The Areopagus

Five-time Emmy award winning actor and musician Jonathan Jackson joins Fr. Andrew and Pastor Michael to discuss his spiritual journey as well as how Christians can minister directly with those whom they encounter in their everyday life.

Welcoming Lutheran Pastor Waldemar Vinovskis (LCMS), the Areopagites discuss the beginning of the Reformation, what drove Martin Luther, and the path of Lutheranism today, including its relationship with other Christian bodies.

Steven Christoforou, a lifelong Orthodox Christian, joins Fr. Andrew and Pastor Michael to discuss his encounters with non-Orthodox theology and practice. Together, they talk about whether and how the Orthodox can learn from other religious groups (and vice versa).

Christian Gonzalez and Steven Christoforou from Pop Culture Coffee Hour join forces again with the Areopagites for a crossover episode discussing controversies that each show recently experienced. They talk about how the questions raised by those controversies flow from issues of trying to remain pure and trying to engage the world.

Fr. Andrew and Pastor Michael welcome Peter Brubacher to the Areopagus, and they discuss Peter's many pilgrimages, including walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain and also walking from Europe to Jerusalem. Far from just giving a travelogue, however, they discuss the meaning of pilgrimage and its place in the Christian life.

Pastor Michael and Fr. Andrew discuss a recent blog post by Fr. Andrew, titled 'Church Work is Mostly Disappointing,' talking about how and why that is, proposed solutions that don't actually work, and what can really be done about it. They also comment on the one question people ask them the most.

After mentioning him on the podcast multiple times, the Areopagites finally welcome Jamey Bennett, who talks about his journey from Mormonism (including his family's history in an alternative Mormon sect) through several kinds of churches and finally to Orthodoxy, featuring discussion of Christian rap and focusing especially on the question of conversion and all that it means.

Ancient Faith author, podcaster and blogger Angela Doll Carlson joins Pastor Michael and Fr. Andrew to talk about her book 'Nearly Orthodox,' her experience in the Emergent Church movement and finding authentic Christian faith in the modern world.

Fr. Andrew and Pastor Michael welcome Dr. Nicole Roccas, 'Time Eternal' podcaster and blogger and author of 'Time and Despondency' from Ancient Faith Publishing to talk early Protestant Reformation apocalypticism, as well as the place of time in Christian theology and life. Calendars, liturgy, times of prayer and even baby noises all come up!

Fr. Andrew and Pastor Michael welcome back the guys from Pop Culture Coffee Hour for an in-depth discussion of what good ministry looks like in our current age (including youth ministry), with a wide-ranging discussion of secularism, James K. A. Smith, ministry frustrations, how liturgy shapes who you are, and lots of personal experience. Finishes up with a Top 5 at the end.

The Areopagites welcome Steven Christoforou and Christian Gonzalez of Pop Culture Coffee Hour in a crossover episode to talk God and Sci-Fi, including their favorite and least favorite religious moments in science fiction (including Firefly!), as well as a Top 5 at the end.

Fr. Andrew and Pastor Michael answer your questions, ranging from whether Christianity is a religion to what Protestantism and Orthodoxy have to offer each other. They first catch up a little, including Fr. Andrew's experiences at #AFCon and Pastor Michael reflecting on his time as an interim pastor.

Continuing their conversation with Dr. Michael and Kristy Petrow, Fr. Andrew and Pastor Michael explore further definition of and also responses to spiritual abuse, including how not to be an abuser.

Pastor Michael and Fr. Andrew welcome back Dr. Michael Petrow and introduce his wife Kristy to the podcast. Together, they discuss the phenomenon of spiritual abuse in multiple Christian traditions.

Fr. Andrew and Pastor Michael talk theatre and the arts with professional stage actor Brandon Talley, who is a 13-year veteran of Sight and Sound Theatre in Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania. Asides include Star Wars and throwing the gauntlet down about the proper sauce for NC barbecue.

Welcoming guest and AFR podcaster Fr. Anthony Perkins, Pastor Michael and Fr. Andrew respond to some listener feedback, which asked why non-Christians should even become Christian and why following Jesus' teachings on your own isn't enough. But first they catch up a little, comparing their experiences of Holy Week and Pascha (Easter).

Pastor Michael and Fr. Andrew discuss how Christians can have theological discussions -- even deeply engaged ones -- without getting angry. Along the way, they introduce principles from the Fathers and one modern Orthodox writer.

Fr. Andrew and Pastor Michael talk with Andy Hall, who as an atheist met Christ and now shares his insights relating to what it's like to be raised without preparation for the Gospel and how Christians can connect with other people without that upbringing.

Pastor Michael and Fr. Andrew talk with Professor Cyril (Gary) Jenkins about his book 'Calvin's Tormenters,' discussing John Calvin's contemporary theological opponents and lots of related questions.

Fr. Andrew and Pastor Michael kick off their inaugural episode of The Areopagus by introducing their purpose for the podcast, introducing themselves, and their first guest, Dr. Michael Petrow, their friend in common who introduced them to each other. The three also discuss the question: Is it dangerous to encounter other religious traditions?