New Persuasive Words

In this episode we talk about a recent Wall Street Journal piece by Yoram Hazony entitled "Is 'Classical Liberalism' Conservative?" . Our current political and cultural moment should invite self-reflection on every level. We probably wouldn't agree with him on a host of political issues, but Mr. Hazony does it well.

This week there was a controversy involving President Trump and a phone call he made to the family of a fallen Special Forces soldier who was one of four that died this month in Niger. After much back and forth between the President, a Congresswoman, the press and staffers of former presidents, Trump's Chief of Staff weighed in during a press conference, at one point asking if anything is sacred a...

In this episode we discuss a recent book entitled 8 Hours or Less: Writing faithful sermons faster, by Ryan Huguley . We also consider the nature of preaching and the life and calling of preachers.

We continue our revisiting of the Reformation, commemorating its 500th anniversary, through a comparison of brief works of Robert Jenson and Brian Gerrish. In this episode we discuss whether theology should begin with the universal and move to the particular or do it the other way around.

In this episode we talk about guns. It wasn't our first choice for today, but reality impinges like that. We also attempt to do justice to the memory of Tom Petty (probably impossible, but it hasn't stopped us yet). May he rest in peace, alongside the countless victims of senseless violence.

In this episode, recorded on International Podcast Day, we talk about the virtues of real disagreement, built not on misunderstanding but serious attentiveness and comprehension. We were inspired by a NY Times op-ed piece written by Brett Stephens earlier this week. You can find it here: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/24/opinion/dying-art-of-disagreement.html . Scott also revealed his ignorance a...

We continue our revisiting of the Reformation, commemorating its 500th anniversary, through a comparison of brief works of Robert Jenson and Brian Gerrish. In this episode we're looking at the problem of evil.

In this Friday Night Lights/Bullgeschichte episode we welcome a new guest to the bunker. Brian Toews joins us to talk about imprecatory Psalms, the verses in the Bible that wish bad things on people that have wronged the ones praying. What do we do with these Psalms today? We reference a lecture about Calvin and Julian of Norwich on divine anger. It can be found in this volume: https://www.amazon....

We continue our revisiting of the Reformation, commemorating its 500th anniversary, through a comparison of brief works of Robert Jenson and Brian Gerrish. In this episode we focus on Brian Gerrish's understanding of sin. Below you'll find some key quotes from the chapter we discussed. Thesis 7: Estrangement from the Creator may, as mistrust, be guiltless; but as defiance to the Creator it is sin,...

We're taking a break from our "Theology In Outline" series to talk about midlife crises and the challenge of the living in the present. Our conversation was inspired by a NY Times piece and a forthcoming book, both by the philosopher Kieran Setiya. You can find the NY Times piece here: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/11/opinion/the-problem-of-living-in-the-present.html?mcubz=1 . You can find out m...

We continue our revisiting of the Reformation, commemorating its 500th anniversary, through a comparison of brief works of Robert Jenson and Brian Gerrish. In light of Jenson's recent passing, we focus on his retelling of the story of Jesus, the Resurrection and the Trinity in "Can These Bones Live?" The texts in question are brief, which is one of the reasons we chose them. Both authors also high...

We continue our revisiting of the Reformation through brief works of Robert Jenson and Brian Gerrish. We consider why Jenson moves quickly to the story of Israel after his introduction, whereas Gerrish focuses on the experience of the world as creation.

This year marks the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. To commemorate it we are considering what it would mean to be continually reforming our understanding of the Gospel and the theological enterprise. We'll be doing this through engaging two brief theological works, one by Robert Jenson and the other by Brian Gerrish. The texts in question are brief, which is one of the reasons we chose them....

In this episode we consider the difference between the traditional Augustinian conception of the spiritual life and Martin Luther's conception of it. We were inspired by a post on the Rev. Dr. Matthew Richard's blog: http://www.pastormattrichard.com/2015/08/augustinian-influenced-sanctification.html?m=1 . In the post he quotes from a book written by Steven Hein. See below for the full quotations....

On this Bullgeschichte episode we welcome Ben Maddison to the bunker. Ben is an Episcopal priest serving in Southern New Jersey. He joins us to talk about the way the Alt-Right (as well as many others) completely misread the work of Friedrich Nietzsche. Special Guest: Ben Maddison.

In this episode we consider where to find hope at a time that seems for many so dark in our country right now.

Where do we go from here? That seems to be the question of the moment. We live in a tribal, angry, isolated culture. New York Times columnist David Brooks has some ideas that we like in his most recent column. So we decided to do a little riffing off of him. We even go from the 21st century to the 16th at the end. You can find David Brooks' column here: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/15/opinion/f...

Our guest for this bullgeschichte episode is Nikki Kelley Kleinberg. She's a United Methodist pastor and a hospital chaplain. We talk about a wide range of things, including the theology of Dr. Seuss.

We were grateful to be invited to participate in a roundtable discussion about the recent events in Charlottesville and what they mean for our country and the church. It was hosted by our friends at the Crackers and Grape Juice podcast.

In this episode we discuss ambition, mortality and everything in between. Our conversation was inspired by Bill's recent article in The Mockingbird print magazine. You can get a copy of the most recent issue of the magazine at www.mbird.com .

|n this Bullgeschichte/Friday Night Lights episode we talk with the Prince of Lutherans (according to us), Adam Morton. He and Bill argue the finer points of Luther and Lutheranism. Scott cracks bad jokes. Special Guest: Adam Morton.

In this episode we consider an essay T.S. Eliot wrote as an introduction on the topic of revelation in the modern world in a volume that listed among its contributors renowned theologians like Karl Barth and Gustav Aulen. Show Notes: You can find the essay we reference here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/u7p24zxr9v7k5uy/eliot_essay.pdf?dl=0 .

We read a weird article. It looks like the atheist left is getting as crazy as the evangelical right. We're nervous.

We don't talk hermeneutics very often on this podcast. At least explicitly. But Jace Broadhurst got us talking about it. It's Bullgeschichte and Friday Night Lights rolled into one! God help us all. Special Guest: Jace Broadhurst.

In this episode we discuss a 1969 radio address about the future of the church in a secular age. It was delivered by a young priest known as Joseph Ratzinger, the man who would become Pope Benedict XVI. His insights are certainly provocative and worth pondering. The piece comes to via www.ucatholic.com . You can find the post which contains the entirety of Ratzinger's address here: http://www.ucat...