Mere Fidelity

Amy Mantravadi, Mere Fi’s snarkiest online critic has written a novel—a historical novel—about the heroes of the Reformation. Matt and Alastair bring her on the show to talk about it, what historical fiction can do that theology can’t, what the central issue of the Reformation was, and what it’s like inside the heads of Luther, Erasmus, and Melanchthon. Plus, Matt gets it exactly right at least once. Stick around to the end for a big announcement about the future of Mere Fidelity.

Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com.

Timestamps:

A Big Tease [0:00]

Delighted and Terrified [1:48]

Psychologically Intense [4:55]

Historical Fiction [10:56]

Hazards [15:49]

Those Particular Years [23:05]

Melanchthon FTW [29:10]

The Peasants Are Revolting [34:45]

Ambivalence [45:13]

Mythological Force [50:17]

On October 23rd, 524, Boethius, the last of the Classical philosophers and the first Medieval Man, was executed. Today, 1,500 years later, his work, especially The Consolation of Philosophy, continues to influence many, including major thinkers such as C.S. Lewis. Dr. Tom Ward returns to Mere Fidelity to discuss what Boethius can teach us today. Dr. Ward has recently written a new book about Boethius: After Stoicism. With the resurgence of interest in Stoicism spreading rapidly online and off, you will certainly benefit from this conversation.

Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com.

Timestamps:

A Very Important Book [0:00]

1,500 Years Ago Today [1:53]

Stoicism [4:07]

Apatheia and Ataraxia [7:07]

Self-Indulgent Sadness [10:00]

Joy [15:03]

His Christian Bona Fides [19:01]

Wisdom [25:27]

Therapy [28:08]

The Philosophers Who Don’t Do Anything [35:10]

The End of an Era [36:25]

Dr. Tim Perry returns to Mere Fidelity with a (as Matt calls it) “spicy” book about how ancient heresies have structured the political witness of modern evangelicalism. This is bad. Maybe even very bad.

Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com.

Timestamps:

One Correction [0:00]

Speaking of Politics (again) [2:04]

The Challenge of Critiquing Self-Loathing [5:59]

Straddling Worlds [8:14]

Sourcing Heresy [10:58]

Balancing Two Kingdoms [14:40]

Slow Down [18:02]

Presupposed Politics [22:00]

Patchwork Theology [25:25]

Gnostic Relevance [29:31]

Settle Down [36:57]

Idolatrously High Stakes [38:35]

Politics has inflated beyond the realm where it can order our finite, common, physical lives. What is the natural realm of politics? How is it delimited by human mortality? Theologian Dr. Ephraim Radner joins Matt and Alastair to discuss the theme of his fascinating new book, Mortal Goods: Reimagining Christian Political Duty.

Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com.

Timestamps:

Discount for All!! [0:00]

Speaking of Politics [1:48]

Defining Mortality and Politics [2:28]

Indifferentism [9:17]

Catastrophes Waiting to Happen [17:03]

Providence in Control [20:19]

Utter Grace [25:50]

Normal and Abnormal Politics [29:34]

The Monarchy [39:27]

Personal Sovereignty [46:02]

In a recent podcast appearance (not here, thank God), N.T. Wright made some, shall we say, controversial remarks that caused quite a stir in the Evangelical world in England and the UK. Seeing as his theological work is so good, Derek, Matt, and Alastair are taking this as a chance to explore how we ought to respond when good theologians say bad things in public. They address not only the substance of Wright’s comments but also their context and effects.

Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com.

Timestamps:

Strong Recommendation [0:00]

Ungaurded Remarks [1:27]

Interestingly Stupid? [4:17]

Culture Shock Across the Pond [10:07]

The Real Issue [12:14]

Guns and Nuance [15:52]

New World Sensibilities [20:31]

Partisan Bundling [23:31]

Perceptual Problems [25:36]

Whither Prolife Politics? [27:13]

“Americans are foreign to each other.” [32:18]

Paving with Good Intentions [38:28]

New Game Plan [43:46]

How seriously should we take statistical numbers given in the Bible? If you need more of a prompt than that to listen to the Mere Fi cast and crew talk about ancient army sizes, genealogical ages, historical populations, and 153 fish… then you are not in our target audience! BTW, did you know that the ages given for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are in a sequence according to a formula involving square numbers? True story.

Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com.

Timestamps:

Something of Moment [0:00]

The First Domino [1:32]

Fancy Accounting [6:34]

Rules of Thumb [9:04]

Unsatisfying Hyperbole [15:27]

Literally [18:48]

Hyperbole with a Point [19:36]

Textual Clues [28:12]

Triangular Numbers [33:15]

The Bottom Line [40:48]

Do you assume that being “spiritual but not religious” is a fad of modernism? Think again. It goes way, way back into history. Dr. Michael Horton joins Derek, Matt, and Alastair to talk about this attitude from the cults of Orpheus in ancient Persia through Neo-Platonism and it’s influence on Christianity and even the language of ascent in the Reformers. Join us for a wild ride that ends with your friendly neighborhood Instagram influencer.

Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com.

Timestamps:

A Definitely Interesting Book [0:00]

Why did it have to be shamans? [3:05]

Disorganized Religion [7:18]

Orpheus and Natural Supernaturalism [9:38]

Plato and Christianity [14:08]

Ritual Creep [20:37]

Irenaeus vs Origen [26:05]

History of Religion [33:13]

I can haz ascent? [39:10]

Popular Gnosticism [48:21]

The data is in. Social media has now been studied long enough that we are able to compile reliable data, not just anecdotal evidence, about its effects on the mental health of boys, girls, young men, and young women. Algorithms, video games, porn, and more affect boys and girls very differently. And as the results become clearer, it also becomes more clear what to do about it. Andy Crouch returns to Mere Fidelity to discuss the problems and the solutions with Matt, Alastair, and Derek.

Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com.

Timestamps:

Proper Attention [0:00]

Technology Correspondent [1:42]

We Have the Data [2:54]

Asymmetrical Effects [10:24]

Morality Is Actually Practical [14:01]

Idolatry Works Short-Term [15:16]

Shifting Discourse [19:20]

The Algorithm [27:54]

Mental Distance [32:18]

No Control Group [35:01]

Practical Application [36:40]

Should we ban mobile phones in schools? [39:46]

Having recently been reminded of the ongoing disagreements about the ordination of women, the Mere Fi cast turn to the OG ordination, namely, the Levitical priesthood. What do the forms, narratives, and practices of the tribe of Levi in the Old Testament teach us about the role of pastor and priest now in the New Testamanet? And most importantly, should we require our pastors to wear swords?

Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com.

Timestamps:

It’s Raining in England [0:00]

A Better Beginning [2:08]

Scriptural Background [4:49]

Representative Function [7:17]

Vengeance [9:13]

Purity [19:15]

Sacrificial Genders [23:02]

Pastoral Forms & Hippie Slang [24:30]

The Grammar of Priesthood [27:05]

Natural Law Dissenters [34:53]

Narrative Reinforcements [38:15]

Exceptions to the Rule [43:22]

Testamental Continuity [49:22]

In response to a listener question, Derek, Matt, and Alastair go deep on the doctrine of creation. They ask and answer questions about whether creation is real, what counts as worship, what makes a doctrine of creation thick or thin, and whether we need to be thinking about God at all times.

Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com.

Timestamps:

On the Excitement Meter [0:00]

Wherein Lies the Deepness? [2:13]

Reality and Goodness [10:30]

Participatory vs. Intrinsic Value [14:12]

A Dim Reflection [15:53]

Curiositas [18:57]

Not Everything Is Worship [22:39]

Children of the Earth [40:44]