Episode 5 - Modern Christian Thought

Through a rebroadcast of a lecture podcast from another course, this episode introduces major shifts in theology and philosophy (ultimately, epistemology) in the 16th and 17th centuries.[00:10] Here is an infographic of a very broad overview of modernity in terms of theology and philosophy. [01:09] I’m referring to James C. Livingston and Francis Schüssler Fiorenza's Modern Christian Thought, a great text if you want to go deeper on the major philosophical movements as it intersects with Christian theology.[03:33] A little Billie Eilish for your day.[06:26] Aren’t you glad that we’re not reading Descartes this term? ;)[07:37] This story was written by me, inspired by the Barstow chapters you read for this week, back when I had a little more time on my hands. The voice work here is done by my very talented friend, Dr. Amiel Wayne, who is a deep thinker, brilliant pedagogue, and gifted artist (voice and otherwise). [15:11] For this section, I drew on Charles and Rah’s work, a bit of Howard Zinn’s People’s History of the United States, and A People’s History of Christianity (Modern Christianity to 1900) by Amanda Porterfield.[23:54] You do not need to listen to the fullness of this portion of the episode, when I read Descartes’ Meditations on First Philosophy to you. What’s most important about this section is the recognition of Descartes as representing a big shift in thought between the Middle Ages and the authority of the Church and Modernity and the authority of the self.Music from Epidemic Sound.