Jul 29, 2026
The Essential Herman Bavinck
Today, Todd and Carl welcome back theology professor N. Gray Sutanto to the podcast. They discuss the profound contributions of Herman Bavinck, drawing on the new book, The Essential Herman Bavinck: A Reader and Commentary, to which Gray contributed. The conversation delves into Bavinck's legacy, his approach to engaging with contemporary issues, and the relevance of his theological insights in today's pluralistic society.
Bavinck was trying to not only capture but also transmit the scholastic reform orthodox tradition for the modern age. – Gray Sutanto
From Bavinck's thoughts on the interplay between faith and science to his vision for Christian engagement in public life, this conversation is rich with insights for anyone interested in Reformed theology and its application in the modern world.
If you're like me, and if you've worked your way through the multi-volume dogmatics that Bavinck wrote, something like this could be very helpful for you. – Todd Pruitt
If you’d like to get a copy of The Essential Herman Bavinck for your library, Baker Publishing Group is generously offering Mortification of Spin listeners 40% off and free shipping from July 29 to August 31, 2026! To get your copy, click this link and enter the code ACEBAVINCK at checkout! US Residents only.
3 days ago
I feel smart today. Dogsitting my son’s labrador means more walks, which has meant more podcast listening. So I listened to two episodes of Mortification of Spin on the same day. I went from a discussion of whether there is ever a situation in which an adult male can wear cargo shorts (answer: sadly, no) to whether proof of (extraplanetary) aliens impacts the Christian faith and doctrine (also no). And then, something that probably only seven or so people could understand about Bavinck, in which the terms ”neo-Calvinism vs paleo-Calvinism” were used without introduction or explanation! For the record, I am definitely not one of the seven. (But, I feel like I figured it out from context…)