Thinking Out Loud

Nathan Rittenhouse & Cameron McAllister
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For those interested in thoughtful cultural analysis without all the apocalyptic forecasts, Thinking Out Loud is a podcast about current events and Christian hope. Hosted by Nathan Rittenhouse and Cameron McAllister, co-founders of Thinking Out Loud, a ministry that seeks to bridge the gap between discipleship and apologetics, this is a show that seeks to connect the dots on the subject of Christian realism.

  1. Why Evangelicalism Didn’t See Its Moral Collapse Coming

    4 DAYS AGO

    Why Evangelicalism Didn’t See Its Moral Collapse Coming

    In this episode of Thinking Out Loud, Nathan and Cameron offer a deeply theological analysis of current events, examining the moral, political, and spiritual turbulence shaping Christianity in North America today. Engaging Tripp Fuller’s essay “Bonhoeffer’s Warning Unheeded”, they explore the moral collapse of white evangelicalism, the “frog in the boiling water” metaphor, and the rapid shift in Christian attitudes toward character, power, and politics. Drawing on Scripture, church history, Bonhoeffer, and the witness of the early church, Nathan and Cameron challenge individualism, political idolatry, and the temptation to use worldly means to achieve Christian ends, ultimately arguing that the local church—not political power—is God’s primary antidote to cultural chaos. This conversation is for Christians seeking thoughtful, historically grounded, and biblically faithful theological discussion on faith, culture, discipleship, and Christian hope in a fractured age. DONATE LINK: https://toltogether.com/donate  BOOK A SPEAKER: https://toltogether.com/book-a-speaker JOIN TOL CONNECT: https://toltogether.com/tol-connect  TOL Connect is an online forum where TOL listeners can continue the conversation begun on the podcast.

    43 min

  2. 30 JAN

    Why Hope Feels Boring Today—and Why Christianity Says It Isn’t

    In this episode of Thinking Out Loud, Nathan and Cameron engage in a deep theological discussion on Christian hope in the midst of cultural chaos, political polarization, and a media landscape driven by fear, anger, and spectacle. Drawing on Scripture, church history, Aristotle, C.S. Lewis, and contemporary examples, they challenge the modern tendency to reduce hope to mere optimism and instead recover the biblical vision of hope as a hard, muscular virtue—formed through suffering, discipline, and faithfulness to Christ. As they reflect on current events, true crime culture, discipleship, and virtue formation, Nathan and Cameron argue that Christian hope is not sentimental or naïve, but grounded in the resurrection of Jesus and expressed through perseverance, moral courage, and responsibility in everyday life. This episode is for Christians seeking thoughtful, intellectually serious theology that speaks honestly to the realities of the modern world. DONATE LINK: https://toltogether.com/donate BOOK A SPEAKER: https://toltogether.com/book-a-speaker JOIN TOL CONNECT: https://toltogether.com/tol-connect TOL Connect is an online forum where TOL listeners can continue the conversation begun on the podcast.

    37 min

  3. 27 JAN

    John Adams Warned Us: Why the Constitution Can’t Survive Without Christian Virtue

    In this episode of Thinking Out Loud, Nathan and Cameron offer a deep theological analysis of current events through the lens of Christian political theology, virtue ethics, and American history, centered on a striking 1798 quote from John Adams about morality, religion, and the limits of constitutional government. Engaging Christians who are concerned about cultural collapse, hyper-individualism, and the erosion of virtue, Nathan and Cameron explore how biblical Christianity, communal formation, and moral responsibility—not merely laws or rights—are essential for sustaining a healthy society. Drawing on theology, philosophy, education, and contemporary politics, they examine the failures of a rules-based order, the myth of the global village, and what faithful Christian presence looks like in an age of moral confusion, offering thoughtful insight for believers seeking serious theological discussion of today’s cultural and political moment. DONATE LINK: https://toltogether.com/donate BOOK A SPEAKER: https://toltogether.com/book-a-speaker JOIN TOL CONNECT: https://toltogether.com/tol-connect TOL Connect is an online forum where TOL listeners can continue the conversation begun on the podcast.

    32 min

  4. 20 JAN

    Why Everyone Should Be Religious: Breaking Down Ross Douthat’s provocative new book

    In this episode of Thinking Out Loud, Nathan and Cameron engage in a deep theological discussion on current events through the lens of Ross Douthat’s provocative new book Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious, exploring whether Christianity should be embraced for its civilizational benefits or because it is true. Drawing on debates with New Atheism, secular sociology, and figures like Christopher Hitchens, Phil Zuckerman, Jordan Peterson, and Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Nathan and Cameron wrestle with questions of truth, human brokenness, consciousness, demons, and the limits of scientific explanation, all while grounding the conversation firmly in historic Christian theology. This episode is designed for Christians seeking thoughtful, intellectually serious engagement with culture, politics, and belief, offering a robust defense of Christianity that moves beyond pragmatism toward truth, discipleship, and Christian hope in a rapidly changing world. DONATE LINK: https://toltogether.com/donate BOOK A SPEAKER: https://toltogether.com/book-a-speaker JOIN TOL CONNECT: https://toltogether.com/tol-connect TOL Connect is an online forum where TOL listeners can continue the conversation begun on the podcast.

    33 min

  5. 16 JAN

    Philip Yancey Scandal: Can We Still Trust Christian Leaders?

    In this episode, Nathan and Cameron engage in a deep theological discussion on the breaking news surrounding Philip Yancey, the influential Christian author of The Jesus I Never Knew and What’s So Amazing About Grace, who has publicly admitted to an eight-year affair and withdrawn from all public ministry. Framed for Christians seeking thoughtful, biblically grounded reflection on current events, the conversation explores sin, repentance, moral disqualification, trust in Christian leaders, and the dangers of celebrity and guru culture within American Christianity. Nathan and Cameron wrestle with hard questions about grace, perseverance, accountability, and how believers should respond when a beloved theologian or Christian thinker falls, while ultimately re-centering faith on Christ and Scripture rather than personalities. This episode will especially resonate with Christians looking for serious theological analysis, cultural critique, and spiritual wisdom in the midst of yet another painful church scandal. DONATE LINK: https://toltogether.com/donate BOOK A SPEAKER: https://toltogether.com/book-a-speaker JOIN TOL CONNECT: https://toltogether.com/tol-connect TOL Connect is an online forum where TOL listeners can continue the conversation begun on the podcast.

    27 min

  6. 13 JAN

    Why the Minneapolis ICE Shooting Is Dividing Christians So Deeply

    In this episode of Thinking Out Loud, Nathan and Cameron offer a deep Christian theological analysis of the ICE shooting in Minneapolis involving Renee Nicole Good, examining the tragedy through the lenses of biblical anthropology, moral theology, and cultural analysis rather than partisan outrage. Drawing on thinkers like Augustine, Jonathan Haidt, René Girard, and Michael Polanyi, they explore how Christians should respond to politically charged current events, the tension between what is legal and what is moral, the danger of scapegoating and symbolic thinking, and why silence, prayer, and wisdom can sometimes be more faithful than instant commentary. This conversation is aimed at Christians seeking thoughtful, theologically grounded discussion of current events, Christian ethics, sanctity of life, authority, justice, and how to faithfully navigate polarized culture without surrendering compassion, truth, or hope.DONATE LINK: https://toltogether.com/donate BOOK A SPEAKER: https://toltogether.com/book-a-speakerJOIN TOL CONNECT: https://toltogether.com/tol-connect TOL Connect is an online forum where TOL listeners can continue the conversation begun on the podcast.

    37 min

  7. 9 JAN

    Is Pop Music Satanic? Discernment, Idolatry, and Christian Theology in Modern Culture

    In this episode, Nathan and Cameron engage in a deep theological discussion on pop music, culture, and spiritual formation, responding to Billy Corgan’s viral claim that modern pop music may be more overtly satanic than traditionally “dangerous” genres. Drawing on Christian theology, cultural analysis, and lived experience, they explore idolatry, discernment, fantasy versus reality, and how entertainment subtly shapes moral imagination, habits, and desire. This conversation connects current events in music and media with biblical themes of worship, formation, and holiness, challenging Christians to think critically about what they consume, sing, and celebrate in everyday life. Thoughtful, candid, and at times confrontational, this episode is for believers seeking serious theological reflection on pop culture, spirituality, and the hidden formative power of modern entertainment. DONATE LINK: https://toltogether.com/donate BOOK A SPEAKER: https://toltogether.com/book-a-speaker JOIN TOL CONNECT: https://toltogether.com/tol-connect TOL Connect is an online forum where TOL listeners can continue the conversation begun on the podcast.

    36 min

  8. 6 JAN

    What the Venezuela Crisis Reveals about the Collapse of Christian Moral Reasoning

    In this episode of Thinking Out Loud, Nathan Rittenhouse and Cameron McAllister offer a deep theological analysis of current events, using U.S. involvement in Venezuela as a springboard to explore a much larger cultural shift where efficiency, power, and results increasingly eclipse ethical reasoning and Christian moral reflection. Engaging thinkers like Thomas Aquinas, Jacques Ellul, Alasdair MacIntyre, and Dallas Willard, Nathan and Cameron examine why just war theory, Christian political theology, and moral language often feel irrelevant in today’s public discourse—and what that means for Christians seeking faithfulness in a time of cultural transition. This conversation challenges believers to rethink the relationship between church and state, resist conflating Christian faith with political success, and recover a Christ-centered vision of hope, obedience, and vocation amid global instability, cultural upheaval, and moral fragmentation. DONATE LINK: https://toltogether.com/donate BOOK A SPEAKER: https://toltogether.com/book-a-speaker JOIN TOL CONNECT: https://toltogether.com/tol-connect TOL Connect is an online forum where TOL listeners can continue the conversation begun on the podcast.

    35 min
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About

For those interested in thoughtful cultural analysis without all the apocalyptic forecasts, Thinking Out Loud is a podcast about current events and Christian hope. Hosted by Nathan Rittenhouse and Cameron McAllister, co-founders of Thinking Out Loud, a ministry that seeks to bridge the gap between discipleship and apologetics, this is a show that seeks to connect the dots on the subject of Christian realism.

Information

  • Creator
    Nathan Rittenhouse & Cameron McAllister
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    427
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Nathan Rittenhouse & Cameron McAllister
  • Show Website
    Thinking Out Loud

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