New Persuasive Words

In this episode we reflect on a multi-year journey that has led us to our 300th episode. In a change of pace, we are interviewed by renowned author and journalist Benyamin Cohen. Thanks to our listeners for making it all worth it! Special Guest: Benyamin Cohen.

In this episode we talk about the historic motion to vacate the Speaker of the House of Representatives. What's next?!?

In this episode we do a little post debate analysis. But first we stumble unexpectedly into a discussion of Original Sin. We conclude with a little Aristotlean reflection on the nature of politics. Thanks again for all your feedback recently. Keep it coming!

In this episode, recorded on Yom Kippur 2023, we reflect a bit on the nature of atonement. We delve into the possibility of atoning for one's wrongdoings, whether or not it's possible and what Kant has to say about it. We also talk about the recent squabble involving Donald Trump, Howard Stern and Bill Maher. Again, glad to be back! If you have topic suggestions for future shows feel free to email...

In this episode we return from our long hiatus. We're glad to be back!

In this episode we reflect on the hundredth anniversary of the sermon that was at the heart of the fundamentalist/modernist controversy. It was preached by Harry Emerson Fosdick in 1922 at the Riverside Church in New York City. It's still discussed because it's still relevant. We'll be revisiting this them throughout 2022 so stay tuned! The article we reference in the show can be found here: https...

In this episode we give our reflections on 2021 as we head into the New Year.

In this episode we share our thoughts on the Rittenhouse verdict. It will be an ongoing conversation in public and private life in North America for sure. This is our initial contribution. We offer it with a lot of mixed emotions. We hope it serves the public good.

In this episode we pose a historical what if: What if the American colonists didn't fight the Revolutionary War in 1776?

In this episode we ponder the relationship between classical liberalism and the contemporary left. Is the left illiberal? When does one get cancelled? And we even tell you how you can get us to do a live show in your neighborhood. Happy listening!

In this episode, after some recap of the news of the week, we ask a question: should we fear God?

We're back...enough said!

We continue talking about the romance of Christian orthodoxy by looking at some of the ideas and figures that challenged it. This episode deals with one of Augustine's most famous opponents: Pelagius. They debated the nature of original sin and the capacity of human beings to choose the ultimate good, God.

In this episode, our first one in the "new bunker", we discuss an article from Commonweal Magazine. In it David Albertson, a religion professor at USC, argues that many conservative intellectuals justify supporting Trump in the name of defending Christianity and fighting a new kind of American paganism. But what is paganism? What if it's not what we think it is? You can find the article here: http...

In this episode, joined by our friend Adam Morton, we discuss a controversial tweet that Tim Keller posted about the Trinity and the Cross. You can find the tweet and a host of replies and comments to it here: https://twitter.com/timkellernyc/status/1221485536415768576?s=20 . Special Guest: Adam Morton.

In this episode we talk about the recently released Netflix film The Two Popes.

This is our annual Christmas episode. Have a great holiday!

In this episode, joined by Matthew Milliner, we talk about iconoclasm. The Iconoclastic Controversy, was a dispute over the use of religious images (icons) in the Byzantine Empire in the 8th and 9th centuries. The Iconoclasts (those who rejected images) objected to icon veneration for several reasons, including the Old Testament prohibition against images in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:4) and...

We continue our "Romance of Orthodoxy" series. We've been considering the development of Christian orthodoxy and some of the major challenges and debates that helped formulate the heart of the Christian faith. In this episode we consider the Fourth Century controversies that led to the Chalcedonian Council, which declared that Christ had two natures in one person, and the relationship between the...

In this episode we continue talking about the Romance of Christian Orthodoxy, considering what many consider to be the grandest heresy of them all: Arianism.

In this episode we continue our series on the Romance of Orthodoxy. We consider the heresy that seems to have perennial appeal in Christian history: Gnosticism.

Continuing our series about the Romance of Orthodoxy, we consider the modalist heresy, which holds that Father, Son, and Spirit are really not persons but more like masks or roles God puts on in relationship to the world.

In this episode we continue to talk about the Romance of Orthodoxy. We talk about Marcionism, a heresy that claims the God of the Hebrew Bible is fundamentally different than the God revealed in Jesus Christ. We find a surprising modern example of the position in renowned theologian David Bentley Hart. We consider a recent exchange he had with First Things contributor Peter Leithart.

Continuing our series on the Romance of Orthodoxy, we discuss the "docetic" heresy, which claims that Jesus Christ was divine, but not really human.

Continuing our discussion of the romance of orthodoxy, we consider controversies in the history of the church. In this episode we discuss the early church's struggle with the role of Torah observance and the inclusion of Gentiles. We reference an atonement chart put together by Brad East. You can find it here .