Forging Ploughshares

Paul Axton Preaches - After Constantine the cross is completely changed in meaning. Instead of a reviled instrument of torture and representative of a nonviolent sacrifice, it is made into an emblem of war and the official sign of Empire. Constantinianism changes Christianity and we must be able to discern this change to understand the New Testament faith. Sign up for our class "Living in the Kingdom" starting March 8th. https://pbi.forgingploughshares.org/offerings   Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

In this second lecture on Romans Paul Axton sets aside the pervasive notions of a contractual understanding which have obscured access to Paul's depiction of the human predicament and its resolution in Christ. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Paul Axton Preaches - As Christians who believe the peace of Christ is a central teaching of Christianity, how do we read the Old Testament depiction of God as if he is a warrior deity, promoting genocide and killing? The New Testament teaches us how to read these sections of scripture as applying spiritually.  Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

In this continuing PBI course discussion on Romans Matt, Tim, Austin and Paul discuss how it is that death is obscured or denied in the salvation systems of this world which deal in death. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

In this PBI course discussion Tim, Austin, Matt, and Paul discuss Romans 5 and I Corinthians 15:56 and the universal tendency to transpose sin and death. The universal mistake is definitive of sin and recognizing it is an opening to rightly understanding salvation. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

In this first in a series of talks on Romans, Paul Axton introduces the theme of Romans - the human predicament and its resolution - as it revolves around the problem of shame and death and as it is resolved in righteousness. This is contrasted to the typical Augustinian approach that misappropriates this language.

In the PBI course discussion Tyler, Matt, Trenton, Jason, Tim, & Paul, discuss how the image of God in humans is simultaneously an ontological reality for all people but one completed or corrupted by being joined to either the the work of Christ (resurrection life) or a destructive story like redemptive violence.

Jon, Megan, and Paul discuss the post-apocalyptic science fiction novel A Canticle for Leibowitz by American writer Walter M. Miller Jr. Set in a Catholic monastery in the desert of the southwestern United States after a devastating nuclear war, the book spans thousands of years as civilization rebuilds itself.  The topic turns to this present moment and the nature of hope in the midst of dystopia.

Paul Axton Preaches - Christ directly contradicts elements of the Law, along with the Old Testament portrayals of God as violent. The defenders of this mistaken understanding were those who killed him, so that he died in exposing and correcting this difference. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

In this PBI course discussion Tim, Austin, David, and Paul discuss the practical ways to engage both church and culture with the non-violent peaceable Gospel.  Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound  

Paul Axton Preaches - James 3 describes the characteristics constituting wisdom and presumes a capacity to achieve righteousness characterized by peace and love are among the key ingredients of this wisdom. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

In this PBI discussion Alan, Matt, and Paul discuss the real world revelation of the immanent Trinity in Jesus, who is the Cosmic Christ. The definitive sign of having encountered Christ is the passage from violence to Peace. To miss this is to potentially mistake the devil for God. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

In Part 2 of their discussion, Megan, Jon, Jason, and Paul spell out ways of breaking down the barriers which have arisen with belief in conspiracy theories and identity politics, and focus on the attitudes and theological answers that might heal this present moment. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

In Part I of this two part discussion, Megan, Jon, Jason, and Paul come to grips with why people are taken in by conspiracy theories, identity politics, and the theological failure and theological answers that might explain this present moment. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Paul Axton Preaches: The recent attack on the Capitol and the religion that supports this nationalism has parallels to German Christian thought and the rise of Hitler. Paul is describing the defeat of this death dealing orientation. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

In this PBI discussion, Jon joins Matt, Tim, and Paul in a continued conversation of how to get beyond modernist, Hegelian, dialectic thought and hermeneutics by returning to the early church's approach to Scripture. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

In a PBI Course discussion, Tim, Matt, and Paul discuss a reading of Scripture that harmonizes Old Testament violence with the peace of Christ by focusing on a theological reading or a return to the early church hermeneutic. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

In a PBI discussion, Tyler, Matt, and Paul, discuss a Christian form of knowing which is neither supersessionist nor modern foundationalism. Using the psychoanalytic poles of perversion and hysteria, they lay out a third way of knowing. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Paul Axton Preaches - Mary's Song and story opens human interiority and depth to world-changing consequences for human choice. Out of this realization evolves the modern sense of human interiority. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound

Paul Axton Preaches - Darkness is interwoven into the light of the Christmas story which heightens the meaning of its sublime beauty and purpose. Become a Patron! If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider donating to support our work. Music: Bensound