Can we understand criminal justice Biblically? Criminal justice in America is in need of reform, and attorney Matthew Martens has put his theological mind into a Christian proposal for good reform. In this conversation with Matt, Derek, and Alastair, Martens covers mere sample of issues covered in his book, including coercion, social justice, presumption of innocence, and (this one really gets him going) absolute prosecutorial immunity. 
Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. 

Timestamps:
Derek Missed Out [0:00]
Matt Gets Excited [1:24]
Rooted in Love [5:50]
Target Audience [9:58]
Just War Theory [12:45]
Violence [15:29]
Social Justice [19:51]
Comparing to Scripture [24:19]
Presumption of Innocence [28:16]
Accountability and Immunity [37:45]
Reciprocal Punishment [47:42]

Reforming Criminal Justice, with Matthew Martens

The renowned Professor Oliver O’Donovan joins Matt and Alastair to discuss the relationship between the practice of the Christian faith and the philosophical field of ethics. 
Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. 
Timestamps:
A Warm Welcome [0:00]
How can ethics be Christian? [1:44]
Creation vs. Nature [5:27]
Family Duty [11:28]
Jewish Tradition [19:10]
Novelty [23:19]
Variety [27:52]
The Closure of the Canon [34:37]
Moral Formation [38:55]

Christian Ethics with Oliver O’Donovan

Professor Oliver O’Donovan joins Matt and Derek once more. This time they discuss the relationship of Christian belief and practice to the contemporary political realities of our world. Do we need a new constitution? What’s to be done about the current wars? How can we properly utilize passion and reason in elections?
Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. 
Timestamps:
The O’Donovan Inception [0:00]
The Role of Scripture in Political Judgment [2:46]
How do we read Genesis? [7:31]
Carl Schmitt: Friend-Enemy Polarity [10:26]
Augustine: Objects of Common Love [16:24]
Rene Girard: Rivalry [21:42]
Pro- and Post-Liberalism [24:45]
New Beginnings [31:18]
The Role of Reason in Politics [36:22]
Remember the Rest of the World [40:31]

Christian Politics with Oliver O’Donovan

Ewan Goligher has written a book making a clear and strong argument against euthanasia and for the intrinsic value of human life. He joins Matt and Alastair to discuss many fine points of this complex and knotty issue, including the history of the legality of euthanasia in Canada, the ethical implications of suicide, the good of death, and the intrinsic value of a human’s existence. 
Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. 
Timestamps:
Keep Us Going [0:00]
A Sudden Change in Canada [1:48]
A Reaction from the Church [6:48]
Autonomy of Physicians [9:56]
Whose Prima Facie? [14:34]
Intrinsic Value [18:42]
Suicide qua Suicide [21:06]
Existence [27:47]
Death as a Witness [32:28]
Death as a Mercy [35:44]
Creatures in Time [44:51]

How Should We Then Die? with Ewan Goligher

What makes good summer reading? If anyone would know, it’s the Mere Fi bookworms. This isn’t a book recommendation episode. Matt, Andrew, and Alastair ask the questions to figure out what actually drives each of them to read the books they do, and why they are so different.
Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. 

Timestamps:
The Glue Guy [0:00]
A Lack of Resonance [1:41]
Finding Resonance [7:28]
Malaise & Wonder [10:54]
Read Your Greens [16:35]
To Each His Own [18:34]
The Questions that Animate You [23:06]
Sexy Thinker Books [27:25]
First-Order Encounters with the Text [32:55]
Be Selective [37:10]
Think Lewisly [42:34]

Summer Reading

Is it useful to talk about finding our identity in Christ? Is that the language that the Scripture uses? How do our modern and post-modern ideas of identity thin out our understanding of self? Derek, Matt, and Alastair tackle these sticky issues with their signature tenacity and panache.
Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. 
Timestamps:
Reunited [0:00]
Effectively Vapid [1:14]
Identity in Scripture [7:00]
Arriving at Identity [11:16]
Thick and Thin Categories [13:19]
I Identify As [16:12]
The Proleptic Case for Identity [22:10]
Finding Yourself Here [25:12]
The Language of Self [28:29]
Character and Virtue [34:07]
Unsettling of Identity [39:04]

Identity in Christ

In response to a listener question, Derek, Matt, and Alastair go deep on the doctrine of creation. They ask and answer questions about whether creation is real, what counts as worship, what makes a doctrine of creation thick or thin, and whether we need to be thinking about God at all times. 
Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. 
Timestamps:
On the Excitement Meter [0:00]
Wherein Lies the Deepness? [2:13]
Reality and Goodness [10:30]
Participatory vs. Intrinsic Value [14:12]
A Dim Reflection [15:53]
Curiositas [18:57]
Not Everything Is Worship [22:39]
Children of the Earth [40:44]

What Difference Does a Doctrine of Creation Make?

Having recently been reminded of the ongoing disagreements about the ordination of women, the Mere Fi cast turn to the OG ordination, namely, the Levitical priesthood. What do the forms, narratives, and practices of the tribe of Levi in the Old Testament teach us about the role of pastor and priest now in the New Testamanet? And most importantly, should we require our pastors to wear swords?
Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. 
Timestamps:
It’s Raining in England [0:00]
A Better Beginning [2:08]
Scriptural Background [4:49]
Representative Function [7:17]
Vengeance [9:13]
Purity [19:15]
Sacrificial Genders [23:02]
Pastoral Forms & Hippie Slang [24:30]
The Grammar of Priesthood [27:05]
Natural Law Dissenters [34:53]
Narrative Reinforcements [38:15]
Exceptions to the Rule [43:22]
Testamental Continuity [49:22]

The Tribe of Levi and Women’s Ordination

The data is in. Social media has now been studied long enough that we are able to compile reliable data, not just anecdotal evidence, about its effects on the mental health of boys, girls, young men, and young women. Algorithms, video games, porn, and more affect boys and girls very differently. And as the results become clearer, it also becomes more clear what to do about it. Andy Crouch returns to Mere Fidelity to discuss the problems and the solutions with Matt, Alastair, and Derek. 
Full show notes at www.merefidelity.com. 
Timestamps:
Proper Attention [0:00]
Technology Correspondent [1:42]
We Have the Data [2:54]
Asymmetrical Effects [10:24]
Morality Is Actually Practical [14:01]
Idolatry Works Short-Term [15:16]
Shifting Discourse [19:20]
The Algorithm [27:54]
Mental Distance [32:18]
No Control Group [35:01]
Practical Application [36:40]
Should we ban mobile phones in schools? [39:46]

Put Social Media in Its Place, with Andy Crouch

From the Mere Orthodoxy Podcast Network: thoughtful weekly conversations about theology, the culture, and the church, hosted by Matthew Lee Anderson, Derek Rishmawy, Alastair Roberts, and Andrew Wilson.

Reforming Criminal Justice, with Matthew Martens

Mere Fidelity

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