Paul Kingsnorth: the conversion of a celebrated author and environmentalist

Loved this conversation. He reminds me of my English lit prof at my small American Christian university of 20 years ago. He called himself a Luddite and we discussed nature and tech a lot in his classes. I should look up my prof and share this with him. 🙂

You cannot escape the sinless personhood of Jesus christ who invites all of us into a relationship of love not religion.

Thank you. This was eye-opening!

Thank you for this great conversation! Really enjoyed it. Thank you for the open, almost chat. I think you’re right, as much sometimes I want to leave God, I’m always pulled back to Him…

<3

We can escape the world to some degree, at least the influence of it somewhat, but, if we all run away to the woodlands and become like radagast the brown, how then are we to reach the world with the gospel of Jesus??

Though we need prayer warriors, and it's probably those that escaped from the Babylon of yesteryear that were the warriors that interceded for the ones on the frontline??

50 min in ... Interesting discussion about some vaguely earth religion. What is meant by Christianity? Does Jesus Christ enter the picture? Sin? The cross? The empty tomb? Is the Bible relevant? Very weird and disconnected conversation.

I love English history, my genetics is English but I'm American so would love to read his possible books about the hermit fathers and those in England! Also why don't many English go towards an American form of church instead of Anglicanism or Eastern Orthodox churches? Not knocking any version if one is a true Christian but just curious.

If you seek…

I didn't catch the name of the book Paul was reading from an Orthodox Christian modern saint at the very beginning; did anyone else? It sounded very interesting.

Next week, Ricky Gervais. Haha!

I listened for thirty-five minutes and heard no mention whatsoever of the substance of the gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ by grace, through faith. Does he speak of a "new birth" later on? Where? As far as I could tell, he simply joined a church and started calling himself a Christian without coming alive in Christ.

So glad to have discovered your channel today! great interview here

I did not hear the name of Jesus Christ spoken and the Cross. Interesting intellectual discussion however "feeling" used a great deal. Book of Jude comes to mind. Without the Cross there is no Christianity. Still an offence in our world. I appreciate the discussion as any other philosophical banter. Sorry as I perhaps missed the point.

One of my favorite of many verses in the Bible (kjv) is Luke 14:26 👍🏻

I noticed many former atheists or agnostic joining the Orthodox Church, the original, 2000 year old Christian Church, good for them!

Wounded by Love by St Porphyrios is a stellar book- I have also read and reread it several times. Highly recommend ❤

I've had a 24 year journey now, and I feel the longer it gets, the more conservative views I have. Good discussion. May your journey be everything God has planned for you. 🙏

Only men are inventing machines to have sex with. This is not something we see coming from the female scientists. Obvious, yet curious. In fact I don't think we will see masses of women clamoring to have sex with machines quite like men will. It will take an enormous amount of conditioning and programming to get women excited about this idea. Maybe it will catch on, whch would be quite bizarre. Maybe if the trans-humanist thing goes mainstream it will progress. If it can be called....progress.

He's completely incorrect that we worship technology.
The de-facto religion of the Anglophone Western world is a combination of gay/trans rights, environmentalism, anti-racism and gender equality. Technology does not generate values, it disseminates them.
Everything he said about the Orthodox church was why I converted while living in Romania last year. It's an amazing experience - the chants, the mysticism, the paintings, the churches. I'm so glad that I found it.

Enjoyed this and so respect Paul's willingness to share his journey and the ability to articulate it so well. I was smiling at his description of Romanian orthodox services though. My Romanian neighbour has told me that people don't usually stay for the full service but wander in and out of the Church. Have picnics? outside church so are there for the whole celebration but not necessarily taking part for the whole service. She loves the music and enjoy that form the outside. She's describing her local Church in Romania. Not sure what happens in her Church in Edinburgh.

Five fricn ads!!

Whether or not there is a god is not the issue here. Rather it's the hand-wringing by the chattering class that reinforces the institutions that serve them. The comment about Jordan Peterson attracting the young is hilarious. Most young people hate the right wing reactionary views of him - and others. The fundamental question here is: why would any self-aware individual want to sign-up to a religious system that divides people by virtue of the fact it defines them as other to everyone else?

Wow! I went to school in High Wycombe. Godstowe💖💖💖

All the other ‘types’ of Christianity are sterile.

It’s either Jesus is my best fwend (Protestant) or Jesus is my boyfwend (Roman Catholic) and that’s not gender specific.

I really like Paul... but why do white guys who find spirituality or God in middle age always need to start styling themselves like Jesus? The beard, the long hair, the open shirt, etc. From Russell Brand to many others, the 'Look at me I'm holy' garb is a bloody red flag. But Paul has so much great to say, tell him to shave and cut his bloody hair.

Excellent discussion with lots to think about, especially AI, God, and how abnormal the secular times we live in are. Thank you and plan to watch it again.

I can't understand why people in the west are ashamed to believe in Christ. Why everything is better then Christianity. Why buda is more attractive than Christ?! If Christ didn't exist i would never be believer.

Only halfway through but wondering if he’ll get to how it’s not quite right to worship the creation

Today, I have been reminded of perhaps the most compelling argument against atheism - atheists.

Thank you!

Pleasantly Surprised at Paul Kingsnorth’s move to Christianity.
Back in the day he was a spokesperson for the environmental movement which became a very fundamental dogmatic religion.
There is a huge movement towards Christianity today. People have tried humanism, atheism & found it doesn’t feed them.

Thank you so much for such a stimulating conversation. I have been growing ever more convinced that one of the most urgent battle grounds for Christians as much as for society at large is our anthropology. Orthodoxy has a great deal to offer on this. What is a human being? How do we relate to the rest of creation? What is our destiny and how do I grow towards it?

I’m very confused by this need to be Christian in order to acknowledge there is God. Christianity is a religion created by men for men. Jesus was not Christian. You do not have to be Christian to have faith in God. But do as you will, if it brings you peace. I have seen too many atrocities committed under the guise of Christianity. And all organized religions, really. You can have it.

These new converts to Eastern Orthodoxy are turning Orthodoxy into some neo-Victorian new age fantasy when they are not turning it into an evangelical appolegy, when they are not whole heartedly embracing the spectacle.

Evolution took us away from God.
No longer nature was created by God. And Bible became just a story. Evolution destroyed Faith.

Did anyone else hear the audio get fuzzy when he talked about the seeming autonomy of Ai and technology?

I wasn't 'enchanted' by anything to do with the Covid lockdown tyranny! I'm enchanted by liberty and by individuals having the freedom to manifest themselves in the world according to their own conscience (something I consider to be very Christian as we are all made in the image of God).

Evolution is heresy

R

Me either. Glad i`m not one anymore

Regarding AI and demonic influence, Richard Gallagher and Fr. Daniel Reehil have both said that demons can manipulate and use technological devices.

Thank you very much for sharing this wonderful as well as thought provoking conversation!

God bless you!

Brilliant 🤩 I live only a few miles from st Coleman’s bed, beautiful wild lonely spot. I think the way back for Irish is the early Celtic Christianity ✝️

I don’t think it matters. It really doesn’t. That’s the key to living in peace. Nothing matters.

Jo Pete is no Xtian??? You people. In USA, we have churches on almost every block. I bet in Britain, too, considering the C of E and all. Maybe you are brainwashed in Xtianity???

On keeping humble when you feel God reaching out, there's a good quote from Catholic theologian Michael Barber: "if God is calling you, it's not a compliment. "

I am from Romania and it's so hard to find a good ortodox church. Can you help me with some recomandations?