In this interview, Dr. Joshua Sijuwade returns to the channel, but this time from a different church. About a year ago, he and I discussed his a priori argument for the papacy. This time, he's sharing what ultimately led him to change his mind on the papacy and become Orthodox. The conversation focuses on the structure of the church, and whether Catholics or Orthodox have retained the church structure of the first millennium. 

In a future episode, we may dive into the differences in the doctrine of God between the East and West. If you'd like to see that, let us know!

The Monograph: https://www.academia.edu/143947636/The_Identity_of_the_Church_A_Comprehensive_Argument_for_the_Truth_of_Eastern_Orthodoxy_Penultimate_Updated_Version

Want to support the channel? Here's how!
Give monthly: https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity  
Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity
Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin
Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com/

Support the show

In this interview, I'm joined by Dr. Ian Christopher Levy to discuss freedom of conscience in medieval Catholic theology. We pay special attention to how this medieval theology showed up in the trial of Jan Hus, the Great Western Schism, and the condemnation of Martin Luther at the Diet of Worms. 

Dr. Ian Christopher Levy (Ph. D. Marquette University) is Professor of Historical theology at Providence College. He is a leading expert in medieval biblical exegesis, sacraments, and ecclesiology. His latest book, With a Pure Conscience: Christian Liberty before the Reformation, chronicles the development of the medieval conception freedom of conscience with special attention given to how freedom of conscience relates to church authority. 

With a Pure Conscience: https://amzn.to/3IBDTiN
Holy Scripture and the Quest for Authority at the End of the Middle Ages: https://amzn.to/4gLng0U

Want to support the channel? Here's how!
Give monthly: https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity  
Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity
Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin
Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com/

00:00 - Teaser
00:59 - The Diet of Worms
04:27 - Freedom of Conscience
07:08 - Conscience and Authority
11:25 - Conscience and Papal Authority
15:51 - The Magisterium of the University
19:02 - Academic Freedom
21:01 - Luther and the University
30:57 - Differences in Medieval Views on Conscience
37:55 - Scripture and Conscience
42:30 - Perspicuity
47:03 - Jan Hus
51:53 - Conscience Then and Now

Support the show

Vatican 1 represents a pivotal moment in the life of the Catholic Church. It was there that Papal Infallibility was proclaimed as dogma, and the Christian world is still feeling the reverberations of that declaration. 

And yet, even for most well-informed Christians, this is all they know about the council. But the full story reveals much more. Yes, Vatican 1 declared papal infallibility as dogma, but it also had important things to say about faith, reason, and dogma in general. More than that though, understanding the council takes more than reading the documents--you need to peel back the layers and see the story that shaped the council. It's one where vibrant characters worked hard to push competing visions of what the church is and how it should address the problems of the modern world. 

Books mentioned: https://amzn.to/485d28W

Want to support the channel? Here's how!
Give monthly: https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity    
Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity
Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin
Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com

00:00 - Introduction
01:36 - The Crisis of Ideas
04:11 - Dei Filius
08:28 - The Political and Social Crises
11:11 - Pastor Aeternus
16:12 - The Aftermath
17:49 - Evaluation

Support the show

In this interview, I'm joined by Dr. Beth Felker Jones, Professor of Theology at Northern Seminary, to discuss her recent book, Why I am Protestant, which is part of IVP's ecumenical dialogue series, including Dr. Matthew Levering's corresponding book, Why I am Roman Catholic.

Dr. Jones shares her reasons for being Protestant, including some arguments that I think will be brand new to you. If you're a Protestant who's wondering if staying Protestant is worth it, this video is for you.

Get the book: https://amzn.to/3K5IsT2
Dr. Jones' Substack: https://bethfelkerjones.substack.com/

Want to support the channel? Here's how!
Give monthly:   / gospelsimplicity   
Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity
Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity...
Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com/

Support the show

Recently, I visited Church of the Nativity, a cutting-edge Catholic megachurch outside of Baltimore, MD. After I posted the video, the team at Nativity reached out to me and asked if I wanted to learn more about the story of the church and their philosophy.

I was thrilled.

So, a few weeks ago, I sat down with Tom Corcoran, one of the people behind turning this dying church into one of the fastest growing, most interesting Catholic parishes in the country.

Learn more: https://www.rebuiltparish.com/
https://www.churchnativity.com/
 @rebuiltparish  

Want to support the channel? Here's how!
Give monthly: https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity  
Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity
Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin
Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com/

Support the show

In this interview, I'm joined by Fr. Ben Crosby, an Episcopal priest and Ph.D. student at McGill university, to discuss the 39 articles, Anglican theology, and how to restore the Episcopal Church to its theological roots. Along the way, Fr. Ben shares the fascinating story of how liberals and conservatives have both opposed the 39 articles, whether "via media" is a good way to describe Anglicanism, and why being more Protestant makes Anglicans more Anglican. It's a fascinating discussion, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did

https://substack.com/@bencrosby

Books mentioned:
IVP 1662 Book of Common Prayer: https://amzn.to/3UqkZO9
Companion to the Book of Common Prayer: https://amzn.to/41zbWyb
Anglican Book of Homilies: https://amzn.to/412dMri

Want to support the channel? Here's how!
Give monthly:   / gospelsimplicity   
Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity
Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity...
Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com/

Support the show

In this interview, I discuss ethics, beauty, and Orthodoxy with Dr. Timothy Patitsas. In doing so, we get to what he sees as the heart of the divide between the Christian East and the Christian West. It's a wide-ranging discussion that had me on the edge of my seat. 

Want to support the channel? Here's how!
Give monthly: https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity  
Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity
Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin
Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com/

Timothy G. Patitsas (Ph.D. Catholic University of America) has been the Interim Dean of Hellenic College since January of 2020 and the Assistant Professor of Ethics at Holy Cross since the Fall of 2005.

Dr. Patitsas' Book: https://amzn.to/3UhdZTK
Dr. Patitsas' Short Film: https://www.beautyfirstfilms.com/amphilochios

Support the show

n this interview, I'm joined by Dr. Andy Messmer to discuss the Spanish Reformation--which, if you're anything like me, you might have never heard about. 

In our wide-ranging discussion, Dr. Messmer shares some of the key figures and ideas that came out of the Spanish Reformation as well as why it ultimately failed to take hold. To understand that, we dive into the Spanish Inquisition as well as what the church in Spain looks like today. 

Dr. Messmer is at the forefront of studying the Spanish Reformation, and it was a true privilege to get to learn from him. 

Dr. Messmer's Translation of Reina's Confession of Faith: https://amzn.to/3ISGHru

Dr. Messmer's Book on Protestantism (in Spanish): https://amzn.to/3ITWRRx

Want to support the channel? Here's how!
Give monthly: https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity  
Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity
Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin
Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com/

00:00 - Why It's Unknown
03:03 - What Happened
10:17 - Mystical Influence
14:40 - The Inquisition
21:20 - The Ecumenical Spirit
31:55 - What we can learn from them
36:10 - Reading the Anabaptists
39:11 - The State of the Church in Spain
47:12 - Arguments for Protestantism
53:30 - Resources for the Spanish Reformation

Support the show

In this video I'm joined by Pastor Joshua Schooping to discuss the story of why he joined the Orthodox Church and why he ultimately left Eastern Orthodoxy to become a Lutheran pastor. 

In this course of the interview, we tackle questions about the consistency of Eastern Orthodox teaching, penal substitutionary atonement, the state of Orthodoxy in America, and why Lutheranism presented the most appealing option to Schooping in terms of theology. 

Want to support the channel? Here's how!
Give monthly: https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity    
Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity
Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin
Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com/

Support the show

Ever since Pew Research put out its Religious Landscape Study, people have been making claims about Christianity making a comeback. Within this, three claims in particular have stood out on the internet: 
1. Young people are getting more religious.
2. Young men are becoming more religious.
3. People are flocking to traditional churches. 

In this video, we put all those claims to the test as Pew Researcher, Dr. Chip Rotolo (Ph.D., University of Notre Dame) unpacks the details of this study, separating fact from fiction. 

Check out the study: https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/02/26/decline-of-christianity-in-the-us-has-slowed-may-have-leveled-off/
Find chip on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chip.rotolo/

Want to support the channel? Here's how!
Give monthly: https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity    
Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity
Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin
Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com/

Support the show