Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The Nathan Jacobs Podcast

Is God imperceptible, accessible only through a blind leap of faith or complex logical inferences?In this episode, Dr. Nathan Jacobs challenges the modern presumption that God is beyond human perception, demonstrating how we encounter the divine moment by moment. Drawing from Eastern Orthodox metaphysics and the teachings of the Eastern Church Fathers, Nathan outlines five distinct ways that humans perceive uncreated divine energies in daily life—from mathematics and morality to the experience of beauty and the holy.======================================Timestamps00:00 Is God Imperceptible?00:50 East-West Lecture Series Announcement02:07 The "What is Math?" Lesson04:20 The Case for Perceiving God Daily05:35 Architecture of Reality: Created vs. Uncreated06:13 Divine Ideas: From Philo to Augustine07:36 Matter and Form Explained09:06 Images, Archetypes, and Plato12:04 Essence vs. Energies of God16:10 Way 1: Mathematical and Logical Truths20:05 Way 2: Mind, Perception, and Transcendent Measures22:52 Way 3: Natural Law and Moral Perception25:00 Way 4: The Transcendental (Goodness, Beauty, Truth)28:53 Way 5: The Idea of the Numinous and Holy32:24 Conclusion: Why You've Been Seeing God All Along======================================Do you like this content? Join Jacobs Premium to get exclusive access to written essays, exclusive lecture series, monthly Q&A Zoom calls, and our book club. Use code: LEWIS to get a discount: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/Support the East West Series: http://theeastwestseries.com/======================================Relevant Links:The Essential Doctrine the West Lost: On the Divine Energiers: https://youtu.be/lO1rAzvK3lQ?si=TG--NK1ax2zWeenZAll the links:The Theological Letters Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastX: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobsAcademia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobsListen and please review the podcast elsewhere:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast

Why does the Eastern Orthodox Church give the Virgin Mary titles like Theotokos, Ever-Virgin, and Panagia?While these titles can often sound surprising—or even troubling—to Protestant and Western ears, they carry profound theological weight. In this episode, Dr. Nathan Jacobs breaks down how the Eastern Church Fathers understood Mariology not as an afterthought, but as a direct mirror of Christology. From Nestorius’s original controversy at the Council of Ephesus to Ezekiel’s prophecy of the closed eastern gate, Nathan demonstrates how every major Orthodox title for Mary points squarely back to the person, nature, and victory of Jesus Christ.Rather than viewing Mary through the judicial lens of Western theology, this episode explores a therapeutic vision of salvation—one where Christ enters human death to heal our nature and raise us back to life.======================================Timestamps00:00 Introduction00:00:48 Announcement: The East-West Series Pre-Sale00:01:49 What Does Theotokos Mean?00:02:32 Why Mariology Is Christology00:03:33 The Nestorian Controversy and the Council of Ephesus00:04:18 Nestorius’s Metaphysics: Two Natures, Two Persons?00:06:21 Cyril of Alexandria’s Biblical Defense00:08:35 What Is the Ever-Virgin Doctrine?00:09:54 Addressing Objections: "Until" and Jesus’s "Brothers"00:12:43 Who Was James, the Brother of Jesus?00:13:09 The Early Christian Tradition of St. Joseph00:16:38 Polycarp, the Apostle John, and Sacred Tradition00:17:26 Ezekiel 44 and the Closed Eastern Gate00:19:10 Panagia: Is Mary Sinless?00:19:53 Eastern Orthodoxy vs. the Roman Catholic Immaculate Conception00:22:15 Blameless Passions, Death, and the Fall00:25:31 Did Mary Need a Savior?00:27:26 Judicial vs. Therapeutic Views of Salvation00:29:53 The Dormition: Mary as the Archetype of Resurrection======================================Do you like this content? Join Jacobs Premium to get exclusive access to essays, lecture series, monthly Q&A Zoom calls, and ourbook club. Use code: LEWIS to get a discount: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/Support the East West Series: http://theeastwestseries.com/======================================Relevant Links:​W​as Mary Sinless? https://youtu.be/pB2zmkgXanE​ ​Resurrection Makes No Sense without Deification: https://youtu.be/Pwgm-7d2O2kAll links:The Theological Letters (Substack): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastX: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobsAcademia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobsListen and please review the podcast elsewhere:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast

Are the theories of modern science and Christian theology fundamentally incompatible, or are both sides missing the bigger picture? In part two of his conversation with Dr. Chris Firestone, Nathan Jacobs tackles the complex debate surrounding creation, evolution, the age of the Earth, and patristic theology.

Nathan breaks down why the traditional "death before the fall" objection misses the mark, how the Eastern Church Fathers understood time and eternity, and why his own philosophical commitment to realism leads him to reject macroevolution while remaining open to an ancient cosmos. They also discuss the philosophical assumptions built into early empirical science, the limits of scientific naturalism, and how an embryonic view of creation offers a compelling alternative model.======================================Timestamps00:00 Announcements & East-West Series Pre-Sale Deadline

03:39 Trailer: The East-West Series04:47 Time, Eternity, and the Eastern Church Fathers

09:05 God’s Essence vs. Divine Energies

11:27 Hermeneutics: Is the Genesis Text Deceptive?

15:04 The Philosophical Assumptions Behind Early Science

19:48 Reinterpreting Scientific Data Through Realism

22:23 The God of the Gaps and Confirmation Bias in Science

24:34 Finding a Middle Ground Between Scientism and Fundamentalism

31:15 Re-examining Death, Corruption, and Plants in Genesis

42:30 Privation vs. Negation: Are Animals Naturally Immortal?

52:03 Can Animals Attain Immortality Through Humanity?

55:12 The Fall of Angels as a Cause of Pre-Human Corruption

01:03:05 The Eschaton Transcends the Beginning: Eden vs. The Resurrection

01:05:23 A Realist Critique of Macroevolution

01:13:05 Why Scientific Induction Requires Philosophical Realism

01:21:53 An Alternative Model: The Cosmos as an Unfolding Organism======================================Do you like this content? Join Jacobs Premium to get exclusive access to essays, lecture series, monthly Q&A Zoom calls, and ourbook club. Use code: LEWIS to get a discount: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/Support the East West Series: http://theeastwestseries.com/======================================Relevant Links:Does Science Contradict Genesis? https://youtu.be/dK5wfxtlgMM?si=Fl25IA5LmoQ_wHa7All links:The Theological Letters (Substack): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastX: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobsAcademia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobsListen and please review the podcast elsewhere:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast

If the angels existed in the presence of God and beheld His divine glory, how could Satan—or any angel—possibly choose to turn away from Him?We explore what the Eastern Church Fathers teach about the nature of angels, their free will, the angelic hierarchy, and the fall of Satan. Nathan​ examines five factors that help explain how beings created in communion with God could nevertheless rebel against Him, including pride, envy,​ intellectual passions, and the possibility of God's pedagogical withdrawal.Along the way, Nathan discusses the nine orders of angels, competing patristic explanations for Satan's rebellion, why some Fathers connect his fall to​ the creation of humanity, and what angelic freedom can teach us about our own relationship with God.======================================Timestamps00:00 How Could an Angel Fall?00:47 What Is an Angel?02:09 Angels as Created Beings03:21 Free Will and Self-Determination04:23 Angels as Ministering Spirits05:10 How Angels Mediate God's Energies07:18 How Creatures Participate in God08:39 The Hierarchy of Angels09:06 The Nine Orders of Angels10:23 What Does the Fall of Angels Mean?13:13 How Could Angels Reject God?15:50 Five Factors Behind the Fall16:38 Not All Angels Experience God Equally17:32 The Intellectual Passions18:33 Pride, Envy, and Satan's Rebellion19:38 Did Satan Fall Because of Humanity?21:15 How Satan Led Other Angels into Rebellion22:39 Divine Hiddenness and Free Will24:56 Do Angels Leave God's Presence?25:17 Why God May Withdraw His Presence26:58 How the Angels May Have Been Tested27:26 Final Thoughts======================================Do you like this content? Join Jacobs Premium to get exclusive access to essays, lecture series, monthly Q&A Zoom calls, and ourbook club. Use code: LEWIS to get a discount: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/Support the East West Series: http://theeastwestseries.com/======================================Relevant Links:C​an the Devil be Saved? https://youtu.be/1nIJhti5hqw​ ​​Is Rational Unbelief in God Possible? https://youtu.be/J7uP9uFNThY​Is Non-Resistant Unebelief in God Possible? https://youtu.be/9B1G44hywd0​Is God Truly Hidden: https://youtu.be/R4Y0JBZtrRMAll links:The Theological Letters (Substack): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastX: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobsAcademia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobsListen and please review the podcast elsewhere:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast

Must a Christian reject modern science to hold a faithful view of Genesis? In Part 1 of this two-part collaborative episode, Dr. Chris Firestone (The Firestone Files) sits down with Dr. Nathan Jacobs (The Nathan Jacobs Podcast) in Nashville to tackle the contentious, heavily polemical debate surrounding creation, Young Earth Creationism, and evolution.Moving past the rigid false dichotomies often found online, Firestone and Jacobs draw from their shared philosophical training and the rich history of the early Church—including the Eastern Church Fathers like St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory of Nyssa, and St. Irenaeus. They explore how theology categorizes dogma versus theologoumena (theological opinion), how the Alexandrian school of allegorical reading functioned, and whether ancient authors like St. Paul accepted the science of their era without making it a test of orthodoxy.Timestamps00:00 Introduction & Framing the Debate 03:08 Evolution, Creation, and the Modern Online Polemics 05:18 Personal Backgrounds: Hugh Ross, Genesis, and Modern Science 10:25 The High Demand: Does Faith Require Rejecting All Science? 14:15 Moving Beyond the False Dichotomy (Young Earth vs. Evolution) 18:00 The Dogmatism of Secular Science vs. Unyielding Fundamentalism 21:50 Dogma, Heresy, and Theologoumenon (Theological Opinion) 27:18 Protestant Fundamentalist Assumptions in Modern Creationism34:38 Philosophy of Creation: Divine Omnipotence and Divine Deception 42:33 Did Physics and Biology Function Differently Before the Fall? 48:48 Alvin Plantinga, Modal Logic, and Disarming Polemical Objections01:00:18 Substantive Consensus vs. Ancient Scientific Views in the Fathers 01:15:24 Storytelling, Inerrancy, and How the Bible Approached History 01:31:08 The Alexandrian School, Genesis Oddities, and the "Eighth Day"======================================Do you like this content? Join Jacobs Premium to get exclusive access to essays, lecture series, monthly Q&A Zoom calls, and ourbook club. Use code: LEWIS to get a discount: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/Support the East West Series: http://theeastwestseries.com/======================================Relevant Links:Do the Church Fathers Reject Evolution: https://youtu.be/4BugOwStHqg​Why I Reject Evolution: https://youtu.be/IBwZBDlu8CAGod's Omnipotence Explained: Can God Really Do Anything? https://youtu.be/qEYzy1Wbjcg All links:The Theological Letters (Substack): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastX: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobsAcademia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobsListen and please review the podcast elsewhere:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast

If God knows the future, why would He create someone who will ultimately reject Him?

This is one of the deepest questions in Christian theology, and one that was asked by a 15​-year-old Orthodox Christian. In this episode, Nathan Jacobs​ reads one of his favorite theological letters, exploring how the Eastern Church Fathers—especially St. John of Damascus—approach God's​ foreknowledge, human freedom, divine goodness, and the mystery of damnation.

Rather than offering a simplistic answer, this discussion challenges many common assumptions​ about God's knowledge of the future and reveals a​ profoundly hopeful vision of God's unwavering love for every person He creates.

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Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

01:48 A Letter to Agatha

02:39 The Common Assumption About Damnation

04:20 The Eastern Church Fathers' Answer

05:10 Why We Exist

07:03 God's Knowledge and Creation

08:51 Why God Doesn't "Choose the Saved"

09:27 Why Not Simply Avoid Creating the Damned?

11:04 God Always Chooses the Good

12:08 Outcomes vs. Goodness

14:44 King Saul and Divine Justice

16:26 The "Future Hitler" Thought Experiment

18:11 Free Will and God's Omnipotence

19:27 Can God Make a Square Circle?

21:55 Abraham and Isaac

24:20 Damnation Is the Creature's Choice

25:20 Christ's Victory Over Hades

27:18 A Prison Without Bars

29:01 Hope for Universal Salvation?

30:30 St. Sophrony's Final Reflection

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Support the East West Series: http://theeastwestseries.com/

======================================

Relevant Links:

God's Omnipotence Explained: Can God Really Do Anything? https://youtu.be/qEYzy1Wbjcg ​

From Heretic to Orthodox: https://youtu.be/cWcVOvEu7dM​ 

On Apokatastasis and Universal Salvation: https://open.substack.com/pub/nathanajacobs/p/on-apokatastasis-and-universal-salvation?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

All links:

The Theological Letters (Substack): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast

X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobs

Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs

Listen and please review the podcast elsewhere:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast

Can the devil be saved?

While many Christians assume the answer is obvious, the Eastern Church Fathers offer a far more nuanced discussion than most people realize. In​ this episode, Nathan Jacobs explores the five major positions found within the Christian East on whether Satan and the fallen angels can ultimately be​ redeemed—and what these views reveal about God's goodness, providence, and the nature of salvation.

Rather than focusing on speculation, this conversation examines how the Fathers reasoned through the question and why their answers consistently​ point back to the infinite love of God.

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Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

00:00:50 Theology vs. Theological Opinion

00:01:32 Five Views on the Devil's Salvation

00:03:04 Why Most Fathers Say No

00:03:19 St. Paisios and Praying for the Devil

00:04:37 St. Ammonios on God's Will

00:06:21 St. John Chrysostom and the Unpardonable Sin

00:07:21 St. Maximus the Confessor

00:08:54 St. Symeon the New Theologian

00:10:19 Why John of Damascus Says It's Impossible

00:11:23 Death as Mercy

00:16:46 Why Angels Cannot Be "Remade"

00:19:53 Can the Devil Be Saved?

00:20:18 Pseudo-Dionysius on Corruption

00:22:55 Origen and Universal Salvation

00:26:51 Gregory of Nyssa and St. Isaac the Syrian

00:28:26 The Five Positions Summarized

00:30:25 What the Fathers Agree On

00:31:09 God's Providence and Love

00:35:29 The Common Thread

00:36:13 A Final Story from St. Sophronius

======================================

Do you like this content? Join Jacobs Premium to get exclusive access to essays, lecture series, monthly Q&A Zoom calls, and ourbook club. Use code: LEWIS to get a discount: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/

Support the East West Series: http://theeastwestseries.com/

======================================

Relevant Links:

​God's Omnipotence Explained: Can God Really Do Anything? https://youtu.be/qEYzy1Wbjcg​

On Apokatastasis and Universal Salvation​: https://open.substack.com/pub/nathanajacobs/p/on-apokatastasis-and-universal-salvation?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

All links:

The Theological Letters (Substack): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast

X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobs

Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs

Listen and please review the podcast elsewhere:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast

Thomas Thorogood interviews Dr Nathan Jacobs about his work on the Amazon series 'House of David', the principles of writing a good story, the role of storytelling in theology and some mind-bending quick-fire questions.More from Nathan Jacobs...The Nathan Jacobs Podcast on YouTube:   / @thenathanjacobspodcast  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUt...Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...Support the East West Series: http://theeastwestseries.com/The Theological Letters (Substack): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/MUSIC'Keep Climbing' by The SoundingsTIMESTAMPS00:00:00 Trailer00:01:29 House of David00:17:28 What Makes a Good Story?00:31:28 The Writing Process00:46:18 The Role of Storytelling in Theology00:57:16 Storytelling Approaches to the Problem of Evil01:12:11 Quick-Fire Questions01:12:28 What are Ghosts?01:15:42 What does Nathan Like/Dislike About Protestantism?01:23:04 What are UFOs?01:31:43 What is Remote Viewing and is it Dangerous?01:42:30 Keeping Up With Nathan's Work-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Copyright Disclaimer: under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, allowance is made for 'exceptions to copyright' such as...

• Criticism, review, quotation and news reporting
• Caricature, parody or pastiche

I believe that the use of content in this video/thumbnail is fair use. If any content owners would like to dispute this, I will be glad to immediately remove the content in question. I do not wish to infringe on anyone's content ownership.

In my previous episode, I explored whether the Eastern Church Fathers actually reject the theory of evolution. In this follow-up, I answer a different question entirely: Do I reject evolution—and if so, why?

Rather than appealing to the age of the earth or death before the Fall, this discussion examines the philosophical foundations of evolution through the lens of realism, a metaphysical framework embraced by the Eastern Church Fathers. Along the way, I respond to common objections, clarify my views on Young Earth Creationism, and explain why these conversations matter for Orthodox theology.

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Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

00:00:53 Two Questions About Evolution

00:01:58 Why I Reject Evolution

00:02:40 Realism vs. Nominalism

00:05:01 Essential vs. Accidental Properties

00:06:31 The Problem with Evolutionary Change

00:12:20 Why Nominalism Undermines Science

00:16:14 The Church Fathers and Realism

00:19:11 "According to Their Kind"

00:20:55 Responding to Common Objections

00:22:18 Old Earth vs. Young Earth

00:27:06 The Consensus of the Fathers

00:31:48 What Kind of Consensus Matters?

00:36:01 Theology vs. Science

00:42:15 The Orthodox Mind and Philosophy

00:45:14 What the Fathers Actually Handed Down

00:47:20 Can You Be Orthodox and Young Earth?

00:49:08 Responding to More Objections

00:57:12 Is Young Earth Creationism Possible?

01:00:03 The Real Danger

======================================

Do you like this content? Join Jacobs Premium to get exclusive access to essays, lecture series, monthly Q&A Zoom calls, and ourbook club. Use code: LEWIS to get a discount: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/

Support the East West Series: http://theeastwestseries.com/

======================================

Relevant Links:​

Do the Church Fathers Reject Evolution: https://youtu.be/4BugOwStHqg​

The Most Important Question: https://youtu.be/nVmPIMg4St4

The Truth About Why Do Christians Worship on Sunday:  https://youtu.be/0wCnpitmfZg

Misunderstanding Mystery: https://youtu.be/VlWiYFfHTeY

The True Christian Philosophy | The Metaphysics of the Ecumenical Councils: https://youtu.be/sFWp2QQzUFA

All links:

The Theological Letters (Substack): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast

X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobs

Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs

Listen and please review the podcast elsewhere:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast

Can we trust our minds to know reality?

This clip is taken from Nathan Jacobs' most recent interview with Thomas Thorogood and features a reaction to a discussion between Destiny and T.K. Coleman on The Minimalists podcast. Their exchange raises a profound philosophical question: what makes our reasoning faculties trustworthy in the first place?

Nathan explores properly functioning faculties, Descartes' skepticism, moderate foundationalism, and the crucial distinction between realism and nominalism. Along the way, he argues that every act of perception, reasoning, language, and scientific inquiry already presupposes realism, making it impossible to consistently live or argue as a nominalist.

If you've ever wondered whether we can genuinely know reality—or what our ability to reason tells us about the nature of the world—this discussion offers a compelling introduction to some of philosophy's deepest questions.

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Timestamps

00:00 — A Debate About Objective Morality

06:24 — Why Our Faculties Matter

09:21 — Properly Functioning Faculties

09:48 — Hard vs Moderate Foundationalism

10:19 — Descartes and Radical Doubt

13:09 — Why Skepticism Cannot Be Lived

14:24 — Trusting Our Faculties

16:26 — The Most Important Question in Philosophy

17:26 — Realism vs Nominalism

19:14 — Why Perception Depends on Realism

20:34 — Why Logic Depends on Realism

22:17 — Why Everyone Lives Like a Realist

23:14 — Realism and Providence

24:07 — Morality, the Numinous, and Human Experience

25:52 — Every Argument Presupposes Realism

26:56 — Living Consistently With Your Worldview

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Support the East West Series: http://theeastwestseries.com/

======================================

Relevant Links:

Thomas Thorogood Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNu3mGq6HhU

The Most Important Question: https://youtu.be/nVmPIMg4St4

All links:

The Theological Letters (Substack): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast

X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobs

Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs

Listen and please review the podcast elsewhere:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast

Part 2 of Nathan Jacobs’ journey into Eastern Orthodoxy.

After years of studying philosophy and theology, Nathan began reading the Eastern Church Fathers for the first time. What hediscovered completely transformed his understanding of Christianity, leading him to explore the Orthodox Church and ultimatelyembrace the faith.

In this episode, Nathan continues his personal story, explaining how the writings of St. Athanasius, the Cappadocian Fathers, andthe broader Orthodox tradition reshaped his understanding of God, salvation, deification, and the Christian life.

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Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:18 Encountering the Eastern Church Fathers

04:20 A Different Vision of God

08:20 A Christianity Unlike Anything I’d Known

09:21 Discovering the Theology of the Fathers

14:42 Deification and the Divine Energies

18:09 Eastern and Western Christianity Compared

23:28 Tracing the Orthodox Tradition

25:21 My First Visit to an Orthodox Church

26:18 The Beauty of Divine Liturgy

30:08 Wrestling with My Final Questions

31:04 Entering the Orthodox Church

32:12 The East and West Series

======================================

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Support the East West Series: http://theeastwestseries.com/

======================================

Relevant Links:

Part 1: https://youtu.be/cWcVOvEu7dM?si=U4Y8eOXsEB9q5DAh

Essence-Energies Episode: https://youtu.be/lO1rAzvK3lQ?si=8OOfJZxFUu3-CRDb

All links:The Theological Letters (Substack): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast

X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobs

Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs

Listen and please review the podcast elsewhere:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast

In this special collaboration episode, Thomas Thorogood sits down with Nathan Jacobs for an in-depth conversation. They dive into Nathan's experience making a horror film, the horror genre in general, Satan and demons in the Bible and church history, the nature of evil, and more.

Opening music is 'Cinematic Time Lapse' by Aleksey Chistilin from Pixabay.

Connect with The Nathan Jacobs Podcast:

• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thenathanjacobspodcast?si=eeVQhaVEBEtu0Voc

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS

• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast

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Connect with Thomas Thorogood (The Stir and Fry Podcast):

• YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCleEvOcQVTb5y2CeIixj0Gg/videos⁠

• Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thorogood.thomas⁠

• Patreon: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/ThomasThorogood⁠

Copyright Disclaimer: under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, allowance is made for 'exceptions to copyright' such as criticism, review, quotation, news reporting, caricature, parody, or pastiche.

I believe that the use of content in this video/thumbnail is fair use. If any content owners would like to dispute this, I will be glad to immediately remove the content in question. I do not wish to infringe on anyone's content ownership.

Why would a philosopher become Orthodox?

In this deeply personal episode, Nathan Jacobs shares the story of his journey from a Lutheran upbringing, through philosophy, skepticism, art, and years of intellectual searching, to discovering the Eastern Church Fathers and ultimately embracing Eastern Orthodoxy.

This is not simply a conversion story—it is an account of how questions about truth, God, beauty, morality, and the nature of reality led to the Orthodox Church. Along the way, Nathan reflects on his spiritual awakening, his study of philosophy and theology, his encounter with the Church Fathers, and the profound impact of experiencing the Divine Liturgy for the first time.

If you’re exploring Orthodoxy, interested in philosophy, or wondering why so many scholars and thinkers are finding their way to the ancient Christian faith, this conversation is for you.

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Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:29 Turning East and My Story

01:33 Growing Up Lutheran

07:56 A Spiritual Awakening

17:17 Studying Philosophy and Christianity

27:42 Discovering Process Philosophy

45:09 Encountering the Eastern Church Fathers

01:16:45 My First Orthodox Church Experience

01:23:15 Entering the Orthodox Church

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The Theological Letters (Substack): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast

X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod

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Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs

Listen and please review the podcast elsewhere:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast

Is the theory of evolution truly incompatible with Christianity? Many assume the Church Fathers rejected evolution outright — but is that what they actually taught?

In this episode, Nathan Jacobs examines the writings of the Eastern Church Fathers on creation, death, Genesis, and the age of the earth. Rather than asking whether evolution is scientifically true, this discussion explores whether Orthodox Christianity actually requires Christians to reject it.

Drawing from figures such as St. John of Damascus, St. Irenaeus, St. Basil the Great, and other early Christian writers, Nathan explores what the Fathers believed about creation, corruption, the Fall, the image of God, and the purpose of humanity.

If you’ve ever wondered whether evolution and Orthodox Christianity must be in conflict, this discussion offers a historical and theological perspective that is often missing from the conversation.

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Timestamps:

00:00 Why Evolution and Christianity Are Seen as Opposed

01:19 The Two Biggest Objections to Evolution

04:09 Why the Eastern Church Fathers Matter

05:41 What “Death” Really Means

10:41 Was Death Present Before the Fall?

13:28 Are Animals Naturally Mortal?

22:15 Did Animal Death Exist Before Adam?

27:14 The Age of the Earth

31:13 Are the Days of Genesis Literal?

37:15 What the Church Fathers Actually Believed

40:57 Final Thoughts

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Relevant Links:

Essence-Energies Episode: https://youtu.be/lO1rAzvK3lQ

Ressurection Episode: https://youtu.be/Pwgm-7d2O2k

Do All Dogs Go to Heaven? https://youtu.be/HlAk0Jm8xd4?si=BwTMvHqJ5ye3PXmK

Why Do Christians Worship on Sunday? https://youtu.be/0wCnpitmfZg?si=7UUKhaIMZK1YSQHF 

Substack on Evolution

Part 1: https://theologicalletters.com/p/an-eastern-perspective-on-the-creation 

Part 2: https://theologicalletters.com/p/an-eastern-perspective-on-the-creation-fd5

All links:

The Theological Letters (Substack): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast

X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobs

Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs

Listen and please review the podcast elsewhere:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast

Are the icons actually idols that violate the biblical prohibition on images? In this episode, Jacobs explores the historical debate surrounding this practice, highlighting how John of Damascus defended the use of images based on the Incarnation, along with his distinction between venerating holy objects and worshiping them. Finally, we look at whether these iconic practices were later deviations or deeply rooted within early Christianity.

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Relevant Links:Essence-Energies Episode: https://youtu.be/lO1rAzvK3lQ

Ressurection Episode: https://youtu.be/Pwgm-7d2O2k

Articles on John of Damascus:

https://www.academia.edu/41586795/John_of_Damascus

https://www.academia.edu/41586562/John_of_Damascus_and_His_Defense_of_Icons

Letter on Early Christianity and Icons: https://theologicalletters.com/p/were-the-earliest-christians-iconoclasts?utm_source=publication-search

All links:

The Theological Letters (Substack): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobs

Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs

Listen and please review the podcast elsewhere:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast

What happens when a profound, perspective-shifting experience forces a young artist to completely re-evaluate everything? In this deep-dive, long-form interview, Dr. Nathan Jacobs sits down with his long-time friend and mentor-turned-colleague, Dr. Chris Firestone, to unpack his journey from artist to philosopher, and ultimately to the world of filmmaking and mainstream Hollywood.

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Dr. Nathan Jacobs & The Nathan Jacobs Podcast:

The Theological Letters (Substack): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/

Instagram: / thenathanjacobspodcast

X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod

Facebook: / nathanandrewjacobs

Academia: https://cabasilasinstitute.academia.edu/NathanJacobs

Dr. Chris Firestone & The Firestone Files:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirestoneFiles

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-firestone-files/id1837011306

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheFirestoneFiles

X (Twitter): https://x.com/FirestoneFiles

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thefirestonefiles

Listen and please review the podcast elsewhere:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast

There is an essential doctrine at the heart of historic Christianity that was famously preserved by the Eastern Church Fathers but completely lost to the Western tradition: the Essence-Energies distinction. This video traces the history of this concept, moving from its philosophical origins in Aristotle through its development in Alexandrian Judaism and into the New Testament, culminating in the Church Fathers of the Christian East. The distinction proves to be the indispensable key to how the East understands the gospel, the Trinity, and the Incarnation, while also shaping less obvious doctrines, including the sacraments, veneration, divine revelation, and the nature of the Church itself.======================================Do you like this content? Join Jacobs Premium to get exclusive access to essays, lecture series, monthly Q&A Zoom calls, and our book club. Use code: LEWIS to get a discount: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/Support the East West Series: http://theeastwestseries.com/======================================Relevant Links:Episode on Resurrection: https://youtu.be/Pwgm-7d2O2kJacobs article on revelation: https://www.academia.edu/34403154/The_Revelation_of_God_East_and_West_Contrasting_Special_Revelation_in_Western_Modernity_with_the_Ancient_Christian_EastAll links:The Theological Letters (Substack): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastX: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobsAcademia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobsListen and please review the podcast elsewhere:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast

Our apologies to listeners for the late upload on this Tuesday episode!

Is there salvation outside the boundaries of the Eastern Orthodox Church? As the internet remains ablaze with the recent theological clash between Gavin Ortlund and Jonathan Pageau over historic Orthodox exclusivity, the answer remains heavily contested. In this deep-dive dialogue, Drs. Nathan Jacobs and Chris Firestone cut through the online noise to unpack the exact theological and historical nuances underlying this question. From the Protestant desire to be grafted back into the historic tree to the cognitive dissonance Orthodox converts face regarding the salvation of non-Orthodox loved ones, this conversation tackles the tension head-on. Recorded before the recent social media debate exploded, this episode provides a refreshing, uncompromised, and deeply scholarly look at what Eastern Orthodoxy actually teaches about the church, its boundaries, and who can be saved. Welcome to a special crossover episode of the Nathan Jacobs Podcast and the Firestone Files! NOTE: This interview is identified as the third in a three-part series of interviews, which it is. But given its relevance to the recent Ortland-Pageau debate, we have chosen to drop it early. Be watching for part 2 in the series next Tuesday. ======================================Do you like this content? Join Jacobs Premium to get exclusive access to essays, lecture series, monthly Q&A Zoom calls, and our book club. Use code: LEWIS to get a discount: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/Support the East West Series: http://theeastwestseries.com/======================================Dr. Nathan Jacobs & The Nathan Jacobs Podcast:The Theological Letters (Substack): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastX: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobsAcademia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobsDr. Chris Firestone & The Firestone Files:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirestoneFilesApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-firestone-files/id1837011306Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheFirestoneFilesX (Twitter): https://x.com/FirestoneFilesTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thefirestonefilesListen and please review the podcast elsewhere:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast

What if everything you’ve been taught about life after death is completely wrong? The shocking truth is that without an ancient, forgotten concept known as "deification," the New Testament's entire promise of resurrection becomes totally incoherent. This episode exposes why true resurrection is not just about coming back to life, but a radical, qualitative metamorphosis achieved only by partaking in the divine nature.

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Support the East West Series: http://theeastwestseries.com/======================================

All links:

The Theological Letters (Substack): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastX: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobs

Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs

Listen and please review the podcast elsewhere:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast

Read on Substack, "Why Resurrection is Incoherent without Deification": https://theologicalletters.com/p/why-resurrection-is-incoherent-without?utm_source=publication-search 

Welcome to a special crossover episode of the Nathan Jacobs Podcast and the Firestone Files! In this interview, Dr. Jacobs sits down with his long-time friend, colleague, and frequent co-author, Dr. Chris Firestone. For 27 years, these two have been collaborating, pushing intellectual boundaries, and challenging the status quo in the academic world. In this deep-dive conversation, they unpack a massive misconception: the myth that the Enlightenment was a purely secular movement that successfully killed off theological thinking.

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Referenced content: Episode 5 of The Nathan Jacobs Podcast, titled "The Myth of Enlightenment | Dr. Chris Firestone": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkFzbRVsTWE

Dr. Nathan Jacobs & The Nathan Jacobs Podcast:The Theological Letters (Substack): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastX: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobsAcademia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobsDr. Chris

Firestone & The Firestone Files:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirestoneFilesApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-firestone-files/id1837011306Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheFirestoneFilesX (Twitter): https://x.com/FirestoneFilesTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thefirestonefiles

Listen and please review the podcast elsewhere:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast

Was the Virgin Mary sinless? While the Western debate often pits Catholic dogma against Protestant literalism, the ancient Christian East offers a completely different paradigm. In this episode, we explore how the Eastern Church Fathers view Mary’s unique holiness without the Western legal concepts of merit and original sin, and how the theology of the Dormition proves she still required Christ as her Savior.

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Please support the East West series: http://theeastwestseries.com/

All the links:

The Theological Letters Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast

X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobs

Academia: https://cabasilasinstitute.academia.edu/NathanJacobs

Listen and please review the podcast elsewhere:

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Related Episodes & Material Mentioned:

Episode 30 The Virgin Mary Grinch Slayer: https://youtu.be/bTHlv06p9U8?si=43KLlOYXc2QjAVE4

Episode 33: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Story Telling: https://youtu.be/H7X4Df-KEEc?si=7OV6N3SXStXia9fw

Theological Letter on Mary: https://theologicalletters.com/p/on-mary-the-mother-of-god-1-of-2?utm_source=publication-search

Frederica Mathewes-Green: https://substack.com/@fredericamg/note/c-167315534

Dr. Nathan Jacobs examines the claim that Christians worship changed from Saturday to Sunday because of pagan influence and the Roman Emperor Constantine. Tracing the practice from the New Testament through the early Church Fathers, he explores the Christian understanding of the Lord’s Day, the resurrection of Christ, and the profound theology of the “eighth day” that shaped early Christian worship.

Please support the East West series: http://theeastwestseries.com/

Do you like this content? Join Jacobs Premium to get exclusive access to written essays, exclusive lecture series, monthly Q&A Zoom calls, and our book club. Use code: LEWIS to get a discount: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/

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All the links:

The Theological Letters Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast

X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobs

Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs

Listen and please review the podcast elsewhere:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast

In this episode, Dr. Nathan Jacobs explores the simple question: do animals merely live and die, or is there reason to think they share in something more? Drawing from Scripture, the Eastern Orthodox Church Fathers, and the Christian understanding of creation, he examines death, immortality, and humanity’s role within the cosmos, arriving at an answer that is more nuanced than many expect.

Please support the East West series: http://theeastwestseries.com/

YouTube: https://youtu.be/HlAk0Jm8xd4

Do you like this content? Join Jacobs Premium to get exclusive access to written essays, exclusive lecture series, monthly Q&A Zoom calls, and our book club. Use code: LEWIS to get a discount: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/

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All the links:

The Theological Letters Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast

X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobs

Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs

Listen and please review the podcast elsewhere:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QS

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast

In this episode, Dr. Nathan Jacobs explores one of the most famous questions in philosophy and theology: If God is all-powerful, are there limits to what He can do? Can God create a rock so heavy that even He cannot lift it? Dr. Jacobs unpacks the classical Christian understanding of omnipotence, logic, and contradiction — drawing from thinkers like Plato, Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, and the early Church Fathers.Please support the East West series: http://theeastwestseries.com/Do you like this content? Join Jacobs Premium to get exclusive access to written essays, exclusive lecture series, monthly Q&A Zoom calls, and our book club. Use code: LEWIS to get a discount: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/======================================All the links:The Theological Letters Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastX: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobsAcademia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobsListen and please review the podcast elsewhere:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast

In this week's episode, Dr. Nathan Jacobs explains the Eastern Church Fathers’ view on the relationship between God and the world. The key to understanding the Eastern Christian position on whether the universe, or part of the universe, is equivalent with God lies with what's called the essence-energy distinction.

Please support the East West series: http://theeastwestseries.com/

Leave a comment on Youtube: https://youtu.be/gJpY--74zfg

Do you like this content? Join Jacobs Premium to get exclusive access to written essays, exclusive lecture series, monthly Q&A Zoom calls, and our book club. Use code: LEWIS to get a discount: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/

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All the links:

The Theological Letters Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast

X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobs

Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs

Listen and please review the podcast elsewhere:

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Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast

Dr. Jacobs returns to the podcast with a personal update on his time away, news about the upcoming East West Series, and reflections from Holy Week, Pascha, and Bright Week on Mount Athos. In this episode, he shares stories from Vatopedi Monastery, discusses miracles, relics, and monastic life, and offers insight into how these experiences challenge modern skepticism and deepen faith.

Support the East West series: http://theeastwestseries.com/

Leave a comment on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIZVUy5v32M

Breakwater Festival 2026 | 19–21 June | London:

I’ll be speaking at Breakwater Festival 2026, a 3-day Estuary gathering focused on bringing online conversations into real-life dialogue and connection. This year’s theme, Cross Pollination: Conversing Across Religious Lines, explores how beliefs engage across difference in a pluralistic world.

Join me and other speakers in London — Early Bird tickets are available now: https://www.thebreakwaternetwork.com/upcoming-event

Chapters:

00:00 I'm back

00:13 Why I disappeared for Lent and Mount Athos

02:33 What this episode covers

03:00 East West Series update

04:53 Production timeline and release plan

05:54 Fundraising and pre-orders

07:16 Why the East West Series matters

09:35 Who the series is for: converts, inquirers, and online debate

11:45 Vatopedi Monastery endorsement announcement

14:05 Podcast facelift and rebrand

16:25 New 30-minute “Coffee with Dr. Jacobs” episodes

21:07 Topic requests, comments, and sharing

23:30 Website simplification and one-stop hub

24:20 Mount Athos reflections begin

25:45 Third trip to Mount Athos and Holy Week overview

28:05 Visiting Elder Paisios’ hermitage

30:32 Other monasteries and the capital of Athos

32:55 Daily monastic rhythm: Matins, Vespers, and Compline

35:19 Holy Week, Pascha, and the intensity of Athos

37:41 The washing of the feet service

40:09 Pascha procession and the all-night liturgy

42:31 Holy Week exhaustion and conversations with monks

45:00 Bright Week procession and blessing of the waters

47:25 Pizza on Mount Athos

49:48 Relics, miracles, and confronting modern skepticism

54:29 The Belt of the Virgin Mary

56:49 The True Cross and miraculous yeast

59:16 St. John Chrysostom’s incorrupt ear

01:04:00 The Panagia Paramythia miracle icon

01:08:44 Skepticism, belief, and re-enchantment

01:13:26 Why skepticism feels safe

01:15:41 Belief, faith, and how we live

01:20:23 Why people chase the paranormal

01:24:59 Culture, plausibility, and belief

01:34:40 Cyprus, Lazarus, and his relics

01:39:23 Great Lavra, John the Baptist, and Athanasius the Athonite

01:44:17 The bullet hole icon story

01:46:42 The disobedient monk and the blackened hand

01:53:46 Why Mount Athos belongs to the Virgin Mary

01:56:15 Final thoughts and East West Series support

Do you like this content? Join Jacobs Premium to get exclusive access to written essays, exclusive lecture series, monthly Q&A Zoom calls, and our book club. Use code: LEWIS to get a discount: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/

======================================

All the links:

The Theological Letters Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcast

X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPod

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobs

Academia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs

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Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast

Words for the algorithm: East West Series, Vatopedi, Mount Athos, Pascha, Holy Week, relics, miracles, church fathers, orthodoxy, monks.

Dr. Nathan Jacobs sits down with Fr. Joseph Lucas to discuss penal substitution atonement. The discussion examines the claim that penal substitution is the biblical and historic view of the atonement. Drawing on the writings of Cyril of Alexandria and other early Christian sources, Fr. Joseph Lucas explains how the Church Fathers understood sacrifice, sin, and the work of Christ very differently from later Western models.

The discussion looks at the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, typology, and the meaning of Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension. The result is a picture of atonement centered on purification, victory over death, and the transformation of human nature—not a transfer of punishment.

This conversation also explores how differences in biblical interpretation led to very different conclusions about what the Cross accomplishes.

Support the East West Series: https://theeastwestseries.com/

Bio: Archpriest Joseph Lucas is an Orthodox Christian priest, theological scholar, college professor, and practical philosopher. He received his PhD in Theology at Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen (Netherlands) and his MDiv with Distinction in Church History and Patristics at St Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Pennsylvania). He specializes in research pertaining to patristic exegesis and historical theology.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/lt40zf4KpV8

Fr. Joseph’s parish in Miami: https://www.oca.org/clergy/Joseph-Lucas/

- His blog, Prudence and Piety: https://prudenceandpiety.com/

- His parish podcast, Apostolic Tradition: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQlnsUX0xxfCfBWmQmrrQ8w

- Fr. Joseph Lucas’ book: How to Read the Holy Fathers: A Guide for Orthodox Christians: https://store.ancientfaith.com/how-to-read-the-holy-fathers-a-guide-for-orthodox-christians/

- Another episode Dr. Jacobs and Fr. Lucas did together: https://youtu.be/3Yt5fItpy7U?si=0BRySP8VEQgv-9I9

Mentioned:

- East Vs. West (Part 1) - Dr. Nathan Jacobs, Orthodox Miami: https://youtu.be/kVGkrtzx1DY?si=hmCwdH5YTN3hcpQn

- Fr. Joseph’s appearance on The Symbolic World: https://youtu.be/0FuO88QVlN0?si=8UmUZF4Cc5ZmHD1X

- Fr. John Behr’s book, The Case Against Diodore and Theodore: https://www.amazon.com/Against-Diodore-Theodore-Oxford-Christian/dp/0198800215

Dr. Nathan’s series on penal substitution:

Part 1: https://youtu.be/WHx21LQncFI?si=Y-WaG636sATOZ03S

Part 2: https://youtu.be/-MXLs6J2JBw?si=XxHHcXmqnjhx4G95

Timestamps:

00:00 - Coming up

00:18 - Start

01:27 - Introduction

03:11 - Fr. Joseph's work

05:24 - What is penal substitution atonement?

07:41 - Fr. Lucas' background

13:44 - Approaching St. Cyril of Alexandria on atonement

18:00 - St. Cyril's influences

23:09 - An incorrect exegesis

25:08 - The Father looking away from the Son

34:04 - Origen

35:18 - Christ acting in the Old Testament

39:39 - A discussion on the term sin

56:58 - Passover

01:00:28 - Substitution

01:03:20 - Presuppositions: early vs modern Christians

01:11:31 - Assuming our nature

01:15:19 - The blameless passions

01:24:35 - Testing vs temptation

01:29:59 - Justification and vindication

01:46:33 - Salvation is a mystery

==========================

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This is part 3 of 3 talks by Dr. Nathan Jacobs about the "nones", the religiously unaffiliated, a group that has grown dramatically over the past two decades and about which Dr. Jacobs has done research, culminating into the documentary called Becoming Truly Human.Watch part 1: https://youtu.be/vun_XtxDt5E?si=8uHdje7CpTHNAa8v Watch part 2: https://youtu.be/XPlTK33zmcs?si=sY32QQCva2QGPpCK In this talk, Dr. Nathan A. Jacobs discusses how we, as believers, can engage the “nones” and “dones”. He explains why the religiously unaffiliated don't talk about religion, and argues that the real crisis isn’t simply atheism, but disillusionment and cultural hypnosis. A major threat to our faith, as with so many aspects of human life, is our technology and the sense it can create of being a cognitive minority. How can we talk about religion with people who are disaffiliated? How can we help families and members of our own church to prevent disillusionment?Do you want to watch the Becoming Truly Human documentary? Watch it along with other exclusive content on Jacobs Premium. Use code: LEWIS to get a discount on the highest tier of support: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5_LcdMbopjgTimestamps:00:00 - Preview01:43 - Introduction to this series01:50 - Start of talk02:32 - The secret believer05:59 - A safe space to talk08:26 - Nones rarely talk about religion11:51 - Ask them about their journey16:45 - Addressing their presuppositions22:43 - Taste and see25:48 - The dones27:50 - Keeping Orthodox folks from leaving the church29:27 - A reading from Narnia39:28 - A cognitive minority43:56 - Digital experience48:24 - Approaching research about the dones55:54 - Q&A and discussion56:16 - Q: On resources58:45 - Q: Why does the Orthodox also produce nones and dones?01:07:23 - Q: Why people leave church despite believing01:12:37 - Q: Open to differences01:15:43 - Q: Humility and listening01:16:41 - Q: Catechesis01:19:39 - Q: Moral problems with the Bible======================================All the links:The Theological Letters Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastX: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobsAcademia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobsListen and please review the podcast elsewhere:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast

This is part 2 of 3 talks by Dr. Nathan Jacobs about the "nones", the religiously unaffiliated, a group that has grown dramatically over the past two decades.

In this talk, Nathan Jacobs argues that many who leave are not rejecting God, per se, but a particular vision of God shaped by Western theological developments. Exploring themes like grace, freedom, divine goodness, fatalism, and anthropology, he contrasts key Western trajectories with the vision of the Eastern Church Fathers. The result is a compelling case that Orthodoxy does not suppress the moral and spiritual intuitions of today’s seekers — it fulfills them.

Watch part 1: The Modern Religious Debate Lost Its Audience: https://youtu.be/vun_XtxDt5E

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Timestamps:

00:00 - Coming up next

01:28 - East West series

02:36 - Introduction

05:18 - What the nones believe

10:39 - Rejecting Western Christianity

14:12 - Augustine

18:40 - The nature/Grace divide

25:42 - Protestantism & predestination

31:48 - God's will

39:36 - Competing goods

46:17 - Our world is spiritual

59:02 - Return to talk

59:51 - Man as microcosm

01:01:51 - Was man made mortal or immortal?

01:06:11 - Energies

01:15:02 - What happens after death

01:18:06 - The remedy for divine hiddenness

01:24:34 - Q&A: On trusting your intuitions about God

01:29:21 - Q: Anxiety of the participants

01:30:58 - Q: What about Jesus?

01:33:11 - Q: Discussions about the Trinity

01:36:07 - Q: Using the halo in the documentary

01:40:06 - Q: Do nones go to other religions?

======================================

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In this episode, Dr. Nathan Jacobs explores the rise of the religiously unaffiliated, a group that has grown dramatically over the past two decades. Drawing from his research, interviews, and the documentary, Becoming Truly Human, he examines the beliefs, intuitions, and spiritual instincts that shape this rapidly expanding demographic.

Far from simple atheism, the world of the “nones” is complex, morally serious, and often deeply spiritual. This lecture begins a three-part series unpacking who they are, what they believe, and how meaningful dialogue might be possible.

This is part 1 of 3 on the religiously unaffiliated, or "nones".

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Life Itself movie trailer (excluded due to copyright): https://youtu.be/b5kwtJkUdpA?si=xw-ismXHDk6-SIh9

Timestamps:

00:00 - Opening

06:09 - Introducing Dr. Nathan Jacobs

09:16 - Becoming Truly Human

16:37 - Outline

19:56 - Trailer for documentary

21:44 - Misconceptions

25:43 - The modern religious debate

30:06 - The numinous

38:52 - What nones believe: 1. Karma

43:22 - Things happen for a reason

46:45 - Life Itself

51:47 - What nones believe: 2. A higher power

53:07 - The moral objection to Christianity

57:21 - What are the nones rejecting?

01:00:11 - Belief in paranormal

01:01:29 - What the nones believe: 3. Spirituality

01:05:27 - What the nones believe: 4. Afterlife

01:11:27 - Q&A: Discerning between intuition and feeling

01:14:18 - Q: Family issues among the nones

01:16:53 - Q: Mental health concerns

01:18:58 - Q: Sample selection

======================================

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What do we mean when we say "God"? This week’s episode is part 2 of tracing the concept from ancient pagan philosophy through Plato and Aristotle to uncover how modern assumptions about God emerged—and why many of them are far from obvious. This sets the stage for exploring deeper East–West differences in how God, goodness, and divine knowledge are understood. Part 1 is recapped in the first 10 minutes.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/soThpk45aI0

Listen to part 1: Defining "God" | The Evolution of a Word: https://youtu.be/MU0CFOFOq-A?si=tbzaT4PSiR1nm7Qf

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Timestamps:

00:00 - Recap

09:36 - The ancient view of God

35:34 - Disagreement among the pagans

01:02:16 - Why this is important for us today

01:21:12 - Essence and energy

01:42:59 - Conclusion and ramifications

======================================

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Contribute to the East West Lecture Series fundraiser: theeastwestseries.com In this week's episode, Dr. Jacobs looks at how the term "God" has evolved throughout Western intellectual history, from ancient Platonism through medieval scholasticism to contemporary religious pluralism. He walks through the development of divine simplicity and perfect being theology in Latin Christianity, showing how Augustine's engagement with Neoplatonism and the scholastic tradition that followed shaped the assumptions we still carry today about divine nature. The episode considers how this theological inheritance continues to influence debates about religious pluralism, rational religion, and the question of whether different faith traditions are actually referring to the same being when they use the word "God."All the links: Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastWebsite: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobsAcademia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs00:00:00 Intro00:04:27 Augustine and God 00:15:46 Divine simplicity & perfect being theology 00:36:19 The rise of rational religion 00:53:55 Religious pluralism & the transcendent God

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Today, Dr. Jacobs tackles the common objection: Was ancient Christianity infiltrated by Greek philosophy, such that it required a reformation or restoration? The answer is a resounding no. Follow Dr. Jacobs as he tracks the history through Old and New Testaments, German Idealism, and of course, a little realism and nominalism dusted on top for good measure.

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00:00:00 Intro 

00:02:05 The case for Hellenistic or Platonized Christian baggage 

00:06:49 German idealism 

00:15:21 Hegel and the Church Fathers 

00:20:08 The leftist Hegelians, atheism, and Christianity 

00:26:18 The protestant application

00:30:42 Open theism 

00:35:16 Hebrew ideas vs Greek ideas 

00:42:00 Mathematical truth vs Philosophical truth

00:50:07 Realism and nominalism 

00:56:03 The Septuagint and the Jewish shift away 

01:03:58 Are the Church Fathers platonists? 

01:19:19 Idealism in Old Testament studies 

01:25:11 Cases in the New Testament 

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Dr. Jacobs delivers a lecture on Nicene Trinitarianism, examining the metaphysical foundations established by the Cappadocian Fathers at the Councils of Nicaea and Constantinople. He explains the Greek terms ousia and hypostasis, addresses common analogies and heresies, and clarifies the eternal generation of the Son and procession of the Spirit. Jacobs contrasts the Eastern approach with Western developments in Augustine and medieval scholasticism, particularly regarding divine simplicity, the filioque, and the nature-person distinction. He concludes by discussing how these theological differences continue to shape East-West Christian relations.

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Enroll in Dr. Joiner’s class: https://myprofer.com/coursesContribute to the East West Lecture Series fundraiser: theeastwestseries.com Dr. James Joiner joins us again to take a hard look at the scientific studies claiming to disprove free will and asks whether they actually hold up under scrutiny. He and Dr. Jacobs will walk through the various science experiments and their interpretations, pointing out the methodological problems and conceptual missteps that weaken determinist arguments. All the links: Substack: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastWebsite: https://www.nathanajacobs.com/X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobsAcademia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobs

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Dr. James Joiner discusses libertarian free will, contrasting it with compatibilist and determinist positions through the lens of patristic theology and developmental psychology. The conversation examines Gregory of Nyssa's theological anthropology, the concept of synergistic cooperation in theosis, and cross-cultural evidence for the universality of free choice. Dr. Joiner argues that both ancient Christian thought and contemporary research support the view that human beings possess genuine self-determination, exploring implications for moral responsibility, bioethics, and the differences between Eastern and Western theological frameworks.

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Other words for the algorithm… 

free will, libertarian free will, compatibilism, determinism, Gregory of Nyssa, Cappadocian Fathers, patristic theology, Eastern Orthodox theology, church fathers, theological anthropology, theosis, deification, synergy, moral responsibility, praise and blame, developmental psychology, moral agency, self-determination, Christian anthropology, Christian East, Christian West, philosophy of religion, free will debate, moral psychology, bioethics, applied philosophy, Basil the Great, John Chrysostom, patristics, Orthodox Christianity, Byzantine theology, ancient philosophy, Christian philosophy, systematic theology, philosophical theology, Aristotelian ethics, virtue ethics, moral philosophy, conscience, moral intuition, Augustine, Pelagianism, divine sovereignty, human freedom, image of God, imago Dei, salvation, soteriology, grace, divine grace, sanctification, spiritual formation, Desert Fathers, Maximus the Confessor, Origen, Irenaeus, moral development, character formation, passions, will and intellect, Thomas Aquinas, Thomism, Kant, autonomy, phenomenology, David Bentley Hart, Kallistos Ware, Vladimir Lossky, ecumenical councils, Nicene Creed, liturgical theology, mystical theology, apophatic theology, hesychasm, spiritual senses, nous, William James, neuroscience and free will, agent causation, Peter van Inwagen, Alvin Plantinga, natural law theory, Neoplatonism, Plato, metaphysics, causation

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You're to be familiar with the popularized details of the Mary and Nativity stories—the manger, the shepherds, the star. But this week, Dr. Jacobs takes you beyond the familiar Sunday school narrative to explore the robust early Christian tradition surrounding Mary's birth, her betrothal to the elderly widower Joseph, and the supernatural drama unfolding behind the scenes. This episode examines what the Church Fathers believed about the devil's frantic attempts to thwart the Incarnation, from his watchful surveillance of Israel's virgins to Herod's demonic massacre of the innocents. Dr. Jacobs traces the cosmic war between the powers of light and darkness, revealing how God orchestrated an elaborate divine ruse to veil the Messiah from Satan's gaze. Drawing from sources like the Gospel of James, Irenaeus, Gregory of Nyssa, and John Chrysostom, this deep dive recovers the fuller Christmas story that shaped Christian understanding for centuries.

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This episode explores the Eastern patristic understanding of Christmas through the doctrines of divine energies, synergy, and man as microcosm. Drawing on Aristotle, Philo of Alexandria, and Church Fathers like Athanasius, the discussion examines why all creation groans for the incarnation and how Christ's becoming creature rebuilds the bridge between God and cosmos. The incarnation is presented not merely as a legal transaction but as the initiation of cosmic healing—a "good infection" that restores humanity's mediating role and allows all creation to partake of divine nature.

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https://www.keipirestaurant.org/first-things-foundation

Dr. Jacobs delivers a talk on hospitality in the ancient world, exploring three stories: Abraham entertaining angels, John Cassian learning from Egyptian monks, and Abba Agathon's encounter with a divine visitor. The presentation examines the theological significance of hospitality in Hebrew and Christian traditions, particularly focusing on Eastern Orthodox patristic interpretations. Delivered at a Georgian Supra event hosted by the First Things Foundation in Greenville, South Carolina. Visit Keipi in Greenville for traditional Georgian cuisine. 

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Other words for the algorithm…

Abraham and the angels, Hebrew Bible hospitality, ancient Near East customs, stranger ethics, John Cassian, Desert Fathers, Abba Agathon, Egyptian monasticism, asceticism, monastic hospitality, fasting and feasting, Georgian Supra, Eastern Orthodox theology, patristic theology, John Chrysostom, Basil the Great, church fathers, Orthodox ethics, Christian hospitality, biblical hospitality, sheep and goats parable, love of neighbor, theological virtue, practical theology, ancient world customs, virtue ethics, Christian ethics, moral theology, spiritual formation, monasticism, anachoresis, cenobitic monasticism, apophthegmata patrum, sayings of the Desert Fathers, patristic ethics, biblical interpretation, Old Testament theology, New Testament ethics, Hebrews commentary, Lot and the angels, Road to Emmaus, Tobit, Archangel Raphael, theophany, Christophany, angel visitation, divine testing, covenant theology, Abraham covenant, Sodom and Gomorrah, Job righteousness, ancient virtue, classical virtue, agape love, caritas, philoxenia, Christian hospitality tradition, early Christianity, Byzantine theology, Greek patristics, Eastern Christianity, Western Christianity, East-West theology, theological anthropology, imago Dei, image of God, Matthew 25, eschatology, heavenly feast, messianic banquet, bridegroom theology, joy and fasting, liturgical theology, sacramental life, communion, Eucharist theology, stranger as Christ, Matthew Mathewes, practical philosophy, applied ethics, charitable works, almsgiving, poverty theology, wealth distribution, social justice, Christian socialism, monasticism economics, voluntary poverty, detachment, ascetical theology, spiritual disciplines, prayer and fasting, desert spirituality, Egyptian desert, Palestinian monasticism, Scetes, monastic rules, obedience, humility cultivation, temptation, demonic warfare, spiritual combat, guardian angels, angelology, hierarchy of angels, divine messengers, supernatural encounters, mystical theology, contemplation, theosis, deification, divine energies, Gregory Palamas, hesychasm, Philokalia, nepsis, watchfulness, prayer rope, Jesus prayer, heart prayer, stillness, silentium

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Dr. Jacobs is joined by guest Jonathan Pageau for an in-depth discussion on the nature of symbolic thinking and philosophical realism. They explore how symbols function in reality, the relationship between ancient worldviews and modern nominalism, and the distinction between genuine symbology and eisegesis. The conversation addresses the metaphysical foundations of symbolic interpretation, the role of idealism in understanding reality, and whether symbols are merely useful fictions or constitute the actual structure of the world.

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00:00:00 Intro

00:00:52 Jonathan’s Background

00:17:31 Symbology 101: What is Symbolic Thinking? 

00:22:01 Philosophical Realism and Ancient Intuition 

00:25:01 Are Symbols Real or Useful Fictions? 

00:37:27 Idealism and the Structure of Reality 

00:44:02 Christ-Shaped Reality and the Logos 

01:12:20 How to Avoid Eisegesis in Symbolic Interpretation

01:23:45 The Danger of Gnostic and Esoteric Fascination 

01:28:58 The Problem of Non-Realist Symbolism 

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This is part three of our three-part series on the seven ecumenical councils, focusing on the philosophical commitments embedded in the final five councils from Ephesus to Nicaea II. We examine the Nestorian controversy and Cyril of Alexandria's defense of moderate realism, the doctrine of complex natures, and the distinction between common faculties and idiosyncratic use in the monothelite debate. The episode concludes with the monoenergist controversy's codification of the essence-energies distinction and the ontology of image and archetype in iconography.

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00:00:00 - Intro

00:05:36 Dogma vs. Kerygma: Basil's Distinction 

00:10:26 The Council of Ephesus: Nestorius vs. Cyril 

00:14:56 Moderate Realism and Complex Natures

00:23:18 Nestorius's Metaphysical Error

00:30:14 Why Mary Is Theotokos

00:45:02 The Monophysite Controversy After Ephesus

00:49:19 The Council of Chalcedon 

00:57:00 Common Nature, Idiosyncratic Use

01:02:00 The Theandric Operations: John of Damascus's Analogy

01:07:56 The Essence-Energies Distinction in the Councils 

01:13:34 Against Calling It "Palamite" 

01:19:09 Nicaea II and the Ontology of Images 

Other words for the algorithm… 

ecumenical councils, Christology, Chalcedon, Council of Ephesus, Nestorius, Cyril of Alexandria, moderate realism, complex natures, theotokos, patristics, church fathers, early Christian philosophy, Byzantine theology, Eastern Orthodox, Orthodox theology, hupóstasis, essence-energies distinction, Gregory Palamas, Cappadocian fathers, Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nyssa, John of Damascus, Maximus the Confessor, monothelite controversy, monoenergist controversy, monophysitism, Apollinarianism, hypostatic union, two natures one person, divine energies, theosis, deification, incarnation, Nicene Creed, Constantinople, Council of Chalcedon, hyalomorphism, Aristotle, Plato, realism, nominalism, universals, particular, form and matter, substance, accidents, common nature, Christian metaphysics, patristic theology, systematic theology, philosophical theology, philosophy of religion, Christian philosophy, Thomas Aquinas, scholasticism, medieval philosophy, ancient philosophy, Neoplatonism, divine simplicity, divine freedom, anthropology, theological anthropology, imago dei, image of God, iconography, Nicaea II, body and soul, will, free will, monothelitism, Apollinaris, Athanasius, homoousios, consubstantial, Trinity, divine nature, human nature, rational soul, theandric operations, dogma, kerygma, divine liturgy, anti-Chalcedonian, Council of Constantinople, moderate realist, extreme realism, archetypal ideas, common will, idiosyncratic use, Philippians 2, morphe, kenosis, inflamed blade analogy, David Bradshaw, essence and energies, Aristotle East and West, Gregory of Nazianzus, Chrysostom, ontology, metaphysics, formal properties, genera and species, specific difference

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This is part two of a three-part series examining the philosophical commitments embedded in the seven ecumenical councils of early Christianity. In this episode, Dr. Jacobs explores the metaphysical foundations of Nicene and Constantinopolitan theology, including hyalomorphism, moderate realism, the doctrine of the hypostasis, and the distinction between creation and eternal generation. He’ll walk through how the early church fathers developed sophisticated philosophical positions on the nature of God, creatures, causation, and the individual that were integral to Christian theology rather than later Greek additions.

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00:00:00 Intro 

00:02:15 The Seven Ecumenical Councils wverview 

00:04:42 No ancient divide 

00:21:42 Ancient Christians saw Christianity as philosophy 

00:29:39 Dispelling the progress narrative 

00:38:21 The Arian disput & metaphysical commitments 

00:39:16 What it means to be "created" 

00:43:12 Hylomorphism: form & matter 

00:52:24 Metaphysical realism and the law of contradiction 

01:03:07 Are creatures material? 

01:04:38 Biblical foundations for these commitments 

01:09:20 From Nicaea to Constantinople 

01:11:51 The doctrine of the hypostasis 

01:14:00 Moderate realism: Aristotle vs Plato 

01:23:10 The individual as its own reality 

01:32:15 On "Not Three Gods" 

01:42:32 The distinction of causes: begotten, not made 

01:51:27 Efficient vs formal cause 

02:00:05 Per se vs per accidens causality 

02:02:39 Eternal generation & procession

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This week we’re taking a look at the seven ecumenical councils of the early Christian church, from Nicaea (325 AD) to Nicaea II (787 AD). Dr. Jacobs traces how each council addressed Christological controversies while establishing foundational theological and philosophical positions. Topics include Trinitarian theology, the nature of Christ's divinity and humanity, the concept of eternal generation, and the distinction between essence and energies. The analysis demonstrates how seemingly disparate theological disputes form a unified narrative centered on the question "Who do you say that I am?"

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00:00:00 Intro 

00:00:22 Christianity’s philosophical commitments 

00:03:21 What are the Ecumenical Councils? 

00:11:19 Keys for understanding the councils 

00:20:59 The Council of Nicaea: is Christ fully God? 

00:29:20 How is the Son begotten?

00:35:18 Council of Constantinople: three persons, one nature 

00:48:32 Are Christians monotheists? 

00:55:50 Is Christ fully human? 

01:04:50 Council of Ephesus: one person with two natures 

01:12:14 Council of Chalcedon: unconfused & unmingled 

01:24:31 The remaining councils

01:26:39 The icon controversy 

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This episode concludes a four-part series examining slavery, polygamy, and genocide in biblical texts. The discussion addresses remaining questions about the moral gap between Mosaic law and early Christian teaching, arguing that Scripture reflects a progressive moral pedagogy rather than an immediate ideal. The framework employs natural law theory and Eastern Orthodox theology to distinguish between morally impermissible slavery and morally acceptable servitude arrangements, while contextualizing Old Testament ethics within the Ancient Near Eastern cultural baseline from which God drew his people toward eventual Christian perfection.

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00:00:00 Introduction 

00:01:20 Recapping the Slavery Episode 

00:08:20 Recapping the Polygamy Episode 

00:10:00 Recapping the Genocide Episode 

00:11:27 Why a 4th Episode? 

00:15:00 Slaying of Innocence 

00:19:45 Possibility #1 

00:20:30 Possibility #2 

00:22:15 Possibility #3 

00:23:40 The Rich Man and Lazarus 

00:27:30 The Most Troubling Psalm 

00:36:17 Lingering Concerns with Genocide 

00:42:35 Are the Innocent Damned? 

00:46:35 Loose Ends with Slavery 

00:53:29 The Law and Moral Progress 

01:00:50 Sensitivity of Moral Faculties 

01:06:15 The Ideal of the Logos

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This week Dr. Jacobs tackles the Eastern Orthodox perspectives on hell, divine providence, and human nature at Northern Arizona University. This conversation explores how Eastern patristic theology differs from Western Christianity on topics including original sin, the fall of man, Christ's descent into Hades, and the possibility of universal salvation. Jacobs traces his journey from philosophical opposition to Christianity through his discovery of the Church Fathers, addressing common objections to Christian theology based on moral intuitions and examining whether eternal damnation contradicts God's goodness. We also have a little tag on Mormonism and the Great Apostasy at the end. 

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00:00:00 Intro 

00:02:07 Background on Dr. Jacobs 

00:14:56 The standard Western view of hell 

00:18:33 The Eastern patristic perspective 

00:32:19 God’s providence and goodness 

00:40:06 Death & Hades in Eastern thought

00:49:19 Death as both enemy and mercy 

00:53:50 Genesis & the fall 

01:13:06 Universal salvation & God’s will 

01:35:03 Steel-manning nominalism 

01:38:53 Christ not knowing the day or hour

01:46:03 Mormonism & the Great Apostasy 

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Today Dr. Jacobs takes a look at the challenge of genocide in the Old Testament, particularly the commanded extermination of the Amalekites and Canaanites. We’ll critique divine command theory from a realist metaphysical framework and explores how Eastern patristic theology understood divine providence, justice, and redemption in relation to these narratives. Dr. Jacobs will dig into cultural practices of ancient Near Eastern peoples, the distinction between race-based genocide and practice-based judgment, and how concepts like Christ's descent into Hades inform a coherent theological reading of these difficult passages.

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00:00:00 Intro 

00:00:19 Series context & the question 

00:05:27 Divine Command Theory is not the answer

00:38:13 A thought experiment about evil 

00:41:05 Cultural examples: Game of Thrones & black death

00:47:40 Lord of the Rings & the Orcs 

00:51:48 Understanding the Amalekites

00:56:20 What Genocide really means

01:05:40 A horror movie scenario

01:13:02 The story of Saul & Samuel 

01:17:34 The story of Jonah

01:26:08 Christ's descent and redemption 

01:31:38 Death as gift and mercy

01:35:08 The broader narrative context

01:39:03 Addressing the epistemological worry

This episode examines the moral case against polygamy from a natural law and Eastern Orthodox perspective, then addresses why polygamous practices appear in the Old Testament. Dr. Jacobs distinguishes between biological and psychological dimensions of sexual ethics, critiques Thomistic approaches for neglecting reason's role in human sexuality, and argues that ancient Near Eastern circumstances created conditions where polygamy functioned as a lesser evil tolerated but never endorsed by God. The Eastern patristic framework is presented as recognizing concessions to human weakness while maintaining monogamy as the scriptural ideal from Genesis through the early Church.

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00:00:00 Intro 

00:00:25 Recap 

00:08:50 Four levels of discourse 

00:18:24 Natural law analysis

00:27:41 Reason & psychological reality 

00:45:39 Orthodox framework 

01:04:24 Providence through missteps 

01:09:40 Ancient Near East context

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This episode examines the biblical problem of slavery through a natural law framework, distinguishing between immoral slavery and morally permissible servitude. Dr. Jacobs argues that what the Bible describes as "slavery" more closely resembles contractual servitude arrangements, lacking the five essential traits that make slavery immoral: abduction, coercion, brutality, squalor, and dehumanizing treatment. Using Eastern Orthodox theological anthropology and classical realism, he demonstrates how true slavery violates human nature by denying the fundamental freedom that defines rational beings. The analysis shows that both Old Testament law and early Christian teaching consistently condemned actual slavery while permitting voluntary service arrangements that preserved human dignity and self-determination.

00:00:00 Introduction00:04:35 Let's talk about slavery00:07:28 Providentialists00:11:00 Good and evil as pleasure and pain00:17:10 Level 400:24:58 Moral responsibility00:31:37 The natural law case against slavery00:36:30 The features of slavery00:41:18 Discipline for one's formation00:45:28 The great chain of being00:50:12 Slave/master relationship00:53:00 Are the 5 traits of slavery essential?00:56:47 "Slavery" scenario #201:00:31 Defining our terms01:01:36 Is servitude immoral?01:06:03 The early Christian view

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Orthodox Foundations includes:

1 - Basic Terms & Concepts

2 - The Gospel According to the Eastern Church

3 - Partaking of the Divine Nature “Theosis”

4 - Descent into Hades

5 - How to Embrace the Life That Christ Has Given Us

6 - The Saints & Christ’s Descent into Hades

7 - The 7 Ecumenical Councils Nicaea (325 a.d.)

8 - The 7 Ecumenical Councils Constantinople (381 a.d.)

9 - The 7 Ecumenical Councils Ephesus (431 a.d.)

10 - The 7 Ecumenical Councils Chalcedon (451 a.d.)

11 - The 7 Ecumenical Councils Constantinople 2 & 3 (680 & 681 a.d.)

12 - The 7 Ecumenical Councils Nicaea (786 a.d.)

13 - Predestination & Divine Decree

14 - A History of Predestination and Divine Decree in Western Theology

15 - A Contrast Between the East & West on Predestination and Divine Decree