Think for Christ

Dr. Anthony Alberino and Dr. Andrew Payne

Think for Christ is a channel dedicated to the nurturing of the Christian mind. Join Anthony Alberino and Andrew Payne as they seek to motivate deep thinking about God and his creation through an exploration of theology, philosophy, and apologetics. Think for Christ is a place where believers are encouraged to think deeply, and a place where deeply thinking believers are encouraged.

  1. God's Goodness

    JAN 28

    God's Goodness

    Is God good because He follows moral rules—or is He goodness itself? All Christians confess that God is good. But what does that actually mean? In this episode, Anthony Alberino challenges the modern assumption that divine goodness is simply maximal moral perfection and show why that view leads straight into a classic philosophical dilemma. Drawing from Aristotle, Aquinas, and the classical Christian tradition, this episode argues that God’s goodness is not a moral property He possesses, but something far deeper: God is Goodness Itself. We explore: Why the modern “moral perfection” view of God collapses into an Euthyphro-style dilemmaThe classical metaphysical account of goodness as teleological, perfective, and convertible with beingWhy goodness is not primarily moral, but ontologicalHow perfection, actuality, and existence ground all goodnessWhy evil is not a thing, but a privation of due goodHow moral goodness depends on a deeper metaphysical structureWhy God must be infinitely good—not by character, but by natureHow God, as Goodness Itself, is the Final Cause and ultimate end of all desire This episode shows why, on the classical view, God cannot fail to be good—not because He conforms to a moral standard, but because being itself is good, and God is Being Itself. If you’ve ever wondered how classical theology understands goodness, perfection, evil, desire, and God’s ultimacy, this episode lays the metaphysical groundwork. Key topics & thinkers: Divine Goodness • God and Morality • Euthyphro Dilemma • Aristotle • Aquinas • Classical Theism • Metaphysics of Goodness • Act and Potency • Being and Goodness • Evil as Privation • Teleology • Final Cause • God as the Good

    16 min
  2. The Democratization of Information and the Crisis of Discernment

    JAN 12

    The Democratization of Information and the Crisis of Discernment

    We live in an age of unprecedented information abundance. Knowledge is instant, unlimited, and available to everyone. And yet, confusion, fragmentation, and distrust have never been greater. In this episode, The Democratization of Information and the Crisis of Discernment, Anthony Aberino argues that information abundance without intellectual and moral formation accelerates epistemic and ethical chaos. When education is reduced to information transfer and skills training, and when digital platforms dissolve traditional epistemic hierarchies, access to information no longer leads to understanding or wisdom. This episode examines how the collapse of educational formation and the democratization of information have given rise to the internet autodidact, the erosion of institutional trust, and a culture of false confidence. Drawing on classical philosophy and the liberal arts tradition, the modern utilitarian view of education is contrasted with the classical understanding of education as the formation of the intellect and the will. This is not simply a problem of misinformation or fake news. It is a crisis of discernment. Topics include: Information abundance vs. intellectual formationThe collapse of epistemic hierarchy in the digital ageThe rise of the internet autodidactClassical educationThe Trivium, and liberal learningWhy information without formation does not liberate—but deforms Subscribe for long-form reflections on philosophy, education, and the cultural consequences of the Digital Age.

    17 min
  3. It's a Conspiracy! Conspiratorial Thinking and the Digital Environment

    12/04/2025

    It's a Conspiracy! Conspiratorial Thinking and the Digital Environment

    In this episode, we dive deep into one of the most striking features of our cultural moment: the explosive rise of conspiracy thinking—and why the digital environment is the perfect greenhouse for its growth. The internet doesn’t just expose us to conspiracy theories. It disposes us toward conspiratorial thinking. From the Charlie Kirk assassination narrative to the viral success of commentators like Candice Owens, it’s clear that conspiratorial frameworks resonate powerfully in today’s networked world. But the real question is why. I argue that the structure of the digital environment itself is subtly reshaping our cognitive habits. The constant flood of chaotic, unfiltered information pressures us to seek coherence. And the most natural, efficient organizing tool we have is narrative. But when narrative begins to substitute for evidence—when coherence replaces correspondence—we fall into what I call narrativism: the intellectual vice of mistaking a compelling story for a justified explanation. In this episode, we explore: Why humans, overwhelmed by digital information overload, instinctively rely on narrative How narrativism turns conspiracy theories into cognitively “easy” explanationsWhy the internet provides endless raw material for increasingly complex, seductive conspiraciesHow algorithms reward dramatic, agent-centered content over careful reasoningWhy our feeds create the illusion of meaningful patterns that don’t actually existHow the “information superhighway” has fractured rather than unified our understanding of reality Imagine looking at the night sky with the naked eye—you can draw a few simple constellations. Now imagine looking through the Hubble Telescope. The more points of light you see, the more elaborate your constellations become. That’s the digital environment: an infinite starfield of data encouraging ever more intricate, and often illusory, explanations. This episode examines how digital technology subtly cultivates the intellectual conditions for conspiracy thinking, not just by offering access to theories but by habituating our minds toward patterns of thought that make conspiratorial narratives feel intuitive, emotionally satisfying, and rationally compelling—even when they aren’t. If you’re interested in the intersection of technology, psychology, philosophy, and culture, this is an episode worth your time. 👍 If you find this helpful, hit Like and Subscribe. 🧠 Share your thoughts below: Has digital technology changed the way you interpret information?

    16 min
5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Think for Christ is a channel dedicated to the nurturing of the Christian mind. Join Anthony Alberino and Andrew Payne as they seek to motivate deep thinking about God and his creation through an exploration of theology, philosophy, and apologetics. Think for Christ is a place where believers are encouraged to think deeply, and a place where deeply thinking believers are encouraged.