Rev Dr. Brad Jersak, Dean of Theology and Culture at St. Stephen's University, dives into the dynamic interplay of philosophy, theology, and scripture. He navigates the tension between conservative and liberal views of faith, advocating for a richer understanding of Christian knowing. Jersak discusses Plato's allegory of the cave, emphasizing the importance of personal experience and intuition. He presents the Bible as a narrative filled with love and redemption, positioning storytelling as a vital tool for deeper spiritual engagement.
48:21
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Childhood Curiosity and Faith Doubts
Brad Jersak shares a childhood story about trying geology, highlighting early curiosity about knowing through exploration.
He also recalls the transition from evangelical indoctrination to questioning faith through rationalist apologetics.
insights INSIGHT
Plato’s Divided Line on Knowing
Plato's divided line suggests higher levels of knowing beyond opinion, empirical proof, and rationalism.
The 'nous' or eyes of the heart allow perception of truths inaccessible to senses or reason alone.
insights INSIGHT
Cave Allegory: From Delusion to Love
The Allegory of the Cave depicts humans chained by opinions and shadows, mistaking them for reality.
True knowing involves a transformative journey into light, representing love and higher perception beyond delusion.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
The novel, set in 1327, follows Adso of Melk, a young Benedictine novice, and William of Baskerville, a Franciscan friar, as they investigate a series of murders at an abbey in northern Italy. The story is framed by a complex narrative structure and involves debates on theology, science, and politics. The abbey's labyrinthine library, which houses a forbidden book, is central to the mystery. As the investigation unfolds, William and Adso uncover a conspiracy related to the library and a hidden manuscript that could undermine religious and societal order[2][3][5].
Evidence that demands a verdict
historical evidences for the Christian faith
Josh McDowell
This book is an extensive defense of Christianity, covering topics such as the reliability of the Bible, the historicity of Jesus, and responses to skepticism. It is divided into four main parts: Evidence for the Bible, Evidence for Jesus, Evidence for the Old Testament, and Evidence for Truth. The book includes updated chapters and new sections addressing contemporary criticisms and competing worldviews. It serves as a resource for Christians to defend their faith against various critics and skeptics.
Rev Dr Brad Jersak explores Christian knowing through Plato, Plantinga, and Paul the Apostle. This is an incredibly important topic for Christians today as most of us feel caught between the conservative ‘Biblical’ view that dominates Sydney evangelicalism, and a more liberal humanist view that seems to threaten the pillars of faith. Brad has a rich mind and insightful perspectives, including a deep understanding of the early church fathers. He will offer us a much wider paradigm of knowing and revelation that does not toss out the Bible but balances it. In so doing he will demonstrate that far from this being a dangerous liberalising of truth, we are only recapturing the dominant orthodoxy that characterised the early church.
Gospel Conversations podcast 
