R.J. Snell

R. J. Snell, Editor-in-Chief of Public Discourse and director of academic programs at the Witherspoon Institute, is a scholar of Thomistic thought and boredom. He diagnoses student frenzy and modern busyness as sloth, contrasts frantic diversion with committed action, reads Judge Holden as a symbol of refusal, and urges recovery of delight through contemplation, feasting, and Eucharistic receptivity.

R.J. Snell, a Princeton instructor and editor of Public Discourse, discusses modern disenchantment and attempts at re-enchantment. He traces phenomenology, technology’s role in flattening meaning, false substitutes like tech boosterism and activist universalism, and the virtue of hope from heroic examples to daily sanctification. The conversation closes on play, paternal care, and hopeful perseverance.

Join Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P., a prominent figure in Aquinas discussions, and Dr. R.J. Snell, Editor-in-Chief of Public Discourse, as they delve into the vital role of play and leisure in our lives. They discuss the contrast between genuine leisure and today’s productivity obsession, and how true relaxation fosters communal engagement. The conversation highlights vulnerability in relationships, the transformative nature of play, and navigating adult responsibilities while cherishing life’s simple joys. A philosophical journey that intertwines love, time, and a deeper understanding of fulfillment!

R.J. Snell, philosopher and director of academic programs at the Witherspoon Institute and author of Lost in the Chaos, explores modern disenchantment and attempts at re-enchantment. He contrasts technocratic false religions with authentic hope, traces hope from Anglo-Saxon warriors to Soviet dissidents, and considers beauty, liturgy, and the moral costs of living truthfully.

R. J. Snell, Editor-in-Chief of Public Discourse and academic at Princeton, explores our achievement-obsessed culture. He discusses student anxiety, fragmented attention in the information age, and the shift from disciplinary to achievement society. He contrasts fleeting activity with lingering contemplation, argues we quantify life at the cost of narrative, and urges practices like silence, Sabbath, and a rule of life to restore meaning.

R.J. Snell, a Christian philosopher and expert on early theology, explores the controversial figure Marcion and his impact on Christianity. He discusses Marcion's radical belief in two gods—a vengeful Hebrew God and a loving Christian God. The conversation delves into how Marcion's ideas challenged church formation, influenced the canon, and echoed in modern debates, such as those raised by figures like Tucker Carlson. Snell also examines the responses from early church fathers and the implications for understanding scripture today.

R.J. Snell, philosopher and editor steeped in Thomistic thought and natural law, guides a lively tour of Thomas Aquinas. He explores Aquinas’s synthetic genius blending Augustine and Aristotle. Short takes cover Aquinas’s view of existence, fine-grained theological distinctions, mysticism alongside scholarship, scriptural interpretation, law and reason, the nature of evil, and Trinitarian roots of personhood.

R.J. Snell, Editor-in-Chief of Public Discourse and Director of Academic Programs at the Witherspoon Institute, discusses the crisis of meaning in modern society. He contrasts loneliness and disenchantment showcased in Elena Ferrante's fiction with the Christian vision of personhood rooted in the Trinity. Snell emphasizes the importance of community and storytelling in recovering communion and joy. He advocates for embracing the Sabbath to foster leisure and spiritual enrichment, enriching our lives through meaningful connections and shared experiences.

Dr. R.J. Snell discusses the complexities of love and happiness, exploring concupiscence, benevolence, and the intertwining of natural love and love for God. The podcast contemplates humanitarian sentimentalism, challenges of self-love, and the demand to love all neighbors. It also delves into the theological virtue of caritas, distinguishing between natural and infused love, and highlighting the importance of justice and charity in politics and the common good.

Prof. R.J. Snell discusses the search for purpose amidst fear and pressure for success, the impact of technology on values and freedom, the moral aspects of human companionship in Genesis, the importance of celebrating goodness and truth, the need for Sabbath rest to foster creativity, and the influence of narratives and worship on character development.