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Send us Fan Mail Please note that this episode is a complete 2026 rewrite and expansion of an essay I first wrote in 1995 as part of a module on Church History under L.B.C. I have included the full list of references: References for the Francis of Assisi: 1. The Bible — Primary Theological Source Matthew 5–7 — Sermon on the Mount; treasure, generosity, righteousness and discipleship. Matthew 6:19–24 — Treasures in heaven and serving God rather than money. Matthew 18:1–6 — Greatness, humility and receiving the vulnerable. Matthew 20:20–28 — Greatness through servanthood; Christ came "not to be served but to serve." Matthew 25:31–46 — The "least of these" and Christian responsibility toward those in need. Mark 8:34–38 — Self-denial, taking up the cross and following Christ. Mark 10:17–31 — The rich young ruler and the danger of wealth. Mark 10:42–45 — Servanthood and Christ giving His life as a ransom. Luke 9:23–25 — Taking up the cross daily. Luke 10:25–37 — The Good Samaritan and practical mercy. Luke 14:12–14 — Generosity toward those who cannot repay. Luke 18:18–30 — The rich ruler. John 13:1–17 — Jesus washing the disciples' feet. John 13:34–35 — "Love one another as I have loved you." Acts 2:42–47; 4:32–35; 5:1–11 — Early Christian generosity and the question of private possessions. Romans 12:9–13 — Love, generosity, hospitality and serving others. 1 Corinthians 13 — Christian love. 2 Corinthians 8–9 — Generosity and care for Christians in need. Galatians 5:13 — "Through love serve one another." Ephesians 4:28 — Working so that we may have something to share with those in need. Philippians 2:3–8 — Christ's humility and taking the form of a servant. Philippians 4:10–13 — Contentment in both abundance and need. 1 Timothy 6:6–19 — Contentment, the danger of the love of money, and instructions to wealthy believers. James 2:14–17 — Faith expressed through practical care for those in need. 1 Peter 4:8–11 — Using God's gifts to serve others. Hebrews 13:16 — Doing good and sharing with others. 2. Francis of Assisi — Primary Sources Francis of Assisi, The Testament Francis of Assisi, Earlier Rule (Regula non bullata), 1221 Francis of Assisi, Rule of the Friars Minor, 1223 Francis of Assisi, Admonitions Francis of Assisi, Canticle of the Creatures 3. Thomas of Celano Thomas of Celano, The Life of St. Francis (Vita prima), c. 1228–1229 Thomas of Celano, The Second Life of St. Francis (Vita secunda), c. 1246–1247 4. Bonaventure Bonaventure, The Legend of Saint Francis 5. The Three Companions The Legend of the Three Companions, c. 1246 6. The Little Flowers of St. Francis The Little Flowers of St. Francis (Fioretti), late 13th/14th century 7. The Franciscan Rule and Papal Documents Pope Innocent III — early oral approval of the Franciscan movement, traditionally dated to 1209/1210. Pope Honorius III, Solet annuere (1223) — formal papal approval of the definitive Rule. Pope Gregory IX, Quo elongati (1230) — an important interpretation of Francis's Testament and the obligations of the Rule. Pope Nicholas III, Exiit qui seminat (1279) — major papal intervention concerning Franciscan poverty. Pope John XXII, Ad conditorem canonum (1322) — a major turning point in the controversy over Franciscan poverty. 8. Modern Historical and Biographical Studies Augustine Thompson: Francis of Assisi: A New Biography. Cornell University Press, 2012. André Vauchez: Francis of Assisi: The Life and Afterlife of a Medieval Saint. Yale University Press, 2012. Jacques Le Goff: Saint Francis of Assisi Routledge, 2004. Adrian House Francis of Assisi: The Man, the Saint and the Legend: Hidden Spring, 2001. Paul Sabatier: Life of St. Francis of Assisi 9. G. K. Chesterton: St. Francis of Assisi, 1923. 10. Online References: The Catholic Encyclopaedia. Support the show Follow and support me on Patreon. Jeremy McCandless | Creating Podcasts and Bible Study Resources | Patreon To receive my weekly newsletter and keep up to date with all five of my podcasts, subscribe at: Jeremy McCandless | Substack Check out my other Podcasts. The Journey Podcast (A Verse by Verse Study through the whole Bible: https://thebiblejourneydailypodcast.buzzsprout.com History of the Christian Church: https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com The L.I.F.E. Podcast: (Philosophy and current trends in the Arts and Entertainment Podcast). https://the-living-in-faith-everyday-podcast.buzzsprout.com The Renewed Mind Podcast. My Psychology and Mental Health Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568891 The Classic Literature Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568906 To visit my Author page on Amazon and view my entire back catalogue of books on both Amazon and Kindle, and now also on Audible, Visit: Amazon.com: Jeremy R Mccandless: books, biography, latest update

Send us Fan Mail Episode Notes: In our last episode, we stood in Rome in the year 1215. Bishops had gathered from across Western Europe, and the papacy stood at the height of its influence. The Church possessed enormous institutional, political, and spiritual power. Theology was becoming increasingly sophisticated, and the medieval Christian world appeared strong. But while all of this was happening, something else was taking place. But not in the palaces of Rome this time, not in the chambers of bishops. Not even in the lecture halls of the great universities. But in the life of a young Italian who had begun asking a very different question. Not: "How can I make the Church more powerful?" But: "What would it actually mean to follow Jesus?" His name was Francis of Assisi, and his answer would change the Christian world. Please note this episode is a complete 2026 rewrite and expansion of an essay in podcast form I first wrote in 1995 as part of a module studying Church History under L.B.C. I have included the full list of references: Support the show Follow and support me on Patreon. Jeremy McCandless | Creating Podcasts and Bible Study Resources | Patreon To receive my weekly newsletter and keep up to date with all five of my podcasts, subscribe at: Jeremy McCandless | Substack Check out my other Podcasts. The Journey Podcast (A Verse by Verse Study through the whole Bible: https://thebiblejourneydailypodcast.buzzsprout.com History of the Christian Church: https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com The L.I.F.E. Podcast: (Philosophy and current trends in the Arts and Entertainment Podcast). https://the-living-in-faith-everyday-podcast.buzzsprout.com The Renewed Mind Podcast. My Psychology and Mental Health Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568891 The Classic Literature Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568906 To visit my Author page on Amazon and view my entire back catalogue of books on both Amazon and Kindle, and now also on Audible, Visit: Amazon.com: Jeremy R Mccandless: books, biography, latest update

Send us Fan Mail This month's episode is a massive bonus triple episode.  Parts 2 and 3 will follow over the next two weeks. Please note that this episode is a complete 2026 rewrite and expansion of an essay I first wrote in 1995 as part of a module on Church History under L.B.C.  Part 2 will include the episode Notes. Part 3's Episode Notes will include a full List of all references used to prepare the script. Support the show Follow and support me on Patreon. Jeremy McCandless | Creating Podcasts and Bible Study Resources | Patreon To receive my weekly newsletter and keep up to date with all five of my podcasts, subscribe at: Jeremy McCandless | Substack Check out my other Podcasts. The Journey Podcast (A Verse by Verse Study through the whole Bible: https://thebiblejourneydailypodcast.buzzsprout.com History of the Christian Church: https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com The L.I.F.E. Podcast: (Philosophy and current trends in the Arts and Entertainment Podcast). https://the-living-in-faith-everyday-podcast.buzzsprout.com The Renewed Mind Podcast. My Psychology and Mental Health Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568891 The Classic Literature Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568906 To visit my Author page on Amazon and view my entire back catalogue of books on both Amazon and Kindle, and now also on Audible, Visit: Amazon.com: Jeremy R Mccandless: books, biography, latest update

Send us Fan Mail SPECIAL NOTE: This episode was extensively developed from an essay I wrote in 1994 as a conclusion to a module on the Medieval Church that I was studying under distance learning through London Bible College. I always hoped it would become useful one day. It was the year 1215. And if you could have stood in Rome that year, you would have witnessed something extraordinary. Thousands of churchmen gathered together. Bishops and abbots. Theologians and representatives of the great religious orders. And presiding over them all was one of the most powerful popes medieval Europe had ever known: Pope Innocent III. The medieval Church was at the height of its institutional power, and this council was going to make that power felt. I have included an extensive list of references and sources  References and Sources: Support the show Follow and support me on Patreon. Jeremy McCandless | Creating Podcasts and Bible Study Resources | Patreon To receive my weekly newsletter and keep up to date with all five of my podcasts, subscribe at: Jeremy McCandless | Substack Check out my other Podcasts. The Journey Podcast (A Verse by Verse Study through the whole Bible: https://thebiblejourneydailypodcast.buzzsprout.com History of the Christian Church: https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com The L.I.F.E. Podcast: (Philosophy and current trends in the Arts and Entertainment Podcast). https://the-living-in-faith-everyday-podcast.buzzsprout.com The Renewed Mind Podcast. My Psychology and Mental Health Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568891 The Classic Literature Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568906 To visit my Author page on Amazon and view my entire back catalogue of books on both Amazon and Kindle, and now also on Audible, Visit: Amazon.com: Jeremy R Mccandless: books, biography, latest update

Send us Fan Mail It was an age of order, logic, and structure. The great questions of faith were increasingly discussed in the schools and universities, and theology was becoming a disciplined science.  But not everyone believed that God was working primarily through classrooms and theological systems. Some believed He was about to do something entirely new. Some believed history itself was reaching a dramatic turning point. And among those voices, none was more influential or more controversial than Joachim of Fiore. Support the show Follow and support me on Patreon. Jeremy McCandless | Creating Podcasts and Bible Study Resources | Patreon To receive my weekly newsletter and keep up to date with all five of my podcasts, subscribe at: Jeremy McCandless | Substack Check out my other Podcasts. The Journey Podcast (A Verse by Verse Study through the whole Bible: https://thebiblejourneydailypodcast.buzzsprout.com History of the Christian Church: https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com The L.I.F.E. Podcast: (Philosophy and current trends in the Arts and Entertainment Podcast). https://the-living-in-faith-everyday-podcast.buzzsprout.com The Renewed Mind Podcast. My Psychology and Mental Health Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568891 The Classic Literature Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568906 To visit my Author page on Amazon and view my entire back catalogue of books on both Amazon and Kindle, and now also on Audible, Visit: Amazon.com: Jeremy R Mccandless: books, biography, latest update

Send us Fan Mail Episode Notes: Some people change history through dramatic events. Others change it through ideas. And then there are those rare figures who quietly reshape the way an entire civilization thinks. Peter Lombard was one of those men. You may not recognize his name immediately. He did not lead crusades, he did not stand before kings, and he did not become a martyr. And yet, for centuries, almost every theologian in Western Europe would sit under his influence. Because Peter Lombard did something extraordinary. He took the scattered theology of centuries, including the writings of the church fathers… the arguments of philosophers… the reflections of monks… the growing debates of the religious schools… and he attempted to organize it all into a single coherent system. His masterpiece was called Sentences, and for nearly four hundred years, it became the standard textbook of theology in the medieval church. And yet, this episode is not merely about old books and forgotten debates. Because the questions Peter Lombard wrestled with are still our questions. So, join me in today’s episode… As we explore the life and influence of Peter Lombard — The quiet scholar whose work became the foundation of medieval theology and whose influence shaped the church for centuries to come. Because sometimes the people who most change history are not the loudest voices in the room. But the ones who teach everyone else how to think…. Support the show Follow and support me on Patreon. Jeremy McCandless | Creating Podcasts and Bible Study Resources | Patreon To receive my weekly newsletter and keep up to date with all five of my podcasts, subscribe at: Jeremy McCandless | Substack Check out my other Podcasts. The Journey Podcast (A Verse by Verse Study through the whole Bible: https://thebiblejourneydailypodcast.buzzsprout.com History of the Christian Church: https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com The L.I.F.E. Podcast: (Philosophy and current trends in the Arts and Entertainment Podcast). https://the-living-in-faith-everyday-podcast.buzzsprout.com The Renewed Mind Podcast. My Psychology and Mental Health Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568891 The Classic Literature Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568906 To visit my Author page on Amazon and view my entire back catalogue of books on both Amazon and Kindle, and now also on Audible, Visit: Amazon.com: Jeremy R Mccandless: books, biography, latest update

Send us Fan Mail Welcome: What happens when the church becomes too clever? What happens when faith is no longer something to be lived, but something to be analysed? That is the world we stepped into with Peter Abelard in our last episode.  But not everyone welcomed that change, because, amid that rising tide of intellectual confidence, another voice began to speak. His name was Bernard of Clairvaux. And these two worldviews would collide. The world of the philosopher…. and the world of the monk.  Their conflict would not just shape their own lives, but it would shape the direction of medieval theology itself. And this still matters because, at its core, this is not just a story about the twelfth century. It is a story about every generation of the church.  So, join me in today’s episode…. As we step into the life, the passion, and the fierce convictions of Bernard of Clairvaux. The man who stood against the rising tide of intellectualism and called the church back to what, well, maybe to the heart of the Christian faith. For a complete list of sources and references used in the production of this episode, please visit my FREE Patreon page. Support the show Follow and support me on Patreon. Jeremy McCandless | Creating Podcasts and Bible Study Resources | Patreon To receive my weekly newsletter and keep up to date with all five of my podcasts, subscribe at: Jeremy McCandless | Substack Check out my other Podcasts. The Journey Podcast (A Verse by Verse Study through the whole Bible: https://thebiblejourneydailypodcast.buzzsprout.com History of the Christian Church: https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com The L.I.F.E. Podcast: (Philosophy and current trends in the Arts and Entertainment Podcast). https://the-living-in-faith-everyday-podcast.buzzsprout.com The Renewed Mind Podcast. My Psychology and Mental Health Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568891 The Classic Literature Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568906 To visit my Author page on Amazon and view my entire back catalogue of books on both Amazon and Kindle, and now also on Audible, Visit: Amazon.com: Jeremy R Mccandless: books, biography, latest update

Send us Fan Mail This episode goes live on all podcast platforms on the 1st May 2026 What happens when the human mind refuses to stay quiet? Today as we move further into the medieval world, that careful balance begins to shift. Because in the next generation, a new voice emerges. Brilliant, bold, and uncompromising. A man who would not simply reflect on the faith but would challenge it…. His name was Peter Abelard. For further reading and a complete list of all references & sources for this episode, please visit my Patreon page. Support the show Follow and support me on Patreon. Jeremy McCandless | Creating Podcasts and Bible Study Resources | Patreon To receive my weekly newsletter and keep up to date with all five of my podcasts, subscribe at: Jeremy McCandless | Substack Check out my other Podcasts. The Journey Podcast (A Verse by Verse Study through the whole Bible: https://thebiblejourneydailypodcast.buzzsprout.com History of the Christian Church: https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com The L.I.F.E. Podcast: (Philosophy and current trends in the Arts and Entertainment Podcast). https://the-living-in-faith-everyday-podcast.buzzsprout.com The Renewed Mind Podcast. My Psychology and Mental Health Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568891 The Classic Literature Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568906 To visit my Author page on Amazon and view my entire back catalogue of books on both Amazon and Kindle, and now also on Audible, Visit: Amazon.com: Jeremy R Mccandless: books, biography, latest update

Send us Fan Mail A History Podcast of the Christian Church told through the lives and thoughts of its greatest thinkers. Anselm of Canterbury Part Two. References and Sources for This Episode: Below are reliable academic and historical sources supporting the material used in this episode on Anselm of Canterbury. Primary Sources (Anselm’s Writings) Cur Deus Homo Proslogion Monologion Compilation: Anselm of Canterbury, The Major Works, Oxford World’s Classics. Church History & Theology Justo L. González — The Story of Christianity, Vol. 1 Bruce L. Shelley — Church History in Plain Language Nick Needham — 2,000 Years of Christ’s Power, Vol. 2: The Middle Ages Alister McGrath — Historical Theology Tony Lane — A Concise History of Christian Thought. (My original Course Textbook from 1995) Scholarly Works on Anselm R. W. Southern — Saint Anselm: A Portrait in a Landscape Brian Davies & G. R. Evans — Anselm of Canterbury: The Major Works David F. Wells — God in the Wasteland (for evangelical discussion of atonement history) For understanding Anselm’s satisfaction theory and later Protestant development: John Stott — The Cross of Christ Leon Morris — The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross Gustav Aulén — Christus Victor (classic historical study of atonement theories) Medieval Intellectual Context Peter Abelard — Sic et Non Bernard of Clairvaux — selected writings Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologiae. Support the show Follow and support me on Patreon. Jeremy McCandless | Creating Podcasts and Bible Study Resources | Patreon To receive my weekly newsletter and keep up to date with all five of my podcasts, subscribe at: Jeremy McCandless | Substack Check out my other Podcasts. The Journey Podcast (A Verse by Verse Study through the whole Bible: https://thebiblejourneydailypodcast.buzzsprout.com History of the Christian Church: https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com The L.I.F.E. Podcast: (Philosophy and current trends in the Arts and Entertainment Podcast). https://the-living-in-faith-everyday-podcast.buzzsprout.com The Renewed Mind Podcast. My Psychology and Mental Health Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568891 The Classic Literature Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568906 To visit my Author page on Amazon and view my entire back catalogue of books on both Amazon and Kindle, and now also on Audible, Visit: Amazon.com: Jeremy R Mccandless: books, biography, latest update

Send us Fan Mail A History Podcast of the Christian Church told through the lives and thoughts of its greatest thinkers. Anselm of Canterbury Part One. There are moments in church history when the Christian faith is forced to answer difficult questions. Not questions of persecution or survival, but questions of understanding. Questions that arise when thoughtful believers begin to ask what it means to believe, and whether faith can be explained? Questions like, can the truths of the gospel even be understood by the human mind, and if God has revealed Himself, how can we seek to understand that revelation more deeply with our limited human understanding? In the centuries after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, much of Europe struggled through what historians often call the Dark Ages. Learning had declined. Political order had fractured, and much of the intellectual life that had once shaped the ancient world seemed to be fading into the shadows. But faith remained. In our last episode, we encountered John Scotus Erigena, a remarkable thinker who attempted to bring together philosophy and theology boldly and imaginatively. John Erigena reminded us that Christianity has never been afraid of deep thinking — but his speculative approach also revealed the dangers of letting philosophy wander too far from the clear anchor of biblical revelation. But now, as we move further into the medieval world, we encounter a very different kind of thinker. Not a court philosopher or a speculative mystic this time, but a monk. A man who believed that theology must begin not with an intellectual argument, but with prayer. This man was Anselm of Canterbury.... Support the show Follow and support me on Patreon. Jeremy McCandless | Creating Podcasts and Bible Study Resources | Patreon To receive my weekly newsletter and keep up to date with all five of my podcasts, subscribe at: Jeremy McCandless | Substack Check out my other Podcasts. The Journey Podcast (A Verse by Verse Study through the whole Bible: https://thebiblejourneydailypodcast.buzzsprout.com History of the Christian Church: https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com The L.I.F.E. Podcast: (Philosophy and current trends in the Arts and Entertainment Podcast). https://the-living-in-faith-everyday-podcast.buzzsprout.com The Renewed Mind Podcast. My Psychology and Mental Health Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568891 The Classic Literature Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568906 To visit my Author page on Amazon and view my entire back catalogue of books on both Amazon and Kindle, and now also on Audible, Visit: Amazon.com: Jeremy R Mccandless: books, biography, latest update

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to The History of the Christian Church — where we journey through the shadows and the light of Christian history to discover how faith has been shaped, tested, preserved, and proclaimed across the centuries. Today, we step into one of the most misunderstood periods of Western history — the so-called Dark Ages. A time often portrayed as intellectually barren, culturally collapsed, and spiritually stagnant. A time when empires had fallen, learning had fragmented, and civilization itself seemed to flicker like a dying candle in the wind. But history is never as simple as its labels. Because even in the darkness, there were minds that burned bright. And one of the brightest — and strangest — of them all was John Scotus Erigena. He stands almost alone in his age — a towering mind in a fragmented world. Today, we explore the life, thought, influence, and legacy of the man I call: “The Theologian of the Dark Ages.” This is the story of John Scotus Erigena — In whose life we see theology meet philosophy, where faith meets reason, and where light shines in the darkest of centuries…. Support the show Follow and support me on Patreon. Jeremy McCandless | Creating Podcasts and Bible Study Resources | Patreon To receive my weekly newsletter and keep up to date with all five of my podcasts, subscribe at: Jeremy McCandless | Substack Check out my other Podcasts. The Journey Podcast (A Verse by Verse Study through the whole Bible: https://thebiblejourneydailypodcast.buzzsprout.com History of the Christian Church: https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com The L.I.F.E. Podcast: (Philosophy and current trends in the Arts and Entertainment Podcast). https://the-living-in-faith-everyday-podcast.buzzsprout.com The Renewed Mind Podcast. My Psychology and Mental Health Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568891 The Classic Literature Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568906 To visit my Author page on Amazon and view my entire back catalogue of books on both Amazon and Kindle, and now also on Audible, Visit: Amazon.com: Jeremy R Mccandless: books, biography, latest update

Send us Fan Mail When Gregory the Great became bishop of Rome at the end of the sixth century, the Western world was pretty much in ruins and standing on the edge of an era that would become known as the Dark Ages. The Roman Empire in the West had collapsed. Cities were crumbling. Plagues swept through the population. Invasions came not in isolation, but in waves. Civil authority was weak, unreliable, and sometimes absent altogether. and into that chaos stepped Gregory. He never sought power. In fact, he tried to flee it. Gregory preferred the quiet life of a monk to the burden of public leadership. Yet history would remember him as one of the most influential figures of the early medieval Church—the man who more than any other bridged the ancient world and the medieval West. In this episode, we’ll explore Gregory’s life, his writings, and his lasting influence on Western Christianity. We’ll see how he helped shape what would later become medieval spirituality, missions, church leadership, and even the way pastors understand their calling, a way in which we still understand it today.  So, today we’ll ask the question: What can Gregory still teach the modern Church about humility, authority, and faithfulness in uncertain times? Because Gregory the Great reminds us that sometimes the most important theologians are not those who build systematic theologies—but those who quietly keep the flame of faith burning when the night grows long and all around them things are going cold… Support the show Follow and support me on Patreon. Jeremy McCandless | Creating Podcasts and Bible Study Resources | Patreon To receive my weekly newsletter and keep up to date with all five of my podcasts, subscribe at: Jeremy McCandless | Substack Check out my other Podcasts. The Journey Podcast (A Verse by Verse Study through the whole Bible: https://thebiblejourneydailypodcast.buzzsprout.com History of the Christian Church: https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com The L.I.F.E. Podcast: (Philosophy and current trends in the Arts and Entertainment Podcast). https://the-living-in-faith-everyday-podcast.buzzsprout.com The Renewed Mind Podcast. My Psychology and Mental Health Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568891 The Classic Literature Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568906 To visit my Author page on Amazon and view my entire back catalogue of books on both Amazon and Kindle, and now also on Audible, Visit: Amazon.com: Jeremy R Mccandless: books, biography, latest update

Send us Fan Mail In the year 529, long after the fall of Rome and amid the turmoil of a fractured Europe, a small gathering of bishops met in the southern town of Orange. Their purpose? To settle one of the most important theological questions in Christian history: Is salvation the work of God alone, or do we play a part in earning it? In this episode, I explore the dramatic story of The Council of Orange — how it stood between the extremes of fatalism and self-salvation, and how it reaffirmed the gospel of grace first proclaimed by Augustine and Paul. We’ll discover how this quiet council helped to shape the Western church’s understanding of original sin, free will, and divine grace — truths that would later echo through the Reformation and remain vital for us today. Key themes: Grace as the first and final cause of salvation The ongoing influence of Augustine’s theology The rejection of Pelagianism and semi-Pelagianism Why the Council of Orange still matters for the modern church Takeaway: Even in the Dark Ages, God was at work. The Council of Orange reminds us that grace is not a doctrine to be debated — it’s the heartbeat of the Christian life. Support the show Follow and support me on Patreon. Jeremy McCandless | Creating Podcasts and Bible Study Resources | Patreon To receive my weekly newsletter and keep up to date with all five of my podcasts, subscribe at: Jeremy McCandless | Substack Check out my other Podcasts. The Journey Podcast (A Verse by Verse Study through the whole Bible: https://thebiblejourneydailypodcast.buzzsprout.com History of the Christian Church: https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com The L.I.F.E. Podcast: (Philosophy and current trends in the Arts and Entertainment Podcast). https://the-living-in-faith-everyday-podcast.buzzsprout.com The Renewed Mind Podcast. My Psychology and Mental Health Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568891 The Classic Literature Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568906 To visit my Author page on Amazon and view my entire back catalogue of books on both Amazon and Kindle, and now also on Audible, Visit: Amazon.com: Jeremy R Mccandless: books, biography, latest update

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we meet Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius — a Roman scholar, philosopher, and Christian who lived at the twilight of the ancient world. From his prison cell, awaiting execution under Theodoric the Ostrogoth, Boethius wrote The Consolation of Philosophy, one of the most influential works in Western history. This episode explores the life, context, and thought of Boethius — a man standing between two worlds: the fading classical order of Rome and the rising Christian civilization of medieval Europe. Through the figure of Lady Philosophy, Boethius sought comfort in reason, providence, and virtue. But as we’ll see, the book also reveals the limits of reason and the longing for the fuller revelation found only in Christ. Join us as we consider: ·         How Boethius bridged the gap between Plato and the early Church Fathers ·         Why The Consolation of Philosophy shaped medieval theology for centuries ·         The tension between philosophical reason and Christian revelation ·         What Boethius’s search for peace teaches us about faith in times of suffering ·         The story of Boethius reminds us that philosophy may point the way to truth — but only grace can open the gate. Support the show Follow and support me on Patreon. Jeremy McCandless | Creating Podcasts and Bible Study Resources | Patreon To receive my weekly newsletter and keep up to date with all five of my podcasts, subscribe at: Jeremy McCandless | Substack Check out my other Podcasts. The Journey Podcast (A Verse by Verse Study through the whole Bible: https://thebiblejourneydailypodcast.buzzsprout.com History of the Christian Church: https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com The L.I.F.E. Podcast: (Philosophy and current trends in the Arts and Entertainment Podcast). https://the-living-in-faith-everyday-podcast.buzzsprout.com The Renewed Mind Podcast. My Psychology and Mental Health Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568891 The Classic Literature Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568906 To visit my Author page on Amazon and view my entire back catalogue of books on both Amazon and Kindle, and now also on Audible, Visit: Amazon.com: Jeremy R Mccandless: books, biography, latest update

Send us Fan Mail Episode Notes:  The History of the Christian Church – Season 3, Episode 1 (Part 29) Title: The Medieval West: 500–1500 A.D. When you think of the Middle Ages, what comes to mind? Knights in shining armour? Castles and crusades? Or perhaps plagues and superstition? In this opening episode of Season 3, we step into the thousand-year story of the Western Church during the so-called "Dark Ages."  We’ll trace how the collapse of the Roman Empire gave way to chaos and invasion, but also how the monasteries preserved learning and kept faith alive. We’ll meet thinkers like Anselm, Abelard, and Aquinas who wrestled with the relationship between faith and reason. And we’ll see why this long, often-neglected period still speaks powerfully to our questions today. Season 3 begins here: The Medieval West, 500–1500 A.D. 🔑 Key Takeaways Why the "Dark Ages" weren’t completely dark.How monasteries became oases of faith and learning.The rise of scholastic theology and the new role of reason.The clash—and attempted harmony—between philosophy and revelation.Why the medieval wrestle with faith and reason still matters for us today.Support the show Follow and support me on Patreon. Jeremy McCandless | Creating Podcasts and Bible Study Resources | Patreon To receive my weekly newsletter and keep up to date with all five of my podcasts, subscribe at: Jeremy McCandless | Substack Check out my other Podcasts. The Journey Podcast (A Verse by Verse Study through the whole Bible: https://thebiblejourneydailypodcast.buzzsprout.com History of the Christian Church: https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com The L.I.F.E. Podcast: (Philosophy and current trends in the Arts and Entertainment Podcast). https://the-living-in-faith-everyday-podcast.buzzsprout.com The Renewed Mind Podcast. My Psychology and Mental Health Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568891 The Classic Literature Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568906 To visit my Author page on Amazon and view my entire back catalogue of books on both Amazon and Kindle, and now also on Audible, Visit: Amazon.com: Jeremy R Mccandless: books, biography, latest update