Peter Rollins - The Archive

Latest Episodes:

Same Soda, Different Taste May 24, 2019

Show notes

Here I talk about some dangers within the new spirituality industry. I look at Splitting, the Beautiful Soul, Reaction Formation and new fundamentalisms. I touch on the popular move from Confessional Religion to New Age Spiritualities and the idea of The Last Guru. For more content, visit pyrotheology.com

Who is Number One | On Jordan Peterson and the Political Apr 19, 2019

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This is a talk I gave at conference is Boise University that aimed at exploring the work and world of popular speaker Jordan Peterson. In contrast to the growing body of work that shows how Peterson misunderstands and misreads many of the theorists he references, I want to concentrate on one of the people he reads well: Carl Jung. I aim to show that Jungian theory lies at the very heart of Peterson's understanding of subjectivity, his views on religion and his political orientation. In this seminar I'll be showing how Jung's fundamentally religious orientation differs from the central insights of psychoanalysis, and how it leads to Peterson's conservative understanding of Christianity and reactionary political vision. A vision that ultimately sustains the very progressive politics he fights against.

The Last Guru | On Fantasy and Transference Apr 09, 2019

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It could be argued that the central question throughout the history of Christianity has revolved around the best way to interpret the Crucifixion. Yet this discussion has by no means been restricted to the confessional church. Indeed many prominent philosophers have taken a deep interest in the Crucifixion and reflected on its significance. In contrast to religious interpretations - that connect the atonement with theism, meaning and reconciliation - this Seminar explores a pyrotheological approach that sees the Crucifixion as expressing a form of life marked by the end of religion, the loss of meaning and the embrace of the absurd.

A Guide To Making Love The Commentary Mar 05, 2019

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To compliment the short film Making Love, we created a 40 minute commentary in which I explore the philosophical and theological themes that animate the movie (along with the relevant clips). This is the audio from that commentary. To see the video, visit my youtube page. While commentaries are often optional extras in movies, I see this as a vital, enmeshed, part of this project. Our aim is for the movie and the commentary to work together in enriching and deepening the insights of the viewer. It’s a model I’ve tried to use in my books, especially How (Not) to Speak of God - which played on the movement between the intellectual and existential dimensions of Pyrotheology.

Holy Shift Tour | The Wholly Other Inner Dimension Feb 25, 2019

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In 2018 I joined Rob Bell on his Holy Shift tour. This is a recording from one of the stops. In my talk I explored the idea that the Holy can be approached as a wholly other dimension that cuts across our being. A dimension that we attempt to hide from and ignore. Yet the more we ignore it, the more this wholly other dimension creates unholy hell in our lives. In contrast, if we are able to turn our attention towards it, and orient ourselves to its tremor, it can bring new life to us. If you would like to support me and get more content, visit pyrotheology.com.

Mapping Pyrotheology | Returning to Where We Are Feb 24, 2019

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Once a month I give online seminars via Patreon. I occasionally put some up here. If you'd like the full set, visit pyrotheology.com. In this seminar I offer a framework that enables people to see how religious ideology functions, what a pyrotheological reading of Christianity entails, and how this is practiced in community. During the seminar I’ll be showing how religious ideology continues to function within secular spaces and offer a religionless reading of Christianity that aims squarely at eviscerating this way of operating in the world. In doing this I draw out the main difference between pyrotheology and things like Depth Psychology, the Enneagram, Humanism, Progressive Christianity and Liberal Christianity.

Embracing The Lack | An Interview with Peter Jost Feb 09, 2019

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In April 2018 I was interviewed by the German theologian Peter Jost at my Wake Festival. For more content, jump over to https://www.patreon.com/peterrollins

A Friend is Just a Stranger You Haven't Met Jan 22, 2019

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This is part of a talk I gave at a live Fundamentalists event in LA. In it I explore the idea that we are strangers to ourselves, and often oblivious to our desires.

Pyrotheology and Ultimate Concern | An Introduction Jan 09, 2019

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In this short reflection I use Tillich's idea of Ultimate Concern to introduce one of the basic aims of Pyrotheology. To learn more about Pyrotheology, check out the pyro-seminars on my Patreon. If you want to take a deep dive into Tillich's notion of Ultimate Concern, check out my course 'Find and You Will Seek' on my website. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/peterrollins Find and You Will Seek: https://peterrollins.com/advent

How to Manage Impossible Relationships Jan 07, 2019

Show notes

In this podcast I explore the roots of modern notions of romance, the impossibility of relationships, and how to turn that impossibility into something truly beautiful. I even give a little relationship advice at the end!