New Persuasive Words

In this episode of the podcast, we talk a little bit about Holy Monday—the often-overlooked day in Holy Week that nonetheless carries rich theological and spiritual significance. We reflect on the stories and symbols associated with the day, and what they might have to say to us in our own moment. Join us as we explore how the drama of Holy Week continues to speak to faith, justice, and the human...

In this episode of the podcast, we explore the political implications of Palm Sunday. Far from being a quaint prelude to Easter, Palm Sunday is a dramatic act of public protest—Jesus' entry into Jerusalem is a deliberate, provocative counter-procession to the powers of this world. We unpack how this story speaks to the tension between religious hope and political realism, between divine kingship a...

In this episode of the podcast, recorded as Trump delivered his "liberation day" address, we wrestle with a fundamental question at the heart of American political life: what happens when a society loses its sense of meaning? Inspired by a striking passage from Robert Jenson’s Story and Promise , we explore the creeping influence of nihilism in our political culture—how it erodes trust, hollows ou...

In this episode of New Persuasive Words, hosts Bill and Scott examine a provocative argument by conservative commentator Charlie Sykes, who contends that former President Donald Trump is engaged in a war with Christianity. Through a discussion of Sykes’ assertions, they explore the broader implications for the Republican Party, the religious right, and the shifting landscape of faith in American p...

In this episode we delve into theologian Graham Tomlin’s thought-provoking article, “Blaise Pascal is Haunting Our Unbelieving Age.” With the modern world increasingly defined by skepticism and a crisis of meaning, we explore how Pascal’s insights—his Pensées, his famous wager, and his reflections on faith and reason—speak powerfully to our contemporary moment. How does a 17th-century polymath con...

In this episode, we examine a provocative question: Is Donald Trump a modern-day Constantine, ushering in a new era of promise for the Christian church in America? For his supporters, Trump has championed religious freedom, strengthened the political influence of Christian institutions, and waged a culture war against what they see as rising secular hostility. His administration’s faith-based init...

In this episode, we explore the concept of "Negative Space," a term coined by writer Aaron Renn to describe the increasingly hostile environment that, he argues, Christians in America have faced since 2014. Renn contends that this shift marks a departure from an era of neutrality, ushering in a cultural landscape where openly professing Christian beliefs—particularly those aligned with traditional...

In this episode, we delve into the recent dispute between former President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, analyzing the ideological and theological foundations that shape the foreign policy perspectives of Trump's supporters. We explore how nationalist and isolationist sentiments, intertwined with elements of Christian nationalism, influence some Republican's approach to...

In this episode, inspired by a quote from Ezra Klein, we consider the mythic and mystical components of the MAGA movement. Do they correspond to a broader current in the culture that some on the left are out of step with today?

In this episode we wonder why there isn't more progressive outrage over strangled babies and other recent atrocities committed by Hamas.

In this episode we unpack Vice-President Vance's recent comments about the Ordo Amoris. We ask the age old question: what's love got to do with it?

In this episode we consider the different ways in which identity is constituted, and how our identities might be in tension or even conflict. You can find the substack piece we reference here.

In this episode we consider some classic questions about the ethics of Jesus and the Church's relationship to culture.

In this episode we examine the current intellectual and ideological foundations of the New Right in America, and consider how the right and the left seem to mirror some ancient Christian heresies. We reference and quote a recent episode of The Ezra Klein Show. You can find the episode and the transcript of it here.

In this episode we talk about what to do when you come across a repugnant idea. With T.S. Eliot as our guide, we consider what strong visceral reactions to ideas and ideologies might tell us about ourselves. The inspiration for the conversation was a Substack piece Scott published today. You can find it here. We actually discussed the Eliot essay we reference in episode 154 of this podcast, which...

In this episode we talk about Bishop Mariann Budde's recent sermon, in which she personally addressed and exhorted President Trump. We wonder what the Gospel is for President Trump, and the great Robert Farrar Capon would have done in Bishop Budde's shoes. You can find Bishop Budde's sermon here. You can find a host of Capon quotes for your reading pleasure here.

In this episode we talk about what it means to walk by faith and not by sight in public life.

In this episode we consider whether our democracy can adequately respond to the concerns and crises that face the American citizenry. We were inspired in part by a conversation Jon Stewart just had with American historian Jon Meacham. You can watch the conversation here , or listen to it wherever you get your podcasts.

It's Monday and we have a few things to say with the Inauguration just a week away!

In this episode we engage with a talk given by Bishop Robert Barron at the Acton institute. The topic of the address is the philosophical roots of "wokeism." You can listen to the talk here, or read a transcript of it here.

In this episode we talk about Original Sin and human origins, inspired in part by an essay on the work of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin that appeared in a recent issue of the Christian Century. You can find the article we reference here..

In this episode we talk about a recent piece by New York Times columnist David Brooks Entitled "The Shock of Faith: It’s Nothing Like I Thought It Would Be." We also consider some of the response it's generated in public discourse by people of many faiths and no faith at all. You can find the original David Brooks piece here. You can find Mark Oppenheimer's responses here and here. You can listen...

In this episode we talk about the Jewishness of Jesus and what it means in the context of contemporary antisemitism.

In this episode we contrast the ecology of the Roman Empire with the ecology of the Christmas story.

In this special holiday episode we talk with our good friend Matt Milliner about the Virgin Mary and her significance for the spiritual life. Special Guest: Matt Milliner.