Forging Ploughshares

Paul Axton Preaches - A key departure in the early church was the entry of a Greek philosophical view of God which gave rise to the doctrine of the economic and immanent Trinity. The rediscovery of key German theologians is that Christ and the passion of Christ is definitive of our understanding of God - most especially the passionate love of God - which means the economic Trinity is the immanent Trinity. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work.

In this discussion with Tyler Sims, a long time practitioner of contemplative healing prayer, Paul and Tyler discuss the real world access to the love and presence of God which brings about healing communal and individual connectedness. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work.

Paul Axton Preaches - In comparing the story of Nicodemus and the Samaritan Woman it is seen that the role of the erotic and physical is not an obstacle to quenching desire but a medium and means of recognizing the love and desire of God. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work.

In this interview, part 2, with Brian McVeigh, a leading expert and student of Julian Jaynes and his theory of the bicameral mind, we discuss possible biblical and therapeutic applications of Jaynes' theory. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work.

Paul Axton preaches - There is an inadvertent tendency to subordinate the role of the Holy Spirit but Romans 8 opens the depth of the Trinity on the basis of a prayerful experience in which the reality of God's self-hood completes human self-hood in a triadic unity of experience. Join us for our class on the Holy Spirit starting October 18th by registering here https://pbi.forgingploughshares.org/student-applications/new Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work.  

In this discussion with Brian J. McVeigh, who is the premiere student of Julian Jaynes and also a scholar of Asia who specializes in Japanese pop art, education, politics, and history, Paul and Brian discuss the formation and manipulation of Japaneseness through psychology. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work.

Paul Axton Preaches - The church is in a sexual crisis which might be partly explained by a misunderstanding of desire. Desire is greater than gender or human eroticism, though it accounts for both, as desire originates in God's desiring love. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work.

Scott McNay interviews Paul Axton, discussing their history in Japan and introducing the role of the death drive or death instinct into theology. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work.

Paul Axton Preaches - The biblical definition and early concept of martyrdom as compared to modern martyrs, particularly Dietrich Bonhoeffer, calls for a reconceptualization of the term. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work.

Jon and Paul conclude their series on Dietrich Bonhoeffer by discussing his contested status as a martyr and the implications for Christian witness, who God is, and the nature of faith if he is or is not considered a martyr. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work.

Paul Axton Preaches - In this time in which the church and Christianity may seem to be failing, the example of both Bonhoeffer and Kierkegaard in their response to a failed Christianity is key.  Both turn to an understanding that Christ mediates the love of God within the life of the individual. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work.

Jon and Paul continue their discussion of Dietrich Bonhoeffer by linking his thought to a development of the thought of Søren Kierkegaard, meaning that religionless Christianity is linked to a critique of Christendom, and cheap and costly grace, worldliness, and obedience are all also Kierkegaardian concepts developed by Bonhoeffer. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work.

Paul Axton Preaches - 20 years after the terrorist attacks on 9/11, evangelicalism has given into a cult of personality and religious nationalism, not unlike that of Nazi Germany. Dietrich Bonhoeffer's call for a religionless Christianity may be the answer. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work.

Jon and Paul continue their discussion of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, discussing the extent to which he was working within Lutheran parameters and the degree to which this impinged upon his understanding of a religionless Christianity. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work.

Jon and Paul take up a three part series on Dietrich Bonhoeffer and in this initial podcast introduce several approaches to his biography as this relates to his theology. In regard to his "religionless Christianity" Jon defends a reading that sees this as provisional and immediate while Paul suggests Bonhoeffer means this theologically and universally. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work.

David and Paul review the failure of theology and philosophy as it has been caught up in an unquestioning orientation to the law and as is summed up in the introduction to Paul Axton's book The Psychotheology of Sin and Salvation. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work.

In this PBI discussion of Paul Axton's book, The Psychotheology of Sin and Salvation, Tim, Matt, Allan, Rob, Nathan, and Paul discuss how German idealism intersects with theology, psychoanalysis and the biblical depiction of the human problem and its cure. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work.

Paul Axton Preaches - There is a brand of Christianity that imagines Paul, in Romans 7:14-25, is describing the normal Christian life. But to Miss how chapter 7 contrasts with Romans chapter 8 is to miss out the fulness of life in Christ. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work.

In this PBI course discussion Matt, Rob, Allan, Trenton and Paul review a Pauline/Lacanian approach to philosophy and Ludwig Wittgenstein's intervention into philosophy. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work.

Paul Axton Preaches - The deadly belief in conspiracy theories is a type of a belief in the satanic conspiracy that there is life in the law - which kills. The evangelical religion and its key theologian promote this lie as the cure which causes many to miss the true cure.  Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work.