Does Confessional Protestantism Need Classical Education
It is back-to-school time and the co-hosts, Korey Maas (Lutheran), Miles Smith (Anglican), and D. G. Hart (Presbyterian) are getting ready for classes. This makes it a good time to reflect on the kind of education that nurtures confessional Protestant piety and practice -- for both ministers and church members. The recording starts with each member of the "broadcasting team" talking about upcoming classes at Hillsdale College and how we situate ourselves within the framework of classical education, the "Great Books," and liberal education. From there the conversation explores the relationship between confessional Protestantism and the kind of learning that at least pastors need, which points back to ties between the Reformation and the Renaissance, which then leads to the Renaissance's recovery of ancient Greek and Latin authors and the way Humanism cultivated Protestant understandings of education. At the very end comes some commentary on whether the Bible qualifies as a "Great Book" or is merely a "Good Book." The co-hosts "did the reading" for this discussion which included a critique of "The Great Books," a review of a book about the Bible and classical education, and college students on the appeal of liberal education. No sponors this episode. The Pudcast transcends money.
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1:11:37
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1:11:37
Since When Do Confessional Protestants Pay Attention to Baptists?
To put the question even more pointedly, with lots of stereotyping to go round, when do Lutherans of German descent who settled mainly in the northern mid-western states pay attention to Baptists in the South? This was the subject of the recent recording when co-hosts, Korey Maas (Lutheran), Miles Smith (Anglican), and D. G. Hart (Presbyterian) discussed Scott Yenor's article on what Southern Baptist conservatives might learn from Missouri Synod Lutherans about "the left's" attack on denominational institutions. Part of the discussion involved the Southern Baptist Convention's place in conservative politics and the New Calvinist movement. Another part involved the dark side of church politics -- how much officers and members need to strategize and organize to defeat opponents within a communion where everyone is supposed to agree. Articles the co-hosts mentioned included: Korey Maas on the controversy in the LCMS over Concordia Seminary, St. Louis; and the place of civil rights politics in the LCMS controversy. For any Presbyterians who might see parallels in the Lutheran and Baptist controversies with the Presbyterian conflict of the 1920s, especially over control of seminaries, this discussion at The Reformed Forum may be of use. This episode's sponor is the National Public Radio show, "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me."
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1:03:19
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1:03:19
How High Is the Lord's Supper?
The topic this time is evangelical sacramentalism courtesy of a good short article by Gillis Harp, a retired professor of history at Grove City College. With Dr. Harp, the co-hosts, Korey Maas (Lutheran), Miles Smith (Anglican), and D. G. Hart (Presbyterian) talk about the recent elevation of the sacraments among Protestants, whether this is a function of Protestants trying to retrieve the church fathers or re-enchant worship services, and the relationship between preaching and the Lord's Supper. Spoiler alert: readers may be surprised to hear an Anglican (Dr. Harp) defend a high view of preaching. Listeners may want to consult Luther's Small Catechism, the Thirty-Nine Articles, and the Shorter Catechism on the Lord's Supper to see the language used to describe the benefits of the sacrament.
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59:20
Do Protestants Catch Colds if the Pope Sneezes?
The death of Pope Francis and the election of a new pope -- Leo XIV -- were the circumstances for co-hosts, Korey Maas (Lutheran), Miles Smith (Anglican), and D. G. Hart (Presbyterian) to talk about relationships between Protestants and the papacy. The conversation ranged widely, from assessments of Francis, speculation about Leo, and general observations about Christianity's need for a sound pope. Keeping up with all of the articles about either Francis' legacy or Leo's prospects is impossible. But these were some of the articles the co-hosts consulted before being recorded.
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58:17
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58:17
It's Like Confessional Protestantism Doesn't Exist
The Lutheran, Reformed, and Anglican heirs of the Protestant Reformation continue to make news by not attracting attention from observers of American Protestantism. The co-hosts, Korey Maas (Lutheran), Miles Smith (Anglican), and D. G. Hart (Presbyterian), talk about two recent articles about traditional Protestantism that either imply or claim that such Christianity is down on the mat for the count (think boxing). One is Brad East's "Goldilocks Protestantism" and the other is Casey Spinks "Does Traditional Protestantism Have a Future?" The conversation may not be as hopeful as some listeners want. But along with the last episode on non-denominational Protestantism, this one reveals further challenges that confessional Protestant communions face. Follow some of us -- Miles Smith @ivmiles and D. G. Hart (for now) @reallyoldlife.
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