All tagged laughter

292 Shotgun: Twittering, Civilization, Apple Trees n' Faith, Scientism

292 Shotgun: Twittering, Civilization, Apple Trees n' Faith, Scientism

Uncensored Unprofessor
Sciency-Y Stuff, Current Events, Christian Worldview, The Common Good

In this shotgun show I reflect variously on the recent Twitter revelations, why free speech is necessary for civilization, a comparison of Jesus and the tree of life in Eden, and the limitations of Science. There is a growing trend of Scientism: the belief that science will solve all human problems and that science—isolated unto itself—is the final arbiter of truth and meaning. But science is, at definitional levels, incapable of measuring all manner of things that are deeply important to human beings. Let's think with nuance even while we enjoy some laughter!

248 The Spiritual World (2) Problems in Paleo Paradise

248 The Spiritual World (2) Problems in Paleo Paradise

Uncensored Unprofessor
The Spiritual World

"There was a serpent in the garden of Eden." What does that mean? First? I erase some glosses that get overlaid onto the text. Then, we work through both some historical-cultural and textual framing of the story of the serpent. What would ancient readers immediately have recognized about that creature, that story? How does the notion of divine oracles play into the story? Come laugh and think with me.

235 Suffering (4) My Pastoral Concerns

235 Suffering (4) My Pastoral Concerns

Uncensored Unprofessor
Suffering

Ya know me? I hate glib Christian expressions. But still, it is good and wise to give God our pain, to learn from our pain, to practice a holy fear of God in the midst of our pain. So I share some heartfelt pastoral concerns about suffering. I also describe eating daily oatmeal with my grandson and share a story about Squirrel Tom, one of my golf friends. Come laugh and think with me about things the Church is terrified to address.

212 Time and Eternity—The Dual Nature of Scripture

212 Time and Eternity—The Dual Nature of Scripture

Uncensored Unprofessor
Bible, Nature of


By his Holy Spirit God spoke through different authors in history. What does that mean, not mean? Why is it erroneous to argue that God alone wrote the Bible? Why is it injurious to argue that people alone wrote the Bible? Is God more or less sovereign for having worked through people? I work through some of my own life story and introduce a new guest to the podcast. Come laugh and think with me!

211 Three Major Genres in the Bible

211 Three Major Genres in the Bible

Uncensored Unprofessor
Bible, Nature of

To help you read your Bible better I explore three major genres: narrative, poetry, and discourse. Along the way we'll think through how God communicates and why each grouping is unique. I also consider the Catholic social teachings of solidarity and subsidiarity and why they are superior to current political configurations. Come laugh and think with me!

210 Different Ways to Read the Bible

210 Different Ways to Read the Bible

Uncensored Unprofessor
Bible, Nature of

Many believers get stuck in their Bible reading. They want to do what is right and want to hear from the Lord, but because they only read in one set way they get stuck, and frustrated. I work through 5 different ways to change-up your reading method and tell some personal stories along the way. I also offer up an analysis of our societal chaos and sing a new ditty for your informational pleasure! :)

198 Atlas Crushed—When do You have too much Compassion?

198 Atlas Crushed—When do You have too much Compassion?

Uncensored Unprofessor
Spirituality

Who's against compassion? Not me. Out of compassion God sent his Son. The Bible shows God is constantly looking to extend compassion towards us. But today's PoMo culture over-burdens millions, they are taught they need to "own" and solve all the world's problems, by themselves. How might you check to see whether your compassion pendulum has swung too far? Also in this episode: why I go to church.

182 Beauty in Theology—A Conversation w/Pastor Mitchell

182 Beauty in Theology—A Conversation w/Pastor Mitchell

Uncensored Unprofessor
Spirituality

Beauty is not in a fight with reason, but transcends reason. Beauty flows from the character and being of God himself. So why do Protestants so miss out on God's beauty? How might we recover a sense of beauty? How might beauty be used as a conversation starter in our relationships? All those topics and questions are addressed in my conversation with PhD student, pastor Michael David Mitchell. Come laugh and think with us!

177 Is God Nice? (1) The Book of Nature

177 Is God Nice? (1) The Book of Nature

Uncensored Unprofessor
Is God Nice?

The common human tendency is to fashion God or the gods in our own image. The Bible calls that tendency idolatry. How did the ancients work idolatry? How do we today? But if we study nature, the circle of life, what does it show us about God? What, for instance, might we learn from observing bees? Or, what might we learn by studying Michelangelo's David?

169 The Cult of the Now (9) Justice vs. Social Justice

169 The Cult of the Now (9) Justice vs. Social Justice

Uncensored Unprofessor
Cult of the Now

We hear it from daily news coverage. We hear it from crowds chanting in the streets. Professors ubiquitously use it in lectures: social justice. Just what is social justice? What caused the phrase to arise? When did it first arise? What are its philosophical premises? Why are BLM and Antifa getting so much media attention and moral cover? What does the Bible have to say about justice? And who does the Bible blame for racism? Come, let us reason together.

167 The Cult of the Now (7) Karl "helps" others

167 The Cult of the Now (7) Karl "helps" others

Uncensored Unprofessor
Cult of the Now

In this episode: why is the self-named anti-racism movement a false gospel? what is original sin in this new gospel? how does one get saved in this new false gospel? what kind of good things are going on despite our tumultuous era? why does this movement cherish grand gestures? how does Marxism consistently try to "help" people? why is there so much largesse involved in Marxism? And, what kind of things can Christians be doing to effect change? Come think and laugh with me.

162 The Cult of the Now (2) Human Hunger: Christianity vs. Marx

162 The Cult of the Now (2) Human Hunger: Christianity vs. Marx

Uncensored Unprofessor
Cult of the Now

What is the anthropology (doctrine of human nature) that lies beneath Marxism? It's important to understand that because that doctrine both undergirds and reveals what is going on in our woke-scolding era today. Herein I argue that while a Marxist can convert and come to know the living Christ, Marxism itself is beyond redemption: at its core it is atheist. Trying to transform Marxism into Christianity is like a human being trying to live among grizzly bears.

156 Trinity (3) The Power of Ancient Words

156 Trinity (3) The Power of Ancient Words

Uncensored Unprofessor
Trinity

"God is love" is not nearly as thick or rich as saying, "God is three persons in one essence." My point? Our words about God matter more, not less, than our words about other realities. But God as a Trinity crucifies the human intellect! So what to do? Then, what terms did the ancient Church give us that still inform us today? Why do those words matter? What is the essence of God? I also do a bit of processing the recent death of a family member.

155 The Grand Mystery: Trinity (2) Plug n Play Jesus? Ancient Struggles

155 The Grand Mystery: Trinity (2) Plug n Play Jesus? Ancient Struggles

Uncensored Unprofessor
Jesus, Trinity

"Trinitarian doctrine is a capitulation to Greek philosophy." So goes the standard critique. But is that true? Actually? Nope. Amazingly, the ancient church resisted Greek constructions of truth by developing Trinitarian worship. In this episode I explore that ancient Greek context as well as clarify who and what the ancient—biblically committed—Church pushed back against. The gist of it all? Jesus was not a plug n' play construction of truth. Jesus shatters all pre-existing categories and constructions!

154 The Grand Mystery: Trinity (1) What caused it to arise in history?

154 The Grand Mystery: Trinity (1) What caused it to arise in history?

Uncensored Unprofessor
Trinity

What caused the doctrine of the Trinity to arise in ancient history? A quest for religious marketplace advantage? Was it all just mere philosophic speculation? If the Bible doesn't come right out and say "Worship God as three who is one" then why do we? In this episode I unpack the God-at-work-in-history reasons why Christianity is resoundingly trinitarian. Come and think and laugh and sing with me! 

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