Seeking the Hidden Thing Podcast

A reading of Matthew 11-13 from the Revised Standard Version

I am joined in this episode to talk about this notion of "Truth." What is it? How important is it? How do we know we possess it? What are the implications of this for the Christian?

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This begins our comprehensive deep dive into Jacques Ellul's "Propaganda: the Formation of Men's Attitudes," endeavouring to give you back your own actions and thoughts.

Written version: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/propaganda-its-not-what-you-think

A reading of Matthew 8-10 from the Revised Standard Version

In a recent interview, I heard Auron push back on the idea that internet community just isn't properly real. I though he might like the opportunity to expand on that observation with a conversation.

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In the final installment of this series, we look at how the difference between men and women affect four areas of society and walk through Ong's understanding of the life cycle of a culture.

Written version: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/contest-sexuality-and-consciousness

A reading from Matthew 5-7, the "Sermon on the Mount," from the Revised Standard Version.

I am joined today by John Slaughter and Charles Haywood to talk about the whole subject of Christians and their relationship to violence. As our world becomes more tumultuous and unstable, it seems like this issue is pressing upon us more and more. Its a complex subject that makes many of us uncomfortable. That is probably a good thing. But we live in a world of sin and evil. Violence is an ever present reality. When Europe was dominated by Christianity, violence did not disappear. Christians found a way, however imperfectly it was instantiated in practice, to think about violence and contain and restrain it within and under their faith. We talk about this and more.

Here is a link to John Slaughter’s very fine article on the subject if you have not already read it: https://substack.com/@texasjohnslaughter/p-148930806

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A reading of Matthew 1-4 from the Revised Standard Version

Everyone wants solutions to their problems and society's problems. The difficulty is that the very idea of "the solution" is itself problematic for theological, philosophical and practical reasons.

Written version: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/the-problematic-nature-of-the-solution

It is becoming increasingly obvious that our culture has a crisis of authority. The response to Covid-19 by the regime demonstrated this. So, where does authority come from?

Written version: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/the-true-source-of-authority

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Note: the audio portion of this post will be available to all my subscribers, but the written version with all the pictures, maps and video is a paid subscriber only piece. Enjoy! And, as always, thank you for your support.

Written Version: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/there-and-back-again-canoeing-into

Are today's soldiers "warriors"? If not, why not? What is it that makes a warrior what they are? Why is it important to understand this in today's world of cultural flux and decay?

The articles John referenced:

https://texasjohnslaughter.substack.com/p/the-twilight-of-warriors

https://becomingnoble.substack.com/p/youre-called-to-be-meek-that-doesnt?r=1pazbp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true

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Recently, Nate Fischer released a very thoughtful examination of current situation and how he envisions the role that New Founding can play in building something enduring, beyond the current regime.

You can find the New Founding Manifesto here: https://www.newfounding.com/post/strategy

You find Nate's interview with J. Burden here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJZ7Y4maozY

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Today we emphasize the idea that what is most important is to express what is within us and let that authentically shape the world. It was not always this way. There is an older, perhaps better way.

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Written piece: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/fulfill-your-role-the-song-of-roland

Many like to entertain theories about who is pulling the strings behind the scenes. While interesting to follow, they ignore much of how power is instantiated today. The answers are much more mundane.

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Written version: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/oligarchs-vs-administrators

For anyone who is paying attention, it is not hard to get the sense that the European right is different from the North American right, especially the American right. I invited on to help us get a better understanding of the dynamics of the European Right, its history and development, the issues at play, and the role that the Christian faith plays in right wing politics in Europe today. I think you will enjoy this discussion.

Note: there are two spots in which there was an interruption in the internet. They were short and hopefully will not be too much of a distraction.

You can find Eugyppius’ work on Substack at:

He also posts on Twitter at: https://x.com/eugyppius1

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There is a lot of talk right now about the "woke right." Its a stupid term, but its deployment is strategic and designed to subvert a properly understood right-wing identity politics.

Written version: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/the-woke-right-identity-politics

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As we stare at the end of our great culture, this, maybe more than any other, is the fundamental societal question of our time.

Written Version: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/where-does-culture-come-from

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Because it is a large group and you might not be able to pick out voices, at the suggestion of listeners to the last round table I have endeavoured to keep track of who is speaking and when. Yes, you are hearing birds chirping. One of us was joining in from what looked like his back deck. Enjoy!

00:00 - Kruptos - Introducing the guests and topic. 3:50 - C. Jay Engel 10:45 - Big Tuna/Riley S 14:40 - C. Jay Engel 16:04 - The Black Horse 18:06 - C. Jay Engel 18:25 - William M. Briggs 20:05 - Charles Haywood 21:50 - Jon Harris 24:25 - The Black Horse 24:50 - Jon Harris 26:10 - C. Jay Engel 26:30 - William M. Briggs 27:20 - Lafayette Lee 33:28 - C. Jay Engel 34:02 - Kruptos 38:08 - The Black Horse 39:53 - Charles Haywood 41:10 - Lafayette Lee 42:55 - Kruptos 46:20 - C. Jay Engel 47:30 - Kruptos 47:40 - C. Jay Engel 48:05 - Jon Harris 50:50 - The Black Horse 52:10 - C. Jay Engel 55:22 - The Black Horse 56:23 - Kruptos 59:05 - C. Jay Engel

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I was joined by Ron Dodson, Josh Abbotoy, and midway through by Nate Fischer and The Black Horse to discuss the growing problem of Christian leadership bending itself to "the regime."

Increasingly, many of us in the pews are noticing that Christian leaders, many of whom cast themselves as defenders of Christian tradition and orthodoxy are adapting and changing their positions on various issues and practices in ways that are more compatible and harmonious with the progressive regime. We take time to discuss what is happening. We have a conversation over why it is happening and then venture some thoughts on what we can do about it, both in terms of big picture theory/framework as well on the ground practical strategies.

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The political and social landscape is changing. Churches and their leaders are adapting, but not in the ways you might expect. Let's try to understand the phenomenon of the "regimevangelical."

Written version: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/understanding-the-regimevangelical

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It is no secret that schools have become a feminized environment. It wasn't always that way. There was a time where school was a form of contest and a rite of passage marking you a man.

Written Version: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/educating-boys-or-why-latin-disappeared

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Dr. Lancellotti has dedicated himself to translating the works of Italian philosopher Augusto del Noce into English. He was gracious enough to join me for the Ghetto's first guest appearance.

Long time readers of this Substack will know that I reference del Noce frequently. For those unfamiliar with Augusto del Noce, I would encourage you not just to listen to this interview, but go back and read my Del Noce pieces which all should be tagged “Augusto del Noce.” If you are looking to read him yourself, begin with The Crisis of Modernity as this is the most accessible of the three works. None of them are easy reads, but will reward a patient and close reading.

You can follow Dr. Lancellotti on Twitter, and I recommend that you do: @_CLancellotti

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Men today are lost because the technological and administrative world in which they find themselves gives them no markers to tell them they are men. In fact, to survive, they must become like women.

Written Version: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/boys-will-be-boys-facing-the-contest

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It takes little work to demonstrate that men are in trouble. The very idea of the "incel" cries out that something is wrong. To help understand this idea of "man" I turn to the writing of Walter Ong.

Written Version: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/what-is-a-man-introducing-the-idea

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Anyone with a plan or a set of policies that will "fix" things is lying to themselves and to you. It's not a matter of "if" things go sideways, it's more a question of "when" and "how bad will it be?"

Written Version: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/there-is-no-fixing-what-is-wrong

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For many of us, this online space of politically minded Christians is just that: online. There are frequent discussions in our orbit regarding the whole process of instantiating the things we talk about into real lived spaces. Hoe do we make all of this real? The Christian tradition, going all the way back to Jesus himself, has engaged in this activity called “discipleship.” Sometimes more, sometimes less. Sometimes better, sometimes poorer. Among Jesus’ final recorded words is the command known at “The Great Commission.”

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.”

We live in a time of social, political and even religious decay and decline. There are many problems in both the broader society as well as the Christian community. Men, Christian men, are struggling. How do we address this as Christians? The wonderful thing about these emergent spaces is that they have fertile places for fomenting new ideas and approaches. You bump into people who don’t accept your tired Christian clichés. They are not afraid to tell you to your face that churches are not friendly or welcoming places for men these days. So what to do about? I invited a few members of the Christian Ghetto group chat to join me to talk about it: The Black Horse, Dr. Ben Braddock, John Slaughter Esq., Athenian Stranger, Ron Dodson and Jon Harris (who joined as the discussion was already underway, and so was not introduced at the beginning).

Enjoy! And please, if you have questions or something to add around this topic of discipleship, especially the discipleship of men, leave a comment and they will get passed on and may become the seed for us to pick this important topic again.

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One of the most devastating influences upon the Christian faith has been egalitarianism. Christians trying to signal they are no better than anyone else has been ruinous for the faith.

Written Piece: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/the-burden-of-being-better

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We live in a mass society where people have been shorn of their connections to each other and to the past, even to themselves in favour of absolute personal autonomy. What is friend in this context?

Written version: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/fake-friends-the-friend-enemy-distinction

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As many of you know, I am a big advocate of building parallel communities that are capable of resisting both the rewards and punishments of the regime. I have talked about different forms of governance and the problem of technology as well as the importance of the Christian faith in all of this. But sooner or later you have to start doing something. Where do you begin? How do you start? What are some things you have to have in place? What are some of the ingredients that help encourage success? What kinds of pitfalls and hurdles can you expect? I invited Ernst Van Zyl, Head of Public Relations at AfriForum (known to Twitter/X as Conscious Caracal, @ConCaracal: www.twitter.com/ConCaracal) to join me to discuss the things he has learned from AfriForum’s various parallelism projects in South Africa, as well his thoughts on the community of Orania. Christian Ghetto regular, The Black Horse, also joined the discussion.

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I got together with C. Jay Engel and Ron Dodson to discuss Christian participation in the political realm. Many these days are very conflicted, and even opposed to the idea that Christians should desire to wield political power. They cringe at the idea that someone might try to impose the Christian faith by force. There are a lot of misunderstandings which surround this and we thought it a good time to talk through some of the issues and help Christians come to a healthy, theologically and philosophically sound understanding of the relationship between the Christian, the church and the political. Hopefully they will come to see that the political and the role of the magistrate are a form of God’s grace for us in a sinful world. After closing off this discussion, the three of us quickly realized there were a number of related and important topics we never even touched. There is room for the discussion to continue at future date.

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This term, "re-enchantment" is starting to enter the lexicon of right wing discussion. We should resist this. I am not sure I have a better one, but this label works for the machine, not against it.

Written Version: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/why-i-hate-the-term-re-enchantment

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One of the great questions of our age is whether or not we as human beings will be able to master technology or will we continue to be mastered by it? Essentially, it is a moral question.

Written Version: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/can-humanity-master-technology

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Conservatives and many others on the political right fail to understand what exactly is this thing that we call the "culture war" and as a result they are ineffective in their efforts to fight it.

Written Version: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/the-true-nature-of-the-culture-war

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We are locked within the tyranny of the administrative state, governed by the administrative system. What is the alternative? It is to once again be ruled directly by men.

Written Version: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/ruled-by-men-or-governed-by-the-system

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This morning, quite early for me, I was joined with two overseas members of the Christian Ghetto group chat, and to discuss postmodernism, the hermeneutical problem, and their importance for our political moment. Many decry critical theory as the source of all which is wrong with today. But the reality is that there would be no critical theory without enlightenment liberalism. The real “enemy” is the enlightenment frame within which we are trapped. Critical theory, while it has its own flaws —which we discuss— helps us break out of the modernist reality within which we are enframed. Pushing through to the other side raises the possibility of once again reconnecting with our living Christian tradition, offering us both a revitalization of wisdom and true authority. The story of Solomon, the baby and the two mothers features prominently.

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Have you ever wondered where law comes from? Law truly is a miracle.

Written version: https://open.substack.com/pub/seekingthehiddenthing/p/the-politics-of-transcendence-the

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How should a Christian think about the philosophical school know as “Vitalism.” Is is compatible with Christian teaching? Even if it cannot be imported in its entirety, are there lessons we can take from Vitalism? Are there things that Vitalism sees about us as Christians, critiques of which we have difficulty owning up? Brian C. Wilson of Montana Classical College — “Montana” — joins me for a discussion on this important topic. Since we in the Ghetto try to make these open discussions among the group, Riley S — “BT” — joined us shortly after we got going. I think you will be blessed with Montana’s command of both the Greek corpus as well as the writing of BAP and his book “The Bronze Age Mindset.” BT brings an impressive grasp of the writings of C.S. Lewis to the conversation. I am hoping you will find the discussion “vitalizing.”

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I was joined by The Black Horse and Riley S to discuss events since we last recorded on January 15. You can find the original discussion here:

https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/4-the-christian-ghetto-muscular-christianity

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I was joined by a number of members of the Christian Ghetto to talk about the growing tensions along the Texas border between the federal government and the state of Texas. How should Christians think about these issues? Members of the Ghetto are generally in favor of a more muscular response the immigration question in both theory and in practice. How should we think about this theologically? Can we draw on the wisdom of our own long tradition to help us frame a response we can be confident in as Christians. Together with Charles Haywood, The Black Horse, Joshua Abbotoy, Ron Dodson, Bits of Paul, and J. Burden, we spend an enjoyable hour discussing this important topic as it continues to expose the contradictions within the rule of the regime.

Pieces referenced in the discussion:

Josh Abbotoy. “American Crisis.” American Reformer.

Todd Bensman. “Texas Seizes Large Sanctuary Island in Campaign Against Cartels.” Center for Immigration Studies.

John Calvin. Institutes of the Christian Religion. 4.20.4,30-31

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There are many out there who think that the Christian way is persuasion, not coercion. They thus reject the idea of writing Christian moral teaching into law. It is time to address this concern.

Written Version: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/the-case-for-coercive-christianity

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Many like to think of themselves as "conservatives" in the US. But there really is no such thing. Why not? And what is conservatism, really?

Written version: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/conservatism-is-not-a-thing-in-the

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I occasionally say on Twitter that conservatives should stop giving to the Republican Party and use the money to build autonomous parallel communities. What does that look like? Let's sketch it out.

Written Version: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/building-a-parallel-polity-sketching

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It is for good reason that people hate philosophers and lawyers. Truth is not what it always seems, is an elusive concept and truth is not the goal when battling the propagandist.

Written Version: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/what-is-truth-narrative-control-and

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A deep dive into one of Ellul's shorter works. Its a book with a promising title that quickly disappoints. Let's dive in a find out why.

Written Version: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/anarchy-and-christianity

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It is vitally important that we learn how to once again "ground" ourselves. But we cannot do this with reason or science. We cannot do it with universals. The only way out is through.

Written Version: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/live-your-own-truth-finding-our-way

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This question, and its corollary, "Who is an American?" seems like a minefield. Any answer you produce feels like it will blow up in your face. But answering it is vital to the moment.

Written version: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/what-is-america

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Technique, especially in the form of managerialism, is everywhere, even in the churches. This hinders Christian resistance to the regime. But what are we to do about it?

Written version: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/managerial-christianity

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We have been told that freedom is the power to exercise our will to make choices without restraint. But for a Christian, freedom is something all together different. What is it?

The written version can be found here:

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We live in tumultuous, troubled times. They are breaking down the old stories we used to use to understand ourselves and the world around us. New discourses are emerging. NETTER is one such.

Written Version: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/the-ongoing-nettr-discussion-agency

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After fellow Christian Ghetto dezien of the “Becoming Noble” Substack wrote his “Teleocracy & Prestige,” I knew that we would have to find a way to have a discussion. We eventually worked out a date and time and were joined by some other members of the Christian Ghetto group chat, namely and . When of the “KarlStack” Substack expressed interest, I invited him to join us as well. Together, we spent a productive hour discussing the need for dissident communities and how to attract the kind of competent, capable people you will need to both lead and fill the ranks of any meaningful resistance to the regime. It was a good start, but this is a topic that is really in its infancy. It will need more talk and doing down the road. But we have to begin somewhere. I have linked below the pieces which were referenced during the discussion.

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One of the ideas emergent in the dissident right is the tactic of having "No Enemies to the Right." Many are trouble by this. Should they be? Is this something Christians can embrace?

The written version can be found here: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/towards-a-theology-of-nettr

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Fighting for your right to free speech does not weaken the system in your favor. No, it actually strengthens the system by giving validity to the logic of the system itself.

The written version can be found here: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/the-right-to-free-speech-is-the-queering

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To be a true "conservative" would mean being opposed to the West itself, at least the West since the Enlightenment. Why is this? Because the operating system of the West is Technique and Progress.

The written version can be found here: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/technique-propaganda-and-the-left

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Note: The Black Horse had some connection problems at the start. Those get figured out and we settled in after that.

For those who are new here, the Christian Ghetto is a Twitter group chat that works to cultivate and promote a distinctly Christian presence on the Dissident Right. You can find a longer explanation and our first podcast here:

A couple of us got together again to discuss a number of things which popped up during the interview with Auron MacItyre which you can find here:

As noted above, I am joined by The Black Horse and we spend a productive hour and a half talking through technique, the regime and how we might respond. Enjoy!

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I talk a lot about the effects of technology, the technical system and the way of thinking called technique, but they are sustained by a way of seeing the universe that we might broadly call: "Deism"

Written Version: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/living-within-the-machine-the-problem

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One popular idea in dissident right circles is that what is needed is to oust the existing elites and replace them with new set of elites. I wish it could work, but unfortunately, it won't.

The written version can be found here: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/why-the-administrative-state-renders

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"The state" will remain the enemy of the people until it is brought down. The only way to bring down the state is to bring about the end of the modern world. Is the cost too high?

The written version can be found here: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/man-or-machine-the-necessary-total

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You need the organizational skills of the managers to turn a revolt into a revolution. But the process of institutionalizing the revolution at the same time domesticates it.

The written version can be found here: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/teeny-bopper-revolutionaries-part

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We like to think of "the left" as the enemy. But the left is not the real problem. They are more symptom, than cause. The real problem is the fact of the state and the reasons why it exists.

The written version can be found here: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/the-state-is-the-enemy-part-4-of

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Old political orthodoxies are crumbling. A new vision has yet to form. Many criticize and critique the regime, but in the end, only Christianity can oppose the essence of the regime at its core.

The written version of this episode can be found at: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/why-the-future-of-the-dissident-right

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What forces within society create the conditions for revolution?

The written version of this audio can be found here: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/a-deep-dive-into-jacques-elluls-autopsy-be9

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Condensed symbols and archetypes are powerful. They can be like wrestling monsters, dragons or other mythic beasts. But they can be sources of great energy if we have the courage.

This is the audio version of a piece that appeared at Arktos.com. You can read it at the link below:

Trailer Park Mom: A Reflection

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The rise of the bourgeoisie demanded a rational society. In their hands, revolution is transformed into a force for a positive future as instantiated in the modern rational state.

The written version can be found here: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/a-deep-dive-into-jacques-elluls-autopsy-656

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Episode 1 of the Christian Ghetto Discussions: "The Threat of Materialism"

Participants:

@_kruptos of www.seekingthehiddenthing.com

@SantiagoPliego of @NewFoundingOrg / www.newfounding.com

@Sanfiedisti1 of https://positionanddecision.substack.com/

@RadicalLib of https://www.youtube.com/c/RadicalLiberation

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A Deep Dive into Jacques Ellul's "Autopsy of Revolution" pt. 1: Revolt and Revolution

What is the difference between a revolt and a revolution? How does a revolt become a revolution and why it is vital for our current moment to understand how this happens and what it means.

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This is a free episode of the Seeking the Hidden Thing podcast. If you enjoyed this, consider becoming a paid subscriber and gain access to the full catalogue of pieces and podcasts. This is a reader/listener supported publication. Your support is greatly appreciated.

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In our fight with the regime, we must grapple with the ideology of Progressivism. To do that we must ultimately reject the idea of Progress. But for that we must first reject the idea of History.

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Humility is one of those traits of good character we are told we need to cultivate, but our egalitarian society makes it almost impossible. It will be vital for a post-liberal world.

If you are listening to the free preview, consider subscribing and receive access to the full episode as well as the complete catalogue of pieces and podcast readings.

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Let's talk about this using insights from Jacques Ellul's "Autopsy of Revolution." Everything is not as it seems and you should not let yourself get trapped in the regime's propaganda discourse.

This is the free audio edition of a Seeking the Hidden Thing post. If you enjoyed this recording, consider signing up with a paid subscription. This is a listener supported podcast. Every bit helps and is appreciated. You can subscribe at www.seekingthehiddenthing.com

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What is community and why is it so important to understand what a community is and the role it is supposed to play in society?

If you enjoyed this preview, consider supporting this podcast with a subscription. Gain access to the full catalogue of episodes. This is a reader supported publication and every bit helps.

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While it may be "artificial," it is not, nor will it ever be, "intelligence." These algorithms, while powerful, expose for us the hubris of the technologist: that we can breathe life into machines.

If you enjoyed the preview, consider a paid subscription and gain access to the whole catalogue of episodes. This is a reader/listener supported publication and every little bit helps.

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There are a lot of patterns of thought which seem to us universal and just the way things are. One of these is "cause and effect." But there is another way to see the world, older, more powerful.

The written version can be found here: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/breaking-the-habits-of-western-thinking

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The term "Christian nationalism" is thrown around a lot these days. What should be the role of the Christian and the Church in the broader political landscape?

If you enjoyed this free episode, consider supporting this publication with a paid subscription. You will gain access to the full catalogue of episodes. It is a reader/listener supported publication and every bit helps.

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Oswald Spengler offers an interesting insight that helps us understand our time and the challenge we face. We are a merchant people. But living cultures are, at their heart, warrior societies.

Written version: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/the-warrior-the-priest-and-the-merchant

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It is much easier today to see that there are problems with democracy and the idea of a democratic legislature. But what are those problems? How best to understand them? Alternatives?

Written Version: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/carl-schmitt-for-the-masses-the-problematic

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My recent trip to the Netherlands was an interesting example of how to build cities that integrate car, pedestrian and bicycle traffic almost seamlessly. Is this replicable? Recording this one to audio is a bit of an experiment, as half of the original article from 2022 is a discussion of picture content. I think it will work for the most part and you will hopefully get most of what I am trying to communicate. Almost half of the piece is included with the preview, the “theory” portion, the remaining half behind the paywall gives a modicum of privacy. To get the full experience, you will probably want to have a look at the pics, but not while driving. Enjoy.

Written piece: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/the-bikeablewalkable-city-the-example

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What can we do if we cannot reform or control the administrative state? Acquiesce? Revolution? Or is there an other option? Ellul makes the case without making it, for building a parallel society.

Written Version: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/the-political-illusion-pt5-the-heroic

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Most live with the idea that we vote for our leaders and that these men and women exercise political control over the bureaucracy, the administrative state. This is an illusion.

Written Version: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/the-political-illusion-pt-4-the-administrative

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Everyone understands that we live immersed in propaganda. So what is it and how does it work? This piece gives a basic introduction to this important subject.

Written version: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/the-political-illusion-pt-3-propaganda

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Ellul argues that politics in a world of "necessity," that is, a world where there is sin and evil, runs by its own rules: an "ethical" politics is not really possible or advisable.

Written Version: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/the-political-illusion-pt-2-the-autonomy

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We begin a deep dive into Jacques Ellul's "The Political Illusion," letting him pierce through many of the common misconceptions we have about the working of politics.

The written version: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/the-political-illusion-pt-1-the-necessary

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In these politically charged times, how should Christians understand the role of violence during times of tumultuous political change. Ellul helps us through this with the concept of "necessity."

Written version: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/christian-realism-and-the-necessity

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Alasdair MacIntyre makes the observation that in the west we have replaced the idea of "morality" with that of "effectiveness" in governance. But can our managerial society be effective?

Written version: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/publish/post/126995063

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We finish our look at the concept of "The Political" as Schmitt discusses how the idea plays out in the era of global realities. Is world peace possible? Can we transcend political conflict?

The written version can be found here: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/carl-schmitt-for-the-masses-the-concept-edf

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The challenge when attempting to interpret a document like the American Constitution, applying it to today, is that the favorite approach of many on the right-originalism- just isn't serious.

The written version can be found here: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/myth-originalism-and-natural-law

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We continue our deep dive into one of Carl Schmitt's best known and most influential books.

The written version of this audio edition can be found here: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/carl-schmitt-for-the-masses-the-concept-e16

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Most these days have heard of Carl Schmitt's Friend-Enemy distinction. What is it all about and why is it important for us today to understand this idea?

The written version can be found here: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/carl-schmitt-for-the-masses-the-concept

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What makes a state legitimate? Given how problematic the idea is, you would think our current regime would pay more attention to establishing its own legitimacy. Instead, they go the opposite way.

The written version can be found here: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/carl-schmitt-for-the-masses-the-problem-1c2

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We have this belief in democratic societies that the people are sovereign. Or that we live under the rule of law. Carl Schmitt is here to disabuse you of these naïve ideas.

The written version can be found here: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/carl-schmitt-for-the-masses-the-problem

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The real divide between left and right is not over any issue or set of policy prescriptions. Rather, it is primarily a question of theology.

The written version can be found here: https://www.seekingthehiddenthing.com/p/the-true-political-divide-original

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All during the Covid-19 panic, people kept trying to tell us to "follow the science." But no matter how hard they try to make it such, the scientific method cannot be used as a guide for your actions

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An introduction to into my thinking and where I hope to go with this Substack. This is an audio version of a post first published Jan 26, 2022. The written version can be found at www.seekingthehiddenthing.com

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