How can we make sense of right-leaning politics in the wake of the 2024 election? Is a second Trump presidency the result of populism? Nationalism? Techno-oligarchy? Something else? Recently, Jake Meador identified four distinct "tribes" on the political right that share some common aims but differ widely in their approaches. Whatever your personal politics, you're going to be living with these tribes for the next few years - so you might as well get to know them. In this episode, we interact with Meador's essay and explore its implications for Christian faithfulness.

(0:00) Introduction and Stories
(5:43) The Four Tribes on the Political Right, Explained
(24:31) How Christian Civic Republicanism Differs from Classical Liberalism
(27:02) The Importance of Freedom of Conscience
(30:40) A Case Study on Christian Nationalism
(35:50) Christianity and the Common Good

Article: https://mereorthodoxy.com/after-progressive-neo-liberalism

Over the past decade, leaving the church has been a trend - and the leavers have been mostly left-leaning. But Jake Meador identifies a more recent trend of "right-wing exvangelicals." Whereas the left-wing exvangelicals liked Jesus but weren't sure about the church, right-wing exvangelicals want to keep civic religion but aren't as interested in the way of Jesus. In this episode, we talk about these trends, how we're seeing them in our churches, and how the gospel speaks to them.

(0:00) Introductions & Snack Shout-outs
(2:49) What is an Ex-vangelical? Definition & History
(9:54) The Growing Trend of Right-Wing Exvangelicals
(13:00) Politics as a Replacement Religion
(18:07) Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing
(30:34) C.S. Lewis: Beware of “Christianity And"

Article: https://mereorthodoxy.com/two-types-of-exvangelicals

Artificial Intelligence is generating a lot of interest these days. President Trump even issued an executive order to "sustain and enhance America’s global AI dominance." So how should Christians think about AI? Can a machine even be "intelligent?" How does Christian theology help us go beyond the hype to engage the substance of the debate?  In this episode, we draw on the wisdom of Thomas Aquinas to discuss the nature the mind, the intelligence of angels and demons, and how the Christian tradition helps us evaluate and assess technological progress.

Article: https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2025/01/96910/

In a recent article for The Atlantic, Derek Thompson writes about the surge in Americans eating alone, shopping alone, and generally doing life alone. In this episode, we discuss his analysis of the problem, talk about the wisdom the church can offer, and explore how the Christian tradition promotes both community and solitude.

Article (requires subscription): https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2025/02/american-loneliness-personality-politics/681091/

There's a bit of a "vibe shift" underway in American culture, and Silicon Valley is one place where it's evident. Recently, a listener passed along an article about the renewed interest in Christianity among tech and venture-capital elites. In this episode, we explore how the spiritual hunger in Silicon Valley relates to a larger cultural trend, and the opportunities it provides for Christians to show the beauty and goodness of the Christian story.

Article (requires subscription): https://www.theinformation.com/articles/the-antichrist-and-the-new-apostles

God reveals his grace to us through both law and gospel. In this episode from 2016, we talk about how the law and the gospel fit together.

Daniel in the lion's den. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace. The handwriting on the wall. These beloved stories are found in the book of Daniel. But Daniel also contains some strange prophecies, some troubling dreams, and some confusing apocalyptic imagery. In this episode, we discuss how this fascinating book of the Bible captures the sweep of the whole biblical story. We explore the date of Daniel, its textual tradition, its place in Jewish apocalyptic literature, and what it tells us about faithful living in exile.

In recent decades, liberalism—the political philosophy that undergirds Western democracy—has come under increasing scrutiny. Though it purports to emphasize freedom, independence, and self-determination, it has created a crisis of meaning and an erosion of norms. In this episode, we analyze a new "post-liberal manifesto" that points out the problems with liberalism, imagines what might take its place, and explores how Christians can offer a new vision of the common good.

World War II has become the dominant story of the 20th century. Just think about all the films it's inspired: Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, Dunkirk, Inglorious Basterds, Oppenheimer, and hundreds more. But a recent article from Dr. Alec Ryrie poses the question: what happens to Western culture when we pivot from a positive moral exemplar (Jesus) to a negative one (Hitler)? In this episode, we engage Ryrie's article, unpacking the moral shift in our culture and exploring its implications.

As a new year approaches, we look back on the year that's ending. We discuss some of the newsworthy & notable events of 2024, some of the things that brought us a deeper sense of worship, and some things we’re excited about as we anticipate 2025. Have a great holiday season, and we'll see you next year!