Undeceptions with John Dickson

Special thanks to Undeceptions Season 16 major sponsor Zondervan Academic.

A popular myth is that when the Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity, he forced everyone else to embrace the faith - or else face deadly consequences.

But this couldn’t be further from the truth.

It was under Constantine that the very modern-sounding ideas of freedom of religion and “justice for all” were first instituted.

These were revolutionary ideals, and they came from a very smart, learned Christian in the Emperor's inner circle.
FOR FULL SHOW NOTES - https://undeceptions.com/podcast/against-coercion/

(00:00) - - One of history's great persuaders

(07:50) - - Persecution and the Crisis of the Third Century

(11:25) - - Christianity and Neoplatonism

(19:17) - - Lactantius: The Christian Cicero

(32:34) - - Lactantius and Constantine

(40:50) - - Constantine and religious tolerance

(49:30) - - Arguing Christian ethics from pagan philosophy

(53:05) - - Freedom of religion and Thomas Jefferson

(57:48) - - Lactantius and justice

(01:09:09) - - Five Minute Jesus

(01:13:38) - - Lactantius' legacy

CREDITS
Undeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley. 

Alasdair Belling is a writer-researcher.

Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian. 

Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant. 
 
Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant. 

Peter Kozushko is our North American representative and a point of contact for church pastors interested in engaging with our work here at Undeceptions.  

Editing by Richard Hamwi.

Our voice actors today were Yannick Lawry and Dakotah Love. 

Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible. 

Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.

Undeceptions sponsors:
Zondervan Academic
Anglican Aid
Selah Travel

Special thanks to Undeceptions Season 16 major sponsor Zondervan Academic.

In pop culture, we often enjoy watching - or reading - vice and virtue play out, with the former often far more exciting than the latter.
But what about real life? Do we still find vice “sizzling” (as one writer described it), and virtue stale?
At the heart of this lies a much deeper question: What good is there in pursuing the good?
FOR FULL SHOW NOTES: https://undeceptions.com/podcast/virtue-vice/

(00:08) - - Is virtue boring?

(06:51) - - What is virtue?

(12:47) - - What's valuable about the Middle Ages?

(16:56) - - Aristotle and the virtues

(19:43) - - Vice vs. Virtue

(32:00) - - The root of all evil

(35:56) - - The root of all good

(43:14) - - Rapid Fire Round: Virtue/Vice pairs

(51:53) - - Cultivating virtue

(01:00:54) - - Why pursue Christian virtue?

(01:04:35) - - Five Minute Jesus

CREDITS
Undeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley. 

Alasdair Belling is a writer-researcher.

Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian. 

Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant. 
 
Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant. 

Peter Kozushko is our North American representative, a contact point for church pastors who are interested in engaging with our work here at Undeceptions.  

Editing by Richard Hamwi.

Our voice actors today were Yannick Lawry and Dakotah Love. 

Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible. 

Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out

Undeceptions sponsors:
Zondervan Academic
Anglican Aid
Selah Travel

Special thanks to Undeceptions Season 16 major sponsor Zondervan Academic.

The Reformation remains a pivotal moment not just for the church, but for global history. 
It permanently split the church, triggered wars, created new city-states, and even led, in the opinion of many experts, to the Enlightenment, Science, and the secularisation of the West.
When it came to covering the topic on Undeceptions, there was so much to talk about that we needed two episodes just to scratch the surface.
In this Rewind, we’re revisiting some highlights of those episodes.

Undeceptions sponsors:
Zondervan Academic
Anglican Aid
Selah Travel

Special thanks to Undeceptions Season 16 major sponsor Zondervan Academic.

On November 2, 2024, Chris Tomlin performed the world premiere of The First Hymn at the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. Ben Fielding joined him onstage that night to help gift this 1800-year-old song back to the world.
In this special, shorter episode, you get a front row seat to a fireside chat with Chris as he introduces the new First Hymn to the world, for the first time. 

Undeceptions sponsors:
Zondervan Academic
Anglican Aid
Selah Travel

Special thanks to Undeceptions Season 16 major sponsor Zondervan Academic.

We attempt to make sense of the silly season, to explain why there really is “more to life”, and why the traditional Christmas story still holds the answers.

(00:00) - - Unwanted Christmas cards

(06:14) - - Diagnosing our festive illness

(10:22) - - Happiness or peace?

(12:08) - - Jesus the umpire

(14:43) - - The Prince of Peace

(20:28) - - Christmas and the Gulag Archipelago

(24:29) - - Christmas is good enough without Jesus, right?

(32:12) - - Jesus turns his face towards us

CREDITSUndeceptions is hosted by John Dickson, produced by Kaley Payne and directed by Mark Hadley. 

Alasdair Belling is a writer and researcher.

Sophie Hawkshaw is on socials and membership. 

Siobhan McGuiness is our online librarian. 

Lyndie Leviston remains John's wonderful assistant. 

Santino Dimarco is Chief Finance and Operations Consultant. 

Editing by Richard Hamwi.

Our voice actors today were the Undeceptions Team - wishing you a happy Christmas!

Special thanks to our series sponsor Zondervan for making this Undeception possible. 

Undeceptions is the flagship podcast of Undeceptions.com - letting the truth out.

Undeceptions sponsors:
Zondervan Academic
Anglican Aid
Selah Travel