It goes without saying why I'd be so thrilled to speak with either Dr. Bock or Father Naugle. Well, at least if you're familiar with them. These are the chats I refer to as pinch-me! What is little ol' me from Florida doing inside these forums? Why do I have this opportunity?

Dr. Bock invited me on his videocast which I was flattered by. I knew his work but we didn't know each other personally. We've since done a round 2. Both links are below and the full talks available to all.

My friendship with Father Naugle is something I value immensely. We came together over values and common concerns. As a man of the cloth, his willingness to get close tells its own story. And my admiration for him goes well beyond the church.

Both of these are deeply religious men. Most everyone I respect highly in my life is of faith. It takes some mega confidence bordering on arrogance to stand alone there. And yet, I have my whole life But I don't live close minded. And these gents make me think! Special people.

The talk is not meant to be a religious one. But I'm setting this framing because I want to use it as a way to hopefully tie a bow on this notion of Critical Christ Theory I've been developing. I'm eager to see how it fits into their own mental frameworks.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Connection

05:05 Reflections on Travel and Nature

09:46 Exploring American Identity and Community

15:12 The Role of Sports and Society

19:59 The Intersection of Faith and Personal Beliefs

24:57 Cultural Shifts and the Church's Response

30:02 Personal Journeys and the Search for Truth

34:50 The Complexity of Inclusion and Exclusion

39:52 Final Thoughts and Future Conversations