Following the Fathers

Ep 15 - Confessions by St. Augustine Book VIII - Part 1

In this episode, we continue our journey through Augustine's Confessions by exploring Book VIII, sections 1-4, and the remarkable conversion story of Victorinus. Once a celebrated rhetorician and defender of paganism, Victorinus's embrace of the Christian faith became a powerful testimony to the transforming grace of God. In this episode, we discuss why Augustine gives such prominence to Victorinus's story, the tension between private belief and public confession, and the courage required to identify openly with Christ.

Ep 14 - Confessions by St. Augustine Book VII

In this episode, we turn to Book VII of Augustine's Confessions-the moment where Augustine's mind begins to catch up to the truth his heart has been resisting. After years of wrestling with Manichaeism, materialist assumptions about God, and false images of evil, Augustine encounters the insights of the Platonists and undergoes a profound shift in how he understands reality itself. Book VII is a story of illumination without conversion-of seeing the light from a distance but lacking the strength to walk towards it.

Ep 13 - Confessions by St. Augustine Book VI

In this episode, we dive into Book VI of Augustine's Confessions, where the struggle between spiritual longing and worldly ambition comes into sharp focus. Joined by friends, we explore Augustine's complex relationships. We talk about his philosophical influences shaping his thoughts, his hesitation to fully commit to the Christian life, and his friend Alypius's struggle with the lure of the gladiatorial games. Tune in as we follow Augustine's search for true rest in this episode.

Ep 12 - Confessions by St. Augustine Book IV-V

In this episode, we explore Books 4 and 5 of Augustine's Confessions, where grief, ambition, and the slow unraveling of false belief begin to prepare Augustine for a deeper encounter with truth. Join us as we reflect on disordered love, the pain of loss, and the quiet, persistent work of God in the background of Augustine's life.

Ep 11 - An Interview with Garrett Berk

In this episode, I sit down with Garrett Berk to explore a paper that he wrote on Augustine and the Pelagian controversy. Together, we delve into the historical backdrop of this pivotal conflict in the early church, examining how Augustine responded to the challenges posed by Pelagius and his followers. Our conversation traces the development of doctrine in the Western church, unpacking key theological shifts that still shape Christian thought today. We also consider the lasting influence of semi-Pelagianism in modern contexts and why these ancient debates continue to matter.