The Areopagites say that there is a crisis of the gospel in the modern world. A lot of people have no idea what it even is. There are numerous versions being preached. And almost all of them are missing something -- demons. And Fr. Andrew promises he’s not trying to sell you a book. Really. No, really.
What happens when ministry success outpaces personal character? The Areopagites welcome fellow AFR podcaster Jamey Bennett to discuss the new Christianity Today podcast The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill, which tracks the meteoric rise and collapse of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, led by Mark Driscoll. Far from looking only at Mark Driscoll himself and the particular story of his church, the CT podcast examines the context that made that kind of rise possible and draws out lessons for any who are in ...
Fr. Stephen De Young comes back to the Areopagus to talk disenchantment and re-enchantment within a fractured Christian world. How did we get here? And does spiritual warfare “work” outside the Orthodox Church? Fr. Andrew quotes Hamlet, Pastor Mike casts out ghosts, and Fr. Stephen Hulks out.
The Areopagites tackle the phenomenon of the “Exvangelical,” the (de)conversion of prominent Evangelical Christians away from traditional doctrines or from Christianity altogether, tracing it back to the iconoclasm of the Reformation. They launch into a discussion of what Christian culture is and what this has to do with ritual. And Pastor Mike tells the story of how he parted the waters at a charismatic church service by doing his best Tasmanian devil impression.
Icon carver and YouTuber Jonathan Pageau joins the Areopagites to talk about parasitic storytelling in popular culture -- pushing the outsider and the marginal into the inside -- and offering both critique to diversity as a core value and positive responses to this inversion of hierarchy in culture. The revolution of the culture is coming to its end, but what will be next?
Germanic philologist and Amon Sûl podcast co-host Richard Rohlin joins the Areopagites to talk about the good, bad, and ugly in how modern people deal with the past and incorporate it (or don’t) into their present, not to mention why English spelling reform is a terrible idea and why there is no such thing as an “incense holder.”
Fr. Anthony Perkins, archpriest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA living in the State of Georgia, mission pastor covering two parishes, AFR podcaster, Ph.D. student in political science at the University of Georgia, former US Army intelligence officer, and probably not secretly an operative of the CIA, FBI and NSA all at once, joins the Areopagites to talk UFOs, aliens, the paranormal, conspiracies, and whether it’s all just a big joke -- featuring special guest appearances by Fr. Anth...
The Pseudo-Areopagite Dr. Mike Petrow returns to the podcast after a 2-year hiatus to talk friendship (especially in the midst of pandemic), where he’s been all this time, and with long but relevant detours into the Ralph Bakshi (and other renditions of) Lord of the Rings. Prominently featured is the leaking of nearly every other podcast Fr. Andrew has ever made into this one episode of the Areopagus.
Reformation historian Dr. Cyril Gary Jenkins returns to the Areopagus to talk politics -- not candidates or elections, but what it means for Christians to live under human governments, what the Bible says about government, and the spiritual realities that we face here in 2020 America. And Fr. Andrew makes a dumb joke about a centaur.
Former Pentecostal pastor and now Orthodox Christian priest Fr. Barnabas Powell joins the Areopagites to discuss the book he's writing about the relationship between Pentecostalism and Orthodox Christianity, how charismatic gifts function within the Orthodox tradition, and what Pentecostal experience means in the light of that tradition.
The Areopagites welcome podcaster, Biblical scholar and On-Site Holy Land Professor/Instructor (NOT "tour guide"!) Dr. Cyndi Parker to discuss sacred space and sacred place, with an emphasis on her scholarly focus of the book of Deuteronomy. But they begin with a deep dive into whether there can be sacraments or even church life at the Starbucks.
Fr. Andrew and Pastor Mike discuss prominent Christians falling from grace, including comedian John Crist and Liberty University president Jerry Falwell, Jr. They finish up with the “Don’t Go to Church, Be the Church” slogan during the present pandemic. But first they begin with a listener question about whether schisms ever heal.
Shawn Raymer, a former ministry co-worker with Pastor Mike, has journeyed from mission work in the heart of the prophetic movement in the Pentecostal world to becoming an Orthodox Christian
Christian Gonzalez and Steven Christoforou are back with the Areopagites to talk ministry in the time of global pandemic -- live-streaming, virtual communion, Zoombombing, Daleks, bidets, mystically multiplying toilet paper, and a whole lot more!
Fr. Andrew and Pastor Mike wrestle with tough questions such as the return of the Orthodox Kevin Bacon to the show and the right response of Christians to the political process. (This episode was recorded before the onset of COVID-19 restrictions in the US, so that topic is not addressed.)
The Areopagites welcome Marc Richter, a long time friend of Pastor Mike, to the podcast to talk about his upbringing in the Roman Catholic Church, what led him away to Protestantism, and what is leading him back. They also introduce a new segment on the latest amazing public things said by religious leaders.
Epic fantasy novelist and Russian Orthodox deacon Nicholas Kotar joins the Areopagites to talk culture creation in a wide-ranging conversation including everything from Tolkien to Star Trek to techniques of story-writing and the place of religion in imaginative fiction.
Dr. Cyril Jenkins joins the Areopagites to talk about the rough and rowdy world of being Christian on the Internet. The conversation ranges from social media to education to reading to ministry and content creation online.
Are pagan gods just made-up stories? How many gods are there? Biblical scholar and AFR podcaster Fr. Stephen De Young returns to the Areopagus to talk with Pastor Michael and Fr. Andrew about gods as depicted in the Bible, as understood and worshiped in the ancient world, and as seen in the historical Christian tradition.
The Areopagites compare notes from their respective Holy Week and Paschal worship traditions and even find some surprising points of contact. They also address an email they received after their last episode.
The Areopagites tackle the question of how religious communities engage in internal criticism, when and how that criticism can be received, as well as how and why it might be rejected. The discussion ranges throughout Protestantism, Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism, with both drawing on their own experiences in multiple traditions.
Fr. Andrew and Pastor Michael answer your questions, finally revealing the secrets behind Michael's relationship to the UCC, Fr. Andrew's thoughts on woodchucks who won't just chuck wood like they're supposed to, and how they both feel about secret agent Michael Scarn.
The Areopagites have the tables turned and get asked questions by their friend the 'Lost Areopagite,' Dr. Mike Petrow! Together they discuss liturgy both in its more technical sense and also in the sense that nearly everything we do in life is liturgical. They also discuss their first encounters with liturgical worship, how it changed them, and also struggles with reforming the liturgy of their daily lives.
Fr Andrew and Pastor Michael welcome Brian Gillispie, worship leader at Wolfforth United Methodist Church in Lubbock, TX, and an avowed Areopagite, to talk about all things worship. What is worship and what does it do? Is there some value in contemporary worship? Are younger people turning to more traditional forms of worship? Is Timothy Dalton the unappreciated James Bond? Find out on this episode of the Areopagus!
For the first time, Fr. Andrew and Pastor Michael record with a live audience, hosted by the Eastern University Orthodox Christian Fellowship and the St. Basil Center for Orthodox Thought and Culture. Featured are two guests as well as a Q&A with the audience, discussing what the Church's mission in the world is and how it moves in that context.
The Areopagites welcome Fr. Stephen De Young, Orthodox priest, Biblical scholar and Ancient Faith podcaster and blogger, to discuss his work on understanding the Bible and the Church Fathers better in terms of the ancient religious mindset, especially Second Temple Judaism. Topics discussed: The Holy Trinity, venerating the Theotokos, giants, Voltron and William Shatner.
Fr. Andrew and Pastor Michael begin Season 2 of the Areopagus with a wide-ranging chat covering clergy scandals, worship and church styles, catechism, and clergy marriage in the Orthodox Church. It's classic coffee talk with just our two hosts!
Fr. Theodore Petrides returns to the Areopagus for the second part of this two-part discussion focusing on the Jesus Prayer. What are the conditions needed for this prayer? How is it practiced? What does it accomplish? Dr. Mike Petrow also joins for this intimate and in-depth conversation.
The Areopagites welcome back Fr. Theodore Petrides to discuss the topic of prayer, particularly the Jesus Prayer. In this first part of two, Dr. Mike Petrow sits in for Pastor Michael, who will return for part 2 of this illuminating discussion on a central piece of Christian life.
The Areopagites recorded their 27th episode while also broadcasting live on Facebook video. They start by discussing Evangelical preacher Andy Stanley's claim that Christians need to 'unhitch' their faith from the Old Testament but then get into taking live questions from the Facebook audience.
