Why are stories important? What exactly makes them so powerful? How should great stories—whether you encounter them in literature, poetry, painting, the cinema—help human beings cultivate the good life? And can great stories, as such, really be an important part of the religious experience?

To unpack this, Ari spoke with Jennifer Frey, host of the extremely popular literature, philosophy, and theology podcast “Sacred And Profane Love”, and professor of philosophy at the University of South Carolina. They talked about the countercultural act of choosing religion in a secular age; Thomas Aquinas; sidekicks from the Bible to Shakespeare to Lord of the Rings; how literature can form character; oral and textual cultures; Iris Murdoch; studying the Bible in public schools; and much more!

Good Faith Effort is a production of Bnai Zion and SoulShop.