The Ad Fontes Podcast

Latest Episodes:

University Monsters Jul 11, 2022

Show notes

Colin recently wrote a provocative piece on the future of the university as an institution, and so he and Onsi have gone public with their longstanding personal debate about the topic. What is the university meant to be? What has it been seen as historically? Is it really in crisis, or just parts of it? Do we still need it today? And where does Davenant fit in?
NOTE: most books below are linked via Bookshop.org. Any purchases you make via these links give The Davenant Institute a 10% commission, and support local bookshops against chainstores/Amazon.
Currently Reading
Onsi: Acts of the Second Council of Constantinople
Colin: Thomism and Aristotelianismby Harry Jaffa
Texts Discussed
"Creeds and Credentials: On Education and the Future" by Colin Redemer
Spotlight
"How Davenant Can Redeem the DMV" with William Vega
Davenant DC Dinner Fundraiser

Serious Comedy Jul 05, 2022

Show notes

Marking the arrival of the Davenant Press's newest release, Serious Comedy, author Patrick Downey joins Onsi, Colin, and Rhys to discuss the republication of his work. They talk about the history of tragedy and comedy in the ancient world, how seriously Plato and Aristotle took writing, how the Bible changed everything, and how a post-Christian world is shifting in its relationship to its stories and acts of writing.
There are some minor audio issues with this episode which means the standard is slightly below what would normally adhere to. Please accept our apologies for that.

NOTE: most books below are linked via Bookshop.org. Any purchases you make via these links give The Davenant Institute a 10% commission, and support local bookshops against chainstores/Amazon.
Currently Reading
Onsi: The Rise of Christian Theology and the End of Ancient Metaphysicsby Johannes Zachhuber
Colin: "The Vial Poured Out Upon the Sea" by Cotton Mather
Rhys: "In Memoriam A.H.H." by Alfred Lord Tennyson
Patrick: The Beginning of Wisdom: Reading Genesisby Leon Kass
Texts Discussed
Phaedrus by Plato
Symposiumby Plato
Poeticsby Aristotle
The Gay Scienceby Friedrich Nietzsche
Confessionsby Augustine
The Divine Comedyby Dante
"The Beloved Icon: An Augustinian Solution to the Problem of Sex" by Onsi A. Kamel
Spotlight
Serious Comedy: The Philosophical and Theological Significance of Tragic and Comic Writing in the Western Traditionby Patrick Downey

How To Be A Davenant Bro: A Beginner's Guide (Live from Convivium!) Jun 20, 2022

Show notes

In another special episode recorded at our 2022 National Convivium, Onsi and Colin are joined by Tim Jacobs, Davenant Teaching Fellow and (in a surprise apperance) Evan Zhuo, our Davenant House intern. They talk about the unique vibe of the Convivium, the surprising appeal of Reformed irenicism among Baptists, Herman Bavinck's forgotten teacher, and the diversity of philosophical positions within the Davenant Institute.
NOTE: most books below are linked via Bookshop.org. Any purchases you make via these links give The Davenant Institute a 10% commission, and support local bookshops against chainstores/Amazon.
Currently Reading
Tim: Richard Hooker and Peter Martyr Vermigli
Evan: Lyrical Balladsby Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth
Texts Discussed
A whole lot.
Spotlight
Foundations of Virtue: Aristotle and Aquinas (registration is officially closed, but contact us to see if there are spaces left!)

Throw The (Prayer) Book At Him (Live from Convivium!) Jun 13, 2022

Show notes

In a special episode recorded at our 2022 National Convivium, Onsi and Colin are joined by Sam Bray, editor of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer (International Edition). They talk about Thomas Cranmer, the prayer book's development, and the nature of liturgy, regulating worship, and the endless debate about the regulative principle.
NOTE: most books below are linked via Bookshop.org. Any purchases you make via these links give The Davenant Institute a 10% commission, and support local bookshops against chainstores/Amazon.
Currently Reading
Onsi:A Perfect Spy by John Le Carre
Colin: C.S. Lewis and Leo Strauss on historicism
Sam: The City of Godby Augustine
Texts Discussed
1662 Book of Common Prayer (International Edition)
Spotlight
1662 Book of Common Prayer (International Edition)

It Comes To Us All May 30, 2022

Show notes

It comes to us all: death. This week, Onsi, Colin, and Rhys talk about the last enemy, discussuing what death actually is metaphysically, how different philosophical traditions like the Socratics, the Stoics, and Existentialists have said we should prepare for death, and how Christianity uniquely transforms our approach to death.
NOTE: most books below are linked via Bookshop.org. Any purchases you make via these links give The Davenant Institute a 10% commission, and support local bookshops against chainstores/Amazon.
Currently Reading
Onsi: Theodore Abu Qurrah
Colin: "A Prayer for the Ice Age" by Marion Shore
Rhys: "Death" by George Herbert
Texts Discussed
Crito by Plato
Republic by Plato
Tragic Sense of Lifeby Miguel De Unamuno
Fear and Tremblingby Soren Kierkegaard
What is the Hope for Humanity? A Discussion of Technology, Politics, and Theology by N.T. Wright and Peter Thiel
City of God Book XIII by Augustine
Spotlight
UK Convivium 2022

Take It To The Limit May 23, 2022

Show notes

Man is the rational animal - but what are the limits of his reason? That's this week's question. Onsi, Colin, and Rhys discuss the limits of human reason with regard to God, with some help from Descartes, Pascal, and Aquinas.
NOTE: most books below are linked via Bookshop.org. Any purchases you make via these links give The Davenant Institute a 10% commission, and support local bookshops against chainstores/Amazon.
Currently Reading
Onsi: Pensees and Other Writingsby Blaise Pascal
Colin: "The Greek Ideas of Immortality" by Werner Jaeger
Rhys: Autumn Journal by Louis Macneice
Texts Discussed
Pensees and Other Writingsby Blaise Pascal
De Anima, Book III by Aristotle (on knowledge)
Meditation III by Rene Descartes
"Descartes Among the Ancients" by Onsi Kamel
Summa Prima Pars Q. 12by Thomas Aquinas
Spotlight
Natural Theologyby David Haines

Davenant Hall Apocalypse Now May 16, 2022

Show notes

Why is online theological education as exciting as an NFL draft? Davenant's Chief Development Director, Justin Redemer, joins the show again to talk about the first ever Davenant Hall Apocalypse - a special event unveiling the year ahead at Davenant Hall, and changes to our programs. The hosts use this as a chance to talk about the revolutionary work of Davenant Hall, and the state of higher education.
NOTE: most books below are linked via Bookshop.org. Any purchases you make via these links give The Davenant Institute a 10% commission, and support local bookshops against chainstores/Amazon.
Currently Reading
Onsi: Collected Worksby Martin Luther
Colin: Lycurgusby Plutarch
Rhys: The Imperfect Life of T.S. Eliot by Lyndall Gordon
Justin: Economy and the Future: A Crisis of Faithby Jean-Pierre Dupuy
Texts Discussed
Davenant Fellows Lectures
Spotlight
Watch out for our end of fiscal year fundraiser!
Davenant Hall Apocalypse

Nicaea Guys Finish First (Ecumenical Councils #1) May 09, 2022

Show notes

It's all about the Council of Nicaea folks. This week, Onsi, Colin, and Rhys begin a new series on the Seven Ecumenical Councils, kicking off with the Council of Nicaea. They talk about Constantine and church-state relations, the power of "homoousios", eternal generation, medieval astronomy, and more.
NOTE: most books below are linked via Bookshop.org. Any purchases you make via these links give The Davenant Institute a 10% commission, and support local bookshops against chainstores/Amazon.
Currently Reading
Onsi: Lectures on Romansby Martin Luther
Colin: Commentary on the Nicomachean Ethicsby Thomas Aquinas
Rhys: Reformation Theology: A Reader of Primary Sources With Introductionsby The Davenant Press
Texts Discussed
Defending Constantineby Peter Leithart
Nicaea and Its Legacyby Lewis Ayres
From Nicaea to Chalcedonby Frances M. Young
Retrieving Nicaeaby Khaled Anatolios
Spotlight
God of Our Fathers: Classical Theism for the Contemporary Church

Now You're Talking My (Ancient) Language May 03, 2022

Show notes

Dead languages are pointless, right? Wrong. This week, our hosts have a blast when they're joined by Ryan Hammill of the Ancient Language Institute, a partner of the Davenant Institute. They discuss the different reasons we learn ancient languages, whether they're for "normal" people, whether some languages are better than others, and more.
NOTE: most books below are linked via Bookshop.org. Any purchases you make via these links give The Davenant Institute a 10% commission, and support local bookshops against chainstores/Amazon.
Currently Reading
Onsi: THE BIBLE
Colin: What Is Political Philosophy? And Other Studiesby Leo Strauss
Rhys: W.H. Auden: A Biography by Humphrey Carpenter
Ryan: The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Texts Discussed
N/A
Spotlight
The Ancient Language Institute

Why Is Preaching Not A Sacrament? Apr 25, 2022

Show notes

Why is preaching not a sacrament? That's the question this week. Onsi and Colin talk about what Protestants mean by "means of grace", look closely at some different confessions, explore the Law-Gospel distinction, and meditate on the nature of salvation and union with Christ.
NOTE: most books below are linked via Bookshop.org. Any purchases you make via these links give The Davenant Institute a 10% commission, and support local bookshops against chainstores/Amazon.
Currently Reading
Onsi: Objections to Descartes' Meditations and Descartes' Repliesby Rene Descartes
Colin: Eudemian Ethicsby Aristotle
Texts Discussed
Westminster Larger Catechism, Q.154-155
"Article V. Law and Gospel" in the Book of Concord
"Of the Sacraments" (Institutes 4.14) by John Calvin
Explanation of the 95 Thesesby Martin Luther
"Charles Hodge, Wrong About and the Reformed Doctrine of the Eucharistic Presence" by Steven Wedgeworth
Spotlight
"Old Aristotle, or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love Aquinas" - April Fellows Lecture, Thursday 8pm ET on Zoom

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