Podcast in Politics

We could have also titled this episode How the Reformation delivered us from ecclesiocracy. Here we discuss Aquinas’ political philosophy, the problem with his adoption of Aristotle’s teaching that man is a political animal, and the need for an utterly transcendent authority.

Aaron Rock joins the podcast this week to discuss the scheduled expiry of Canadian border restrictions and the ArriveCan app. We also discuss Canada’s latest Federal Action Plan to advance LGBTQ rights, and the inescapability of religious commitments.

In this episode Joe Boot reflects on the funeral ceremonies of Queen Elizabeth II, the historic role of the English monarch as “Defender of the Faith,” and the error of contemporary Two Kingdoms thinking.

In this episode, we discuss Edmund Burke and the origins of modern conservative ideology; we consider the validity of the sentiment that there is a crisis in conservatism, as well as the historic connection between conservatism and Christianity. Joe Boot explains how the contemporary attempt to distinguish between fiscal and social conservatism is a practical impossibility.

On this episode we discuss Joe’s newest book, Ruler of Kings. Joe explains why he felt compelled to write such a book at this time, and what the reign of King Jesus means for the way we understand and relate to civil government.

In this episode we examine and define totalitarianism- its meaning, origins, and some historic examples. We look at the ancient roots of this ideology as expressed by Aristotle and implicitly adopted by Thomas Aquinas and the Roman Catholic church. As we witness the continued push toward totalitarianism in Canada in particular, what were the assumptions and commitments that brought us to this point?

In a Christian worldview, every area of life and experience is to be brought under the lordship of Jesus the King. Another way to say this is that as God’s vice-gerents, human beings are called to exercise God-honouring dominion over the earth. Special guest Allie-Beth Stuckey joins us to talk about the Christian calling to faithfulness in the sphere of politics and media.

Today Canada passed Bill C4, asserting that the basis of human dignity consists in radical autonomy from any tradition or authority. Such legislation should leave no doubt whether politics is a moral issue – it is something that Scripture speaks about, and something that ministers ought to speak on both in public and in the pulpit.

Season Five of the Podcast for Cultural Reformation kicks off with a brief review of the Canadian Federal election and begins a discussion that we will develop throughout this season on how and why a fully formed Christian worldview accounts for reality, even in the midst of tumultuous cultural circumstances.

The idea of ultimate authority is an inescapable concept, which is clearly on display in our vision of politics. Any claim to authority rests on an idea of sovereignty – it all depends which god you believe in.

The Christmas story is an announcement of the Lordship of King Jesus over all rulers of the earth. Politics and culture are inescapably gospel issues. Music graciously provided by Jacob Moon. Watch Premier Pallister’s address here.

As the results of the 2020 US presidential election continue to be contested, we consider how a Christian should think and live in a nation divided between two worldviews, and where many in power refuse to acknowledge the lordship of King Jesus.