Church History for Chumps

The Second Crusade has begun. Louis VII and Conrad III, respective Kings of France and Germany, have gathered their troops and are prepared to walk in the footsteps of their crusading forefathers.  Their troops eagerly anticipated sharing the glory of the heroic first crusaders. The morale was sky high.  But things were not as they seemed. Both German and French armies faced tough losses right awa...

The year is 1144. The County of Edessa falls to the Seljuks.  The first major blow to the Crusader States takes place, and the Latin Franks have to decide their response.  Generations have passed since the successful first Crusade where Western Christendom accomplished one of the most stunning military victories in recorded history. It's time to see if lightning can strike twice.  Join John a...

Sometimes the doctrinal and cultural differences that exist within the Christian church can feel overwhelming. We want to live united within the Body of Christ, but we also want to honor truth and our own church tradition.  How can we do it? Is it even possible? Fear not, dear listener. Two podcasters are here to shine the light for you.  Join Tay and John as we share about our experiences in diff...

The rumblings of the Second Crusade have begun.  But before that, we have to set the stage with one of the most influential figures, not just in rallying troops to take up the cross, but in all of medieval Christianity: Bernie of Clairvaux.  Bernard was a man of many hats: monk, mystic, theologian, teacher, papal advisor, and even a reformer (but not the protestant kind).  To us, Bernie is a perfe...

Just War Theory seems to be a phrase that's thrown around a lot lately. But where does it come from? Who does it come from? And why is it still relevant today? For this episode, John and Taylor are going to dive into the deep cuts of none other than Augustine himself. We'll explore the oft-quote passages from the Contra Faustum where this idea originated that would shape hundreds of year...

You know, when Taylor and John meet with our Board of Trustees every third Tuesday, we usually ask the same question: Where was the whimsy in the last episode?  This week, we're pushing whimsy on all cylinders. We're here to share three (that's right, three!) stories of saints with one thing in common: they aren't humans. At least not in the traditional sense. We'll share...

Dyed eggs, pastel colors, and of course the Easter Bunny, a Claus-esque creature of the night that brings good tidings to pious children.  When you take a step back it really does feel a little strange when we consider the ways that we celebrate Easter these days. Do you ever wonder how we got here? Wonder no more, dear chump listener.  Join us as we explore the history of Easter, from the early d...

Many modern observers of trends in Western Christianity have rightly noted a move away from the 'low-church' worlds of typical non-denom and Baptist fare, in favor of a more Anglicanish, fancy-hat-wearing-vibe.  If you ask our guest host, Mr. Tyler Sanders, why that is, he's likely to say it's because Baptists don't get enough credit for the depth of history that they brin...

Deconstruction feels like a big 2017 idea. Talking about it today feels kinda dated.  But you know what? CH4C didn't exist in 2017. So here we are.  Deconstruction, popularized by folks like Joshua Harris or Rhett and Link, is a common term for taking certain religious views with a critical eye. It's a reasonably pretty controversial idea.  Some Christians view it as a helpful way to gro...

The "dark ages" really get a bad wrap, if you ask us.  The phrase tends to make you think of something from a Monty Python skit: a toothless peasants, constant famine, and a wildly corrupt and inept church.  And while every bit of fiction has some truth to it, there's one big problem to that narrative. Anselm was an absolute BALLER.  Listen as Thomas leads the lads through the story...

July 15th, 1099. The walls of Jerusalem are breached by the Crusaders, and finally the holy city has been conquered by the Franks. To some, a long and arduous road was finally coming to an end.  But for many more, things were just getting started.  Join us as we talk about the rise and not-quite-yet-fall of the Crusader States, sometimes known as Outremer, consisting of the counties of Tripoli and...

It's been several years since Pope Urban's call to arms in 1095. Many of the crusaders are worn out and exhausted. For years they have endured famine, starvation, and widespread loss of life. Yet, the Promised Land is on the horizon. Jerusalem awaits.  Join the gang as we dive into the great climax of the First Crusade, the arrival at the object of every Frank's eyes, the Holy City...

So far in our series on the First Crusade, we've discussed the failures in great detail. But what about the victories? Surely our Frankish friends had to taste some success, right? Right you are indeed. After cruising through the Battle of Nicaea, the Crusaders would earn a massive dub, after the grueling and painfully slow Siege of Antioch.  This story has it all: human catapults, inside age...

If there's a more loaded or controversial term in politics right now than 'Christian Nationalism,' well I'll be honest, I don't wanna hear about it. But it's an idea that's on the hearts and minds of Christians all over the nation.  So what's the deal with it? How can we define it? And how do the three of us (as all-powerful podcast hosts with limitless wisd...

The Crusades have officially begun, and let's be honest: the crusaders have let us down a little bit. The People's Crusade was a nightmare, and the pillaging of Jewish communities in Rhineland was also not great. Okay it was pretty awful. But what happens when an army of crusaders is led by a man with pious character, integrity, and (apparently) a head of flowing, golden locks? Well, we...

The stage is finally set: the Western Christians have heard the call to the Holy Land, and have responded with resounding affirmation. The first of the waves of Europeans to head for Jerusalem wasn't quite what you'd imagine though. Led by the charismatic open-air preacher Peter the Hermit, a band of thousands of untrained soldiers headed East to participate in the early crusade. The res...

Blah blah Byzantines, blah blah Seljuks, when do we get to the FIGHTING??? How about NOW.  Well, sorta.  Finally our story finds us back in the West, where Pope Urban II will stir affections far and wide, compelling the feudal Franks to storm the Holy Land.  But what were the motivations of these war-hungry comrades? Fame? Piety? Dollar bills?? You'll have to tune in to find out. You'll...

Everyone loves a romance story. The initial flirting, then falling in love, then holding an ecumenical council where you promise to always love each other.  But alas, then comes...the breakup.  As we continue to set the stage for the Crusades, we are forced to answer one crucial question. Why don't the Byzantines and Western Christians like each other anymore? :(  The answer is (probably) mor...

You know what they say: if you can't join them, beat them.  And we're not taking any more cohosts on our show unfortunately. So if you want to get into the CRAZY LUCRATIVE world of church history, you're gonna have to start your own podcast.  But don't actually do that, we can't really afford any more competition if we want to be financially stable anytime soon... Anyways....

Today we discuss the third major character of our series on the Crusades, the mighty Byzantine Empire.  Well...once mighty, that is.  For centuries, the Byzantines have been tied up in military skirmishes with foes such as the Persians, Franks, and Seljuk Turks.  Join us as Tom leads the gang through the highs and lows in the story of the Eastern Christian empire as we continue marching towards th...

Welcome to Islamic History for Chumps! Wait a second, that's not right. *checks notes* Welcome to week two of our long, loooong journey into the Crusades This week we'll discuss the second major character of this era, the Islamic armies.  As we'll discuss in the episode, it's not quite as simple as discussing one Islamic group, as they existed across a wide spectrum ethnically,...

OUR CRUSADES SERIES IS HERE.  They said we'd never do it. They said it couldn't happen. And they were almost right.  Today, we set the stage for the massive undertaking of exploring the Crusades. We begin with an exploration of one of the three major characters in the Crusades, the Western European church. We'll begin with a quick recap of the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476...

Happy New Years, Chump Nation! We haven't forgotten about the Crusades, trust us.  But we wanted to bring in the new year with a good friend of ours, the mind behind Inspiring Philosophy , Mike Jones.  We walk through his insights on the current state of Islam, whether secularism is working out for the Western world, and how apologetics can still work in 2026. It's a good time! We promis...

Rarely is one so compelled to gaze upward than when they enter the majestic Sistine Chapel.  Featuring historically renowned art pieces such as the Creation of Adam and the Last Judgment, the Pope's private chapel is a spectacle that millions travel to witness every year.  But did you know how it was built? Or how Michelangelo got roped into (sort of against his will) painting his now-famous...

Merry Christmas, Chump Nation!  Each year, we find ourselves immersed in traditions that range from decorating a tree, hanging large socks over the fireplace, and preparing for the arrival of a magical Arian puncher.  But where do all of these traditions come from? Join us as we explore the vast range of Christmas Day customs and the different nooks and crannies of church histories where they orig...