Trinity Forum Conversations

The Trinity Forum
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Trinity Forum Conversations

Trinity Forum Conversations is a podcast exploring the big questions in life by looking to the best of the Christian intellectual tradition and elevating the voices, both ancient and modern, who grapple with these questions and direct our hearts to the Author of the answers. We invite you to join us in one of the great joys of life: a conversation among friends on the things that matter most.

  1. Democracy & Solidarity with James Davison Hunter and David Brooks

    3 DAYS AGO

    Democracy & Solidarity with James Davison Hunter and David Brooks

    Democracy & Solidarity with James Davison Hunter and David Brooks One of the biggest questions in the Christian life is what it means to love one's neighbor, both in the personal and the public spheres. While these questions have always been challenging and contested, they seem to have grown increasingly divisive and demoralizing. So how do we begin to restore and reweave solidarity and a love for neighbor into our civic fabric? Today's episode features our recent evening conversation with sociologist and author James Davision Hunter and cultural critic and author David Brooks. Together they help us explore the cultural roots of America's crisis of solidarity, and what it may mean to move together towards a renewed commitment to the common good. “Until we understand the depth that the enemy is in fact not the other side, but in fact the enemy is the nihilism that insinuates itself within almost all of our public institutions, and not least our political institutions, we're really not taking the full measure of the crisis in front of us.” - James Davison HunterWe hope this conversation helps you consider how you’re engaging in relationships, and how the smallest acts of seeing another person and listening to their story can help begin to restore our social fabric and establish new cultural norms. This podcast is an edited version of an online conversation recorded in September of 2024. Watch the full video of the conversation here, and learn more about James Davison Hunter and David Brooks. Authors and books mentioned in the conversation: Culture Wars by James Davison Hunter The Death of Character by James Davison Hunter Science and the Good by James Davison Hunter To Change the World by James Davison Hunter Democracy and Solidarity by James Davison Hunter The Social Animal by David Brooks The Road to Character by David Brooks The Second Mountain by David Brooks How to Know a Person by David Brooks George Marsden Aristotle The Public Philosophy, by Walter Lippman Arthur Schlesinger John Bowlby Parker Palmer David Hume Edmund Burke Eddie Hillison Simone Weil Mother Theresa American Politics: The Promise of Disharmony, by Sam Huntington Clarence Thomas The Upswing, by Robert Putnam Howard Usock Nicholas Epley The Communist Manifesto Related Trinity Forum Readings: Wrestling with God, Simone Weil Children of Light and Children of Darkness, by Reinhold Niebuhr Politics, Morality, and Civility,  by Vaclav Havel The Origins of Totalitarianism, by Hannah Arendt The Federalist Papers A Practical View of Real Christianity, by William Wilberforce, Who Stands Fast? by Dietrich Bonhoeffer Related Conversations:Hope Beyond Tribalism with James Mumford Faith, Fear & Conspiracy with David French The Fall, the Founding and the Future of American Democracy How to Be a Patriotic Christian Extremism and the Path Back to Peace with Elizabeth Neumann To listen to this or any of our episodes in full, visit ttf.org/podcast and to help make content like this possible, join the Trinity Forum Society Special thanks to Ned Bustard for our podcast artwork.

    53 min
  2. Extremism and the Path Back to Peace

    29 OCT

    Extremism and the Path Back to Peace

    Extremism and the Path Back to Peace with Elizabeth Neumann The appropriation of Christian images and language by extremists who advocate violence has become a shocking feature of our time. Surveys show alarming numbers of people who self-identify as religious expressing openness to political violence. Against such a distortion of Christian witness, how can we faithfully live out our calling to be people of peace? Today's episode features our recent conversation with national security expert Elizabeth Neumann, who offers insight and a sobering perspective on how radicalization has taken root among us and what we can do: “Find ways to check your in-group assumptions about their narratives. Particularly when the narratives involve others.” - Elizabeth Neumann As we approach a national election, we hope this conversation helps you thoughtfully evaluate your own assumptions, and strengthens you to serve as a non-anxious presence within your broader community. This podcast is an edited version of an online conversation recorded in October of 2024. Watch the full video of the conversation here, and learn more about Elizabeth Neumann. Authors and books mentioned in the conversation: Kingdom of Rage: the Rise of Christian Extremism and the Path Back to Peace, by Elizabeth Neumann Related Trinity Forum Readings: Children of Light and Children of Darkness, by Reinhold Niebuhr Politics, Morality, and Civility,  by Vaclav Havel The Origins of Totalitarianism, by Hannah Arendt The Federalist Papers A Practical View of Real Christianity, by William Wilberforce, Who Stands Fast? by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Related Conversations:Hope Beyond Tribalism with James Mumford Faith, Fear & Conspiracy with David French The Fall, the Founding and the Future of American Democracy How to Be a Patriotic Christian To listen to this or any of our episodes in full, visit ttf.org/podcast and to help make content like this possible, join the Trinity Forum Society

    35 min
  3. Reissue: The Challenge of Christian Nationalism with Mark Noll and Vincent Bacote

    15 OCT

    Reissue: The Challenge of Christian Nationalism with Mark Noll and Vincent Bacote

    The Challenge of Christian Nationalism with Mark Noll and Vincent Bacote As the lines between faith, politics, and patriotism have become, in some quarters, increasingly blurred, it is increasingly important to understand the origin, ideas, and consequences of Christian Nationalism — what it means, why it matters, and how best to respond. “Responsible Christian patriots try to show how Christianity can be a service to the nation; extreme nationalists make Christianity a servant of the nation.” - Mark Noll“If you think about the cross: patriotism, rightly construed from a Christian point of view, will put the flag at the foot of the cross. Christian nationalism wants to drape the [flag] over them. So is God serving your country, the sponsor of your country, or are you, as a Christian, operating wherever you are and having loyalty, but not your primary loyalty to your country over God?” - Vincent Bacote We hope you find this conversation insightful and helpful as you consider the state of our culture and shared political life, and your role in reviving responsible Christian patriotism. This podcast is an edited version of an Online Conversation recorded in June of 2021. You can access the full conversation with transcript here. Learn more about Mark Noll and Vincent Bacote. Authors and books mentioned in the conversation: The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind by Mark Noll God and Race in American Politics: A Short History, by Mark Noll The Civil War as Theological Crisis, by Mark Noll In the Beginning Was the Word: The Bible in American Public Life, by Mark Noll The Political Disciple, A Theology of Public Life, by Vincent Bacote Reckoning with Race and Performing the Good News, by Vincent Bacote The Spirit in Public Theology: Appropriating the legacy of Abraham Kuyper, by Vincent Bacote Related Trinity Forum Readings: A Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass City of God by St. Augustine of Hippo Children of Light and Children of Darkness by Reinhold Niebuhr Letter from a Birmingham Jail by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Related Conversations:Rebuilding our Common Life with Yuval LevinThe Challenge of Christian Nationalism with Mark Noll and Vincent BacoteThe Decadent Society with Ross DouthatScience, Faith, Trust and Truth with Francis CollinsBeyond Ideology with Peter Kreeft and Eugene RiversJustice, Mercy, and Overcoming Racial Division with Claude Alexander and Mac PierHealing a Divided Culture with Arthur BrooksAfter Babel with Andy Crouch and Johnathan HaidtTrust, Truth, and The Knowledge Crisis with Bonnie KristianHope in an Age of Anxiety with Curtis Chang & Curt Thompson To listen to this or any of our episodes in full, visit ttf.org/podcast and to join the Trinity Forum Society and help make content like this possible, join the Trinity Forum Society Special thanks to Ned Bustard for our podcast artwork.

    42 min
  4. Truth & Trust with Francis Collins

    1 OCT

    Truth & Trust with Francis Collins

    What does wisdom mean for Christians in an age of polarization, cynicism, and distrust? In confronting the unique concerns of our time, what can help us become wise? On our podcast, Dr. Francis S. Collins joins us to discuss his new book, The Road to Wisdom, illuminating how truth, science, faith, and trust work together to help us discern the best path forward in life: “I think the time has come for many of us to say, I think I need to be part of a solution here. I need to say, it's not enough to say things shouldn't be like this. I'm ready to say, I shouldn't be like this. Let me try to get my house in order, get my worldview reset to the truth, to faith, if that's who I am, and not let all of this other noise out there knock me off my road to wisdom in a way that's bad for me and bad for my society.” - Francis Collins We hope this conversation helps you reflect on the acquisition of wisdom, and how Christians in particular might become agents of healing and trust building in the midst of a cynical and polarized culture. This podcast is an edited version of an online conversation recorded in September 2024. Watch the full video of the conversation here, and learn more about Francis Collins. Authors and books mentioned in the conversation: Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Jonathan Haidt The Road to Wisdom, by Francis S. Collins The Language of God, by Francis S. Collins René Descartes David Hume Related Trinity Forum Readings: Telling Truth to Kings, by Reinhold Schneider Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley Politics and the English Language, by George Orwell Augustine's Confessions The Wager, by Blaise Pascal The Lost Tools of Learning, by Dorothy Sayers Related Conversations:Connecting Spiritual Formation & Public Life with Michael WearThe Kingdom, the Power & The Glory with Tim AlbertaA Life Worth Living with Miroslav VolfTowards a Better Christian PoliticsChristian Pluralism: Living Faithfully in a World of DifferenceWhat Really Matters with Charlie Peacock and Andi AshworthScripture and the Public Square How to be a Patriotic Christian Life, Death, Poetry & Peace with Philip Yancey The Fall, the Founding, and the Future of American Democracy Fear and Conspiracy with David French Words Against Despair with Christian Wiman Hope Beyond Tribalism with James Mumford To listen to this or any of our episodes in full, visit ttf.org/podcast and to help make content like this possible, join the Trinity Forum Society Special thanks to Ned Bustard for our podcast artwork.

    39 min
  5. Hope Beyond Tribalism with James Mumford

    17 SEPT

    Hope Beyond Tribalism with James Mumford

    Hope Beyond Tribalism with James Mumford Amidst a culture of political tribalism and personal loneliness, how can we more clearly, creatively, charitably, and faithfully think and engage with our neighbors? What kinds of practices of mind, body, and spirit, might help us to see and act with greater empathy and understanding? In his book, Vexed: Ethics Beyond Political Tribes, author James Mumford considers these questions and how often our ethical convictions get politically bundled up with others in what he calls a kind of “package deal.” It’s in examining our own convictions, and the exercise of the moral imagination that we can begin to move beyond tribalism into a greater freedom: “The sort of engagement relationally that I'm talking about, it's very different from the sort of combative exchange that we see on social media.  And so it is a counter cultural project, I think, to disengage, to question our own assumptions, and then also to engage with other people about their own assumptions and their own convictions and how those fit together.” - James MumfordWe hope this conversation helps you to think more clearly about your own convictions, and to view your neighbors, even those with whom you disagree, with greater empathy. This podcast is an edited version of an online conversation recorded in June 2020. Watch the full video of the conversation here, and learn more about James Mumford. Authors and books mentioned in the conversation: Vexed: Ethics Beyond Political Tribes, by James Mumford The Righteous Mind, by Jonathan Haidt T. S. Eliot Related Trinity Forum Readings: Four Quartets - T.S. Eliot Children of Light and the Children of Darkness, by Reinhold Niebuhr Democracy in America, Alexis de Tocqueville Babette’s Feast, by Isak Dinesen Politics, Morality, and Civility, by Václav Havel Related Conversations:Connecting Spiritual Formation & Public Life with Michael WearThe Kingdom, the Power & The Glory with Tim AlbertaA Life Worth Living with Miroslav VolfTowards a Better Christian PoliticsChristian Pluralism: Living Faithfully in a World of DifferenceWhat Really Matters with Charlie Peacock and Andi AshworthScripture and the Public Square How to be a Patriotic Christian Life, Death, Poetry & Peace with Philip Yancey The Fall, the Founding, and the Future of American Democracy Fear and Conspiracy with David French Words Against Despair with Christian Wiman To listen to this or any of our episodes in full, visit ttf.org/podcast and to help make content like this possible, join the Trinity Forum Society Special thanks to Ned Bustard for our podcast artwork.

    28 min
  6. Words Against Despair with Christian Wiman

    3 SEPT

    Words Against Despair with Christian Wiman

    Words Against Despair with Christian Wiman As poet Christian Wiman explains on our podcast, despair is part of the human condition: “I deal with despair because…I don't know how not to, and it would be an evasion not to. And I think if you don't feel it, then you're not paying attention.” In his new book, Zero at the Bone: Fifty Entries Against Despair, the acclaimed poet chases meaning through words, including memoir and poetry. And in this conversation he explains how he has found relief from despair in poetry, even and especially when poets grapple honestly with despair, “they speak of [despair] as a thing that can be spoken of.” Wiman returned to Christian faith in part through a terminal cancer diagnosis–one that he has, to his astonishment, now lived with for over 18 years. His work explores themes of illness, love, faith, and the “almost spiritual joy” of encountering a deadly coral snake. We trust you will find in his poetry, and in this conversation with Trinity Forum’s guest host, Tom Wash, a great tonic against despair. This podcast is an edited version of an online conversation recorded in April 2024. Watch the full video of the conversation here, and learn more about Christian Wiman. Authors and books mentioned in the conversation: Zero at the Bone: Fifty Entries Against Despair, by Chrisitan Wiman Marylin Robison Danielle Chapman William Bronk William Wordsworth Every Riven Thing, by Christian Wiman My Bright Abyss: Meditations of a Modern Believer, by Christian Wiman Prayer, by Carol Ann Duffy The Bible and Poetry, by Michael Edwards  Augustine of Hippo Bittersweet, by George Herbert Surprised by Joy, by C.S. Lewis Richard Wilbur Jürgen Moltmann When the Time’s Toxins, by Christian Wiman Related Trinity Forum Readings: Augustine’s Confessions Devotions by John Donne, paraphrased by Philip Yancey God’s Grandeur: the Poems of Gerard Manley Hopkins Bulletins from Immortality, by Emily Dickinson Wrestling with God, by Simone Weil Related Conversations:Connecting Spiritual Formation & Public Life with Michael WearThe Kingdom, the Power & The Glory with Tim AlbertaA Life Worth Living with Miroslav VolfTowards a Better Christian PoliticsChristian Pluralism: Living Faithfully in a World of DifferenceWhat Really Matters with Charlie Peacock and Andi AshworthScripture and the Public Square How to be a Patriotic Christian Life, Death, Poetry & Peace with Philip Yancey The Fall, the Founding, and the Future of American Democracy Fear and Conspiracy with David French To listen to this or any of our episodes in full, visit ttf.org/podcast and to help make content like this possible, join the Trinity Forum Society Special thanks to Ned Bustard for our podcast artwork.

    32 min
  7. Faith, Fear & Conspiracy with David French

    20 AUG

    Faith, Fear & Conspiracy with David French

    In his book, Divided We Fall, author David French explores not only the rise of conspiracy thinking, but also the tribalism and alienation that has divided the country. On our podcast, French considers why our unsettling times have proven fertile ground for the growth of conspiracy thinking, especially within the Christian community, and he offers his thoughts on  what a Christian response to conspiracy theories might entail: “Media consumption that is not thoughtfully curated can actually be quite harmful to our perceptions of reality and our fellow man.” - David FrenchThis podcast is an edited version of an online conversation recorded in 2021. Watch the full video of the conversation here, and learn more about David French. Especially in these chaotic times, we hope this conversation will inspire you to grow in your faith and find the freedom that comes in the pursuit of truth and the ways of its Author. Authors and books mentioned in the conversation: The Rise of Isis: A Threat We Can't Ignore, by David French A Season for Justice: Defending the Rights of Christian Home School and Church, by David French Home and Away: A Story of Family in Time of War, by David French Divided We Fall, by David French Rod Dreher Cass Sunstein Bill Bishop Jonathan Haidt Related Trinity Forum Readings: Brave New World, by Alduos Huxley The Federalist Papers Democracy in America, by Alexis de Tocqueville Politics, Morality, and Civility, by Vaclav Havel Children of Light, Children of Darkness, by Reinhold Niebuhr Related Conversations:A New Year With The Word with Malcolm GuiteMusic, Creativity & Justice with Ruth Naomi FloydPursuing Humility with Richard Foster and Brenda QuinnReading as a Spiritual Practice with Jessica Hooten WilsonWalking as a Spiritual Practice with Mark BuchananMaking as a Spiritual Practice with Makoto FujimuraConnecting Spiritual Formation & Public Life with Michael WearThe Kingdom, the Power & The Glory with Tim AlbertaA Life Worth Living with Miroslav VolfTowards a Better Christian PoliticsChristian Pluralism: Living Faithfully in a World of DifferenceWhat Really Matters with Charlie Peacock and Andi AshworthScripture and the Public Square How to be a Patriotic Christian Life, Death, Poetry & Peace with Philip Yancey The Fall, the Founding, and the Future of American Democracy To listen to this or any of our episodes in full, visit ttf.org/podcast and to help make content like this possible, join the Trinity Forum Society Special thanks to Ned Bustard for our podcast artwork.

    35 min
  8. The Fall, the Founding, and the Future of American Democracy

    6 AUG

    The Fall, the Founding, and the Future of American Democracy

    The Fall, the Founding, and the Future of American Democracy What did America’s founders believe about human nature? How might a deeper understanding of their perspective shape the way we think about current and future challenges to our democracy? On this podcast episode, historian and author Dr. Tracy McKenzie helps us take a closer look at the founder’s view of human nature, what the abandonment of this view implies, and the tension of fallen human beings entrusted with self-governance: We are storytelling creatures and the stories that we tell one another, the stories that relentlessly we hear in the public square are stories that tell us that liberty and justice and human dignity can all be upheld by leaving our hearts untouched. That's not the message of the gospel.  - Tracy McKenzieThis is podcast is an edited version of an online conversation recorded in 2022. Watch the full video of the conversation here, and learn more about Dr. Tracy McKenzie. We hope this conversation on America’s history helps you see the present with fresh insight as together we consider how Christians and the Church can play a positive role in the public and political life of our country. Authors and books mentioned in the conversation: The First Thanksgiving: What the Real Story Tells Us About a Loving God and Learning from History, by Dr. Tracy McKenzie A Little Book for New Historians: Why and How to Study History, by Dr. Tracy McKenzie We the Fallen People: the Founders and the Future of American Democracy, by Dr. Tracy McKenzie Democracy in America, by Alexis de Tocqueville Related Trinity Forum Readings: The Federalist Papers Democracy in America, by Alexis de Tocqueville Politics, Morality, and Civility, by Vaclav Havel Children of Light, Children of Darkness, by Reinhold Niebuhr Related Conversations:A New Year With The Word with Malcolm GuiteMusic, Creativity & Justice with Ruth Naomi FloydPursuing Humility with Richard Foster and Brenda QuinnReading as a Spiritual Practice with Jessica Hooten WilsonWalking as a Spiritual Practice with Mark BuchananMaking as a Spiritual Practice with Makoto FujimuraConnecting Spiritual Formation & Public Life with Michael WearThe Kingdom, the Power & The Glory with Tim AlbertaA Life Worth Living with Miroslav VolfTowards a Better Christian PoliticsChristian Pluralism: Living Faithfully in a World of DifferenceWhat Really Matters with Charlie Peacock and Andi AshworthScripture and the Public Square How to be a Patriotic Christian Life, Death, Poetry & Peace with Philip Yancey To listen to this or any of our episodes in full, visit ttf.org/podcast and to help make content like this possible, join the Trinity Forum Society Special thanks to Ned Bustard for our podcast artwork.

    27 min
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About

Trinity Forum Conversations is a podcast exploring the big questions in life by looking to the best of the Christian intellectual tradition and elevating the voices, both ancient and modern, who grapple with these questions and direct our hearts to the Author of the answers. We invite you to join us in one of the great joys of life: a conversation among friends on the things that matter most.

Information

  • Creator
    The Trinity Forum
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2024
  • Episodes
    95
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024 The Trinity Forum
  • Show Website
    Trinity Forum Conversations

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