Renowned theologian and biblical scholar Michael F. Bird joins us to explore the complex interplay between Jesus, Christianity, and the political powers that govern our world. His latest book, with N.T. Wright, is titled Jesus and the Powers, so this discussion delves deep into the foundations of political authority, the role of checks and balances in liberal democracy, and how Christians have historically engaged with—and at times transformed—political discourse. Bird discusses his and Wright's views on government, and examines what it means to govern wisely as a Christian in today's diverse ..read more

Randy England joins us to talk about his book, Free is Beautiful, a tremendous work on the foundations of libertarianism from a biblical and Church history perspective. (Re-Mastered for Re-Issue.) Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com ..read more

Doug Stuart sits down with liturgy scholar Drew Keane to delve into the ancient Christian practice of scripted worship through the lens of the Book of Common Prayer. As a co-editor of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer international edition and coauthor of How to Use the Book of Common Prayer, Keane brings a wealth of knowledge and a personal passion to the discussion. First they discuss liturgy and its role in the Church, examining the conservative nature of language in Christian liturgy, the theological depth found within traditional phrasing, and the transformative power of structured prayer. K ..read more

Libertarians are known for their advocacy of free choice, free association, and free movement. But are there boundaries or limits to this openness? Dr. Jason Brennan of Georgetown University joins us to talk what it means to advocate for global justice, and why it means being open borders and free trade. In the book he makes a rigorous defense for positive-sum interactions because global justice demands it. (Re-Mastered for Re-Issue.) Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com ..read more

Doug Stuart sits down with Domenic Scarcella, author of Good Neighbor, Bad Citizen: Reflections on the Core Social Conflict Revealed by Jesus Christ's Way of the Cross, to dive into the complex relationship between faith, being a good neighbor, and the expectations of citizenship. Scarcella unpacks the provocative themes of his book, crafted to challenge and enrich the reader's spiritual journey in under an hour, making it an ideal companion for devotion or quiet contemplation during Passion Week. Throughout the episode, Scarcella discusses the significant shifts in Christian thought since Con ..read more

Brian Zahnd is a pastor from Saint Joseph, Missouri, whose own thought journey mirrors that of many libertarian Christians: away from neoconservatism and nationalism, and towards skepticism of empire and the pursuit of peace. Though he doesn’t self-identify as a libertarian and we have some differences, Zahnd's work does have substantial overlap with LCI's as it relates to militarism, nationalism, and how we view the kingdoms of the world. (Re-Mastered for Re-Issue.) Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com ..read more

Beth Silvers from the Pantsuits Politics podcast joins us to talk about her book, I Think You're Wrong (But I'm Listening): A Guide to Grace-Filled Political Conversations, where we discuss how to have healthy conflict in political discussions, why a sports metaphor doesn't work for politics, and whether or not this is the most important election of our lifetime. (Re-Mastered for Re-Issue.) Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com ..read more

Preston Sprinkle recently invited Doug Stuart to be on his podcast, Theology in the Raw. Doug discusses his journey from conservative political beliefs to libertarianism, which was influenced by his doubts about American foreign policy post-9/11 and his exploration of economics, particularly the Austrian School of Economics. He emphasizes the importance of free individuals and agency in creating a moral and just society. Doug and Preston discuss various topics, including the common misunderstandings of libertarianism and the range of views within the movement on issues like immigration and fo ..read more

Justin Tosi is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Texas Tech University. He works on moral, social, political, and legal philosophy. Brandon Warmke is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Bowling Green State University. He writes about ethics and politics. Today we discuss their book, "Grandstanding: The Use and Abuse of Moral Talk." (Re-Mastered for Re-Issue.) Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com ..read more

Arnold Kling, author of The Three Languages of Politics, joins us to discuss the complexities of political discourse and the tribalism that often underpins our beliefs and interactions. Throughout the episode, Klings dissects the challenges of communicating within the political sphere and the underlying motivations that drive these discussions. Kling introduces a three-axes model of politics, shedding light on the beliefs and motivations behind the "oppressor-oppressed," "barbarism-civilization," and "coercion-liberty" axes. The conversation extends into the influence of education and the wide ..read more