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The Nathan Jacobs Podcast: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Nathan Jacobs
A philosophy podcast exploring the issues of today.
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- Yesterday1h 46m
The REAL Reason Movies Go Wrong
Thomas Thorogood interviews Dr Nathan Jacobs about his work on the Amazon series 'House of David', the principles of writing a good story, the role of storytelling in theology and some mind-bending quick-fire questions.More from Nathan Jacobs...The Nathan Jacobs Podcast on YouTube: / @thenathanjacobspodcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUt...Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...Support the East West Series: http://theeastwestseries.com/The Theological Letters (Substack): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/MUSIC'Keep Climbing' by The SoundingsTIMESTAMPS00:00:00 Trailer00:01:29 House of David00:17:28 What Makes a Good Story?00:31:28 The Writing Process00:46:18 The Role of Storytelling in Theology00:57:16 Storytelling Approaches to the Problem of Evil01:12:11 Quick-Fire Questions01:12:28 What are Ghosts?01:15:42 What does Nathan Like/Dislike About Protestantism?01:23:04 What are UFOs?01:31:43 What is Remote Viewing and is it Dangerous?01:42:30 Keeping Up With Nathan's Work-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Copyright Disclaimer: under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, allowance is made for 'exceptions to copyright' such as...Criticism, review, quotation and news reportingCaricature, parody or pasticheI believe that the use of content in this video/thumbnail is fair use. If any content owners would like to dispute this, I will be glad to immediately remove the content in question. I do not wish to infringe on anyone's content ownership.
- 6 days ago53 min
Why I Reject Evolution | An Orthodox Christian Perspective
In my previous episode, I explored whether the Eastern Church Fathers actually reject the theory of evolution. In this follow-up, I answer a different question entirely: Do I reject evolution—and if so, why?Rather than appealing to the age of the earth or death before the Fall, this discussion examines the philosophical foundations of evolution through the lens of realism, a metaphysical framework embraced by the Eastern Church Fathers. Along the way, I respond to common objections, clarify my views on Young Earth Creationism, and explain why these conversations matter for Orthodox theology.======================================Timestamps00:00 Introduction00:00:53 Two Questions About Evolution00:01:58 Why I Reject Evolution00:02:40 Realism vs. Nominalism00:05:01 Essential vs. Accidental Properties00:06:31 The Problem with Evolutionary Change00:12:20 Why Nominalism Undermines Science00:16:14 The Church Fathers and Realism00:19:11 "According to Their Kind"00:20:55 Responding to Common Objections00:22:18 Old Earth vs. Young Earth00:27:06 The Consensus of the Fathers00:31:48 What Kind of Consensus Matters?00:36:01 Theology vs. Science00:42:15 The Orthodox Mind and Philosophy00:45:14 What the Fathers Actually Handed Down00:47:20 Can You Be Orthodox and Young Earth?00:49:08 Responding to More Objections00:57:12 Is Young Earth Creationism Possible?01:00:03 The Real Danger======================================Do you like this content? Join Jacobs Premium to get exclusive access to essays, lecture series, monthly Q&A Zoom calls, and ourbook club. Use code: LEWIS to get a discount: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/Support the East West Series: http://theeastwestseries.com/======================================Relevant Links:Do the Church Fathers Reject Evolution: https://youtu.be/4BugOwStHqgThe Most Important Question: https://youtu.be/nVmPIMg4St4The Truth About Why Do Christians Worship on Sunday: https://youtu.be/0wCnpitmfZgMisunderstanding Mystery: https://youtu.be/VlWiYFfHTeYThe True Christian Philosophy | The Metaphysics of the Ecumenical Councils: https://youtu.be/sFWp2QQzUFAAll links:The Theological Letters (Substack): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastX: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobsAcademia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobsListen and please review the podcast elsewhere:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast
- 1 weeks ago27 min
Can You Trust Your Mind | Thomas Thorogood Clip
Can we trust our minds to know reality?This clip is taken from Nathan Jacobs' most recent interview with Thomas Thorogood and features a reaction to a discussion between Destiny and T.K. Coleman on The Minimalists podcast. Their exchange raises a profound philosophical question: what makes our reasoning faculties trustworthy in the first place?Nathan explores properly functioning faculties, Descartes' skepticism, moderate foundationalism, and the crucial distinction between realism and nominalism. Along the way, he argues that every act of perception, reasoning, language, and scientific inquiry already presupposes realism, making it impossible to consistently live or argue as a nominalist.If you've ever wondered whether we can genuinely know reality—or what our ability to reason tells us about the nature of the world—this discussion offers a compelling introduction to some of philosophy's deepest questions.======================================Timestamps00:00 — A Debate About Objective Morality06:24 — Why Our Faculties Matter09:21 — Properly Functioning Faculties09:48 — Hard vs Moderate Foundationalism10:19 — Descartes and Radical Doubt13:09 — Why Skepticism Cannot Be Lived14:24 — Trusting Our Faculties16:26 — The Most Important Question in Philosophy17:26 — Realism vs Nominalism19:14 — Why Perception Depends on Realism20:34 — Why Logic Depends on Realism22:17 — Why Everyone Lives Like a Realist23:14 — Realism and Providence24:07 — Morality, the Numinous, and Human Experience25:52 — Every Argument Presupposes Realism26:56 — Living Consistently With Your Worldview======================================Do you like this content? Join Jacobs Premium to get exclusive access to essays, lecture series, monthly Q&A Zoom calls, and ourbook club. Use code: LEWIS to get a discount: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/Support the East West Series: http://theeastwestseries.com/======================================Relevant Links:Thomas Thorogood Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNu3mGq6HhUThe Most Important Question: https://youtu.be/nVmPIMg4St4All links:The Theological Letters (Substack): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastX: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobsAcademia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobsListen and please review the podcast elsewhere:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast
- 1 weeks ago31 min
Why I Became Orthodox (Part 2) | Discovering the Church Fathers
Part 2 of Nathan Jacobs’ journey into Eastern Orthodoxy.After years of studying philosophy and theology, Nathan began reading the Eastern Church Fathers for the first time. What hediscovered completely transformed his understanding of Christianity, leading him to explore the Orthodox Church and ultimatelyembrace the faith.In this episode, Nathan continues his personal story, explaining how the writings of St. Athanasius, the Cappadocian Fathers, andthe broader Orthodox tradition reshaped his understanding of God, salvation, deification, and the Christian life.======================================Timestamps:00:00 Introduction01:18 Encountering the Eastern Church Fathers04:20 A Different Vision of God08:20 A Christianity Unlike Anything I’d Known09:21 Discovering the Theology of the Fathers14:42 Deification and the Divine Energies18:09 Eastern and Western Christianity Compared23:28 Tracing the Orthodox Tradition25:21 My First Visit to an Orthodox Church26:18 The Beauty of Divine Liturgy30:08 Wrestling with My Final Questions31:04 Entering the Orthodox Church32:12 The East and West Series======================================Do you like this content? Join Jacobs Premium to get exclusive access to essays, lecture series, monthly Q&A Zoom calls, and ourbook club. Use code: LEWIS to get a discount: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/Support the East West Series: http://theeastwestseries.com/======================================Relevant Links:Part 1: https://youtu.be/cWcVOvEu7dM?si=U4Y8eOXsEB9q5DAhEssence-Energies Episode: https://youtu.be/lO1rAzvK3lQ?si=8OOfJZxFUu3-CRDbAll links:The Theological Letters (Substack): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastX: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobsAcademia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobsListen and please review the podcast elsewhere:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast
- 2 weeks ago2h 54m
He Was Making a Horror Film... Until THIS Happened
In this special collaboration episode, Thomas Thorogood sits down with Nathan Jacobs for an in-depth conversation. They dive into Nathan's experience making a horror film, the horror genre in general, Satan and demons in the Bible and church history, the nature of evil, and more.Opening music is 'Cinematic Time Lapse' by Aleksey Chistilin from Pixabay.Connect with The Nathan Jacobs Podcast:YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thenathanjacobspodcast?si=eeVQhaVEBEtu0VocSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcastSubstack (The Theological Letters): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Support the East West Series: http://theeastwestseries.com/Connect with Thomas Thorogood (The Stir and Fry Podcast):YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCleEvOcQVTb5y2CeIixj0Gg/videosInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thorogood.thomasPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ThomasThorogoodCopyright Disclaimer: under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, allowance is made for 'exceptions to copyright' such as criticism, review, quotation, news reporting, caricature, parody, or pastiche.I believe that the use of content in this video/thumbnail is fair use. If any content owners would like to dispute this, I will be glad to immediately remove the content in question. I do not wish to infringe on anyone's content ownership.
- 2 weeks ago36 min
From Heretic to Orthodox: Everything I Thought About Christianity Was Wrong
Why would a philosopher become Orthodox?In this deeply personal episode, Nathan Jacobs shares the story of his journey from a Lutheran upbringing, through philosophy, skepticism, art, and years of intellectual searching, to discovering the Eastern Church Fathers and ultimately embracing Eastern Orthodoxy.This is not simply a conversion story—it is an account of how questions about truth, God, beauty, morality, and the nature of reality led to the Orthodox Church. Along the way, Nathan reflects on his spiritual awakening, his study of philosophy and theology, his encounter with the Church Fathers, and the profound impact of experiencing the Divine Liturgy for the first time.If you’re exploring Orthodoxy, interested in philosophy, or wondering why so many scholars and thinkers are finding their way to the ancient Christian faith, this conversation is for you.======================================Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:29 Turning East and My Story01:33 Growing Up Lutheran07:56 A Spiritual Awakening17:17 Studying Philosophy and Christianity27:42 Discovering Process Philosophy45:09 Encountering the Eastern Church Fathers01:16:45 My First Orthodox Church Experience01:23:15 Entering the Orthodox Church======================================Do you like this content? Join Jacobs Premium to get exclusive access to essays, lecture series, monthly Q&A Zoom calls, and our book club. Use code: LEWIS to get a discount: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/Support the East West Series: http://theeastwestseries.com/======================================All links:The Theological Letters (Substack): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastX: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobsAcademia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobsListen and please review the podcast elsewhere:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast
- 3 weeks ago43 min
Do the Church Fathers Reject Evolution?
Is the theory of evolution truly incompatible with Christianity? Many assume the Church Fathers rejected evolution outright — but is that what they actually taught?In this episode, Nathan Jacobs examines the writings of the Eastern Church Fathers on creation, death, Genesis, and the age of the earth. Rather than asking whether evolution is scientifically true, this discussion explores whether Orthodox Christianity actually requires Christians to reject it.Drawing from figures such as St. John of Damascus, St. Irenaeus, St. Basil the Great, and other early Christian writers, Nathan explores what the Fathers believed about creation, corruption, the Fall, the image of God, and the purpose of humanity.If you’ve ever wondered whether evolution and Orthodox Christianity must be in conflict, this discussion offers a historical and theological perspective that is often missing from the conversation.======================================Timestamps:00:00 Why Evolution and Christianity Are Seen as Opposed01:19 The Two Biggest Objections to Evolution04:09 Why the Eastern Church Fathers Matter05:41 What “Death” Really Means10:41 Was Death Present Before the Fall?13:28 Are Animals Naturally Mortal?22:15 Did Animal Death Exist Before Adam?27:14 The Age of the Earth31:13 Are the Days of Genesis Literal?37:15 What the Church Fathers Actually Believed40:57 Final Thoughts ======================================Do you like this content? Join Jacobs Premium to get exclusive access to essays, lecture series, monthly Q&A Zoom calls, and our book club. Use code: LEWIS to get a discount: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/Support the East West Series: http://theeastwestseries.com/======================================Relevant Links:Essence-Energies Episode: https://youtu.be/lO1rAzvK3lQRessurection Episode: https://youtu.be/Pwgm-7d2O2kDo All Dogs Go to Heaven? https://youtu.be/HlAk0Jm8xd4?si=BwTMvHqJ5ye3PXmKWhy Do Christians Worship on Sunday? https://youtu.be/0wCnpitmfZg?si=7UUKhaIMZK1YSQHF Substack on EvolutionPart 1: https://theologicalletters.com/p/an-eastern-perspective-on-the-creation Part 2: https://theologicalletters.com/p/an-eastern-perspective-on-the-creation-fd5All links:The Theological Letters (Substack): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastX: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobsAcademia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobsListen and please review the podcast elsewhere:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast
- Jun 25, 202638 min
Are Icons Idolatry?
Are the icons actually idols that violate the biblical prohibition on images? In this episode, Jacobs explores the historical debate surrounding this practice, highlighting how John of Damascus defended the use of images based on the Incarnation, along with his distinction between venerating holy objects and worshiping them. Finally, we look at whether these iconic practices were later deviations or deeply rooted within early Christianity.======================================Do you like this content? Join Jacobs Premium to get exclusive access to essays, lecture series, monthly Q&A Zoom calls, and our book club. Use code: LEWIS to get a discount: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/Support the East West Series: http://theeastwestseries.com/======================================Relevant Links:Essence-Energies Episode: https://youtu.be/lO1rAzvK3lQRessurection Episode: https://youtu.be/Pwgm-7d2O2kArticles on John of Damascus:https://www.academia.edu/41586795/John_of_Damascushttps://www.academia.edu/41586562/John_of_Damascus_and_His_Defense_of_IconsLetter on Early Christianity and Icons: https://theologicalletters.com/p/were-the-earliest-christians-iconoclasts?utm_source=publication-searchAll links:The Theological Letters (Substack): https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenathanjacobspodcastX: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathanandrewjacobsAcademia: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/NathanAJacobsListen and please review the podcast elsewhere:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nathan-jacobs-podcast
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A philosophy podcast exploring the issues of today.
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