Theology Unplugged

Welcome to *Theology Unplugged - Question and Answer Friday* with C. Michael Patton! In this episode, we'll dive into several key topics: Christ's fulfillment of the Law in Matthew 5 and its implications for our lives today, the challenges and nuances of Calvinism, including God's sovereignty and human free will, and the importance of inerrancy as an essential doctrine. We'll also discuss who the...

In this episode, C. Michael Patton and Tad dive deep into the power of prayer, focusing on intercession and community prayer. They explore how interceding for others is an essential part of our spiritual lives and the profound impact that praying together as a community can have. From personal experiences to biblical insights, they discuss the effectiveness of prayer in both individual and collect...

In this episode, we put the Theological Process into practice using two key examples: the command to "Greet each other with a holy kiss" and the Doctrine of the Trinity. We'll walk through each step of the process-what did it mean then, what does it mean for all time, and how does it apply today? These examples help illustrate the balance between understanding ancient cultural contexts and graspin...

In this session, we'll explore the vital role emotions play in our theology, emphasizing their importance and how they intersect with key theological concepts like impassibility and the analogia entis. We will discuss how, far from being distractions, emotions help guide us toward deeper theological truths, while also exploring how God's impassibility relates to our emotional lives. Drawing from t...

In this episode, we explore the powerful role of experience as a source of theology. God's revelation often comes to us through events in our lives, shaping our understanding of Him in unique and personal ways. We'll distinguish experience from emotions, focusing on how God can guide us and speak to us through our life circumstances. While experience can provide profound insights, it must always b...

In this episode, we shift our focus to nature as a source of theology, often referred to as God's "second book." We'll explore how creation reveals truths about God and how nature has been a key source of theological reflection throughout history. By examining the beauty, order, and complexity of the natural world, we gain insight into the Creator. We'll discuss the benefits and limitations of usi...

In this sixth Question and Answer Friday session, we explore a variety of thought-provoking topics, including what the Episcopal Church is and how it differs from other Christian traditions, whether Catholics are required to believe everything the Church teaches, and the interplay between philosophy and theology in the question "What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?" We also delve into intriguing...

In episode 50 of "Through Theology in a Year," we examine the values and benefits of tradition as a key source of theology. We'll explore how tradition fits into our overall understanding of theology and contributes to a more multidimensional or "three-dimensional" theological framework. This session emphasizes how all the different aspects-Scripture, tradition, reason, experience-work together to...

In episode 49 of "Through Theology in a Year," we continue our exploration of the sources of theology by diving into the benefits and deficiencies of the six primary sources principium cognoscendi): Scripture, reason, tradition, nature, experience, and emotion. This session marks the beginning of a detailed analysis that will likely continue in future episodes, helping us understand how each sourc...

In episode 48 of "Through Theology in a Year," we begin an essential exploration of the sources for theology. We'll provide an overview of the five primary sources that inform our understanding of God-Scripture, tradition, reason, experience, and possibly a sixth, general revelation. We'll also discuss the "stage of truth," showing how these sources interact and how different Christian traditions...

Join us as we dive deep into one of the most pivotal moments in church history-the night before Martin Luther's legendary "Here I Stand" speech at the Diet of Worms. While the world remembers his bold stand on April 18, 1521, few know about the intense spiritual and emotional struggle he faced the night before. We'll explore Luther's concept of "Anfechtung," a profound, demonic-like fear that grip...

In this fifth Q and A session of "Theology Unplugged," we tackle a wide range of questions that dive deep into essential theological concepts. We discuss the distinction between monogenēs and the traditional translation of "only begotten," shedding light on how this Greek term has been understood in the New Testament and its implications for Christology. We also explore what it truly means to be P...

In episode 47 of "Through Theology in a Year," we dive into the crucial topic of the development of doctrine within Christianity. We'll explore the Vincentian canon and its significance in understanding how Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, and Protestantism view doctrinal development. The discussion encourages a deep respect for the Church Fathers and church history while emphasizing the Prot...

In episode 46 of "Through Theology in a Year," we explore the Eastern Orthodox Church's perspective on its place in Christian history. Presented from the viewpoint of Eastern Orthodoxy, this session delves into how the Orthodox Church sees itself as the preserver of the true, unbroken apostolic faith. We'll discuss key historical events, including the Great Schism of 1054, the significance of the...

In episode 45 of "Through Theology in a Year," we take a deep dive into the Roman Catholic Church's perspective on its historical role as the One True Church. We'll explore how Roman Catholicism views itself as the essential authority that defines the Gospel, determines the canon of Scripture, and holds the Christian faith together. The Church sees itself as the timeline and foundation upon which...

In episode 40 of "Conversations with Tad," we explore the Lord's Prayer through the lens of humility and authenticity before God. We discuss how God desires us to come before Him as our true selves, free from pretense or guardedness. However, sin acts as a barrier, preventing us from fully being ourselves in His presence. Through His grace, God calls us to confess our sins-not to condemn us, but t...

In this session of Conversations with Tad, we explored the challenges and awkwardness that sometimes come with prayer, and how Tad is progressing in his discipleship journey. We revisited the Lord's Prayer, focusing on the phrase "Give us this day our daily bread." We discussed how this phrase emphasizes bringing our daily needs before God, trusting Him for what we need today without worrying abou...

Welcome to episode 44 of "Through Theology in a Year," our special segment on the "Theology Unplugged" podcast. In this session, we begin a new section focused on traditions in Christianity, starting with a broad, bird's-eye view of how Protestants understand and relate to church history. We'll explore the key elements of Protestant theology and how they shape the Protestant perspective on ecclesi...

Welcome to the third Q and A session of "Theology Unplugged." In this episode, we tackle a diverse set of questions from our listeners, exploring the intersections of faith, theology, and everyday life. Topics include: -The intersection of politics, theology, and faith. -How to approach teaching faith to children without feeling like you're indoctrinating them. -The challenge of reconciling Sola S...

Welcome to episode 43 of "Through Theology in a Year," our special segment on the "Theology Unplugged" podcast. In this session, we delve into the "essentials of the essentials," focusing on the core elements within critical doctrines such as Christ, the Trinity, and the Atonement. We'll explore questions like whether faith alone is part of the essentials for salvation and orthodoxy, and what foun...

Welcome to episode 42 of "Through Theology in a Year," our special segment on the "Theology Unplugged" podcast. In this session, we delve deeper into the hierarchy of certainty within faith and theology. We'll cover: Review of Certainty Types: A brief recap of the different types of certainty and their relevance to theological understanding. Chart of Certainty: Continuing our detailed exploration...

Welcome to episode 41 of "Through Theology in a Year," our special segment on the "Theology Unplugged" podcast. In this session, we continue our exploration of the hierarchy of certainty within faith and theology. We will:. Types of Certainty: Review the different types of certainty and how they apply to theological understanding.. Chart of Certainty: Delve into the chart of certainty, illustratin...

Welcome to the third Q and A session of "Theology Unplugged." In this episode, we will try to tackle a range of thought-provoking questions from our patrons: -Supernatural Justification: How can we be justified in believing that the supernatural world exists, and how do we know future science won't explain what we consider supernatural today? -Role of Indubitable Certainty: How does the concept of...

Welcome to episode 40 of "Through Theology in a Year," our special segment on the "Theology Unplugged" podcast. In this session, we explore the concept of certainty within faith and theology. We'll discuss: What We Can Be Certain About: Understanding the doctrines and teachings of the Bible that are clear and foundational. What We Can't Be Certain About: Identifying areas where the Bible is less c...

Welcome to the thirty-ninth episode of "Through Theology in a Year," our special segment on the "Theology Unplugged" podcast. In this session, we explore the epistemological journey of faith from being a step into the light to becoming a blind leap into the dark. Join us as we delve into the philosophical developments that shaped this transition: -René Descartes and his indubitable approach -John...