Bestselling author and Anglican priest, Tish Harrison Warren recently ignited a firestorm with a New York Times op-ed, arguing for a generous pluralism that would extend the same rights to Christians as those outside the church. In an article for World Magazine, Bethel McGrew offers a compelling alternative to this form of public Christian witness in the figure of Sean Sheehy, a retired Irish Catholic priest who boldly calls out homosexuality, transgenderism, and abortion as some of the main mortal sins of our age. Like Warren, he was raked over the coals, but his response was decidedly firmer and more robust: He remained steadfastly compassionate, while pushing against the lies of our culture. In this episode, we explore the changing dynamic of public Christian witness and consider how we move forward.

The recent breakthrough in nuclear fusion offers a stunning array of possibilities for the future. That said, recent years seem to have tempered optimism regarding the future. Has our culture reached a place of greater maturity regarding technological innovations, or will we continue to place a naive trust in the promises of our machines?

No. But we had a chuckle at this NPR article that highlights several pastors doing their level best to accommodate an increasingly post-Christian culture. In this episode, we suggest that doing the opposite might just be the solution.

The phrase "Goblin Mode" recently made headlines because it's Oxford Dictionary's 2022 word of the year, beating out "metaverse" and "#IStandWith." In an unprecedented move, the committee allowed the public to vote on the matter. What exactly is Goblin Mode and why is it emblematic of 2022? Listen in to hear us do what we always do—take something fun and make it complicated.

Our cultural landscape is changing dramatically. As we move further away from the church's influence, those of us who follow Jesus are not going to be able to blend in any longer. What do persuasion and winsomeness look like in this new context? How do we avoid timidity? And how do we hold onto our deeply unfashionable convictions without coming across as judgmental? 

"Well, Cameron, every once in a while, an international sport runs into a theocracy." So begins Nathan Rittenhouse's opening to this episode, which explores the cultural tensions that have erupted at the Fifa 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Today is Black Friday, a day generally devoted to mass consumerism. So, TOL being TOL, we thought we’d take the occasion to explore the actual nature of gratitude and its role in each of our lives. Take a listen and see what you think!

Want the Thinking Out Loud take on Musk’s Twitter fiasco? Here ya go!

In August, eight-time WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner was sentenced to nine and a half years in prison on drug charges in Russia. Now in a penal colony in Mordovia, Griner’s circumstances have grown more grim as the negotiations for her release continue. Join us as we explore this complex case and consider some of its uneasy parallels in our own nation.

Is it possible to thwart God’s plans? For that matter, is it even possible to “play God”? In a similar vein, does an emphasis on virtue and good works mean that we’re trying to take matters into our own hands, spiritually speaking? Join us as we delve into these matters.