Thinking Out Loud

We’ve talked AI, but we haven’t yet broached the subject of artificial intimacy—the fact that millions of people are developing what they take to be relationships with machines. Join us as we dive in.

In this episode, Nathan sits down with his often quoted Grandpa to talk about the parallels between our era and the 1960s and how his church leadership style adapted to grow churches in the midst of cultural chaos. We hope this is an encouraging reminder to those who are interested in the future of the church.

From controversies about the antics on display in the opening ceremonies to the biological sex of the fighters in female boxing, the 2024 Olympics has been filled with its share of provocations. In this episode, we discuss our disappointment with the tone of the conversation and we do our best to offer a holistic alternative.

Ours is a deeply materialistic age. In this context, we tend to regard everything and everyone in instrumental terms. Leaking pipes need plumbers; broken cars need mechanics; broken humans need doctors, therapists, and fitness coaches. While we’re not disparaging any of these professions, we will make the case that human beings are more than the sum of their parts. Our thoughts were stirred by Jak...

In fact, the word “smart” doesn’t actually fit here at all. In this episode, our thoughts were spurred on by an excellent article that appears in Plough Magazine. Join us as we sound like two grumpy old men discussing the current infatuation with all things technology.

As we continue to process the assassination attempt on former president, Donald Trump, we sat down to consider the national response and its implications for the spiritual health of America.

Warren Smith has been on a fascinating journey ever since he lost his job as a teacher for challenging the tenets of gender ideology. We decided to chat with him about the principled resistance to serious conversation that we often encounter in our cultural moment. If you’d like to learn more about Warren Smith and his work, check out this page .

It’s no secret that we live in an age of information overload. On a practical level, this often shows up in the numerous links people send to us in a given day. We know that this flood of news and entertainment wastes time and feeds anxiety, but we can’t seem to look away. In this episode, we consider some strategies for freeing up mental space.

It’s a time of great transition and social upheaval in North America and the church is far from immune. In this episode, we interview Stuart McAllister about this shifting dynamic and what it might mean for those of us who follow Christ today.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry recently signed a bill mandating the public display of the 10 Commandments in public school classrooms in his state. Does this represent a victory for democracy and the values that have shaped our nation? Or is this yet another episode in the ongoing culture war between conservatives and progressives? Join us as we dive into the discussion. 

From Plato’s Republic all the way to the trope of the faithless priest, there’s a rich tradition of thought focused on heroic modes of unbelief—elites who mislead others in a self-sacrificial manner in order to promote social stability. In this episode, we ask, Is it noble to tell people a lie that seems to make them happier? 

Addiction in North America is nothing new, of course. What’s changed in recent years, however, is the sophistication behind our mind-altering technologies. In the episode, we discuss our addiction to mood control and consider its implications for the church.

A thoughtful listener recently posed the question about the alleged difference between joy and happiness. In numerous books and sermons, joy is represented as something that transcends one’s immediate circumstances and happiness is portrayed as relatively superficial. Is this true? And when did the opposition emerge? (We think it might have a little something to do with C.S. Lewis.) Join us as we...

Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan recently announced that it’s slashing its humanities department in an effort to boost student enrollment and offer more “market value” for degrees. From a business standpoint, this might make some sense, but what precisely is a liberal arts college without any liberal arts? And what does this say about Christianity’s abiding emphasis on the life of...

We get older and discover that life is often deeply ambiguous. Confoundingly, the Bible often matches that ambiguity. People come down with terminal illnesses. Some are healed. Some are not. If scripture is supposed to help us make sense of human experience, what do we do when it appears to raise more questions than answers? We invite you to think alongside us on this issue.

Whether we recognize it or not, we all have a philosophy of life—a basic notion of what the good life is. But the problem isn’t just that we fail to live up to our own standards. The problem is that we’re often blissfully unaware of our life philosophy, simply taking it for granted. In this episode, we explore some of the implications of the examined life. 

We’re excited to announce that we’ve just launched TOL Connect, an online discussion forum for podcast listeners to continue the discussions we’ve begun on the podcast. In this episode, we talk about the what, why, and how of TOL Connect. Practically speaking, it’ll tell you how to join and how it works.

Pride Month continues to be a challenge to Christians as we make our way through a culture that increasingly views us as pariahs. Here, we continue to press into the conversation about how we respond to our rapidly shifting cultural landscape. 

Usually, our church conversations about our possessions turn on warnings about rampant materialism. But what if there’s a spiritual component to taking care of our things? From gardening and basic home maintenance all the way to renovations and car restorations, most of us will recognize the spiritual disciplines hardwired into these pursuits if we pause and think about it for a moment. Join us we...

A recent article by Ted Gioia on the decadent state of our culture pushed us to ask, “Are things really that bad?” It’s a question on many people’s minds these days, so we decided to explore it on this episode.

Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt continues to churn out bestsellers and his latest book, The Anxious Generation, is adding a new level of urgency to the conversation around parenting. But do we really need Dr. Haidt to tell us that smartphones and social media shouldn’t be in the hands of young children? TOL listeners know we’re fans of Haidt’s work, so this isn’t a knock on him. It is, however,...

A conservative Catholic speaking to conservative Catholics at a Catholic university argues for the importance of God and family values. And breaks the internet? Unsurprisingly, those with progressive leanings take umbrage at a popular athlete arguing for the normative place of a traditional family in society. What is surprising, however, are some of the theologically conservative Christians who wh...

As the title suggests, we’re delving into the ethics of church security and considering how Christ’s moral vision shapes our approach.

We recently received a thoughtful question from a listener in Canada about the issue of reparations. Though we certainly can’t close the book on such a complex subject, we did our level best to offer some constructive thoughts on the issue. We pray it’s helpful to you. 

We’ve talked about Ayan Hirsi Ali . We’ve talked about a grudging admission from professor Richard Dawkins that he’s now a cultural Christian. And now we’ll add the bubbly, charming, and highly articulate Russell Brand to the discussion. We’ve seen this before, right? Kanye West, anyone? How about Bob Dylan? But something feels different this time. Join us as we talk about that difference.