
Transfigured
Long form discussions on the identity of Jesus
Latest episodes

Jun 30, 2025 • 42min
Why the Love Argument for the Trinity Fails (Wes Huff & Swinburne Reply)
Does God need to be a Trinity in order to love? This popular argument is one of the most emotionally compelling cases for the Trinity — but is it biblical, historical, or logically sound? In this video, I take a deep dive into the so-called “Love Argument for the Trinity.” I mention Wes Huff ( @WesHuff ), Billy Carson, Joe Rogan, Gavin Ortlund ( @TruthUnites ), CS Lewis, Tim Keller, Bishop Barron ( @BishopBarron ), Richard of St Victor, Richard Swinburne, Dale Tuggy ( @khanpadawan ), Basil the Great, Gregory of Nyssa, Gregory of Nazianzus, Arius of Alexandria, Eunomius, Thomas Aquinas, and more. Wes Huff on @OfficialFlagrant - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p58vknxGR4I&t=50sGavin on Wes Huff - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGzEfiKOFRY&t=728sTrinity as Accretion - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1H9XUYbol_E

Jun 23, 2025 • 1h 29min
Nate Hile - The Christian Roots of Liberalism and its discontents
Nate Hile ( @grailcountry ) joins Sam to discuss the historical and philosophical roots of liberalism. They explore how Christian personalism, rather than radical individualism, forms the true basis of liberal thought and why this tradition is worth defending against illiberal threats from both the left and the right.Names Mentioned:Paul Vanderklay ( @PaulVanderKlay ), Luke Thompson ( @WhiteStoneName ) , Dr. Jim, Caiaphas, David Walsh, Jordan Hall, John Vervaeke ( @johnvervaeke ), Jonathan Pageau.( @JonathanPageau ) , Thomas Jefferson, Michael Servetus, Martin Luther, John Calvin, James White, Matthew Henry, Daniel Korbin, JD Vance, Trump, Elon Musk, Rod Dreher, Barry Weiss, Curtis Yarvin, Grim, Fukuyama, Peter the Great, Trent Horn, John Locke, Richard Rohlin, Constantine the Great, and more. Chapters:0:00 Introduction1:23 What is Liberalism?6:54 The Christian Roots of Liberalism12:48 Personalism vs. Individualism18:59 The Forgotten History of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth31:33 The Rise of an Illiberal Right41:44 How 9/11 and COVID Eroded Liberalism50:19 The Protestant Reformation's Influence1:09:10 The Unitarian Flight to the Netherlands and John Locke1:15:17 The Role of the Church in a Liberal Society1:20:45 Is America a Nation or a Church?

Jun 16, 2025 • 1h 29min
Dr. Jim - We shouldn't take the gains of Liberalism for granted
In this episode of Transfigured, I sit down with Dr. Jim to delve into a range of pressing intellectual and spiritual topics. We explore his recent writings on his Substack, "Around the Corner," his perspective on the "re-enchantment" narrative currently popular in some online spaces, and a critical engagement with modernism. Using Carlos Eire's book "They Flew" (about the levitating St. Joseph of Cupertino) as a springboard, we discuss the nature of evidence, the moral responsibilities tied to metaphysical claims, and the vital role of institutions (like those in science, medicine, and education) in fostering self-correction and upholding human values. Dr. Jim shares his thoughts on the "scientific image" versus the "manifest image," the limitations of evolutionary biology's common framing, and why he considers himself a "reactionary modern," wary of prematurely discarding the hard-won insights of the Enlightenment and classical liberalism. Join us for a deep and nuanced conversation! We mention Dr. Jim, Sam (Transfigured), David Bentley Hart, Paul Vander Klay, Jonathan Pageau, John Vervaeke, Carlos Eire ("They Flew"), St. Joseph of Cupertino, Ross Douthat, Bart Ehrman, David Hume, Sam Harris, Wilfrid Sellars (Scientific Image vs. Manifest Image), Richard Dawkins, Bach, Mozart, Galileo, Michael Servetus, John Calvin, Rod Dreher, Bethel McGrew, Benjamin Boyce, Jesus Christ, Hermes, Chad (the Alcoholic), Julian, Aristotle (Four Causes), and more.Dr. Jim's Substack "Around the Corner": https://substack.com/@aroundthecorner1Midwest Apologetics Conference (August 22-24, Chicago, IL): https://www.midwestuary.com/Email for scholarship inquiries: info@midwestuary.com

Jun 13, 2025 • 20min
10 Things to do if you are being excommunicated from your church
10 Things to Do if you are being excommunicated from your church or are in fear that you might be soon.My email - transfiguredchannel@gmail.com My StoryOn @PaulVanderKlay - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuoqGzIu5Wc&t=3636sOn @restitutio8765 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egnRBuStE1A&t=2s

Jun 11, 2025 • 1h 31min
Kale Zelden & Hank Kruse - The Future of Catholicism
In this episode, I talk with Kale Zelden ( @thekalezelden ) and Hank Kruse about the current state and future of the Catholic Church. We explore how Vatican II reshaped the Church, why many young Catholics are embracing orthodoxy, and what role tradition, mysticism, and “weirdness” might play in revitalizing the faith.We mention: Kale Zelden, Hank Cruz, John Paul II, Benedict XVI, Jonathan Pageau, John Vervaeke, Paul VanderKlay, Elizabeth Oldfield, Rod Dreher, Hans Urs von Balthasar, Augustine, Aquinas and more. Midwestuary - https://www.midwestuary.com/

May 29, 2025 • 1h 44min
John Vervaeke & Jonathan Pageau - Fellowship in the Spirit
Jonathan Pageau ( @JonathanPageau ) & John Vervaeke ( @johnvervaeke ) have a conversation about the nature of Spirit and the importance of fellowship. We mention Paul Vanderklay ( @PaulVanderKlay ), Elizabeth Oldfield ( @thesacredpodcast ), Kale Zelden, Rod Dreer, James Filler, William Desmond, Iamblichus, Dionysius the Areopagite, Johannes Hoffken, Greg Enriqueus, Eric Hull, Dan Chappie, Mike Levin, Jordan Peterson, Jacques Derrida, Hilary Putnam, Willard Van Orman Quine, Catherine Pickstock, Immanuel Kant, Friedrich Schelling, Owen Barfield, Alfred North Whitehead, Edwin Hutchins, Tanya Luhrmann, L.J. Savage, Parmenides, G.W.F. Hegel, Evan Thompson, St. Maximus the Confessor, St. Gregory of Nyssa, Aristotle, Martin Heidegger, Pavel Florensky, Alex O'Connor, Jesus Christ, Ezekiel, Moses, Muhammad, Michael Jordan, Sebastian Melmoth and more. Midwestuary Conference - https://www.midwestuary.com/What is Spirit Part 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMjEY3BOPPI&t=909sWhat is Spirit Part 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiTAI_r31Ts00:00:00 - Introduction & Midwestuary Conference Announcement00:01:50 - What is Spirit? The Central Question00:03:30 - John's Opening: Relational Ontology & Com-unity00:09:15 - Jonathan's Opening: Synergy, St. Maximus, & the One and the Many00:14:50 - Spiritual Dualism vs. Monism: Deconstructing Modern Dichotomies00:22:30 - Jonathan on Traditional Views of Spirit & Angels00:29:08 - John: Non-Psychological Descriptors of Spirit (Mike Levin's work)00:30:50 - Jonathan: Spirit Animates All Things (St. Maximus)00:34:15 - Where is Self-Consciousness? Persons, Cities, and God-Man00:40:50 - Is Spirit Dependent on Humans? Perception vs. Projection00:44:50 - Going Back & Going Forward: Post-Kantian Neoplatonism00:50:20 - Exaptation, Incarnation, and Levels of Understanding00:53:40 - Barfield, Post-Contian Neoplatonism, and Integrating Science & Myth01:03:30 - Spirit and Fellowship: Superorganisms & Hyperobjects01:09:49 - Liturgy as Theurgy: Making Receptive to Theophany01:15:08 - Prophecy: Channeling the Group or Transcendent Knowledge?01:25:07 - Fellowship in the Digital Age: Breath, Fiber Optics, and AI01:30:00 - John: The Virtual Coming Alive & The Future of Theology (Claude AI)01:40:55 - Final Thoughts: Prioritizing Embodied Fellowship

May 22, 2025 • 47min
Ross Douthat - Why everyone should be religious
Ross Douthat, a New York Times columnist and author of "Believe: Why Everyone Should be Religious," explores why faith is gaining traction in a secular world. He delves into the relationship between science and religion, discussing how the universe's fine-tuning supports spiritual belief. The conversation navigates the complexities of belief, contrasting classical theism with materialism, and highlights a potential spiritual revival among the younger generation seeking meaning. Douthat makes a compelling case for embracing diverse religious truths in a pluralistic society.

May 19, 2025 • 1h 15min
The Ontology of Spirit in Jonathan Pageau and John Vervaeke - Part 2 - Pneumatology
This is part two of a series about Jonathan Pageau ( @JonathanPageau ) and John Verkvaeke ( @johnvervaeke ) and their respective views on Spirit and pneumatology. I mention Jonathan Pageau, John Vervaeke, Paul Vander Klay, Elizabeth Oldfield, Kale Zelden, Rod Dreher, Grim Grizz, , Ed Hutchins, Tucker Carlson, St. Anthony of the Desert, Athanasius, David Sloan Wilson, John Calvin, Tanya Luhrmann, Charles Taylor, Chuck Colson, Will Barlow, Scott Alexander, Robert Falconer, Richard Schwarz, Chris Masterpietro (Vervaeke's collaborator), Jung (Carl Jung), Michael (Archangel), Jesus Christ, Satan, Andre Antunes, Daniel (prophet), Mary Harrington, Aristotle, Plato, Socrates, Meno, Gregory of Nyssa, Father John Bear, Hank (presumably Hank Green from a referenced conversation), Barack Obama, John Locke, Immanuel Kant, George Cybenko, Kurt Hornik, Jonathan Losos, Richard Dawkins, Jordan Peterson, Baldwin (James Mark Baldwin), Alex O’Connor, Nero Caesar, Adam, Plotinus, Spinoza (Benedict de Spinoza), Dan Wagenmaker, (Upton) Sinclair, Bishop VT Williams, Raphael (Raff), Anderson Day, William Desmond, Charles StangMidwestuary Info and Tickets - https://www.midwestuary.com/Part 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMjEY3BOPPI&t=928sDavid Sloan Wilson Dialogue - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CAyvVdNSzIWill Barlow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DoIgcSWJnE&t=4065s

May 13, 2025 • 1h 14min
Nicaea - What the Council & Creed meant to those there
Delve into the historical significance of the Council of Nicaea and its impact on early Christianity. Discover how Constantine the Great, the first Christian emperor, shaped the discussions around church unity and theological controversies. Unpack the nuances of the Nicene Creed, including debates over Arianism and the establishment of a universal date for Easter. Explore the council's lasting legacy, from anti-Semitic sentiments to the redefinition of Christian doctrine, which laid the groundwork for future theological conflicts.

May 6, 2025 • 1h 12min
The Ontology of Spirit in Jonathan Pageau and John Vervaeke - Part 1 - Teleology and Epistemology
This conversation discusses the similarities between Jonathan Pageau and John Vervaeke with regards to ontology, teleology, and epistemology. This is in preparation for a conversation in preparation for the midwestuary conference. I mention John Vervaeke ( @johnvervaeke ), Jonathan Pageau ( @JonathanPageau ), Mary Harrington, Aristotle, Plato, Socrates, Meno's Paradox, Gregory of Nyssa, Father John Behr, Hank, Immanuel Kant, John Locke, George Cybenko, Kurt Hornik, Charles Darwin, Jonathan Losos, The Timmaeus, Jordan Peterson ( @JordanBPeterson ), Richard Dawkins, The Baldwin Effect, William James, Renes Descartes, Plotinus, and more. Midwestuary - https://www.midwestuary.com/Jonathan Pageau and Mary Harrington - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJnGDEAka7I&t=1525sJonathan Losos - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70waxmiQa8I&t=1143sPeterson and Dawkins - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wBtFNj_o5k&t=5364sSam and Vervaeke - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0RDjahsd1M&t=5176s