Going to the headsprings

Does God care about the environment? Did the Reformers really believe in sola Scriptura? What do elves and hobbits have to do with theology? What can the Christians of other ages tell us about how to live a faithful life now? Upstream, a podcast hosted by Shane Morris of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, tackles these questions and more in an intellectual, friendly, and enthusiastic way.

Worldview-centric podcasts abound. The Colson Center itself ­produces the more well-known Breakpoint, a cultural commentary podcast hosted by John Stonestreet. But Upstream’s mission—to “make your worldview bigger and older by taking hard questions to the headsprings of Christian wisdom”—has a more narrowly tailored goal. While Morris provides some cultural commentary, his focus is re-grounding and re-enchanting our faith and practice in the wisdom of historical Christianity.

Upstream alternates between two types of episodes. In the main episodes, Morris discusses a topic with an expert. Each of these is followed by a shorter “Further Upstream” episode in which Morris further unpacks the topic or explores alternative viewpoints with a fellow Colson Center staffer. Each pair of episodes is best enjoyed together for a fuller picture of each topic.

Morris balances a friendly, down-to-earth manner with an impressive knowledge of, and enthusiasm for, each topic he discusses. With episode titles as varied as “How Gender Is Destroying Sex,” “Moral Metanoia in Christmas Stories,” and “Were the Pilgrims Nuts?” he and his guests cover a lot of ground, with a particular fondness for theology, tradition, and myth. Parents should be aware that Upstream regularly tackles weighty topics like abortion, sex, and transgenderism. Morris comes from a Reformed background but hosts guests from across the Christian spectrum.

Some of Morris’ guests, like Jinger Duggar and Os Guinness, are well known. Others are respected authors or theologians in certain Christian circles. But listeners will also likely discover new names—pastors, authors, teachers, and musicians. Morris’ guests are interesting in their own right, but also serve as the conduit to “bigger and older” historical ideas.

Upstream draws heavily from the wisdom of the Inklings—particularly Lewis, Tolkien, and Chesterton. But Morris also goes back to the Reformers, Aquinas, Augustine, and first-­century Church Fathers, to the liturgical calendar, Book of Common Prayer, feasts, hymns, and creeds. He encourages a synthesis of Christian ­traditions and reminds listeners that increasing knowledge should lead to increasing worship.

In a recent episode, Morris referenced C.S. Lewis’ introduction to On the Incarnation by Athanasius. Lewis urged readers to turn to historical Christian wisdom to “[put] the controversies of the moment in their proper perspective.” Upstream capably and enjoyably carries out Lewis’ exhortation.