The Circle Dwellers Podcast

Life Mission Fellowship
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  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

A podcast about living out the Gospel in an intentional Christian community. We are Life Mission Fellowship--a Protestant monastic order completely dedicated to Christ, His work, and His people. This is a podcast dedicated to the ins-and-outs of living the Benedict Option. You can learn more about us at https://life-mission.org

  1. 6d ago

    Don't watch sports

    In this episode of the Circle Dwellers podcast, the hosts unpack Johan Kurtz’s provocative Substack essay arguing that modern sports spectatorship is spiritually corrosive—like pornography, a hollow simulation that satisfies the craving for play and vigor without building real strength, virtue, or community. Drawing on the historic Western tradition in which physical excellence trained citizens for adversity, forged civic bonds, and honored the body as God’s temple, they contrast today’s rootless professional leagues and parasocial fandom with the genuine call for Christians to reject voyeuristic consumerism and instead cultivate embodied excellence through sports they actually practice, especially combat disciplines. Ideal for pastors and lay believers weary of a shallow gospel reduced to individual “salvation,” this conversation points toward a thicker vision of the church as a new family and of practical Christian living rooted in nobility, place, and the pursuit of holiness in body and soul.

  2. Aug 14

    Episode 42 - The Theology of Fan Culture

    What does it mean to be a fan as a Christian? In this episode of the Circle Dwellers podcast, we develop a theology of fan culture and explore how modern fandoms—from Harry Potter, Star Wars, Star Trek, Warhammer 40K, and Breaking Bad to sports teams, online influencers, and internet personalities—can subtly become substitute loyalties that compete with our devotion to Christ and His Church. We discuss why fan culture has exploded in the age of social media, how stories shape our hearts through symbolic patterns, and why Christians shouldn't consume entertainment passively. Instead, we argue that believers should learn to discern what is true, good, and beautiful in the stories they love while rejecting the patterns that form them away from the Kingdom of God. Along the way we examine Christian discipleship, intentional community, media literacy, liturgy, Marshall McLuhan, Charles Finney, loyalty, identity, storytelling, and the challenge of raising Christians who love great stories without making them into idols. If you've ever wondered whether your hobbies, favorite franchises, or online communities are drawing you closer to God or quietly replacing the role of the Church as your primary family and loyalty, this conversation offers a thoughtful, practical framework for engaging culture without being conformed to it.

  3. Jun 20

    Episode 41 - This is why you can't concentrate

    Why can’t you concentrate anymore? Is social media, smartphones, and digital technology actually changing the way we think? In this episode of the Circle Dwellers podcast, we explore the surprising ideas of Marshall McLuhan, media theory, literacy, attention spans, and the transition from a print-based culture to a digital one. We discuss why reading books feels different from scrolling Twitter, how the internet fragments our attention, why long-form reasoning is becoming more difficult, and what happens to a society when it trades deep reading for a constant stream of disconnected information. Along the way we examine Christian perspectives on technology, the rise of podcasts, the return of oral culture, re-enchantment, symbolic thinking, and the ways modern media shapes our understanding of truth, community, faith, and reality itself. If you struggle with focus, distraction, doomscrolling, information overload, digital addiction, or the challenge of cultivating a deeper relationship with God in the age of smartphones, this conversation will help you understand not only why concentration is so difficult today, but what our changing media environment is doing to the human mind and soul.

  4. Jun 12

    Episode 40 - Everyone hated my AI art post

    Everyone hated my AI art post. Why are conversations about AI art so toxic? In this episode of the Circle Dwellers podcast, we unpack a heated online debate sparked by an AI-generated image and explore the deeper questions lurking beneath the internet outrage. Why do discussions about AI art, creativity, artists' rights, technology, and the future of human work become so emotionally charged? Are critics worried about copyright, the loss of craftsmanship, economic displacement, or something even deeper about what it means to be human? We examine the philosophical, ethical, and cultural tensions surrounding artificial intelligence, artistic creation, automation, and technological progress, while reflecting on how social media amplifies conflict and misunderstanding. Whether you're an artist, writer, designer, AI enthusiast, Christian thinker, or simply curious about the future of creativity, this conversation offers a thoughtful look at the AI art controversy and the questions it raises about meaning, beauty, vocation, human uniqueness, and the rapidly changing relationship between technology and culture.

  5. Jun 5

    Episode 39 - The weird idea to turn churches into data centers

    What happens when churches become data centers? In this episode of the Circle Dwellers podcast, we explore a fascinating and controversial proposal: using church buildings to host AI infrastructure and data centers in order to shape the future of artificial intelligence through institutions with moral and spiritual depth. Drawing on a proposal known as the “Parish Grid,” we discuss AI ethics, the meaning crisis in the modern West, the decline of the Church of England, the philosophy of technology, and whether Christian communities have a role to play in guiding the development of powerful new technologies. Along the way we examine the ideas of Marshall McLuhan, Jordan Hall, C.S. Lewis, transhumanism, Silicon Valley culture, and the question of whether technology can ever be separated from the worldview of the people who build it. Can the church help humanity navigate the AI revolution, or is this just another unrealistic techno-utopian dream? If you're interested in Christianity, artificial intelligence, discipleship, technology, culture, theology, Christian community, and the future of the church in an increasingly digital world, this thought-provoking conversation will challenge the way you think about both faith and technology.

  6. May 22

    Episode 38 - When is AI slop NOT slop? The sorites paradox explained

    In this episode of the Circle Dwellers podcast, we explore the Sorites Paradox — the ancient philosophical question of when a heap becomes a heap — and apply it to one of the most controversial modern topics: AI-generated art and “AI slop.” When does using AI cross the line from a helpful creative tool into soulless content generation? Is using AI for one sentence, one texture, or one leaf in a painting enough to “taint” an entire work? We dive deep into the philosophy of art, creativity, technology, commercialism, and the future of human expression in the age of artificial intelligence. Along the way we discuss AI ethics, digital art, ChatGPT, Midjourney, creativity, Christian perspectives on technology, the difference between tools that enhance craftsmanship versus tools that replace it, and why modern artists, writers, and creators are wrestling with fear, excitement, and confusion over AI. If you are interested in philosophy, theology, AI art debates, creativity, storytelling, culture, or the future of human-made art in a world flooded with generated content, this conversation will challenge the simplistic narratives surrounding artificial intelligence and creativity.

  7. May 15

    Episode 37 - The Heresy destroying the American church

    If you’ve felt frustrated with shallow “churchianity,” self-help sermons, or a version of Christianity that seems more focused on personal happiness than obedience to God, this conversation is for you. In this episode of the Circle Dwellers podcast, we break down the modern heresy of “Moralistic Therapeutic Deism” — the belief that God merely wants us to be nice, feel good about ourselves, and call on Him only when life goes wrong. We examine how this counterfeit gospel has quietly shaped the American church, distorted biblical Christianity, weakened discipleship, and replaced repentance with self-centered spirituality. Drawing from Scripture, church history, C.S. Lewis, Charles Finney, and real conversations about faith, suffering, repentance, free will, and the true Gospel, we explore what it actually means to follow Jesus, become part of the people of God, and live as the family of God in a culture obsessed with comfort and individualism. If you are searching for authentic Christianity, deeper discipleship, spiritual formation, Christian community, or a real relationship with God beyond modern evangelical consumerism, this episode will challenge and encourage you.

  8. Apr 17

    Episode 36 - A Baptist writes Arthurian fantasy - Interview with AB Timothy

    What happens when a Baptist writer takes on Arthurian legend and medieval chivalry? In this episode of the Circle Dwellers podcast, Matt and Tim Krell sit down with author A.B. Timothy to discuss his work in Arthurian fantasy, Christian storytelling, and the recovery of myth, virtue, and imagination in modern fiction. Together they explore how the legends of King Arthur, knights, and chivalry still speak to today’s spiritual hunger, why Christians should care about fantasy literature, and how storytelling can shape moral vision and discipleship. The conversation dives into the tension between modern evangelical culture and historic Christian imagination, the role of beauty and narrative in forming the soul, and what it means to write fiction that is both theologically grounded and artistically compelling. If you love Christian fantasy, medieval themes, or want to understand how stories can deepen your walk with God, this interview offers rich insight and inspiration.

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About

A podcast about living out the Gospel in an intentional Christian community. We are Life Mission Fellowship--a Protestant monastic order completely dedicated to Christ, His work, and His people. This is a podcast dedicated to the ins-and-outs of living the Benedict Option. You can learn more about us at https://life-mission.org

Information

  • Creator
    Life Mission Fellowship
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    47
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Life Mission Fellowship
  • Show Website
    The Circle Dwellers Podcast