Making Sense of Negative Theology: Peter Rollins, Part 2
Apr 20, 2024
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Peter Rollins, a philosopher and trinitarian Christian, delves into negative theology, differences in philosophical approaches, biblical themes, and his views on the historic Christian church. The discussion explores the Trinity, embracing emptiness to find God, and the relationship between quantum mechanics and ontological unknowing. It also touches on shared trauma, social bonds, and the pursuit of existence over productivity.
Embracing lack and negation can foster unity and connection in societal contexts.
Christianity embraces contradiction and uncertainty as essential to understanding reality.
Accepting lack and unknowing is crucial for true freedom amidst endless pursuit of pleasure.
Deep dives
Existential and Theological Conversations
The podcast delves into deep discussions at the intersection of philosophy, theology, and spirituality, engaging in conversations that explore complex ideas and attempt to unravel profound concepts. The hosts aim to dissect intricate philosophies while inviting experts to join, creating a space for public discourse and sharing diverse perspectives.
Challenging and Processing Complicated Ideas
Through conversations with guest Peter Rollins, the hosts navigate and unpack intricate philosophical concepts, delving deep into fundamental disagreements and misunderstandings that persist despite attempts to clarify complex theories. The dialogue raises questions and challenges listeners to ponder and question their own understanding.
Unity in Embracing Lack and Negation
Peter Rollins emphasizes the importance of embracing lack and negation at the core of existence, highlighting the potential for unity and connections in societal and cultural contexts through acknowledging and uniting around shared differences and embracing the inherent unknowability present in philosophical and theological realms.
Christianity as Embracing Contradiction and Absurdity
The conversation revolves around the idea of Christianity embracing contradiction and absurdity as fundamental to its essence, emphasizing the embrace of uncertainty and contradiction as a means to understand reality and subjectivity. The discussion touches on the concept of desiring contradiction and identifies a core element of Christian belief as an acceptance of the non-deterministic nature inherent in reality.
Prohibition and Enjoyment in Theological Worldview
The podcast delves into the idea that modern society is driven by the constant demand to enjoy, creating a restless pursuit of pleasure and fulfillment. It contrasts this with the concept of castration, highlighting the inherent lack and desire present in human existence. The speaker presents a critical view of the relentless pursuit of happiness and pleasure, suggesting that embracing this lack and unknowing is essential for true freedom.
Shared Trauma and Social Bonds
Drawing parallels between the Northern Ireland troubles and current societal divisions, the episode emphasizes the unifying power of shared trauma. It explores the idea of creating social bonds around shared loss rather than identity, aiming to foster empathy and understanding among diverse groups. The speaker advocates for a communal space where individuals can embrace their vulnerabilities and limitations, promoting a sense of connection and acceptance amidst societal fragmentation.
Believe it or not, this is our 100th episode! And what better way to spend it than diving back in with Peter Rollins, a guest who is unusually suited to the regular themes of our show, while also throwing some wrenches into pretty much everything we do. :-)
Picking up with where we left off in Part 1, we explore the sense in which Pete is a trinitarian Christian, some differences between Pete's and Kyle's philosophical approaches, the role of certain biblical themes in Pete's thought, his relationship to the historic Christian church, his beef with progressives, and a lot more. And we try really hard to get to the bottom of his whole negative theology thing.
You can find the transcript for this episode here.
