Thinking in Public with Albert Mohler

The Remaking of a Modern Mind: A Conversation with Thomas Oden

Mar 16, 2015
Thomas Oden, a theologian and editor acclaimed for the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, shares his transformative journey from youthful revolutionary ideas to a deep commitment to classical Christian orthodoxy. He discusses the impact of neo-orthodoxy, the work of the early Church Fathers, and the concept of 'paleo-orthodoxy.' Oden also reflects on the significance of Roe v. Wade as a moral turning point and emphasizes the influence of the Holy Spirit in navigating the complexities of faith in modern times.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
ANECDOTE

From Movement Theologian To Return

  • Thomas Oden recounts being a youthful 'movement theologian' who took left turns into Marxism and political activism.
  • He says those decades were necessary steps before returning to classical Christian faith.
INSIGHT

Bultmann Brought Textual Seriousness

  • Oden credits Bultmann with returning him to take Scripture more seriously while still demythologizing the resurrection.
  • He later recognized that demythologizing left out the historical reality of the resurrection.
INSIGHT

The Seminary Doublespeak Problem

  • Oden describes 'doublespeak' in seminary where orthodox vocabulary masked secularized theology.
  • He warns that sounding Christian while undermining Christianity was a common academic tactic.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app