This episode started out as an experimental bonus: I asked Dad to think through with me what it can mean to bear witness in these days when a) everything sounds like propaganda, b) public and private are endlessly confused but I'm unwilling to expose to public scrutiny matters that are relevant to public discourse yet intrinisically private, and c) rebuttal and critique automatically vault the rebutted into martyr status. In other words, is it even possible to say truthful things in public anymore? Listen in for our provisional answers.

Notes:

1. Related episodes: Theology and Experience 1, Theology and Experience 2, James

2. Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death

3. MacLuhan, The Medium Is the Message (beats me why this is spelled everywhere on Amazon, even the book covers, as "Massage" instead of "Message")

4. Weiss, "Hurts So Good"

5. Coakley, God, Sexuality, and the Self

6. Augustine, Confessions (current favorite translation)

7. Merton, Seven Storey Mountain

8. My "apocalyptic parables": Pearly Gates and Protons and Fleurons

And by the way, if you'd like to support our efforts at truthful public speech, please consider joining our Patreon supporters. Or just tell a friend about podcast. Thanks!