New Persuasive Words

Can we have a truly secular society, or does religion always play some animating role in public life? If this is the case, are all religious cultural foundations created equal? And what does any of this have to do with Christmas?

In this episode we address a listener's question and concerns. She is currently pursuing a graduate degree and is finding herself consistently confronted with criticisms of her religious faith. We offer some insights into how we might approach some of the criticisms of Christianity that she's regular hearing.

In this episode we talk about the new "cultural Christianity" that's growing in the United States. Is it taking over the conservative movement? You can click here for The New Republic article that inspired our conversation. You can find a link to the Pew Study we reference here. You can find Bill's sermons here. You can find Scott's conversational interview show Give and Take here . Please conside...

In this episode we talk about the new HBO Max series "The Penguin." We consider what it tells us about the nature of good and evil, the dangers of dualism, and the goodness of creation.

In this episode we talk about psychologist and public intellectual Jordan Peterson. He's been interacting with the Bible and the Western religious tradition for years, and now has a new book on the subject. We reference a couple of articles and a discussion Peterson did with Slavoj Žižek a few years back. You can find the links to them below. You can find the link to Martha Gill's Guardian review...

In this episode we pay tribute to the recently deceased evangelist, sociologist, and activist Tony Campolo. He was pivotal in the development of late 20th century progressive evangelicalism and served as a spiritual advisor to former President Bill Clinton in the wake of the Monica Lewinski scandal. We mentioned two of Tony's books in the podcast, A Reasonable Faith and_ Partly Right_. You can fin...

In this episode we reflect on the liturgical history and meaning of Christ the King Sunday. But first we banter about the news of the day. You can find the song "Suzanne" that we reference here. Click here for a link to Rowan Williams' book Tokens of Trust .

In this episode, amidst the political tsunami that hit last week, we talk about the election that counts. We look at the doctrine of election in the history of the church and what it means for us today amidst a moment of massive cultural change and anxiety.

In this episode we talk about the nature of Christian confession. Why do we confess the faith? When do we do it and why? We'll talk specifically about the Barmen Declaration today in this ongoing occassional series. Click here for the text of the Barmen Declaration itself.

In this episode we reflect on the results of this week's 2024 Presidential election. How'd we get here? What's next? Where is the country going? Below are the links to the Ezra Klein podcast and the piece from Quillette, both of which we reference in the podcast. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/07/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-election.html https://quillette.com/2024/11/06/the-revenge-of-the-silent-m...

In this episode we discuss the death of a progressive evangelical community in Philadelphia. We also consider what it means for the ongoing legacy of the "evangelical left." You can find The New Yorker article we reference in the podcast here.

In this episode we talk about presuppositional apologetics. It's a 20th century strategy for defending religious faith. We consider what it tells us about the nature of religious faith, and what insights it gives into the process of thinking and making intellectual commitments.

In this episode we talk about our culture's propensity toward reductionism. We make the case that living with two truths in tension is better than settling for a truth. If you want to support the work of this podcast, you can go to our Patreon page here: patreon.com/scottkentjones

In this episode we talk about theological family trees. What influences shape our core religious convictions and make us who we are? We also talk a little about the debate and the near extinction of humanity that almost happened 900,000 years ago.

In this episode, recorded minutes after Biden announced he was dropping out of the 2024 presidential race, we talk Nietzsche. We think a bit Nietzsche's early work, The Birth of Tragedy . We try to think through what it might speak to a dramatic, polarized political situation, and what it might teach us about how both parties understand the human condition.

In this episode Bill and Scott talk about Donald Trump, his shooting, and his convention where he accepted the Republican nomination for President of the United States. We were both excited to see the Hulkster back in public life!

In this episode we discuss a phenomenal text on leadership, Failure of Nerve . We think with the author about what's behind the emotional limitations to change in church, society, and our personal lives. We conclude with some Christian reflections on Rabbi Friedman's work, which we think could be useful inside and outside the church. You can find Rabbi Friedman's book here.

In this episode, recorded on the anniversary of the historic duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton, we consider some of the best arguments against the existence of God.

In this episode we talk about the nature of faith in a modern and pluralistic world. What does it mean to have faith and have it challenged? What do you do when people call you dogmatic for believing? How do you share that faith in an inviting, reasonable, and humble way?

In this episode we talk about recent Supreme Court decisions and their short term and long term implications for life in the Republic.

Continuing in the New Persuasive Words tradition, we bring you our legendary post-debate coverage.

In this episode we talk about the Presbyterian Church of America's "cancelling" of NY Times columnist David French. Click here for David French's account of the affair. Click here if you'd like to hear the affair chronicled in song.

In this episode, actually by listener request, we talk about Israel, Antisemitism, and the war in Gaza.

Bill and Scott are back after a bit of a hiatus. We talk about the current electoral climate, the politicization and polarization of everything, and the spiritual implications of it all.

In this episode we discuss something neither of us are sure we care about or completely get: the 2023 Dove Awards. We also discuss recent scientific discoveries about human DNA in neanderthals , as well as the current state of leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives.