Mere Fidelity
From the Mere Orthodoxy Podcast Network: thoughtful weekly conversations about theology, the culture, and the church, hosted by Matthew Lee Anderson, Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, and Andrew Wilson.
Episodes
December 19, 2024 • 55 mins
A lot can happen in ten years. A lot has happened in ten years. In this, Matt’s final episode as a Mere Fi co-host, the guys reflect on the changes, crises, developments, growth, learning, cursings, and blessings that have occurred since the podcast started. Each of them offers their younger selves what wisdom they can. May you profit from their experience. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. Timestamps: The OG Mere Fi Cast & ...
Mark as Played
December 10, 2024 • 49 mins
Is it literally possible to read the Bible literally? Dr. Kevin Vanhoozer joins Derek, Alastair, and Matt as the penultimate guest of 2024 to talk about frames of reference, transfigural reading, how the New Testament uses the Old Testament, and how to create a culture of reading at your church. You will literally love it! Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. Timestamps: The Alastair Roberts Endorsement [0:00] Penultimage Delig...
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December 5, 2024 • 50 mins
When a prominent Biblical theologian changes his position on the legitimacy of same-sex marriage, it prompts numerous questions for Derek, Alastair, and Matt to tackle in this episode of Mere Fidelity. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. Timestamps: Against Worldview [0:00] A Change of Mind [1:41] What Kind of Change? [3:06] Hays’s Shift [6:55] “Using” Scripture [9:13] The “Right” Community [12:59] Ignoring Marriage [17:57] Di...
Mark as Played
November 13, 2024 • 65 mins
Amy Mantravadi, Mere Fi’s snarkiest online critic has written a novel—a historical novel—about the heroes of the Reformation. Matt and Alastair bring her on the show to talk about it, what historical fiction can do that theology can’t, what the central issue of the Reformation was, and what it’s like inside the heads of Luther, Erasmus, and Melanchthon. Plus, Matt gets it exactly right at least once. Stick around to the end for a b...
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October 23, 2024 • 43 mins
On October 23rd, 524, Boethius, the last of the Classical philosophers and the first Medieval Man, was executed. Today, 1,500 years later, his work, especially The Consolation of Philosophy, continues to influence many, including major thinkers such as C.S. Lewis. Dr. Tom Ward returns to Mere Fidelity to discuss what Boethius can teach us today. Dr. Ward has recently written a new book about Boethius: After Stoicism. With the resur...
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October 13, 2024 • 44 mins
Dr. Tim Perry returns to Mere Fidelity with a (as Matt calls it) “spicy” book about how ancient heresies have structured the political witness of modern evangelicalism. This is bad. Maybe even very bad. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. Timestamps: One Correction [0:00] Speaking of Politics (again) [2:04] The Challenge of Critiquing Self-Loathing [5:59] Straddling Worlds [8:14] Sourcing Heresy [10:58] Balancing Two Kingdoms ...
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October 2, 2024 • 52 mins
Politics has inflated beyond the realm where it can order our finite, common, physical lives. What is the natural realm of politics? How is it delimited by human mortality? Theologian Dr. Ephraim Radner joins Matt and Alastair to discuss the theme of his fascinating new book, Mortal Goods: Reimagining Christian Political Duty. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. Timestamps: Discount for All!! [0:00] Speaking of Politics [1:48]...
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September 23, 2024 • 49 mins
In a recent podcast appearance (not here, thank God), N.T. Wright made some, shall we say, controversial remarks that caused quite a stir in the Evangelical world in England and the UK. Seeing as his theological work is so good, Derek, Matt, and Alastair are taking this as a chance to explore how we ought to respond when good theologians say bad things in public. They address not only the substance of Wright’s comments but also the...
Mark as Played
September 18, 2024 • 43 mins
How seriously should we take statistical numbers given in the Bible? If you need more of a prompt than that to listen to the Mere Fi cast and crew talk about ancient army sizes, genealogical ages, historical populations, and 153 fish… then you are not in our target audience! BTW, did you know that the ages given for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are in a sequence according to a formula involving square numbers? True story. Full show no...
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September 10, 2024 • 55 mins
Do you assume that being “spiritual but not religious” is a fad of modernism? Think again. It goes way, way back into history. Dr. Michael Horton joins Derek, Matt, and Alastair to talk about this attitude from the cults of Orpheus in ancient Persia through Neo-Platonism and it’s influence on Christianity and even the language of ascent in the Reformers. Join us for a wild ride that ends with your friendly neighborhood Instagram in...
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August 27, 2024 • 49 mins
The data is in. Social media has now been studied long enough that we are able to compile reliable data, not just anecdotal evidence, about its effects on the mental health of boys, girls, young men, and young women. Algorithms, video games, porn, and more affect boys and girls very differently. And as the results become clearer, it also becomes more clear what to do about it. Andy Crouch returns to Mere Fidelity to discuss the pro...
Mark as Played
August 20, 2024 • 54 mins
Having recently been reminded of the ongoing disagreements about the ordination of women, the Mere Fi cast turn to the OG ordination, namely, the Levitical priesthood. What do the forms, narratives, and practices of the tribe of Levi in the Old Testament teach us about the role of pastor and priest now in the New Testamanet? And most importantly, should we require our pastors to wear swords? Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com....
Mark as Played
August 17, 2024 • 46 mins
In response to a listener question, Derek, Matt, and Alastair go deep on the doctrine of creation. They ask and answer questions about whether creation is real, what counts as worship, what makes a doctrine of creation thick or thin, and whether we need to be thinking about God at all times. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. Timestamps: On the Excitement Meter [0:00] Wherein Lies the Deepness? [2:13] Reality and Goodness [10...
Mark as Played
August 1, 2024 • 42 mins
Is it useful to talk about finding our identity in Christ? Is that the language that the Scripture uses? How do our modern and post-modern ideas of identity thin out our understanding of self? Derek, Matt, and Alastair tackle these sticky issues with their signature tenacity and panache. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. Timestamps: Reunited [0:00] Effectively Vapid [1:14] Identity in Scripture [7:00] Arriving at Identity [1...
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July 22, 2024 • 48 mins
What makes good summer reading? If anyone would know, it’s the Mere Fi bookworms. This isn’t a book recommendation episode. Matt, Andrew, and Alastair ask the questions to figure out what actually drives each of them to read the books they do, and why they are so different. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. Timestamps: The Glue Guy [0:00] A Lack of Resonance [1:41] Finding Resonance [7:28] Malaise & Wonder [10:54] Read Your ...
Mark as Played
May 28, 2024 • 53 mins
Ewan Goligher has written a book making a clear and strong argument against euthanasia and for the intrinsic value of human life. He joins Matt and Alastair to discuss many fine points of this complex and knotty issue, including the history of the legality of euthanasia in Canada, the ethical implications of suicide, the good of death, and the intrinsic value of a human’s existence. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. Timestam...
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May 21, 2024 • 49 mins
Professor Oliver O’Donovan joins Matt and Derek once more. This time they discuss the relationship of Christian belief and practice to the contemporary political realities of our world. Do we need a new constitution? What’s to be done about the current wars? How can we properly utilize passion and reason in elections? Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. Timestamps: The O’Donovan Inception [0:00] The Role of Scripture in Politi...
Mark as Played
May 14, 2024 • 46 mins
The renowned Professor Oliver O’Donovan joins Matt and Alastair to discuss the relationship between the practice of the Christian faith and the philosophical field of ethics. Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. Timestamps: A Warm Welcome [0:00] How can ethics be Christian? [1:44] Creation vs. Nature [5:27] Family Duty [11:28] Jewish Tradition [19:10] Novelty [23:19] Variety [27:52] The Closure of the Canon [34:37] Moral Format...
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May 7, 2024 • 50 mins
Casuistry is a technical term for a way of reasoning about ethical principles in specific situations. It fell into disuse historically in favor of a more narrative-based view of the world. But some of the Mere Fidelity cast are sensing that there is a felt lack of organized principle application to pastoral situations in the church. Do you agree that casuistry needs to make a comeback? Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. Times...
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April 30, 2024 • 46 mins
Taking up a difficult passage of Scripture, Alastair, Andrew, and Matt consider the incident in which Jacob deceives Isaac into giving him the blessing. Multiple respected theologians bring solid principles to bear on the interpretation of this reading, and come to very different conclusions. What is to be done? Is lying always and everywhere wrong? Was Jacob justified in his ruse? And in the process Alastair reveals some striking ...
Mark as Played
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