The Theology Pugcast

In today's episode Glenn discusses an important distinction that is lost on most people today--the difference between liberty and license. The Founding Fathers of the United States understood the difference, and they did their best to structure American government in order to preserve liberty and inhibit license. We've come a long way, baby.  Is there any hope for responsible freedom, or are we doomed to live in the Servile State, as the Distributists put it? 

In today's show, Tom introduces listeners to the Barmen Declaration of 1934. He then helps listeners understand what genuine resistance to the Nazis looked like at the time, and how many German churches had been coopted by cultural trends.  In our ideological age, cut off from both nature and nature's God, totalitarianisms emerge to fill in the empty spaces in our heads and hearts. Classical Christian theism is what we need today, but most evangelicals don't know what that is. Here's the wiki page for the Barmen Declaration--https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barmen_Declaration Once again, the show is recorded on our new sound equipment! We're getting the hang of it.    

Today's show begins with Chris's memories of three LGBT networks that existed in evangelical institutions. These are not hearsay stories, the people involved remain nameless, but Chris knew them personally. Most troubling was the way these networks recruited new members and initiated them. In each case theology was twisted to provide justification for what was occurring. The stories provide a basis for considering what is known as the "Lavender Mafia" in the Roman Catholic Church. For those unfamiliar with the term, "Lavender Mafia" is the name used by socially conservative Roman Catholics for a network of homosexual priests that many people believe exists in the Roman Catholic Church. Chris then wonders aloud, "Is it unreasonable to suspect that something similar may exist in some places among evangelical clergy?"  This is a free-ranging discussion that includes reflections on some of the theological trends within evangelicalism and how those trends may serve these networks. As a bonus--this show is the first one recorded on the new recording equipment. The guys are still learning how to use it, so hopefully the sound quality will improve with each episode going forward.  

Chris is in Dallas, and Glenn is on the road, and Tom feels too lonely to record a show. So, we dig into Chris's personal vault of recorded stuff this week for a conversation with Aaron Renn, publisher of the Masculinist. Chris and Aaron are joined by David Talcott, professor of philosophy at King's College in New York City, Sam Perez, a pastor in Jersey City, and Nate Towers of Fellowship Deaconry. This is a free-range conversation about men, masculinity, the church, women, Jason Peterson, and a host of other things. Enjoy!  

In today's show Glenn provides an introduction to Protestant Resistance Theory. You may have wondered, are Christians the doormats of human history? Do we always turn the other cheek? Do you ever run out of cheeks? Is punching back ever justified, not just in self-defense, but in armed resistance against tyranny? Well, you're not the first person to wonder. Glenn provides an overview of how Christians in general, and Protestants in particular, have come to say, "Enough! Now I'm fighting back!" Naturally, Tom and Chris have things to share--and you may have guessed, they agree that there is a time to fight back.

In today's show Chris introduces listeners to two of his favorite writers--Matthew Crawford, author of Shop Class as Soulcraft, and Eric Hoffer, author of The True Believer. Both men could be described as "blue collar intellectuals" because they actually are (or were) blue collar men. Crawford is a motorcycle mechanic and Hoffer was a stevedore (a dockworker). But even though they're blue collar, their thinking is first class, not low class. Chris has been a blue collar guy over the years--having actually been a carpenter and a home improvement contractor. Chris uses his experience and the writing of these authors to raise the question, "Is one of the reasons that academe is so crazy these days because most academics have no real acquaintance with working with the physical world?" Tom and Glenn chime in with excellent commentary as usual.  Unfortunately the guys don't know how to use their new recording equipment yet--so the sound quality is not what it will soon be. Nonetheless, here is some very worthwhile content for anyone who'd like to know what it means to be a blue collar intellectual.  

In today's show Tom returns to the theme on technology but this time with an eye toward responding to Glenn's thoughts on enchantment. Is it possible to have the best of both--or must we choose between a world of creature comforts made possible by technology, or an uncomfortable but meaningful world? Fittingly, the guys had to choose between air-conditioning and optimal conditions for recording the show. (Sounds like the wrong choice was made--when you listen to the show you'll know what that means. Sorry.) But there is some good news to share: this is our last episode with our old recording equipment. When the show was recorded the new equipment had been ordered. By the time the show was uploaded on the internet--the equipment had arrived! So, if all goes well, you'll never have to endure another poorly recored episode of The Pug!) Content correction: Chris calls "the Death Star" from Star Wars "the Battle Star" (Heresy! He mixed up his franchises)--but at least he got the Marshwiggle's name from The Silver Chair right. It's "Puddleglum".

In today's show Glenn begins with a marvelous series of word studies ranging all the way from "enchantment" to "cosmology". His point is that our language is full of words that reflect a time when the world was full of meaning and words were spells that drew on those meanings. Undoubtedly, the very fact that we've lost the original meanings of words like "spell" and "magic" just reinforces the point that we now live in a disenchanted world. Or do we? Tom points out in the conversation that what we actually have now is black magic. Our words now bend and twist things as we seek to dominate our world and other people. We've lost the "good magic" of Aslan and all we're left with is the "black magic" of the White Witch. In today's episode Elizabeth Sunshine joins us again. We also inform listeners about exciting developments related to the Pugcast and it's future with the Fight, Laugh, Feast Network! 

In today's show Chris raises the subject of C. S. Lewis and metaphysics. The evidence is overwhelming that C. S. Lewis was a Platonist--there are passages throughout his fiction in particular that demonstrate it. Tom and Glenn note that it shouldn't surprise us since Lewis was steeped in the classical sources, as well as Medieval and Renaissance works--think of Augustine, or Boethius--both fountainheads for the West, and both explicitly Platonist. There is an allergic reaction to Platonism is some Reformed circles today, and this is odd for no other reason than Calvin himself provides plenty of evidence in his work that he was shaped by Platonism. So today's episode may challenge the presuppositions of some listeners. Joining the Pugcast guys today is Glenn's daughter, Elizabeth, a doctoral candidate at Notre Dame. 

Tom continues his reflection on the theological implications of technology. Are there any lines here? If it can be done, must it be done? What happened at Babel? And what about Cain's sons? They're identified in the Bible as the fathers of the arts. As usual, Glenn and Chris join in and try to throw Tom an occasional curveball to see if he can hit it. (He always does.) Plus a couple of announcements are mentioned in today's show. The Kickstarter has successfully ended and the crew are waiting for the funds to be distributed so that new recording equipment can be purchased. And on top of that, The Pugcast is joining the FLF Podcast Network in June! (FLF stands for: Fight, Laugh, Feast.) This should dramatically increase our listening audience.