Today Chris reflects on an OpEd he wrote for World Magazine responding to an article in the Wall Street Journal: "What if Men Could Make Their Own Egg Cells?" While the title seemed entirely speculative the article revealed that some scientists are actually making "progress" when it comes to this. Why is it that so many people--including some Christians--can't see the down side to technological developments? And if there are down sides, how can Christians help their neighbors see them? Are we...

On today's show Tom introduces the topic through a few articles written in response to Adam Kirsch's new book: The Revolt Against Humanity, where Kirsch unpacks and positively promotes the case for welcoming 'the end of humanity's reign'. Two writers from a symposium respond to this disturbing trend: Noel Gertz and Gilbert Meilaender. The guys interact with the content and engage the trend from a variety of their own insights. At the core: reject the true God, the bearer of the 'image of God'...

Two themes swept through evangelicalism in the 1980s and 90s--they were "Church Growth" and "Contextualization." Both were the promoted by Fuller Theological Seminary. The Church Growth faculty at Fuller drew on social science, and research on what was successful in foreign mission fields. What they failed to incorporate into their theories is the intellectual tradition of the post Christian west. Church growth turned against ecclesiology in favor of marketing, confusing that with evangelism....

Do you have the feeling that something has gone terribly wrong with evangelicalism? Today the Pugs talk with Michael Clary author of, God’s Good Design. The topic is the drift into approval of sexual sin by a growing number of Pastors and Christians throughout the western world. What happened, and what can be done? Michael and the pugs discuss the prospects for evangelicalism.   Order God’s Good Design: https://a.co/d/ildHolk   Contact Private Family Banking...

Working off a Breakpoint article written by Glenn, the guys discuss the situation in Israel and Gaza. Glenn begins with a brief overview of Zionism and the history of modern Israel before the discussion moves to the conduct of war, terrorism, and the worldview ideas that connect the woke left and Hamas.   Read Glenn’s Article:https://breakpoint.org/barbaric-norms-hamas-israel-and-just-war/   Conversation with Rev David Paleggi, rector of Christ Church, Jerusalem:...

Increasingly many people think the world we live in is unsustainable. When that is said in some circles climate change comes to mind. But at a social level, with the continued erosion of social life, healthy families, and a loss of local control at a community level, social conservatives say the same thing. What's happening? Today the Pugcast is joined by political philosopher, Patrick Deneen, author of, Why Liberalism Failed, and his most recent book, Regime Change. Tune in an find out what...

Here’s a little sample of what’s in store for the Rogue Food Conference at WPC, November 3-4.     Grab your tickets to Joel Goes Rogue: the Bible and Food Freedom on November 3rd: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/joel-salatin-goes-rogue-tickets-716483149387?aff=oddtdtcreator   Grab your tickets to The Rogue Food Conference on November 4th: The Rogue Food Conference is a separate one-day event (not sponsored by Westminster Presbyterian Church). https://roguefoodconference.com/     Check...

We live in interesting times. One of the more interesting features of it has to do with arts and entertainment and how new technologies are upsetting the applecart of established media. With streaming services little guys can now compete with the big guys. Today the Pugs interview Jason Farley of Loor TV about these opportunities and how Christians who happen to be film-makers and writers are taking advantage of them at Loor TV.   Check out Loor TV at https://www.loor.tv/   Contact...

Have you ever wanted to ask the Pugcast a question? Today Glenn, Tom, and Chris respond to questions from supporters of the Pugcast on Patreon. The conversation covers a great span of matters--tune in and find out if they discuss something you've wondered about! And if you'd like them to answer one of your questions you can join their Patreon and ask!   Support the Pugcast on Patreon:...

Cluster B is a recognized set of psychological disorders. In this episode, the Pugsters discuss an article by Christopher Rufo that argues that our culture, government, and educational system has promoted these as virtues, with the result that society is being driven by Cluster B personalities. Along with looking at the problem, the guys discuss ideas about what to do about it.   Twitter Video Referenced:...

Today the Pugcast is live at Evangelical Reformed Church in Tacoma, Washington and Chris and Glenn are joined by Dr. John West of the Discovery Institute. Together they discuss the strange and disconcerting tendency of evangelical intellectuals to prefer the company and approval of secular elites to fellow Christians. Tune in and learn about Christian Stockholm Syndrome!   Connect with the Discovery Institute: https://www.discovery.org/   Contact Private Family Banking...

Register for the conference: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/tentmaking/   The Apostle Paul was not only the best-educated apostle, and one of the most influential intellectuals in the history of the world, he was a tradesman. He made tents for a living. It was the perfect trade for a man on the road.   In 1 Corinthians 9 he made the case for making a living from the gospel, yet he didn’t take advantage of his right to do so. He even said, “But I have made no use of (my) rights, nor am I...

Today the Pugs reflect on a short essay by Patrick Deneen published in the Post-Liberal Substack, entitled, In Defense of Order. In the essay Deneen reflects on a book, originally published in 1974 by Russell Kirk, The Roots of American Order. The call to order is hardly heard today over the cacophony of voices praising, and demanding liberty. Yet according to classical thinkers, liberty without order ultimately leads to tyranny. And more and more that seems to be the case in our time. Join...

Register for the conference: https://trinityreformedkirk.com/tentmaking/   The Apostle Paul was not only the best-educated apostle, and one of the most influential intellectuals in the history of the world, he was a tradesman. He made tents for a living. It was the perfect trade for a man on the road.   In 1 Corinthians 9 he made the case for making a living from the gospel, yet he didn’t take advantage of his right to do so. He even said, “But I have made no use of (my) rights, nor am I...

Since C. P. Snow's landmark book, The Two Cultures intellectuals have wondered whether or not it is possible to bridge the divide between the sciences (or STEM), and the humanities. Another way of putting it is, "What's the connection between facts and values?" Today on the Pugcast the guys welcome philosopher and engineer, Mitch Stokes of New Saint Andrews College. Mitch was recently awarded a grant to explore this very question. And Mitch's intriguing thesis is beauty is the bridge. Join us...

Just how deep a dive is possible when it comes to Tolkien and metaphysics? About as deep as Thomas Acquinas goes, according the New Saint Andrews Fellow, Jonathan McIntosh. In this free ranging discussion the Pugs dive into the creation story of the Silmarillion, the nature of power and language, G. K. Chesterton, and dozens of other things. Tolkien nerds will now be able to nerd out in a whole new way!   Order The Flame Imperishable: Tolkien, St. Thomas, and the Metaphysics of Faerie:...

Just how deep a dive is possible when it comes to Tolkien and metaphysics? About as deep as Thomas Acquinas goes, according the New Saint Andrews Fellow, Jonathan McIntosh. In this free ranging discussion the Pugs dive into the creation story of the Silmarillion, the nature of power and language, G. K. Chesterton, and dozens of other things. Tolkien nerds will now be able to nerd out in a whole new way!   Order The Flame Imperishable: Tolkien, St. Thomas, and the Metaphysics of Faerie:...

Are you a Calvinist who has a weakness for G. K. Chesterton? Join the club! What attracts readers to Chesterton is the combination of artful prose, joyous gratitude, and serious attention to perennial truths. Wouldn't it be great if more Calvinists were like him? Well, according to Douglas Wilson we once were and we can be again. Join us for a wide-ranging conversation with Doug on all things Chesterton and Reformed. And check out his informative book for yourself.   Order Chestertonian...

Today the Pugs are joined by political philosopher, Dr. Joshua Mitchell of Georgetown University. Dr. Mitchell is the author of American Awakening: Identity Politics and Other Afflictions of Our Time. Unlike many thinkers who blame cultural marxism for the slide of the Left into identity politics, Dr. Mitchell believes the true source of the problem is a Christian heresy. The Left has turned doctrines like sin and atonement into a framework for a political program of purgation. Certain groups...

Today’s show looks at the theological ramifications of deformed versions of Christian teaching about ‘liberty of conscience’. Tom introduces the topic with some recent examples of Liberty of conscience gone awry. Glenn and Chris move the conversation along with a wealth of insight and perspective.

The Pugsters return to Glenn’s turf this week, discussing the introduction of an article by John Mark Reynolds which modifies Lewis’s idea of a “discarded image” in the loss of the medieval worldview, to a “shattered image,” in which elements of the medieval worldview survive, but in fragmented form. The conversation ranges from plague (another of Glenn’s favorite topics), to the nature of the Renaissance, to the development of science, to the idea of progress, and a host of other related...

Today the Pugs respond to an article by Matthew B. Crawford--the author of Shop Class as Soulcraft--entitled: What is Vitalism? After distinguishing what Crawford is talking about from the vitalism of earlier thinkers, the Pugs sympathetically reflect on his main argument--namely, that the over-management of life by the professional managerial class infantilizes people and makes them weak and incompetent. His solution is a return to the real world and manual and mental competence. Tune in and...

An increasing trend has sprung up in the West, the Netherlands and Canada most recently, where assisted suicide and euthanasia have become fashionable options for people not merely suffering interminable diseases during the latter days of their lives but for young and old who are just tired of living for one reason or the other, whether its recurrent depression, an eating disorder, or a bad break-up. Tom introduces this disturbing trend, and the guys engage it from many angles, offering...

Listen in for a short Q&A session following our previous episode.   Article Referenced:https://europeanconservative.com/articles/commentary/believe-in-believers/   Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8   Check out the Got a Minute? Podcast with Rich Lusk and Larson Hicks: https://open.spotify.com/show/4fswVZmNEfSXA1JLZzgPhj

The Pugsters were together live again this week, meeting at the Preservation Company in Huntsville, Alabama. The guys talked about an article called “Believe in Believers,” an appeal by a conservative English secularist to his fellow atheists and agnostics not to view the “Religious Right” as their enemies, but to see them as essential to the battle against the Woke. The Pugsters talked about the practical and theoretical parts of the article’s ideas.   Article...