Socrates in the City

Has toxic empathy led modern Christians to live in a Stockholm Syndrome-like way towards an opposing world? John West, Vice President of the Seattle-based Discovery Institute, where he also serves as Managing Director of the Institute’s Center for Science & Culture, shares how the overwhelming influence of toxic empathy and desire to appease popular culture can be fatal to our faith. Using the famous Stockholm bank robbery of the 1970, West joins Socrates in the City host Eric Metaxas, to discuss how Christians have subconsciously grown up in cultural captivity, and how we can rebel against it.The post John West: Stockholm Syndrome Christianity first appeared on Socrates in the City.

What do Woody Allen, Dostoevsky, and Cain and Able have in common? What are the underlying psychological themes and influences in modern horror? Andrew Klavan, an award-winning writer, screenwriter, and media commentator joins Socrates in the City host Eric Metaxas to discuss his new book, The Kingdom of Cain. Klavan explores how artists’ imaginative engagement with the darkness can point the way to living beautifully in the midst of a tragic world. Using the frame of three historic murders, he examines how the transformation that occurs in art grants us a vision for how transformation can take root in our lives.The post Andrew Klavan: Finding God in the Literature of Darkness first appeared on Socrates in the City.

James Lindsay, an author and expert on academia, discusses the troubling trends within Western education. He highlights the hypocrisy in academic journals and critiques the influence of critical theory and cultural Marxism. Lindsay delves into the absurdities behind satirical academic submissions, showcasing how they reveal flaws in the publishing process. He warns of academia's decline and its implications for societal truths, drawing parallels to historical atrocities. With a sharp eye on ideology and power, he calls for a reevaluation of the direction of scholarly work.

Iain McGilchrist, a leading scholar in neurology and author of "The Master and His Emissary," joins Eric Metaxas. They explore the myths surrounding our brain's left and right hemispheres, emphasizing the right's role in nurturing holistic understanding. McGilchrist discusses the perils of reductionism in business and healthcare, advocating for a more balanced approach. He also critiques modernist thought and puritanical attitudes, warning that they hinder diverse perspectives and civil discourse, especially among youth.

Headmaster of Michaela school, Katherine Birbalsingh sits down with host Eric Metaxas to discuss the challenges of speaking about the deficiencies in the UK school system and how it led her to begin her school and initiate a reform of Classical Education against the ‘soft bigotry of low expectations’.        The post Katherine Birbalsingh: Is Classical Education the Key to Reviving the West? first appeared on Socrates in the City.

What has Athens to do with Jerusalem? What does the world of philosophy have to do with the world of religion? Professor of Philosophy of Religion at the Faculty of Divinity, Dr. James Orr joins host Eric Metaxas to have a conversation on the Twilight of the West, the relationship between orthodoxy and orthopraxy, and the enduring influence of Hellenistic and Hebraic thought in our enlightened world.The post James Orr: Maintaining Orthodoxy in an Evolving West first appeared on Socrates in the City.

In this thought-provoking conversation, Konstantin Kisin, a writer, comedian, and co-host of TRIGGERnometry, delves into the critical role of free speech in the West. He and Eric Metaxas discuss how woke culture challenges historical achievements and the importance of maintaining a balance between pride and shame. They examine the cultural implications of free expression, the moral complexities of censorship, and the geopolitical consequences of embracing wokeness. Kisin advocates for open dialogue to navigate the delicate relationship between truth and safety.

Host Eric Metaxas welcomes lawyer, activist, and Independent Presidential candidate Mr. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to the Socrates in the City stage with a standing ovation for a conversation on America. In keeping with the forum’s history, Mr. Metaxas asks Mr. Kennedy the big questions, questions on “life, God, and other small topics”. Conversation topics are wide-ranging and include everything from government corruption to drug addiction to RFK Jr.’s faith in God to the murder of his uncle and father, and include references to cultural figures such as Upton Sinclair, Carl Jung, Albert Camus, and… Anthony Fauci. The duo even discuss a recent dinner with RFK Jr., Hilary Clinton, and Mike Pompeo in attendance, the last of whom said something noteworthy to the guest. This captivating exchange took place before a live audience in New York City in June 2024.The post Robert F. Kennedy Jr. – America: Past, Present, and Future first appeared on Socrates in the City.

Roger Kimball, editor of The New Criterion, and Eric Metaxas discuss the intellectual life, covering topics like the impact of political correctness, the effects of the sexual revolution on culture, and the rise of Artificial Intelligence. They also touch on the history of The New Criterion, cultural Marxism, virtue signaling, and the societal shifts in values.

Wallstreet businessman turned author Michael Wilkerson sits down with host Eric Metaxas to answer the question of if and why America matters. After his business in Africa was paused during the 2020 Covid shutdowns, Wilkerson’s eyes were opened to the partisan, cultural, and ideological divides in America, and he wondered if the nation could still be good, or even great. Taking an in-depth look at history — from the settlers to Abraham Lincoln and beyond — Wilkerson argues that a new century requires a new vision of American greatness.The post Michael Wilkerson: Why America Matters first appeared on Socrates in the City.