New Persuasive Words

"The revival in religion will be a rhetorical problem - new persuasive words for defaced or degraded ones." - Thornton Wilder

About the show

New Persuasive Words started as two guys talking about life with what we thought (hoped?) was wit and insight, on our good days anyway. Then...a podcast.

New Persuasive Words on social media

Episodes

  • Episode 315: A Requiem for the Evangelical Left

    October 4th, 2024  |  35 mins 11 secs

    In this episode we discuss the death of a progressive evangelical community in Philadelphia. We also consider what it means for the ongoing legacy of the "evangelical left."

  • Episode 314: The Promise of Presuppositionalism

    September 30th, 2024  |  29 mins 15 secs

    In this episode we talk about presuppositional apologetics. It's a 20th century strategy for defending religious faith. We consider what it tells us about the nature of religious faith, and what insights it gives into the process of thinking and making intellectual commitments.

  • Episode 313: Two Truths Are Better Than None

    September 27th, 2024  |  26 mins 45 secs

    In this episode we talk about our culture's propensity toward reductionism. We make the case that living with two truths in tension is better than settling for a truth.

  • Episode 312: Theological Family Trees

    September 19th, 2024  |  44 mins 5 secs

    In this episode we talk about theological family trees. What influences shape our core religious convictions and make us who we are? We also talk a little about the debate and the near extinction of humanity that almost happened 900,000 years ago.

  • Episode 311: The Birth of Tragedy

    July 21st, 2024  |  30 mins 22 secs

    In this episode, recorded minutes after Biden announced he was dropping out of the 2024 presidential race, we talk Nietzsche. We think a bit Nietzsche's early work, The Birth of Tragedy. We try to think through what it might speak to a dramatic, polarized political situation, and what it might teach us about how both parties understand the human condition.

  • Episode 310: Hulkamaniacs Are Running Wild!

    July 19th, 2024  |  35 mins 5 secs

    In this episode Bill and Scott talk about Donald Trump, his shooting, and his convention where he accepted the Republican nomination for President of the United States. We were both excited to see the Hulkster back in public life!

  • Episode 309: Failure of Nerve

    July 13th, 2024  |  28 mins 50 secs

    In this episode we discuss a phenomenal text on leadership, Failure of Nerve. We think with the author about what's behind the emotional limitations to change in church, society, and our personal lives. We conclude with some Christian reflections on Rabbi Friedman's work, which we think could be useful inside and outside the church.

  • Episode 308: Hamilton, Burr and Atheistic Arguments

    July 11th, 2024  |  31 mins 45 secs

    In this episode, recorded on the anniversary of the historic duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton, we consider some of the best arguments against the existence of God.

  • Episode 307: We're all Dogmatic...Get over It!

    July 6th, 2024  |  29 mins 6 secs

    In this episode we talk about the nature of faith in a modern and pluralistic world. What does it mean to have faith and have it challenged? What do you do when people call you dogmatic for believing? How do you share that faith in an inviting, reasonable, and humble way?

  • Episode 306: Motel Six or Seal Team Six?

    July 1st, 2024  |  29 mins 28 secs

    In this episode we talk about recent Supreme Court decisions and their short term and long term implications for life in the Republic.

  • Episode 305: Our First 2024 Post-Debate Show

    June 28th, 2024  |  28 mins 16 secs

    Continuing in the New Persuasive Words tradition, we bring you our legendary post-debate coverage.

  • Episode 304: The French Connection

    June 25th, 2024  |  28 mins 22 secs

    In this episode we talk about the Presbyterian Church's "cancelling" of NY Times columnist David French.

  • Episode 303: Israel, Antisemitism, and the War in Gaza

    June 20th, 2024  |  45 mins 36 secs

    In this episode, actually by listener request, we talk about Israel, Antisemitism, and the war in Gaza.

  • Episode 302: By Popular Demand, We're Back Again!

    June 19th, 2024  |  30 mins 41 secs

    Bill and Scott are back after a bit of a hiatus. We talk about the current electoral climate, the politicization and polarization of everything, and the spiritual implications of it all.

  • Episode 301: The Dove Awards and Underrated Neanderthals

    October 19th, 2023  |  43 mins 52 secs

    In this episode we discuss something neither of us are sure we care about or completely get: the 2023 Dove Awards. We also discuss recent scientific discoveries about human DNA in neanderthals , as well as the current state of leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives.

  • Episode 300: We Celebrate Episode 300, with Benyamin Cohen

    October 6th, 2023  |  47 mins 8 secs

    In this episode we reflect on a multi-year journey that has led us to our 300th episode. In a change of pace, we are interviewed by renowned author and journalist Benyamin Cohen. Thanks to our listeners for making it all worth it!