420 Crusades (12) Sixth Crusade (Teachers are Quitting?)

420 Crusades (12) Sixth Crusade (Teachers are Quitting?)

Uncensored Unprofessor
Crusades

The sixth Crusade is famous for the involvement of France's King Louis IX. What was he like? Why was he so beloved? What decision did he make that led to the disastrous end of the sixth Crusade? I also clarify what I admire about Medieval Crusaders. They had something that I see nowhere in the contemporary American Church. In the show's news-review I variously comment on: the Deconversion trend at work; the number of NFL teams no longer celebrating Pride month; the unprecedented number of universal injunctions being used against Donald Trump and what it says about the Democrat party; young Americans are having more strokes than at any time in history, what's going on?; an extended reflection about a video on X.com where a 26 year old brand-new teacher explained why she's quitting; a narration of the pizza-pie-chart I made 8 years ago when I myself quit teaching college. Come laugh and think with me!

419 Crusades (11) Fifth Crusade (What about Harvard?)

419 Crusades (11) Fifth Crusade (What about Harvard?)

Uncensored Unprofessor
Crusades

A short 9 years after the fourth Crusade ended the Pope called for a fifth. And the aim still was? Taking back Jerusalem. But the Crusaders—again!—made bad strategic decisions. And then, of all weird things, in the middle of the Crusade the Sultan was visited by Francis of Assisi. I recount the exchange between those two men and reflect on the spirit of Crusading. When King Frederick of Germany, and emperor of the Holy Roman Empire finally arrived he finally regained Jerusalem. All that, and Frederick wasn’t even a Christian. In the show’s opening cultural reflection I work through the recent conflagration concerning Harvard and higher education. What is going on there that provoked Trump’s ire? Why am I a bit conflicted? Why am I enjoying no small amount of Schadenfreude? I also tell homefront tales about catching a big black spider and a conversation with a single-dad Robin I had last week. Come laugh and think with me!

418 Crusades (10) 4th Crusade (What about Christian De-Converters?)

418 Crusades (10) 4th Crusade (What about Christian De-Converters?)

Uncensored Unprofessor
Crusades

The Fourth Crusade was arguably the most disastrous of them all. In the year 1204 Catholics betrayed Catholics, Catholics and Byzantines betrayed one another, and Byzantine royal family members betrayed and murdered one another. What could go wrong?! I narrate the role and place of Venice in the fourth Crusade. Across the episode I also ruminate about all the Christian De-Converters we are reading about today (how to assess what they are doing), what is the difference between Islam and Christianity on the topics of being inside and outside the religious community?, and describe a recent extraordinarly beautiful trip to Northern Idaho. Come think carefully and laugh with me! 

417 Crusades (9) 3rd Crusade (My Framework Re. Bible & Violence)

417 Crusades (9) 3rd Crusade (My Framework Re. Bible & Violence)

Uncensored Unprofessor
Crusades

The Crusaders held Jerusalem and the Holy Land for a short 88 years (1099-1187). But when Caliph Saladin (a Sunni Kurd) recaptured both the relic of the "True Cross" and Jerusalem itself a third Crusade was called for by Pope Urban III. Among those who answered that call was Richard the Lionheart, the King of England who carried King Arthur's famed sword "Excalibur." In this episode I recount what preceded Saladin's re-conquest of Jerusalem, the challenges of staying hydrated for the Crusaders, the ongoing suspicions and betrayals between Byzantine and Holy Roman Empire Christians, everyday life on the Crusader march, and how Richard and Saladin finally ended their warring. In the show's opening I reflect on American students' deliquencies on their school loans. I also explain still more about the Bible and violence, delineating how I frame the question of violence and/or pacifism from Old Testament to New Testament. Come and enjoy some intellectually fresh Wagyu beef with me!

416 Why Christian Colleges Always Veer Left; American Pope!

416 Why Christian Colleges Always Veer Left; American Pope!

Uncensored Unprofessor

I'm interrupting my series on the Medieval Crusades to think with you about the question, why do Christian Colleges always slide to the Theological (and with that, Cultural) Left? I listened to a recent Theology Pugcasters podcast episode and they really got me to thinking. I add my own reflections and experiences to their insightful analysis. Then, because the Roman Catholic Church has elected a new Pope I reflect on the prospects of a Pope Leo XIV papacy. Who is he? He's from America but how American is he really? Why did the Cardinals vote him in after only 3 votes? Why do I—yes and amen—want him to be an advocate for the planet's disenfranchised populations?! Along the way I also reflect on a recent vivid X.com picture I saw and tie that into a reflection about Elon Musk now having sired 12 children. What is unique about that? What does it say about where society is headed? Come think and laugh with me.

415 Crusades (8) Second Crusade (Turn the Other Cheek)

415 Crusades (8) Second Crusade (Turn the Other Cheek)

Uncensored Unprofessor
Crusades

What happened in the Mid-East that motivated the second Catholic Crusade? Why did a monk, Bernard of Clairvaux, preach the Crusade? What happened to the armies of King Conrad and King Louis VII along the way over and down to Constantinople and Cappadocia? How did the centuries-old suspicion between Orthodox and Catholic Christians play out during the second Crusade? I examine and answer all those questions in this episode. I also offer an extended reflection on Jesus' famous words, "turn the other cheek." What did he really mean in his first-century context? I also offer an extended thought-piece on why I do not believe either the Bible or Jesus himself were against the godly use of violence and/or war. Oh, and I wonder, what is the etymology of whore? Is it possible the Arabic houris—sexified concubines waiting in the afterlife—played into the history of the word whore? Come laugh and think with me about our faith in Christ.

414 Crusades (7) Jerusalem Kingdom (Pacifism & Capitalism)

414 Crusades (7) Jerusalem Kingdom (Pacifism & Capitalism)

Uncensored Unprofessor
Crusades

Truth is? I hadn't planned on producing this episode. But way back when I was working on my PhD I learned that one has to go where the historical record takes one. So in this episode I narrate details about the Jerusalem Kingdom (the 600 square mile empire) that arose after the First Crusade. Led by different orders of Knights, the Jerusalem Kingdom became the locale for the fantastic accumulation and management of wealth all over Europe. How did that happen? What was so amazing about the Knights Hospitaller? Why did the Knights Templar explode in growth and influence? I also address an important question, why didn't the Medieval Christians practice corporate pacifism? Concerning that very question what specific factors and decisions were thrust upon them all? In the show's cultural reflection I talk about the legacy of Pope Francis and explain why I believe another Pope like Francis will follow in his wake. Come laugh and think with me.

413 Crusades (6) First Crusade (and Reading the Koran)

413 Crusades (6) First Crusade (and Reading the Koran)

Uncensored Unprofessor
Crusades

They started heading southeast in 1096. Three full years later, June of 1099, the Crusaders arrived at the walls of Jerusalem, multiple armies led by multiple personages. And, other than wanting to rescue the Holy Land from Muslims, they weren't even on the same page. So then, what happened when they finally sieged the walls of Jerusalem? On a related theme, what percentage of Crusaders actually were present out of the many armies that left Germania, France, and Italy? And because I find their ardor, zeal, passion, and commitment utterly fascinating, I muse about what must it have been like to share such purpose. In this sixth episode on the Crusades I also explain why there is such a divergence between Muslims who view violent warfare as a holy calling and Muslims who view jihad as a spiritual-existential effort. In the show's brief opening I reflect on the meaning of Easter and talk about a recent survey on pastors and the depths of their Christian worldviews. Come think and laugh with me!

412 Crusades (5) Three Key Pre-Crusades Battles

412 Crusades (5) Three Key Pre-Crusades Battles

Uncensored Unprofessor
Crusades

European folk, besieged in the East and invaded in the South, believed their civilization was at stake. They heard all about the Muslim invasions in the Balkans and the Muslim destruction of Christian Egypt. So the truth is there were many battles prior to the Crusades and in this episode I unpack three of those: one in Syria, one in Constantinople, and one in Southern Spain. What particular things ocurred in those battles to swing the outcome? What did the Muslims want? What did they especially want from out of Constantinople? What particular things (weather even) greatly impacted these battles? How did each respective side theologically interpret the outcome of the battles? In the show's opening I reflect on how the Gospel works inside both persons and cultures. Against shallow (popular) piety I argue the Gospel does not come to destroy the person, or the culture. And in fact? The Gospel does not come to make each respective person or culture more American. Come laugh and think with me.

411 Crusades (4) Muslim Religious Motives

411 Crusades (4) Muslim Religious Motives

Uncensored Unprofessor
Crusades

Welcome to the most-difficult-to-produce episode I've ever put out! Why? Because I am talking about Islam following the way Mohammed and the Koran talk(ed) about Islam. The West suffers from a kind of historical amnesia about both the Crusades and Islam; almost like there is a willful ignorance at work. But what did Mohammed himself offer to Muslims who go to war? With what kind of pious language did he describe jihad to the glory of Allah? To help frame the disconnect today I also explain the current perspective on religion versus how religion was always practiced, everywhere. And, to my surprise (I felt so naive) I note the reigning Protestant meme-perspective on the Crusades. To open the show I offer reflections both on today's Evangelical piety and the process of becoming who we are, as persons. We emphasize the "I'm at a crossroads!" decisions, but it is the little, daily, mundane decisions that truly shape who we are.

410 Crusades (3) Crusader Religious Motivations

410 Crusades (3) Crusader Religious Motivations

Uncensored Unprofessor
Crusades

In my first two episodes I laid out geographically-oriented motivations for Crusading. This week we explore the religious motives of Crusaders. What were they offered by the papacy in return for joining a crusade? Was every Crusader on a journey of religious gain? Were Crusaders motivated either by their own poverty or a desire to evangelize pagans? Who was more likely to join a crusade, younger or elder brothers? Why? To develop our understanding of Medieval Catholic piety I explain and explore the Catholic practice of granting indulgences. I also warn us of running history through a sieve of chronological snobbery. Moreover, I address, yet again, the Postmodern interpretation of the Crusades and explain why that take is really just a cudgel to shame and silence Christians. In the show's opening theological reflection I ask, "what is faith?" To answer that I unpack the perspective of famed (by tormented) Russian author, Fyodor Dostoevsky, who famously once wrote, "beauty will save the world." I find both his insights about human nature and the nature of faith to be both helpful and true.

408 Crusades (1) Their First Motivation

408 Crusades (1) Their First Motivation

Uncensored Unprofessor
Crusades

There are several curated narratives pertaining to the Crusades. Those narratives dominate not only our understanding of the Medieval Crusades but understandings of the Middle East today. But, what really happened? What initially, and really, motivated Holy Roman Empire Catholics to travel over 1200 miles eastward at the price of great sacrifice? To try to answer those questions we examine some of the history of Muslim expansion. I'll note how long before the Crusades it was that Muslims variously attacked and sacked Rome, Iberia (today's Spain & Portugal), and Jerusalem. Because we believe Jesus is Lord over culture and politics I also discuss President Trump's attempts to disassemble the GBM (Grinding Bureaucratic Machine). Along the way I tell some jokes, offer a tiny bit of health advice, and reflect on the horrors at work inside of contemporary Syria. Come laugh and think with me.

407 Anxiety—The Snake That Strangles All (4) Empathy? Exhausted!

407 Anxiety—The Snake That Strangles All (4) Empathy? Exhausted!

Uncensored Unprofessor
Anxiety

Perhaps more than other people, Christians are susceptible to having their emotions manipulated. After all, love of neighbor is an express way to show love of God. But that beautiful attribute can be abused, primed, and played. What's happened? Well, we used to encourage compassion: feeling for the other such that one is moved to action. Today the emphasis is upon empathy: deeply sharing the feelings of the other person. I don't think it started out this way, but empathy has been so emphasized that today it can become not only exhausting but sinful. I explain the hows and whys of that possibility. Today our culture wants us to be mired in empathy and that can transpire to the point of being sinful. In my opening reflection I note different kind of Christian spiritualities: Baptisty, Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, spiritual warfare, logos oriented, and affective types. I've learned from them all, but I explain what is dominating my own worldview right now. And then, in my cultural remarks I talk about pastors who shamed their congregations in various progressive ways. Have those same pastors either repented or apologized now that our culture is swinging happily back toward common sense?

406 Anxiety—The Snake That Strangles All (3) Sober-Mindedness

406 Anxiety—The Snake That Strangles All (3) Sober-Mindedness

Uncensored Unprofessor
Anxiety

The Bible is most aware of the problem of anxiety vortexes. But whereas too many believers today get sucked into those vortices the Bible counsels sober-mindedness. In this episode we unpack just what is sober-mindedness and offer some steps for how to achieve emotional sobriety. If you've ever watched professional golf you'll have realized that the pros intentionally seek to remain calm, sober-minded. Why is that? In the NFL Patrick Mahomes is a superb example of sober-mindedness, if not also athletic excellence. Let's examine some biblical cues so we can move toward emotional health. In the episode's cultural reflection I unpack further how unprecedented are the Trump administration's efforts to assess and trim the Federal bureaucracy. America's founders, when they established the grounds for our nation, never foresaw the explosive and unconstrained growth of what has become the fourth branch of government: the bureaucracy. Come laugh and think with me.

405 Anxiety—The Snake That Strangles All (2) Stepping Back In Differentiation

405 Anxiety—The Snake That Strangles All (2) Stepping Back In Differentiation

Uncensored Unprofessor
Anxiety

We get enculturated: the anxiety of someone (anyone!) should trump the norms, behaviors, hopes, and values of everyone. "Anxiety trumps all!", we are incessantly taught. So what to do? How to respond? When to respond? I offer several strategies for dealing with hyper-anxious groups and persons, strategies oriented in the notion of differentiation. What is differentiation? How can you practice that as you pursue your own peace and stability? What is a Christian's first calling when confronted with an anxious person? Also, in the show's first fifteen minutes I reflect on what Elon Musk and DOGE are doing, what their stated procedural mandates are, and how historically unprecedented are their efforts. Specifically, what has DOGE been up to that is historically unprecedented? Come laugh and think with me.

404 Anxiety—The Snake That Strangles All (1)

404 Anxiety—The Snake That Strangles All (1)

Uncensored Unprofessor
Anxiety

Families and churches are swept through with anxiety, and they get split, shredded. If we don't see it everywhere we feel the power of anxiety everywhere. Why does anxiety disassemble entire communities? Why is it that the entire community gets pulled down to the level of its least mature members? In this first episode in a new series we talk about the mechanisms that force anxiety down everyone's throats. Why has our country been pulled down into a Peter Pan syndrome? Why is it that company workers are not allowed to name the big Pink Elephant everyone knows is in the room? Why does anxiety seek a "shoot the messenger" strategy? And why oh why is it that when we all gather to help anxious persons it only seems to reinforce, in their minds, that they are after all the most oppressed? In the episode's opening segment I work through the recent curtain-pulls regarding Church culture and the effects of USAID money. How and why have churches worked against their own members' best interests? What happened to the Roman Catholic church that caused it to turn to the government for billions of dollars? The camel has its nose in the tent, let's see what that smells like.

403 Jesus said. . . That?! (16) Finale—Cosmic Christ

403 Jesus said. . . That?! (16) Finale—Cosmic Christ

Uncensored Unprofessor
Jesus said. . . That?!, Jesus' Hard Sayings

After a four-month series on Jesus' harsh sayings what are my final takeaways? I work through why Jesus was a first-century shock-jock, how in light of Jesus love can be tough, Jesus' axiology, why He was a man's man, how amazing it was that Jesus was not snared by the anxiety of those around him, and why—when it comes to my faith—I am "Curious Eddie." I also unpack what the progressive Gospel says today about Christianity and how the notion of a "Cosmic Christ" is more of a nod to religious pluralism than it is harmonious with the Gospels. In the show's cultural reflection I both explain why I resist Christian-ese bumper stickers and describe the utterly historical, massive, cultural shift that is underway since the presidential election. What does that cultural shift say about the Church, say to the Church, and what opportunity is now facing the Church? Come laugh and think with me. 

402 Jesus said. . . That?! (15) I am Lord of the Sabbath

402 Jesus said. . . That?! (15) I am Lord of the Sabbath

Uncensored Unprofessor
Jesus said. . . That?!, Jesus' Hard Sayings

"Jesus was just a common Jew who wanted the best for everyone." "Jesus was a liberal first-century rabbi." Those memes have captured much of the public's imagination about Jesus. But they both are 180 degrees off the mark, especially when we read what Jesus said about himself. He said, "I am Lord of the Sabbath," and "I am greater than the Temple". And certainly those don't square with the Jesus-the-liberalizing-rabbi meme. In this episode we explore what Jesus' self-speak indicates about how he perceived himself. I also offer an extended reflection on thinking about thinking. What is the best argument for the existence of mind? Instead of probing how inert matter produced consciousness, what counter (older) argument has more explanatory power? I also muse aloud about how, for the first time in my adult life, I do not feel like the Federal government is against us. What do I mean? 

401 Jesus said. . . That?! (14) Shake the Dust from Your Feet

401 Jesus said. . . That?! (14) Shake the Dust from Your Feet

Uncensored Unprofessor
Jesus said. . . That?!, Jesus' Hard Sayings

"If they will not welcome you shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them," Jesus said as he gave the Twelve missional instructions. That just seems so abrupt! And it wouldn't have been recorded as part of the Gospel if it were recorded for us by someone from the 21st century; it's just too embattled. So why did Jesus say that? What did it mean? Not mean? In this week's episode we unpack the what-what of Jesus' stern sayings for the Twelve as he sent them into battle. I also ask, what does this passage mean for us today? What can we learn? In the show's opening I reflect on the massive historical shift we just witnessed. And then I ask, what does this mean for today's Church? What does it mean for Christian universities? Come, let us reason together for such a time as this.

Load More