Thinking Out Loud

From Columbia University all the way to the University of Georgia, protests against the war between Israel and Hamas are erupting all over the nation. As Nathan observes on the podcast, these kinds of protests are a relatively recent phenomenon and depend upon a political framework that values the dignity and worth of the individual—something firmly rooted in Christianity. In this episode, we consider a Christian response to protesting in general, as well as a response to the specific protests taking place today.

Not all of today’s art is ugly, of course. But there is a rather pronounced flight from beauty in many contemporary cultural artifacts, from movies and television to novels and poetry. Why this principled interest in ugliness? Join us as we explore what some critics refer to as “the uglification of everything.”

In a viral article for the The Free Press, former NPR journalist Uri Berliner highlights a number of striking failures at NPR, as well as a broader push from the organization to stop its audience from thinking for themselves. Berliner’s piece is the latest installment in a growing distrust of mainstream media sources. Join us as we explore some of the implications of trying to separate fact from fiction in the world of current events.

Most people recognize that beauty as a broad category certainly isn’t restricted to a museum or an art gallery. However, the fact that lots of today’s artists seem committed to making aggressively ugly art has led to a widespread distrust. In this episode, we press into that distrust and aim to expand the conversation.

The baleful tone regarding generation z shows no sign of abating. But are these young people really facing such unprecedented challenges because of social media and smartphones? For that matter, isn’t smartphone addiction something that affects all of us, rather than one age demographic? Join us as we dive in.

One of the many predictions concerning the future impact of AI technologies is that the traditional work week will shrink down to 2-3 days. As Cameron wryly observes, “We’re having a cultural crisis of meaning and now we’re going to take away a good portion of our work. What could possibly go wrong?” In this episode, we explore the value of work and consider its place in human life, as well as its role in our eternal destiny. 

In an incisive essay for First Things, Mary Harrington dubs the principled opposition to all normative standards that have governed western civilization down the ages as “normophobia.” Though perhaps not the subtlests of neologisms, the concept nevertheless captures a very real dynamic in our culture. Join us as we explore normophobia and we encourage you to read Harrington’s essay.

From the divine creation of the world all the way to the resurrection of Christ, Christians are predisposed to believe in extraordinary things. Or at least, this is what the cultural wisdom of the age would have us believe. But are Christians really uniquely gullible because they affirm the existence of the supernatural? Join us as we dive into this listener question.

In an interview that’s since gone viral, Professor Richard Dawkins, a once-militant atheist, admits to being a “cultural Christian,” effectively breaking the brains of nearly everyone familiar with his work and public persona. While he’s clear that he doesn’t believe in the existence of God, this still represents a stunning reversal. Plenty of Christians are understandably expressing skepticism. Writing in Christianity Today, Russell Moore argues that Dawkins’s stance threatens to undermine Christianity much more effectively than his more aggressive tactics of the past. But is Dawkins’s change of heart really so insidious or so trite? We’re not convinced. Join us as we talk about it. 

From tarot cards to healing crystals and astrology apps, why is paganism so popular today? In this episode, we explore its appeal and consider why today’s practices often seem so shallow.