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Well Read Christian

50 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 58 ratings

An exploration in classic literature and western philosophy from a Christian perspective. Our target audience is anybody interested in living an examined life. We hope to bring beauty, reason and faith to conversations that have endured for all time. New episodes monthly.

Christianity Religion & Spirituality Arts Books books god nietzsche apologetics classic literature literature well read christian beauty education mark stanley
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Episodes

Cosmological Arguments for the Existence of God (Part 1)

September 01, 2022 21:00 - 45 minutes - 41.3 MB

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 mu...

Orwell: Reflections On 1984 (2/2)

April 21, 2022 12:00 - 40 minutes - 36.9 MB

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 b...

Orwell: Introduction to 1984 (1/2)

March 24, 2022 12:00 - 48 minutes - 44.6 MB

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 c...

Romance... Who Needs It, or Must Have It?

February 24, 2022 13:00 - 27 minutes - 25.4 MB

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 ...

Why Christianity is Not Taken Seriously

January 27, 2022 13:00 - 29 minutes - 26.7 MB

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. Links Visit our website: https://www.wellreadchristian.com Check our our blog: https://www.wellreadchristian.com/blog Facebook: http...

Glory to the Newborn King!

December 23, 2021 13:00 - 15 minutes - 14.3 MB

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. Links Visit our website: https://www.wellreadchristian.com Check our our blog: https://www.wellreadchristian.com/blog Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wellr...

Bonhoeffer: What is the Church? (2/2)

November 18, 2021 13:00 - 47 minutes - 43.4 MB

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. Links Visit...

Bonhoeffer: What is the Church? (2/3)

November 18, 2021 13:00 - 47 minutes - 43.4 MB

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. Links Visit...

Bonhoeffer: The Spy-Theologian (1/2)

October 21, 2021 17:58 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MB

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. Links Visit our website: https://www.we...

Bonhoeffer: The Spy-Theologian (1/3)

October 21, 2021 17:58 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MB

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. Links Visit our website: https://www.we...

The Greatest Defense of Free Speech (John Stuart Mill’s “On Liberty”)

September 23, 2021 12:00 - 39 minutes - 36.4 MB

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. Links Visit our website: https://www.we...

God Doesn’t Need You (Milton’s “When I Consider How My Light is Spent”)

August 19, 2021 12:00 - 35 minutes - 32.6 MB

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 p...

Solzhenitsyn: Most Profound Highlights of The Gulag Archipelago (3/3)

July 22, 2021 12:00 - 45 minutes - 42 MB

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 “Ce...

Solzhenitsyn: Are You Blinded by Groupthink? (2/3)

June 30, 2021 19:25 - 34 minutes - 31.9 MB

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 ...

Solzhenitsyn: Introduction to The Gulag Archipelago (1/3)

May 20, 2021 12:00 - 42 minutes - 38.7 MB

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...

The Fine Tuning Argument for the Existence of God​ (Part 2)

January 14, 2021 13:00 - 32 minutes - 29.3 MB

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. Links Visit our website: https://www.wellreadchristian.com Check our our blog: https://www.wellreadchristian.com/blog Facebook: htt...

The Fine Tuning Argument for the Existence of God (Part 1)

December 18, 2020 13:00 - 30 minutes - 28.3 MB

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.” Links Visit our...

Aesthetics: A Christian Philosophy of Art (3/3)

November 12, 2020 13:00 - 40 minutes - 36.7 MB

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 ...

Aesthetics: C. S. Lewis on Judging & Enjoying Art (2/3)

October 08, 2020 12:00 - 40 minutes - 37 MB

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 encompa...

Aesthetics: Art, Beauty, and the Good Life (1/3)

September 10, 2020 12:00 - 51 minutes - 47.4 MB

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 happin...

Why Christians Should Read Literature (feat. Well Read Catholic)

August 13, 2020 12:00 - 41 minutes - 38.1 MB

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! Well Read Catholic Links! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wellreadcatholic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wellreadcatholic/?hl=en Find them on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Our Links Visit our webs...

How to Waste Your Life (Tolstoy’s The Death of Ivan Ilych)

July 30, 2020 12:00 - 43 minutes - 39.7 MB

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 end...

Frankl: Finding Meaning In Everyday Life (2/2)

July 16, 2020 12:00 - 55 minutes - 51.2 MB

Is the meaning of life something which can actually affect our daily lives, or is it an abstraction for philosophers? Viktor Frankl is convinced that a lack of meaning causes depression, addiction, aggression and boredom. He believes the key to finding meaning is realizing that life’s meaning is not a question that you ask life, it is a question that life asks you. Even the task of suffering courageously can be a means of fulfillment. Our sole and brief life offers one chance to act rightly ...

Frankl: Introduction to Man’s Search For Meaning (1/2)

July 02, 2020 12:00 - 42 minutes - 38.5 MB

Viktor Frankl (1905-1997) was a survivor of the holocaust as well as a psychologist, neurologist and author. As a clinician, he became convinced that human beings actually desire meaning, not pleasure or power. As a survivor, he discovered that even horrendous suffering and death are not obstacles to a meaningful life. As an author, Frankl explains that every moment of every day––regardless if it is filled with the grime of Auschwitz or the glitter of Hollywood––gives an opportunity for us t...

The Holocaust and Ordinary Men

June 18, 2020 12:00 - 38 minutes - 35 MB

Christopher Browning took a historical and psychological survey of the grass-roots killers who perpetrated the Holocaust in Poland. What he unveils in his book “Ordinary Men” is an ugly truth about humanity: everyday people are capable of mass murder, if given the right environment. But what is the direct cause of the holocaust? Did Hitler merely unleash the fury of racism and hatred? Or do average, decent people have the capacity for unspeakable evil? Links Visit our website: https://www....

A Christian Critique of Jordan Peterson

June 04, 2020 12:00 - 1 hour - 59.4 MB

Jordan Peterson has challenged and revitalized our postmodern conceptions of meaning, morality and religion. But without the metaphysics of Christianity, it is unclear how some of Peterson’s optimistic claims can be grounded. The result is that he sounds like an atheist when he talks to a Christian, but he sounds like a Christian when he talks to an atheist. Without a literal God, the Jungian psychologist is essentially an atheist with extra steps. Regardless, is Peterson ultimately a friend...

The Presumption of Atheism

May 21, 2020 12:00 - 27 minutes - 25.4 MB

From Ricky Gervais to reputable scholars, the contemporary trend for atheists is to argue for the assumption of atheism to avoid the burden of proof. But is it true that atheism doesn’t make a knowledge claim, and therefore is the rational starting point? Should we presume atheism when examining worldviews? Does atheism get a pass when shouldering the burden of proof? Does arguing for God sound a lot like arguing for Bigfoot? Definitions, details and discussion to follow. Links Visit our w...

Upcoming Changes in 2020 and a 2019 Review!

January 02, 2020 13:00 - 35 minutes - 32.7 MB

Happy New Year! Changes are coming to Well Read Christian in 2020, including, (1) a new episode schedule, (2) opportunities for listeners to submit questions and dialogue on the air, and (3) tax-exempt donations are now available. Also, Mark Stanley goes over his favorite moments on the podcast in a review of 2019. Links Visit our website: https://www.wellreadchristian.com Check our our blog: https://www.wellreadchristian.com/blog Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wellreadchristian Twi...

Merry Christmas from WRC! (2019 Blooper Reel)

December 26, 2019 13:00 - 9 minutes - 8.38 MB

Merry Christmas from Well Read Christian! In case of emergency, Mark Stanley had prepared a blooper reel to run so that you wouldn't feel the cold emptiness of an episode-less Thursday morning. Instead, we decided a holiday was emergency enough. Please enjoy, and we will see you next week!

Dostoyevsky: The Problem of Pain, Part 2 (4/4)

December 19, 2019 13:00 - 58 minutes - 53.8 MB

Debating an atheist about evil is one thing, but how could we respond at the bedside of a dying child in the house of a desperate family? Dostoyevsky’s own son died at three years old, and interweaved in his Magnum Opus is a profound reflection on the result of tragedy––and how to keep tragedy from unraveling everything you care about. The featured oil on canvas is called Portrait of an Unknown Woman by Ivan Nikolaevich Kramskoi (1837–1887). It was painted in 1883. I chose it because I thin...

Dostoyevsky: The Problem of Evil, Part 1 (3/4)

December 12, 2019 13:00 - 1 hour - 65.5 MB

The problem of evil is one of the most cited arguments against Christianity and the existence of God in the modern age. Dostoyevsky’s brilliance articulated a potent blistering assault on the existence of God through Ivan Karamazov, a character who is as brilliant as he is passionate. The sentiment, “God does not exist––and I hate him!” could summarize his views, and the views of many atheists. But is atheism really better equipped to deal with the cruel realities life gives us? Is a tragic ...

Dostoyevsky: Does God Expect Too Much From Us? (The Grand Inquisitor) (2/4)

December 05, 2019 13:00 - 1 hour - 64.6 MB

Within The Brothers Karamazov is a chapter so powerful, vivid, and shocking that it has since impacted the course of Western Civilization. The chapter, called The Grand Inquisitor, expresses Dostoyevsky’s worst fears about the human condition, and discusses how man desperately wants to give his free will to any tyrant who will give him food and existential security, regardless of whether that tyrant is the church or the state. In this fascinating chapter, The Grand Inquisitor declares that J...

Dostoyevsky: Introduction to The Brothers Karamazov (1/4)

November 28, 2019 13:00 - 54 minutes - 49.8 MB

The Brothers Karamazov (1880) is the pinnacle of Dostoyevsky’s literary and intellectual work. His critique of European Enlightenment ideas, including atheism, utilitarianism, socialism and utopianism, find their culmination in this profound tome. Dostoyevsky wrestles with the problem of evil, unlike in his previous major novels, and also perfects his summary of the problem of atheism: “Without God, anything is permissible.” Dostoyevsky also ventures forth into existential territory, asking ...

"Why I Am / Why I Am Not a Christian" | Mark Stanley vs Alex Delfoist (11/19/19)

November 21, 2019 13:00 - 2 hours - 114 MB

Debate between Mark Stanley and Alex Defoist on November 19th, 2019 on "Why I Am / Why I Am Not a Christian." Link to the Youtube Video. The Gospel Truth https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DJyBJlGeHvXfUXAojqL7w Links Visit our website: https://www.wellreadchristian.com Check our our blog: https://www.wellreadchristian.com/blog Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wellreadchristian Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/WellReadChrist1 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfGxz4OH1-hVD0f...

Dostoyevsky’s Unique Critique of Utopianism (Notes From Underground)

November 14, 2019 13:00 - 46 minutes - 42.1 MB

Notes From Underground (1864) is a blistering assault on utopianism, socialism, and Marxism based on Dostoyevsky’s view of human nature. Even if a utopian society was attainable, says Dostoyevsky, we would not be satisfied by endless food, comfort and pleasure. If you satisfied every human desire, we would throw it all away just for something interesting to happen, just to give ourselves a challenge to overcome and prove that we are human beings and not lap dogs. According to Dostoyevsky, we...

“All is Vanity!” Ecclesiastes & Chekhov’s The Bet

November 07, 2019 13:00 - 46 minutes - 42.7 MB

The prolific Russian author Anton Chekhov (1860–1904) explores the key themes of vanity and the meaninglessness of existence. A young lawyer finds himself in solitary confinement after accepting a bet, and has nothing but time to read every great book written by man. Yet in the end, he realizes that everything will be swallowed by death. The only guarantee is that you will die be completely forgotten. All the pleasures, wealth and prestige you could ever have will amount to nothing. Ecclesia...

Dostoyevsky: "Without God, Anything is Permissible." (3/3)

October 31, 2019 12:00 - 38 minutes - 35.6 MB

Christian thinkers have argued for millennia that only God can give objective grounds for the transcendent moral law. Fyodor Dostoyevsky flips that equation in the face of the death of God in Russia, “Without God, anything is permissible.” That is, if God doesn’t exist, there is no such thing as an act that is off limits, immoral or evil. Dostoyevsky warned that if Russia tries to live out the European Enlightenment worldview, then society will quickly realize that a godless universe is a la...

Dostoyevsky: The Gospel and Redemption in Crime and Punishment (2/3)

October 24, 2019 12:00 - 43 minutes - 39.7 MB

In Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov lives out the logical conclusions of atheism, utilitarianism, and Nietzsche’s view of morality by murdering a useless old pawnbroker. Despite the logical justifications for his crime, Rodion realizes that moral laws are fixed in the universe, and he cannot escape his guilty conscience regardless of his rationalizations. An atheistic worldview says that sin is a construct, and Raskolnikov is a hero. But this is clearly wrong. Will Raskolnikov confess, repe...

Dostoyevsky: Introduction to Crime and Punishment (1/3)

October 17, 2019 12:00 - 48 minutes - 44.4 MB

Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1821–1881) is often regarded as one of the best novelists to ever live. He is known for his penetrating grasp of psychology, his understanding of the dark side of human nature, and his unbelievably accurate predictions of what the 20th century would hold if the socialist revolutionaries came to power. Dostoyevsky made an enormous impact on the modern worldview, contributing to 20th century realism, existentialism and literary criticism. His unsurpassed delivery of philoso...

Artists, Philosophers and the Power of Narrative

October 10, 2019 12:00 - 36 minutes - 33.2 MB

A painter, a philosopher and a poet walk into a bar. The painter already knows what the poet has to say. The poet says it eloquently. Then the philosopher listens, sits down, orders a drink, and spends ten hours figuring out what they meant. This is “the Great Conversation” that Western Civilization has given us and continues to give, as thinkers and visionaries offer their ideas and propel culture forward. These thoughts are often expressed in towering works of fiction, which unveil the eye...

Did Christianity Make the World A Better Place?

October 03, 2019 12:00 - 55 minutes - 51 MB

Is Christianity a good or bad influence on society? Did Christianity inspire science, liberty, equality, morality and charity, or was it actually an obstacle to cultural progress? The late Christopher Hitchens said that religion poisons everything. Alvin Schmidt, among others, credit Christianity with the birth and growth of diplomacy, democracy, the sovereignty of the individual, and more. In the quest for truth, goodness can be a powerful witness. Links Visit our website: https://www.wel...

Nietzsche: Why Do People Believe in God? (3/3)

September 26, 2019 12:00 - 39 minutes - 36.3 MB

Why do people believe religious ideas? Nietzsche says that belief in God is a fabricated, but simple solution to a variety of complex questions and human desires. The meaning of life, the greater good of suffering, the grounding of morality, the existence of an afterlife, the definition of justice––all of these things are constructs which depend on the belief in God. Nietzsche recognizes Christianity’s utility, but believes the time has come to cast it aside in favor of self generated values...

Nietzsche: Where Does Morality Come From? (2/3)

September 19, 2019 12:00 - 1 hour - 57.3 MB

Is there such a thing as right and wrong, or is morality a fabrication of social and evolutionary design? Enlightenment thinkers, such as Hobbes and Rousseau, believed that morality is a social construct. Contemporary atheist philosophers, like Paul Kurtz and Michael Ruse, are convinced that evolutionary biology is responsible for a sense of morality. Judeo-Christian thinkers throughout millennia have said that moral laws require a moral law giver. And Friedrich Nietzsche dismisses the entir...

Nietzsche: Introduction to Genealogy of Morals (1/3)

September 12, 2019 12:00 - 51 minutes - 47.2 MB

Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) is one of the most radical, untamed and influential philosophers of all time. Often categorized as an Existentialist, Nietzsche is remembered for his blistering and unapologetic denouncement of religion, especially Christianity. Nietzsche declared that “God is dead” and spent a large portion of his intellectual efforts demolishing the remnants of Christianity’s influence, including the moral framework established by two thousand years of cultural dominance. Ge...

Depression, Suicide and the Secret to Happiness

September 05, 2019 18:06 - 1 hour - 68.4 MB

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the US, and the trends are on the rise. There seems to be a question about whether or not life is worth living that very few are talking about. On October 2nd, 2018, The Thinking Atheist published an episode titled “A Secular Perspective on Suicide,” which, in our estimation, offered little hope. But does Christianity offer a higher calling for suicidal people, or is it actually a contributing cause of their anguish? Is life worth the effort it t...

The Beauty of Christianity

August 29, 2019 12:00 - 36 minutes - 33.6 MB

John Donne’s (1572-1631) poem The Bait is a poem about the winsome appeal of Jesus Christ, his teachings, message and life. Here at Well Read Christian we take the truth of Christianity’s attractive nature to heart, and even though arguments and critical thinking are essential, there is a beauty to the Christian viewpoint that advocates sometimes forget. We would like to share with you our vision––and the poem––in this episode. EPISODE NOTES Come live with me, and be my love,  And we will s...

Tolstoy: Free Will, History, and Human Motivation (4/4)

August 22, 2019 12:00 - 53 minutes - 48.6 MB

Can human beings determine their own destiny, or are we the inevitable product of our environment and nature? Sam Harris is convinced that free will is an illusion. After all, if the world is just matter and motion, how could there be free will? Not everyone agrees with Harris, however, and many thinkers see free will as a self-evident axiom on which morality is based. The question of free will is one that every serious thinker must consider, and for Tolstoy, this is an essential prerequisit...

Tolstoy: What Can Beauty Teach Us? (3/4)

August 15, 2019 12:00 - 45 minutes - 41.2 MB

EPISODE SUMMARY There are brief moments in our lives where we are thrust out of ourselves and granted to see life as exceptionally magnificent, but also too close to touch, and impossible to fathom. For some people, it is love, poetry, friendship or maybe a film which causes us to see our world as a beautiful and cohesive whole for a fleeting and mysterious moment. For Andrei, it is the sky over a battlefield, a few notes in a song, and the cold grip of death. What do these moments of profo...

Tolstoy: Can We Find The Meaning of Life? (2/4)

August 08, 2019 12:00 - 45 minutes - 41.7 MB

Description Pierre Bezukhov searches for meaning in high society, sacrifice, relationships and religion, but ultimately he finds these things purposeless. Seth Andrews, host of The Thinking Atheist, says that the question of meaning is a bad question. Jordan Peterson says that personal responsibility provides an adequate foundation for meaning. St. Augustine says our hearts are restless until they find God. Leo Tolstoy says we have the whole question backwards. References Buy War and Peac...

Tolstoy: Introduction to War and Peace (1/4)

July 30, 2019 20:30 - 36 minutes - 33.3 MB

Description With rhetorical mastery, psychological insight and an artist’s vision of the world, the prolific Russian author Leo Tolstoy (1828—1910) takes a few narratives, a brutal war, and a modern view of history to capture all of life in his 1,200 page epic War and Peace. Tolstoy asks this pivotal question: how are decent people capable of war and slaughter? Then, Tolstoy digs deeper; what causes anyone’s behavior at all? War and Peace is Tolstoy’s answer to the question of human motivat...

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@wellreadchrist1 38 Episodes