JUST FYI POD: Conversations about Culture, Ideas, and Life

During the first season of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS, my cohost Clark Elliston and I will countdown our ten favorite works of theology. On today’s episode, we turn to the #3 book on our respective lists. Clark will discuss Simone Weil’s WAITING FOR GOD (ATTENTE DE DIEU, 1950), while I take a look at Joseph Ratzinger’s INTRODUCTION TO CHRISTIANITY (EINFÜHRUNG IN DAS CHRISTENTUM, 1968). These are very different works, written in very different ways, though their authors share certain theological sensibilities. Indeed, as our conversation will make clear, both Weil and Ratzinger attempt to trace the ongoing presence of God in a rapidly secularizing world. Additional content and links, not to mention my updated Spotify “Theological Playlist,” can be found at cbarnett.substack.com. As always, please consider liking, rating, reviewing, and sharing our work!

We did it! The main task of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE’s first season is to explore the “20 Most Spiritually Significant Films of All Time.” On this episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I continue our countdown—this time focusing, yes, on the #1 film on our respective lists. I begin with Terrence Malick’s 1998 war drama THE THIN RED LINE, while Amy turns to Xavier Beauvois’ 2010 drama OF GODS AND MEN (DES HOMMES ET DES DIEUX). These two films are set in different eras, with wildly different casts and modi operandi. But both confront a world broken by political ideology, and both suggest that, amid such corruption, only the search for God is capable of providing “calm,” peace. “Je reste.”

The main task of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE’s first season is to explore the “20 Most Spiritually Significant Films of All Time.” On this episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I continue our countdown—this time focusing on the #2 film on our respective lists. Amy begins with Robert Duvall’s 1997 drama THE APOSTLE, while I turn to the Coen Brothers’ 2009 dark comedy/existential drama A SERIOUS MAN. In both films, some of the hardest questions facing human beings are taken up—the problem of evil, the desire for redemption, and the purpose of suffering. And yet, the two movies differ in style and in tone, making this an intriguing “double feature.” As ever, further details are available at cbarnett.substack.com, including artwork, film clips, and more. Likes, ratings, reviews, and shares are greatly appreciated!

During the first season of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS, my cohost Clark Elliston and I will countdown our ten favorite works of theology. On today’s episode, we turn to the #4 book on our respective lists. I will discuss the short, patristic-era treatise THE MYSTICAL THEOLOGY (Περὶ μυστικῆς θεολογίας), written by an unknown author who, for centuries, was identified with an early Christian convert known as Dionysius the Areopagite (Acts 17:34). Meanwhile, Clark will examine Stanley Hauerwas’ 1983 text THE PEACEABLE KINGDOM: A PRIMER IN CHRISTIAN ETHICS. One book, then, is a classic of Christian spirituality; the other is a much newer, yet still highly regarded, book on the Christian moral life. For further details, links, essays, and more, please visit cbarnett.substack.com. And, as ever, please consider liking, rating, reviewing, and sharing our work. Enjoy…

During the first season of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS, my cohost Clark Elliston and I will countdown our ten favorite works of theology. On today’s episode, I will discuss Henri de Lubac’s 1944 book THE DRAMA OF ATHEIST HUMANISM (LE DRAME DE L’HUMANISME ATHÉE), while Clark examines Rowan Williams’ 2003 text SILENCE AND HONEYCAKES. For further details, links, essays, and more, please visit cbarnett.substack.com. And, as ever, please consider liking, rating, reviewing, and sharing our work. Enjoy…

The main task of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE’S first season is to explore the “20 Most Spiritually Significant Films of All Time.” On this episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I continue our countdown—this time focusing on the #3 film on our respective lists. Amy begins with Elia Kazan’s 1954 crime drama ON THE WATERFRONT, while I explore Terrence Malick’s 2011 epic drama THE TREE OF LIFE. Subscribe (for free!) to cbarnett.substack.com for more details, including relevant links, film clips, essays, etc. As ever, likes, ratings, reviews, and shares are greatly appreciated!

The main task of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE’s first season is to explore the “20 Most Spiritually Significant Films of All Time.” On this episode—and following a brief preview of Sunday night’s 96th Academy Awards—my cohost Amy Welborn and I continue our discussion. Coming in at #4, we each have selected Ingmar Bergman’s historical fantasy film THE SEVENTH SEAL (DET SJUNDE INSEGLET, 1957). Set in medieval Denmark, THE SEVENTH SEAL is a classic allegory, featuring a world-weary knight Antonius Block (Max von Sydow), who is on a quest to understand the meaning of life before being chased down by Death. Oft-imitated, and spiritually rich, this is one of the greatest movies in the history of world cinema, and it established Bergman as one of the medium’s true auteurs and visionaries. As ever, relevant clips and links are provided at cbarnett.substack.com. Please like, rate, comment, and share!

During the first season of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS, my cohost Clark Elliston and I will countdown our ten favorite works of theology. On today’s episode, we will feature *two* works by the great Lutheran theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-45). I will explore Bonhoeffer’s 1937 spiritual classic DISCIPLESHIP (NACHFOLGE), while Clark will discuss Bonhoeffer’s posthumously published ETHICS (ETHIK). Of course, we also will take time to consider Bonhoeffer’s life and legacy, with particular focus on his opposition to Nazism and what it means for us today. As always, please visit cbarnett.substack.com for further details, links, essays, and more. Ratings, likes, and reviews are also greatly appreciated!

The main task of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE’s first season is to explore the “20 Most Spiritually Significant Films of All Time.” On this episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I continue our discussion—this time focusing on the #5 film on our respective lists. Amy begins with Carl Theodor Dreyer’s classic historical film THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC (LA PASSION DE JEANNE D’ARC, 1928), while I dive into Wim Wenders’ spiritual romance WINGS OF DESIRE (DER HIMMEL ÜBER BERLIN, 1987). Please subscribe (it’s free!) to my Substack (cbarnett.substack.com) for more details, including relevant links, film clips, etc. As ever, likes, ratings, reviews, and shares are greatly appreciated!

During the first season of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS, my cohost Clark Elliston and I will countdown our ten favorite works of theology. On today’s episode, I will explore REVELATIONS OF DIVINE LOVE by the medieval English anchoress Julian of Norwich (ca. 1343 - after 1416). Meanwhile, Clark will discuss I SEE SATAN FALL LIKE LIGHTNING (JE VOIS SATAN TOMBER COMME L’ÉCLAIR), published by the French polymath René Girard (1923-2015) in 1999. For further details, links, essays, and more, please visit cbarnett.substack.com. And, as ever, please consider liking, rating, reviewing, and sharing our hard work! We hope you enjoy…