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The Areopagus

Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick, Michael Landsman, and Ancient Faith Ministries·Hosted by Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick and Michael Landsman·94 episodes

ChristianityReligionSpiritualityCo-hostedOrthodox ChristianLong episodesCulture and theologyStandalone discussionsIrregular release

This podcast is about the encounter of historic Christianity with other religious traditions.

Why listen

The Areopagus is a thoughtful, often wide-ranging conversation with Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick and Michael Landsman about what historic Christianity has to say to modern culture, other faith traditions, and contemporary church life. Listeners get Orthodox Christian perspective, theological depth, and enough personality to keep dense topics approachable. It is a strong fit for Christians, seekers, and religion-curious listeners who like long conversations that connect doctrine, culture, and lived faith.

Series(2)

Episodes

Feb 27, 2026
The Anointing: Is This Even Christian?

The Areopagites compare the Pentecostal/Charismatic concept of “the anointing” with historic Christian anointings and show how trading out the latter for the former leads to disaster. 0:00 - Cold open 0:40 - Intro 9:52 - Updates 26:13 - Storm clouds brewing over the Charismatic world 36:18 - "The Anointing" 49:25 - Anointing in Orthodox Christianity 1:11:11 - Impartation 1:26:49 - Spectacular spiritual gifts 1:43:02 - Good leadership requires holiness

Jan 22, 2026
Evangelical Disintegration

In 2009, Michael “The Internet Monk” Spencer predicted the collapse of American Evangelicalism within 10 years. Using this frame of reference, Dcn. Seraphim Rohlin joins the Areopagites to discuss a 2024 Christianity Today article titled “The Loosening of American Evangelicalism.” What is going on with this most visible of American religious groups?

Dec 2, 2025
What You Bring Home

Back from their pilgrimage to Scotland and Northumbria, the Areopagite pilgrims reflect on the holy people and places they encountered. They also answer an email from an ardent fan.

Oct 29, 2025
Pilgrims to Iona

While riding a train on pilgrimage to the holy island of Iona in Scotland, the Areopagites are joined by Fr. Jacob Siemens and Dcn. Seraphim Richard Rohlin to talk about their hopes for their pilgrimage and what the point of it even is.

Oct 29, 2025
Pilgrims to Iona

While riding a train on pilgrimage to the holy island of Iona in Scotland, the Areopagites are joined by Fr. Jacob Siemens and Dcn. Seraphim Richard Rohlin to talk about their hopes for their pilgrimage and what the point of it even is.

Sep 26, 2025
The Wrong Spiritual War

A muscular, aggressive Christianity has emerged into public life. The Areopagites tackle this question by comparing it to historic Christianity, especially to what is taught in the Scriptures.

Sep 26, 2025
The Wrong Spiritual War

A muscular, aggressive Christianity has emerged into public life. The Areopagites tackle this question by comparing it to historic Christianity, especially to what is taught in the Scriptures.

Aug 28, 2025
KPop Demonology Hunters

The Areopagites (one of whom can’t believe he’s doing this) take a look at the demonology and soteriology of the runaway Netflix hit “KPop Demon Hunters.” Could its popularity have something to do with the way it portrays the human fall into sin as participation with the demonic?

Aug 28, 2025
KPop Demonology Hunters

The Areopagites (one of whom can’t believe he’s doing this) take a look at the demonology and soteriology of the runaway Netflix hit “KPop Demon Hunters.” Could its popularity have something to do with the way it portrays the human fall into sin as participation with the demonic?

Jul 30, 2025
Clickbait for Christ: Apologetics and the Internet

The Areopagites discuss the wild world of Christian apologetics on the Internet, comparing and contrasting it with historical apologetics from the early Church.

Jul 30, 2025
Clickbait for Christ: Apologetics and the Internet

The Areopagites discuss the wild world of Christian apologetics on the Internet, comparing and contrasting it with historical apologetics from the early Church.

Jun 30, 2025
Reaction or Revival? Church Growth in a Post-Christian World

The Areopagites tackle the recent revival, return, reaction, resurgence – whatever you want to call it – that is bringing more people into churches all over the world.

Jun 30, 2025
Reaction or Revival? Church Growth in a Post-Christian World

The Areopagites tackle the recent revival, return, reaction, resurgence – whatever you want to call it – that is bringing more people into churches all over the world.

Jun 3, 2025
'Awkward' Saturday?

What’s the deal with Holy Saturday? Is it a time of doubt and awkward waiting? The Areopagites reference a Christianity Today article about Holy Saturday to talk about what’s going on and how disconnection from tradition and scripture lead to psychologizing Biblical texts.

Jun 3, 2025
'Awkward' Saturday?

What’s the deal with Holy Saturday? Is it a time of doubt and awkward waiting? The Areopagites reference a Christianity Today article about Holy Saturday to talk about what’s going on and how disconnection from tradition and scripture lead to psychologizing Biblical texts.

Mar 18, 2025
Load-Bearing Myths

What myths are holding up the roofs of society? Our sense of religiosity? What happens when those pillars get knocked out and the roof caves in? The Areopagites discuss all this and give some updates of their last few months' adventures.

Mar 18, 2025
Load-Bearing Myths

What myths are holding up the roofs of society? Our sense of religiosity? What happens when those pillars get knocked out and the roof caves in? The Areopagites discuss all this and give some updates of their last few months' adventures.

Dec 20, 2024
That Time of Year Thou Mayst in Me Behold

The Areopagites take a look back on their 2024, giving lightning reviews of (among other things) books they've read, movies they've seen, places they've been, and songs that are tugging at their hearts.

Dec 20, 2024
That Time of Year Thou Mayst in Me Behold

The Areopagites take a look back on their 2024, giving lightning reviews of (among other things) books they've read, movies they've seen, places they've been, and songs that are tugging at their hearts.

Nov 22, 2024
Postmodern Idolatries

What hath Taylor Swift to do with Ganesh and the two-party American political system? The Areopagites take on some (metaphorical) idolatries of our time -- political, ecclesial, and cultural.

Nov 22, 2024
Postmodern Idolatries

What hath Taylor Swift to do with Ganesh and the two-party American political system? The Areopagites take on some (metaphorical) idolatries of our time -- political, ecclesial, and cultural.

Oct 16, 2024
Have We Been Misreading St. Paul?

The Areopagites welcome Fr. Stephen De Young to talk about the foundations of the Reformation in a now centuries-old misreading of St. Paul and how his new book 'Saint Paul the Pharisee' aims to bring us back to the apostle’s original context. Get the book here: https://store.ancientfaith.com/saint-paul-the-pharisee-jewish-apostle-to-all-nations/

Oct 16, 2024
Have We Been Misreading St. Paul?

The Areopagites welcome Fr. Stephen De Young to talk about the foundations of the Reformation in a now centuries-old misreading of St. Paul and how his new book 'Saint Paul the Pharisee' aims to bring us back to the apostle’s original context. Get the book here: https://store.ancientfaith.com/saint-paul-the-pharisee-jewish-apostle-to-all-nations/

Sep 3, 2024
...And We're Back

A lot has happened since our last episode, and we’re going to tell you all of it. Okay, some of it. But it will be the good stuff.

Sep 3, 2024
...And We're Back

A lot has happened since our last episode, and we’re going to tell you all of it. Okay, some of it. But it will be the good stuff.

Jun 11, 2024
No Creed but the Bible?

Richard Rohlin joins the Areopagites again to talk about the remarkable news that Southern Baptists are considering adopting the Nicene Creed. How can that even be possible within Baptist history and tradition? Richard takes us on a whirlwind tour of the Baptist tradition, including the infamous Trail of Blood.

Jun 11, 2024
No Creed but the Bible?

Richard Rohlin joins the Areopagites again to talk about the remarkable news that Southern Baptists are considering adopting the Nicene Creed. How can that even be possible within Baptist history and tradition? Richard takes us on a whirlwind tour of the Baptist tradition, including the infamous Trail of Blood.

May 14, 2024
Visions of Beauty

The Areopagites welcome Fr. Brandon LeTourneau, an Anglican priest at a parish in California, to talk about the role of beauty in worship: What does beauty accomplish? Is it a hindrance or aid? How does one beautify worship spaces with the resources one has on hand? What is the specific character of the beauty of Christian art?

May 14, 2024
Visions of Beauty

The Areopagites welcome Fr. Brandon LeTourneau, an Anglican priest at a parish in California, to talk about the role of beauty in worship: What does beauty accomplish? Is it a hindrance or aid? How does one beautify worship spaces with the resources one has on hand? What is the specific character of the beauty of Christian art?

Apr 9, 2024
Conversion without Convincing

How are people meeting Christ? What part can apologetics play? Is it always necessary? Is a non-intellectual conversion an honest one? The Areopagites are once again joined by Richard Rohlin, and together they wrestle with these questions and more.

Apr 9, 2024
Conversion without Convincing

How are people meeting Christ? What part can apologetics play? Is it always necessary? Is a non-intellectual conversion an honest one? The Areopagites are once again joined by Richard Rohlin, and together they wrestle with these questions and more.

Mar 27, 2024
Appropriating Spiritual Discipline

The Areopagites talk about Lenten devotional practices, especially focusing on non-liturgical traditions that adopt practices from liturgical traditions. How does that work, and how does it transform those practices when they are re-contextualized?

Mar 27, 2024
Appropriating Spiritual Discipline

The Areopagites talk about Lenten devotional practices, especially focusing on non-liturgical traditions that adopt practices from liturgical traditions. How does that work, and how does it transform those practices when they are re-contextualized?

Jan 17, 2024
A Perilous Jenkins

Dr. Cyril Gary Jenkins makes his triumphant return to the Areopagus, and this time he’s got a book. The Areopagites chat with him about his newly-published “A Perilous Realm: Confronting Dragons, Angels, and Saints in the Ordering of the Soul.”

Jan 17, 2024
A Perilous Jenkins

Dr. Cyril Gary Jenkins makes his triumphant return to the Areopagus, and this time he’s got a book. The Areopagites chat with him about his newly-published “A Perilous Realm: Confronting Dragons, Angels, and Saints in the Ordering of the Soul.”

Dec 20, 2023
It's Been a Year

The Areopagites do their year-in-review episode, discussing things they’ve accomplished, books they’ve read, places they’ve been, people they’ve lost and things they’ve learned.

Dec 20, 2023
It's Been a Year

The Areopagites do their year-in-review episode, discussing things they’ve accomplished, books they’ve read, places they’ve been, people they’ve lost and things they’ve learned.

Nov 17, 2023
An Areopagitic Miscellany

The Areopagites take email and voice questions from listeners, discussing issues such as whether social media is worth using, how to talk to Evangelical friends about Orthodox services, the true nature of schism, and the rotating Guamanian pope statue.

Nov 17, 2023
An Areopagitic Miscellany

The Areopagites take email and voice questions from listeners, discussing issues such as whether social media is worth using, how to talk to Evangelical friends about Orthodox services, the true nature of schism, and the rotating Guamanian pope statue.

Oct 10, 2023
An Evangelical on the Camino

Podcaster and musician Jim Lovelady of Serge (formerly World Harvest Mission) joins the Areopagites to talk about his pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago in northern Spain as well as the work he does with missionaries and pastors.

Oct 10, 2023
An Evangelical on the Camino

Podcaster and musician Jim Lovelady of Serge (formerly World Harvest Mission) joins the Areopagites to talk about his pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago in northern Spain as well as the work he does with missionaries and pastors.

Sep 5, 2023
Death and Pilgrimage

Fr. Andrew and Pastor Mike talk about their two very different experiences this summer as Fr. Andrew details his return to Lithuania and Pastor Mike walks through his father’s passing.

Sep 5, 2023
Death and Pilgrimage

Fr. Andrew and Pastor Mike talk about their two very different experiences this summer as Fr. Andrew details his return to Lithuania and Pastor Mike walks through his father’s passing.

Jul 12, 2023
Into All the World

The Areopagites welcome Fr. Christopher Rowe, the Assistant Director of Development for the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC), talking about the foreign missionary work of the Orthodox Church as well as Christian mission in general – why, how, and how not to do foreign and local evangelism.

Jul 12, 2023
Into All the World

The Areopagites welcome Fr. Christopher Rowe, the Assistant Director of Development for the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC), talking about the foreign missionary work of the Orthodox Church as well as Christian mission in general – why, how, and how not to do foreign and local evangelism.

Jun 20, 2023
The Pan-Heresy of Ecumenism

Discussing the confusing, conflicting definitions in play for “ecumenism,” the Areopagites talk about ecumenical history, what the Church Fathers say about relations with other Christians, and finally reveal their own true feelings about the Pan-Heresy of Ecumenism.

Jun 20, 2023
The Pan-Heresy of Ecumenism

Discussing the confusing, conflicting definitions in play for “ecumenism,” the Areopagites talk about ecumenical history, what the Church Fathers say about relations with other Christians, and finally reveal their own true feelings about the Pan-Heresy of Ecumenism.

May 16, 2023
Thrones

The Areopagites talk about the good side of church leadership, basing their discussion on the enthronement speech of Metropolitan Saba, the new leader of the North American Antiochian Archdiocese. Jack Chick and Joel Osteen also make appearances.

May 16, 2023
Thrones

The Areopagites talk about the good side of church leadership, basing their discussion on the enthronement speech of Metropolitan Saba, the new leader of the North American Antiochian Archdiocese. Jack Chick and Joel Osteen also make appearances.

Apr 18, 2023
Paschal Problematizing

The Areopagites greet each other (and you) with the resurrection of Christ and then delight in commenting on incoherent and heretical takes on the feast.