Episodes

October 30, 2022

Christian Higher Education w/ Editor of Christian Scholars Review Dr. Perry Glanzer, Ph.D., Baylor University, Former Student of Prof. Dallas Willard at USC (TRP Ep. 102)

Baylor University Professor Dr. Perry Glanzer, Ph.D., is Editor of Christian Scholars Review and a former student of the late, great Dr. Dallas Willard of University of Southern California.

Our wide-ranging conversation covers issues ranging from Communism to Title IX Due Process violations to what it was like to be a student of Dallas Willard at USC to the possibilities and prospects of quality Christian Higher Education.

The Republican Professor is a pro-student-of-Dallas-Willard, pro-discerning-what-Christian-Higher-Education is podcast.

Therefore, welcome Dr. Perry Glanzer, Ph.D., former student of Willard, Editor of Christian Scholars Review, of Baylor University, Texas !

The Republican Professor is produced and hosted by Dr. Lucas J. Mather, Ph.D.

October 26, 2022

A Conversation with 21 Year Old Artist and Business Woman Ysabeth Sweet (TRP Ep. 101)

Lucas J. Mather 0

I really enjoyed my time with the young artist and budding business woman Ysabeth Sweet. Although I am much older (27)(I turn 27 again every year)(I’m special), I am better grounded by listening to the young and hearing what they’re dealing with, how they see the world.

The Republican Professor is a pro-young-people-who-give-you-hope podcast.

Therefore, welcome Ms. Ysabeth Sweet.

The Republican Professor is produced and hosted by Dr. Lucas J. Mather, Ph.D.

Share it with a friend and subscribe.

Warmly,

Lucas J. Mather, Ph.D.

The Republican Professor Podcast
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October 23, 2022

Evaluating Prominent Arguments for Abortion w/ Dr. Christopher Kaczor, Ph.D., Chair, Philosophy Dept., Loyola Marymount University, Lost Angeles Calif. (TRP Ep. 100)

Lucas J. Mather 0

Dr. Chris Kaczor, Ph.D. is the author of “The Ethics of Abortion: Women’s Rights, Human Life, and the Question of Justice” published by a standard academic publisher, Routledge Press, recently out in its 3rd edition (Sept 2022).

Dr. Kaczor joins TRP podcast from his office at Loyola Marymount University, Lost Angeles, California, to walk us through prominent scholarly arguments for abortion choice, finding them wanting. Without resorting to religion as a basis for argument, Professor Kaczor presents a case for fetal personhood based on evidence, reasons, and considerations that are available to pretty much anyone.

Since Roe v. Wade was overturned at the US Supreme Court, the issue has remained relevant to local and state legislative debate throughout the country.

The Republican Professor is a pro-thinking-carefully-through-the-abortion-debate podcast.

Therefore, welcome Dr. Christopher Kaczor, Ph.D., of Loyola Marymount University’s Philosophy Department in LA.

The Republican Professor Podcast is produced and hosted by Dr. Lucas J. Mather, Ph.D.

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend.
Consider subscribing.

Warmly,

Lucas J. Mather, Ph.D.

October 19, 2022

Jonalyn Fincher: Water Colorist, Writer, Defender of Liberty, Follower of Jesus, Mother, Wife (TRP Ep. 99)

Lucas J. Mather 0

There’s no one quite like Jonalyn Fincher.

The New England water colorist, follower of Jesus, and Second Amendment advocate is also an author, a popular public speaker, a mother, and wife. She can skin an elk, defend her kids from bears, and knock out a simple and elegant greeting card line, and write about some of the most interesting and compelling controversial topics in America. And she listens carefully and observes. It’s part of what makes her a great artist.

For a long time, Jonalyn ran a non-profit with her husband, Dale. They wrote books and did public speaking all around the country to large and small audiences. They ran several blogs.

One day, she began painting seriously. After years of discipline, sacrifice of everyone in her family, and dedicated hard, smart, careful work, she has a line of impressive water color greeting cards selling in stores.She also does commissions for pieces.

Each one is a gripping, elegant study of some aspect of our world.

And, as you’ll see, she wants the legal right to carry a gun for self-defense. She’s humble, but not shy about it.

Though she has had mountain lion, bear, moose and elk on her property, including bear cubs who have snuck up on her children, she wants the legal right to carry a firearm for self-defense in the city. Some of the most dangerous parts of creation are found there, as well.

Though this need for effective self-defense, she emphasizes, is a cause for sadness, not celebration.

View her artwork, books and blog at : https://jonalynfincher.com/

Enjoy !

The Republican Professor is a pro-art-done-well, pro-lawful-self-defense, pro-Jesus-follower, pro-dedicated-hard-smart-disciplined-work-pays-off, pro-gripping-and-elegant-studies-of-our-world-through-art podcast.

Therefore, welcome dearest Jonalyn Fincher, otherwise known simply as Jonalyn.

The Republican Professor is produced and hosted by Dr. Lucas J. Mather, Ph.D.

Ugly Art magazine just ranked TRP podcast the worst podcast in the entire world.

Share with a friend.

And if you enjoyed this podcast, consider subscribing.

Warmly,

Lucas J. Mather, Ph.D.

The Republican Professor Podcast
The Republican Professor Newsletter on Substack
https://therepublicanprofessor.substack.com/
https://www.therepublicanprofessor.com/podcast/
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YouTube channel: The Republican Professor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRepublicanProfessor
Twitter: @RepublicanProf
Instagram: @the_republican_professor

October 16, 2022

What is Free Will? Metaphysics w/ Dr. Justin Capes, Ph.D. Philosophy Prof. at Flagler College (Ep. 98)

Lucas J. Mather 0

Dr. Justin Capes, Ph.D., teaches Philosophy at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida, and has for a long time pondered questions about Free Will from every conceivable angle.

Here, Dr. Capes dialogues with us about the field of metaphysics within contemporary philosophy, and specifically, the metaphysics of the human person and of human agency.

Commonsensically, this brings up questions about moral responsibility and free will, namely, what is Free Will ? Given a correct definition, do we have Free Will ? How is Free Will properly and accurately defined ?

Even asking these questions seems to presuppose that we have it, because otherwise we wouldn’t freely ponder such things in the first place. If we are freely pondering, what are we doing ? (Can one ponder unfreely ?)

Is there a point to asking such questions ? And could we do (or have done) otherwise ? Does that matter ? Why ?

Justin takes us through some thorny issues in neuroscience and philosophy, trying to move the ball forward in coming to terms with what Free Will is, and what difference it makes to understand this and to be able to articulate it well.

These discussions also help us to try our hand at these questions if for no other reason than to realize just how hard some of these issues are to master well, as well as how inescapable they are if you’re paying attention.

The Republican Professor is a pro-coming-to-terms-with-basic-metaphysics, pro-hearing-philosophers-speak-to-scientists, pro-free-will-understood-well, pro-getting-precursors-to-moral-responsibility-right podcast.

Therefore, welcome Dr. Justin Capes, Ph.D., of Flagler College in Florida.

The Republican Professor is produced and hosted by Dr. Lucas J. Mather, Ph.D., who couldn’t help but do this episode. He couldn’t not do it.

Share this episode with a friend if it’s interesting to you.

If not, you’ll share it anyway if you don’t have free will because you were just destined to do so. Or, maybe you won’t even when you really wanted to. Or…

Be sure to subscribe. It makes you feel like you could have done otherwise, which is a great feeling to have.

Sometimes, people subscribe because they just can’t not subscribe.

TRP Podcast offices downtown just heard: We were just last week ranked #1 in the entire Western Hemisphere by Losing Friends Quickly Magazine’s October 2022 issue. We are very proud, me and the one friend I have left who will listen to all the questions I have.

Warmly,

Lucas J. Mather, Ph.D.

October 13, 2022

Command Master Chief Larry Wilske (SEAL, SW, AW) (ret., 30 yrs USN), Plank Owner SEAL Team 7, President of Vanguard Training & Consulting (Ep. 97)

Lucas J. Mather 0

This is the US Navy’s birthday. Retired Navy Command Master Chief Larry Wilkse joins The Republican Professor Podcast to talk about his 30 year Navy career, which took him from the Navy’s wrestling team to OS A-School to Surface Warfare qualification on the way to BUDS to a host of commands and deployments after becoming Special Warfare Sea Air and Land (SEAL) qualified. He deployed 14 times, had a couple changes of ratings, including multiple combat deployments where he was awarded multiple Bronze Stars and many other Navy and Joint service citations. He ended his career with the rating of Command Master Chief, having been a Plank Owner and Command Master Chief of the then-new SEAL Team 7 (new at the time 20 years ago).

Our discussion is wide-ranging, covering everything from combat to his view on teaching firearms to inner city youth and women to what he thinks about the so-called “assault weapon” ban for civilians to one of my favorites, the art and science of taking naps (Larry can time his naps exactly to the minute, ahead of time, and wake spontaneously) (lots of suffering in order to get to that point). He has also run for office, getting 43% of the vote in a +29 D district in California. Dude.

Larry is a fascinating individual and an absolute delight to shoot the bull with. He’s a man’s man with a heart of gold. He clearly wants to leave the world a better place than how he found it and is willing to sacrifice to see that happen.

Master Chief Wilkse (who would rather be called just “Larry”) spent 30 years in the United States Naval Service, rising to the top of the enlisted ranks as well as to the apex of the operational capacities of the naval service, but Larry is still serving America.

Now he does so in a private capacity as president of Vanguard Training and Consulting, a firearms training group that brings quality small arms and situational awareness training to civilians, especially women, with appropriate sensitivity and effectiveness.

Check out https://femalefirearmsinstructor.com/about/ for more information.

Happy birthday, United States Navy.

The Republican Professor is a pro-Navy, pro-serving-America, pro-getting-the-bad-guys, pro-let-me-tell-you-what-I-really-think-about-the-“assault-weapon”-ban, pro-man’s-man, pro-female-firearm-instructor, pro-let’s-reach-the-inner-city-youth, pro-art-and-science-of-taking-naps podcast.

Therefore, welcome Command Master Chief Larry Wilkse (SEAL, SW, AW), USN (ret.), 30 year combat veteran and now president of Vanguard Training and Consulting (bringing situational awareness and firearms instruction to women across the country) or in other words, welcome Larry.

The Republican Professor is produced and by Dr. Lucas J. Mather, Ph.D.

Happy birthday, United States Navy.

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend. Consider subscribing.

October 9, 2022

The First Amendment Lemon Test & Praying Football Coach in Kennedy v. Bremerton School Distr (27 June 2022, US Supreme Court) w/ Dr. Shannon Holzer, Ph.D. (TRP Ep. 96)

Lucas J. Mather 0

In TRP YouTube Episode 93, Dr. Shannon Holzer, Ph.D., a First Amendment Religion Clause scholar at Houston Baptist University joins TRP podcast today to discuss Kennedy v. Bremerton School District (decided 27 June 2022, US Supreme Court).

The case involved a football coach who had been fired for praying on the football field after the game.

The case is significant because it appears that the Court got rid of the infamous “Lemon” test that it sometimes had used in the past to resolve cases of this type. We discuss the “Lemon” test and some of the history and tradition of First Amendment Religion Clause jurisprudence as a part of our discussion.

The Republican Professor is a pro-getting-the-First-Amendment-right podcast.

Therefore, welcome Dr. Shannon Holzer, Ph.D., First Amendment Religion Clause scholar at Houston Baptist University for his 3rd TRP episode.

The Republican Professor is produced and hosted by Dr. Lucas J. Mather, Ph.D.

TRP podcast has been ranked last out of all podcasts by the Spring 2022 issue of Celebrating Unconstitutional Conduct magazine.

Be sure to share this with a friend and to subscribe.

Warmly,

Lucas J. Mather, Ph.D.

October 4, 2022

She’s 22 & Went Into the Workforce Right After High School: Ms. Amanda Spiers, Leadership Institute (TRP Episode 95)

Lucas J. Mather 0

Be of good cheer.

People like Amanda Spiers exist. She is 22 years old, went into the work force right out of high school.

She works for Leadership Institute and works to make America better, one task at a time.

The Republican Professor is a pro-young-people-who-give-you-hope podcast.

Therefore, welcome Ms. Amanda Spiers !

The Republican Professor is produced and hosted by Dr. Lucas J. Mather, Ph.D.

Be sure to subscribe !
Share it with a friend !

Warmly,

Lucas J. Mather, Ph.D.

October 1, 2022

Historical Training Helps Well-Being w/ Dr. Scott Wenig (Ph.D. CU Boulder, Church History)(TRP Ep. 94)

Lucas J. Mather 0

Dr. Scott Wenig, Ph.D. is a professionally trained historian, specializing in the history of the Church (which would include all branches of Christianity). Dr. Wenig’s day job is the Haddon W. Robinson Chair of Biblical Preaching at Denver Seminary, but since his Ph.D. from the University of Colorado, Boulder is in Church History (with original research for his dissertation in Europe), he also teaches Church History for the Seminary.

In fact, Scott was my (Dr. Mather’s) Church History professor when I took the year-long M.Div. sequence (as an M.A. Academic track student) over 20 years ago.

Scott was my Early and Medieval Church History professor , as well as the history scholar on the Path of Paul trip to Greece and Turkey and the Mediterranean world back in 2001 in the months before 9/11 (along with Dr. Bill Klien, Ph.D., a New Testament scholar and my Greek teacher, and Dr. Ralph R. Covell, Ph.D., a specialist in Church History in China and Taiwan).

He’s an interesting character. He has a wonderful sense of humor which isn’t completely on display here (not as much as it was on the long bus-rides through Turkey in 2001). It’s not normal to have a Preaching professor have such intense historical professional training in original archival research, or a Ph.D. in history. It enables Scott to have an interest in almost everything and to approach crisis situations with a measure of disciplined reflection on how the past shapes the meaning of the present.

Why? Because we’re always searching for the appropriate historical analogues with which to understand accurately what we’re facing, why, and what you can do productively about it. This helps us answer for ourselves the fundamental question: How we can be in the world.

Getting the appropriate historical analogues is not an easy task, though, and requires more training that you might have. You can’t just snap your fingers, or look at some memes on social media, and have it right.

Studying more history may be the way forward for you. That requires a good mentor.

I took Church History with Dr. David Howle, Ph.D. as an undergraduate in Hawaii even though I didn’t need it to graduate (and the Navy paid for most of it). I used that class to get out of the single semester Church History class for my MA program at Denver Seminary, but then decided I wanted to take the year long M.Div. track (M.Div. at the time was a year longer of study than the MA academic track). So I had 3 semesters, when I only “needed” 1. I did 3x the work. Why? In part because of people like Scott Wenig.

(My Reformation and Modern Church History professor was the late Dr. Bruce Shelley, Ph.D., author Church History in Plain Language).

The Republican Professor is a pro-historical-training, pro-having-the-appropriate-historical-analogues, pro-mental-well-being, pro-Haddon-Robinson-if-you-can-believe-that, pro-Church-History podcast .

Therefore, welcome Dr. Scott Wenig, Ph.D., Church History professor and travel companion extraordinaire .

The Republican Professor podcast is produced and hosted by Dr. Lucas J. Ph.D.

TRP Podcast is also available in audio only formats on Apple podcasts, etc.

Share this with a friend.

Warmly,

Lucas J. Mather, Ph.D.

September 28, 2022

Ep. 93: Christian “Urban Fantasy” Novelist Daniel Vargas (co-author of Progeny Wars Book Series)

Lucas J. Mather 0

The co-author (with G.Z. Rodriguez) of three Christian “non-Hallmarky,” “non-campy” Christian urban-fantasy-genre novels D.J. Vargas joins TRP for Episode 90 on YouTube. Father of two special needs children, a gun owner, a Caribbean-heritage black Hispanic whose mother tongue is Spanish but who talks with with a Jersey accent, Vargas is a versatile conversationalist, covering everything from how to raise children with Downs Syndrome and make sure they hear the Gospel, to contemporary Anglo-Analytic philosophical issues in epistemology, metaphysics, and philosophy of mind, to socialism in his birth country of the once-prosperous Venezuela. Just to add to that, he makes a living with computers program stuff. “I make computers do things,” he says. That’s his definition of a real computer programmer.

Vargas and his childhood friend and co-author created a protagonist who is a Latina from the Bronx (not AOC). The book series features a fictional reflection, if you will, on the use of martial might and power from a Christian perspective. (Recall, in real life, he is a gun owner, a CZ pistol–we’ve been shooting together). The setting is like ours but with some fantastical elements. Not everything wraps up nicely in a bow, just like in real life. But that’s the only preview you get.

Check the books out at https://www.amazon.com/D-J-Vargas/e/B09MZR67RT?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1663892596&sr=1-1

He’s under contract for 3 more books published by LMBPN Publishing.

The Republican Professor is a pro-lawful-immigrant, pro-let’s-create-something, pro-reflecting-on-fundamental-persistent-questions-in-fiction, pro-legal-self-defense, pro-it-doesn’t-always-wrap-up-nicely-in-a-bow podcast.

Therefore, welcome my friend Danny Vargas, Christian novelist, gun owner, and father of special needs kids, man who makes computers do things.

The Republican Professor is produced and hosted by Dr. Lucas J. Mather, Ph.D.

Share this with a friend.
If you like it, be sure to subscribe.

(Share with a friend whether you like it or not, though). (Jk).

Warmly,

Lucas J. Mather, Ph.D.