Ken welcomes historian, author, and media commentator Martyn Whittock from his home across the Pond just outside London. Martyn read Ken’s Substack series on Biblical Authority and reached out with some comments. It prompted this lively conversation - and led to another focus: Martyn’s article recently published in the UK - How US Evangelicals Could Affect the Entire World. Whittock, a licensed minister in the Church of England, is a self-described “Evangelical.” For years, he has been a student of American Evangelicalism. He gives us a fascinating insight into the differences between our two countries: in America - the preponderance of MAGA Evangelicals, and in Britain - a very different sort of evangelical. Martyn expresses his deep concern over the prospect of a second term for the 45th President not only for the USA. He believes a second Trump Presidency will have an egregious adverse effect on Europe and the entire world. He explains this in considerable detail. Then, Ken asks Martyn about two recent appearances on British television as a history specialist. In the first, Martyn comments on the recent terror attack in Moscow that killed over one hundred in a large theater. In the second, he is asked about the Princess of Wales and the conspiracy theories that surrounded her hospital stay and absence from public life. You can see those clips by clicking on the links. SHOW NOTES
Martyn Whittock on British TV: CBN LIVE on The Princess of Wales | Talk TV with Trisha Goddard on the Moscow Terror Attack (11-22 minutes into the program)
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Historian and prolific author Martyn Whittock re-joins Ken to discuss his soon-to-be-released (November 7, 2023) book, American Vikings - How the Norse Sailed into the Lands and Imaginations of America from his study in the U.K. Martyn has appeared several times on the podcast - with conversations about the use and misuse of eschatology throughout history, the passing of Queen Elizabeth, the monarchy in Great Britain, the coronation of King Charles and the implications of a State Church (in contrast to separation of church and state in the USA). Martyn has written extensively about medieval history in Europe, but his interest was peaked as the events unfolded at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. A most memorable character, Jake Chansley, AKA the Q-Shaman captured on camera at the podium of the inner sanctum, barechested, revealing tattoos and other symbols of Viking mythology. Martyn takes us back a thousand years (1021 C.E.) for an exploration of the Nordic saga and myth, the landing of the Vikings on this continent hundreds of years before Christopher Columbus, separating fact and fiction of that early occupation of what became known as America and finally the ways in which the Viking "deep story" penetrates the imagination of Americans. Marvel has tapped into the Viking world (the God of Thunder, Thor) in comic books and superhero cinema. That story has been hijacked and utilized as inspiration for the Alt-Right, white supremacy, and manifest destiny, culminating in the insurrection of January 2021, symbolized by the memorable character, the Q-Shaman, sentenced to nearly four years in prison. SHOW NOTES
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Coming in the Fall –
A vivid and illuminating new history—separate fact from fiction, myth from legend—exploring the early Vikings settlements in North America.
Vikings are an enduring subject of fascination. The combination of adventure, mythology, violence, and exploration continues to grip our attention. As a result, for more than a millennium the Vikings have traveled far and wide, not least across the turbulent seas of our minds and imaginations.
Release Date: November 7, 2023
If you missed the Coronation, you'll want to tune in here. Ken welcomes back author, historian, columnist, and lay minister in the Church of England, Martyn Whittock. It's a lively conversation between a curious American and a scholarly Brit. Ken acknowledges the appearance of excess, the residual of colonialism, and the confusion over the cozy Church/State dynamic. That said, Ken then explains his personal family connection to London, to the former Prince Charles, and to the King's carriages - and how he finds the pomp and circumstance so moving.
From his home in Bath, England, Martyn shares his perspective on the historic celebration of the Coronation of King Charles III in London, the first in 70 years. Charle's mother, Queen Elizabeth, was crowned in 1953. Martyn just published a comprehensive article in Brittain's Christian Today explaining the 1,000 years of coronation history at Westminster Abbey in London. Martyn gives a first-person response to the grand celebration that captured the rapt attention of the nation, the Commonwealth, and the world. The ceremony was filled with symbolism, much of which Martyn explains. Ken quizzes his guest on the future of the monarchy and the nature of his "Christian nation" as it compares to the American version of Christian Nationalism. Martyn relays 1,000 years of history in which the monarch evolved as non-political and Parliament emerged as a secular governing body, today with a professing Hindu as Prime Minister (Rishi Sunak). Martyn shares his thoughts on the two couples in the spotlight - William & Kate and Harry & Megan.
Martyn also introduces his new book to be released in the Fall: American Vikings - How the Norse Sailed into the Lands and Imaginations of America
SHOW NOTES - See Martyn's books, TV appearances, and published articles
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The coronation of King Charles III is the latest in a continuous history of such events, which stretches back a millennium. Its location, within Westminster Abbey, is a direct link to Anglo-Saxon England and the eleventh-century world.
TOPIC: The history of the Monarchy. Starts at 1 hour 32 minutes into the broadcast.
Ken welcomes back historian and author, Martyn Whittock, from his home outside Bath in England. The two got acquainted when Ken interviewed Martyn (S2E58) about his new book. They discussed the misappropriation of biblical prophesy throughout history, and especially today. Since then, Ken learned that Martyn was a popular television guest in the U.K., offering historical context for the week-long series of events surrounding the remembrance of Queen Elizabeth II, and the long-anticipated accession of King Charles to the throne. Ken shares his personal connection through his grandmother, born in London in 1903, and Ken's visit to London the same week Princess Diana was memorialized in August of 1997. Ken and Martyn trace the events from Balmoral in Scotland to London - Buckingham Palace, Westminster Cathedral, and Windsor Castle. Ken shares his mixed emotions, citing friends who just cannot watch - the conspicuous wealth, the history of colonization, and the display of "theocracy." Martyn brings a rich perspective to it all, bringing context and depth. Ken's affection for his grandmother's homeland and Martyn's knowledge and appreciation of America's perspective makes for a lively, informative, and stimulating exchange. Thank you, Martyn Whittock!
SHOW NOTES - find Martyn's books, links to television appearances, and additional biographical information.
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Ken welcomes first-time guest, author Martyn Whittock to discuss his recent book, The End Times, Again? -2000 Years of the Use & Misuse of Biblical Prophecy. While listening to the BWM podcast at his home near Bath in England (the UK), Martin reached out to Ken to discuss his book's themes and how they play out in the US... and much more. Ken shares his concern about the misappropriation of eschatology (the study of the last times) in American politics. Martin agrees and expands the conversation to include Brexit, the Economic Union (EU), and Russia not only on the contemporary scene but throughout history. The author of more than fifty books, Whittock shares his early fascination with evangelical Christianity. His father, a conservative Methodist minister, gave him an early immersion in prophetic teachings - much of which Martyn had to rework as he studied history and religion at the University of Bristol. The conversation takes them through a millennium of European and American history and touches on the Viking raids, The Crusades, the English Civil War of 1640, the Pope in Rome, Napoleon and on to Mikhail Gorbachev, Henry Kissinger, Vladimir Putin, the election of Donald Trump and his "evangelical support." The misuse of Bible prophesy has contributed to Christian Nationalism, and conspiracy theories (including Q-Anon) in America and in Europe as well. Whittock, a self-proclaimed Bible-believing evangelical Christian, shares his ideas regarding a proper approach to prophetic and apocalyptic literature. SHOW NOTES
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From the Middle Eastern politics of Donald Trump to the UK’s 2016 EU Referendum, large numbers of Christians are making decisions based on the alleged “end-times” aspects of modern politics. Such apocalyptic views often operate beneath “the radar” of much Christian thought and expression. In this book, historian Martyn Whittock argues that while the New Testament does indeed teach the second coming of Christ, complications occur when Christians seek to confidently identify contemporary events as fulfilments of prophecy.
Such believers are usually unaware that they stand in a long line of such well-intended but failed predictions. In this book, Whittock explores the history of end-times speculations over two thousand years, revealing how these often reflect the ideologies and outlooks of contemporary society in their application of Scripture. When Christians ignore such past mistakes, they are in danger of repeating them. Jesus, Whittock argues, taught a different way.
Martyn Whittock is a Licensed Lay Minister in the Church of England. As an historian and author, or co-author, of fifty-four books, his work covers a wide range of historical and theological themes. As a commentator and columnist, he has written for a number of print and online news platforms; been interviewed on radio shows exploring the interaction of faith and politics; appeared on Sky News discussing political events in the USA; and been interviewed on a number of news platforms regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine. His recent exploration of the history of repression in Russia, and its continued legacy, is: ‘The Secret History of Soviet Russia’s Police State’ (2020). He has just completed ‘Apocalyptic Politics’ (2022 forthcoming), which examines apocalyptic beliefs driving radicalization, including in Russia
Watch as Martyn is interviewed –
37 minutes in.
September 19, 2020
Martyn appeared on British television to discuss the monarchy as the nation remembered Queen Elizabeth II.
Broadcast in the UK
More Pending
