Distinctive Christianity

In this episode, Brendon and Skyler continue setting up the context for the coming series on the Nicene Creed. Today, we take a brief and broad tour of Alexander the Great and the Harvest of Hellenism. What is Hellenization? We take a look at some of its political and cultural context – and then focus on the philosophical schools of Stoicism and Epicureanism. This will be key to accurately understanding the world of the New Testament, the early church - as well as contemporary debates over Christian theology and apologetics.

Correction: The Battle of Tyre occurred in present-day Lebanon, not Syria. Also, though the Battle of Gaugamela occurred in modern-day northern Iraq (Iraqi Kurdistan), Alexander didn’t arrive at the body of Darius III until he was in modern-day northeastern Iran.

Clarification (in case there was confusion): The Cleopatra mentioned as the wife of Philip II of Macedon is not the famous Cleopatra. The seventh and final wife of Philip of Macedon was Cleopatra (sometimes, "Eurydice"). She (and her children) was seen as a threat by another wife of Philip - the mother of Alexander, Olympias. The famous Cleopatra, Queen Cleopatra VII (of Caesar and Mark Antony fame) was actually the last ruler of the Ptolemies (of the Ptolemaic Kingdom, spoken of in this episode) and ruled from 51-30 BC.

Twelve Greeks and Romans Who Changed the World by Carl Richard 

Alexander the Great: Journey to the End of the Earth by Norman Cantor 

Alexander At the End of the World: The Forgotten Final Years of Alexander the Great by Rachel Kousser 

The Landmark Arrian: The Campaigns of Alexander, edited by James Romm 

Alexander to Actium by Peter Green 

The Harvest of Hellenism by F.E. Peters 

Jew and Gentile in the Ancient World by Louis Feldman 

The Jews in the Greek Age by Elias Bickerman 

The Land of the Elephant Kings; Time and its Adversaries in the Seleucid Empire by Paul Kosmin 

Circumference by Nicholas Nicastro 

The Epicurus Reader, translated and edited by Brad Inwood and L.P. Gerson 

The Stoics Reader, translated, with introduction, by Brad Inwood and L.P. Gerson 

Hellenistic Philosophy: Stoics, Epicureans, Sceptics by A.A. Long 

Epicurus and His Gods by Andre-Jean Festugiere 

Stoic Philosophy by J.M. Rist 

The Stoics by F.H. Sandbach 

Ancient Mystery Cults by Walter Burkert 

Philosophy in the Hellenistic and Roman Worlds by Peter Adamson 

Destroyer of the God by Larry Hurtado 

Dominion by Tom Holland 

Christian Charity in the Ancient Church by Gerhard Uhlhorn 

Unnatural Death by Richard Weikart 

Abortion and the Early Church by Michael Gorman 

Infinitesimal by Amir Alexander 

The Virgin Birth of Christ; Christianity and Liberalism by J. Gresham Machen

Christless Christianity; Core Christianity by Michael Horton

"Resurrection, Proof, and Presuppositionalism: Acts 17.30-31" by Lane Tipton; found in Revelation and Reason, edited by K. Scott Oliphant and Lane Tipton

The Gospel and the Greeks by Ronald Nash

In this episode, we interview Eric Johnson of Mormonism Research Ministry about LDS President-Prophet Spencer W. Kimball’s book The Miracle of Forgiveness. Eric takes us through some of the main teachings of President Kimball, and how it still has authority for the LDS. Could this book be, in any way, considered Christian? We also discuss Eric’s “Free-Book Approach” of using Kimball's book for evangelism. Listen as we dive into what an LDS Prophet thinks about the gods, man, sin, salvation – and how he authoritatively explained (away) some of the Bible passages that disagree.  

Mormonism Research Ministry

Viewpoint on Mormonism

themiracleofforgiveness.com 

D&C 58.43; 82.7; 2 Ne 25.23 

The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball 

Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball 

Some talks by President Kimball: 

• “Be Ye Therefore Perfect”  
• “Our Great Potential”  
• “The Power of Forgiveness” 

Endorsements, e.g.: Elder Richard G. Scott (and two), Elder Bruce Hafen 

“The Miracle of Forgiveness: The Free-Book Approach” by Eric Johnson and Randy Sweet; found in Sharing the Good News with Mormons, edited by Eric Johnson and Sean McDowell 

• Viewpoint on Mormonism: Apostle Jeffrey R. Holland’s Credit for Trying (April 2016 Conference Talk) Part 1 Part 2 Part 3  Part 4  Part 5 June 20-24, 2016 (Article) 

“Book Review: The Divine Gift of Forgiveness by Apostle Neil Andersen” by Eric Johnson 

Introducing Christianity to Mormons by Eric Johnson 

In this episode, we interview Bradley Campbell of God Loves Mormons (GLM) and the Mormonism Research Ministry (MRM). We ask Bradley about the content of a few of his recent videos - and the response to them by LDS. This is a conversation that talks about changes in what the LDS church “officially” teaches and why. What is the state of popular-level LDS theology today, both online and on the street? 

• Mormons & Christians Respond: Does God Have a God? 
• Proof: Mormons Don’t Treat their Prophets like Prophets 
• 5 Things the LDS Church No Longer Teaches 

God Loves Mormons (website)

God Loves Mormons (YouTube)

Mormonism Research Ministry

Viewpoint on Mormonism

D&C 27.11; D&C 132

Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, edited by Joseph Fielding Smith

Brigham Young: JD 1.50-51; 2.184; 4.53-54, 215, 220; 6.275; 7.333; 13.95, 264; 11.286 

Orson Hyde: JD 2.81; 4.259f 

Jedediah Grant: JD 4.49-51 

“If you could hie to Kolob” (LDS Hymnal) 

The Seer by Orson Pratt; also 13.187 (D&C 27.11); 18.293

Doctrines of Salvation; Answers to Gospel Questions by Joseph Fielding Smith 

Mormon Doctrine by Bruce R. McConkie 

“Our Own Liahona” by Spencer W. Kimball 

“The Seven Deadly Heresies” by Bruce R. McConkie 

“Race and the Priesthood” (Gospel Topics) 

Church Statement by Dale Bills  

Mormonism and the Magic World View; Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn 

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

The Blood of the Prophets by Will Bagley 

Conflict in the Quorum by Gary Bergera 

Like a Fiery Meteor: The Life of Joseph F. Smith by Stephen Taysom

Second-Class Saints by Matthew Harris 

Jesus Was Married by Ogden Kraut

Dynasty of the Holy Grail: Mormonism's Sacred Bloodline by Vern Swanson 

In this episode, we interview Bradley Campbell of God Loves Mormons (GLM) and the Mormonism Research Ministry (MRM). We ask Bradley about the content of a few of his recent videos - and the response to them by LDS. This is a conversation that talks about changes in what the LDS church “officially” teaches and why. What is the state of popular-level LDS theology today, both online and on the street? 

• Mormons & Christians Respond: Does God Have a God? 
• Proof: Mormons Don’t Treat their Prophets like Prophets 
• 5 Things the LDS Church No Longer Teaches 

God Loves Mormons (website)

God Loves Mormons (YouTube)

Mormonism Research Ministry

Viewpoint on Mormonism

D&C 27.11; D&C 132

Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, edited by Joseph Fielding Smith

Brigham Young: JD 1.50-51; 2.184; 4.53-54, 215, 220; 6.275; 7.333; 13.95, 264; 11.286 

Orson Hyde: JD 2.81; 4.259f

Jedediah Grant: JD 4.49-51 

“If you could hie to Kolob” (LDS Hymnal) 

The Seer by Orson Pratt; also 13.187; 18.293

Doctrines of Salvation; Answers to Gospel Questions by Joseph Fielding Smith 

Mormon Doctrine by Bruce R. McConkie 

“Our Own Liahona” by Spencer W. Kimball 

“The Seven Deadly Heresies” by Bruce R. McConkie 

“Race and the Priesthood” (Gospel Topics) 

Church Statement by Dale Bills  

Mormonism and the Magic World View; Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn 

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

The Blood of the Prophets by Will Bagley 

Conflict in the Quorum by Gary Bergera 

Like a Fiery Meteor: The Life of Joseph F. Smith by Stephen Taysom

Second-Class Saints by Matthew Harris 

Jesus Was Married by Ogden Kraut

Dynasty of the Holy Grail: Mormonism's Sacred Bloodline by Vern Swanson

In this episode, we welcome back Dr. Matthew Emadi to discuss his recent book What Is a Church? In this book, Matt addresses the phenomenon of “Lone Ranger christianity” and hopes to aid in seeing what the true Christian Church is, and why it is a necessary and essential component to the Christian life. Ecclesiology should be more than just the later part of a systematic theology we never read.

Crossroads; Salt Lake School of Theology

Interview on The Royal Priest 

 What Is a Church?; How Can I Serve My Church? (9 Marks) 

“3 Reasons Why Your Small Group Is Not a Church” (Crossway) 

“What Do Mormons Believe About God?” (TGC) 

 New Lies for Old; The Bible vs. Shawn McCraney ; An Earnest Plea to Roman Catholics (Jason Wallace)

OPC Book of Church Order 

In this episode, Brendon and Skyler continue setting up the context for the coming series on the Nicene Creed. Today, we take a brief and broad tour of Ancient Roman civilization. This includes some of the basics of public and private Religion in Roman society, as well as the importance of Roman law, piety, and virtue. The how and the what of the spread of Roman power helps set the stage upon which Christianity entered the scene. This is key to understanding the events that led up to, among other things, the Council of Nicaea.  

Correction: I merged parts of two scenes with Anchises in Virgil's Aeneid. The scene where Anchises charges Rome with her destiny is actually from the Underworld. (see here) It should be noted that in the same section where this occurs, Anchises also explains the reincarnation of souls. (see also the prophecy of Jupiter early on in the epic poem, here and here.)

The Ancient City by Numa Denis Fustel de Coulanges 

Twelve Greeks and Romans Who Changed the World by Carl Richard 

Politically Incorrect Guide to Western Civilization by Anthony Esolen 

A History of the Roman World 753 to 146 B.C.; From the Gracchi to Nero A History of Rome from 133 B.C. to A.D. 68 by H. H. Scullard 

The Gods of Ancient Rome; The Cults of the Roman Empire by Robert Turcan 

The State, Law and Religion: Pagan Rome; Roman Private Law around 200 B.C.; The Spirit of Roman Law; The Nature of Law by Alan Watson 

The City of God by St. Augustine 

“Augustine and the Classical Latin Literary Tradition” by Dennis Trout (found in Augustine and Tradition, edited by David G. Hunter and Jonathan P. Yates) 

“Mars and Anna Perenna: March Gods and the Etruscan New Year in Archaic Rome”; Etruscan Italy; Masada and the World of the New Testament written and edited by John F. Hall 

The Etruscans: A Very Short Introduction by Christopher Smith 

The Religions of the Roman Empire by John Ferguson 

The Archaic Community of the Romans; Roman Religion and Roman Empire by Robert E. A. Palmer 

Roman Dining, edited by Barbara K. Gould and John F. Donahue 

Roman Myths by Michael Grant 

The World of Rome by Peter V. Jones and Keith Sidwell 

SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome by Mary Beard 

Rubicon by Tom Holland 

The Roman Republic: A Very Short Introduction by David M. Gwynn 

Politics in the Roman Republic by Henrik Mouritsen 

Party Politics in the Age of Caesar by Lily Ross Taylor 

The Calendar of the Roman Republic by Agnes Kirsopp Michels 

The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic by W. Warde Fowler 

Law and Life of Rome, 90 B.C. - A.D. 212 by J. A. Crook 

Caesar: Politician and Statesman by Matthias Gelzer 

Julius Caesar and His Public Image by Zwi Yavetz 

“Caesar and Jewish Law” by Miriam Pucci Ben Zeev 

Pax Romana by Adrian Goldsworthy 

The Roman Empire: A Very Short Introduction by Christopher Kelly 

The Emperor in the Roman World by Fergus Miller 

War and Imperialism in Republican Rome, 327-70 B.C.; Roman Power by William V. Harris 

The Hellenistic World and the Coming of Rome by Erich Gruen 

Harvest of Hellenism by F. E. Peters 

Ancient Greek and Roman Science: A Very Short Introduction by Liba Taub 

“The Roman Flour Mill at Barbegal” by Roger Hansen (also here)  

An Introduction to Roman Legal and Constitutional History by Wolfgang Kunkel 

Roman Law: A Historical Introduction by Hans Wolff 

Encyclopedic Dictionary of Roman Law by Adolf Berger (also here; and here) 

“Corporate Law Lessons from Ancient Rome” by Andreas Fleckner  

“Maritime Loans” by Dominic W. Rathbone 

“Banking in the Roman World” by Victor Labate 

“Sine Qua Non: How Banks in Ancient Rome Thrived in the Private Sphere” by Andrew Koroly 

Commerce and Social Standing in Ancient Rome by John H. D’Arms 

“The Economy of Endowments: the case of Roman associations” by Jinyu Liu 

Astrology in Roman Law and Politics by Frederick H. Cramer 

Ovid: A Very Short Introduction; Horace: A Very Short Introduction by Llewelyn Morgan (also, e.g.: Cicero)

The Christians as the Romans Saw Them by Robert Louis Wilken 

The Greco-Roman World of the New Testament Era by James Jeffers 

The Roman Citizenship; Roman Society and Roman Law in the New Testament by A. N. Sherwin-White 

The Rise of Christianity by W. H. C. Frend 

The Destroyer of the Gods by Larry Hurtado 

Rome and Jerusalem: The Clash of Ancient Civilizations by Martin Goodman 

In Stone and Story: Early Christianity in the Roman World by Bruce W. Longenecker 

The Fall of Rome: And the End of Civilization by Bryan Ward-Perkins 

Why Empires Fall: Rome, America, and the Future of the West by Peter Heather and John Rapley 

Unnatural Death: Medicine’s Descent from Healing to Killing by Richard Weikart

When Children Became People by O.M. Bakke (also here)

The Victory of Reason; The Rise of Christianity by Rodney Stark

Envy by Helmut Schoeck

The Bourgeois Trilogy by Deirdre McCloskey 

In this episode, Skyler is joined by Patrick Courrielche and Adryana Cortez of Red Pilled America to discuss their recent documentary: “Rescue Ruse – How ‘Sound of Freedom’ Conned Christians”. Patrick and Adryana take us all the way back to a man named W.T. Stead in the 19th century - and show us how there has been a blueprint for men like Tim Ballard to lie and take advantage of Christians’ desire to help with social ills, real and imagined. We get to hear some of the story behind the making of the documentary, the reaction it has received, and why the ends don’t justify the means if truth is the price. 

In the same epistle of 1 Timothy which Ballard has used for a fake necklace story, the apostle Paul commends that we should “[h]ave nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths”. If not for truth - how can one tell between what is history, and what is myth? And should (even real) social problems be identified and confronted based on lies, or based on truth?

Red Pilled America 

Documentary: “Rescue Ruse – How ‘Sound of Freedom’ Conned Christians”

Check out: Con, Inc. (8 parts) 

The Sound of Fabrication, Part One; Part Two 

Recent reporting: here and here 

Lynn Packer (e.g. here and here) 

VICE article 

Muckraker: The Scandalous Life and Times of W.T. Stead, Britain’s First Investigative Journalist by W. Sydney Robinson 

Hidden in Plain Sight: America’s Slaves of the New Millennium by Kimberly Mehlman-Orozco 

The QAnon Deception by James Beverley

In this interview, Skyler interviews distinguished journalist Lynn Packer about his book Lying for the Lord: The Paul H. Dunn Stories. The second most popular LDS General Authority in his time - Paul H. Dunn was in the Presidency of the Seventy, and was famous for his faith-promoting stories. But were those stories true?

Following his investigation into the AFCO fraud scandal (of which Elder Dunn was a part) Lynn continued to investigate and found that the lies and fraud went deeper than most are willing to face, even now.  

Lying for the Lord: The Paul H. Dunn Stories by Lynn Packer 

Book Intro; Paul Dunn Highlight Video

Lynn Kenneth Packer (YouTube Page) 

“Field of Dreams” (Sunstone) 

• Lynn also led the way in reporting on Tim Ballard (see, e.g., here, here, here), long before more recent coverage. (e.g. here) 
• Be sure to check out Lynn’s recent reporting on Elder M. Russell Ballard, who was President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. 

Paul H. Dunn’s obituary ; Fireside 

In this episode, Brendon and Skyler start setting up the context for the coming series on the Nicene Creed. Today, we take a brief and broad tour of Ancient Greek civilization. This includes some of the basics of public and private Religion in Greek society, and some of the influential ideas of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. If it is claimed that Greek ideas corrupted the Christian faith – then it is necessary to be familiar with some of the main ideas to be able to evaluate the claim. We make a few brief comments on contemporary debates over "Christian Platonism" and the Great Tradition.

Aeon (and here); Antikythera Mechanism (also here and here) 

The Ancient Greeks: Crucible of Civilization 

The Ancient City by Numa Denis Fustel de Coulanges 

Twelve Greeks and Romans Who Changed the World by Carl J. Richard 

The Greeks by H. D. F. Kitto 

The Greeks and Their Gods by W. R. C. Guthrie 

Pericles Funeral Oration

Ancient Greece: A Very Short Introduction by Paul Cartledge

The Greeks and the Irrational by E. R. Dodds

The Greeks and the Rational by Josiah Ober

Politically Incorrect Guide to Western Civilization by Anthony Esolen 

A History of Western Philosophy and Theology by John Frame 

The Consequences of Ideas by R. C. Sproul 

The Iliad; The Odyssey by Homer

Homer and His Iliad by Robin Lane Fox

Homer: A Very Short Introduction by Barbara Graziosi 

The World of Odysseus by M.I. Finley

The Bible Among the Myths by John Oswalt 

Classical Philosophy by Peter Adamson 

Presocratic Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction by Catherine Osborn (and here)  

       - Parmenides 

Socrates: A Very Short Introduction by C.C.W. Taylor 

Socrates: A Man for Our Times by Paul Johnson 

Socrates and the Political Community by Mary P. Nichols 

“Socrates in Combat: Trauma and Resilience in Plato’s Political Theory” by Sara Monoson 

• National Review and here 
• “Socrates & Christ” by Greg Bahnsen 

Plato: Complete Works, edited by John M. Cooper

Plato’s Cave (and here) 

Plato: A Very Short Introduction by Julia Annas 

Understanding Plato by David Melling 

• In Our Time: here, here, here
• Oedipus Rex” by Sophocles (National Review)

Christian Platonism, edited by Alexander J. B. Hampton and John Peter Kenney 

From Plato to Christ by Louis Markos 

“All One in Christ: Why Christian Platonism is Key to the Great Tradition” by Hans Boersma 

Christ Over All (also: here, here, here) 

“Antithesis, Common Grace, and Plato’s View of the Soul” by William D. Dennison 

The Gospel and the Greeks by Ronald Nash 

It should be noted that Thomas Aquinas refers to Aristotle as "The Philosopher", and Dante refers to him (even in Limbo) as "the Master of those who know".

The Complete Works of Aristotle, edited by Jonathan Barnes

Aristotle: A Very Short Introduction by Jonathan Barnes 

Aristotle for Everybody by Mortimer Adler (and here and here) 

In Our Time: here, here

The Last Superstition; Five Proofs of the Existence of God by Edward Feser (also here) 

Russell-Copleston Debate on God’s Existence (1948) 

Nature, Justice, and Rights in Aristotle’s Politics by Fred Miller 

“Aristotle’s Unmoved Movers” by Philip Merlan (also here) 

Van Til and the Foundation of Christian Ethics by Scott Hatch 

“’All Things are Full of Gods’: Rethinking Naturalism in the Classical World” by Daryn Lehoux; found in Science Without God?: Rethinking the History of Scientific Naturalism, edited by Peter Harrison and Jon H. Roberts 

Early Greek Science by G. E. R. Lloyd

Five Stages of Greek Religion by Gilburt Murray

The Rise and Fall of Classical Greece by Josiah Ober 

Paidea (3 v.) by Werner Jaeger

“The Liberty of the Ancients Compared with that of the Moderns” by Benjamin Constant 

“The Legislation of Lycurgus and Solon” by Friedrich Schiller 

Envy: A Theory of Social Behaviour by Helmut Schoeck

Hellenization Revisited, edited by Wendy Hellerman 

The Defense of the Faith by Cornelius Van Til

Thucydides and the Pursuit of Freedom by Mary Nichols 

Republics Ancient and Modern, Vol. 1: The Ancien Regime in Classical Greece by Paul Rahe

Finding the Walls of Troy by Susan Heuck Allen

Lost and Found by Caroline Moorehead

Freedom’s Progress? By Gerard Casey 

The Harvest of Hellenism by F.E. Peters

Unnatural Death: Medicine’s Descent from Healing to Killing by Richard Weikart

When Children Became People by O.M. Bakke

The Victory of Reason; The Rise of Christianity by Rodney Stark 

In this episode, we interview Jolene Phelps about her life story, including her transition from being a faithful and committed LDS to becoming an evangelical Christian. Her story includes everything from Cuban grandparents who fled Castro’s communism to leaving that mainstream LDS church for “The Remnant”, waiting for the imminent end of the world. Her and her husband, James Phelps, will be leading a church-plant in southern Utah starting this year.  

Check out: Ask LDS Questions 

Crossroads Church Utah 

Into God’s Arms: A Woman and Her Family Come Out of Mormonism and Find Jesus! by Jolene Phelps 

“Wanted” by Rinsley Rose 

“What Do Mormons Believe About God?” by Matthew Emadi 

Against All Hope: A Memoir of Life in Castro’s Gulag by Armando Valladares 

Fidel: Hollywood’s Favorite Tyrant; The Longest Romance: The Mainstream Media and Fidel Castro by Humberto Fontova 

Scribes and Scripture by John Meade and Peter Gurry 

The Reformation of Rights by John Witte Jr.

Proclaim Liberty Throughout the Land by Mark David Hall