The Theology Pugcast

Tom engages the timely topic of Christian Joy in the light of Christmas. Beginning with the Good News of great joy announced to the shepherds from the heavenly hosts, Tom turns to discuss the Christian notion of Joy. What is it? What is its significant to life and flourishing? What is its place in Christian existence? Chris and Glenn bring fascinating reflections into the discussion. C. S. Lewis shows up in the conversation with his rich and penetrating contemplations on the topic. Overall, it’s a great addition to the Christmas celebration of the gift of joy we’ve been given in Christ.

In this episode, Glenn walks us through a work by the early church father Athanasius about the reasons for the Incarnation. The introduction to the book by C. S. Lewis explains that we need to read old books to get around the blind spots of our own era, and Athanasius certainly helps reframe how we think about the incarnation. Tom points out that he starts with Creation, which is the foundation for the rest of his argument. He goes from there to the Fall and what that meant for Creation, and the Incarnation as the only way to restore Creation. Athanasius’s focus is primarily on God and his purposes. He doesn’t ignore our need and God’s love for us, but he takes a much bigger perspective beyond personal salvation. He also talks about why Christ had to die by crucifixion, the impact of the resurrection on the world, and a host of other topics. As usual each Pugcaster brought in his own angle on the issues Athanasius raised. Since we could do little more than give an introduction to the piece and hit a few of the places where it gives us a different perspective on the Incarnation than we usually see, we encourage you to read it for yourself. It’s available as a downloadable PDF with Lewis’s introduction here: http://www.onthewing.org/user/Athanasius%20-%20On%20the%20Incarnation.pdf

Can the things we make get too big, conversely, can they be too small? If so, what standard should we use to judge the size of things? The ancients answered these questions by using human limitations. It’s easy to see how this works in architecture, but it equally applies to other things: nations, cities, and even local churches. Today on the Pugcast the guys consider Aristotle’s thoughts on the subject, and Chris introduces a modern theorist—Leopold Kohr, and his book, The Breakdown of Nations.

The roots of festivity in the gifts of creation and new creation. Tom introduces the topic of festivity by drawing insights from Joseph Pieper’s work, exploring the true nature of and purposes of festivity in the Christian vision of things. As we enter the festive season of Thanksgiving and Advent, this topic is timely. As usual, the gang (Chris and Glenn) add to this topic, providing layers of fascinating insight into the nature of Creation, Sabbath, Worship, Joy and Celebration.

This episode begins with a brief follow up on last week’s episode on the Great Reset, focused on how we should respond and where our hope lies. From there, Glenn segues into a discussion of some elements of Tolkien’s essay “On Fairy Stories” and its connection to Doug Wilson’s summary of the Bible, “Kill the Dragon, Get the Girl.” Chris brings in the idea of archetypical stories, some of which at least are reflections or shadows of the Great Story, the story of the Gospel of the Kingdom. Tom then points out the theological implications of some of the topics from the discussion, and Glenn connects it into a sacramental vision of life and the connection between our lives, fairy stories, and the Great Story.

A proposal has been circulated among global elites and it goes by the name, ‘The Great Reset’. The values undergirding it are the standard cant—‘inclusion’, ‘fairness’, ‘equality’. It also includes promises of debt forgiveness and universal basic income. Alarmingly, the people behind it are some of the wealthiest and influential in the world. And wouldn’t you know it, their plan just so happens to include the abolition of property and the investiture of power in a global authority of some kind. Today on the Pug the guys grumble and bark back in defense of property rights as the most basic of human rights

This week Tom introduces the topic about our intellectual appetites in relation to classical Christian insight. He looks into the virtue of proper studiousness as part of our intellectual vocation and its sinful distortion by the vice of curiosity. Glenn and Chris bring in plenty of additional insight and reflective comments to move the topic along.

Glenn and the guys share thoughts on the liturgical year and the ways that holidays and sacraments guide us both in remembering the past and finding our place in God’s story.

In today's show Chris presents a book review published in First Things. The title of the review is "Postconstitutional America" and the book being reviewed is "The Stakes: America at the Point of No Return" by Michael Anton. The review can serve as an introduction to Leo Stauss and his followers, particularly the west coast Straussians of the Claremont Institute. These thinkers contend that America is experiencing a crisis of two constitutions--the original constitution of 1787 and what has been overlaid on it--the unwritten progressive constitution of expertise. These two constitutions emerge from two different philosophies and understandings of history and the nature of freedom and rights. If you've listened to the show before, you know that the Pugsters had plenty to grumble about--especially about the rise of the cult of expertise.

As Christians dwell in societies given over to nihilism, and as they encounter nihilism’s dreadful impact on institutions that once propped classical intellectual, spiritual, and moral virtues, they are left with limited options in preserving and protecting those virtues which sustain creaturely flourishing and aim towards their fulfillment in God. Tom, Glenn, and Chris consider ‘The Boniface Option’, a designation which Chris and Glenn bring out in relation to our friends in Idaho.