New Persuasive Words
"The revival in religion will be a rhetorical problem - new persuasive words for defaced or degraded ones." - Thornton Wilder
Episodes
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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Episode 299: My Country for a Speaker!
October 4th, 2023 | 25 mins 23 secs
In this episode we talk about the historic motion to vacate the Speaker of the House of Representatives. What's next?!?
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Episode 298: Republican Debates and Original Sin
September 28th, 2023 | 32 mins 52 secs
In this episode we do a little post debate analysis. But first we stumble unexpectedly into a discussion of Original Sin. We conclude with a little Aristotlean reflection on the nature of politics. Thanks again for all your feedback recently. Keep it coming!
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Episode 297: The Day of Atonement
September 25th, 2023 | 40 mins 20 secs
In this episode, recorded on Yom Kippur 2023, we reflect a bit on the nature of atonement. We delve into the possibility of atoning for one's wrongdoings, whether or not it's possible and what Kant has to say about it. We also talk about the recent squabble involving Donald Trump, Howard Stern and Bill Maher. Again, glad to be back!
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Episode 296: We're Back!
September 25th, 2023 | 36 mins 10 secs
In this episode we return from our long hiatus. We're glad to be back!
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Episode 295: Shall The Fundamentalists Win?
January 14th, 2022 | 28 mins 58 secs
In this episode we reflect on the hundredth anniversary of the sermon that was at the heart of the fundamentalist/modernist controversy. It was preached by Harry Emerson Fosdick in 1922 at the Riverside Church in New York City. It's still discussed because it's still relevant. We'll be revisiting this them throughout 2022 so stay tuned!
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Episode 294: Our Holiday 2021 Wrap Up
December 22nd, 2021 | 43 mins 47 secs
In this episode we give our reflections on 2021 as we head into the New Year.
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Episode 293: Our Rittenhouse Report
November 19th, 2021 | 26 mins 36 secs
In this episode we share our thoughts on the Rittenhouse verdict. It will be an ongoing conversation in public and private life in North America for sure. This is our initial contribution. We offer it with a lot of mixed emotions. We hope it serves the public good.
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Episode 292: 1776: Should We Have Fought The Revolutionary War?
July 8th, 2021 | 35 mins 12 secs
In this episode we pose a historical what if: What if the American colonists didn't fight the Revolutionary War in 1776?
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Episode 291: Illiberal Liberalism?
June 30th, 2021 | 50 mins 46 secs
In this episode we ponder the relationship between classical liberalism and the contemporary left. Is the left illiberal? When does one get cancelled? And we even tell you how you can get us to do a live show in your neighborhood. Happy listening!
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Episode 290: Should We Fear God?
June 25th, 2021 | 41 mins 14 secs
In this episode, after some recap of the news of the week, we ask a question: should we fear God?
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