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A cosmological argument is any argument that uses the existence of the world to infer the existence of God. In this episode, we examine two of the three best-known and debated cosmological arguments: Aquinas’ argument from change, and Liebnitz’ argument from contingency. Aquinas sees God as the force that pushes the universe forward, allowing concrete objects to change from potential to actual. Liebnitz asks the question, “Why is there something instead of nothing?” and concludes that God must be fundamental and necessary, since the universe cannot be.
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It isn't obvious what a prudent or wise reader should do with 1984. Is it a warning to be heeded? A commentary on the human spirit? Should we be frightened or inspired? Orwell offers several threads, themes and questions begging to be explored. The three most pressing are reflections on fear, the human spirit, family as a bulwark against tyranny, and the coal-miner objection to capitalism. These reflections are analyzed and discussed.
Episode Notes
The featured piece is Adagio in G minor by Remo Giazotto (1910––1998). This was suggested to me for 1984 for its ominous strings, and I think it fits well. -
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George Orwell's classic 1984 warns of totalitarian governments, a surveillance state, and the societal consequences of limiting free expression and diversity of thought. Interestingly, Orwell uses the degradation of the family as a major component to the introduction of totalitarianism, as well as assaults on individuality and objectivism about truth and the external world. This timely tome can be discouraging, but is undeniably thought-provoking and insightful for the pioneers of the 21st century.
Episode Notes
The featured piece is Adagio in G minor by Remo Giazotto (1910––1998). This was suggested to me for 1984 for its ominous strings, and I think it fits well.Links
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Have you ever considered your philosophy of romance? Christopher Marlowe's, "The Shepherd To His Love" captures the optimism of a romantic with beautiful poesy. And Sir Walter Raleigh has a pessimistic reply in his subsequent work, "The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd." But wisdom is neither naive or pessimistic. Christianity has a profound and beautiful romance story at the heart of its message. God created human beings to reflect himself, and the love between spouses and between parents and children both reflect unique aspects of God's love. Romance is at the core of what it means to be human, and is therefore dangerous and beautiful. A Christian philosophy of romance is needed, and introduced.
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Christianity––or any religion for that matter––is considered nothing more than a preference and a hobby in our secular age. Religious talk seems meaningless and embarrassing. Even many Christians are hoodwinked by secularism. We must engage with the postmodern critique of Christianity, and that means a deeper appreciation for both Nietzsche and Dostoyevsky.
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Kings and rulers may try to thwart God’s plans, but none can stop Him from fulfilling his promises. This Christmas season, give thanks for a sovereign God, who has placed you in a specific time and place in order to receive his grace and love. Eat good food, give good gifts, confess your sins in humility, and love those around you.
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The church looks like a strange thing to a secular world. For Bonhoeffer, the church is a collection of people who sincerely love Jesus and are devoted to his teachings. But as nice as that vision sounds, isn’t it a little naive? A distinction has to be made between the church as an organization and as an organism. The church within the church, which Bonhoeffer rallied against the Nazis, turns out to be a meek yet resilient people with a beautiful vision for community and life.
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Deitrich Bonhoeffer (1906—1945) was a pastor, theologian, spy and conspirator against Hitler’s Third Reich. Bonhoeffer guarded, proclaimed and lived out the Gospel when the fate of Western Civilization hung in the balance. He was executed by the Nazis just weeks before their official surrender in WW2. Bonhoeffer understood that following Christ meant opposing evil, preaching truth, and living fearlessly––and his integrity and insight impact us today.
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John Stuart Mill (1806–1873) penned the most powerful and winsome defense of the freedom of speech, but it is not without its presuppositions. Those assumptions have eroded in our culture, which means the freedom of speech is eroding, too. Are human beings mouthpieces of power and prejudice, or is the truth a valuable common ground from which we can evaluate each other’s ideas? Mill concludes that censorship is hubris and indoctrination is cowardice.
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John Milton (1608-1674) is second only to Shakespeare when it comes to poets in the English speaking world. But before he could write his greatest masterpiece, he lost his vision and fell blind, becoming completely unable to write. As a deeply religious man who loved God, Milton could not understand why God would strip him of his sight and rob him of his chance to pen Paradise Lost. After profound reflection, Milton showcases his vision of God and humility in the only way he knew how: with poetry. Then, he wrote Paradise Lost from behind the dark canvas of his eye lids.
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Solzhenitsyn emerges from the secret concentration camps sprinkled throughout Communist Russia with the same message as Viktor Frankl. Firstly, evil is a human thing, not a race, class or nationality thing. Secondly, suffering is an opportunity for both corruption and redemption. The choice is yours. These truths can be traced back to Jesus, who taught that God uses suffering to draw us closer to Himself.
Episode Notes
The featured painting is an oil on canvas by Boris Kustodiev called “Celebration Marking the Opening of the 2nd Congress of the Comintern on Uritsky Square in Petrograd on 19 June 1920.” It was painted in 1921. It is on display at the Russian Museum in St. PetersburgThe featured piece is by Sergey Rachmaninov, a Russian composer of the 20th century. The piece is called Piano Concerto #2 in C Minor, Op. 18. Rachmaninov escaped Russia after the socialist revolution of 1918 and settled in the United States. It seemed fitting to select a Russian composer who fled Russia following the socialist revolution. Plus, it is my favorite piece of all time.Links
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Groupthink is when you inherit the ideas of the masses without thinking them through for yourself. Although Solzhenitsyn was a true Communist until his party betrayed and enslaved him for cheap labor, some underwent a similar fate and never changed changed their minds about Communism because they were terrified of existential exile. Solzhenitsyn discovered that humility and the ability to listen to others can keep you from Groupthink and set you on your own journey towards individuality and truth.The featured painting is an oil on canvas by Boris Kustodiev called “Celebration Marking the Opening of the 2nd Congress of the Comintern on Uritsky Square in Petrograd on 19 June 1920.” It was painted in 1921. It is on display at the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg.
The featured painting is an oil on canvas by Boris Kustodiev called “Celebration Marking the Opening of the 2nd Congress of the Comintern on Uritsky Square in Petrograd on 19 June 1920.” It was painted in 1921. It is on display at the Russian Museum in St. PetersburgThe featured piece is by Sergey Rachmaninov, a Russian composer of the 20th century. The piece is called Piano Concerto #2 in C Minor, Op. 18. Rachmaninov escaped Russia after the socialist revolution of 1918 and settled in the United States. It seemed fitting to select a Russian composer who fled Russia following the socialist revolution. Plus, it is my favorite piece of all time.
Episode Notes -
Aleksander Solzhenitsyn (1918-2008) is one of the most important writers of the 20th century for his extensive writings which exposed the lies of the Soviet Union with courage, conviction and character. From the warfront for the motherland, to the slave labor camps, and then into exile, Solzhenitsyn absorbed the experience of an entire nation and documents the atrocities committed in the name of overthrowing class oppressors. Along the way, he learns that good and evil runs not between party lines, class, or race, but through the middle of each human heart.
Episode Notes
The featured painting is an oil on canvas by Boris Kustodiev called "Celebration Marking the Opening of the 2nd Congress of the Comintern on Uritsky Square in Petrograd on 19 June 1920." It was painted in 1921. It is on display at the Russian Museum in St. PetersburgThe featured piece is by Sergey Rachmaninov, a Russian composer of the 20th century. The piece is called Piano Concerto #2 in C Minor, Op. 18. Rachmaninov escaped Russia after the socialist revolution of 1918 and settled in the United States. It seemed fitting to select a Russian composer who fled Russia following the socialist revolution. Plus, it is my favorite piece of all time. -
Against all odds, we find the universe life permitting. Why has the nature of physics and the history of the universe conspired to make life possible? What explains the fine tuning of the universe? If an explanation is necessary (and the human experience seems to suggest that it is), there are three options: Physical necessity, chance, or intelligent design.
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Widespread myth tells us that science and religion are opposed at every corner. But the reality is that physicists and cosmologists are continually uncovering evidence which points to the existence of an intelligent mind as the designer of the universe. The fine tuning of the universe for life against all odds is making the argument from chance harder and harder to rationally justify. As the physicist Freeman Dyson said, “…it’s almost like the universe knew we were coming.”
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What is the difference between art and propaganda? What makes some painters better than others? A Christian philosophy of art is desperately needed in our ugly and twisted culture. Francis Schaeffer, the Christian thinker of the 20th century, has valuable insights on how to judge art, as well as practical advise for art appreciation and Christian artists today. In this final installment, we bring together the final pieces of a Christian philosophy of art.
Episode Notes
The featured oil on canvas is called Girl With the Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer (1632–1675). It was painted in 1665.The featured piece is Claire De Lune by Claude Debussy (1862-1918), a French neo-classical romantic composer. This is one of my favorite pieces of all time, from one of my favorite all-time composers.Links
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In his book An Experiment in Criticism (1961), C. S. Lewis suggests that instead of judging a book by how it was written, we should judge it on the kind of reading it inspires. If readers are deepened, continually drawn back to the work, only to find they love it more and more, then it is a good book. If not, then it is merely a book fit for entertainment, not a true piece of art. On Lewis’ view, beauty is transcendent, but art is personal. What if this philosophy was extrapolated to encompass all art? And what is Lewis’ view on the importance of art? Is art something which helps develop us, or does it merely provide a kind of escape from reality?
Episode Notes
The featured oil on canvas is called Girl With the Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer (1632–1675). It was painted in 1665.The featured piece is Claire De Lune by Claude Debussy (1862-1918), a French neo-classical romantic composer. This is one of my favorite pieces of all time, from one of my favorite all-time composers.Links
Visit our website: https://www.wellreadchristian.com
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If The Odyssey is so good that it is still in print after thousands of years, don’t you think it might be worth a read? If Bach is still treasured 250 years after his death, would you consider that there is something you’re missing? The question of art and beauty is not abstract and philosophical, it immediately concerns what it means to live a good life and enjoy the best possible experiences. The postmodern axiom, that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, turns out to threaten your happiness! The Christian impulse, which sees beauty in the universe, grounded in the nature of God, once again matches our deepest intuitions and our critical conclusions about art, beauty and the good life.
Episode Notes
The featured oil on canvas is called Girl With the Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer (1632–1675). It was painted in 1665.The featured piece is Claire De Lune by Claude Debussy (1862-1918), a French neo-classical romantic composer. This is one of my favorite pieces of all time, from one of my favorite all-time composers.Links
Visit our website: https://www.wellreadchristian.com
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Episode Summary
The Well Read Christian (Mark Stanley) and The Well Read Catholic (Patrick Callahan) come together to discuss Christianity, our long heritage of reading and benefiting from classic literature, church history, our favorite Great Books, and more!
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The Death of Ivan Ilych (1886) is a famous novella (short novel) by Leo Tolstoy which penetrates our cavalier attitude about death, challenges our notion of a fulfilling life, and warns of the tragedy we may be headed towards if we do not value the proper things in life. Fortunately, it also portrays a potential solution to the vain and superficial lifestyle which often consumes us. With his signature style and psychological realism, Tolstoy’s work challenges us to consider life from its endpoint in order to live rightly before it is too late.
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