Dr. Neil Shenvi and Dr. Pat Sawyer discuss their book, Critical Dilemma, which explores the infusion of critical theory into Western society. They tackle topics like the impact of social justice on Christian epistemology, the portrayal of intersectionality in American Girl dolls, and the compatibility of social justice with the Gospel. This episode helps navigate the cultural chaos surrounding issues of race, sexuality, and identity politics.

"Breakpoint" features Christian scholars Neil Shenvi and Pat Sawyer, discussing the cultural impact and worldview implications of Critical Theory. They explore its influence on education, economics, race relations, and the church. They also delve into critical race theory, queer theory, and the rise of critical theory in the church. The podcast explores the unsettling endorsement of antisemitism and how critical theory shapes perceptions of power dynamics. Don't miss Neil Shenvi at the 2024 Colson National Conference!

Neil Shenvi and Pat Sawyer discuss critical theory, its infiltration into various institutions, and its implications for social justice. They address the controversial connections critical theory makes, such as the potential link to pedophilia. The clash between critical social theory and Christian faith is explored, particularly in regards to sexual ethics and marriage. The importance of testing lived experiences against objective truth is emphasized when discussing racism and discrimination. Different approaches to egalitarianism and the influence of critical social theory are examined. The podcast concludes with a primer on critical social theory, urging the pursuit of justice while maintaining biblical fidelity.

Guests: Neil Shenvi and Pat Sawyer, experts in critical theory. They discuss the rise and implications of critical theory, its clash with biblical justice, defining oppression and privilege, and the compatibility of critical theory with Christianity. Their book, 'Critical Dilemma', offers insights on identifying and combating critical theory in the church.

Neil Shenvi, a theoretical chemist and author known for his insights into wokeness, teams up with Dave Greene, a political philosopher and commentator. They delve into the complexities of the 'woke right,' examining its overlap with cultural hegemony and political discourse. Shenvi and Greene unpack how narratives shape societal perceptions, critique the polarization of ideologies, and explore the nuances of racial identity within diverse right-wing factions. Their conversation urges listeners to challenge simplified narratives and engage with multifaceted perspectives in contemporary politics.

Neil Shenvi and Joe Rigney discuss the anti-woke movement in evangelical circles, contrasting it with extreme ideologies. They explore topics like ethnic pride, assimilation, and responses to anti-woke ideals. The conversation delves into the complexities of ethnic identity in America and the need for rational debates amidst societal polarization.

Neil Shenvi, a commentator on the interplay between Christianity and political ideology, dives into the complexities of the 'Woke Right.' He challenges the notion that all right-wing beliefs are inherently racist. The conversation addresses the tricky balance of ethnic versus Christian identity, advocating for faith's primacy. They dissect the biblical call to love all neighbors, criticize idealized ethno-states, and explore the rising issues of social media within these communities. Ultimately, they call for compassion and understanding across political and ethnic divides.

Authors Neil Shenvi and Pat Sawyer discuss the rise of social justice ideology, its impact on culture, and its influence in fields such as critical race theory and queer theory. They delve into topics including the concept of critical race theory, the influence of critical theory on culture and the church, and the Christian approach to identity and intersectionality. They also explore the compatibility of Christianity and critical race theory and discuss the importance of unity, love, and justice in the face of social justice ideologies.

Neil Shenvi and Pat Sawyer unpack these ideas on Critical Theory and expose them in their new book Critical Dilemma. With a gift to the Colson Center this month, you can request a copy. The authors will join us on October 26 for our next Breakpoint Forum to discuss the ideas of Critical Theory in light of some of these current headlines. The forum begins at 8 p.m. EST and will be hosted by Colson Center resident theologian Dr. Timothy D. Padgett. The forum is free, but you must register at breakpoint.org/forum.  ___________ One of the more ridiculous images to make its way around social media sites in the wake of the horrific attack in Israel was a photo of four Westerners with a sign, “Queers for Palestine.” There’s also a Twitter page with that name. The banner photo insists, “Allah Loves Equality.”   Statements like these are so out of touch with reality, we can only hope that they are satire. Given what we know of Hamas, ISIS, and the Iranian regime, it’s safe to assume there won’t be any “pride” parades in Gaza or Ramallah anytime soon. Progressives looking for ideological sympathy among the rulers or people of Palestine are fooling themselves.  A week ago, all of this would have been sadly amusing. Now, it’s terrifying. Ever since the October 7 attacks, protestors across Europe, America, and Australia have denied, excused, justified, and even supported the murders, rapes, and beheadings of babies perpetrated by Hamas in Israel. It makes a kind of barbaric sense for radical Muslim groups to take such stands. It’s harder to fathom why Western progressives offer such affinity for radical Islamism.  After all, this is a religious ideology that is openly theocratic, misogynistic, violently anti-LGBTQ, opposed to free expression, free press, and nearly everything on the progressive agenda. The radical Islam that the far-Left wants to embrace is far worse than the morbid fantasies they hold about Christianity.   On the same American college campuses where you can be silenced for refusing to say that a man is a woman, Jewish co-eds tearfully begged school officials to stop speeches of those wishing their people dead. In Philadelphia, a speaker applauded “Hamas for a job well done.” At George Mason University, students chanted “They’ve got tanks, we’ve got hang gliders, glory to the resistance fighters!” Before they issued an incredibly paltry half-apology, the BLM organization chapter of Chicago tweeted an image of a Hamas killer parachuting into battle.   As strange of bedfellows as they make, radical Islam and the far-Left share hatred for the Western tradition. They cannot stomach free markets, objective morality and knowledge, or the uncompromising priority of human liberty, especially religious freedom.  Especially, in academic contexts, the Left’s hatred is grounded in the ideological capture of our ivory towers by Critical Theory. This way of thinking reduces the complexity of human existence to pre-determined categories of oppressed versus oppressor. Based on these categories, moral virtue and moral guilt are pre-assigned.   The matrix of this dynamic determines who is right and wrong. Anything done for the sake of the oppressed is just, even mass murder and rape. Anything done on behalf of the oppressor is vile, even warning civilians to get out of a war zone. In this case, all that matters is that Jews have been cast into the role of oppressor and their opponents as victims; all actions are either justified or condemned according to this simplistic schematic.  In his book on the Russian Revolution, Richard Pipes described a foreshadowing of this trend:   "For intellectuals of this kind, the criterion of truth was not life: they created their own reality, or rather, sur-reality, subject to verification only with reference to opinions of which they approved. ... It is only by reducing people of flesh and blood to a mere idea that one can ignore the will of the majority in the name of democracy and institute a dictatorship in the name of freedom."  Decades of Western decadence have numbed us to the power of beliefs. Ideas have consequences. Bad ideas have victims. That’s true on college campuses and in Gaza. By rejecting objective morality as tyrannical, believers in the ideas of Critical Theory embrace tyranny as moral.  Neil Shenvi and Pat Sawyer unpack these ideas and expose them in their new book Critical Dilemma. With a gift to the Colson Center this month, you can request a copy. The authors will join us on October 26 for our next Breakpoint Forum to discuss the ideas of Critical Theory in light of some of these current headlines. The forum begins at 8 p.m. EST and will be hosted by Colson Center resident theologian Dr. Timothy D. Padgett. The forum is free, but you must register at breakpoint.org/forum.  This Breakpoint was co-authored by Dr. Timothy Padgett.  For more resources to live like a Christian in this cultural moment, visit Colsoncenter.org

Dr. Neil Shenvi and Dr. Pat Sawyer discuss critical social theories and their connection to Christianity, highlighting the truths and lies within them. They explore topics such as the significance of race as a social construct, the culturally conditioned nature of gender expression, and the challenges of comprehending critical social theory. Their goal is to foster unity and healing in society without solely relying on critical social theory.