In this sixth Question and Answer Friday session, we explore a variety of thought-provoking topics, including what the Episcopal Church is and how it differs from other Christian traditions, whether Catholics are required to believe everything the Church teaches, and the interplay between philosophy and theology in the question "What has Athens to …

In episode 50 of "Through Theology in a Year," we examine the values and benefits of tradition as a key source of theology. We’ll explore how tradition fits into our overall understanding of theology and contributes to a more multidimensional or "three-dimensional" theological framework. This session emphasizes how all the different aspects—Scriptu…

In episode 49 of "Through Theology in a Year," we continue our exploration of the sources of theology by diving into the benefits and deficiencies of the six primary sources principium cognoscendi): Scripture, reason, tradition, nature, experience, and emotion. This session marks the beginning of a detailed analysis that will likely continue in fut…

In episode 48 of "Through Theology in a Year," we begin an essential exploration of the sources for theology. We’ll provide an overview of the five primary sources that inform our understanding of God—Scripture, tradition, reason, experience, and possibly a sixth, general revelation. We’ll also discuss the "stage of truth," showing how these source…

Join us as we dive deep into one of the most pivotal moments in church history—the night before Martin Luther's legendary "Here I Stand" speech at the Diet of Worms. While the world remembers his bold stand on April 18, 1521, few know about the intense spiritual and emotional struggle he faced the night before. We'll explore Luther's concept of "An…

In this fifth Q and A session of "Theology Unplugged," we tackle a wide range of questions that dive deep into essential theological concepts. We discuss the distinction between monogenēs and the traditional translation of "only begotten," shedding light on how this Greek term has been understood in the New Testament and its implications for Christ…

In episode 47 of "Through Theology in a Year," we dive into the crucial topic of the development of doctrine within Christianity. We'll explore the Vincentian canon and its significance in understanding how Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, and Protestantism view doctrinal development. The discussion encourages a deep respect for the Church Fat…

In episode 46 of "Through Theology in a Year," we explore the Eastern Orthodox Church’s perspective on its place in Christian history. Presented from the viewpoint of Eastern Orthodoxy, this session delves into how the Orthodox Church sees itself as the preserver of the true, unbroken apostolic faith. We'll discuss key historical events, including …

In episode 40 of "Conversations with Tad," we explore the Lord's Prayer through the lens of humility and authenticity before God. We discuss how God desires us to come before Him as our true selves, free from pretense or guardedness. However, sin acts as a barrier, preventing us from fully being ourselves in His presence. Through His grace, God cal…

In episode 45 of "Through Theology in a Year," we take a deep dive into the Roman Catholic Church’s perspective on its historical role as the One True Church. We'll explore how Roman Catholicism views itself as the essential authority that defines the Gospel, determines the canon of Scripture, and holds the Christian faith together. The Church sees…

In this session of Conversations with Tad, we explored the challenges and awkwardness that sometimes come with prayer, and how Tad is progressing in his discipleship journey. We revisited the Lord's Prayer, focusing on the phrase "Give us this day our daily bread." We discussed how this phrase emphasizes bringing our daily needs before God, trustin…

Welcome to episode 44 of "Through Theology in a Year," our special segment on the "Theology Unplugged" podcast. In this session, we begin a new section focused on traditions in Christianity, starting with a broad, bird's-eye view of how Protestants understand and relate to church history. We’ll explore the key elements of Protestant theology and ho…

Welcome to the third Q and A session of "Theology Unplugged." In this episode, we tackle a diverse set of questions from our listeners, exploring the intersections of faith, theology, and everyday life. Topics include:-The intersection of politics, theology, and faith.-How to approach teaching faith to children without feeling like you're indoctrin…

Welcome to episode 43 of "Through Theology in a Year," our special segment on the "Theology Unplugged" podcast. In this session, we delve into the "essentials of the essentials," focusing on the core elements within critical doctrines such as Christ, the Trinity, and the Atonement. We'll explore questions like whether faith alone is part of the ess…

Welcome to episode 42 of "Through Theology in a Year," our special segment on the "Theology Unplugged" podcast. In this session, we delve deeper into the hierarchy of certainty within faith and theology. We'll cover:Review of Certainty Types: A brief recap of the different types of certainty and their relevance to theological understanding.Chart of…

Welcome to episode 41 of "Through Theology in a Year," our special segment on the "Theology Unplugged" podcast. In this session, we continue our exploration of the hierarchy of certainty within faith and theology. We will:.Types of Certainty: Review the different types of certainty and how they apply to theological understanding..Chart of Certainty…

Welcome to the third Q and A session of "Theology Unplugged." In this episode, we will try to tackle a range of thought-provoking questions from our patrons:-Supernatural Justification: How can we be justified in believing that the supernatural world exists, and how do we know future science won’t explain what we consider supernatural today? -Role …

Welcome to episode 40 of "Through Theology in a Year," our special segment on the "Theology Unplugged" podcast. In this session, we explore the concept of certainty within faith and theology. We'll discuss:What We Can Be Certain About: Understanding the doctrines and teachings of the Bible that are clear and foundational.What We Can't Be Certain Ab…

Welcome to the thirty-ninth episode of "Through Theology in a Year," our special segment on the "Theology Unplugged" podcast. In this session, we explore the epistemological journey of faith from being a step into the light to becoming a blind leap into the dark.Join us as we delve into the philosophical developments that shaped this transition:-Re…

Welcome to the thirty-eighth episode of "Through Theology in a Year," our special segment on the "Theology Unplugged" podcast. In this session, we continue our exploration of the Essentials and Non-Essentials chart, populating it with various doctrines ranging from essentials to pure speculation.Join us as we:- Populate the chart with doctrines I c…

Welcome to the thirty-seventh episode of "Through Theology in a Year," our special segment on the "Theology Unplugged" podcast. In this session, we delve into the crucial topic of what truths are essential for salvation. We will break down each essential truth in detail, helping you understand the core beliefs necessary for salvation and the diffic…

Welcome to a new episode of "Theology Unplugged." In this podcast, we explore four reasons why I reject the doctrine of transubstantiation. This discussion is based on the Roman Catholic interpretation of John chapter 6, where Jesus says, "Unless you eat of my flesh and drink of my blood," and the implications of letting his followers walk away. Ad…

Welcome to the second Question and Answer session of "Theology Unplugged." In this episode, we address several intriguing questions from our patrons, including:What is evangelicalism, and is it too political?Is the Trinity necessary for Christianity and for salvation?Various other theological questions submitted by our patrons.Join us as we dive in…

Welcome to episode 36 of "Through Theology in a Year." In this episode, we explore the history of creeds, both Old Testament and New Testament. We'll delve into how essentials are defined by the regula fide, the Vincentian canon, and various creeds.Join us as we examine:Old Testament and New Testament creedsThe role of the regula fide in defining e…

Welcome to episode 35 of "Through Theology in a Year." This episode explores the historical patterns of sectarian divisions and the rise of institutional fundamentalism and Evangelicalism within the church. We discuss:-The Hasidim, Pharisees, and Sadducees-Early church creeds and the Reformation-The impact of the Enlightenment and the rise of liber…

Welcome to the thirty-fourth episode of "Through Theology in a Year" on the "Theology Unplugged" podcast. Today, we continue our exploration of essentials and non-essentials in the Christian faith, diving deep into the terminology and concepts that define this crucial aspect of epistemology.In this session, we will:Explore key terminologies related…

Welcome to the thirty-threeepisode of "Through Theology in a Year" on the "Theology Unplugged" podcast. In this session, we delve into the crucial topic of essentials and non-essentials in the Christian faith, a key subset of epistemology.We'll explore methodologies for distinguishing between essential and non-essential doctrines, examining the his…

Welcome to a special episode of "Theology Unplugged"! In this session, we're trying out something new: a Q and A session with questions from my Patreon supporters.I'll be answering a variety of questions that my patrons have sent in, primarily focusing on the "Through Theology in a Year" sessions from the previous week. However, this is open to any…

Welcome to the thirty-second episode of "Through Theology in a Year" on the "Theology Unplugged" podcast. In this episode, we continue our discussion on Christian epistemology, focusing on cataphatic theology and how it complements apophatic theology.We will explore how to balance these two approaches within the Christian faith. By marrying the the…

Welcome to the thirty-first episode of "Through Theology in a Year" on the "Theology Unplugged" podcast. In this episode, we continue our exploration of Christian epistemology by delving into the difference between apophatic and cataphatic theology—also known as the theology of mystery and the theology of revelation.We will examine these concepts t…

Welcome to the thirtieth episode of "Through Theology in a Year" on the "Theology Unplugged" podcast. In this episode, titled "Postmodernizing the Faith," we explore how to effectively reach out to postmoderns.Drawing on Millard Erickson's book, we discuss four different strategies for leading a postmodern horse to water:1. Changing the Horse: Maki…

Welcome to the twenty-ninth episode of "Through Theology in a Year" on the "Theology Unplugged" podcast. In this episode, we continue our series on Christian epistemology with Part 3, delving into the relationship between postmodernism and Christian theology.We'll explore how postmodernism has influenced theological thought, leading to various pers…

Welcome to the twenty-sixth episode of "Through Theology in a Year" on the "Theology Unplugged" podcast. In this episode, we delve into postmodernist objections to Christianity, comparing them with modernist objections to gain a deeper understanding of the postmodern mindset.We'll be going through the formal laws of logic and examining how they und…

Welcome to the twenty-seventh episode of "Through Theology in a Year" on the "Theology Unplugged" podcast. In this episode, we explore postmodernist objections to Christianity, comparing them with modernist objections to gain a deeper understanding of the postmodern mindset.By examining these objections, we aim to build a foundation for discussing …

Welcome to the twenty-sixth episode of "Through Theology in a Year" on the "Theology Unplugged" podcast. In this episode, we continue our exploration of postmodernism, focusing on understanding and empathizing with its perspectives.We will delve into the main characteristics of postmodernism compared to modernism, highlighting why postmoderns are o…

Welcome to the twenty-fifth episode of "Through Theology in a Year" on the "Theology Unplugged" podcast. In this episode, we delve into the future of postmodernism, asking critical questions about what comes next and exploring the options available.We'll be doing a lot to empathize with and strengthen ("steel man") the postmodern worldview, aiming …

Welcome to the twenty-fourth episode of "Through Theology in a Year" on the "Theology Unplugged" podcast. This episode is titled "The Stage of Truth."In this session, we revisit our discussion on post-modern epistemology, specifically focusing on "The Stage of Truth." This episode is a redo of our previous attempt to cover the history of Western ep…

Welcome to a special episode of "Theology Unplugged" with Michael Patton. In this heartfelt and personal episode titled "My Two Moms," I reflect on the passing of my mother this week and the profound journey our family has experienced over the last 20 years.In 2006, after my sister tragically took her own life, my mother suffered an aneurysm that c…

Welcome to the twenty-fourth episode of our special series "Through Theology in a Year" on the "Theology Unplugged" podcast. In this episode, we delve into postmodern epistemology, tracing the history of epistemology in the Western Church to understand how we arrived at a postmodern, relativistic worldview.Our goal is to develop a sympathetic under…

Welcome to the twenty-third episode of our special series "Through Theology in a Year" on the "Theology Unplugged" podcast. In this episode, we dive into the topic of epistemology, exploring what it is and the nature of knowledge.We'll discuss the importance of epistemology and how it affects us as Christians. Epistemology is something that Christi…

Welcome to the twenty-second episode of our special series “Through Theology in a Year” on the “Theology Unplugged” podcast. In this episode, we will take a brief look at the fourth commandment before diving into an in-depth discussion on how Christ interpreted the Bible during the Sermon on the Mount, specifically in Matthew chapter 5.We’ll explor…

Welcome to the twenty-first episode of our special series "Through Theology in a Year" on the "Theology Unplugged" podcast. This episode continues our exploration of the theological method, specifically focusing on the three-step process: understanding what it meant, what it means, and how it applies.In this session, we will apply this method to th…

Welcome to the twentieth episode of our special series "Through Theology in a Year" on the "Theology Unplugged" podcast. This episode continues our exploration of the theological method, specifically focusing on the three-step process: understanding what it meant, what it means, and how it applies. In this session, we will apply this method to the …

Welcome to the nineteenth episode of our special series "Through Theology in a Year" on the "Theology Unplugged" podcast. This episode continues our exploration of the theological method, specifically focusing on the three-step process: understanding what it meant, what it means, and how it applies. In this session, we will apply this method to the…

Welcome to the eighteenth episode of our special series "Through Theology in a Year" on the "Theology Unplugged" podcast. This episode continues our exploration of the theological method, specifically focusing on the three-step process: understanding what it meant, what it means, and how it applies.In this session, we will dive into either the pass…

Welcome to the seventeenth episode of our special series "Through Theology in a Year" on the "Theology Unplugged" podcast. This episode is titled "The Theological Process: Part Three."In this session, we continue our exploration of the theological process by providing concrete examples to illustrate our three-step method. We will delve deeper into …

Yes, this is the one where I cried. Welcome to the sixteenth episode of our special series "Through Theology in a Year" on the "Theology Unplugged" podcast. This episode is titled "The Theological Process: Part Two."In this session, we continue our deep dive into the theological process by explaining and illustrating each of the three essential ste…

In this session, we dive into the theological process, exploring the difference between reader response theories and the authorial intent method. We'll discuss the subjective versus the objective approach to understanding the Bible. I'll walk you through a three-step method for interpreting Scripture: first, ask "What did it mean?" Second, ask "Wha…

Welcome to the fourteenth episode of our special series "Through Theology in a Year" on the "Theology Unplugged" podcast. In this episode, we continue from where we left off yesterday, diving deeper into our ongoing discussion.In this session, we further explore the various categories of theology, examining their significance and how each contribut…

Welcome to the thirteenth episode of our special series "Through Theology in a Year" on the "Theology Unplugged" podcast, titled "A Theology of a Bunch of Big Words." In this episode, we delve into the various categories of systematic theology, such as prolegomena, bibliology, soteriology, ecclesiology, eschatology, angelology, and more. I explain …