Hot Takes on the Classics

• Episode 18: A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections - Jonathan Edwards: Testing of Our Loves

  DescriptionIn this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh take a deep dive into Jonathan Edwards’s A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, one of the most important theological works ever published in America. They explore Edwards’s historical moment in the midst of the First Great Awakening, the cultural divide between “old lights” and “new lights,” and Edwards’s effort to distinguish genuine spiritual transformation from mere emotional excitement. Along the way, they unpack Edwards’s definition of “affections,” discuss why Edwards remains so influential, and consider how his framework might apply to the renewed spiritual energy emerging in the U.S. today.Episode OutlineOpening quotation from A Treatise Concerning Religious AffectionsWho was Jonathan Edwards? Background, intellect, and role in American ChristianityEdwards’s historical moment: The First Great AwakeningOld Lights vs. New Lights — a cultural and theological divideWhy Edwards’s preaching feels “medieval” to modern earsEdwards on the nature of “religious affections”False signs of spiritual renewal — emotions vs. lasting changeTrue signs of grace — the centrality of long-term obedienceEdwards’s pastoral purpose in writing the TreatiseParallels between the Great Awakening and contemporary spiritual “vibe shifts”Closing reflections on agape and the love of GodKey Topics & TakeawaysEdwards’s World: Revival and Upheaval: Edwards writes in the heart of the First Great Awakening—a period of mass conversions, emotional preaching, and widespread debate about what counts as “true religion.”Affections vs. Emotions: For Edwards, affections are deep movements of the will—love, hatred, desire—not fleeting emotions. Genuine Christianity requires these affections to be transformed.False Signs of Spiritual Renewal: Intense emotions, tears, dramatic experiences, or even hearing Scripture in powerful ways do not necessarily indicate genuine spiritual change.True Signs of Grace: Edwards insists that lasting obedience, humility, love, and good works—not dramatic feelings—are the real evidence of transformed affections.Relevance for Today: Tim and Emily connect Edwards’s concerns to modern American spiritual trends, asking whether our current “renewals” will lead to sustained, virtuous lives.Questions & DiscussionWhat distinction does Edwards make between emotions and true spiritual affections?Consider why Edwards locates religious transformation in the will rather than in fleeting feelings. How might this help us evaluate contemporary spiritual experiences?How does Edwards challenge both the ‘old lights’ and the ‘new lights’?Reflect on Edwards’s attempt to affirm genuine emotion while warning against emotional excess. Where do you tend to locate yourself in this debate? Why does Edwards place so much emphasis on long-term obedience?Discuss whether you agree with Edwards that sustained virtue—not emotional intensity—is the clearest sign of genuine Christian faith.How does understanding the First Great Awakening illuminate Edwards’s Treatise?Think about how cultural, theological, and political pressures influenced Edwards’s writing and why his framework was so needed in a divided moment.What parallels do you see between Edwards’s time and current spiritual movements?Explore how Edwards’s insights might help us discern whether today’s “vibe shift” reflects genuine spiritual change.Suggested ReadingTreatise on Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God by Jonathan Edwards A Religious History of the American People by Sydney E. AhlstromJonathan Edwards by George M. Marsden Pew Research CenterMcIntosh, Timothy Andrew. My Name Is SØREN KIERKEGAARD. Directed by Frank Mihelich

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• Episode 17: The Confessions of St. Augustine: The Journey of Transformed Love

  DescriptionIn this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh explore one of the most influential works in Western thought—St. Augustine’s Confessions. Through Augustine’s prayerful reflections, they trace the restless search of a soul divided between desire and grace, and how divine love—caritas—gathers a disintegrated self into unity. Emily and Tim discuss Augustine’s literary innovation, his relationship with his mother Monica, his encounter with Ambrose, and the pivotal conversion in the garden that forever shaped the Christian imagination. Along the way, they uncover why Confessions remains possibly not only the first memoir but also the greatest story of a heart transformed by love.Episode OutlineOpening reading from Confessions, Book X: “Late have I loved you, beauty ever ancient, ever new…”Defining memoir vs. autobiography—why Confessions resists both labelsThe revolutionary nature of self-reflection in Augustine’s writingThe influence of Confessions on Western thinkers and writers: Dante, Kierkegaard, and WittgensteinAugustine’s relationship with his mother Monica as an image of caritasMonica’s perseverance and the bishop’s prophecy: “The son of so many tears will not perish.”Augustine’s flirtation with Manichaeism and the intellectual restlessness it revealedEncounter with Ambrose in Milan and the power of typological readingThe conversion in the garden: “Tolle lege, tolle lege”—“Take and read”Reading Romans 13 and the surrender of the divided willAugustine’s vision of divine love gathering a fragmented soul into unityThe final scene with Monica: shared contemplation of eternal wisdomAugustine’s later reflections on memory, time, and creation—feeling ideas rather than merely thinking themThe enduring image of Confessions as a prayer, not merely a storyKey Topics & TakeawaysThe Birth of the Modern Self: Augustine’s Confessions created a new literary form—introspective, honest, and spiritually reflective—laying the groundwork for later memoirs and psychological writing.Love as Caritas: For Augustine, divine love (caritas) is self-giving, faithful, and redemptive. It unites a fragmented soul and orders all human loves under the love of God.The Role of Monica: Augustine’s mother models steadfast, intercessory love—a living embodiment of patient, redemptive grace that mirrors divine charity.From Disintegration to Unity: Augustine’s conversion is not merely moral but ontological—the healing of a divided self through the gathering power of divine love.The Nature of Conversion: Augustine’s moment in the garden reveals that faith is both intellectual assent and surrender of the will—love that transforms desire itself.Influence Across Centuries: From Kierkegaard to Tolstoy, Confessions shaped how the West understands interiority, repentance, and the restless search for meaning.Questions & DiscussionWhat makes The Confessions more than a memoir?Consider how Augustine’s prayerful address to God transforms the genre. In what ways is it less about recounting facts and more about revealing divine truth?How does Monica’s love exemplify caritas?Reflect on her perseverance and faith. How might Monica’s love serve as a model for parental or spiritual intercession today?Why is Augustine’s conversion scene set in a garden?Discuss the symbolism of the garden—from the theft of pears to the moment of surrender. What might Augustine be saying about the restoration of Eden?What does it mean that Augustine “felt ideas”?Explore how Augustine’s intellect and emotion intertwine. How does his way of “feeling ideas” invite readers into a deeper, more embodied understanding of truth?How does divine love unify the divided self?Consider Augustine’s confession: “You gathered me from the disintegration in which I had been lost.” How does love heal fragmentation in our modern experience of selfhood?What legacy did Confessions leave on Western thought?Identify how Augustine influenced later thinkers such as Dante, Kierkegaard, Wittgenstein, and Charles Taylor. How does his vision of selfhood still shape our modern world?Suggested ReadingConfessions by St. Augustine translated by Sarah RudenCity of Godby St. Augustine translated by Henry BettensonA Confession by Leo Tolstoy translated by Alastair Hannay Philosophical Fragments and Fear and Trembling by Søren KierkegaardPhilosophical Investigationsby Ludwig WittgensteinSources of the Self by Charles Taylor Chronicles of Wasted Time by Malcolm MuggeridgeRomans 13The Gospel of John 

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• Episode 16: The Gospel of St. John - Cosmic Love

  Description In this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh turn to the fourth and final love in C.S. Lewis’s taxonomy—agape, or divine charity—through the Gospel of St. John. They explore how John’s vision of love transforms an ordinary Greek term into the heartbeat of Christian revelation. Emily and Tim trace the word’s evolution from the Greek poets through the Septuagint to the New Testament, discuss the literary brilliance of John’s Gospel, and reflect on how reading Scripture well requires patience, imagination, and humility. Together, they uncover how John’s “cosmic love” invites readers not merely to study divine truth but to be transformed by it.Episode OutlineOpening reading from John 5:20–21: “For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing.”The season’s turn to agape—how John reshapes the Greek concept of loveEtymology and evolution of agape: from Homer’s simple pleasure to covenantal and divine loveThe Septuagint’s role in transforming language and preparing for the GospelThe word agape as covenant faithfulness: God’s steadfast love for His people“A new commandment I give you”: how Jesus redefines love as self-giving, not desireEros as ascent vs. Agape as descent: divine self-emptying in contrast to human strivingThe Gospel of John as “cosmic biography” rather than chronological narrativeJohn’s artistry and symbolic storytelling—light, water, wine, and gardensTypology: Jesus as the New Adam redeeming Eden through the garden of His passionReading Scripture well: avoiding interpretive “barnacles” and returning to the text itselfThree barriers to good reading—accretion of commentary, neglect of subtext, and fragmentation by chapters and versesThe power of reading large swaths for narrative and symbolic unityThe wedding at Cana as literary scene: subtext, silence, and divine mysteryThe Gospel’s pace, intensity, and climax: conflict, crucifixion, and new creationThe Gospel’s global influence—from Augustine and Aquinas to Bach and EliotClosing quote from historian W.E.H. Lecky on the unmatched moral influence of Jesus’ lifeKey Topics & TakeawaysThe Transformation of Agape: Once a modest Greek word, agape becomes the deepest expression of divine nature—God’s self-giving love revealed in Christ.The Septuagint’s Legacy: Translating Hebrew covenantal love into Greek language reshaped world history, bridging Jewish revelation and Hellenistic philosophy.Reading Scripture with Fresh Eyes: Tim warns that modern readers are “Bible-rich but hermeneutically poor”—too quick to interpret, too slow to attend.Typology and Symbol: Emily highlights John’s garden imagery as cosmic renewal—Christ as the New Adam restoring Eden.Subtext and Silence: John’s narrative artistry invites contemplation rather than quick conclusions; meaning emerges from what is shown, not told.The Gospel’s Literary Power: John fuses poetic imagination with divine revelation—“mini-biography” as cosmic drama.Enduring Influence: From Augustine’s theology to Bach’s St. John Passion, John’s vision of divine love continues to shape Western imagination and moral thought.Questions & DiscussionHow does the Gospel of John redefine love compared to earlier Greek and Hebrew traditions?Reflect on how agape moves from satisfaction or pleasure to covenant faithfulness and divine self-giving. How does this shift change the meaning of love?What does it mean that “Eros is ascent but Agape is descent”?Discuss how divine love moves toward others in self-emptying, while human love seeks fulfillment. How might this distinction inform how we love in practice?Why does Emily call John’s Gospel a “cosmic biography”?Consider how John begins with “In the beginning” and expands the story beyond time and place. What does this reveal about his understanding of Jesus’ role in creation and redemption?What prevents modern readers from reading Scripture well, according to Tim?Examine the three barriers—accretion of commentary, loss of subtext, and over-fragmentation. How might slow, narrative reading restore our sense of wonder?How does John’s use of symbol and subtext enrich the story?Analyze examples like Nicodemus’ nighttime visit or the wedding at Cana. How do these scenes reward deeper reflection rather than quick interpretation?Why does the garden setting matter in John’s Gospel?Explore Emily’s insight that Jesus’s death and resurrection in a garden reverses Eden’s fall. How does this reinforce the theme of new creation?How has the Gospel of John shaped Western thought and art?Identify examples—from Augustine and Aquinas to Bach, Dante, or Eliot—that continue to echo John’s portrayal of divine love.Suggested Reading & ViewingThe Gospel of John The Four Loves by C. S. Lewis   The SeptuagintThe Gospel of MarkConfessions by St. Augustine translated by Sarah RudenSummaTheologiae by Thomas AquinasFour Quartets: A Poem by T.S. EliotHistory of European Morals by W.E.H. LeckyMcIntosh, Timothy Andrew. My Name Is SØREN KIERKEGAARD. Directed by Frank Mihelich

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• Episode 15: Anna Karenina: The Marriage Plot

  DescriptionIn this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh close out their episodes on Eros with Leo Tolstoy’s monumental novel Anna Karenina. They explore how Tolstoy intertwines two contrasting marriage plots—Anna’s tragic affair and Levin’s redemptive union with Kitty—to illuminate the tension between passion, virtue, and meaning in modern love. Along the way, Emily and Tim discuss Tolstoy’s critique of high society, the “woman question” in 19th-century Russia, and why Anna Karenina remains one of the most psychologically profound works ever written.Episode Outline Opening reading: Anna’s first appearance at the ball and Tolstoy’s breathtaking description of her poise and vitalityThe “marriage plot” tradition in European fiction and why Tolstoy expands it beyond romance into questions of faith and purposeThe woman question, the man question, and changing gender roles in industrial societyLevin as Tolstoy’s alter ego: spiritual seeker, social reformer, and bumbling idealistThe pentagon of love: Oblonsky, Anna, Vronsky, Kitty, and LevinThe ball scene and its double vision—social spectacle and emotional catastropheVronsky and Anna’s affair: passion, honor, and the collapse of moral coherenceDolly and Oblonsky’s broken marriage as foreshadowingLevin and Kitty: humility, healing, and the hard work of real marriageAnna’s growing isolation and societal exile—Tolstoy’s critique of hypocrisyThe double standard between men and women in sin and punishmentLevin’s moment of transcendence while mowing—finding joy in work, nature, and graceThe legacy of Tolstoy’s two marriages: tragedy redeemed through meaningReflections on translation and reading Russian literature in English (Constance Garnett’s legacy)Key Topics & TakeawaysTwo Marriages, Two Fates: Tolstoy contrasts Anna’s passion that destroys with Levin’s love that sanctifies; both reveal human longing for wholeness.The “Woman Question”: 19th-century debates about women’s independence evolve into timeless reflections on vocation, family, and social responsibility.Society and Hypocrisy: Tolstoy exposes the moral double standard that condemns women for transgression while excusing men like Vronsky.The Spiritual Quest: Levin’s awakening joins the physical and the divine—embodied work as revelation of grace.Marriage as Redemption: True love in Tolstoy’s vision demands humility, forgiveness, and moral renewal, not mere passion.Questions & DiscussionWhat do Anna’s and Levin’s stories reveal about the possibilities and limits of love?Compare how passion leads Anna to isolation while humility brings Levin to peace. What does this suggest about the relationship between love and self-knowledge?How does Tolstoy’s “woman question” speak to today’s debates about gender and fulfillment?Discuss whether the novel’s concerns about women’s social roles still resonate. How do Anna’s and Kitty’s choices reflect competing visions of freedom?What role does society play in Anna’s downfall?Consider Tolstoy’s portrait of aristocratic hypocrisy—how do gossip, status, and judgment contribute to tragedy?Why does Tolstoy end the novel not with Anna but with Levin?Reflect on why the story closes in spiritual serenity rather than despair. How does Levin’s labor and awakening resolve the novel’s central questions?How does translation shape our encounter with Tolstoy’s moral vision?Does accessibility or fidelity matter more when reading Tolstoy today?Suggested ReadingAnna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy  translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky  Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky translated by Constance GarnettA Doll’s House by Henrik IbsenThe Marriage Plot by Jeffrey EugenidesThe Odyssey by Homer translated by Emily WilsonThe Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

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• Episode 14: The Making of a Great Marriage: Pride and Prejudice

  DescriptionIn this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh unpack Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, exploring how this beloved novel redefines what makes a good marriage. The hosts trace Elizabeth Bennet’s spirited self-knowledge and Mr. Darcy’s humbling transformation to show how love matures through mutual respect, truth-telling, and growth. Along the way, they laugh over Mr. Collins’s oblivious proposals, the absurdities of Mrs. Bennet’s matchmaking, and the enduring appeal of Colin Firth’s iconic portrayal of Darcy. Together, they reveal why Pride and Prejudice remains one of the most intelligent and emotionally satisfying love stories in literature.Episode OutlineOpening reading from Pride and Prejudice and introduction of Austen’s worldWhy Pride and Prejudice stands as the quintessential romantic comedyEmily’s long love affair with the novel—and Tim’s early indifferenceThe Bennet family and its five daughters: economic pressures and social maneuveringMr. and Mrs. Bennet: the comic and cautionary marriage at the novel’s heartFirst impressions: Elizabeth’s wit, Darcy’s pride, and the spark of tensionThe dance scenes as metaphors for social order and romantic pursuitMr. Collins, Charlotte Lucas, and the pragmatism of marriage as securityElizabeth’s refusal of Collins and Darcy’s disastrous first proposalThe letter that transforms Elizabeth’s understanding—mutual humility and growthLydia’s scandal and Darcy’s hidden act of restitutionThe resolution: love grounded in respect and equalityComparing good and bad marriages in the novel (Bennet, Lucas, Gardiner, Darcy)How Austen blends irony, moral seriousness, and humorClosing reflections on enduring appeal and cultural adaptations (BBC, film, etc.)Key Topics & TakeawaysThe Question of Marriage: Austen’s central inquiry—what makes a marriage good?—is tested through a range of examples: practical, foolish, and virtuous.Elizabeth Bennet’s Integrity: Her quick wit and moral independence challenge both societal expectations and her own prejudice.Darcy’s Transformation: His humility and self-reform mark a rare picture of masculine virtue in the romantic genre.Irony and Moral Vision: Austen’s humor exposes folly without cynicism, showing that true happiness depends on character, not wealth.A Study in Balance: The novel celebrates attraction grounded in mutual respect, contrasting passionate impulsiveness with enduring affection.Questions & DiscussionWhat makes Elizabeth and Darcy’s marriage distinct from the others in the novel?Compare their relationship to Charlotte and Mr. Collins or Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. What does Austen suggest is necessary for mutual respect and lasting happiness?Why is Austen’s opening line—“It is a truth universally acknowledged…”—so powerful and ironic?Discuss whether it functions as social satire, a universal truth, or both. How does it shape the reader’s expectations of the story?How does Elizabeth’s “prejudice” evolve throughout the novel?Explore the turning points that lead her from misjudgment to humility. What does this transformation reveal about genuine self-knowledge?What does the novel suggest about economic pressure and moral choice?Consider Charlotte Lucas’s marriage to Mr. Collins. Is her decision purely pragmatic—or does Austen grant her a certain dignity in her realism?In what ways does Austen redefine romance through comedy?Reflect on how laughter, wit, and irony allow love to emerge as both emotionally satisfying and morally serious.Suggested Reading & ViewingPride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Sense and Sensibility by Jane AustenMuch Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare The Taming of the Shrewby William Shakespeare Pride and Prejudice. Directed by Simon Langton, written by Andrew Davies, BBC/A&E, 1995.Pride & Prejudice. Directed by Joe Wright, Working Title Films, 2005.

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