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

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…

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, Clark will discuss Friedrich Schleiermacher’s 1799 book ON RELIGION: SPEECHES TO ITS CULTURED DESPISERS (ÜBER DIE RELIGION: REDEN AN DIE GEBILDETEN UNTER IHREN VERÄCHTERN), while I will examine NATURAL THEOLOGY—a compendium of two landmark 1934 texts, NATURE AND GRACE (NATUR UND GNADE) by Emil Brunner and NO! ANSWER TO EMIL BRUNNER (NEIN! ANTWORT AN EMIL BRUNNER) by Karl Barth. Schleiermacher, Brunner, and Barth are all major figures in modern theology. Buckle up, then, for a lengthy discussion of why their works still matter today! For further details, links, and more, please go to cbarnett.substack.com. As ever, please consider liking, rating, reviewing, and sharing!

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, authors Christopher B. Barnett and Amy Welborn continue their discussion—this time focusing on the #6 film on their respective lists. Amy begins with Federico Fellini’s 1954 drama THE ROAD (LA STRADA), while Chris follows with an examination of Paul Thomas Anderson’s 1999 drama MAGNOLIA. These are two classic films from two celebrated auteurs, both of which explore the stubbornness of sin (particularly masculine sin) and the hope (or is it the need?) for divine redemption. As ever, see cbarnett.substack.com for more details, including relevant links, clips, etc. 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, Clark will discuss Helmut Thielicke’s A LITTLE EXERCISE FOR YOUNG THEOLOGIANS (1962), while Chris will examine Jacques Ellul’s ANARCHY AND CHRISTIANITY (ANARCHIE ET CHRISTIANISME, 1988). See cbarnett.substack.com for additional details and links, not to mention essays and podcasts. As ever, please consider liking, rating, reviewing, and sharing!

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, authors Christopher B. Barnett and Amy Welborn continue their discussion—the time focusing on the #7 film on their respective lists. Amy begins with the Oscar-winning historical drama A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS (Fred Zinnemann, 1966), while Chris turns to one of Martin Scorsese’s late-period classics, the epic drama SILENCE (2016). Both films confront the reality of religious martyrdom, albeit in different historical eras and from different cultural-theological perspectives. As ever, see cbarnett.substack.com for more details, including relevant links, clips, etc. 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, I will focus on DEATH AND IMMORTALITY (TOD UND UNSTERBLICHKEIT, 1968), written by the German Catholic philosopher Josef Pieper (1904-97). Meanwhile, Clark will examine THE DOORS OF THE SEA: WHERE WAS GOD IN THE TSUNAMI? (2005), penned by the American Orthodox theologian David Bentley Hart (1965-). See cbarnett.substack.com for further details and links, not to mention other essays and podcasts. As ever, please consider liking, rating, reviewing, and sharing!

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, authors Christopher B. Barnett and Amy Welborn continue their discussion—this time focusing on the #8 film on their respective lists. Amy examines Akira Kurosawa’s 1952 classic IKIRU (生きる), while Chris ponders John Michael McDonagh’s 2014 drama CALVARY. The former is set in the crowded yet often anonymous streets of Tokyo, the latter in the beautiful yet haunting expanses of western Ireland. Both films, however, poignantly explore some of the most elemental questions of human life: why do we become unhappy, and what will it take to recover meaning and purpose in our lives? As ever, relevant links are provided below. Please like, rate, comment, and share!