The Ad Fontes Podcast

For the tirst time ever, all three of our hosts are together IN PERSON! Recorded live at ETS 2022, Onsi, Colin, and Rhys sit down to talk about rhetoric. What are our words for? Should we use words to shape the world? Is truth a monologue or a dialogue? Using Plato's Gorgias as a starting point, they get into these questions and more from a Christian perspective. NOTE: most books below are li...

This week, Alastair Roberts joins the crew to discuss his and Onsi's chapter on sex, marriage, and divorce in "Protestant Social Teaching: An Introduction", the Davenant Press's upcoming publication (due 10/13/22). The guys talk about how Augustine set the scene for Reformation debates on these topics, what Luther thought about marriage, Protestant views on divorce, and how Rom...

Our very own Onsi Kamel has embarked upon his Ph. D studies, and is focussing on the intellectual relationship between Europe and the Islamic world in the early modern period. We take this chance to ask him what he'll be looking at, and what there is to be gained from digging into this neglected part of church history. NOTE: most books below are linked via Bookshop.org. Any purchases you make...

We're back! With summer over, Onsi, Colin, and Rhys are talking about the phenomenon of "going back to school." Why is our society built around this September rhythm, and the school year in general? Is it something that comes from Christendom? And how will it fare in an age where alternative online education options are becoming increasingly popular? NOTE: most books below are linke...

With Colin on vacation, Onsi and Rhys decide to talk about vocation. These days, people get pretty het up trying to find their "calling" or "vocation" in life - but they don't often realise that, in doing so, they're rehashing a foundational Protestant doctrine. Onsi and Rhys discuss how Luther kicked back against the medieval view of vocation, and gave dignity not ju...

Colin recently wrote a provocative piece on the future of the university as an institution, and so he and Onsi have gone public with their longstanding personal debate about the topic. What is the university meant to be? What has it been seen as historically? Is it really in crisis, or just parts of it? Do we still need it today? And where does Davenant fit in? NOTE: most books below are linked vi...

Marking the arrival of the Davenant Press's newest release, Serious Comedy , author Patrick Downey joins Onsi, Colin, and Rhys to discuss the republication of his work. They talk about  the history of tragedy and comedy in the ancient world, how seriously Plato and Aristotle took writing, how the Bible changed everything, and how a post-Christian world is shifting in its relationship to its s...

In another special episode recorded at our 2022 National Convivium, Onsi and Colin are joined by Tim Jacobs, Davenant Teaching Fellow and (in a surprise apperance) Evan Zhuo, our Davenant House intern. They talk about the unique vibe of the Convivium, the surprising appeal of Reformed irenicism among Baptists, Herman Bavinck's forgotten teacher, and the diversity of philosophical positions wi...

In a special episode recorded at our 2022 National Convivium, Onsi and Colin are joined by Sam Bray, editor of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer (International Edition) . They talk about Thomas Cranmer, the prayer book's development, and the nature of liturgy, regulating worship, and the endless debate about the regulative principle. NOTE: most books below are linked via Bookshop.org. Any purcha...

It comes to us all: death. This week, Onsi, Colin, and Rhys talk about the last enemy, discussuing what death actually is metaphysically, how different philosophical traditions like the Socratics, the Stoics, and Existentialists have said we should prepare for death, and how Christianity uniquely transforms our approach to death. NOTE: most books below are linked via Bookshop.org. Any purchases yo...

Man is the rational animal - but what are the limits of his reason? That's this week's question. Onsi, Colin, and Rhys discuss the limits of human reason with regard to God, with some help from Descartes, Pascal, and Aquinas. NOTE: most books below are linked via Bookshop.org. Any purchases you make via these links give The Davenant Institute a 10% commission, and support local bookshops...

Why is online theological education as exciting as an NFL draft? Davenant's Chief Development Director, Justin Redemer, joins the show again to talk about the first ever Davenant Hall Apocalypse - a special event unveiling the year ahead at Davenant Hall, and changes to our programs. The hosts use this as a chance to talk about the revolutionary work of Davenant Hall, and the state of higher...

It's all about the Council of Nicaea folks. This week, Onsi, Colin, and Rhys begin a new series on the Seven Ecumenical Councils, kicking off with the Council of Nicaea. They talk about Constantine and church-state relations, the power of "homoousios", eternal generation, medieval astronomy, and more. NOTE: most books below are linked via Bookshop.org. Any purchases you make via the...

Dead languages are pointless, right? Wrong. This week, our hosts have a blast when they're joined by Ryan Hammill of the Ancient Language Institute, a partner of the Davenant Institute. They discuss the different reasons we learn ancient languages, whether they're for "normal" people, whether some languages are better than others, and more. NOTE: most books below are linked via...

Why is preaching not a sacrament? That's the question this week. Onsi and Colin talk about what Protestants mean by "means of grace", look closely at some different confessions, explore the Law-Gospel distinction, and meditate on the nature of salvation and union with Christ. NOTE: most books below are linked via Bookshop.org. Any purchases you make via these links give The Davenant...

John Calvin, father of Presbyterianism thought Anglicanism was a wishy-washy compromise, right? Wrong - dead wrong. This week, Rev. Steven Wedgeworth joins the hosts to discuss his recent writing on Calvin's surprisingly positive appraisal of the Church of England, and what contemporary Reformed Christians can learn from Calvin's approach. They also discuss Steven's own move into An...

This week, our hosts are talking about the Psalms. What role have they played in Christian piety and worship over the centuries? Why did the Reformers place such importance on them? And why have they lost their spiritual primacy today? NOTE: most books below are linked via Bookshop.org. Any purchases you make via these links give The Davenant Institute a 10% commission, and support local bookshops...

In a LIVE special Colin is the sole regular host, and is joined (again!) by Justin Redemer, and Davenant's new Research Fellow, Paul Shakeshaft. This motley crew debrief on our First Annual Bay Area Fundraiser, and how Davenant is supporting Christian witness in a hostile culture. NOTE: most books below are linked via Bookshop.org. Any purchases you make via these links give The Davenant Inst...

With a ground war in Europe filling the news once again, this week Onsi, Colin, and Rhys discuss the long Christian tradition of "Just War" theory. Rather than discussing current events specifically, they take a step back to consider what the tradition has to say, and discuss whether just war theory is actually of any practical use to political leaders. NOTE: most books below are linked...

Is there more to Tolkien than The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings ? You betcha. This week, Colin and Rhys are joined by Dr. Jason Lepojärvi to discuss Tolkien's intellect and imagination, and to preview Jason's upcoming course on the subject next term at Davenant Hall (register by March 25th!) NOTE: most books below are linked via Bookshop.org. Any purchases you make via these links giv...

Medieval England - a land of tyrannical kings and popish superstitions, right? Maybe not. This week, Onsi and Rhys are joined by Matthew Hoskin, Visting Fellow at Davenant Hall, to discuss the Church in medieval England, stretching from Anglo-Saxon times to the Reformation. Matthew is teaching an upcoming course on this topic for Davenant Hall next term, and you can register now. NOTE: most books...

What's the role of financial generosity as the Church moves into an increasingly hostile culture? To mark the first annual Davenant Dinner Bay Area fundraiser (March 11th), Colin and Rhys are joined by Justin Redemer, Davenant's Chief Development Officer, to talk about generosity and magnificence from a philosophical and church historical perspective. NOTE: most books below are linked vi...

What on earth is the Coptic Church? Most of us only know about the 21 Coptic martyrs of 2015, or about the Coptic Church rejecting the Council of Chalcedon in 451. But who are the Copts? Why did they part ways with the rest of the Church? And has persecution prompted us to reconsider if we're closer to them than we think? This week, Onsi (our resident Copt!) gets quizzed by Rhys and Colin. NO...

David Brooks recently gave evangelicals some advice in the New York Times about how to do evangelism. But should the Church take advice from the World about how to reach the World? Onsi, Colin, and Rhys discuss whether, biblically and historically, we should listen to the unbaptized about how we should do things. NOTE: most books below are linked via Bookshop.org. Any purchases you make via these...

Family devotions can, for many, feel like a continuous struggle. Is there anything historically minded Protestants can bring to the table to help? Onsi, Rhys, and Colin get real about family life this week. NOTE: most books below are linked via Bookshop.org. Any purchases you make via these links give The Davenant Institute a 10% commission, and support local bookshops against chainstores/Amazon....