Artificial Intelligence and St. Augustine’s Just War Theory – St. Mary’s University – Edinburgh

On September 3rd, 2025, I had the opportunity to present my work on the ethical problems of AI in warfare at the “Catholic Social Teachings and AI” conference at St. Mary’s University-Twickenham-London, Edinburgh campus. Stephen Dolan was the genius who organized the conference and I’m especially grateful that he invited me to address the attendees. My presentation discussed the ethical issues regarding the use of Artificial Intelligence in warfare, with Israel’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza as a particular egregious case. While I’m no expert on the technical side of AI, the ethics of its use for military means seems deeply problematic, especially as it relates to the 7-point Just War Theory.

September 24, 2025 0

Talking Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Fascism with Rudolf J. Siebert

On March 15th, 2025, I had the pleasure of discussing the life and work of the German Lutheran Pastor, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, with the critical theorist and theologian, Rudolf J. Siebert. We discussed the historicity of the 2024 movie, Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Spy, Assassin, and why it is important to remember individuals like Bonhoeffer who resisted fascism, especially in light of the latest rise of authoritarian populism in the West. We also discussed Bonhoeffer’s concept of “stupidity” and “cheap grace” among others. The discourse was sponsored by Ekpyrosis Press and the Institute for Critical Social Theory.

March 16, 2025 0

The Authoritarian threat to Democracy: a discussion with Rudolf J. Siebert

On February 1st, 2025, I had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert, critical theorist of religion and society, and Professor Emeritus at Western Michigan University, to discuss the ongoing threat to democracy posed by right-wing authoritarian movements and figures. Dr. Siebert is not optimistic, seeing that – at least in America – we’ve already moved into an authoritarian stage of development, and that “anocracy,” the combination of democracy and authoritarianism, is not possible. This discourse was sponsored by the Institute for Critical Social Theory and Ekpyrosis Press.

February 8, 2025 0

Institute for Critical Social Theory – Inaugural Conference, 2025

Come join the Institute for Critical Social Theory at our inaugural conference, July 17-19, 2025, at Bristol University (UK). Seyed Javad Miri and I are the plenary speakers in this three day conference. Our conference theme is “Critical Theory in an Age of Social Disintegration.” The Call for Papers is below, or visit us at the ICST website: Institute for Critical Social Theory.

ICST – Call for Papers – Bristol Conference 2025 2.0 Download

January 24, 2025 0

NEW ARTICLE on Russian Multipolarity and the Dār al-Islām:

I’m pleased to announce that my latest article, entitled, “From ‘We want to destroy the regime’ to ‘We want to destroy the world order’: Russian Multipolarity and the Enlistment of the Post-Arab Spring Dār al-Islām,” has now been published. It was a part of a special issue on Contemporary Muslim Thought for the journal Philosophy and Society 35, no. 3 (University of Belgrade, Serbia). In the article, I discuss Putin’s (and Alexander Dugin’s) attempt to take advantage of the turmoil in the Muslim world, especially the Middle East, to enlist their support in Russia’s rightwing challenge to the American-led Neo-liberal “rules based order” and the dismal prospects of such a “multipolar” affront to unipolarity being effective.

It is available here: “From ‘We want to destroy the Regime’ to ‘We want to destroy the World Order.'”

October 9, 2024 0

Just War Theory with Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert

On April 13, 2024, I had the great opportunity to talk with the Critical Theorist and WWII combat veteran, Rudolf J. Siebert, about St. Augustine’s Just War Theory, as well as its further development into international law. We also discussed the many times when the Just War Theory has been violated by those who proclaim their adherence to it, especially in the West. If you’d like more information on the work of Rudolf J. Siebert, see the website dedicated to his work: www.dialectical-religion.org