The Theology Pugcast

Feeling the need for some magic in your life now that you're stuck at home because of COVID-19? Well, we've got the show for you! Today Glenn (aka "The Magic Man") provides a little history lesson on magic. One of the things that you'll learn is that magic as it was practiced in the antiquity--and the Renaissance (yes, the Renaissance)--wasn't as irrational as is often supposed. There were reasons it was believed to work. Understanding those reasons won't make you a practitioner of magic--but it will help you see that our ancestors could be wrong about certain things without being unintelligent. By the way, the same is true for other things in our time.     

In today's show Tom introduces the doctrine of "divine simplicity". The doctrine itself is simple enough, understanding its implications for theology and the work of the Church and salvation takes a bit of work. Contemporary theologies have turned away from this classical doctrine and it is beginning to show--everything is devolving down to imminent-frame. Relevance, pragmatism, church-growth guruism--you name it--all in a breathless race to keep up with God the moving target. Whatever became of the God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever? This show is a call back to the God in whom we live and move and have our being. 

You've probably heard of "Intersectionality". How could you miss it? It is the new magical formula for social justice that promises to make the world a better place. The Pugcast crew are doubtful. In fact, they're more than doubtful, they don't like it at all. Today on the show they discuss its premise and the deleterious consequences for those institutions that try to enforce it. 

Drawing inspiration from the Coronavirus, Glenn decided to talk about one of his favorite subjects: The Black Death. He even brought some things for show and tell. There's a map that looks remarkably like Tolkien's map of Middle Earth, but the one Glenn brought is covered with arrows and dates which tell the tale of the spread of Plague throughout Europe. He also brought a cute little plush-toy of the deadly germ. If you'd like to see those just visit the Theology Pugcast Facebook page. And while you're there, like the page so that you can stay in touch!

Ken Boa, an accomplished author known for his insights on experiencing God's presence, discusses profound themes from his latest work. He emphasizes maintaining a childlike sense of wonder to enhance spiritual growth. The conversation explores the significance of everyday moments as opportunities for spiritual reflection, bridging sacred and secular experiences. Boa critiques the evolving landscape of evangelical thought, advocating for genuine love over superficial spirituality. He also delves into the interplay between beauty, art, and faith, urging us to recognize divine presence in creation.

The Pugsters are pleased to be joined by Ken Boa for today's show.  Ken is the author of many books, and his most recent book is published by IVP. He's also a long-time friend of Glenn. Ken was in town for Glenn's ordination service at First Church of Christ Wethersfield, (a historic congregational church that was once attended by Jonathan Edwards). Ken also earned one of his doctorates at Oxford University--which gives him something to talk about with Tom. (Not that they needed any help talking.) The conversation with Ken took place with a "live audience" and while it centered on the theme of Ken's new book, it was a free ranging one. Here's a link to First Church in Wethersfield (https://www.firstchurch.org/) and here's a link to Ken's latest book at Amazon: Shaped by Suffering Finally, here is a link to Ken's webpage. kenboa.org  

In today's show Glenn takes the Pugcast gang into the folklore and reported sightings of vampires in New England! As Glenn shows, you don't need to visit Transylvania for vampire legends--we have plenty of material to work with in the good ol' USA.  Tom and Chris reflect on the vampire stories from both theological and pastoral perspectives. Glenn informs them that he also has werewolf and witch sightings to share in future episodes of the Pugcast!

In today's show Chris introduces Glenn and Tom to the work of sociologist and paleo-conservative Robert Nisbet.  Nisbet was a sociologist and professor at Columbia, and his work reflects a time when sociologists were liberally educated and could draw on the thinking of the likes of Alexis de Tocqueville and Edmund Burke as well as classical philosophy and theology. Nisbet's best known work, The Quest for Community had a strong influence on Chris's thinking. It is particularly evident in Chris's book, Man of the House.  During the course of the conversation the Pugsters discuss the various schools of thought that are often thrown together under the label "conservatism": libertarianism, classical liberalism, and paleo-conservatism. Seeing as most listeners are unfamiliar with the last of these labels, and that it is also the school of thought Chris, Tom, and Glenn most strongly identify with, they spend some time defining each while explaining why paleo-conservatism is actually genuine conservatism. Here are some helpful links for further study: https://www.amazon.com/Quest-Community-Background-Essential-Conservative/dp/1935191500 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleoconservatism  

Reflecting on the legacy of philosopher Sir Roger Scruton, the hosts dive into his thoughts on beauty and aesthetics, lamenting the current state of the world. They critique the utilitarian trends in contemporary evangelical architecture, examining the shift in church design. Historical perspectives on beauty in art highlight its decline post-1919. The discussion extends to worship aesthetics, exploring the tension between practicality and divine beauty, while urging a return to deeper values to enrich cultural and spiritual understanding.

Glenn is back! And today he brings us the topic of the day--Tolkien and literary realism. Literary realism is one of those question begging movements which advance an argument by assuming the correctness of a particular answer to an unspoken question. Literary realism assumes that the level of the mundane, the prosaic, is what is truly Real, and everything else is just fancy which exists solely in our heads.  If that's your understanding of Reality then you are a modern person--and you're also a rather flat and wooden person too. You probably don't get Tolkien, or you think he's just a teller of adventure stories.  But is that what's truly Real? If Reality is something more--what is it, and how can Tolkien help us see it? Those are the questions addressed in today's show.