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 221: Faith Without Understanding

    May 31st, 2018  |  26 mins 5 secs

    In this episode we consider what happens when faith is unreflective and ceases to seek continued understanding.

  • Episode 220: The Forgotten Trinity

    May 28th, 2018  |  35 mins 40 secs

    In this episode, inspired by a provocative and self-admittedly unorthodox sermon Trinity Sunday sermon posted on The Episcopal Cafe website, we reflect on the enduring significance of the doctrine of the Trinity.

  • Episode 219: Original Sin

    May 22nd, 2018  |  33 mins 2 secs

    In this episode, inspired by a piece in the New York Times by a contemporary philosopher, we reflect on the contemporary relevance of an often maligned ancient Christian doctrine.

  • Episode 218: Greater Things

    May 17th, 2018  |  1 hr 1 min

    In this Bullgeschichte episode we are joined by Doug Pagitt. Doug is the founder and director of the non-profit Greater Things Foundation, which is the umbrella organization that much of his work operates within. We talk about faith, life, evangelicalism and politics. And of course, a little Donald Trump.

  • Episode 217: Jerusalem

    May 15th, 2018  |  27 mins 43 secs

    In this episode we talk about Jerusalem and the tragedy in Gaza. We consider how things got here and if there's hope on the horizon. We also consider a past conversation "The Grace of Doing Nothing."

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    Episode 216: Rabbi

    May 9th, 2018  |  32 mins 21 secs

    This is the fourth episode of a short series of podcasts we are doing on the identity of Jesus Christ. In this episode we consider Jesus as rabbi.

  • Episode 215: King

    May 6th, 2018  |  31 mins 52 secs

    This is the third episode of a short series of podcasts we are doing on the identity of Jesus Christ. Our first episode considered Jesus as prophet. The second considered Jesus as priest. In this episode we consider Jesus as king.

  • Episode 214: Law, Grace, Life and Love

    April 30th, 2018  |  1 hr 3 mins

    In this Bullgeschichte episode we talk with our friend and colleague Dr. Matt Milliner about a host of things that matter to us all. This was one of our favorite episodes.

  • Episode 213: Priest

    April 26th, 2018  |  32 mins 9 secs

    This is the first of a short series of podcasts we are doing on the identity of Jesus Christ. Our first episode considered Jesus as prophet. In this episode we consider Jesus as priest.

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    Episode 212: Prophet

    April 21st, 2018  |  34 mins 22 secs

    This is the first of a short series of podcasts we are doing on the identity of Jesus Christ.

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    Episode 211: Kierkegaard and Comey

    April 21st, 2018  |  29 mins 33 secs

    In this episode we consider what Kierkegaard's philosophy can tell us about James Comey and Donald Trump.

  • Episode 210: The Humor of Christ

    April 13th, 2018  |  32 mins 19 secs

    In this episode we reflect on and riff off of Bill's most recent contribution to "The Mockingbird", the magazine of Mockingbird Ministries (www.mbird.com). The issue's theme was humor and Bill's essay argues that Jesus really did have a sense of humor.

  • Episode 209: The Future of the Politics of Freedom

    April 12th, 2018  |  28 mins 29 secs

    In this episode of the podcast, inspired by a conversation between Bill Kristol and Peter Berkowitz II, we consider the future of classical liberalism in light of contemporary challenges to it that come from both the Left and the Right.

  • Episode 208: Jordan Peterson on the Significance of Easter

    April 7th, 2018  |  27 mins 45 secs

    In this episode we discuss a piece Jordan Peterson wrote for the London Times which appeared in the newspaper on Easter Sunday.

  • Episode 207: God's Death, Our Life

    March 31st, 2018  |  36 mins 32 secs

    In this episode, recorded on Good Friday 2018, Bill and I talk about the events that preceded Easter and their meaning for us today.

  • Episode 206: Bullgeschichte Session, with Todd Littleton

    March 28th, 2018  |  30 mins 45 secs

    Occasionally we invite someone on to talk with us about a host of things, or whatever comes to mind. We call it a "Bullgeschicte" Session. Our guest for this episode is Todd Littleton. He's a pastor, writer, consultant, professor, blogger and podcaster. We talk love, death, necrophobia and food.