Distinctive Christianity

In this episode, we interview Dr. Leonardo de Chirico about his book Engaging with Thomas Aquinas: An Evangelical Approach. Leonardo takes us through the context of Thomas, himself – as well as the question of what is “Thomism”. In addition to hearing about the weight Thomas gives to Aristotle in his Theology, we also discuss some of how we should understand his enduring influence and relevance - for both Protestant and Roman Catholic. All of this is relevant to current conversations among Christians on this very topic. 

Book: Engaging with Thomas Aquinas: An Evangelical Approach 

Vatican Files 

The Reformanda Initiative Podcast 

• A Biography of Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologiae. Is It Also a Radiography of Roman Catholicism? 
• Thomas Aquinas: The Evangelical? 
• “Go To Thomas!” Who Will Follow the Pope’s Invitation? 
• Thomas Aquinas, a test case for evangelical discernment 
• Thomas Aquinas, Man of Dialogue? 

In this episode, we interview Dr. Rachel Kousser on her book Alexander at the End of the World: The Forgotten Final Years of Alexander the Great. Rachel offers both old and new perspectives on Alexander and his conquests, and helps us see into the religious worldview that both surrounded and motivated him. In addition to some thoughts on the understanding and writing of history, itself – she addresses the question of whether Alexander was truly great. 

Some books by Dr. Kousser: 

Alexander at the End of the World: The Forgotten Final Years of Alexander the Great 

The Afterlives of Greek Sculpture: Interaction, Transformation, and Destruction 

Hellenistic and Roman Ideal Sculpture: The Allure of the Classical 

The Illiad by Homer  

The Landmark Arrian: The Campaigns of Alexander (also here) 

From Cyrus to Alexander: A History of the Persian Empire by Pierre Briant 

credit for music clip: Atmospherios

On today’s episode, Skyler and Pastor Ed Romine are joined by Bradley Campbell of God Loves Mormons to interview Justin Peters of Justin Peters Ministries about some of the theology and practice of the extreme charismatic movement. We ask Justin about topics such as charismatic apostles and their claims of authority – as well as examples and patterns of heresy taught by them. These false teachers distort, pervert, and reject essential issues of the Christian faith such as the Trinity, who Jesus Christ is, and the Gospel. Much of this overlaps and rhymes with many of the claims and priorities of Joseph Smith, as well as the LDS prophets and apostles ever since.   

Video of interview is found here.

Justin Peters Ministries 

Justin Peters (YouTube) 

Highlights: Benny Hinn and Kenneth Copeland and the false COVID prophecies 

“Mysticism: The Deadly Dangers of Trusting Personal Experience Over Biblical Authority” 

Clouds Without Water: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 

American Gospel: Christ Alone  

• Roundtable 

An Earnest Plea to Charismatics; Joseph Smith: Behind the Mask; New Lies for Old (Jason Wallace) 

Interview with Ed Romine (and here) 

Interview with Bradley Campbell: Part 1, Part 2

In this episode, Skyler interviews Dr. Kim Riddlebarger about his commentary First Corinthians. Kim takes us through some of the teachings of Paul in this epistle and how they inform a correct understanding of the Christian Faith. Along the way, we discuss LDS attempts at appropriating their own doctrines and practices from the Epistle - and whether those attempts are, in any way, credible. 

First Corinthians (2nd edition) in the Lectio Continua Commentary Series

The Riddleblog 

The Blessed Hope Podcast 

“Man As a Body-Soul Composite” by Kim Riddlebarger 

“Trichotomy: A Beachhead for Gnostic Influences” by Kim Riddlebarger   

1 Corinthians: Introduction and Commentary by Thomas Schreiner 

Conflict and Community in Corinth by Ben Witherington III 

Mormon Sources: 

Joseph Smith: here and here 

Orson Pratt: JD 1.56-57, 294, 332-33, 7.89, 15.51-52, 16.297, 328, 20.70 

Heber C. Kimball: JD 1.161, 1.355-357, 3.109, 4.223, 5.95, 6.63

A Rational Theology by John Widtsoe 

• Correction: I said "chapter 1" when describing Widtsoe starting with the Eternity of Chaotic Matter. It is actually chapter 3, however - it is page 9 (so, in my recollection, in/toward the beginning). It is the first substantive section following his chapter which outlines the basis of theology being in the Senses and Reason.

A recent example: "Kingdoms of Glory" by Dallin Oaks

The New Testament Made Easier by David Ridges 

Understanding Paul by Richard Lloyd Anderson 

Paul’s First Epistle to the Corinthians by Richard Draper and Michael Rhodes 

In this episode, we interview Aaron Shafovaloff of Mormonism Research Ministry about the question: Is God Our Literal Father? This interview involves a deep dive into the diversity of Mormon views on intelligences, spirits, and bodies. This is then compared with the various ways the Bible speaks of God’s Fatherhood, as well as the meaning of mankind being made in/as the “image and likeness” of God. The Mormon and Christian Worldviews, even in their diversity, can be seen within the issue of Eternal progenitorship. On one hand, the Christian doctrine of the Eternal Generation of the Son (uniquely) - and on the other, the Mormon doctrine of the infinite regression of fathers and sons (as a procreative principle). 

YouTube Channel; Mormonism Research Ministry 

• Video of Interview
• debate

BOM; D&C 76, 93, 132; Abraham 3; Lectures on Faith; JST Revelation 1 

Joseph Smith: King Follett; Sermon in the Grove (also here, here, and here) 

Michael as Adam is agreed upon by all sides of Mormonism. 

Brigham Young: JD 1:50f; ”Discourse on Marriage” ; 1.92-93; 1.349f; 6.273f (also here) 

• “I Propose to Speak upon a Subject That Does Not Immediately Concern Yours or My Welfare” (found in The Essential Brigham Young, pp. 86-103) 

“The Origin of Man” 1909 First Presidency Message 

“The Father and the Son” 1916 Doctrinal Statement by the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve 

Gospel Principles; Achieving A Celestial Marriage Manual 

The Family; A Proclamation to the World 

Key to the Science of Theology by Parley Pratt 

The Seer by Orson Pratt 

Elias by Orson F. Whitney 

A Rational Theology by John A. Widtsoe 

The Articles of Faith by James Talmage 

Mormon Doctrine by Bruce R. McConkie 

The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball (also here) 

“The Light of Christ” by Boyd K. Packer 

The Mormon Doctrine of Deity; The Truth, The Way, The Life by B.H. Roberts 

“The Doctrine of the Firstborn and Only Begotten” by Rodney Turner 

“Origin of the Spirit in Early Mormon Thought” by Van Hale 

“The Idea of Preexistence in Mormon Thought” by Blake Ostler 

“The Source of God’s Authority: One Argument for An Unambiguous Doctrine of Preexistence” by Roger Terry 

“’The First Principles of Man Are Self-Existent with God’: The Immortality of the Soul in Mormon Theology” by Brent L. Top 

“Tripartite Existentialism” by Jonathan Stapley 

“Spirit Birth and ‘Chains of Belonging’” by Brian D. Hales 

“Believing Adoption” by Samuel M. Brown 

Mormonism and the Magic World View by D. Michael Quinn 

“The Development of the Doctrine of Preexistence, 1830-1844"; “This Is My Doctrine”: The Development of Mormon Theology by Charles Harrell 

Mormonism in Transition; “The Reconstruction of Mormon Doctrine” by Thomas G. Alexander 

The Mysteries of Godliness: A History of Mormon Temple Worship by David John Buerger 

Conflict in the Quorum by Gary Bergera 

What Is Doctrine? A Latter-Day Saint Systematic Theology (2 vol.’s) by Peter Carmack 

“Toward a Post-Heterosexual Mormon Theology”; “After a Post-Heterosexual Mormon Theology: A Ten-Year Retrospective” by Taylor Petrey 

Scientific Aspects of Mormonism by Nels Nelson 

Outlines of Mormon Philosophy by Lycurgus Wilson 

Eternal Man by Truman Madsen 

“’Lightning Out of Heaven’: Joseph Smith and the Forging of Community” by Terryl Givens 

Gospel Trilogy; The First 2,000 Years by Cleon Skousen 

LDS Temple: here and here 

Girls Who Choose God (Deseret Book) 

Mormon Matters: Satan 

“Wingfield Scott Watson and His Struggle to Preserve the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite) After the Death of Its Founder” by Kyle Beshears (also here and here) 

“D&C 76:24 isn’t about ‘Literal’ Spirit Children” by Aaron Shafovaloff 

Confessions by Augustine 

On the Incarnation by Athanasius 

Reformed Dogmatics (4 vol.’s) by Herman Bavinck 

Theoretical-Practical Theology (4 vol.’s) by Petrus van Mastricht 

Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin 

“Man As a Body-Soul Composite” ; “Trichotomy: A Beachhead for Gnostic Influences” by Kim Riddlebarger   

Created in God’s Image by Anthony Hoekema 

The Royal Priest: Psalm 110 in Biblical Theology by Matthew Emadi (also here and here) 

Retrieving Eternal Generation edited by Fred Sanders and Scott Swain 

God the Son Incarnate: The Doctrine of Christ by Stephen Wellum 

Confessing the Impassible God edited by Ronald Baines, James Renihan, et al. (also here) 

Father, Son, and Spirit in Romans 8: The Roman Reception of Paul’s Trinitarian Theology by Ron C. Fay 

The Bible Among the Myths by John Oswalt 

Foundations of Covenant Theology by Lane Tipton 

We Become What We Worship: A Biblical Theology of Idolatry by G.K. Beale 

In this episode, we interview Aaron Shafovaloff of Mormonism Research Ministry about the question: Is God Our Literal Father? This interview involves a deep dive into the diversity of Mormon views on intelligences, spirits, and bodies. This is then compared with the various ways the Bible speaks of God’s Fatherhood, as well as the meaning of mankind being made in/as the “image and likeness” of God. The Mormon and Christian Worldviews, even in their diversity, can be seen within the issue of Eternal progenitorship. On one hand, the Christian doctrine of the Eternal Generation of the Son (uniquely) - and on the other, the Mormon doctrine of the infinite regression of fathers and sons (as a procreative principle).

YouTube Channel; Mormonism Research Ministry 

• Video of Interview
• debate

BOM; D&C 76, 93, 132; Abraham 3; Lectures on Faith; JST Revelation 1 

Joseph Smith: King Follett; Sermon in the Grove (also here, here, and here) 

Michael as Adam is agreed upon by all sides of Mormonism. 

Brigham Young: JD 1:50f; ”Discourse on Marriage” ; 1.92-93; 1.349f; 6.273f (also here) 

• “I Propose to Speak upon a Subject That Does Not Immediately Concern Yours or My Welfare” (found in The Essential Brigham Young, pp. 86-103) 

“The Origin of Man” 1909 First Presidency Message 

“The Father and the Son” 1916 Doctrinal Statement by the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve 

Gospel Principles; Achieving A Celestial Marriage Manual 

The Family; A Proclamation to the World 

Key to the Science of Theology by Parley Pratt 

The Seer by Orson Pratt 

Elias by Orson F. Whitney 

A Rational Theology by John A. Widtsoe 

The Articles of Faith by James Talmage 

Mormon Doctrine by Bruce R. McConkie 

The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball (also here) 

“The Light of Christ” by Boyd K. Packer 

The Mormon Doctrine of Deity; The Truth, The Way, The Life by B.H. Roberts 

“The Doctrine of the Firstborn and Only Begotten” by Rodney Turner 

“Origin of the Spirit in Early Mormon Thought” by Van Hale 

“The Idea of Preexistence in Mormon Thought” by Blake Ostler 

“The Source of God’s Authority: One Argument for An Unambiguous Doctrine of Preexistence” by Roger Terry 

“’The First Principles of Man Are Self-Existent with God’: The Immortality of the Soul in Mormon Theology” by Brent L. Top 

“Tripartite Existentialism” by Jonathan Stapley 

“Spirit Birth and ‘Chains of Belonging’” by Brian D. Hales 

“Believing Adoption” by Samuel M. Brown 

Mormonism and the Magic World View by D. Michael Quinn 

“The Development of the Doctrine of Preexistence, 1830-1844"; “This Is My Doctrine”: The Development of Mormon Theology by Charles Harrell 

Mormonism in Transition; “The Reconstruction of Mormon Doctrine” by Thomas G. Alexander 

The Mysteries of Godliness: A History of Mormon Temple Worship by David John Buerger 

Conflict in the Quorum by Gary Bergera 

What Is Doctrine? A Latter-Day Saint Systematic Theology (2 vol.’s) by Peter Carmack 

“Toward a Post-Heterosexual Mormon Theology”; “After a Post-Heterosexual Mormon Theology: A Ten-Year Retrospective” by Taylor Petrey 

Scientific Aspects of Mormonism by Nels Nelson 

Outlines of Mormon Philosophy by Lycurgus Wilson 

Eternal Man by Truman Madsen 

“’Lightning Out of Heaven’: Joseph Smith and the Forging of Community” by Terryl Givens 

Gospel Trilogy; The First 2,000 Years by Cleon Skousen 

LDS Temple: here and here 

Girls Who Choose God (Deseret Book) 

Mormon Matters: Satan 

“Wingfield Scott Watson and His Struggle to Preserve the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite) After the Death of Its Founder” by Kyle Beshears (also here and here) 

“D&C 76:24 isn’t about ‘Literal’ Spirit Children” by Aaron Shafovaloff 

Confessions by Augustine 

On the Incarnation by Athanasius 

Reformed Dogmatics (4 vol.’s) by Herman Bavinck 

Theoretical-Practical Theology (4 vol.’s) by Petrus van Mastricht 

Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin 

“Man As a Body-Soul Composite” ; “Trichotomy: A Beachhead for Gnostic Influences” by Kim Riddlebarger   

Created in God’s Image by Anthony Hoekema 

The Royal Priest: Psalm 110 in Biblical Theology by Matthew Emadi (also here and here) 

Retrieving Eternal Generation edited by Fred Sanders and Scott Swain 

God the Son Incarnate: The Doctrine of Christ by Stephen Wellum 

Confessing the Impassible God edited by Ronald Baines, James Renihan, et al. (also here) 

Father, Son, and Spirit in Romans 8: The Roman Reception of Paul’s Trinitarian Theology by Ron C. Fay 

The Bible Among the Myths by John Oswalt 

Foundations of Covenant Theology by Lane Tipton 

We Become What We Worship: A Biblical Theology of Idolatry by G.K. Beale 

In this episode, we interview Dr. Joshua Mitchell about his book American Awakening: Identity Politics and Other Afflictions of Our Time. Is our current political climate the result of secularism, or is it actually indicating a deep religiosity – even the merging of religion and politics? Joshua takes us through the distinction between the visible and invisible economy, innocence-signaling (as distinct from virtue-signaling), and the current political quest for atonement, purity, and innocence. Far from being a secular phenomenon, identity politics is a Christian heresy that can only be answered by a superior account of Original Sin, Divine Judgment, and true atoning Mercy - centered on the Divine Scapegoat: The Word Who Became Flesh. Only then will there be space and time for “the Liberal Politics of Competence”.  

Some books by Dr. Mitchell: 

American Awakening: Identity Politics and Other Afflictions of Our Time 

Tocqueville in Arabia: The Anxieties of the Democratic Age 

Not by Reason Alone: Religion, History, and Identity in Early Modern Political Thought 

Video Essay - Identity Politics: Guilt and Scapegoat 

In this episode, we interview Dr. Richard Weikart about his book Hitler’s Religion: The Twisted Beliefs that Drove the Third Reich. Was Hitler a Christian? Was Hitler an Atheist? Was Hitler a Darwinist? Richard takes us through the answers, in their historical context, as we look at issues of theology, science, and politics - and hear about some of their consequences. 

Some books by Dr. Weikart: 

Hitler’s Religion: The Twisted Beliefs that Drove the Third Reich 

Hitler’s Ethic: The Nazi Pursuit of Evolutionary Progress 

Darwinian Racism: How Darwinism Influenced Hitler, Nazism and White Nationalism  

Lecture: “From Darwin to Hitler” 

Preaching Eugenics by Christine Rosen 

The War for Righteousness by Richard Gamble 

The Aryan Jesus by Susannah Heschel 

Hitler’s Monsters by Eric Kurlander 

The Popes Against the Jews by David Kertzer 

In this episode we welcome Iain Wright and Yannick Imbert, the authors of the book Reclaiming the “Dark Ages”: How the Gospel Light Shone from 500 to 1500. There are many figures in church history in-between Augustine and Luther that are worth understanding, appreciating, and learning from. Iain and Yannick help us approach the complexity of history through often-overlooked figures such as Pope Leo the Great, Alcuin, and Bernard of Clairvaux. Christ said that the gates of hell would not prevail against His church, and these men are evidence of this.  

Reclaiming the “Dark Ages”: How the Gospel Light Shone from 500 to 1500 by Iain Wright and Yannick Imbert 

• Leo’s Tome (and here) 
• A Mind Intent on God: The Spiritual Writings of Alcuin of York by Douglas Dale 
• “Jesus, the very thought of thee” ; “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded” by Bernard of Clairvaux (also here and here) 

For those wanting an informed Protestant analysis and critique of both the Papacy and Mariology - Dr. Leonardo De Chirico is highly recommended:

• A Christian's Pocket Guide to the Papacy
• A Christian's Pocket Guide to Mary: The Mother of God

The few sources mentioned on “the Dark Ages” (even, the “Black Millenium”), though one should realize that any claim of “restoration” must argue for some form of extinction beforehand. LDS missionaries all around the world today still tell the story of “Jesus” supposedly telling Joseph Smith that “all their creeds [are] an abomination”.  

The Progress of Man by Joseph Fielding Smith 

Continuing the Quest by Hugh B. Brown 

A New Witness for the Articles of Faith by Bruce R. McConkie 

Jesus the Christ ; The Great Apostasy by James Talmage 

In this episode, we interview Dr. Lydia McGrew on her book The Eye of the Beholder: The Gospel of John as Historical Reportage. In this interview, Lydia helps us understand the current state of scholarship about the Gospel of John – and what is wrong with the current mainstream approach to the Gospel. Is the Gospel of John a distinct genre from the Synoptics? Does John feel free to invent scenes, invent sayings of Jesus, and shift events around contrary to historical fact - yet, for some “higher” or “more spiritual” reason? Lydia helps us understand the Gospel of John as the author intended, and shows some reasons the author is trustworthy - based on evidence. 

Website; YouTube Channel 

The Eye of the Beholder: The Gospel of John as Historical Reportage by Lydia McGrew 

The Mirror or the Mask: Liberating the Gospels from Literary Devices by Lydia McGrew 

• Name Statistics Argument 
• Gospel Details in the Goldilocks Zone 
• Three False Facts about John’s Gospel 
• Did John move the Crucifixion Date? 
• On Dale Allison on Rainbow Bodies 

TalkAboutDoubts.com 

 The Harmony of the Gospels by St. Augustine (and here for the specific citation) 

Julius Africanus, Letter to Aristides I