Many Catholics were surprised when the Pope called for unity between Christians and Muslims, especially at a time when Christians in some parts of the world face persecution by Muslims. The Pope did not merely call for tolerance or coexistence, but for communion—something that some conservative Catholics argued was at odds with Church doctrine. However, this criticism overlooks what the Church actually teaches. The Second Vatican Council states: “The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God...” This is the Catholic Church’s official teaching on its relationship with Muslims, and Pope Leo is in continuity with it, but is this teaching consistent with the Bible? Join the conversation and get answers to this question and more on According2Sam episode #401.

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The message of Christian–Muslim unification is emerging from many different directions, but it has not appeared out of nowhere. Pope Leo is currently touring Africa with the stated mission of improving relations between Christians and Muslims. During his visit to Algeria, he reiterated his belief that Christians and Muslims can live together and be friends. He also wrote on social media, “Communion between Christians and Muslims takes shape under the mantle of Our Lady of Africa.” However, Leo’s predecessor, Pope Francis, also promoted stronger ties between Christians and Muslims, inviting prominent Muslim leaders to the Vatican on several occasions before passing the keys to Prevost. Who else is advocating for Christian–Muslim unification, and why is this movement gaining so much momentum right now? Join the conversation and get answers to this question and more on According2Sam episode #400.

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The decision to attack Iran has drawn widespread criticism, much of it directed at President Trump. Some critics argue that he was influenced by Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but ultimately, the decision was his alone. As Commander in Chief, he makes the final call—and he chose to proceed with the attack. That decision is now being second-guessed not only by Democrats, but also by prominent right-wing podcasters who supported him during his reelection campaign. In addition, Trump has faced criticism from Catholic bishops and Pope Leo, who have argued that the war is unjust. In response, the president has pushed back against his critics, including the podcasters and the pope. His remarks about Pope Leo, in particular, have sparked controversy, raising questions about whether his response crossed a line. Did it cross a line? Join the conversation and get answers to this question and more on According2Sam episode #399.

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When Bishop Robert Francis Prevost was selected as the new pope in May 2025, President Trump was just over 100 days into his second term. Many people believed Prevost’s selection was a response to Trump’s reelection, with the idea that an American pope might be better positioned to challenge an American president. Nearly a year into Pope Leo’s papacy, he has indeed taken positions that appear to challenge the president on several key issues. For example, he recently criticized the policy of attacking Iran, though he did not mention either the president or the conflict directly. Instead, he stated that Jesus does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war—an apparent reference that many interpreted as directed at Trump. Is the relationship between the first American pope and the president of the United States getting off to a rocky start? Join the conversation and get answers to this question and more on According2Sam episode #398.

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Supersessionism—the belief that Christians have replaced the Jewish people as the chosen people and heirs of God’s covenant—has a long history within the Catholic Church. Many early Church Fathers taught that Christianity had superseded Judaism and that the Church was the “new Israel.” For this reason, the doctrine is often referred to as “replacement theology,” reflecting the idea that the Church has taken the place of Israel. While highly controversial today, it was not always regarded as such. Among those commonly associated with this teaching are Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Origen, Augustine, and others. However, did the Apostles—who were themselves Jewish and the earliest followers of Jesus—teach that Christians replaced the Jewish people, or did they teach that the Body of Christ replaced the Temple? Join the conversation and get answers to this question and more on According2Sam episode #397.

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Throughout the history of cinema, there have been a plethora of films about the life of Jesus. Among them, The Passion of the Christ, directed by Mel Gibson, stands at the pinnacle. The film focuses solely on the final hours of Jesus’ life on earth—his arrest, trial, and execution—along with the degradation and torture he endured in between. It was filmed in original Aramaic, and it is presented with the high drama that Gibson is known for producing. It is widely regarded as a masterpiece, but one criticism of the film is that it leaves the impression Jesus’ execution was a tragedy. Now, more than two decades later, Gibson is developing a follow-up project about events after the crucifixion. What are we likely to see in this sequel? Join the conversation and get answers to this question and more on According2Sam episode #396.

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Early followers of Jesus Christ were all Jewish. It was Jews who first witnessed his miracles, and his audience for the Sermon on the Mount was entirely Jewish. Jews watched his crucifixion, and the first people he appeared to after his resurrection were also Jews. All of Jesus’s followers who received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost were Jewish, and as the Church grew and spread throughout the Roman Empire, it was largely Jewish believers who carried the message. They brought the teachings of Jesus across three continents, spreading them within Jewish communities throughout the diaspora. Given these origins, how did Christianity become separated from its Jewish roots, and how did the shift from celebrating Jesus’s resurrection during Passover to observing Easter contribute to that separation? Join the conversation and get answers to these questions and more on According2Sam episode #395.

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Joe Kent, former Counterintelligence Director, recently resigned from his post, citing the military operation in Iran as his reason. In his resignation, he stated that he could not support “war in Iran,” arguing that Iran posed no imminent threat to the United States and suggesting that the conflict was driven by pressure from Israel. However, at the time of his statement, Iran had already been responsible for the deaths of seven Americans through missile and drone attacks, which raises questions about his assessment of the threat. His position also appears inconsistent with his previous social media posts and public statements, in which he acknowledged the dangers posed by Iran and its proxies. What level of threat—imminent or otherwise—did Iran pose to Americans that ultimately influenced President Trump’s decision to take action? Join the conversation and get answers to these questions and more on According2Sam episode #394.

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When Iranian missile fragments recently landed on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, many interpreted it as a prophetic sign. The Christian publication ‘Charisma’ ran an article titled, “Iranian Missile Fragments Hit Temple Mount as Biblical Prophecy Accelerates: It’s Coming.” Other commentators also pontificated about the significance of missile debris falling in a region that has been under sustained attack for weeks. Some of these voices go further, expressing the belief that a future strike—potentially one that destroys the Al-Aqsa Mosque—could pave the way for the construction of a new Jewish Temple. They have been explicit in framing such a scenario. Who are the people promoting the idea of a missile strike on the Temple Mount, and is it a fringe idea or more widespread? Join the conversation and get answers to these questions and more on According2Sam episode #393.

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Greg Locke is an evangelical preacher and pastor of Global Vision Bible Church in Tennessee. He is a strong supporter of the nation of Israel and a self-proclaimed Christian Zionist. Recently, a video of Pastor Locke went viral showing him preaching a sermon at his church while wearing a tallit—a Jewish prayer shawl—with children behind him waving Israeli flags. In the sermon, he says that the nation of Israel should clear out the Temple Mount and “fire a big missile” to blow the Dome of the Rock off the mount “so we can get that Third Temple rebuilt and usher in the coming of Jesus.” Many people are sharing the video as an example of the extremism of Christian Zionism. Is this extreme, or is the idea of ushering in the coming of Jesus part of traditional Christian theology? Join the conversation and get answers to these questions and more on According2Sam episode #392.

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