Ep 80: Dr. Susan K. Roll on December 25 and the origins of Christmas

Episode 80 of the podcast features my interview with Dr. Susan K. Roll with her expert and scholarly insights into the origins of December 25 as the date for Christmas. The author of the book Toward the Origins of Christmas, my conversation with Dr. Roll touches on the earliest documents adhering to that date and how to address the pagan origins and influences on the holiday (as well as how the early church distinguished itself from them). As a Catholic lay woman, we also discuss her passions, insights, and ongoing work of being an advocate for women's ordination in the Catholic church.


You can purchase Dr. Roll's book Toward the Origins of Christmas from her publisher
(because Amazon is far too expensive!) and find one of her published articles here:
Christmas in Fear—or looking over one's shoulder at the creche
Also, the Christianity Today article mentioned in my opening can be found here: C.S. Lewis Was a Grinch

This interview was done in research for my own book 
Celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas, which can be purchased on:
Amazon
Christian Book Distributors
Wipf and Stock
Barnes and Noble
Google Play
Faithlife
Cokesbury

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Other related podcast episodes on Christmas and theology:
Ep 79: Blair E. Clark and the Artwork for the 12 Days of Christmas
Ep 79: Dr. Michael Ward on C.S. Lewis, Paganism, and Christmas
Ep 71: Happy Pagan Christmas!
Ep 72: The 12 Days of Christmas, New Years, and Epiphany
Ep 69: Ex Mormon Ministry Found Lynn Wilder
Ep 68: E. Byron Anderson on his book Common Worship
Ep 62: Stephen Backhouse on the Life of Kierkegaard
Ep 45: Religion and Philosophy Professor Brooks McDaniel

Ep 52: Fernando Ortega's The Crucifixion of Jesus

Ep 50: Stu G on the Beatitudes Project

Ep 49: Doug Chu on White Churches, Multicultural Worship, and the Asian-American Experience
Ep 47: Dr. Lester Ruth on the history of Contemporary Worship
Ep 26: Zac Hicks author of The Worship Pastor
Ep 07: Pastor Luke Edwards on "why churches should stop giving stuff away"

Ep 08: Dr. Jeremiah Gibbs on Postmodern Apologetics

Ep 11: Thom Blair on the Hebrew English Interlinear O.T. and Logos Bible Software

Classic Christian Music: A List of Radio Stations, Websites, Books, and Documentaries

I recently put up a post that has been viewed by more people than I ever thought it would. It is about the state Christian Music, or CCM, or "Jesus Music" is in, specifically how the music of older artists (or "legacy" artists) have gone out of print and that for those artists still touring their concerts are relatively small (though faithfully attended by a few). You can view the article here: The Troubled Future Legacy of Christian Music.

PCR Podcast Episode 20: An Introduction to Classical Education

Every year at my school I give a talk introducing the concepts of Classical Education. Last year (2015) I recorded it and I offer it here now, both as something people would generally be interested in, but also a resource to the parents of my school. I plan to do the talk a little differently this year, so let this stand as a record of the old talk. My school, by the way, is Aletheia Christian School in Peoria Illinois (www.peoriaclassical.org). You can reach us at info@peoriaclassical.org or 309-635-9809.

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Check out the podcast page to subscribe on Stitcher, Tunein, and PocketCasts.

Past Podcast Episodes on Classical Education:
Episode 17: Douglas Wilson (pastor, educator, one of the founders of the Classical Education movement
Episode 18: Nathan Carr (Headmaster, Priest, & Preschooler at Heart)

The Basic Principles of History

This year at the school where I am a headmaster I am teaching a combined history, literature, and writing class to Jr. High students. Over the past few months I have been compiling a number of what I would call "Principles of History" mostly out of my own contemplation but also stemming from my recent readings of history. My plan is to discuss these principles everyday with my class, giving them the basic list only and not the writing that goes with it. Each day I will let them pick the principle they are most curious about as a discussion starter. May they be an aid to starting your own discussions...