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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS With Scripture Are Below the Description!

The nobility of knighthood isn't about suppressing masculine power—it's about channeling it properly. Matthew McKenna, PhD candidate in theology at Ave Maria University, returns to explore how chivalry offers the antidote to both toxic masculinity and passionless mediocrity.

The conversation begins with a profound observation: fiction shapes us as much as non-fiction. The stories we consume—whether through literature, film, or other media—profoundly influence our worldview and aspirations. This makes the recovery of timeless narratives from authors like Tolkien, Chesterton, and Lewis essential for developing a coherent moral vision.

McKenna, expectant father to his first child, shares his concerns about raising children in today's cultural landscape. With pornography exposure happening at increasingly younger ages and children's entertainment becoming progressively more toxic, parents face unprecedented challenges in forming their children's moral imagination. This reality makes understanding the philosophical foundations of our culture wars more important than ever.

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Discussion questions:

1. How do the stories and media we consume shape our worldview and aspirations, and what steps can we take to ensure we engage with narratives that promote virtue and truth?
   Scripture Ref: Philippians 4:8 – “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
   
   
2. How does the imagery of a knight’s armor in this passage reflect the call to rise above our natural state through discipline and purpose?
   Scripture Ref: Ephesians 6:13-17 – “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm… having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.”
   
   
3. The importance of combining moral virtue with practical skills. How can young men today develop both a strong philosophical foundation and the capabilities needed to address cultural challenges effectively?
   Scripture Ref: 2 Timothy 2:15 – “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”
   
   
4. How does the philosophical error of existentialism, as discussed by Matthew, contribute to cultural issues like transgender ideology, and what can we learn from traditional philosophical and theological perspectives to counter these errors?
   Scripture Ref: Genesis 1:27 – “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
   
   

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