Forging Ploughshares

In this lecture, Paul Axton, traces how the lie surrounding the law (a lie of radical evil) is defeated by the work of Christ. This deliverance from death to life is the ground which every metaphor of atonement supports or, mistakenly, obscures. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Paul Axton Preaches - The ideological form of American evangelicalism follows the pattern of counterfeit religion outlined by John and Paul. It is defined by what it is not and is an antagonistic structure that erupts in the perversion it would suppress. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

In this talk Paul Axton explains how the early Church doctrine of recapitulation, or the exposure of a false identity and the reconstitution of identity in Christ, is explained through the psychoanalytic notion of traversing the fantasy. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Paul Axton Preaches: American religion, like American politics, is coming undone and the divide between the right and left is exposing the death dealing nature of the heterodoxy of American Evangelicalism while pointing to an orthodox faith with the opposite orientation. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

In this ongoing talk, Paul Axton demonstrates how radical evil might be equated with reification of the law. The law or the symbolic order may literally be taken as the voice of God, as in bicameral theory, and this explains the sort of perversion put on display by Jerry Falwell Jr. Sin establishes the self (in the law) so that punishment and pleasure are fused for the pervert, who would service the subject behind the law. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Paul describes Christ as breaking down the dividing wall of hostility, but to grasp the significance of this broken wall, it is necessary to understand how hostility constitutes our world in class and caste. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Part I In this first lecture Paul Axton, in an examination of the Kantian concept of evil as developed in Lacan and his followers, suggests that their concept of radical evil brings a corrective to theories of evil which can provide the background to understand how the cross addresses evil. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Paul Axton Preaches - Today, seventy-five years ago, the second atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki. The great irony and sadness of this day was that an all Christian bomber crew, from a Christian administration, all from a so called “Christian Nation” dropped the bomb on the center of Christianity in Japan. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

In part 2 of their conversation of the dropping of the atomic bomb Matt and Paul describe the gospel alternative to mutually assured destruction. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Paul Axton Preaches - In the world the goal or end is through violence, a redemptive violence. The gospel arms us with an alternative means, the way of peace, which contains the end. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

In part one of this two part conversation, Matt and Paul discuss the great irony that a "Christian Nation" should choose as ground zero the center of the Japanese Christian population in Nagasaki. The myth it was a necessity, along with the myth of redemptive violence is challenged. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Paul Axton Preaches - The Gospel does not teach nonresistance to evil. The New Testament informs us how to resist evil. John Lewis has clearly picked up the point as explained by Paul in Ephesians 6 and Jesus in Matthew 5, in his nonviolent civil disobedience. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Matt and Paul continue their discussion of shame. In this conversation they discuss how the Gospel and the practice of Christianity, rightly understood, provides a real world resolution to this primary human problem. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Paul Axton Preaches - We cannot see the world through the lens of our law, our constitution, our borders, our police, our armies, because in doing so we are defining ourselves through that which Paul calls a hostility. This hostility divides us from others, it is the hostility which killed Christ, but it is also the hostility which he defeated. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Matt and Paul discuss how refocusing the human predicament on shame, as opposed to guilt, shapes and grounds all of theology very differently. Shame is holistic, social, and directly connected to the experience of death and this understanding opens an alternative notion to the meaning of the work of Christ. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Paul Axton preaches - In Ephesians Paul is describing the principalities and powers as the spirit or personality of a country or group of people which is larger than the sum total of its parts. We can be controlled by this power or we can present an alternative or witness to the powers by exposing their false narrative. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Jason and Vangies interview the innovative artist, Lily Jurskis, on her well thought out approach to artistic creation. You can view her art by following this link: https://youtu.be/n71d0mVxEbY Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Paul Axton Preaches - The implication of the ancient view combined with a New Testament understanding is that the social and political is integrated with the spiritual. Perhaps every business, corporation, school, church denomination, bureaucracy, sports team— indeed, social reality in all its forms— is a combination of both visible and invisible, outer and inner, physical and spiritual. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Paul Axton preaches - Christ is enacting a revolution continued in the church, not through domination or taking control, but through a bottom up shift enacted through a disempowering subordination. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Paul Axton preaches - Skipping the particular, "black lives matter," for the universal, "all lives matter," deploys the logic that killed Christ. Christ and God are found in the place of the excluded, the lynched, the crucified. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Jon and Paul continue their discussion of Luke Timothy Johnson and in this conversation trace the interaction of Paul's Hebraic, Pharisaical, and Christian approach to reality. Using the example of slavery and racism they discuss the implications of the Pauline model for this present moment. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Paul Axton Preaches - In this sermon on Ephesians 4 the ancient doctrine of salvation as recapitulation is explained. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Jason and Paul discuss the upcoming class being offered through Ploughshares Bible Institute. The course is dealing with forgiveness and reconciliation in Paul. It will be a practical development of radical forgiveness and reconciliation from Philemon and Ephesians worked out in healthy community. Sign up here: https://pbi.forgingploughshares.org/lm/offerings Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

In this lecture, Paul Axton, makes the point that Ephesians describes the deconstruction of those categories that divide so as to reconstitute a unified humanity. Not all dualistic categories are the same - some will need to be obliterated and some reconstituted - but inasmuch as they partake of dualistic identities they are undone in Christ. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Matt, Jon, and Paul discuss various approaches to understanding Paul. In this second part of their conversation they discuss the complications of any biography, systems of dating, or modes of narrowing the works within the Canon, appealing to the recent work of Luke Timothy Johnson. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Matt, Jon, and Paul discuss various approaches to the biography of Paul as these fit into understandings of the Canon, appealing to the recent work of Luke Timothy Johnson. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

In this interview with Nathan Hosler, author of Hauerwas the Peacemaker?, the key role and weaknesses of Stanley Hauerwas's theology is considered. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Matt, Jon, and Paul reflect on highlights, key points, and problems in their discussion with Douglas Campbell. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

In Part II of this discussion, Douglas Campbell answers our questions on his recent work, Pauline Dogmatics, spelling out his understanding of "flesh" and "spirit," and his understanding of how to navigate contemporary issues surrounding culture and sexuality. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

In Part I of this two part discussion, Douglas Campbell answers some of our key questions on his recent work, Pauline Dogmatics, spelling out his theology. We discuss the shape of his work around resurrection and predestination, his understanding of foundationalism, universalism, and sachkritic. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Matt, Jon and Paul discuss the biblical notion of election as aimed at theosis. In the next talk we will discuss Douglas Campbell's work with the man himself. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Matt, Jon and Paul discuss the biblical notion of election as opposed to false understandings. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

In part 2 of this discussion on dualism Matt, Jon, and Paul describe how resurrection defeats apparent dualisms. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

In part 1 of this discussion on dualism Matt, Jon, and Paul attempt to define just how the New Testament interacts with apparent dualisms, or in the words of David Bentley Hart "provisional dualisms." You may need to download this one again if you downloaded before 9am on May 18th as it contained an error. Sorry for the inconvenience. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Matt, Jon, and Paul discuss how evil is different than sin and how resurrection defeats both categories. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Matt, Jon, and Paul discuss the key passage in Romans 5, often mistranslated in the Western tradition, and how sin needs to be redefined as an orientation to death answered by resurrection. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Matt, Jon, and Paul discuss the existential experience of death and its defeat. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Matt, Jon, and Paul discuss the existential experience of death and discuss how sin and death are interwoven in Paul, Barth, and psychoanalysis. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Matt, Jon, and Paul continue their discussion of the work of Douglas Campbell, focusing this week on narrative and the way in which this story bound the three of us together. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Matt, Jon, and Paul continue their discussion of the work of Douglas Campbell, focusing this week on narrative and the way in which Christ's story can bind our lives and the world together. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Matt, Jon, and Paul continue their discussion of Douglas Campbell, focusing on the transcendentals and living out the Gospel. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Matt, Jon, and Paul, discuss the apocalyptic notion of truth shared by Søren Kierkegaard and Douglas Campbell and contrast this with other notions of truth. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Matt, Jon, and Paul continue their discussion of how love is definitive in an apocalyptic approach to theology. Love describes God as a communion of persons, which means that community and relationships are definitive of humans, and the only way to point to this truth is through witness and invitation and is not through reduction to propositions, doctrine, or belief. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

In this 8 part series Matt, Jon, and Paul, follow the work of Douglas Campbell, focusing and expanding on his recent work, Pauline Dogmatics. In this second discussion, the love of God in an apocalyptic understanding, is contrasted with the focus on sovereignty. The work of Robert Doran is brought together with Rene Girard to contrast apocalyptic with focuses on justification. Douglas Campbell will join us for the 8th podcast as we discuss his key insights. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

In this 8 part series Matt, Jon, and Paul, follow the work of Douglas Campbell, focusing and expanding on his recent work, Pauline Dogmatics. In this opening discussion the foundation of Christ, over and against human foundationalism, and the radical shift in understanding of God, reading Scripture, and salvation, are set forth. Dr. Campbell will join us for the 8th podcast as we discuss his key insights. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Paul & Hayden continue their discussion of "The Tree of Life" and focus in on the films portrayal of the problem of evil and its depiction of a resolution. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

In Part I of a two part discussion, Hayden and Paul discuss the prayer like film, "The Tree of Life" and draw out the theological implications of the role of nature and grace in the life of the O'Briens. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Jason and Paul continue their discussion of the role of narrative and poetry. In this discussion they focus on the power of narrative to capture the complete portrait of life, inclusive of death. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Jason and Paul discuss the primary role of poems and stories in capturing reality - the reality of injustices and the prime reality of simple beauty. Deploying the work of Wendell Berry and selections from their own writings they discuss how these poems and stories capture key lessons which tune us in to the primary reality of life. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

In this lecture Paul Axton introduces the first comprehensive post-liberal theology - the work of James McClendon. McClendon moves beyond the controversies of modernity to a theology which builds upon the interpretive insights of the early Church. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound