The Nathan Jacobs Podcast
A philosophy podcast exploring the issues of today. Host Nathan Jacobs engages with pressing philosophical questions and contemporary dilemmas. Each episode offers thoughtful analysis and discussion aimed at making philosophy accessible to a general audience. The show encourages listeners to think critically about the world around them.
Episodes
Why Realism Contradicts Evolution | Creationism & The Eastern Church Fathers (Part 2) | ft. Nathan Jacobs & Chris Firestone
Are the theories of modern science and Christian theology fundamentally incompatible, or are both sides missing the bigger picture? In part two of his conversation with Dr. Chris Firestone, Nathan Jacobs tackles the complex debate surrounding creation, evolution, the age of the Earth, and patristic theology. Nathan breaks down why the traditional "death before the fall" objection misses
How Could the Angels Fall? | Why Satan Turned Against God
If the angels existed in the presence of God and beheld His divine glory, how could Satan—or any angel—possibly choose to turn away from Him?We explore what the Eastern Church Fathers teach about the nature of angels, their free will, the angelic hierarchy, and the fall of Satan. Nathan examines five factors that help explain how beings created in communion with God could nevertheless rebel again
Does Science Contradict Genesis? | ft. Drs. Nathan Jacobs & Chris Firestone (Part 1)
Must a Christian reject modern science to hold a faithful view of Genesis? In Part 1 of this two-part collaborative episode, Dr. Chris Firestone (The Firestone Files) sits down with Dr. Nathan Jacobs (The Nathan Jacobs Podcast) in Nashville to tackle the contentious, heavily polemical debate surrounding creation, Young Earth Creationism, and evolution.Moving past the rigid false dichotomies often
Why Would God Create Someone He Knows Will Be Damned?
If God knows the future, why would He create someone who will ultimately reject Him?This is one of the deepest questions in Christian theology, and one that was asked by a 15-year-old Orthodox Christian. In this episode, Nathan Jacobs reads one of his favorite theological letters, exploring how the Eastern Church Fathers—especially St. John of Damascus—approach God's foreknowledge, human fr
Can the Devil Be Saved? | What the Church Fathers Actually Taught
Can the devil be saved?While many Christians assume the answer is obvious, the Eastern Church Fathers offer a far more nuanced discussion than most people realize. In this episode, Nathan Jacobs explores the five major positions found within the Christian East on whether Satan and the fallen angels can ultimately be redeemed—and what these views reveal about God's goodness, providence, and t
The REAL Reason Movies Go Wrong
Thomas Thorogood interviews Dr Nathan Jacobs about his work on the Amazon series 'House of David', the principles of writing a good story, the role of storytelling in theology and some mind-bending quick-fire questions.More from Nathan Jacobs...The Nathan Jacobs Podcast on YouTube: / @thenathanjacobspodcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUt...Apple Podcast: https://podcasts
Why I Reject Evolution | An Orthodox Christian Perspective
In my previous episode, I explored whether the Eastern Church Fathers actually reject the theory of evolution. In this follow-up, I answer a different question entirely: Do I reject evolution—and if so, why?Rather than appealing to the age of the earth or death before the Fall, this discussion examines the philosophical foundations of evolution through the lens of realism, a metaphysical framework
Can You Trust Your Mind | Thomas Thorogood Clip
Can we trust our minds to know reality?This clip is taken from Nathan Jacobs' most recent interview with Thomas Thorogood and features a reaction to a discussion between Destiny and T.K. Coleman on The Minimalists podcast. Their exchange raises a profound philosophical question: what makes our reasoning faculties trustworthy in the first place?Nathan explores properly functioning faculties, De
Why I Became Orthodox (Part 2) | Discovering the Church Fathers
Part 2 of Nathan Jacobs’ journey into Eastern Orthodoxy.After years of studying philosophy and theology, Nathan began reading the Eastern Church Fathers for the first time. What hediscovered completely transformed his understanding of Christianity, leading him to explore the Orthodox Church and ultimatelyembrace the faith.In this episode, Nathan continues his personal story, explaining how the wri
He Was Making a Horror Film... Until THIS Happened
In this special collaboration episode, Thomas Thorogood sits down with Nathan Jacobs for an in-depth conversation. They dive into Nathan's experience making a horror film, the horror genre in general, Satan and demons in the Bible and church history, the nature of evil, and more.Opening music is 'Cinematic Time Lapse' by Aleksey Chistilin from Pixabay.Connect with The Nathan Jacobs Pod
From Heretic to Orthodox: Everything I Thought About Christianity Was Wrong
Why would a philosopher become Orthodox?In this deeply personal episode, Nathan Jacobs shares the story of his journey from a Lutheran upbringing, through philosophy, skepticism, art, and years of intellectual searching, to discovering the Eastern Church Fathers and ultimately embracing Eastern Orthodoxy.This is not simply a conversion story—it is an account of how questions about truth, God, beau
Do the Church Fathers Reject Evolution?
Is the theory of evolution truly incompatible with Christianity? Many assume the Church Fathers rejected evolution outright — but is that what they actually taught?In this episode, Nathan Jacobs examines the writings of the Eastern Church Fathers on creation, death, Genesis, and the age of the earth. Rather than asking whether evolution is scientifically true, this discussion explores whether Orth
Are Icons Idolatry?
Are the icons actually idols that violate the biblical prohibition on images? In this episode, Jacobs explores the historical debate surrounding this practice, highlighting how John of Damascus defended the use of images based on the Incarnation, along with his distinction between venerating holy objects and worshiping them. Finally, we look at whether these iconic practices were later deviations
From LSD to Orthodoxy: From Artist to Scholar to Filmmaker | ft. Nathan Jacobs & Chris Firestone
What happens when a profound, perspective-shifting experience forces a young artist to completely re-evaluate everything? In this deep-dive, long-form interview, Dr. Nathan Jacobs sits down with his long-time friend and mentor-turned-colleague, Dr. Chris Firestone, to unpack his journey from artist to philosopher, and ultimately to the world of filmmaking and mainstream Hollywood.=================
The Essential Doctrine the West Lost: On Divine Energies
There is an essential doctrine at the heart of historic Christianity that was famously preserved by the Eastern Church Fathers but completely lost to the Western tradition: the Essence-Energies distinction. This video traces the history of this concept, moving from its philosophical origins in Aristotle through its development in Alexandrian Judaism and into the New Testament, culminating in the C
Can the Non-Orthodox Be Saved? A Dialogue | ft. Drs. Nathan Jacobs & Chris Firestone
Our apologies to listeners for the late upload on this Tuesday episode!Is there salvation outside the boundaries of the Eastern Orthodox Church? As the internet remains ablaze with the recent theological clash between Gavin Ortlund and Jonathan Pageau over historic Orthodox exclusivity, the answer remains heavily contested. In this deep-dive dialogue, Drs. Nathan Jacobs and Chris Firestone cut thr
Resurrection Makes NO SENSE without Deification
What if everything you’ve been taught about life after death is completely wrong? The shocking truth is that without an ancient, forgotten concept known as "deification," the New Testament's entire promise of resurrection becomes totally incoherent. This episode exposes why true resurrection is not just about coming back to life, but a radical, qualitative metamorphosis achieved only by partaking
The LIE about Modern Philosophy
Welcome to a special crossover episode of the Nathan Jacobs Podcast and the Firestone Files! In this interview, Dr. Jacobs sits down with his long-time friend, colleague, and frequent co-author, Dr. Chris Firestone. For 27 years, these two have been collaborating, pushing intellectual boundaries, and challenging the status quo in the academic world. In this deep-dive conversation, they unpack a ma
Was The Virgin Mary Sinless? The Answer May Surprise Protestants
Was the Virgin Mary sinless? While the Western debate often pits Catholic dogma against Protestant literalism, the ancient Christian East offers a completely different paradigm. In this episode, we explore how the Eastern Church Fathers view Mary’s unique holiness without the Western legal concepts of merit and original sin, and how the theology of the Dormition proves she still required Christ as
The Truth About Why Christians Worship on Sundays
Dr. Nathan Jacobs examines the claim that Christians worship changed from Saturday to Sunday because of pagan influence and the Roman Emperor Constantine. Tracing the practice from the New Testament through the early Church Fathers, he explores the Christian understanding of the Lord’s Day, the resurrection of Christ, and the profound theology of the “eighth day” that shaped early Christian worshi
Can Dogs Go to Heaven? Theology Explained
In this episode, Dr. Nathan Jacobs explores the simple question: do animals merely live and die, or is there reason to think they share in something more? Drawing from Scripture, the Eastern Orthodox Church Fathers, and the Christian understanding of creation, he examines death, immortality, and humanity’s role within the cosmos, arriving at an answer that is more nuanced than many expect.Please s
God’s Omnipotence Explained: Can God Really Do Anything?
In this episode, Dr. Nathan Jacobs explores one of the most famous questions in philosophy and theology: If God is all-powerful, are there limits to what He can do? Can God create a rock so heavy that even He cannot lift it? Dr. Jacobs unpacks the classical Christian understanding of omnipotence, logic, and contradiction — drawing from thinkers like Plato, Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, and the early
Is the Universe God's Body?
In this week's episode, Dr. Nathan Jacobs explains the Eastern Church Fathers’ view on the relationship between God and the world. The key to understanding the Eastern Christian position on whether the universe, or part of the universe, is equivalent with God lies with what's called the essence-energy distinction.Please support the East West series: http://theeastwestseries.com/Leave a comment on
What is Mount Athos like during Holy Week?
Dr. Jacobs returns to the podcast with a personal update on his time away, news about the upcoming East West Series, and reflections from Holy Week, Pascha, and Bright Week on Mount Athos. In this episode, he shares stories from Vatopedi Monastery, discusses miracles, relics, and monastic life, and offers insight into how these experiences challenge modern skepticism and deepen faith.Support the E
How Humanity is Reconciled to God: Penal Substitution vs. the Early Church | with Fr. Joseph Lucas
Dr. Nathan Jacobs sits down with Fr. Joseph Lucas to discuss penal substitution atonement. The discussion examines the claim that penal substitution is the biblical and historic view of the atonement. Drawing on the writings of Cyril of Alexandria and other early Christian sources, Fr. Joseph Lucas explains how the Church Fathers understood sacrifice, sin, and the work of Christ very differently f
A Guide for Christians to Engage Non-Believers
This is part 3 of 3 talks by Dr. Nathan Jacobs about the "nones", the religiously unaffiliated, a group that has grown dramatically over the past two decades and about which Dr. Jacobs has done research, culminating into the documentary called Becoming Truly Human.Watch part 1: https://youtu.be/vun_XtxDt5E?si=8uHdje7CpTHNAa8v Watch part 2: https://youtu.be/XPlTK33zmcs?si=sY32QQCva2QGPpCK
The Religiously Unaffiliated Did Not Reject God — They Rejected Western Christianity
This is part 2 of 3 talks by Dr. Nathan Jacobs about the "nones", the religiously unaffiliated, a group that has grown dramatically over the past two decades. In this talk, Nathan Jacobs argues that many who leave are not rejecting God, per se, but a particular vision of God shaped by Western theological developments. Exploring themes like grace, freedom, divine goodness, fatalism, and anthropolog
The Modern Religious Debate Lost Its Audience
In this episode, Dr. Nathan Jacobs explores the rise of the religiously unaffiliated, a group that has grown dramatically over the past two decades. Drawing from his research, interviews, and the documentary, Becoming Truly Human, he examines the beliefs, intuitions, and spiritual instincts that shape this rapidly expanding demographic.Far from simple atheism, the world of the “nones” is complex,
Do Christians, Jews, and Muslims Worship the Same God?
What do we mean when we say "God"? This week’s episode is part 2 of tracing the concept from ancient pagan philosophy through Plato and Aristotle to uncover how modern assumptions about God emerged—and why many of them are far from obvious. This sets the stage for exploring deeper East–West differences in how God, goodness, and divine knowledge are understood. Part 1 is recapped in the f
Defining "God" | The Evolution of a Word
Contribute to the East West Lecture Series fundraiser: theeastwestseries.com In this week's episode, Dr. Jacobs looks at how the term "God" has evolved throughout Western intellectual history, from ancient Platonism through medieval scholasticism to contemporary religious pluralism. He walks through the development of divine simplicity and perfect being theology in Latin Christianity
Did Greek Philosophy Corrupt Christianity? On Greek, Jewish, and Christian Theologies
Contribute to the East West Lecture Series fundraiser: theeastwestseries.com Today, Dr. Jacobs tackles the common objection: Was ancient Christianity infiltrated by Greek philosophy, such that it required a reformation or restoration? The answer is a resounding no. Follow Dr. Jacobs as he tracks the history through Old and New Testaments, German Idealism, and of course, a little realism and nomina
That Trinity Analogy is Heresy | Nicene Trinitarianism Explained
Contribute to the East West Lecture Series fundraiser: theeastwestseries.com Dr. Jacobs delivers a lecture on Nicene Trinitarianism, examining the metaphysical foundations established by the Cappadocian Fathers at the Councils of Nicaea and Constantinople. He explains the Greek terms ousia and hypostasis, addresses common analogies and heresies, and clarifies the eternal generation of the Son and
Has Science Disproved Free Will? | A Conversation With James Joiner
Enroll in Dr. Joiner’s class: https://myprofer.com/coursesContribute to the East West Lecture Series fundraiser: theeastwestseries.com Dr. James Joiner joins us again to take a hard look at the scientific studies claiming to disprove free will and asks whether they actually hold up under scrutiny. He and Dr. Jacobs will walk through the various science experiments and their interpretations, pointi
Free Will & Moral Responsibility | A Conversation with Dr. James Joiner
Enroll in Dr. Joiner’s class: https://myprofer.com/coursesContribute to the East West Lecture Series fundraiser: theeastwestseries.com Dr. James Joiner discusses libertarian free will, contrasting it with compatibilist and determinist positions through the lens of patristic theology and developmental psychology. The conversation examines Gregory of Nyssa's theological anthropology, the concept
How the Devil Tried to Steal Christmas | The True Story of the Nativity
Contribute to the East West Lecture Series fundraiser: theeastwestseries.com Join Jacobs Premium: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/membershipThe book club (use code LEWIS): https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/offers/aLohje7p/checkoutYou're to be familiar with the popularized details of the Mary and Nativity stories—the manger, the shepherds, the star. But this week, Dr. Jacobs takes y
The Cosmic Longing of Christmas | All Creation Groans
Contribute to the East West Lecture Series fundraiser: theeastwestseries.com Join Jacobs Premium: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/membershipThe book club (use code LEWIS): https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/offers/aLohje7p/checkoutThis episode explores the Eastern patristic understanding of Christmas through the doctrines of divine energies, synergy, and man as microcosm. Drawing on Ari
The Christian East & West Divide
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Entertaining Angels | Tales of Christian Hospitality
Contribute to the East West Lecture Series fundraiser: theeastwestseries.com Join Jacobs Premium: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/membershipThe book club (use code LEWIS): https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/offers/aLohje7p/checkouthttps://www.keipirestaurant.org/first-things-foundationDr. Jacobs delivers a talk on hospitality in the ancient world, exploring three stories: Abraham entert
The Realism of Symbology | A Conversation with Jonathan Pageau
Back the East West Lecture Series: theeastwestseries.com Join Jacobs Premium: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/membershipThe book club (use code LEWIS): https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/offers/aLohje7p/checkoutDr. Jacobs is joined by guest Jonathan Pageau for an in-depth discussion on the nature of symbolic thinking and philosophical realism. They explore how symbols function in realit
The Lived Philosophy of Early Christianity | The Last Five Ecumenical Councils
Join Jacobs Premium: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/membershipThe book club (use code LEWIS): https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/offers/aLohje7p/checkoutThis is part three of our three-part series on the seven ecumenical councils, focusing on the philosophical commitments embedded in the final five councils from Ephesus to Nicaea II. We examine the Nestorian controversy and Cyril of Al
The True Christian Philosophy | The Metaphysics of the Ecumenical Councils
Join Jacobs Premium: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/membershipThe book club (use code LEWIS): https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/offers/aLohje7p/checkoutThis is part two of a three-part series examining the philosophical commitments embedded in the seven ecumenical councils of early Christianity. In this episode, Dr. Jacobs explores the metaphysical foundations of Nicene and Constantin
The Question Behind the Seven Ecumenical Councils | Who Do You Say I Am?
Join Jacobs Premium: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/membershipThe book club (use code LEWIS): https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/offers/aLohje7p/checkoutThis week we’re taking a look at the seven ecumenical councils of the early Christian church, from Nicaea (325 AD) to Nicaea II (787 AD). Dr. Jacobs traces how each council addressed Christological controversies while establishing foun
A Postscript on Slavery & Genocide | From Mosaic Law to the Church Fathers
Join Jacobs Premium: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/membershipThe book club (use code LEWIS): https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/offers/aLohje7p/checkoutThis episode concludes a four-part series examining slavery, polygamy, and genocide in biblical texts. The discussion addresses remaining questions about the moral gap between Mosaic law and early Christian teaching, arguing that Scrip
The Problem of Hell
Join Jacobs PremiumJoin the book club (use code LEWIS)This week Dr. Jacobs tackles the Eastern Orthodox perspectives on hell, divine providence, and human nature at Northern Arizona University. This conversation explores how Eastern patristic theology differs from Western Christianity on topics including original sin, the fall of man, Christ's descent into Hades, and the possibility of univers
When God Commands Death | Can Genocide Be Justified?
Join Dr. Jacobs’ membership for all kinds of perks and access: thenathanjacobspodcast.com/membership (use code LEWIS for a discount on the Fellows tier!) Today Dr. Jacobs takes a look at the challenge of genocide in the Old Testament, particularly the commanded extermination of the Amalekites and Canaanites. We’ll critique divine command theory from a realist metaphysical framework and explores ho
The Polygamy Question | Immoralities in the Bible
This episode examines the moral case against polygamy from a natural law and Eastern Orthodox perspective, then addresses why polygamous practices appear in the Old Testament. Dr. Jacobs distinguishes between biological and psychological dimensions of sexual ethics, critiques Thomistic approaches for neglecting reason's role in human sexuality, and argues that ancient Near Eastern circumstance
Is Slavery Morally Wrong? Immoralities in the Bible? Part 1 of 3
Enroll for Jacobs Premium Fellows (book club) <<use code LEWIS at checkout for the founder’s discount!>>: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/offers/aLohje7p/checkout Enroll for Jacobs Premium Scholars: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/offers/CC4Z229F/checkoutEnroll for Jacobs Premium Supporters: https://www.thenathanjacobspodcast.com/offers/HPjzX2Lk/checkoutThis episode exami
Orthodox Foundations
Head to thenathanjacobspodcast.com to snag your membership. Use code: LEWIS when purchasing a "Fellows" for the founders price. Orthodox Foundations includes: 1 - Basic Terms & Concepts2 - The Gospel According to the Eastern Church3 - Partaking of the Divine Nature “Theosis”4 - Descent into Hades5 - How to Embrace the Life That Christ Has Given Us6 - The Saints & Christ’s Descent
Political, Personal, & Pastoral | What to Do With Moral Truth?
Sign up for Jacobs Premium: thenathanjacobspodcast.comIn this postscript to his anthropology and ethics series, Dr. Jacobs examines why people experience discomfort when confronted with moral assessments that challenge their preferred behaviors or beliefs. He draws parallels between objective aesthetics and ethics, arguing that humans possess default intuitions about justice and fairness that crea
Nature & Grace | The Great Divide Between East & West | Part 6 of 6
We dive once more into the differences between Eastern and Western Christianity. This time, Dr. Jacobs tackles the nature-grace divide. He’ll trace how Augustine's anti-Pelagian framework created a nature-grace divide in the Latin West, where human nature is seen as inherently incapable of pleasing God without supernatural assistance. In contrast, the Eastern tradition maintains that humans as
The Morality of LGBT (and other hot button issues) | Beyond the Bible
Our culture often frames debates on homosexuality, transgenderism, and abortion as a simple clash between “Christians vs. progressives.” But the real story runs deeper. In this episode, Dr. Nathan Jacobs tackles three of today’s most pressing ethical and cultural issues, examining them through the great traditions of moral philosophy—Natural Law, Deontology, Divine Command Theory, and Utilitariani
The Evolution of Ethics | Realism: from John Locke to Woody Allen | Ethics & Anthropology | Part 4
In this fourth installment of our series on Ethics & Anthropology, Dr. Nathan Jacobs traces the evolution of Realism from ancient philosophy through John Locke and even Woody Allen, asking what this tradition missed about the true nature of reality. How does Christianity reframe the conversation on Realism, and why does it matter for ethics, anthropology, and our understanding of the world?Ple
The Secret Hand Behind History: Providence or Chaos? | Part 3
In this third installment of our four-part (or 5-part 😬) series on Ethics & Anthropology, Dr. Nathan Jacobs explores Moral Philosophy and the enduring debate over Providence vs. Chaos in the history of philosophy and metaphysics. Is history guided by a divine hand, or is it nothing more than accident and chance?All the links: X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/sh
The Slow Death of Morality | How Modern Ethics Sold Its Soul | Part 2 of 4
What happens when morality is unmoored from its metaphysical foundations? In part two of the Anthropology series, Dr. Nathan Jacobs traces the slow unraveling of moral philosophy—from its classical roots in virtue and teleology to its modern preoccupation with utility and consequence.All the links: X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hSskUtCwDT40uFbqTk3QSApple P
The Pagan Blueprint For the Good Life | Plato, Aristotle, & the Stoics
Dr. Jacobs explores how ancient pagan philosophers understood human nature and the good life, examining key thinkers from Plato and Aristotle to the Stoics and Epicureans. The discussion covers metaphysical dualism, the nature of the soul, and competing views on happiness and virtue. This is a series on anthropology, part 1 of 4. 00:00:00 Intro 00:07:04 Metaphysical dualism00:09:25 Empedocles 00:1
Transformed by the Eucharist | Body or Bread? | Part 2 of 2
Sign up for Dr. Jacobs’ course Intro to Philosophy: https://myprofer.com/ 📚 Click “Join as a student” 📚 Fill out registration 📚 Verify your email 📚 Navigate to “Course Registration” in the side menu 📚 Find 180 Introduction to Philosophy 📚 Auditors can register immediately 📚 For college credit, fill out the long form and wait for approval before registration 📖 $175 audit 🎓$4
Understanding the Eucharist | Sacramentalism East vs West | Part 1 of 2
Sign up for Dr. Jacobs’ course Intro to Philosophy: https://myprofer.com/ 📚 Click “Join as a student” 📚 Fill out registration 📚 Verify your email 📚 Navigate to “Course Registration” in the side menu 📚 Find 180 Introduction to Philosophy 📚 Auditors can register immediately 📚 For college credit, fill out the long form and wait for approval before registration 📖 $175 audit 🎓$4
Therapy & the Eastern Church Fathers | Merits & Demerits of Secular Therapy | with Dr. Adam Dell
Follow Dr. Dell on Instagram @dr.adamdell Dr. Dell’s book discussed on the podcast has not yet been released, but we will try to get him back on the podcast when it is! Sign up for Dr. Jacobs’ course Intro to Philosophy: https://myprofer.com/ 📚 Click “Join as a student” 📚 Fill out registration 📚 Verify your email 📚 Navigate to “Course Registration” in the side menu 📚 Find 180 Introduc
On David, Giant Slayer | Not Your Mama’s Sunday School Story | With Fr. Stephen De Young
Find Fr. De Young on his podcast: https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/lordofspirits/Sign up for Dr. Jacobs’ college course: https://myprofer.com/ 📚 Click “Join as a student” 📚 Fill out registration 📚 Verify your email 📚 Navigate to “Course Registration” in the side menu 📚 Find 180 Introduction to Philosophy 📚 Auditors can register immediately 📚 For college credit, fill out the
Does Jesus Claim to Be God? | A Closer Look at Nicene Trinitarianism
Sign up for Dr. Jacobs’ college course: https://myprofer.com/ 📚 Click “Join as a student” 📚 Fill out registration 📚 Verify your email 📚 Navigate to “Course Registration” in the side menu 📚 Find 180 Introduction to Philosophy 📚 Auditors can register immediately 📚 For college credit, fill out the long form and wait for approval before registration 📖 $300 audit 🎓$500 college c
Consciousness, Reality, and the Human Condition | What It Means to Be Human
Sign up for Dr. Jacobs’ college course: https://myprofer.com/ 📚 Click “Join as a student” 📚 Fill out registration 📚 Verify your email 📚 Navigate to “Course Registration” in the side menu 📚 Find 180 Introduction to Philosophy 📚 Auditors can register immediately 📚 For college credit, fill out the long form and wait for approval before registration 📖 $300 audit 🎓$500 college c
A Second Round on Penal Substitution | Misunderstanding the Bible and the Fathers
Sign up for Dr. Jacobs’ college course: https://myprofer.com/ 📚 Click “Join as a student” 📚 Fill out registration 📚 Verify your email 📚 Navigate to “Course Registration” in the side menu 📚 Find 180 Introduction to Philosophy 📚 Auditors can register immediately 📚 For college credit, fill out the long form and wait for approval before registration 📖 $300 audit 🎓$500 college c
A Reality Check for Crazy Times | Longing for More than Nominal Culture
Sign up for Dr. Jacobs’ college course: https://myprofer.com/ 📚 Click “Join as a student” 📚 Fill out registration 📚 Verify your email 📚 Navigate to “Course Registration” in the side menu 📚 Find 180 Introduction to Philosophy 📚 Auditors can register immediately 📚 For college credit, fill out the long form and wait for approval before registration📖 $300 audit 🎓$500 college credit
Penal Substitution: East vs West | Perspectives on the Atonement
Cliffe & Stuart Knechtle Episode: https://youtu.be/ZSf7o3Jel_gDr. Jacobs compares how Eastern and Western Christianity understand Christ's death on the cross, examining the theological differences that emerged over centuries. The discussion traces the Western development from Augustine through the Protestant Reformers and their focus on penal substitution, while exploring Eastern perspecti
To a Mother on the Loss of Her Children | A Theological Letter on Suffering
Read the original letter: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/p/to-a-woman-who-lost-several-childrenIn this episode, Dr. Jacobs reads aloud a deeply personal letter written to "Etheline," a woman who had lost several children and sought theological perspective on suffering. The letter explores three key Eastern patristic doctrines: the distinction between God's antecedent and conseque
God & the Fate of Judas, Natural Disasters, and Other Evils | Your Questions on the Problem of Evil
Get notified when registration Dr. Jacobs’ class goes live: https://forms.gle/pKYCWnHA1gToDxZv9In this Q&A episode, Dr. Jacobs addresses ten challenging questions about the problem of evil and divine foreknowledge. He tackles issues ranging from whether God's plan for salvation required evil acts, to how divine foreknowledge works when predicted events don't occur, to why Jewish and Ch
Does God Know the Future? | Contrasting East & West
Get updates when class registration goes live: https://forms.gle/pKYCWnHA1gToDxZv9Why Would God Make the Damned? https://youtu.be/H2Ja5WeOo1AIn this episode, Dr. Jacobs examines the contrasting views on divine foreknowledge between Western and Eastern Christian traditions. He’ll explore the perspectives of Augustine, Aquinas, and John Duns Scotus from the Latin West juxtaposed against John of Dama
The Fall, Demons, Animal Pain, & the 8th Day of Creation | The Eastern Fathers & the Problem of Evil
Get updates when class registration goes live: https://forms.gle/pKYCWnHA1gToDxZv9In this sixth and final installment on the Problem of Evil, Dr. Jacobs explores the Eastern Fathers' understanding of The Fall, demonic influence, and animal suffering. The episode examines how the church fathers interpreted humanity's departure from divine communion and its consequences. The Eastern traditio
The Purpose of Creation | The Eastern Fathers & The Problem of Evil | Part 5 of 6
https://www.academia.edu/41586437/The_Metaphysical_Idealism_of_the_Eastern_Church_FathersIn this fifth installment on the Problem of Evil, Dr. Jacobs examines the patristic narrative, exploring how the early church fathers understood creation's purpose and humanity's relationship with the divine. The episode investigates the Genesis narrative through a patristic lens, revealing how creatio
Cliffe & Stuart Knechtle on Orthodoxy | Defining (part of) the East-West Divide
Dr. Jacobs gives feedback on the recently viral Cliffe & Stuart Knechtle clip with an Orthodox college student. You’ll get a rundown of some specific differences between Eastern and Western Christianity and why they can’t be ignored in discussions like this. Specifically you’ll hear about basic misunderstandings of grace and works. All the links: YouTube: www.youtube.com/@TheNathanJacobsPodcas
Christ’s Descent into Hades | A Theological Letter
Dr. Jacobs explains the Eastern Christian understanding of Christ's descent into Hades, distinguishing it from Hell. The letter clarifies how Eastern Church fathers viewed Christ's descent as destroying death's power and liberating humanity. A comparison with Western theological perspectives reveals fundamental differences in how these traditions understand this doctrine.All the links:
Providence in the Eastern Church Fathers | Problem of Evil | Part 4 of 5
In this fourth installment on the Problem of Evil, Dr. Jacobs explores the complex relationship between divine providence and human freedom. What does it mean that God delegates subsovereignce to creation? And how does divine foreknowledge interact with human self-determination? Tune in as we examine biblical figures like Abraham, Job, and Saul alongside the desecration of goodness and the atheist
Groundwork for an Eastern Patristic Theodicy | The Problem of Evil | Part 3 of 4
In this third installment on the Problem of Evil, Dr. Jacobs lays the groundwork for understanding Eastern patristic theodicy. Why can God do no evil, despite having free will? And why don’t these conditions apply to humans? Tune in because this will lay the foundation for the finale episode on the problem of evil. All the links: X: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/sh
The Problem of Evil | On the Complexity of Divine Choice | Part 2 of 3
Go to 33:15 to skip the recap of the first installment In this second installment on the Problem of Evil, Dr. Jacobs looks at the notion that our world is an orchestral expression of divine goodness. But this insight reveals the uncomfortable fact that not all goods can co-exist and many goods are entangled with evils. So, though we may casually speak about the idea that God can do anything, the
The Problem of Evil | Free Will, Divine Will, & A World Without Sin
My Wild Ride to Orthodoxy https://youtu.be/yRYBsOXX3e0Part 1 on Problem of Divine Hiddenness: https://youtu.be/J7uP9uFNThYToday Dr. Jacobs will examine the basic philosophical and theological elements of the Problem of Evil. He’ll explore perspectives from Christian tradition and philosophical discourse. The episode tackles key concepts including free will, divine permission, and whether a sinless
Sophistication of Early Church Fathers | An Interview With Hank Hanegraaff
Find the original episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJHCg8xt_l8The early church fathers went to great lengths to ensure that the followers of Christ did not innovate but rather perpetuate “the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 1:3), and this conversation seeks to understand what they meant, where we may have gotten off track, and what it means to become truly human
Can the Rich Be Saved? | Wealth, Asceticism, & Salvation
This week’s episode, Jacobs delves into Jesus’ uncomfortable teachings about wealth and salvation with guest Charles Lelon, an Orthodox Christian and private equity investor. The two tackle the question of whether the rich can be saved or must sell all they have to become poor to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.All the links: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheNathanJacobsPodcastX: https://x.com/Na
On Apokatastasis & Universal Salvation | Will Christ Rescue All From Hell?
Original article with citations: https://nathanajacobs.substack.com/p/on-apokatastasis-and-universal-salvationBack to the theological letter series to explore a key distinction that's often missed: universal salvation isn't the same as apokatastasis. Dr. Jacobs dives into what early Christian thinkers really meant by these terms, untangling common misconceptions and showing why it matters for mode
Misunderstanding Mystery | The Place of Philosophy in Orthodoxy
This week Dr. Jacobs gives a rundown of mystery in Eastern Orthodox Christianity. You’ll get definitions, how he thinks the misunderstanding devolved, and the Chuch Fathers’ on natural theology. You’ll also get a little side tangent about the future of Orthodoxy in America. All the links: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheNathanJacobsPodcastX: https://x.com/NathanJacobsPodSpotify: https://open.
Hollywood Taxidermy | The Rise of the IP Serial Killer
Join us for Part Two of our Hollywood Taxidermy series, where Dr. Jacobs explores intellectual property and creative adaptation. Through the lens of natural law and rights theory, he'll examine what it means to faithfully adapt stories from page to screen while honoring creators' original visions.
All the links:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheNathanJacobsPodcast
X: https://x.com/Na
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