Forging Ploughshares

Jordan Daniel Wood continues the conversation with Matt and Paul and in part 2 describes Hegel's picture of an inadequate notion of the infinite, and he pictures Hart as falling into this failed understanding, which explains Hart's rejection of Jordan's Maximian-Hegelian understanding.  If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Become a Patron!

Paul Axton preaches: appealing to the work of Sergius Bulgakov, Axton develops the significance of God's presence in the name given to Moses, and then Christ's assumption of this name and the opening to all the possibility of dwelling in the name, which describes the possibility of God pouring himself out in and through human language.  If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to supp...

Jordan Daniel Wood, in conversation with Matt and Paul, explains the logic of Hegel as a natural development of Maximus' understanding of personhood, which also serves to address the failure of David Bentley Hart to grasp the paradigm shift Jordan is picturing in light of Hegel.  If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Become a Patron!

In this talk at a gathering at a local restaurant (thus the country music in the background) Paul Axton presents the manner in which Christ defeats cosmic and personal trauma through the work of predestination. The Erasure of Cosmic and Personal Trauma in the Lamb Crucified from the Foundation of the World

Roberto J. De Noval and Mark Roosien describe Bulgaokov's entry into speculative theology through Sophiology. If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Become a Patron!

Paul Axton preaches: John identifies Jesus as the the rejected Logos, which means he is not the Greek logos, the Jewish logos, the philosophical logos, or the religious logos, or the logic, language, reason, or word that grounds this world’s systems of human thought. Martin Heidegger is the prime example of recognizing the violence of the Greek logos, and then of presuming the Logos of Christ is a...

Roberto J. De La Noval and Mark Roosien describe to Brad and Paul their encounter with Sergius Bulgakov and detail his understanding of universal salvation in its personal implications.  If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Become a Patron!

Paul Axton preaches: Rene Girard pictures the body of the scapegoat as the original sign and signification, which accords with the depiction of religion in the Bible and in the religions of the world, and Christ directly reverses this sign and provides a new order of meaning. If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Become a Patron!

Matt and Paul talk with David Artman, author and host of the podcast Grace Saves All. In this conversation we discuss how universal redemption is necessarily through Christ and may be completed through and beyond death. David also details his recent reading and podcasts on the rise of fascism through Pentecostalism. If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Become...

Paul Axton preaches: Death and judgment are not the end of the story in Scripture but either the continuation of the work begun in Christ or a restorative judgment in which all are drawn into restoration and salvation. If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Become a Patron!

The author of the book and podcast "Grace Saves All," David Artman, describes his entry into universalism and the development of his book and raises the issue of its playing the role of a theodicy. (Sign up for the class Human Language, Signs of God: using Anthony Bartlett’s two books, Theology Beyond Metaphysics and Signs of Change, as one continuous argument.  The course will run from 2025/9/16...

Paul Axton preaches: In this sermon, linking the left/brain right/brain theory of Iain McGilchrist with Paul's distinction between letter and Spirit, a connection is made between how it is the left hemisphere of the brain can take predominance in the same way the law can become its own end, and this is suspended in the opening up of Christ to the thought of God on the order of a full utilization o...

In this continuation of our podcasts on Imaginative Apologetics, Paul addresses the moral argument as posed by Kant, and traces his coining the term "radical evil" and provide illustrations showing this is not simply a philosophical but a real world cause and effect - certain conceptions of morality are directly linked to the worst forms of evil.  (Sign up for the class Human Language, Signs of Go...

Paul Axton preaches: When asked the reason for following Christ, Axton poses a one word answer upon which he builds an alternative understanding to the partial answer of being saved and shows that the choice is between meaning or no meaning.  (Sign up for the class Human Language, Signs of God: using Anthony Bartlett’s two books, Theology Beyond Metaphysics and Signs of Change, as one continuous a...

In part 2 J. Denny Weaver, the foremost Mennonite thinker, describes the role of the Church as an alternative peaceable kingdom to the violent kingdoms of the world.  (Sign up for the class Human Language, Signs of God: using Anthony Bartlett’s two books, Theology Beyond Metaphysics and Signs of Change, as one continuous argument.  The course will run from 2025/9/16 to 2025/11/4. Register here:  h...

In part 1 of a 2 part conversation Paul and Brad interview J. Denny Weaver, the most prominent theologian among contemporary Mennonites, on his understanding of the atonement he calls "narrative Christus Victor." (Sign up for the class Human Language, Signs of God: using Anthony Bartlett’s two books, Theology Beyond Metaphysics and Signs of Change, as one continuous argument.  The course will run...

In this second part of our conversation with Girard expert, Anthony Bartlett, we discuss the upcoming class Anthony will teach and also discuss the necessity to go beyond Girard to the fulness of peace and nonviolence of the Gospel. (Sign up for the class Human Language, Signs of God: using Anthony Bartlett’s two books, Theology Beyond Metaphysics and Signs of Change, as one continuous argument. ...

Anthony Bartlett describes his departure from the Priesthood and passage through The Little Brothers of Jesus and his discovery of René Girard and entry into a nonviolent reading of Scripture and an alternative community of peace.  (Sign up for the class with Anthony Bartlett, Human Language, Signs of God: using Anthony Bartlett’s two books, Theology Beyond Metaphysics and Signs of Change, as one...

In Part 2 on discussion of the Eucharist the focus on the role of the Holy Spirit, the bringing together sign and signified, in a new humanity of peace realized in deep communion and practice are discussed. (Sign up for the class Human Language, Signs of God: using Anthony Bartlett’s two books, Theology Beyond Metaphysics and Signs of Change, as one continuous argument.  The course will run from 2...

Paul Axton preaches: The kingdom of Christ, the church, is the all encompassing work of Christ in defeating evil, and the kingdoms of this world, so as to be all in all and to reign over all.  (Sign up for the class Human Language, Signs of God: using Anthony Bartlett’s two books, Theology Beyond Metaphysics and Signs of Change, as one continuous argument.  The course will run from 2025/9/16 to 20...

What happens when a Baptist, an Episcopalian, an Eastern Orthodox, a Roman Catholic, and a non-denominational Christian discuss the Eucharist? Brad, Brian, Matt, Jonathan, and Paul arrive at a point of convergence which relies upon a depth of history, very much associated with the Eastern tradition.  (Sign up for the class Human Language, Signs of God: using Anthony Bartlett’s two books, Theology...

Paul Axton preaches: The slaughter in Gaza demonstrates the bankruptcy of premillennialism, dispensationalism, and Christian Zionism, all of which deny the basic teaching that the work of the cross has defeated sin, death and the devil. The genocidal teaching displacing the Gospel, and which Christ identifies with blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, is now the predominant religion of the land. (Sign up...

In part 2 of our conversation with Benard Perret he describes the role of the satan, or the complex nature of mimetic desire and the obstacle cause of desire which gives rise to violence and murder.  (Sign up for the class Human Language, Signs of God: using Anthony Bartlett’s two books, Theology Beyond Metaphysics and Signs of Change, as one continuous argument. Underlying this sequence is the co...

Paul Axton preaches: The point of judgement, "When you have done it to the least of these you have done it to me," puts the full weight of the eternal in the finite, which is the form of the incarnation. Eternity has invaded time, and to continue in a consciousness that separates them is the failed ethics and consciousness Christ defeats in his uniting God and humanity.  (Sign up for the class Hum...

In part 1 of a two part episode, Benard Perret explains the significant depth and development of Girard's theory as an alternative to Anselm and as a further development of Karl Rahner's understanding that God gives himself in revelation. Perret explains how Girard's theory takes account of the violence of Scripture, bringing a unity otherwise lacking.  Sign up for the class Human Language, Signs...