The Belfast Podcast

Luke Byler

A podcast from two guys who love C.S. Lewis and are on their journey with his writing, scripture, and many other thinkers as they rebuild their faith.

  1. JAN 13

    How George R.R. Martin is the Anti-Tolkien | Tolkien vs Martin 2

    George R.R. Martin has said that, as much as he respects Tolkien for basically creating the modern Epic Fantasy Genre, he has intentionally done things that go against his way of storytelling. Why? Because they do not fit his philosophy. With help from Inspiring Philosophy's video "The Philosophy of Tolkien," Daniel wants to go on, using Martin's own words, to further describe the distance between these two authors. Watch IP's Video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeF6lomaU3I&t=449s Follow us on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-belfast-podcast/id1472441982 Follow us on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1s3aaP3pUkQKBVXbsP8Y34?si=ca588a6165424c61 Instagram: @thebelfastpodcast Email: belfastpodcast@gmail.com The Belfast Podcast exists to help recapture the Christian imagination. Luke and Daniel see the trend of modernism doing no favors for a vibrant view of scripture. Our goal is to widen the field of vision for modern people reading the Bible as we grapple with its ancient context, literary beauty, and symbolic underpinnings. You may have been taught to read texts with an eye for their literary and symbolic structures in English courses in high school and/or college, but rarely is this taught to seminary students or lay Christians alike when it comes to the Bible. We want to keep this eye for symbolism, repetition, and structure as we investigate the Biblical canon, linking it to modern and old examples that are extemporaneous yet connected to aid in giving the broader field of vision mentioned earlier. Come along with us on our journey to reread your bible for the first time. We hope that through the words of those who have come before us, we can give Western Christianity its imagination back.

    51 min
  2. JAN 13

    Tolkien's Complex Ethics | Good Versus Evil in The Lord of the Rings | Tolkien VS Martin 1

    At the start of a new series, Daniel will be exploring the work of two prolific Fantasy writers: 1. JRR Tolkien. 2. George RR Martin. Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings have had a distinct cultural impact, but they also offer a window into the worldviews of the men who wrote them. This is what Daniel wants to explore. On the surface, GOT and LOTR may look quite similar, but that's due to an inability to see. Daniel's central question: How does the philosophy of two very different men produce vastly different worlds? Follow us on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-belfast-podcast/id1472441982 Follow us on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1s3aaP3pUkQKBVXbsP8Y34?si=ca588a6165424c61 Instagram: @thebelfastpodcast Email: belfastpodcast@gmail.com The Belfast Podcast exists to help recapture the Christian imagination. Luke and Daniel see the trend of modernism doing no favors for a vibrant view of scripture. Our goal is to widen the field of vision for modern people reading the Bible as we grapple with its ancient context, literary beauty, and symbolic underpinnings. You may have been taught to read texts with an eye for their literary and symbolic structures in English courses in high school and/or college, but rarely is this taught to seminary students or lay Christians alike when it comes to the Bible. We want to keep this eye for symbolism, repetition, and structure as we investigate the Biblical canon, linking it to modern and old examples that are extemporaneous yet connected to aid in giving the broader field of vision mentioned earlier. Come along with us on our journey to reread your bible for the first time. We hope that through the words of those who have come before us, we can give Western Christianity its imagination back.

    39 min
  3. JAN 13

    Gerwig's Narnia Adaptation Does NOT look Good

    As more details are coming out regarding Greta Gerwig's adaptation of Narnia for Netflix, it continues to look like a very different story from the one Lewis told. Here, Daniel outlines more reasons to be nervous about this modern take on a classic children's tale. Follow us on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-belfast-podcast/id1472441982 Follow us on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1s3aaP3pUkQKBVXbsP8Y34?si=ca588a6165424c61 Instagram: @thebelfastpodcast Email: belfastpodcast@gmail.com The Belfast Podcast exists to help recapture the Christian imagination. Luke and Daniel see the trend of modernism doing no favors for a vibrant view of scripture. Our goal is to widen the field of vision for modern people reading the Bible as we grapple with its ancient context, literary beauty, and symbolic underpinnings. You may have been taught to read texts with an eye for their literary and symbolic structures in English courses in high school and/or college, but rarely is this taught to seminary students or lay Christians alike when it comes to the Bible. We want to keep this eye for symbolism, repetition, and structure as we investigate the Biblical canon, linking it to modern and old examples that are extemporaneous yet connected to aid in giving the broader field of vision mentioned earlier. Come along with us on our journey to reread your bible for the first time. We hope that through the words of those who have come before us, we can give Western Christianity its imagination back.

    17 min
  4. JAN 13

    5 Ways Greta Gerwig Could RUIN Narnia

    As a fan of Lewis, and especially in understanding the story of fairy tales, it is hard to say how important something like Narnia can be. In this episode, Daniel explores 5 reasons he sees as possible for Gerwig to fail in her adaptation of Narnia. Follow us on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-belfast-podcast/id1472441982 Follow us on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1s3aaP3pUkQKBVXbsP8Y34?si=ca588a6165424c61 Instagram: @thebelfastpodcast Email: belfastpodcast@gmail.com The Belfast Podcast exists to help recapture the Christian imagination. Luke and Daniel see the trend of modernism doing no favors for a vibrant view of scripture. Our goal is to widen the field of vision for modern people reading the Bible as we grapple with its ancient context, literary beauty, and symbolic underpinnings. You may have been taught to read texts with an eye for their literary and symbolic structures in English courses in high school and/or college, but rarely is this taught to seminary students or lay Christians alike when it comes to the Bible. We want to keep this eye for symbolism, repetition, and structure as we investigate the Biblical canon, linking it to modern and old examples that are extemporaneous yet connected to aid in giving the broader field of vision mentioned earlier. Come along with us on our journey to reread your bible for the first time. We hope that through the words of those who have come before us, we can give Western Christianity its imagination back.

    18 min
  5. JAN 13

    Does "The Chosen" Make Jesus too Human? | The Belfast Podcast Ep. 92

    In the second episode, reacting to the Peterson/Jenkins conversation, Daniel honed in on how the show depicts Jesus. Jenkins gives his philosophy of art and filmmaking and how he is attempting to "take Jesus down from the stained glass." Daniel argues that Dallas is actually updating the stained glass we have put Jesus on. Watch the full conversation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hI9X0fFEE8I Follow us on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-belfast-podcast/id1472441982 Follow us on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1s3aaP3pUkQKBVXbsP8Y34?si=ca588a6165424c61 Instagram: @thebelfastpodcast Email: belfastpodcast@gmail.com The Belfast Podcast exists to help recapture the Christian imagination. Luke and Daniel see the trend of modernism doing no favors for a vibrant view of scripture. Our goal is to widen the field of vision for modern people reading the Bible as we grapple with its ancient context, literary beauty, and symbolic underpinnings. You may have been taught to read texts with an eye for their literary and symbolic structures in English courses in high school and/or college, but rarely is this taught to seminary students or lay Christians alike when it comes to the Bible. We want to keep this eye for symbolism, repetition, and structure as we investigate the Biblical canon, linking it to modern and old examples that are extemporaneous yet connected to aid in giving the broader field of vision mentioned earlier. Come along with us on our journey to reread your bible for the first time. We hope that through the words of those who have come before us, we can give Western Christianity its imagination back.

    50 min
  6. 07/27/2025

    Is "The Chosen" Christian Propaganda? | The Belfast Podcast Ep. 91

    Some Christians call "The Chosen" the best show about Jesus. Others claim it is heretical and needs to be avoided. But many of these conversations miss the kind of art "The Chosen" is aiming at being. In this two-part series, Daniel will explore whether the show is propaganda and whether we can call it something approaching neo-iconography. We will do this through the lens of Jordan Peterson's conversation with Dallas Jenkins. Watch the full conversation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hI9X0fFEE8I Follow us on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-belfast-podcast/id1472441982 Follow us on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1s3aaP3pUkQKBVXbsP8Y34?si=ca588a6165424c61 Instagram: @thebelfastpodcast Email: belfastpodcast@gmail.com The Belfast Podcast exists to help recapture the Christian imagination. Luke and Daniel see the trend of modernism doing no favors for a vibrant view of scripture. Our goal is to widen the field of vision for modern people reading the Bible as we grapple with its ancient context, literary beauty, and symbolic underpinnings. You may have been taught to read texts with an eye for their literary and symbolic structures in English courses in high school and/or college, but rarely is this taught to seminary students or lay Christians alike when it comes to the Bible. We want to keep this eye for symbolism, repetition, and structure as we investigate the Biblical canon, linking it to modern and old examples that are extemporaneous yet connected to aid in giving the broader field of vision mentioned earlier. Come along with us on our journey to reread your bible for the first time. We hope that through the words of those who have come before us, we can give Western Christianity its imagination back.

    46 min
  7. 05/12/2025

    The Bible is like a Fairy Tale | Reacting to Jonathan Pageau on Fairy Tales | Genesis Series Ep. 12

    It may seem crazy to compare fairy tales, which we know are old and made up, to something so true as the Bible, but that depends on what you mean by true. In Pageau's talk "Fairy Tales as the Music of the Spheres," he attempts to show us how there are patterns here that tell us something not just true, but about how the world actually works. Daniel uses this setting to explore how this way of thinking can affect how we view the scriptures, especially its opening pages. Watch the full talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKJuKPB7WYg Follow us on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-belfast-podcast/id1472441982 Follow us on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1s3aaP3pUkQKBVXbsP8Y34?si=ca588a6165424c61 Instagram: @thebelfastpodcast Email: belfastpodcast@gmail.com The Belfast Podcast exists to help recapture the Christian imagination. Luke and Daniel see the trend of modernism doing no favors for a vibrant view of scripture. Our goal is to widen the field of vision for modern people reading the Bible as we grapple with its ancient context, literary beauty, and symbolic underpinnings. You may have been taught to read texts with an eye for their literary and symbolic structures in English courses in high school and/or college, but rarely is this taught to seminary students or lay Christians alike when it comes to the Bible. We want to keep this eye for symbolism, repetition, and structure as we investigate the Biblical canon, linking it to modern and old examples that are extemporaneous yet connected to aid in giving the broader field of vision mentioned earlier. Come along with us on our journey to reread your bible for the first time. We hope that through the words of those who have come before us, we can give Western Christianity its imagination back.

    43 min
5
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

A podcast from two guys who love C.S. Lewis and are on their journey with his writing, scripture, and many other thinkers as they rebuild their faith.