New Persuasive Words

When we began this podcast we never imagined we'd get to 200 episodes. It's been a wild ride. We were joined on our 200th episode by Mark Oppenheimer, Editor at Large at Tablet Magazine and co-host of the wildly popular Unorthodox podcast. We talk faith, politics, public life and even epigenetics. Thanks to all our listeners. Here's to 200 more! Special Guest: Mark Oppenheimer.

In this Saturday Night Special episode of the podcast we talk a little about Ash Wednesday, its origins and the practice of serving "ashes on the go."

In this episode we continue our recent discussions of Luther and the Reformation. We focus specifically on Luther's Christology, asking whether or not it's really what's behind some of the 16th century sacramental controversies.

In this episode we talk about the Eagles big Super Bowl victory! We also consider the legacy of the recently deceased theologian George Lindbeck

In this episode we consider the dark side of Martin Luther's personality, how it shaped the Reformation and how we should consider it today.

In this episode we consider why prominent evangelical leaders still support President Trump, even amidst recent revelations of an affair with an adult film star. In the intro we mentioned Glen Scrivener's podcast. You can find it here: http://speaklife.org.uk/tep/ .

In this episode we consider the late medieval philosophical movement called Nominalism. Many think it's the movement that gave birth to the modern world.

In our second episode of 2018 we ask if the world is getting better. We reflect on Time Magazine's interview with Bill Gates and Rowan Williams' review of John Millbank's newest book, The Politics of Virtue , co-authored with Adrian Pabst. You can find the Bill Gates interview here: http://time.com/5086907/bill-gates-nancy-gibbs-interview/ . The Rowan Williams review is here: https://www.newstates...

In this episode we consider what it would look like to have a more civilized public discourse in 2018.

In this episode we talk about the mystery at the heart of Christmas: the Incarnation.

In the last episode we wanted to talk about whether or not the Virgin Birth still makes sense for modern Christians. We initially wanted to tackle three issues: (1) the biblical witness, (2) the theological truth and (3) the existential significance. We only got to part 1 in the last episode. We hit part 2 and 3 in this one. Merry Christmas.

In this episode we think about whether or not the Virgin Birth still makes sense for modern Christians. We initially wanted to tackle three issues: (1) the biblical witness, (2) the theological truth and (3) the existential significance. We only got to part 1 in this episode. Our endeavor is parts 2 and 3 before Christmas Eve.

We are joined on a "Friday Night Lights" episode by Greg Strawbridge. The Rev. Dr. Greg Strawbridge is the pastor of All Saints Church in Lancaster, Pa. He's authored and edited several books and is the founder of Wordmp3.com . Special Guest: Gregg Strawbridge.

In this episode, recorded the day after the special Senate election in Alabama to fill Jeff Sessions' seat, we talk about the signficance of Roy Moore's defeat for American public life.

In this episode we consider whether tribalism is a more decisive force in our culture than ideology. We mention a new book written by Alan Jacobs called _How To Think: A Survival Guide for a World at Odds. _ You can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/How-Think-Survival-Guide-World/dp/0451499603 .

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, recorded during the beginning of Advent, we talk about the end of all things and Christian hope. Links to Gerrish and Jenson can be found below: https://www.amazon.com/Christian-Faith-Dogmatics-B-Gerrish/dp/0664256988 https://w...

In this episode, a Friday Night Lights edition, we talk about current events. We hit on taxes, field listener questions from Facebook live and even talk about football.

In this episode we talk about the 13th century, a century G.K. Chesterton claimed was great because it was one of reform without revolution.

In this episode of the podcast we discuss a recent New York Times piece by UNC historian Molly Worthen. You can find the article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/17/opinion/sunday/escape-roy-moores-evangelicalism.html .

In this episode we consider what it means to have a faith that does not simply react to the turbulent and sometimes outrageous times in which we live, but actually serves as a kind of calming reality in the eye of the storm. The episode was inspired by this quote from one of Bill's recent sermons: I think one of the pressing needs for Christians in this current time is to develop spiritual sobriet...

In this episode we reflect on the nature of creativity. Where does it come from? What makes it flow? What kills it?

Inspired by a recent Atlantic piece by Peter Beinart, we talk about what it might take to have more understanding public discourse today. You can find the essay we mention here: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/12/conservatism-without-bigotry/544128/ .

In this episode of the podcast we discuss a Platonic dialogue entitled "Euthyphro." It poses timeless questions about the relationship between justice, piety and the nature of truth. We were inspired by a blog post comparing C.S. Lewis and Cornelius Van Til on the so called "Euthyphro dilemma."

In this episode we have a conversation with Geoff Holsclaw and David Fitch about the legacy of the Reformation and what it means today.

We were recently inspired by something David Bentley Hart wrote about atheism in First Things in 2014. For this we thank Facebook. You can find the article here: https://www.firstthings.com/article/2014/05/gods-and-gopniks .