Episode Details

Is our modern definition of "toughness" actually biblical, or is it just a shadow of the ancient world? 

In this intellectually stimulating episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer and Dr. Ashish Varma explore the intersection of virtue ethics and theology. They look back at how the ancient world understood masculinity and femininity in relation to the virtues and ask: How did the early church transform these ideas into a call for all disciples?

In this episode, we discuss:

• Virtue Epistemology: Moving beyond "what we know" to "who we are" as a prerequisite for truth. 

• The Classical Map of Virtue: How concepts like courage, fortitude, and restraint were gendered in the ancient world.

• Redefining Toughness: Shifting from a "claspable" understanding of physical toughness to the spiritual grit of the person of Jesus.

• The Universal Call: Why virtues like courage and restraint are not gender-exclusive but are intended for everyone conformed to the image of Christ.

• Character over Culture: Navigating the current cultural tide by rooting our identity in the character of God rather than social stereotypes.

Join us as we bridge the gap between ancient philosophy and modern discipleship to find a more robust way to live as men and women of faith. 

Go deeper: Unmanly

Thinking Christian is hosted by Dr. James Spencer, president of the D. L. Moody Center and author of Digital Discernment (InterVarsity Press). Each conversation reads the Bible as the final authority for life and faith, questioning the assumptions of our culture, even our Christian culture, so that we don't settle for a narrower vision than God's word offers.

Unsettling convention. Cultivating conviction.
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