Paradise and Utopia Fr. John Strickland and Ancient Faith Radio
-
- Religion & Spirituality
-
A series of twenty reflections on the history of Christian civilization, or Christendom. The entire podcast is organized around the theme of "paradise and utopia"—that is, of the civilization's orientation toward the kingdom of heaven when traditional Christianity was influential, and of its "disorientation" toward the fallen world in the wake of traditional Christianity's decline in the west following the Great Schism.
-
Dostoevsky II: Shattering the Illusion of Utopian Rationalism
Returning to a literary career after a decade of exile, Fyodor Dostoevsky confronted one of the great delusions of secular humanism: that man is ultimately a rational being whose happiness depends on the exercise of self-interest. Characters in his novels The Idiot and Demons were designed to demonstrate that nihilistic self-destruction is the only outcome of such convictions. Father John concludes the episode by showing how nihilism played itself out in the fictional moral collapse of Dostoevsky's protagonist Raskolnikov and the real-life moral collapse of Friedrich Nietzsche.
-
Dostoevsky I: A Believer among Atheists
In this summary of the second chapter of his book, The Age of Nihilism, Fr. John discusses the early life and faith and incarceration of Russia's great novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky. Unlike his contemporaries--particularly Nietzsche--the novelist found in traditional Christianity the only hope for a Christendom living under the terrible specter of nihilism.
-
The Making of an Antichrist IV: “Behold the Man”
In this final presentation on the nihilistic philosophy of Nietzsche, Fr. John considers the philosopher's final work, an autobiography entitled Ecce Homo. The book's strange title is discussed in light of Nietzsche's claim to be the West's alternative to Christ. The episode ends with a spiritual and psychological reflection on why, having completed the work, Nietzsche went totally insane.
-
The Making of an Antichrist III: An Anti-Gospel
In his continued account of Friedrich Nietzsche, Fr. John discusses the megalomaniac philosopher's effort to replace the Gospel with an atheistic "transvaluation of all values."
-
The Making of an Antichrist II: Unmasking Secular Humanism
Friedrich Nietzsche is in many ways the father of modern nihilism. In this episode, Fr. John describes the philosopher's relationship to the atheism of contemporary utopian Christendom, and how the music of Richard Wagner played a role in leading him toward nihilism. As with previous episodes, this one introduces the listener to some music that is both beautiful and historically important.
-
The Making of an Antichrist I: “Whoever Fears the Tip of My Spear . . .”
In this episode, Fr. John begins an account of Friedrich Nietzsche by discussing Richard Wagner, a direct influence on the philosopher whose infidelity with women and famous operatic work, The Ring of the Nibelung, helped inspire the coming age of nihilism.
Customer Reviews
Historical fluency achieved
In depth-intelligent exposition on the history of the faith we have inherited.
A Worthy Meta Narrative
It seems to me that we all carry meta narratives around with us but often we do so unconsciously and do not have careful justification for them.
Fr. John has here articulated his own with clarity and voluminous support. There are those who nitpick at this work by saying “its more complicated than that.” I challenge those critics. The only legitimate critique of a meta narrative is to create a better one. Hearing none I provisionally accept this.
When people ask what state Christendom is in and how did it get here and where should it go…this podcast provides a framework for making sense of it.
Other than the inexplicable fascination with romantic music which is regularly inserted into discussions to no apparent benefit I have nothing but praise for this massive effort.
Fr. John “Thank you!”
Thank you
Father John, thank you for this podcast. It is the second Orthodox podcast series on Christian history I will listen to as I journey home. I may elaborate here once finished. I found one flaw in the 2nd or 3rd episode, a clipping of your voice which made it difficult at times to clearly hear important words. It would be best to rerecord that one. Later… no further voice clipping. I’m learning so much from your very clear teaching. Thank you very much!
Update 10/10/22:
I just finished all of the available episodes and have been profoundly helped spiritually. Thank you!
I just wish you had been able to delve as deeply into the later episodes as the earlier ones. And of course that you had been able to finish. I’m hungry for more so just contacted you via your website to ask when that might occur. I can’t thank you enough for all of this and so hope to someday read these books and glean that much more. Meanwhile I’m going to start over now to absorb and integrate these more deeply. Thanks again and God bless you!