David Bentley Hart on Hell, American Orthodoxy, and Going Out of His Way to Provoke

On November 3, 2022, I had an opportunity to interview David Bentley Hart in person for content that I have largely shared here in connection to my work as the director of this ClassicalU platform:

This video here, however, contains some additional content from Hart on three topics: 1) American Orthodoxy, 2) why he often goes out of his way to provoke, and 3) his vision of hell. I am embedding this video here where I write along with a few others:

And kindly shared by Hart here:

[DIBBY]

I like that: "Hell is a room of mirrors"

[osip]

"its a wing of southern baptist with incense" hilarious !

[colinpurssey]

Got to admire both his evaluative insights and his fearlessness in publicly expressing them --unlike too many other theologians and clerics who, although often recognizing moral failure in institutional ecclesiastical and political entities, pusillanimously shrink from denouncing them . DBH has exemplary bold honesty .

[eugenebrumley]

Hmm... he criticizes the Russians for tribalism but praises the Greeks..? They're the most racist, superior, and insular of any Orthodox Christian group I've been a part of.

I would like to hear him expand on why he thinks American Orthodoxy is a joke. Since he called it a wing of the baptist church but with incense I'm not optimisitic, but I hope it's something other than a political viewpoint.

[wordscapes]

I went to your page because I love DB Hart. I tried to access this course. It said I could not access this course unless I applied for a free trial period. I applied for a free trial period. After accessing the "free" trial period, it said I could not access this course unless I paid a $20 monthly subscription fee. Thanks for the labyrinth that contained no Minotaur at the end. I shall remain in Arcadia, as I am poor.

[ericday]

I can remember as a young christian, I read his book Beauty of the Infinte. And I thought wow this is going to be a tough religion to grasp. And I came back and read Hart consistantly, he is brilliant yes, but why does he always have to remind you of it.

[broderickwallis]

To me, David seems to be quite a well balanced man !

[thesampo]

Was there a section in the paper he references on humility? We could all benefit from a closer reading of that.

[alrightthengreat]

He’s like the guy who found a really cool and obscure indie band that no one knew and he loved them, but when they became popular his nose turned up.“They sold out.” He’s a theological hipster.

[tylerlynch]

Big fan of DBH, really happy to see a good quality interview filmed with him

[heatherescontrias]

I enjoy his provocations. We do need wake-up calls.

[bayreuth]

I was pleased to hear David B Hart criticise in the strongest possible terms Patriarch Kirill. Too many Orthodox leaders have remained more or less silent with regard to the support that the Russian Orthodox Church has afforded to Putin’s terroristic war. I was also shocked and horrified to learn that the monks of Mount Athos had given their support to Putin, even their blessing. Outrageous.

[...]

American orthodoxy so often lapses into a wierd simulated version of American Pietism laced with Victorian sentimentality.

[shanegfenwick]

Great video! Thanks for making this available, Jesse. Only thing missing is DBH's thoughts on psychedelics. ;-)

[Devv_]

DBH is such a breath of fresh air when it comes to studying philosophy and theology! He stands in a league of his own right now!

[_JDFun]

Hello all. I am a Protestant inquirer and I have a faith and love that are deeply committed to Jesus and His Kingdom. I recently purchased an Orthodox Study Bible and have been using a lot of Orthodox prayers that are helping and enriching my prayer life. Based on what Mr. Hart is saying in this video this appears to me to be a safe place to ask this question. When you use the internet as a guide to learning about Orthodoxy here in America one of the dominant voices you are going to get is Father Josiah Trenhem. I am really enjoying listening to his lectures on the Orthodox faith. However, when it comes to politics he seems to be very conservative. ( I am just fine with a lot of conservative politics but that is not the point here) Socially Father Josiah has some strong views that I don't always agree with. I probably didn't ask that question well, but hopefully someone can give me an honest answer. Also, in my city there is a Greek Orthodox Church, an Antiochian Orthodox Church, and an OCA Church. I have attended Great Vespers at the Anitochian and OCA Church. Any recommendations that any of you can give me?

[daneracamosa]

Such a brilliant thinker on things spiritual and philosophical... Of course when he Strays into other topics, as he is so often want to do, his thinking becomes muddled and mushy and ideological. No different from many intellectuals with Superior intelligence who have never had to concern themselves with the practicalities of the material world.

[tookie]

Thank Jesus. Someone says something about the ignorance of right wing evangelicals going into the orthodoxy

[tomgnau]

So when asked why he tends to be so provocative, DBH describes one of the journals that *published him* as "stupid" and "boring, " among other adjectives. I love some of the man's writing, but he's a caricature of himself sometimes.

[kennethfurr]

Regarding this odd thing called Christian nationalism... It is incredible to me how many Christians say "Jesus is Lord" on Sundays and have not a single clue how radical a statement that actually is.