Theology Unpacked: Raw Edition

Reprising themes of resurrection claims in the modern era – the modern Catechism’s description of resurrection life and how twentieth century theologians responded to the background challenges of critical philosophy.

A first introduction to the roots of the distinctive Christian language of ‘sacraments’ and its connection to the sacred, liberating dramas of the mystery religions. Sacrament as sacred sign in Augustine.

An attempt to look at some of the ways that twentieth century theology has tried to make sense of the claim “Christ died for us”, including a brief look at liberation theology and Girard’s scapegoat theory.

This episode contrasts two Christian authors of different eras connecting atonement with incarnation. The fourth century Athanasius and the 11th/12th century Anselm both explore an argument why God became human with very different emphases. The contrast between Latin Christian focus on atonement and satisfaction and orthodox focus on theosis.

This episode returns to the New Testament matrices for interpreting the meaning of Jesus’ death on the cross. The focus is on the letter to the Hebrews and the atoning sacrifice, picking up on themes from earlier podcasts.

This episode contrasts the more selective reading of the Augustinian tradition in the era of Aquinas with Luther’s reading of Paul and Augustine, and the consequences of the Lutheran theology of grace for Christian practice. A brief glance at the Catholic response at the council of Trent and a reflection on the most recent joint declaration between the Catholic and Lutheran churches.

This explores the controversy over interpreting Paul’s teaching on grace at the end of the first century of the Christian Empire. Augustine takes on the monk Pelagius and his followers. We look at the deeper existential reasons for their different approaches with a sideways glance at the life of St Anthony.

Continuing from the previous episode we see how Paul begins to articulate some of the big, abiding themes of Christian theology, teasing out the precise relationship between Torah, grace and freedom.

This episode reflects on Paul’s insight that it is Christ’s death and not obedience to Torah that saves from judgment at the end of time – and the fateful consequences of Paul’s fierce argument in Galatians.

How is it that the death of one man can bring about the rescue of all humankind from sin and death? We explore Paul’s attempt to make sense of this in the concepts of the old and new Adam in his letter to the Romans.