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.

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Episodes

  • Episode 80: The Nature Of Freedom, Part 2

    October 6th, 2016  |  34 mins 33 secs

    We continue our conversation about freedom, inspired in part by the new HBO drama Westworld. We also define deviant Calvinism.

  • Episode 79: Libertarianism And The Nature Of Freedom

    October 3rd, 2016  |  35 mins 34 secs

    This looked like the year for the Libertarians. But it seems like their moment came and went. We ask why, and consider the nature of true freedom.

  • Episode 78: One Toke Over The Line

    October 1st, 2016  |  23 mins 21 secs

    We continue our 2016 occasional series ranking the greatest pop songs about or featuring Jesus.

  • Episode 77: Trump V Hillary

    September 27th, 2016  |  24 mins 33 secs

    You didn’t really ask for it. But we gave it to you! Hear’s our first Presidential debate post-game podcast. Enjoy!

  • Episode 76: Thank You For Being Our Friends

    September 19th, 2016  |  30 mins 48 secs

    Bill and Scott are both coming from vacations and hitting the Fall in full effect, reflecting on some recent events and happenings in our culture. We also wanted to thank our listeners. We’ve been at this for a year now and it’s been a great ride.  

  • Episode 75: Not All Atheism Is Created Equal

    September 2nd, 2016  |  31 mins 56 secs

    On this episode the guys talk atheism, reflecting on Scott’s recent conversation with evangelist turned humanist Bart Campolo. Show Notes: We reference an article Scott wrote: http://www.mbird.com/2016/08/the-justification-of-faith/.

  • Episode 74: The Anger Index

    August 30th, 2016  |  29 mins 27 secs

    In this episode we discuss whether or not the anger in our culture is at a boiling point and what implications that might have for our future as a society. Show notes: Our inspiration for this podcast came from a podcast by Dan Carlin,

  • Episode 73: Have You Been To Canaan…And Do You Want To Go Back Again?

    August 16th, 2016  |  25 mins 28 secs

    We plunge again into some deep questions about where our culture is going and why. Fasten your seatbelts….      

  • Episode 72: Wasteland?

    August 4th, 2016  |  32 mins 13 secs

    Despite many listener pleas to get back to Bill’s sweetspot, the 5th century, we continue to be mesmerized by current events (current events for Bill are anything after the Reformation). In this episode we talk about where our culture is going,

  • Episode 71: Evangelicals Politicizing The Trinity?

    August 2nd, 2016  |  54 mins 44 secs

    In this episode, which is a crossover with the Theology On Mission podcast, we discuss the current debates in the evangelical world over the Trinity and gender roles in church and society, joined by Geoff Holsclaw.

  • Episode 70: Another Week In Review

    July 17th, 2016  |  34 mins 58 secs

    There’s a lot going on in the world right now, from the ridiculous to the sublime. Bill and Scott take a little time to reflect on the week’s events.  

  • Episode 69: World On Fire…?

    July 7th, 2016  |  30 mins 4 secs

    Six days into the history of the show on August 12th of last year we wondered if the possibility of a seismic event in the Pacific Northwest was signaling the end of the world as we know it. We’re coming up on the first anniversary of the show.

  • Episode 68: Was 1776 A Mistake?

    July 3rd, 2016  |  31 mins 44 secs

    In this episode we consider the virtues of the Revolutionary War. Would the world be a better place if we didn’t fight it?  

  • Episode 67: Donald Trump Is Born Again (?)

    June 28th, 2016  |  32 mins 14 secs

    On this episode Bill and Scott cover what could be the religious news story of the year: Donald Trumps born again evangelical experience.

  • Episode 66: Should Tragedies Change Our Thinking?

    June 18th, 2016  |  31 mins 54 secs

    In this episode Bill and Scott spend some time trying to find words to understand the Orlando mass shooting and what it means for thinking about modern life.

  • Episode 65: The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same?

    June 11th, 2016  |  31 mins 24 secs

    In this episode we consider some events in the news recently and wonder whether there is precedent for them or not. We then ask whether or not there is anything new under the sun.