Best Forging Ploughshares Podcasts (2025)

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David Artman: Universalism as a Theodicy? 1:10:19

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2h ago1:10:19

1:10:19

The author of the book and podcast "Grace Saves All," David Artman, describes his entry into universalism and the development of his book and raises the issue of its playing the role of a theodicy. (Sign up for the class Human Language, Signs of God: using Anthony Bartlett’s two books, Theology Beyond Metaphysics and Signs of Change, as one continu…

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Sermon: Is Knowing Christ Entry into a Fulness of the Mind/Brain? 32:39

1h ago32:39

32:39

Paul Axton preaches: In this sermon, linking the left/brain right/brain theory of Iain McGilchrist with Paul's distinction between letter and Spirit, a connection is made between how it is the left hemisphere of the brain can take predominance in the same way the law can become its own end, and this is suspended in the opening up of Christ to the t…

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Kant with Sade: The Moral Argument and Radical Evil 1:01:23

22h ago1:01:23

1:01:23

In this continuation of our podcasts on Imaginative Apologetics, Paul addresses the moral argument as posed by Kant, and traces his coining the term "radical evil" and provide illustrations showing this is not simply a philosophical but a real world cause and effect - certain conceptions of morality are directly linked to the worst forms of evil. (…

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Sermon: Why I am a Christian 29:36

3d ago29:36

29:36

Paul Axton preaches: When asked the reason for following Christ, Axton poses a one word answer upon which he builds an alternative understanding to the partial answer of being saved and shows that the choice is between meaning or no meaning. (Sign up for the class Human Language, Signs of God: using Anthony Bartlett’s two books, Theology Beyond Met…

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Part 2 - J. Denny Weaver: The Alternative Community 1:00:20

8d ago1:00:20

1:00:20

In part 2 J. Denny Weaver, the foremost Mennonite thinker, describes the role of the Church as an alternative peaceable kingdom to the violent kingdoms of the world. (Sign up for the class Human Language, Signs of God: using Anthony Bartlett’s two books, Theology Beyond Metaphysics and Signs of Change, as one continuous argument. The course will ru…

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J. Denny Weaver: Narrative Christus Victor 59:20

12d ago59:20

59:20

In part 1 of a 2 part conversation Paul and Brad interview J. Denny Weaver, the most prominent theologian among contemporary Mennonites, on his understanding of the atonement he calls "narrative Christus Victor." (Sign up for the class Human Language, Signs of God: using Anthony Bartlett’s two books, Theology Beyond Metaphysics and Signs of Change,…

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Anthony Bartlett: Getting Beyond Metaphysics Through René Girard 47:28

20d ago47:28

47:28

In this second part of our conversation with Girard expert, Anthony Bartlett, we discuss the upcoming class Anthony will teach and also discuss the necessity to go beyond Girard to the fulness of peace and nonviolence of the Gospel. (Sign up for the class Human Language, Signs of God: using Anthony Bartlett’s two books, Theology Beyond Metaphysics …

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Anthony Bartlett Describes His Girardian Journey and Hermeneutic 1:05:43

18d ago1:05:43

1:05:43

Anthony Bartlett describes his departure from the Priesthood and passage through The Little Brothers of Jesus and his discovery of René Girard and entry into a nonviolent reading of Scripture and an alternative community of peace. (Sign up for the class with Anthony Bartlett, Human Language, Signs of God: using Anthony Bartlett’s two books, Theolog…

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Part 2: Eucharistic Perspectives 1:24:36

24d ago1:24:36

1:24:36

In Part 2 on discussion of the Eucharist the focus on the role of the Holy Spirit, the bringing together sign and signified, in a new humanity of peace realized in deep communion and practice are discussed. (Sign up for the class Human Language, Signs of God: using Anthony Bartlett’s two books, Theology Beyond Metaphysics and Signs of Change, as on…

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Sermon: The Kingdom of Universal Peace Versus the Kingdoms of Evil 29:07

24d ago29:07

29:07

Paul Axton preaches: The kingdom of Christ, the church, is the all encompassing work of Christ in defeating evil, and the kingdoms of this world, so as to be all in all and to reign over all. (Sign up for the class Human Language, Signs of God: using Anthony Bartlett’s two books, Theology Beyond Metaphysics and Signs of Change, as one continuous ar…

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Eucharistic Perspectives 1:02:34

1M ago1:02:34

1:02:34

What happens when a Baptist, an Episcopalian, an Eastern Orthodox, a Roman Catholic, and a non-denominational Christian discuss the Eucharist? Brad, Brian, Matt, Jonathan, and Paul arrive at a point of convergence which relies upon a depth of history, very much associated with the Eastern tradition. (Sign up for the class Human Language, Signs of G…

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Sermon: Christian Zionism Versus Christ 33:24

1M ago33:24

33:24

Paul Axton preaches: The slaughter in Gaza demonstrates the bankruptcy of premillennialism, dispensationalism, and Christian Zionism, all of which deny the basic teaching that the work of the cross has defeated sin, death and the devil. The genocidal teaching displacing the Gospel, and which Christ identifies with blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, is n…

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Benard Perret On the Girardian Satan 58:43

1M ago58:43

58:43

In part 2 of our conversation with Benard Perret he describes the role of the satan, or the complex nature of mimetic desire and the obstacle cause of desire which gives rise to violence and murder. (Sign up for the class Human Language, Signs of God: using Anthony Bartlett’s two books, Theology Beyond Metaphysics and Signs of Change, as one contin…

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Sermon: The Unity of Creator and Creation in Christ-Consciousness 31:17

2M ago31:17

31:17

Paul Axton preaches: The point of judgement, "When you have done it to the least of these you have done it to me," puts the full weight of the eternal in the finite, which is the form of the incarnation. Eternity has invaded time, and to continue in a consciousness that separates them is the failed ethics and consciousness Christ defeats in his uni…

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The Premiere French Expert, Benard Perret, Explains René Girard 1:08:36

2M ago1:08:36

1:08:36

In part 1 of a two part episode, Benard Perret explains the significant depth and development of Girard's theory as an alternative to Anselm and as a further development of Karl Rahner's understanding that God gives himself in revelation. Perret explains how Girard's theory takes account of the violence of Scripture, bringing a unity otherwise lack…

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Sermon: The Lie of Radical Evil Exposed by Infinite Forgiveness 38:22

2M ago38:22

38:22

Paul Axton preaches: This sermon touches upon the possibility of acting upon the lie of radical evil, as in the case of Lamech, and the counter to this in the enactment of divine grace in infinite forgiveness. (Sign up for the class Human Language, Signs of God: using Anthony Bartlett’s two books, Theology Beyond Metaphysics and Signs of Change, as…

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Part 2 with John Dear: Jesus as the Focus and Means of Peace 53:33

2M ago53:33

53:33

John Dear, the world renowned peace activist, describes his theological focus on practicing the Sermon on the Mount. If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Become a Patron!By Paul Axton

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Missing the Mark Exposed by Christ 1:33:23

2M ago1:33:23

1:33:23

Brad and Paul discuss sin, not as a legal failure giving rise to guilt, but as a loss of the divine model due to the obstacle posed by sin (a very different understanding of missing the mark) and the recovery of this model in Christ. This serves as an explanation of the sermon which follows the discussion. If you enjoyed this podcast, please consid…

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Peace Activist John Dear on Life with the Nonviolent Jesus 1:15:03

2M ago1:15:03

1:15:03

John Dear describes to Brad and Paul his life of peacemaking with Jesus along with his friends the Berrigans, Mother Teresa, Desmond Tutu, and others, recommending doing the Sermon on the Mount rather than simply studying about it. If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Become a Patron!…

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Sermon: The Vision of Universal Peace Enabling Universal Practice of Peace 25:42

2M ago25:42

25:42

Paul Axton preaches: The vision of the apocalypse in which the slain Lamb reigns through nonviolent defeat of violence and death is the impetus behind the resistant nonviolence of the Sermon on the Mount. The interlocking logic of the vision and practice points to the necessity of universal salvation as the goal behind the practice. If you enjoyed …

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William Desmond: The Preservation of Community in Betweenness 1:16:14

2M ago1:16:14

1:16:14

William Desmond describes the danger of the "all and all" in an Eastern sensibility, of subsuming all things into one rather than preserving difference. He describes the prejudice against belief and his preservation of Christian faith against the philosophical tide of the academy. If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our…

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Sermon: God is not Violent - The Confusion Between God and the Devil 29:42

2M ago29:42

29:42

Paul Axton Preaches: The Jewish confusion between God and evil results from the projection of their violence onto God, which Jesus identifies as marking their paternity as children of the Devil. The Jewish captivity to the lie of sin, is the human problem Jesus exposes and defeats, by defeating the power that killed him on the cross. If you enjoyed…

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William Desmond on the Metaxological Alternative to Hegel 1:10:05

3M ago1:10:05

1:10:05

William Desmond explains his reading of the Metaxological as the recovery of metaphysics as a being between, and he describes his deep reading of Hegel and points out the failure of the positive reading of Hegel in Rowan William and Gillian Rose, and debunks the Žižekian reading as untrue to Hegel. If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donat…

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Sermon: Peace as Universal Salvation Through Universal Nonviolence 28:02

3M ago28:02

28:02

Paul Axton preaches: The saving peace of Christ is universal in its cosmic scope, inclusive of the world, all people, and everything about them, delivering from the violence of the world, infected by human violence. If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Become a Patron!…

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Hegel: Knowing God Through Kenotic Love as Opposed to Knowing Propositions 46:52

3M ago46:52

46:52

In this final discussion of Hegel and Anselm, the contrast between the two in the personal and propositional is brought out, with the idea that God's person is given to us in Christ (poured out in kenotic love) and in this sense can be known. If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Become a Patron!…