Critical Theory and the Cynical Transformation of Society | Thinking in Public with Albert Mohler

Fascinating discussion. I had just read “Cynical Theories” and it helped consolidate the arguments made there. This discussion forum is invaluable in today’s culture.

The world needs more mature intelligent respectful conversations like this between people with very different world views.

Thank you, Dr. Lindsay and Dr. Mohler. I've just bought Dr. Lindsay's new book "Cynical Theories: How Activist Scholarship Made Everything about Race, Gender, and Identity―and Why This Harms Everybody." and Dr. Mohlers book "The Gathering Storm" as e-books and audiobooks! (Una) P.S. My brother has been studying these issues for a few years now and the experiment with the papers submitted (and accepted for publication!) re: how some dogs are able to get away with questionable behavior in dog parks, and the Mien Kampf paraphrase, etc.. are an endless source of hilarity. I love bringing up the topic because he can barely keep his composure,. Just thinking about the audacity and brilliance of the scholarly mischief tickles him.

Another excellent conversation. James, you rebuttal of critical studies is the most important work of our time.

An atheist saving the Baptist church. The lord works in mysterious ways

I went B&N to buy your book. While there I found the likes of Sam Harris and Douglas Murray deep within the store, but yours was actually not on the shelves. 🤔 Meanwhile, Kendi and DiAngelo were all around the information kiosk at the center of the store in the most visible and prominent place. So I decided to rectify. I asked for a couple copies of "Cynical Theories." I took a few Kendi/DiAngelo books off the kiosk. It took a while, but I replaced them with "Cynical Theories," Jordan Peterson "12 Rules," Haidt/Lukianoff "Coddling of the American Mind," Sam Harris "Making Sense," and Douglas Murray "Madness of Crowds." I put Kendi and DiAngelo in the Fiction and War areas.

I am a liberal, I am a secularist, I am a Democrat, and this is the best discussion on this topic that I have ever heard. Thanks, Dr. Mohler. I just subscribed.

Dr. Mohler, can you hear what he is saying. This directly applies to the SBC and are ideologies you permit. When I saw this I could not believe it. You hear but you seem not to be able to hear. Open your eyes.

I kept thinking after the interview. Wish there would’ve been a conversation about the headway CRT has already made into the SBC. Dr. Lindsay has already spoken about that on his Sovereign Nations interview. He said the surest way to destroy something like a denomination is create a path for CRT to be accepted in your seminaries, teach it to future pastors and then send those woke pastors into churches. That’s what’s happening under your nose, Dr. Mohler. It is a “universal acid” you talked about that’s eating away at your legacy and the institutions you’ve given your life to. Someone signing the BFM doesn’t matter and you know that. You need a second housecleaning like you had when you first arrived at SBTS. Courage is the only move you really have now, before it’s too late.

I’m an atheist but, I’d like to say this was a very interesting conversation and an example of how people with different conceptions of the world can find common ground and share ideas with compromising who they are. Much respect to everyone involved.

I just love how Mohler nods along as if he agrees, only to persist in infusing the SBC and SBTS with the very ideas Lindsay is warning about (all while using Mohler's own words).

I have been listening to The Briefing for a few years now. I have noticed something interesting on the last episodes of the podcast. Dr.Mohler identifies the ills of critical theory as derived from "identity politics". So for example, he says over and over that intersectionality is one of the negative consequences of identity politics. It seems like he has substituted the words "critical theory" for "identity politics". It would be a relief if the damage of critical theories could be isolated to politics and politicians. Is this what he is attempting to tell us? I am looking forward to the episode when he will complete that thought clearly stating that both identity politics and intersectionality are poisoned apples from the tree of critical theories applied to our highly confused and blind culture.

I do appreciate you having Lindsay on. But Dr. Mohler, how is the irony of this conversation lost on you? This is straight-up hypocrisy. You need to apologize to Dr. Fuller and offer him his job back.

YAS!!!!! We got video!!! Looking forward to actually LOOKING and seeing this conversation!!!

Lindsay is right about basically everything - I say that as a Christian. A vital point worth more thought is Lindsay's description of the "social sciences" as being in their infancy. For the time being anyway, many Americans and Europeans have dispensed with the "image of God" truth as being sufficient for an agreed upon moral order. If you seek to find the order in the world as it exists, it's essential to see the world as it exists ... as it exists. Unfortunately that means using the massively flawed tools used by sociologists, psychologists, educators and even economists. I can see why atheists like Charles Murray agonize over the decline of Christian influence in the West. There's no good replacement.

What a great conversation. I have listened to many of James' talks but this is by far the best, thanks to Albert Mohler.

Why was Dr. Russell Fuller fired from SBTS while Dr. Jarvis Williams remains on the faculty? Mohler says one thing and lives out another. So much for having The Conviction to Lead. Like so many who once had courageous, uncompromising faith, he has slowly started listening to the prophets of Baal.

Al Mohler was as nervous at a cat on the front porch with 100 rocking chairs. Praying that Al Mohler wakes up and if God can use an Atheist to do it, so be it! I have come to enjoy listening to Dr.James Lindsay, praying that God reveals himself during his studies of the current conditions of Christianity. Thanks to James Lindsay for speaking truth!

Hey Al, when are you going to fire the professors who use CRT? ...Matthew Hall & Jarvis Williams?

Excellent! Worth listening to twice.