Can Human Beings Save Themselves? A Conversation with Gordon Graham

Chris flies solo as Shayna and show dog Arlo are off.

Our guest this week is Dr. Gordon Graham, most recently the Henry Luce Professor of Philosophy and the Arts at Princeton Theological Seminary.

What are the prospects for public theology in our culture? What are the ways of thinking and habits of mind that put philosophy and theology in coach class, and economics and political science in first class? At what level does theology have something relevant to say, in the public space?

This is part one of our interview with Gordon Graham; next week will be part two.

Join us in conversation. “What In God’s Name” will be going on the road, making a community-sourced show in Pembroke, New Hampshire, on February 23rd.

If you like today’s show, leave a review for us on Apple Podcasts (or Stitcher, or Spotify).

Our email: whatingods@ribeye-media.com.

Our website: www.whatingods.com

Here are timecodes to help you navigate through today’s show:

01:00    An update on our last show, on masculinity: the Associated Press reports on journalistic investigations that have revealed sexual misconduct in Southern Baptist churches over the last 20 years. While Shayna and Chris will sometimes be critical of Albert Mohler’s (President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary’s) reasoning or theology surrounding public questions, in this instance Albert Mohler’s response to these reports deserves praise.

04:14    Chris introduces Dr. Gordon Graham. Some people have lamented the lack of a theological voice in the public square. Should we lament that lack? What gets in the way of a theological voice getting a hearing? What do we make of the anti-intellectualism of some parts of Protestant Christianity, and the turn away from religion by some intellectuals who see religion as intolerant and narrow?

14:36    Chris interrupts the conversation to set up the second half, which will be: Gordon’s reflections on totalitarian thinking, and the ways that human pride (hubris) shows up in enterprises—both secular and those clothed in religion—that aim to make humanity its own savior. Why are these schemes for human self-salvation doomed to fail?