Thinking Out Loud

Sociologists are quick to point out that our culture is awash in pagan spiritual practices. Does this fervent seeking point to a genuine spiritual hunger? Or are we simply incorporating pagan elements into our consumer habits? Join us as we dive into this topic.

It’s no secret that loneliness is a growing problem in our world, but why is this the case? On the face of it, we seem to be more connected than ever. The problem isn’t limited to relational breakdown, either. Even in the midst of relationships, countless people still feel desperately lonely. In this episode, we delve into this sobering topic and consider how the church might begin to address the...

Rebecca Baumgartner recently drew attention to the habit of many authors of popular nonfiction to write for an “audience of imagined idiots.” The folk wisdom these days is that regular folks just don’t like to think and that the only way to get them to do serious intellectual work is to lure them with charming anecdotes and digestible little nuggets. Think TED talks. Is this true? We’re not convin...

In a superb video essay, Thomas Flight argues that today’s movies feel different because we’re venturing beyond postmodernism into what he terms “metamodernism”—a sensibility that’s every bit as ironic and self-aware as postmodernism, but that nevertheless takes on a more hopeful posture. Is this a profound new movement or breakthrough, or does the emperor have no clothes? Join us for a lively dis...

All 379 passengers aboard a Japan Airlines plane escaped with their lives after a collision with a Coast Guard plane on the runway. Sadly, 5 out of the 6 passengers on the smaller plane perished in the accident. Clearly the result of a serious logistical error, the successful deplaning of the commercial airliner has been singled out for praise. It’s also led people to ask whether something like th...

Ready or not, the new year is upon us. Queue the inevitable lists of resolutions, goals, and dreams. And yet we live in a cultural moment that resolutely refuses to define what makes a good human being. In this atmosphere, how do we honor Christ’s supreme command of loving God and neighbor above all else?

Cameron watched it. Nathan didn’t. Cameron sort of liked it. Nathan is intrigued. Join us as we close out 2023 by discussing its most popular movie.

With attention spans plummeting, some critics are arguing that watching a movie in one sitting is today’s equivalent of reading a book. Implicit in this argument is the notion that watching movies is inferior to reading books. But is that true? Nathan and Cameron have some differences here, but we’ll let you guess who stands where on the issue. Tune in to hear them hash it out.

Indisputably, one of the greatest Christmas films ever made, with a surprising existential gut-punch. In this episode, Nathan grills Cameron about the enduring greatness of Frank Capra’s classic.

From efforts to classify religious prohibitions as hate speech to pro-Palestine demonstrations on college campuses, the issue of free speech has taken on a new note of urgency in recent years. Add to this the power of the web to amplify these messages. As Christians, how do we conduct ourselves in such times? Join us as we kick the hornet’s nest on a fairly volatile topic. In the end, we hope to b...

In a stellar essay for The New Atlantis, Garth Brown trains a critical lens on chicken consumption and explores our habit of prioritizing efficiency over all other considerations. Nathan also makes the bold claim that he knows more about chickens than Cameron knows about horror films. It’s true. Tune in to hear his excellent thoughts. 

One of the standard objections to Christianity is that God isn’t more obvious. Amazingly, we’ve never talked about it on TOL and we decided to fix that in this episode.

A recent article in The New Atlantis proposes a special council for the management of AI technology, rather than mere government regulation. This proposal takes its cues from a similar council that was assembled under the Bush administration to tackle challenges posed by emerging biotechnology. Join us as we consider the vexing topic of AI once again.

Thought the authenticity craze was all played out? Think again! In the wake of AI, the social media landscape, and widespread institutional distrust, we’re desperate for it. Join us as we explore some of the ironies and possibilities surrounding authenticity.

It’s Giving Tuesday, so we thought we’d take the opportunity to explore the Christian understanding of generosity. Why do we give and what does it mean to live in the light of the fact that we have nothing that we have not received? Join us as we dive into this important topic.

Famed tattoo artist Kat Von D is yet another unlikely recent convert to Christianity. Though portions of her story have been exaggerated by the press, it’s a dramatic story. Join us as we consider this growing trend of high profile figures joining the church.

With a number of high profile conversions to Christianity recently, many people continue to challenge the motives involved. In this episode, we press into some of those reservations and try to move in a more hopeful direction. 

Former atheist Ayaan Hirsi Ali sent shockwaves through the intellectual world when she announced her conversion to Christianity. Nevertheless, some are calling her motives into question, arguing that her embrace of Christianity has more to do with its benefits to western civilization than the veracity of its claims. In this episode, we explore this striking trend of public intellectuals courting t...

A recent essay argues that the primary focus for Christians nowadays ought to be on repairing a broken culture that has “lost its script.” In this episode, we discuss what such an endeavor will involve and why we’re excited, rather than worried, about Gen Z.

Philosophy of mind has become a hot topic in recent decades for one major reason: The mystery of consciousness seems to present insuperable challenges to a materialistic conception of reality. In this episode, we delve into this subject and consider its bearing on the question of what it means to be human. 

A steady diet of news often leads to a sense of pessimism and helplessness. Most of what happens around the world is completely outside of our control and reading about current events only amplifies this feeling. Is it okay to ignore some news items? Is it okay to say, “This has no practical relevance for my life”? Join us as we talk about ignoring the news in a culture that fetishizes being infor...

We’ve witnessed a dramatic spike in antisemitism in the wake of Hamas’s recent attack on Israel. Though certainly not a new development, the animus toward Jewish people, particularly on Northeastern university campuses, is growing more dramatic. In this episode, we discuss this growing antisemitism and consider some of its broader implications. 

Why do so many outside the church see Christianity as little more than a political party? And why is there such a temptation to conflate our spiritual convictions with our citizenship? It’s a perennial problem that intensifies during times of cultural crisis. Join as we explore the co-opting of Christianity.  

William Friedkin’s landmark horror film, The Exorcist, turns 50 this year. It happens to be Cameron’s favorite movie, so Nathan decided to grill him on the subject.

The practice of evangelism has come under scrutiny in recent years. Many young people now question the ethics of missionary work as well. On a more practical note, many of us also shudder at the thought of getting into an awkward conversation about faith with the people around us. And what about discipleship? Is it possible to separate evangelism from discipleship as we often seem to do? Join us a...