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.

The One Thing Necessary 12/19/2024

The One Thing Necessary 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. /episode/index/show/0a77e39c-abbc-4e9d-b40d-71828ebcb153/id/36156080

Mere Christian Hermeneutics with Kevin Vanhoozer 12/10/2024

Mere Christian Hermeneutics with Kevin Vanhoozer 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! /episode/index/show/0a77e39c-abbc-4e9d-b40d-71828ebcb153/id/36156085

Widening Gap 12/06/2024

Widening Gap 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. /episode/index/show/0a77e39c-abbc-4e9d-b40d-71828ebcb153/id/36156090

Broken Bonds, with Amy Mantravadi 11/14/2024

Broken Bonds, with Amy Mantravadi 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 big announcement about the future of Mere Fidelity. /episode/index/show/0a77e39c-abbc-4e9d-b40d-71828ebcb153/id/36156095

The Last Roman Philosopher, with Dr. Tom Ward 10/23/2024

The Last Roman Philosopher, with Dr. Tom Ward 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 resurgence of interest in Stoicism spreading rapidly online and off, you will cert /episode/index/show/0a77e39c-abbc-4e9d-b40d-71828ebcb153/id/36156100

When Politics Becomes Heresy, with Dr. Tim Perry 10/13/2024

When Politics Becomes Heresy, with Dr. Tim Perry 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. /episode/index/show/0a77e39c-abbc-4e9d-b40d-71828ebcb153/id/36156105

Mortal Goods, with Dr. Ephraim Radner 10/03/2024

Mortal Goods, with Dr. Ephraim Radner 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. /episode/index/show/0a77e39c-abbc-4e9d-b40d-71828ebcb153/id/36156110

Hot Takes Taken Cold 09/24/2024

Hot Takes Taken Cold 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 their context and effects. /episode/index/show/0a77e39c-abbc-4e9d-b40d-71828ebcb153/id/36156115

Fishy Numbers in the Bible 09/18/2024

Fishy Numbers in the Bible 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. /episode/index/show/0a77e39c-abbc-4e9d-b40d-71828ebcb153/id/36156120

Spiritual-Not-Religious: Orphic Mysteries and Modern Attitudes, with Dr. Michael Horton 09/10/2024

Spiritual-Not-Religious: Orphic Mysteries and Modern Attitudes, with Dr. Michael Horton 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 influencer. /episode/index/show/0a77e39c-abbc-4e9d-b40d-71828ebcb153/id/36156125

Put Social Media in Its Place, with Andy Crouch 08/28/2024

Put Social Media in Its Place, with Andy Crouch 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 problems and the solutions with Matt, Alastair, and Derek. /episode/index/show/0a77e39c-abbc-4e9d-b40d-71828ebcb153/id/36156130

The Tribe of Levi and Women’s Ordination 08/21/2024

The Tribe of Levi and Women’s Ordination 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? /episode/index/show/0a77e39c-abbc-4e9d-b40d-71828ebcb153/id/36156135

What Difference Does a Doctrine of Creation Make? 08/17/2024

What Difference Does a Doctrine of Creation Make? 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. /episode/index/show/0a77e39c-abbc-4e9d-b40d-71828ebcb153/id/36156140

Identity in Christ 08/02/2024

Identity in Christ 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. /episode/index/show/0a77e39c-abbc-4e9d-b40d-71828ebcb153/id/36156150

Summer Reading 07/22/2024

Summer Reading 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. /episode/index/show/0a77e39c-abbc-4e9d-b40d-71828ebcb153/id/36156155

How Should We Then Die? with Ewan Goligher 05/28/2024

How Should We Then Die? with Ewan Goligher 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. /episode/index/show/0a77e39c-abbc-4e9d-b40d-71828ebcb153/id/36156160

Christian Politics with Oliver O’Donovan 05/21/2024

Christian Politics with Oliver O’Donovan 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? /episode/index/show/0a77e39c-abbc-4e9d-b40d-71828ebcb153/id/36156165

Christian Ethics with Oliver O’Donovan 05/14/2024

Christian Ethics with Oliver O’Donovan 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. /episode/index/show/0a77e39c-abbc-4e9d-b40d-71828ebcb153/id/36156170

Casuistry 05/07/2024

Casuistry 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? /episode/index/show/0a77e39c-abbc-4e9d-b40d-71828ebcb153/id/36156175

The Deception of Isaac 05/01/2024

The Deception of Isaac 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 parallels between this story and that of King David. /episode/index/show/0a77e39c-abbc-4e9d-b40d-71828ebcb153/id/36156180

Thinking For Yourself 04/23/2024

Thinking For Yourself When dealing with delicate, nuanced, disputed, or important issues, should Christians primarily rely on their own judgment or the authority of church leaders in their lives? Derek, Alastair, and Matt bring their own experience to bear, as well as a reliance on Scripture and authority, to answer this listener-submitted question. /episode/index/show/0a77e39c-abbc-4e9d-b40d-71828ebcb153/id/36156185

Men and Women in I Timothy 04/17/2024

Men and Women in I Timothy Andrew, Matt, and Alastair take up the oft-disputed passage from First Timothy that seems to restrict the authority of women in the church. What’s the best way to handle this in the twenty-first century? /episode/index/show/0a77e39c-abbc-4e9d-b40d-71828ebcb153/id/36156190

The Resurrection in John 04/02/2024

The Resurrection in John Christ is risen indeed, alleluia! The Easter season is upon us, and the regular cast and crew have the Resurrection on their minds. This year Matt, Alastair, and Derek dive into the Gospel of John to discuss what makes this account different than the other gospels, including, but not limited to: why Jesus told Mary Magdalene not to touch him but invited Thomas to touch him, why John waited for Peter before entering the tomb, and what is going on with those 153 fish. /episode/index/show/0a77e39c-abbc-4e9d-b40d-71828ebcb153/id/36156195

The Cross and the Empty Tomb 03/19/2024

The Cross and the Empty Tomb As we approach Palm Sunday, Alastair, Matt, and Derek meditate—and ask incisive questions—upon the Cross, the Resurrection, the Triumphal Entry, the Transfiguration, and the true center of our faith. /episode/index/show/0a77e39c-abbc-4e9d-b40d-71828ebcb153/id/36156200

Quit Social Media 03/14/2024

Quit Social Media We can all feel it. Something about social media is just really unhealthy. But what to do about it? That’s the question on the table in this episode of Mere Fidelity. Should we pull the plug entirely? Should we seek balance? Should we embrace it? /episode/index/show/0a77e39c-abbc-4e9d-b40d-71828ebcb153/id/36156210

God’s Preferred Pronouns 03/05/2024

God’s Preferred Pronouns In yet another brazen foray into hot topics, Matt, Derek, and Alastair talk with eminent trinitarian theologian, Dr. Fred Sanders, about why masculine terms are used to refer to God. /episode/index/show/0a77e39c-abbc-4e9d-b40d-71828ebcb153/id/36156215

Ascesis and the Modern World 02/20/2024

Ascesis and the Modern World Is asceticism good for the Christian life? Seems like a simple question at first, but there is a lot more there than you may realize. Matt, Derek, and Alastair unpack this deep issue on this episode of Mere Fidelity. /episode/index/show/0a77e39c-abbc-4e9d-b40d-71828ebcb153/id/36156220

C.S. Lewis for Everyone 02/13/2024

C.S. Lewis for Everyone C.S. Lewis is an odd figure. Beloved, cited, and recruited by both progressive and conservative Christians, his works have a very broad appeal. The very fact of this broad appeal raises questions about his legacy. Alastair, Derek, and Matt examine this phenomenon and how Lewis is read both in fundamentalist America and evangelical Britain. /episode/index/show/0a77e39c-abbc-4e9d-b40d-71828ebcb153/id/36156225

Moral Complicity 02/06/2024

Moral Complicity Alistair Begg hit a nerve with Christians online when he said in public that it might be ok for a Christian to attend an LGBTQ wedding. Given his opposition to same-sex marriage, this firestorm brings to the surface many questions about the nature of moral complicity, scandal, fraternal correction, and just how a Christian is to live day-to-day in a world so at odds with the truth. All in all, a perfect topic for Matt, Derek, and Alastair to tackle together. /episode/index/show/0a77e39c-abbc-4e9d-b40d-71828ebcb153/id/36156230

A Quiet Mind to Suffer With, with John Bryant 01/29/2024

A Quiet Mind to Suffer With, with John Bryant What does the Gospel of Jesus Christ have to say to those who wrestle with mental illness? This month’s Lexham Press book of the month arrested Matt’s attention. It’s like Augustine’s Confessions in a contemporary idiom as a really profound searching exploration of one man’s personal experience of OCD and his identity in Christ. So, today Matt and Alastair talk to the author, John Bryant. You will better understand how to simply be with a person with mental illness in a way that is best for them. /episode/index/show/0a77e39c-abbc-4e9d-b40d-71828ebcb153/id/36156235

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