New Persuasive Words

New Persuasive Words


Latest Episodes

Episode 327: The Ecology of Christmas
December 20, 2024

In this episode we contrast the ecology of the Roman Empire with the ecology of the Christmas story.

Episode 326: The Wind Cries Mary, with special guest Matt Milliner
December 18, 2024

In this special holiday episode we talk with our good friend Matt Milliner about the Virgin Mary and her significance for the spiritual life.

Episode 325: Bad Religion?
December 10, 2024

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 th

Episode 324: An Address to some of Christianity's "Cultured Despisers"
December 07, 2024

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 off

Episode 323: The Rise of Cultural Christianity
December 02, 2024

In this episode we talk about the new "cultural Christianity" that's growing in the United States. Is it taking over the conservative movement?

Episode 322: A Manichean Memento
November 29, 2024

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.

Episode 321: The Gospel according to Peterson
November 26, 2024

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 su

Episode 320: It's Friday, Sunday's Coming!
November 20, 2024

In this episode we pa 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

Episode 319: Christ the King
November 19, 2024

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.

Episode 318: The Real Election Podcast
November 15, 2024

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 toda