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As we step into the 17th century, we begin exploring the major themes, people, and events that shaped this pivotal era in world history. It was a century of powerful monarchs, religious conflict, political upheaval, and shifting ideas about authority and government. Beneath these developments lay enduring questions of faith and moral responsibility: when human beings claim authority, how should power be exercised, and to whom are rulers ultimately accountable? In this episode of HIStory Through the Eyes of Faith, we turn our attention to France and the rise of absolute monarchy. From the political maneuvering of Cardinal Richelieu to the extraordinary reign of Louis XIV, the Sun King, we explore how power became increasingly concentrated in the hands of the French monarchy. Their story invites us to consider both the order strong leadership can bring and the dangers that arise when human authority approaches absolute power. Along the way, we examine what absolute monarchy looked like in practice, how it developed in France, and how the pursuit and consolidation of royal power helped shape the political landscape of 17th-century Europe. Link to resources for this episode:https://link.amazon/B08SNQfZqPrevious episodes referenced here: Episodes 83&84 for William the Conqueror; Episodes 96, 97, & 98 for the Magna Carta

In this episode of HIStory Through the Eyes of Faith, we continue our conversation with Dr. Tim Farris about the Christian roots of the Scientific Revolution and the long intellectual road that helped make modern science possible. Drawing again from Rodney Stark’s How the West Won, we look more closely at the argument that the Scientific Revolution was not a sudden break from the Christian past, but in many ways grew out of ideas that had been developing within Christian civilization for centuries. We explore the belief in a rational and orderly Creator, and how that belief encouraged the expectation that creation itself would be orderly, consistent, and understandable. Rather than seeing faith and reason as natural enemies, the thinkers who helped advance science believed that studying the natural world was one way of discovering the order God had placed within it. As Stark writes, “This wonderful era of science was the normal result of the pursuit of knowledge that was fundamental to the roots of Christianity.” Along the way, we continue challenging the familiar story that modern science emerged only when people began leaving faith behind. Instead, we ask a more historically interesting question: What if some of the very ideas that helped give birth to modern science were rooted in a distinctly Christian understanding of God, creation, and reason? Join us as we continue tracing the fascinating relationship between faith and science and uncover another layer of the story behind the Scientific Revolution.

The Scientific Revolution is often told as though modern science suddenly burst onto the scene in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, sweeping away an earlier age dominated by faith and superstition. But the real story is much more interesting. In this episode of HIStory Through the Eyes of Faith, Dr. Tim Farris joins us as we begin exploring the relationship between science, reason, and faith—and the faith lives of many of the men whose discoveries helped reshape our understanding of the natural world. Using Rodney Stark’s How the West Won as part of our discussion, we look at his argument that the Scientific Revolution did not appear out of nowhere. Rather, it rested on centuries of intellectual development and on foundations that had been growing within Christian civilization long before names like Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, and Newton entered the story. We consider the importance of the belief that the universe is orderly, rational, and therefore capable of being investigated and understood. We also begin examining the scientists themselves—not simply as brilliant minds making discoveries, but as people whose ideas about God, creation, Scripture, and reason were often deeply connected to the questions they asked about the world around them. With Dr. Farris offering insight along the way, this episode challenges some familiar assumptions about the supposed conflict between faith and science and gives us a broader historical picture of how centuries of learning, observation, philosophy, theology, and experimentation helped prepare the way for what we now call the Scientific Revolution. It’s a fascinating conversation about where modern science came from—and why the story of its beginnings is far richer than the simple idea that reason replaced faith.

Few people have changed the way we understand the physical world as dramatically as Isaac Newton. But behind the famous story of gravity, motion, and mathematics was a complicated and intensely driven man whose interests stretched far beyond what we would call science today. In this episode of HIStory Through the Eyes of Faith, we begin with Newton himself—his childhood, education, personality, relationships, and the often solitary life that helped shape both his strengths and his struggles. Brilliant, competitive, deeply private, and endlessly curious, Newton devoted himself to understanding the world around him with an intensity that could become almost consuming. Then we turn to the discoveries that made him one of the most important figures of the Scientific Revolution. With special commentary and insight from Dr. Tim Farris, we explore Newton's work on motion and gravity, his experiments with light and optics, his development of new mathematical tools, and the remarkable synthesis that allowed him to describe both falling objects on Earth and the movement of the heavens with the same physical laws. But Newton did not see his investigation of nature as separate from his interest in God. He wrote extensively about theology and Scripture and believed that the order of creation pointed beyond itself to a Creator. For Newton, studying the universe was not simply a matter of discovering how things worked—it was an attempt to understand the remarkable order woven into the world. Join us as we meet the man behind the equations and consider how Newton's discoveries helped transform our understanding of creation, leaving a scientific legacy that still shapes the way we see the universe today.

Dr. Tim Farris is back with us as we continue our journey into the Scientific Revolution! This time, we meet some of the big personalities and big ideas that helped change the way people understood the world around them. We talk Galileo, Francis Bacon, and René Descartes. Together, their ideas helped shape what we now think of as modern science—and had an enormous impact on the course of history. This is anything but a dry science lecture. Expect plenty of questions, banter, and laughs as we explore another major shift in the way people thought about God, humanity, and the universe in HIStory Through the Eyes of Faith.

Science is starting to have a moment—and we’ve brought in an expert! Dr. Tim Farris joins us as we explore some of the inventions that helped set the stage for the Scientific Revolution and the surprising ways scientific thinking began showing up in commerce and art.Then we turn our eyes to the heavens with Copernicus and Kepler, as old assumptions about the universe begin to shift and a new way of understanding the world starts taking shape. Along the way, there’s plenty of rabbit chasing, good-natured banter, and more than a few laughs with our guest.Join us as we watch science, art, commerce, and faith collide at another fascinating turning point in HIStory Through the Eyes of Faith.

In this episode, we take some of the major events of the 16th century and put them on a timeline, giving us a big-picture look at how everything fits together. Along the way, there are plenty of giggles—and possibly even an appearance by Producer Wes! Join us for a fun and informative episode as we continue chaining together HIStory Through the Eyes of Faith.

When Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to a church door in 1517, he wasn't trying to start hundreds of denominations. He was calling the Church to reform. Yet within a century, Europe would be divided by competing confessions, devastating religious wars, and a growing realization that Christians would have to learn how to live with theological differences. In this episode of HIStory Through the Eyes of Faith, we explore how what began as a debate over authority, salvation, and church practice soon became intertwined with politics, national identity, and the ambitions of kings and princes. The result was more than a theological disagreement—it was a century of upheaval that culminated in some of the bloodiest conflicts in European history. Out of these struggles emerged something new. As governments gradually abandoned the dream of a single unified Christian society, denominations became a way for believers to organize around shared convictions without resorting to constant conflict...enter the age of denominational Christianity.

The Puritans are often remembered as stern, black-clad settlers who came to America seeking religious freedom. But the real story is far richer—and far more influential—than the popular caricature. In this episode of HIStory Through the Eyes of Faith, we explore the origins of the Puritan movement in England, their desire to "purify" the Church of England, and the growing pressures that eventually pushed many of them across the Atlantic. We follow their journey from the religious conflicts of the Reformation to the shores of New England, where they sought to build a society ordered around their understanding of God's Word. The Puritans did not set out simply to find a new home; they believed they were participating in God's unfolding story. Their successes and struggles reveal what happens when people attempt to build a society shaped by faith and conviction. Join us as we discuss one of the most influential movements in the English-speaking world. Resource for this episode: Church History in Plain Language by Bruce Shelley https://amzn.to/4xx6evc

In this episode, we step into the blood-soaked and politically fractured world of 16th-century France through the life of Catherine de' Medici. Raised amid the intrigue of Renaissance Italy and thrust into the French throne room, Catherine became one of the most controversial women in European history. As Protestant Reformation ideas spread across Europe and the Catholic Counter-Reformation hardened divisions, France erupted into decades of religious violence between Catholics and Huguenots. We explore how Catherine tried to preserve both her family dynasty and the unity of France through political maneuvering, shifting alliances, and fragile compromises—yet repeatedly found herself swept into escalating chaos."Source: "Famous Men of the 16th & 17th Century" https://amzn.to/4a93ha1

In this episode, we revisit Loyola and the Council of Trent from the perspective of their impact on history using Mark Knoll's book, "Turning Points." We follow the remarkable global reach of the Society of Jesus, founded by Ignatius of Loyola, as they carried the message of Christianity far beyond Europe in the wake of the Counter-Reformation. We also discuss how the declarations of Trent enabled the movement to take hold.

In this episode, we step into the Catholic Church’s own Reformation, sometimes known as the Counter-Reformation—a movement marked not only by institutional reform but by a renewed emphasis on spiritual depth and clarity of doctrine. At the center of this renewal is Ignatius of Loyola. Join us as we chat, laugh, and learn!

After a short break from recording, we wanted to reconnect and share a quick update. Life has a way of filling every corner—personally and professionally—and over the past few months, we’ve both been navigating a lot behind the scenes. While we may have stepped away from the mic for a bit, this podcast has remained a meaningful part of our lives. In this short episode, we simply check in, share a bit of what’s been going on, and reconnect with each other—and with you. We’re grateful for your patience, your support, and for being part of this journey with us. 🎙️ More content is on the way soon as we continue our chronological walk through history. Thanks for being here—we’re glad to be back.

In this episode we discuss and learn some new things about the birth of Jesus; the shepherd's experience; the visit of the magi; and....Ben Hur?!?

Here we discuss dreams and angels; introduce Mary and Elizabeth; and have some laughs with Zacharias.