00:00 Intro
02:04 Chapter 1
09:59 Chapter 2
20:11 Chapter 3
30:09 Chapter 4
40:10 Chapter 5
50:08 Chapter 6
61:13 Chapter 7
65:09 Outro

The second half of our conversation about how a huge part of the problem with "politics" in The United States is both "sides" have the same underlying assumption: we can't live the good life until everyone agrees with us & the laws reflect our agreement.

Fr Symeon's recent trip to visit his family provides an opportunity to poke holes in this assumption by discussing the ways in which, simply as a practical example, we can see people living, as St Paul said "...aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands..." in a country most Americans would insist is about as far from what we want our society to be as is possible. Well, if people can do it under the world's most challenging conditions, then Orthodox Christians can do it in the USA, whether the political winds are going their way, or against them.

And if we can walk in the way of the life of faithfulness no matter the political climate, then why are we spending so much time getting wound up about it? Maybe what it boils down to, is we don't want to see all of humanity get saved, we want to see our enemies get their comeuppance. 

Reference materials for this episode: 

St John Chrysostom’s commentary on Romans
 -12:9-21 - https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/210221.htm & https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/210222.htm
 - 13:1-7 - https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/210223.htm


Scripture citations for this episode:

Romans
 - 12:9-21 live in harmony
 - 13:1-7 be good citizens
1 Corinthians
 - 6:1-11 lawsuits
Ephesians
 - 6:5-9 no slave rebellions
Philemon
 - no slave rebellions

The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion with oversight from Fr Symeon Kees

Paradosis Pavilion - https://youtube.com/@paradosispavilion9555

https://www.instagram.com/christiansaintspodcast
https://twitter.com/podcast_saints
https://www.facebook.com/christiansaintspodcast
https://www.threads.net/@christiansaintspodcast

Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images

Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com

All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds
https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com
Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds
Copyright 2021 - 2023

00:00 Intro/Back from China
03:56 Journalism in China & The West
09:51 Harmony, rancor, journalism, editorial & social media
19:49 Saint Paul to The Church in Rome on quiet living
23:07 Vacation vs daily life in a place
27:29 Nominalism cannot be the path to social harmony
35:57 To love neighbor & enemy we must participate in God's holiness
40:12 Humble repentance is the path to a just society
43:11 Christianity isn't convenient, look at Syria
50:10 Models of church & state
53:20 No such thing as Orthodox government
54:54 The Church is perfect, stop trying to defend it from itself
58:55 The is no invisible church, there is only The Church
63:45 Two ways to try to be above the bishops
65:27 No, we can't all just get along/Closing


A huge part of the problem with "politics" in The United States is both "sides" have the same underlying assumption: we can't live the good life until everyone agrees with us & the laws reflect our agreement.

Fr Symeon's recent trip to visit his family in China provides an opportunity to poke holes in this assumption by discussing the ways in which, simply as a practical example, we can see people living, as St Paul said "...aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands..." in a country most Americans would insist is about as far from what we want our society to be as is possible. Well, if people can do it in China, then Orthodox Christians can do it in the USA, whether the political winds are going their way, or against them.

And if we can walk in the way of the life of faithfulness no matter the political climate, then why are we spending so much time getting wound up about it? Maybe what it boils down to, is we're afraid of inconvenience.


Reference materials for this episode: 

St John Chrysostom’s commentary on Romans
 -12:9-21 - https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/210221.htm & https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/210222.htm
 - 13:1-7 - https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/210223.htm


Scripture citations for this episode:

Romans
 - 12:9-21 live in harmony
 - 13:1-7 be good citizens
1 Corinthians
 - 6:1-11 lawsuits
Ephesians
 - 6:5-9 no slave rebellions
Philemon
 - no slave rebellions


#china #syria  #journalism #editorial #quietlife

The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion with oversight from Fr Symeon Kees

Paradosis Pavilion - https://youtube.com/@paradosispavilion9555

https://www.instagram.com/christiansaintspodcast
https://twitter.com/podcast_saints
https://www.facebook.com/christiansaintspodcast
https://www.threads.net/@christiansaintspodcast

Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images

Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com

All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds
https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com
Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds
Copyright 2021 - 2023

As we continue our discussion of the difficulty in integrating the journey on the way of the life of faithfulness to the evengalion of Jesus, The Christ, the Orthodox Christian way of life, into contemporary western culture, Jim & Fr Symeon take the opportunity to discuss "the other side". Last conversation we defined & critique "woke" as the civil religion of the so-called Left. This time we will define & critique "Make America Great Again" as the civil religion of the so-called Right. The reason we wish to critique it is because it uses Christian language but is not Christian. 

And yet we can end the episode with the hymns to The Theotokos which call her a military leader, proclaiming our victory & the establishment of our way of life. Find out why this isn't about theocracy & isn't about violence, by tuning in!

Scripture citations for this episode:

 - Genesis 1 & 2
   - Creation as a battle against chaos & death

 - Genesis 11
   - Tower of Babel

 - Galatians 5:16-26
   - Fruits of The Spirit

The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion with oversight from Fr Symeon Kees

Paradosis Pavilion - https://youtube.com/@paradosispavilion9555

https://www.instagram.com/christiansaintspodcast
https://twitter.com/podcast_saints
https://www.facebook.com/christiansaintspodcast
https://www.threads.net/@christiansaintspodcast

Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images

Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com

All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds
https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com
Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds
Copyright 2021 - 2023

As we continue our discussion of the difficulty in integrating the journey on the way of the life of faithfulness to the evengalion of Jesus, The Christ, the Orthodox Christian way of life, into contemporary western culture, Jim & Fr Symeon take the opportunity to discuss "the other side". Last conversation we defined & critique "woke" as the civil religion of the so-called Left. This time we will define & critique "Make America Great Again" as the civil religion of the so-called Right. The reason we wish to critique it is because it uses Christian language but is not Christian. In fact, by the end of this first half of the conversation Fr Symeon will straight up ask "...what religion are you following?!"


Scripture citations for this episode:

 - Genesis 1 & 2
   - Creation as a battle against chaos & death

 - Genesis 11
   - Tower of Babel

 - Galatians 5:16-26
   - Fruits of The Spirit

#nostalgia #maga #goldenage #conservative

The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion with oversight from Fr Symeon Kees

Paradosis Pavilion - https://youtube.com/@paradosispavilion9555

https://www.instagram.com/christiansaintspodcast
https://twitter.com/podcast_saints
https://www.facebook.com/christiansaintspodcast
https://www.threads.net/@christiansaintspodcast

Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images

Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com

All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds
https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com
Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds
Copyright 2021 - 2023

Our ongoing discussion of the difficulty in integrating the journey on the way of the life of faithfulness to the evengalion of Jesus, The Christ, the Orthodox Christian way of life, into contemporary western culture continues as Jim & Fr Symeon talk about the tower of babel as the proto-story of humanity's quest for control over our own destiny & God, repeatedly, making us aware we're not, He is.

In this second half of the conversation we began in S7E9, Go Ahead & Lose Control, we focus more on what is involved in breaking free from civil religion, human ideology, & the distraction of politics by pursuing the authentic spiritual life, which breeds humility, which allows us to see ourselves not as those who are capable of changing the world, but as the chief of sinners.

Let us know what you think!

Particularly let us know if you prefer this video format to the side by side.

Reference materials for this episode:
 - Sherlock Holmes’ “ideal reasoner” speech
   - The Five Orange Pips, the “ideal reasoner” monologue
   - https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1661/1661-h/1661-h.htm


Scripture citations for this episode:
Martyrdom
 - 2 Maccabees 6 & 7
Voluntarily constraining our freedom
 - Romans 14

The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion with oversight from Fr Symeon Kees

Paradosis Pavilion - https://youtube.com/@paradosispavilion9555

https://www.instagram.com/christiansaintspodcast
https://twitter.com/podcast_saints
https://www.facebook.com/christiansaintspodcast
https://www.threads.net/@christiansaintspodcast

Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images

Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com

All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds
https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com
Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds
Copyright 2021 - 2023

Our ongoing discussion of the difficulty in integrating the journey on the way of the life of faithfulness to the evengalion of Jesus, The Christ, the Orthodox Christian way of life, into contemporary western culture continues as Jim & Fr Symeon talk about the tower of babel as the proto-story of humanity's quest for control over our own destiny & God, repeatedly, making us aware we're not, He is.

Our culture is in the grip of two competing civil religions, two ideologies, which manifest themselves as politics. One is openly anti-Christian, the other uses Christian language, but is in no way advocating actual traditional Christian culture.

Let us know what you think!

Particularly let us know if you prefer this video format to the side by side.

This is, again, part one of two. The second half of this conversation will go live in two weeks, on October 2nd.

Reference materials for this episode:
 - Saints Who Show Sympathy to Communism 
    - https://mountthabor.com/blogs/the-professors-blog/question-27-orthodox-fathers-on-communism?srsltid=AfmBOopmpsDSl8enxknhEb-3mzRs589BiTPq7agS0YoTbJp13OMtRTy1


Scripture citations for this episode:
- Tower of Babel
    - Genesis 11

The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion with oversight from Fr Symeon Kees

Paradosis Pavilion - https://youtube.com/@paradosispavilion9555

https://www.instagram.com/christiansaintspodcast
https://twitter.com/podcast_saints
https://www.facebook.com/christiansaintspodcast
https://www.threads.net/@christiansaintspodcast

Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images

Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com

All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds
https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com
Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds
Copyright 2021 - 2023

Part two of our conversation with friend of the show & Iconograhper Nick Papas, who is once again our most welcome guest for this conversation.

Our previous discussion about Independence Day having individual meaning for Jim & Fr Symeon got Jim to thinking about how much this actually inverts the purpose of public holidays. This lack of unity as a country reminded him of an increasingly popular turn of phrase in our culture "my tribe" & his concern this trend is stark evidence we are choosing to become less civilized.

The actual conversation focuses on Fr Symeon's turn of phrase "Community As Babel Versus Communion at Pentecost".

Tune in here in two weeks for the second half of the discussion!


Scripture citations for this episode:
 - Tower of Babel
   - Genesis 11
 - Pentecost
   - Acts 2

The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion with oversight from Fr Symeon Kees

Paradosis Pavilion - https://youtube.com/@paradosispavilion9555

https://www.instagram.com/christiansaintspodcast
https://twitter.com/podcast_saints
https://www.facebook.com/christiansaintspodcast
https://www.threads.net/@christiansaintspodcast

Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images

Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com

All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds
https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com
Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds
Copyright 2021 - 2023

Don’t Go Back to Babylon - S7E7 

Friend of the show & Iconograhper Nick Papas is once again our most welcome guest for this conversation, which will be presented in two parts, the second of which will be episode eight.

Our previous discussion about Independence Day having individual meaning for Jim & Fr Symeon got Jim to thinking about how much this actually inverts the purpose of public holidays. This lack of unity as a country reminded him of an increasingly popular turn of phrase in our culture "my tribe" & his concern this trend is stark evidence we are choosing to become less civilized.

The actual conversation focuses on Fr Symeon's turn of phrase "Community As Babel Versus Communion at Pentecost".

Tune in here in two weeks for the second half of the discussion!


Scripture citations for this episode:
 - Tower of Babel
   - Genesis 11
 - Pentecost
   - Acts 2

The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion with oversight from Fr Symeon Kees

Paradosis Pavilion - https://youtube.com/@paradosispavilion9555

https://www.instagram.com/christiansaintspodcast
https://twitter.com/podcast_saints
https://www.facebook.com/christiansaintspodcast
https://www.threads.net/@christiansaintspodcast

Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images

Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com

All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds
https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com
Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds
Copyright 2021 - 2023

Following our two part discussion of artificial intelligence, we continue the discussion with another two part conversation returning to the right use & role of books in this episode followed by a discussion of the place of martyrdom in the way of the life of faithfulness.

This is part two of this discussion, please excuse the awkward edit from the preamble (identical to episode 5) into the content, which picks up about an hour into our conversation. 

Reference materials for this episode:
 - Harken My Beloved Brethren, page 273
   - St Sophrony the Athonite
   - “seeing God as He is”
 - Martyrdom, St Ignatius, the wheat God
    - https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0107.htm


Scripture citations for this episode:
 - The brazen serpent questions God’s authority, Adam doesn’t correct him
   - Genesis 3:1-5
 - Tower of Babel, idolatry, self determination, control
   - Genesis 11
 - We know false prophets because their signs don’t come to pass
    - Deuteronomy 18:15-22
 - No king, everyone does what is right “in their own eyes”
   - Judges 21:25
 - What seems right to a man ends in death
    - Proverbs 14:12
 - False prophets have visions in their own minds rather than seeing God’s divine council
    - Jeremiah 14:13-14
    - Jeremiah 23:16-17
 - Scripture is inspired of God
    - 2 Timothy 3:16-17
 - Love drives out fear
    - 1 John 4:7-21
 - The Ethiopian Eunuch needs Scripture interpreted for him to understand
    - Acts 8:26-40

The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion with oversight from Fr Symeon Kees

Paradosis Pavilion - https://youtube.com/@paradosispavilion9555

https://www.instagram.com/christiansaintspodcast
https://twitter.com/podcast_saints
https://www.facebook.com/christiansaintspodcast
https://www.threads.net/@christiansaintspodcast

Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images

Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com

All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds
https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com
Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds
Copyright 2021 - 2023

Following our two part discussion of artificial intelligence, we continue the discussion with another two part conversation returning to the right use & role of books in this episode followed by a discussion of the place of martyrdom in the way of the life of faithfulness.

Reference materials for this episode:
 - Harken My Beloved Brethren, page 273
   - St Sophrony the Athonite
   - “seeing God as He is”
 - Martyrdom, St Ignatius, the wheat God
    - https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0107.htm


Scripture citations for this episode:
 - The brazen serpent questions God’s authority, Adam doesn’t correct him
   - Genesis 3:1-5
 - Tower of Babel, idolatry, self determination, control
   - Genesis 11
 - We know false prophets because their signs don’t come to pass
    - Deuteronomy 18:15-22
 - No king, everyone does what is right “in their own eyes”
   - Judges 21:25
 - What seems right to a man ends in death
    - Proverbs 14:12
 - False prophets have visions in their own minds rather than seeing God’s divine council
    - Jeremiah 14:13-14
    - Jeremiah 23:16-17
 - Scripture is inspired of God
    - 2 Timothy 3:16-17
 - Love drives out fear
    - 1 John 4:7-21
 - The Ethiopian Eunuch needs Scripture interpreted for him to understand
    - Acts 8:26-40

The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion with oversight from Fr Symeon Kees

Paradosis Pavilion - https://youtube.com/@paradosispavilion9555

https://www.instagram.com/christiansaintspodcast
https://twitter.com/podcast_saints
https://www.facebook.com/christiansaintspodcast
https://www.threads.net/@christiansaintspodcast

Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images

Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com

All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds
https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com
Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds
Copyright 2021 - 2023