Following the Fathers

A Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences:

On October 31st, 1517, an Augustinian monk and professor of theology named Martin Luther published a document containing 95 propositions for theological debate. But what began as an academic and theological dispute over the practice of selling indulgences would become one of the catalysts for the Protestant Reformation. But what exactly was Luther protesting? What did he think was wrong with the church's teaching and practice? In this podcast, we revisit the 95 Theses and explore their historical and theological context, and consider why they still matter for the church today.

In this episode, we continue our journey through Thomas Aquinas’s Summa Theologiae, turning to Question 1, Articles 4–5. Aquinas asks two important questions about sacred doctrine: Is sacred doctrine a practical science or a speculative one? And is it nobler than the other sciences?

We discuss Aquinas’s understanding of theology as a science, the relationship between contemplation and action, and why the knowledge of God stands in a unique relationship to all other forms of human knowledge. Along the way, we explore Aquinas’s use of Scripture, Aristotle, and the broader medieval understanding of what it means for theology to be a science.

What makes theology different from philosophy and the other sciences? Why does Aquinas regard sacred doctrine as the highest and noblest of the sciences? And what does all of this tell us about the purpose of studying theology in the first place?

Join us as we work through these fascinating articles and continue exploring the opening question of the Summa Theologiae.

In this episode, we continue our discussion of Thomas Aquinas's Summa Theologiae, beginning with Question 1, On Sacred Doctrine. We focus especially on Articles 2 and 3, where Aquinas asks whether sacred doctrine is truly a science and whether it is a single, unified science.

In the opening article of the Summa Theologiae, Thomas Aquinas asks a foundational question: is sacred doctrine necessary?

Why do we need theology if human reason can discover truth about God? What exactly is sacred doctrine?

In this episode, we begin our journey through Aquinas's Summa Theologiae by examining his answer to these questions and considering why theology is ultimately grounded in God's revelation to us.

In this episode, we continue our journey through St. Augustine’s Confessions, exploring the profound story of his conversion and the transformation of his heart. Beginning with the conversion of the Roman philosopher Victorinus, we discuss Augustine’s own struggle with divided desires, his encounter with God’s grace, and the moment that leads him from hesitation to surrender. Together, we reflect on themes of sin, longing, grace, and the restless heart that finds its true rest in God.

In this episode, we continue our journey through Augustine's Confessions by exploring Book VIII, sections 1-4, and the remarkable conversion story of Victorinus. Once a celebrated rhetorician and defender of paganism, Victorinus's embrace of the Christian faith became a powerful testimony to the transforming grace of God.

In this episode, we discuss why Augustine gives such prominence to Victorinus's story, the tension between private belief and public confession, and the courage required to identify openly with Christ.

In this episode, we turn to Book VII of Augustine's Confessions-the moment where Augustine's mind begins to catch up to the truth his heart has been resisting.

After years of wrestling with Manichaeism, materialist assumptions about God, and false images of evil, Augustine encounters the insights of the Platonists and undergoes a profound shift in how he understands reality itself.

Book VII is a story of illumination without conversion-of seeing the light from a distance but lacking the strength to walk towards it.

In this episode, we dive into Book VI of Augustine's Confessions, where the struggle between spiritual longing and worldly ambition comes into sharp focus. Joined by friends, we explore Augustine's complex relationships. We talk about his philosophical influences shaping his thoughts, his hesitation to fully commit to the Christian life, and his friend Alypius's struggle with the lure of the gladiatorial games. Tune in as we follow Augustine's search for true rest in this episode.

In this episode, we explore Books 4 and 5 of Augustine's Confessions, where grief, ambition, and the slow unraveling of false belief begin to prepare Augustine for a deeper encounter with truth. Join us as we reflect on disordered love, the pain of loss, and the quiet, persistent work of God in the background of Augustine's life.

In this episode, I sit down with Garrett Berk to explore a paper that he wrote on Augustine and the Pelagian controversy. Together, we delve into the historical backdrop of this pivotal conflict in the early church, examining how Augustine responded to the challenges posed by Pelagius and his followers. Our conversation traces the development of doctrine in the Western church, unpacking key theological shifts that still shape Christian thought today. We also consider the lasting influence of semi-Pelagianism in modern contexts and why these ancient debates continue to matter.