The Theology Pugcast: The Rise of Biblical Criticism

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 11:00:00 +0000

The guys are back in the seventeenth century again, looking at the beginnings of challenges to biblical authority. Progressive thinkers of the day starting with the Jewish philosopher Spinoza attacked Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch as a way of undermining orthodox Christianity: since Jesus referred to Moses as the human author of the Law, if Moses didn’t write it, then either Jesus lied or he didn’t know. Either answer would challenge the idea that he was God incarnate. After discussing Spinoza, the guys turned to a debate on Mosaic authorship between French Catholic scholar Richard Simon and Remonstrant scholar Jean LeClerc. This debate, largely forgotten today, triggered a sharp movement away from historic Christian theology into liberal Christianity by thinkers such as John Locke.

The Theology Pugcast: Is Politics Everything?

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 10:07:00 +0000

You may have heard feminists say, “The personal is political”—but are they right? Is the relationship between a mother and her child really a political relationship—or is it something else? In today’s show the guys discuss what else relationships like this could be. The term that they use is “pre-political”. Along the way the guys discuss the Kuyperian doctrine of “sphere sovereignty” as well as the Roman Catholic social doctrine of “subsidiarity” among other things. Enjoy!

The Theology Pugcast: Meaning in History: Part Two

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 10:00:00 +0000

In this episode Tom returns to the topic of Meaning in History (a three show aim) by looking at ways Modernity rejected classical Christian understanding of history and meaning and developed alternatives which borrowed from Christianity while introducing radical alternative notions which still impact us today, often unwittingly. This show has the guys discussing Vico and Herder, along with many other important themes.

The Theology Pugcast: Guilds, Craftsmanship, and Excellence

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 10:00:00 +0000

Jumping off another suggested topic from our faithful listeners, the Pugsters talk about the medieval guild system. The guilds were a way to protect customers and, with export goods, the reputation of the city by guaranteeing the quality of products. They also guaranteed a level playing field for producers. Along with their economic role, the guilds performed social and spiritual functions, with the process of mastering your craft seen as a metaphor for the process of spiritual growth. Glenn clears up a lot of misconceptions about the guilds and the Middle Ages in general, and the guys talk about the quality of medieval craftsmanship vs. the disposable world created by industrialization and consumerism.

The Theology Pugcast: Ideologies That Are Out to Get Your Family

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 20:34:00 +0000

Today Chris introduces listeners to Political Scientist, Scott Yenor’s new book, The Recovery of Family Life: Exposing the Limits of Modern Ideologies. Just what is an ideology anyway? Is it merely a philosophy in different clothes? Listen in and find out why it isn’t.

The Theology Pugcast: Meaning in History

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Fri, 02 Jul 2021 01:58:00 +0000

This week the guys discuss how many contemporary views of history assume or draw upon aspects of Christian historical understanding, inadvertently borrowing its teleological character, even when they undermine other essential aspects of it. Christian faith altered conceptions of history and brought to the fore a notion of history as being meaningful and being directed towards culminating purposes. Secular emancipatory views which see history as progressing toward justice, or utopia, are examples that the guys get into in this important discussion.

The Theology Pugcast: Aesthetics: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 12:00:00 +0000

Working from the articles in the link, the Pugsters talk about aesthetics—the philosophical field focused on questions of beauty and taste. Rather than beauty being purely in the eye of the beholder, the guys agree that beauty is objective and rooted in the transcendence of God. And that means that there is a right and wrong way to respond to beauty or the lack thereof. In this way, aesthetics is a moral issue. From there, the Pugsters explore a variety of ways that beauty is defiled, whether from viewing art as a means to shock or to produce intentional ugliness, or from kitsch, commercialism or utilitarianism, or from twisting it to support ideologies. The last is on full display in the program for the Tolkien Society’s Summer seminar this year, also linked below.

https://hedgehogreview.com/blog/thr/posts/more-than-a-matter-of-taste?fbclid=IwAR3iV1ACuKg2Yv05RFI-DuLQa2jKseLYrmW3bn0OYVx_Iq1AAiSkeJpI8ck

The Theology Pugcast: You’re Special, Just Like Everyone Else!

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 17 Jun 2021 12:00:00 +0000

In our time everyone is obligated to create an identity for himself. We're supposed to "self-create"--making ourselves into works of art that are utterly original, you know, like snow flakes. So why is it that people increasingly think alike and are so fearful of disapproval? In today's show the guys discuss the paradoxical relationship between mimesis (mimicry) and poesis (creation, or making). They arrive at the conclusion that only people who have mastered skills through mimesis are capable of making something new--i.e. original. Until then everyone is finger painting.

The Theology Pugcast: Restoring the Transcendent Frame

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Fri, 11 Jun 2021 00:09:00 +0000

In this episode, the guys engage with fresh insights the contemporary vision of reality, human nature and purposes as they are understood from a radically immanent, materialist frame. After noting how Christian themes are often ripped from their transcendent frame and redefined with an immanent one, the pugsters evaluate not only the problems and limits of such a move but also ways in which the rich transcendental vision of Christianity has become almost foreign in this over familiar materialist setting. The conversation then turns to ways in which the classic Christian vision, especially its eschatological and teleological riches, supplies the necessary resources for restoring to Christian life a truly transcendent vision but also provide the only means for up-ending the anthropocentric turn of the contemporary vision of things.

The Critical Theory lectures Glenn mentions in the episode will be at 7:00 PM on Friday and Saturday, June 11 and 12, at the Christian Reformed Church, 3275 Washington Ave., St. Joseph, Michigan.

The Theology Pugcast: Revelation, Reason, and Romanticism

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 18:28:00 +0000

The Pugsters return to a topic they’ve touched on before: the problems with the Enlightenment. Glenn starts off with a summary of changing ideas of authority, focusing on the transition from Reason and Revelation to Reason over Revelation to Reason without Revelation. That gets the guys into the Enlightenment, autonomous reason, and some of the problems associated with it. Glenn then looks at Romanticism as a reaction against the Enlightenment and other stress points in the period, noting both the problems with Romanticism and some of the things the Romantics got right. The conclusion points out that both the Enlightenment and Romanticism have problems, but each of them also gets things right. It’s only in the Gospel that the different strengths of each can be united and the problems avoided.

The Theology Pugcast: It’s a Mystery! Can Every Mystery be Solved?

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 27 May 2021 12:00:00 +0000

In today's episode Chris introduces the subject of mystery and the ways modern people and ancient people used the term--surprise, surprise, they didn't mean the same thing--at times, they even mean things that contradict each other.

Chris also delves into the way in the modern outlook in general can mystify people and keep them from seeing the truth of things; he uses Carl Trueman's new book as a good use of reason to demystify modern ways of thinking.

The Theology Pugcast: Soul Sickness and Society: Plato and Christ: Part Two

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 20 May 2021 10:00:00 +0000

The guys finish unpacking the discussion of Plato from Ed Feser's article Woke Ideology is a Psychological Disorder. After noting how Plato understands the sick society, where democracy as a social disorder leads to tyranny, the guys engage Plato's insights, noting positives and yet critiquing the limits of Plato's vision in light of the the riches of the Christian understanding of the virtue. The aim is to retrieve the riches of Christian moral reflection as it engaged classic visions of morality and carved out a fully salvic vision which also has insights for addressing the maladies of our time.

The Theology Pugcast: Soul Sickness and Society: Plato and Christ: Part One

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 13 May 2021 11:12:00 +0000

In today’s episode the guys unpack Plato's understanding of human psychology and social order. They note his positive insights as well as limits as they set forth fuller Christian insights into the ways in which improper ordering of our desires tends toward destructive political orderings.

The Theology Pugcast: Warriors in the Garden: Martial Virtues and the Christian Man

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 06 May 2021 11:00:00 +0000

Today the Pugcast is joined by Nate Spearing, highly decorated combat veteran with 14 years and 12 deployments in Army Special Operations. Nathan has a broad range of experiences domestically and overseas and has spent his entire professional life walking out a theology of violence as a Christian in war.

Nate was homeschooled, and today is the father of five children. Along with his wife, they are educating their children at home.

Since leaving the military in 2016, Nathan has started several successful small businesses in real estate and construction. In the wake of the Covid crisis, Nathan launched www.Spearing.co to inspire and train people to live boldly — especially during times of crisis — through a variety of courses on business, self defense, and family resilience. https://spearing.co

The Theology Pugcast: Heiser’s Unseen Realm

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 29 Apr 2021 12:00:00 +0000

This week, the Pugsters look at some of the themes in Michael Heiser’s books dealing with the worldview of the biblical authors. Glenn leads the discussion, which revolves around two big ideas: the idea of a heavenly court, with angelic beings having authority over areas such as nations; and the account of the Nephilim in Genesis. For the latter, Heiser uses 1 Enoch, a document that shaped much of the Jewish worldview at the time of the New Testament and had a direct influence on 2 Peter and Jude. 1 Enoch claims that the “sons of God” were angelic beings (“Watchers”) and that the Nephilim were thus half angelic, half human hybrids. Their disembodied spirits were the demons and evil spirits of the New Testament and were responsible for much of the evil in the world. The guys discuss these and other matters, including whether we need to adopt all elements of the worldview of the biblical authors, especially when they are using non-canonical sources.

The Theology Pugcast: The Hermeneutic of Suspicion

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 12:00:00 +0000

In today’s show Chris introduces a term coined by the French intellectual, Paul Ricouer—the hermeneutic of suspicion. In the 19th century, theorists including Marx, Nietzsche, and Freud promoted the idea that rationality was nothing more than rationalization. Beneath the surface of any argument was something selfish and irrational. They believed that interpretation should begin with suspicion. One of the bitter fruits of this approach is the shift from persuasion through argument to identify politics. The Pugsters discuss what this means for the church.

The Theology Pugcast: The Return of the Metanarrative?!

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 12:00:00 +0000

Early postmodern promoters argued that the end of metanarratives like Christianity and the Enlightenment would lead to a peaceful plurality of group narratives, without the aim of any to dominate. This would lead to an end of oppressive worldviews with totalitarian aims. But mutations in postmodern thinking, those connected with Critical Theory, have taken a totalitarian turn, positing new absolutes along with a dominating aim. Tom leads the topic and Chris and Glenn contribute much to the discussion.

The Theology Pugcast: The Irish Saints: Redeemed Paganism

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 12:00:00 +0000

In an earlier episode, the Pugsters talked about Tolkien’s ideas of the value of pagan myth and the need to Christianize it. In this episode, Glenn picks up on that and applies it not to mythology but to culture, specifically, the religion of pre-Christian Ireland and what happened when it was Christianized. In pagan Ireland, the Druids were walking encyclopedias of everything related to the culture—religion, rituals, magic, law, history, music, …. When Ireland converted to Christianity, they assumed that religious leaders similarly had to learn everything there was to know about Christianity and culture. Along with tangents on the history of monasticism and martyrdom, the guys talked about a number of saints’ lives and the contributions of Irish Christianity to civilization.

The Theology Pugcast: Individualisms: Which Sort of Individual are You?

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 01 Apr 2021 11:00:00 +0000

In today's show, Chris introduces an important study of individualism that was published back in 1985 by Robert Bellah and a team of sociologists, entitled: Habits of the Heart--Individualism and Commitment in American Life". A best-seller at the time, the book is almost forgotten today, which is a shame since the world we live in is the world they warned us about and hoped we'd avoid. The team, through field research identified four forms individualism can take in the American tradition--two of which support healthy community life, and two which undermine it. The healthy forms of individualism were in decline in 1985, and the situation is worse today. Of course, the subject gives Tom and Glenn a lot to talk about. Join the discussion and see what sort of individual you are!

The Theology Pugcast: Christianity’s Favorite Beverage?!

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 12:00:00 +0000

Celebratory fun highlights this Pugcast. As the gang records on St Patrick’s day, Tom thought it would be great to share in the celebrations by highlighting some fun-filled facts from Stephen Mansfield’s book In Search for God and Guinness. The book is far more than a story of the relation of Christianity and the Guinness family and beer. It also covers the long history of beer and the divine, and the way in which Christianity transformed and renewed the relation, as can be seen by the devout Guinness family and business and the beer sharing their name. Especially insightful is the way in which the Guinness family treated its employees. Glenn and Chris share in the discussion with wide-ranging facts and insights. This allows the conversation to lead where it may (one of the great aspects of the Pugcast), ending with Glenn sharing some rich insights on St. Patrick, Christianity in Ireland, and the Celtic Circle Cross.

The Theology Pugcast: Sanctifying Myth

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 12:00:00 +0000

Working off the introduction to Bradley Birzer’s J.R.R. Tolkien’s Sanctifying Myth, the Pugsters talk about Tolkien, Lewis, and Chesterton and their ideas about myth and faerie. Tolkien believed that just like pagan philosophers grasped truths that were most perfectly expressed in the Gospel, the stories of myth and faerie were bits of “splintered light” that pointed beyond themselves to deeper reality. For Tolkien, pagan myths presented an almost sacramental vision of the world, though the myths need to be “sanctified” by Christian truth to avoid the dangers of paganism. The guys bring their own unique perspectives to these and related themes about the value of myth to us today.

The Theology Pugcast: Esoteric and Exoteric Teachings

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 13:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Why Have So Many In the World Gone Seemingly Mad?

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 13:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Barometers and Worldview

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 25 Feb 2021 13:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Morgoth’s Ring!

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 13:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Jonathan Edwards and War

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 11 Feb 2021 13:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Contrasting Cultures: One Which Affirms and Celebrates Life, One That Centralizes Death

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 13:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Science, Art, and Worldview

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 13:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Social Darwinism: The Legacy of Darwinism for Culture and Politics

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 13:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Athens and Jerusalem

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 14 Jan 2021 13:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: The Via Positiva and the Via Negativa: The Positive and Negative Ways of Doing Theology

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 07 Jan 2021 13:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Ecology and the Libel of Christianity: The Legacy of Lynn White, Jr.

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 13:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Imperturbable Joy

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 24 Dec 2020 13:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Reading Old Books: Athanasius, “On the Incarnation”

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 13:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Human Scale: What It Is, & Why It Matters

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Fri, 11 Dec 2020 01:20:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Let Us Keep the Feasts

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 03 Dec 2020 13:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Kill the Dragon, Get the Girl

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 13:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Against the Great Reset, or Why Property Is Freedom

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 13:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: The Vice of Curiosity

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 13:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: In Living Memory

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 13:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Postconstitutional America & the Cult of Expertise

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 12:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: The Boniface Option

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 12:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: God, Guns, and Government: An Interview About the 2nd Amendment with John Zmirak, Senior Editor of The Stream

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 12:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Music and the Liberal Arts

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 12:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Leaf by Niggle, a Consolation for Artists

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 12:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: The Mere Christianity of Touchstone Magazine, an Interview with S. M. Hutchens

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 12:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: More on Films and Theology

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 12:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Creational Theology

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 12:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: The End of Science? Cancel Culture and the Sciences

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 12:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Movies and Shows in a Nihilist Key: How Nihilistic Trends Have Impacted the Movie and Television Industry

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 12:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: A Tale of Two Revolutions

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 30 Jul 2020 12:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Why Should Christians Care about Self-Driving Cars?

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 23 Jul 2020 12:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: On Weeds and Fairy Tales

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 12:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: From Impiety to Totalitarianism

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 12:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: How the Current Cultural Trend Came to Absolutize the Present in Opposition to the Past, Part II

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 12:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: The New Iconoclasm: Presentism and Its Trendy Enemies

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 25 Jun 2020 12:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Culture to Language or Language to Culture?

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 12:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Friendship According to: Aristotle, Aquinas, C. S. Lewis, and the Bible

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 11 Jun 2020 13:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: The Disturbing Embrace of Therapeutic Culture by the Church

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 04 Jun 2020 12:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Chivalry, Howard Finster, and Other Musings

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 28 May 2020 12:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Goldberry & the Art of Redeeming Faerie

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 21 May 2020 13:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Origen’s Revenge: Contempt for Sex Differences Returns to the Church!

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 14 May 2020 12:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Good and Bad Kinds of Reality Splitting

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 13:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: NeoPagan and Heathen Movements

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 23 Apr 2020 12:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: The Green Tolkien (and C. S. Lewis, too!) The Inklings and Environmentalism

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 16 Apr 2020 11:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Whistling in the Dark: Christian Hope as God’s Creature

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 11:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Christianity & How to Live through Plague

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 11:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Adiaphora: What’s Indifferent? Less Than You May Suppose.

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 11:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: It’s the Magic Episode!

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 11:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Divine Simplicity

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 12 Mar 2020 11:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: The Intersectionality Episode

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 12:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: The Black Death!

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 12:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Ken Boa: Life in the Presence of God

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 12:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Ken Boa and Shaped by Suffering

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 13 Feb 2020 12:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Vampires of New England!

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 06 Feb 2020 12:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: An Introduction to Robert Nisbet and Paleo-conservatism

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 12:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Roger Scruton and Beauty

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 12:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Tolkien the Realist

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 16 Jan 2020 12:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: The Movies and Transcendence

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 11:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Bonus Mystery Episode!

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Sat, 04 Jan 2020 00:37:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: What Conservatives Have to Do to Survive in Liberal Academia

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 26 Dec 2019 12:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: In Defense of Christmas

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 11:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Aaron Renn of the Masculinist Returns!

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 11:30:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: The Demise of the Shakers & the Dangers of an Over-realized Eschatology

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 21:16:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Machiavelli & Politics in a World without Virtue

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Mon, 25 Nov 2019 14:58:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: The “Greening” of the Church (and we don’t mean for Advent)

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 11:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Niceness: Stupid as it Ever Was

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 14 Nov 2019 11:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Deconstructing Critical Theory

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 11:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Intellectual Faithfulness

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 31 Oct 2019 11:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: An Education with Class: An Introduction to Classical Education w/ Dr. Ben Merkle

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 24 Oct 2019 11:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Leisure Suits the Basis of Culture? (An Introduction to J. Pieper)

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 11:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Disciple-Making Movements & the Contest w/ Islam in West Africa

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 11:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Evangelical Humanism Vs. Humanistic Evangelicalism

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 11:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Who Is Tom Bombadil?

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 26 Sep 2019 11:30:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Consumerism as Worldview

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 10:56:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Theology: From Queen of the Disciplines to Wallflower

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 11:30:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Are Angels Out of Work?

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 05 Sep 2019 22:37:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Plato Can Be Your Friend

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 29 Aug 2019 11:29:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Propaganda Fills the Void Truth Left Behind

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 11:20:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Productive Property: What It Is & Why It Is Essential for Liberty

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 11:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Transhumanism: Frankenstein Returns

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 08 Aug 2019 05:06:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Life After the Welfare State

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 01 Aug 2019 03:28:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Liberty or License: What Does it Mean to Be Free?

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 04:56:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: The Barmen Declaration & Saying “No!” to Cultural Accommodation

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 18 Jul 2019 03:22:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Underground LGBT Networks in Evangelical Institutions

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 15:35:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: A Conversation with Aaron Renn

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 04 Jul 2019 02:00:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Fighting Back: Protestant Resistance Theory

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 27 Jun 2019 16:41:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Blue Collar Intellectuals

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 15:09:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: Can Enchantment Come with Air-Conditioning?

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 17:05:00 +0000

The Theology Pugcast: True Enchantment and the Consequences of Disenchantment

Fight Laugh Feast Network — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 13:13:00 +0000