New Persuasive Words

Episode 348: Liberation Day!

April 2nd, 2025  |  40 mins 29 secs

In this episode of the podcast, we wrestle with a fundamental question at the heart of American political life: what happens when a society loses its sense of meaning? Inspired by a striking passage from Robert Jenson’s Story and Promise, we explore the creeping influence of nihilism in our political culture—how it erodes trust, hollows out institutions, and leaves us grasping for narratives that can hold us together. Is there a way forward? Can we recover a sense of shared purpose in an era of cynicism and fracture? Join us as we take a thoughtful, clear-eyed look at the challenge ahead and consider what it will take to rebuild faith—not just in politics, but in the very idea of a common good.

Episode 347: Is Trump Waging a War on Christianity?

March 28th, 2025  |  42 mins 4 secs

christianity, conservatives, culture, trump

In this episode of New Persuasive Words, hosts Bill and Scott examine a provocative argument by conservative commentator Charlie Sykes, who contends that former President Donald Trump is engaged in a war with Christianity. Through a discussion of Sykes’ assertions, they explore the broader implications for the Republican Party, the religious right, and the shifting landscape of faith in American politics. With thoughtful commentary and historical context, this discussion sheds light on the tensions between political allegiance and theological integrity in the Trump era.

Episode 346: Betting on Pascal

March 21st, 2025  |  25 mins 33 secs

In this episode we delve into theologian Graham Tomlin’s thought-provoking article, “Blaise Pascal is Haunting Our Unbelieving Age.” With the modern world increasingly defined by skepticism and a crisis of meaning, we explore how Pascal’s insights—his Pensées, his famous wager, and his reflections on faith and reason—speak powerfully to our contemporary moment. How does a 17th-century polymath continue to shape our understanding of belief and doubt? And why does his voice seem more urgent than ever? Join us as we unpack Pascal’s enduring influence in a world searching for certainty.

Episode 345: The New Constantine?

March 19th, 2025  |  30 mins 10 secs

In this episode, we examine a provocative question: Is Donald Trump a modern-day Constantine, ushering in a new era of promise for the Christian church in America? For his supporters, Trump has championed religious freedom, strengthened the political influence of Christian institutions, and waged a culture war against what they see as rising secular hostility. His administration’s faith-based initiatives and efforts to combat perceived anti-Christian bias have fueled comparisons to the Roman emperor who legitimized Christianity. Yet, critics argue that Trump’s policies have had unintended consequences, from cuts to faith-based social services to renewed debates over church-state separation. Some analysts even suggest that his polarizing rhetoric has contributed to a decline in church attendance. As the nation navigates the intersection of politics and faith, we explore whether Trump’s legacy aligns with Constantine’s—or if the comparison reveals deeper tensions within the American religious landscape. Join us as we unravel this complex and controversial debate.

Episode 344: The Negative Space

March 6th, 2025  |  34 mins 12 secs

In this episode, we explore the concept of "Negative Space," a term coined by writer Aaron Renn to describe the increasingly hostile environment that, he argues, Christians in America have faced since 2014. Renn contends that this shift marks a departure from an era of neutrality, ushering in a cultural landscape where openly professing Christian beliefs—particularly those aligned with traditional or conservative values—is now viewed as a social liability.

Episode 343: Christian Realism or Pagan Cynicism?

March 1st, 2025  |  30 mins 10 secs

In this episode, we delve into the recent dispute between former President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, analyzing the ideological and theological foundations that shape the foreign policy perspectives of Trump's supporters. We explore how nationalist and isolationist sentiments, intertwined with elements of Christian nationalism, influence some Republican's approach to global affairs, particularly regarding U.S. assistance to Ukraine.

Episode 342: Is MAGA The White Man's Rastafarianism?

February 27th, 2025  |  32 mins 9 secs

In this episode, inspired by a quote from Ezra Klein, we consider the mythic and mystical components of the MAGA movement. Do they correspond to a broader current in the culture that some on the left are out of step with today?

Episode 341: Where is the Progressive Outrage over Kfir Bibas?

February 23rd, 2025  |  54 mins 29 secs

In this episode we wonder why there isn't more progressive outrage over strangled babies and other recent atrocities committed by Hamas.

Episode 340: Hillbilly Curia?

February 17th, 2025  |  39 mins 50 secs

In this episode we unpack Vice-President Vance's recent comments about the Ordo Amoris. We ask the age old question: what's love got to do with it?

Episode 339: A House Divided Against Itself?

February 11th, 2025  |  36 mins 48 secs

In this episode we consider the different ways in which identity is constituted, and how our identities might be in tension or even conflict.

Episode 338: Whose Christ? What Culture?

February 6th, 2025  |  42 mins 53 secs

In this episode we consider some classic questions about the ethics of Jesus and the Church's relationship to culture.

Episode 337: American Political Heresies

January 29th, 2025  |  37 mins 35 secs

In this episode we examine the current intellectual and ideological foundations of the New Right in America, and consider how the right and the left seem to mirror some ancient Christian heresies.

Episode 336: An Ode To Repugnance

January 27th, 2025  |  33 mins 1 sec

In this episode we talk about what to do when you come across a repugnant idea. With T.S. Eliot as our guide, we consider what strong visceral reactions to ideas and ideologies might tell us about ourselves.

Episode 335: What would Capon have said to President Trump?

January 24th, 2025  |  24 mins 25 secs

In this episode we talk about Bishop Mariann Budde's recent sermon, in which she personally addressed and exhorted President Trump. We wonder what the Gospel is for President Trump, and the great Robert Farrar Capon would have done in Bishop Budde's shoes.

Episode 334: Shall We Overcome?

January 22nd, 2025  |  31 mins 17 secs

In this episode we talk about what it means to walk by faith and not by sight in public life.

Episode 333: Has Democracy's Expiration Date Passed?

January 19th, 2025  |  40 mins 36 secs

In this episode we consider whether our democracy can adequately respond to the concerns and crises that face the American citizenry.