Virtue and Vice: A Medieval Perspective | Dr. Grace Hamman Artwork

Gospel Simplicity Podcast

The Gospel Simplicity Podcast is centered around the conviction that the gospel is really good news. Here you will find conversations with Christians from various traditions as we seek to unpack the beautiful simplicity and transformative power of the gospel. Gospel Simplicity is known for ecumenical dialogue that is charitable and open to learning from people with whom you might disagree. We believe that God desires for his Church to be one, united in love for God and neighbor, and on mission to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to all people.

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Gospel Simplicity Podcast

Virtue and Vice: A Medieval Perspective | Dr. Grace Hamman

May 18, 2026 • Austin Suggs

0:00 | 1:04:21

In this video, I'm joined by Dr. Grace Hamman to discuss how Medieval Christians approached spiritual formation. We give special attention to their understanding of virtue and vice, exploring how that might help enrich our modern approaches to the Christian life. We also talk about how to read medieval theologians wisely, and what to do with some of the more extreme examples of piety that might make us uncomfortable today.

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About the Guest: Grace Hamman, Ph.D. (Duke University) is a writer and independent scholar of late medieval poetry and contemplative writing. She is the author of Ask of Old Paths: Medieval Virtues and Vices for a Whole and Holy Life and Jesus through Medieval Eyes: Beholding Christ with the Artists, Mystics, and Theologians of the Middle Ages. Her work has been published by academic and popular outlets, including Plough Quarterly and The Journal of Medieval and Early Modern Studies. She lives near Denver, Colorado with her husband and three young children.

Chapters
00:00 The Overlooked Medieval Era
05:07 Personal Journey into Medieval Studies
09:54 Exploring Virtue in Medieval Literature
15:47 Understanding Wholeness and Virtue
20:49 The Interconnectedness of Virtues and Vices
36:22 The Thin Picture of Christian Life
38:45 Pairing Virtues and Vices
42:30 The Richness of Abstinence and Gluttony
47:21 Imagination in Christian Formation
53:00 Navigating Historical Literature
01:30:08 Gateway Texts to the Medieval Period

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