The State of University Address

January 30, 2022

I’m going to change it up a little in the New Year. More to come on what to expect from Spencer Hess, an interviewee and a new contributor to this channel! https://pmaurin.org

On this video: Hauerwas writes about the state of universities and liberal arts colleges, particularly but not exclusively religious colleges. Many of the problems he sees and the aspirations he holds dear can be applied to any modern university or college. I trace key elements of Hauerwas’s argument and sift them through my own perspective as an educator. Universities are not in good shape and do not seem to be poised for a positive turn. What is the point of higher education ideally and really? … More The State of University Address

Political and Religious Virtue: Really?

January 23, 2022

auerwas deals skeptically with both political and religious virtue, but holds out hope for a type of political virtue within church. His treatment in Christian Existence Today is a bit cursory, but it’s thought provoking. The second half of this video deals with the problems of community and political virtue in church. Hint: it doesn’t mean joining team red or blue. … More Political and Religious Virtue: Really?

Why Not School Prayer? Hauerwas’s Christian Critique of Christian America

January 10, 2022

In his book Christian Existence Today, “A Christian Critique of Christian America,” Stanley Hauerwas takes on American civil religion. Understanding why most Christian positions toward the state aren’t good enough will help us determine what Christianity might look like if we stopped pursuing it through the state, ideologies and politics. … More Why Not School Prayer? Hauerwas’s Christian Critique of Christian America

Introduction to Stanley Hauerwas

January 2, 2022

ell known for his critique of liberal ideology and his defense of the church as its own community that should be something different than “the world.” His thought lends itself to communitarianism and challenges the growth of Christian Nationalism and Constantinianism in our day. This video introduces Hauerwas’s life and some of his big ideas and is the beginning of a series derived from two of his books: A Community of Character: Toward a Constructive Christian Social Ethic, and Christian Existence Today: Essays on Church, World, and Living In-Between. … More Introduction to Stanley Hauerwas

Be Humble–Living “In-Between”

December 26, 2021

daunting prospect for many and for many reasons. Coming off of a series on Edmund Burke, I reflect on the value of humility as a source of strength for individuals as well as for societies as we move into increasing challenges on many fronts. The book I will be getting into next is Stanley Hauerwas, Christian Existence Today: Essays on Church World, and Living In-Between. … More Be Humble–Living “In-Between”

Consider: Receiving is Giving. Real Generosity is Rejecting Transactionalism

December 18, 2021

all of them good for either the giver or receiver. This video focuses on how to be a good receiver, preferably not of Christmas largesse but of giving on a daily basis. To encourage generosity in others, being a positive receiver is necessary. Receiving without guilt and without giving a guilt trip is a way that you can move beyond the liberal capitalist transactional framework in your own life. This is not as easy as it sounds, as you will run very interesting feelings and resistances that will illuminate how messed up our world currently is when it comes to sharing and caring for each other. … More Consider: Receiving is Giving. Real Generosity is Rejecting Transactionalism

Edmund Burke vs. US Conservatives. Reading From My Latest Book Project: The Gap in God’s Country

December 5, 2021

theory stream I tap into is Burkean conservatism. Because I’m doing a series on Burke right now, I thought I’d read the section from the draft introduction that has to do with classical conservatism. … More Edmund Burke vs. US Conservatives. Reading From My Latest Book Project: The Gap in God’s Country

Distributism Summer Seminar Recordings Available

November 26, 2021

If you missed the Summer 2021 Seminar on the economic philosophy of Distributism, but you want to view the videos of the five sessions, you can get the series here for $25 and gain access to all five (as well as a link to the recommended readings) for a year: https://mortckc.square.site/product/Distributism-Seminar/77?cs=true&cst=custom For more information and … More Distributism Summer Seminar Recordings Available

Ten Things to Consider (Thanksgiving Greetings ft. Zuckerberg’s Metaverse)

November 26, 2021

Do you think being grateful while eating your turkey is the best thing you could be doing today? Here are some thoughts to agitate you (and maybe get you to drink one less beer) on this US holiday. Along the way we ponder the “Metaverse” of Mark Zuckerberg’s dreams, why charity might not be the very best thing you could do, and why word vomiting on others is an activity to avoid–maybe particularly today. … More Ten Things to Consider (Thanksgiving Greetings ft. Zuckerberg’s Metaverse)