In Medias Res with Glanz & Jerončić – Details, episodes & analysis

In recent years, "manifesting" has gained significant traction in pop culture and social media. It is the idea of willing the universe to bring into being our desires, in the sense of already possessing them in the act of wishing. As this rides on many interesting ideas and has a lot to say about our current cultural moment, Oliver and Ante have decided to discuss the issue to wrap their minds around it somewhat. What is this phenomenon about? Why is it so popular at this time? Should we understand it psychologically or sociologically? Does it contain some kernel of truth? What are its darker aspects? How is it related to anxiety and narcissism? What are some of its religious permutations, and what has the Bible to say about it?...

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In this podcast, we engage in free-ranging conversations on life, faith, philosophy, ethics, relationships, culture, experience, and all matters existential. As the show title points out, we approach these things "in the middle of things" by grabbing hold of them unsystematically and provisionally. Concerning "about us," we are friends and verbal sparring partners who also happen to be colleagues at Andrews University. - Oliver Glanz and Ante Jerončič 

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In recent weeks, all across the country, students have received countless awards, recognitions, and trophies. That state of affairs prompted Ante and Oliver to examine the participation trophy phenomenon to probe the underlying forces that fuel it. For instance, what does it say about how we view parenting, psychological development, personal well-being, growth and resiliency, self-esteem, and motivation? To what extent is all that connected to shame and anxiety? What sociological and economic forces lurk in the background here? While, as usual, by their recognition, they bite more on what they can chew, they manage to crystallize some critical areas of concern beyond parenting and educational issues.

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In this podcast, we engage in free-ranging conversations on life, faith, philosophy, ethics, relationships, culture, experience, and all matters existential. As the show title points out, we approach these things "in the middle of things" by grabbing hold of them unsystematically and provisionally. Concerning "about us," we are friends and verbal sparring partners who also happen to be colleagues at Andrews University. - Oliver Glanz and Ante Jerončič 

Send us your comments. We appreciate those!

The story of Cain and Able has been explored through many angles, each adding to a rich history of interpretation of the narrative. In this episode, Oliver and Ante take a fresh look at it, trying to attend to the multiple meanings the text affords and how that, in turn, might offer some important life and spiritual lessons.

Episode theme: 06:20

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In this podcast, we engage in free-ranging conversations on life, faith, philosophy, ethics, relationships, culture, experience, and all matters existential. As the show title points out, we approach these things "in the middle of things" by grabbing hold of them unsystematically and provisionally. Concerning "about us," we are friends and verbal sparring partners who also happen to be colleagues at Andrews University. - Oliver Glanz and Ante Jerončič

Send us your comments. We appreciate those!

All in all, this is a debrief episode where Ante and Oliver look back at 2023, share some lessons learned, reflect on the nature of resolutions, and consider some of the promises and decisions for the coming year.

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In this podcast, we engage in free-ranging conversations on life, faith, philosophy, ethics, relationships, culture, experience, and all matters existential. As the show title points out, we approach these things "in the middle of things" by grabbing hold of them unsystematically and provisionally. Concerning "about us," we are friends and verbal sparring partners who also happen to be colleagues at Andrews University. - Oliver Glanz and Ante Jerončič

Send us your comments. We appreciate those!

Taking Ante's recently published chapter as their starting point, Oliver and Ante discuss some of the ways in which marriage, eschatology, and ethics intersect. In the process, they address a number of questions. What is the difference between philosophical (i.e., common sense), Christian, and eschatologically-centered approaches to marriage? What does each bring to the table? Why do we even need the language of eschatology in respect to marriage? What are some of its dangers? Could different conceptions of eschatology play an important role? And how, in turn, might they help couples work through difficult moments in their relationship?.... These and other questions are being discussed in the usual In Medias fashion.

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RESOURCES MENTIONED
Ante Jerončić, "Bond of Love in Holy Expectation" (Chapter)

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* * * * * NEW TO THE PODCAST?
In this podcast, we engage in free-ranging conversations on life, faith, philosophy, ethics, relationships, culture, experience, and all matters existential. As the show title points out, we approach these things "in the middle of things" by grabbing hold of them unsystematically and provisionally. Concerning "about us," we are friends and verbal sparring partners who also happen to be colleagues at Andrews University. - Oliver Glanz and Ante Jerončič

Send us your comments. We appreciate those!

In this second part of a two-episode mini-series, the conversation turns to Oliver's approach to life and work, revisiting the reasons why he finds the notion of "productivity" unhelpful, only to discuss the role of passion, its relationship to (positive) suffering, the notion of play, the influence of exemplars in developing resilience and commitment to work, the idea of being gripped by passion rather than searching for it, the importance of serendipity (or providence) in it all, how collaboration and support of others is essential to growth, concluding with three concrete tools or practices that help him focus and stay on track.

IMR FUNDRAISER
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RESOURCES MENTIONED
Cal Newport, Deep Work
Ante Jerončić, "Bond of Love in Holy Expectation" (Chapter)

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* * * * * NEW TO THE PODCAST?
In this podcast, we engage in free-ranging conversations on life, faith, philosophy, ethics, relationships, culture, experience, and all matters existential. As the show title points out, we approach these things "in the middle of things" by grabbing hold of them unsystematically and provisionally. Concerning "about us," we are friends and verbal sparring partners who also happen to be colleagues at Andrews University. - Oliver Glanz and Ante Jerončič

Send us your comments. We appreciate those!

In another "first" for the IMR podcast, Oliver and Ante sit down during the annual AAR/SBL meetings to debrief on the sessions they attended and the interactions that spoke to them. They delve into a range of topics, beginning with Daniël Muller's examination of the means-ends issue in Kant's philosophy. Discussions also include Sigve Tonstand's presentation on the Holocaust and the concept of evil, and they wrap up with a review of Oleg Kostyuk's paper, which focuses on the theme of endurance in Scripture."

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* * * * * NEW TO THE PODCAST?
In this podcast, we engage in free-ranging conversations on life, faith, philosophy, ethics, relationships, culture, experience, and all matters existential. As the show title points out, we approach these things "in the middle of things" by grabbing hold of them unsystematically and provisionally. Concerning "about us," we are friends and verbal sparring partners who also happen to be colleagues at Andrews University. - Oliver Glanz and Ante Jerončič

Send us your comments. We appreciate those!

In this first of a two-episode mini-series, Oliver interrogates Ante's approach to organization, productivity, planning, values, and other aspects of mindful living. The discussion veers between basic convictions about life and more concrete questions of actual steps implemented on different time scales. While much more could have been covered, the discussion suggests some universally valid principles that people might be able to implement irrespective of their particular circumstances. Next time, it is Oliver's turn.

CONNECT WITH US
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* * * * * NEW TO THE PODCAST?
In this podcast, we engage in free-ranging conversations on life, faith, philosophy, ethics, relationships, culture, experience, and all matters existential. As the show title points out, we approach these things "in the middle of things" by grabbing hold of them unsystematically and provisionally. Concerning "about us," we are friends and verbal sparring partners who also happen to be colleagues at Andrews University. - Oliver Glanz and Ante Jerončič

Send us your comments. We appreciate those!

In this inaugural live recording of the podcast, Ante and Oliver delve into the enduring cultural and spiritual significance of the Bible before a predominantly college-aged audience. Throughout the event, including the additional pre- and post-event debriefs, they highlight the intriguing aspect of the Bible's appeal to a range of secular audiences. They explore possible reasons for this phenomenon and corroborate it with autobiographical anecdotes. The conversation then transitions to viewing the Bible as a cultural artifact, pondering its metaphorical representation as a cathedral, and considering the symbolism inherent in that image. They discuss how the Bible, by depicting the flaws of its figures, stands as a unique document in the annals of human culture. The episode concludes with some thoughts on how the Bible can gain greater personal significance in our lives.

For those interested, check out the video of the live recording, which includes Q&A questions.

* * * * * NEW TO THE PODCAST?
In this podcast, we engage in free-ranging conversations on life, faith, philosophy, ethics, relationships, culture, experience, and all matters existential. As the show title points out, we approach these things "in the middle of things" by grabbing hold of them unsystematically and provisionally. Concerning "about us," we are friends and verbal sparring partners who also happen to be colleagues at Andrews University. - Oliver Glanz and Ante Jerončič

Send us your comments. We appreciate those!

With great anticipation, Oliver and Ante connected with their friend and colleague Andrew Tompkins, Assistant Professor of Mission and Intercultural Theology at Andrews University, to discuss the fascinating topic of resonance. Taking the work of the German sociologist Hartmut Rosa as their starting point, they explore Rosa's critique of modernity and contemporary society, the focus on competition, control, and acceleration, the all-pervasiveness of instrumental reason, how these forces impact all levels of human interactions and institutions, including religious ones, what is lost in the process, the notion of alienation as the absence of meaningful relationships, the concept of resonance itself, whether it should be viewed as a something that happens to us or as a result of human intentionality, how our perceptions of God are themselves beholden to these cultural forces, and how a spirituality of resonance might be retrieved.

EPISODE QUOTE
"To an unhappy or, in extreme cases, depressive person, the world appears bleak, drab, hostile, and empty. Such a person at the same time experiences their own self as cold, rigid, dead, numb. The axes of resonance between self and world here lie mute. Does this not also imply, conversely, that a successful life is characterized by open, vibrating, breathing axes of resonance that fill the world with color and sound and allow the self to be moved, to be sensitive and rich?" (Rosa, Resonance, 9)

EPISODE MATERIAL
Rosa, Resonance
Rosa, The Uncontrollability of the World

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* * * * * NEW TO THE PODCAST?
In this podcast, we engage in free-ranging conversations on life, faith, philosophy, ethics, relationships, culture, experience, and all matters existential. As the show title points out, we approach these things "in the middle of things" by grabbing hold of them unsystematically and provisionally. Concerning "about us," we are friends and verbal sparring partners who also happen to be colleagues at Andrews University. - Oliver Glanz and Ante Jerončič

Send us your comments. We appreciate those!