Behold, the Lion

Silas, Ardaschir, Ben, and Ashley talk about Kant's The Metaphysics of Morality , breaking down his philosophy as a whole, deontological ethics, and discussing how it can be viewed from a Christian perspective.

On this Episode, Ardaschir, Madeline and Harrison discuss Summa Theologiae and the collective life and works of Thomas Aquinas. They explore his influence, beliefs, and what we can learn from the life of this Doctor of the Church.

On this episode of Behold, the Lion , Ardaschir, Silas, and Ben discuss the next section of the CC curriculum, which deals with the Quran and medieval Islamic thought. Join them for a conversation about the origins of Islam, the notion of Quranic revelation, and how Islam interacts with the Platonic and Aristotelian traditions from the start of the CC syllabus.

In this episode of Behold, the Lion, Ardaschir, Joel, and Madeline tackle the next book in the series: Augustine's City of God . Join them as they explore the ideas of living in a secular world, the Christian good life, the problem of evil, peace, and more.

In this episode of Behold, the Lion, Ardaschir, Rory, Silas and Miracle discuss the New Testament books on the Contemporary Civilization syllabus, and outline the foundational ideas therein.

In this episode of Behold, the Lion , Ardaschir and Natalia move on to the next entry on the Contemporary Civilization syllabus: the book of Exodus. Join them on a discussion of plagues, Passover, divine conflict, and ultimate redemption (where The Prince of Egypt is only cited once or twice).

In this episode, Ardaschir, Natalia, Silas, and Madeline discuss questions of ethics, happiness, and what makes for a good life, based on Aristotle's Politics and Nichomachean Ethics.

It's a new academic year, and a new season for Behold, the Lion ! This semester, we're following alongside Columbia's Contemporary Civilization class, which discusses major works of philosophy and political thought. Join Ardaschir, Silas, and Madeline as they kick things off with a discussion of Plato's Republic , the first text on the syllabus and one full of questions about ethic...

This episode brings the Spring 2023 podcast season to a close with a special guest -- Timothy, who started the podcast along with Grace-Elleda, returns, joining Ardaschir to discuss how the podcast has changed, lessons from the past, and hopes for the future.

In this episode, Ardaschir and Rory discuss the line of the Creed that states, "I look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come." They discuss the hope of the resurrection and different understandings of it from the Bible, as well as what it means to live in the hope of the world to come.

In this episode, Ardaschir and Rory discuss the line of the creed that states, "I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins." They look at and consider different interpretations and beliefs about Baptism across Christendom and throughout history, from John the Baptist to the modern debates of Protestant Christianity, reflecting on the power and beauty of Baptism's role in Chris...

In this episode, Ardaschir, Rory, and Joel discuss the line of the Creed that addresses the “one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.” Going through these terms, they tackle questions of how the church can be “one,” when there are so many denominations, and what is really meant by “apostolic succession.

In this episode, Ardaschir, Rory, and Joel discuss what the Nicene Creed has to say about the return of Christ. They look at how Christians have historically understood the timing of Christ’s return, what “premillennialism,” “postmillennialism,” and “a-millennialism” are all about, and how the Bible calls us to live in expectation of the Second Coming

In this episode, Joel, Rory, and Ardaschir discuss an aspect of the Creed that is often underemphasized: Christ’s ascension into heaven. Tackling difficult questions like “Where is Jesus now?” “What is He doing?” and “Can long-distance relationships actually work out?” they consider what it means that Christ finished His work, and how He is still at work through His church on earth.

The Nicene Creed tells us that Christ’s resurrection was “in accordance with the Scriptures.” In this episode, Rory, Joel, and Ardaschir discuss the claim that Christ can be seen in every passage in the Old Testament and look at specific passages that foreshadow Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. The boys question whether Christians ever stretch the text too far and conclude with a considerat...

We are picking up our series on the Nicene Creed, with a new name! This week Ardaschir, Rory, and Joel discuss "He Rose Again" in what will be a two part discussion on the resurrection of Christ Jesus, our Lord!

This week Ardaschir, Rory, and Joel take a break from discussing the Nicene Creed to tackle one of the most celebrated days of the year: Christmas. Christmas is one of the two most important Holidays for Christians, the trio discuss why Christians celebrate Christmas, the history of Christmas trees, whether Christmas is a pagan holiday, and why Christians should celebrate the joyous news of Jesus’...

When we consider some of the splits that have divided Christians for a millennium, none can be more intimidating than what awaits us in the next life. This week's episode covers the line "And was buried," with little other context as to what Jesus was doing in the time in-between His death and resurrection. By contrast, the ninth line of the Apostle's Creed reads "he descended to hell" which gives...

No other symbol of Christianity is as famous as the image of the cross. We see the Cross not only in Churches but in tattoos and jewelry. Because of how mainstream the Cross has transformed in our society from a once horrific execution instrument to a symbol of God’s mercy and grace, it’s confusing to fathom what Christ’s death meant for humanity. When a man throws an infinitely large baseball at...

When thinking of the most prolific symbols found in Christianity, none is more striking than that of the cross. The cross today is regarded more as a symbol of peace and faith; very seldom do we remember how Roman officials reserved crucifixion as a genius punishment reserved for the most diabolical of criminals. In today's episode, we discuss the importance of Jesus' crucifixion, how His death fu...

Mariology. An odd word that expands upon one of the most controversial discussions in Church/Christian history. When considering the incarnation of Christ, Mary plays a vital role in the story of Jesus' coming into the world--being His mother. Catholics, Orthodoxes, and Protestants have long debated the life of the Virgin Mary and what basis is there for the Immaculate Conception, her assumption i...

Why did the only begotten Son of God -- eternal, born of the Father before all ages, through whom all things were made -- ever become a human being? The Nicene Creed answers this question clearly: it was for us and for our salvation . Christians talk a lot about salvation, without always specifying what it means -- and there are disagreements among Christians about what salvation is, and how it ha...

In this episode, Ardaschir and Joel conclude their discussion of the "high Christology" of the Nicene Creed -- where the creed defines who Christ is, before describing what He does. Though sea slugs and fist-fighting saints feature in this conversation, the focus is on Christ as the Word who was with God and was God, through whom all things were made, and on why this doctrine was and remains so cr...

"Si comprehendis, non est Deus." (If you understand, then it is not God). This quote from St. Augustine comes up several times in this week's discussion, as we wade further into the Christological material of the Nicene Creed -- the material that describes who Christ is, and His relationship to God the Father and to the Holy Spirit. What does it mean for Christ to have been "begotten, not made"? H...

Despite the disagreements that have historically divided Christians, what unites Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant churches is Christ Himself -- His humanity, His divinity, and His life, crucifixion, and resurrection. On this week's episode, join Nate, Joel, Rory, and Ardaschir as they delve into the Christological material of the Nicene Creed, beginning with the line "I believe in one Lord Jesus...