Aaron Renn | Life in the Negative World
In this episode, we welcome Aaron Renn, author of Life in the Negative World: Confronting Challenges in an Anti-Christian Culture, to explore the profound shifts in cultural attitudes towards Christianity and the broader implications for faith in the modern era. Renn, with a diverse background ranging from management and technology consulting as a Partner at Accenture, to urban policy as a Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, and now a Senior Fellow at American Reformer, brings a unique perspective to the discussion. His extensive work has been featured in globally recognized publications such as The Guardian, The Wall Street Journal, and The Atlantic.
Life in the Negative World considers the dramatic changes in societal views on Christianity, tracing the journey from the mid-twentieth century-when church attendance was at its peak-to the present day, where professing Christian beliefs often results in social demotion within elite circles. Renn examines the transition from a once Christianity-affirming society to one that is, at best, indifferent, and at worst, hostile to Christian morals and teachings. In our conversation, he articulates the lessons learned from over seven decades of Christian cultural engagement, offering insightful strategies for churches, institutions, and individuals to maintain their faithfulness in an increasingly adversarial environment.
This episode is not just a reflection on the challenges faced by modern Christians but also a guide on how to navigate these tumultuous waters with grace, resilience, and a deepened faith. Renn emphasizes the necessity for a diverse array of strategies to engage missionally with a world that often seems at odds with Christian values. Whether you’re a person of faith struggling to find your place in this “negative world,” a church leader seeking direction for your community, or simply interested in the evolving relationship between religion and society, this conversation with Aaron Renn offers valuable insights and hope for the path forward.
Join us as we discuss the implications of living out one’s faith in an era that increasingly marginalizes Christian perspectives, and discover how to embrace the challenges of the negative world with courage and conviction.
00:07 Introduction
05:28 The Story behind the Book
09:08 The Three Worlds Model
12:55 The Benedict Option
16:53 Improvements from the Article to the Book
19:55 Life Examples among the Different Worlds
27:04 The Beginning of the Negative World
30:16 Practical Strategies for Living in the Negative World
41:53 Thoughts on Preparing for Dystopian Futures
49:56 Conclusion
This is Christ the Center episode 845 (www.reformedfo...)
Пікірлер: 18
Great chat on a very relevant topic. Appreciate you guys.
Renn would benefit so much from understanding Vos and the eschatology of the New Testament. His negative comment about citizenship in heaven and the suffering of the wilderness community is troublesome to me.
Excellent information....sounds like a great book. Wickedness in high places...coming in soo quickly. Walk by Faith, not by sight...best advice.
Great interview, Camden. I listen once in a while to Aaron's podcast. Delighted to hear him on your show.
@CamdenBucey
5 ай бұрын
Thanks @jadigbo, I enjoyed the conversation. Thankfully, I was able to meet Aaron in person at a conference in Scottsdale a week or so after recording this. The book is great and the conversation went well. I hope it turns more people on to the subject.
The guest of today has the same voice tone as of J.V Fesko... interesting video!
growing up in the 70's I don't remember message parlors on every corner or girls with only fans..you can defiantly see a rapid decline
Both reasoned and perplexing time with Renn. Nominal Christianity helped shift the moral standard from a highly diluted natural law (golden rule) foundation to anything and everything that is a direct affront to God’s created order. Renn articulates some of the very recent history creatively. (He has an appreciation for Doug Wilson - a modern day Zwickau Prophet?). That’s about it. The cultural trend is (and has been) atheism, which is ultimately just rebellion.
I miss the profound, deep, rich, regular theological feast that RF used to be on a regular basis.
@Vosian292
5 ай бұрын
Me too brother! Rather than broadening out and platforming those with opposing and unbiblical views, how about add a Kline group or a Dennison group? Maybe a group dedicated to discussing redemptive historical preaching in the tradition of Vos. Hopefully Camden can turn this ship around and get back to what RF does best. Otherwise, RF is a dime a dozen with all the other theological podcasts out there.
Go Wheaton Thunder.
Aron renn negative world is becoming a hit piece
@tjkhan4541
5 ай бұрын
May I ask what you mean by that?