50. Navigating Beyond Traditional Christianity (w/ Paul VanderKlay)

In this episode, I assume the modern historical-critical perspective with pastor and 'This Little Corner of the Internet' thinker Paul VanderKlay to explore the tension points it has with the traditional-devotional lens--and to consider if and how these impasses might be transcended. Does history matter to faith and to the faithful? If so, how, when, and why? Can we avoid equivocating discussions around the "reality" of Christianity? How crucial is the nonrational? Overall, we rehearse what challenges the traditional approach to Christianity faces as it develops into modern expressions and interpretations on the way towards a metamodern instantiation.0:00 Introduction0:55 The "God Pivot" and Metamodernism: The Missing Modern7:39 How Does Faith Relate to Modern & Postmodern Critical Approaches?24:30 The Reality of Religion in Different Psycho-Social Contexts36:18 Reality vs. History: Language as Metaphor or Fact52:38 Worldview, Rationality, and Projection1:04:28 "Spirit": False Substance Reification vs. Real Transjective Relationality1:07:22 Avoiding Equivocation and Taking Modern Science Seriously 1:20:59 Pragmatic and Developmental Hermeneutics1:44:16 Nonrationality and the Meaning Crisis1:59:15 Different Metamodern Spiritual Arcs: The Theological is Personal2:16:00 Conclusion Get full access to Brendan Graham Dempsey at brendangrahamdempsey.substack.com/subscribe