Faith Angle

On this episode, we are joined by Christine Emba, opinion columnist for The Washington Post, and Kimberly June Miller, a licensed marriage and family therapist. Christine has just written a fascinating new book called, Rethinking Sex: A Provocation, which opens with this moral quote: “It is only by asserting one’s humanness every time, in all situations, that one becomes someone rather than something. That, after all, is the core of our struggle.” In this provocative book, Christine raises profound questions about meaning and connection, sexuality and even spirituality, as she traces shifting generational views of sex and sexual practices in America.   Guests Christine Emba  Kimberly June Miller    Additional Reading  Rethinking Sex: A Provocation, by Christine Emba  Boundaries for Your Soul, by Kimberly June Miller and Alison Cook

How much of a role does religion play in the war Vladimir Putin launched in Ukraine? It's a complicated question, but the answer may very well be: more than most Western experts think. Our guests on this episode of the Faith Angle podcast bring decades of military, foreign policy, and peacemaking expertise to help us make sense of the horrible war now unfolding in Ukraine. Dr. Kori Schake is Director of Foreign and Defense Policy at the American Enterprise Institute, and Dr. Chris Seiple is Founder of the The Sagestone Group, as well as principal advisor to the Templeton Religion Trust. The picture in Ukraine is complex, and today's guests help us see more clearly.    Guests Kori Schake  Chris Seiple   Additional Resources "Putin Accidentally Revitalized the West's Liberal Order," by Kori Schake The Routledge Handbook of Religious Literacy, Pluralism, and Global Engagement, by Chris Seiple    Twitter Links  Julia Ioffe  Lawrence Freedman Michael Kofman  Rob Lee  Shashank Joshi

In this episode, we are joined by a world-class Anglican theologian, Dr. Sarah Coakley, and a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist for The New Yorker, Eliza Griswold. Dr. Coakley's scholarship looks at the Trinity, "New Asceticism," Christology, power, sexuality, and the distinction of the self. Today, she is continuing her trilogy in systematics, aiming in a forthcoming volume at a robust theological examination of race. In this episode, Dr. Coakley and Eliza connect the wisdom of historic Christian thinkers with the urgent issues of a world that is today perhaps more in need of justice than ever.    Guests Sarah Coakley Eliza Griswold    Additional Resources  God, Sexuality, and the Self: An Essay "On the Trinity," by Sarah Coakley  Powers and Submissions: Spirituality, Philosophy, and Gender, by Sarah Coakley Amity and Prosperity: One Family and the Fracturing of America, by Eliza Griswold  "The Unmaking of Biblical Womanhood" by Eliza Griswold   

On February 2, EPPC’s Faith Angle Forum had the privilege of hosting a fascinating online conversation with Dr. Francis Collins, the country’s first Presidentially appointed Director of the National Institutes of Health to have served for more than one administration in that role. Alongside BioLogos president Dr. Deb Haarsma and EPPC Senior Fellow Peter Wehner, who contributes regularly to The Atlantic and New York Times, Dr. Collins joined 11 journalists in conversation that included a firsthand window into the development of the mRNA vaccine, and as well as the spread of vaccine resistance among many Americans. The conversation moves swiftly and covers a lot of ground, from sociology to political religion, evolution to creation-science, choices about singing in church to assessing American institutions.   Guests Dr. Francis Collins Deborah Haarsma Pete Wehner   Additional Resources  Integrate: A Faith and Science Curriculum    

In this episode, Kelefa Sanneh, staff writer for The New Yorker, is joined by John Azumah, Founding Executive Director of the Sanneh Institute, to discuss the legacy and witness of Kelefa's father Lamin Sanneh, a leading expert in Christian theology and missions as well as Christian-Muslim dialogue. Lamin's legacy continues on through the work of the Sanneh Institute, which seeks to educate and equip religious leaders, scholars, academic institutions, and the broader public on Christian and Muslim history, theology, and possibilities for interfaith partnership.    Guests Kelefa Sanneh John Azumah   Learn More  The African Christian and Islam by John Azumah  My Neighbor's Faith: Islam Explained for Christians by John Azumah Major Labels: A History of Popular Music in Seven Genres by Kelefa Sanneh  "The Plan to Build a Capital for Black Capitalism" by Kelefa Sanneh

For this first podcast of the New Year, we are recapping highlights from Faith Angle Europe, a two-day conference of 16 international journalists and 5 speakers in France, with a window into some especially compelling insights that emerged on national populism, anti-Semitism in Europe and particularly France, impact investing and the growth of religion in sub-Saharan Africa, and finally, a big-think conversation about the commonalities faced by creative minorities in a pluralistic world.    All three full Faith Angle Europe sessions as well as a short recap video from the forum are linked below.   Additional Resources Faith Angle Europe Recap  Session One: French Identity and Anti-Semitism Session Two: Rising National Populism - And Religion  Session Three: Impact Investing and Sub-Saharan Africa

In this episode of the Faith Angle podcast, Eboo Patel of Interfaith Youth Core sits down with Daily Beast columnist Wajahat Ali to discuss the possibilities and challenges of interfaith partnerships in today's polarized America, each drawing from the wisdom of their personal Muslim faith. Wajahat points to the obstacles that increasing political division, anti-immigrant discrimination, and bias against those of other faiths pose to robust religious pluralism. While accepting the strain of these realities, Eboo highlights with hope the many forms in which interfaith partnership is flourishing in America today. He offers listeners an invitation to learn from and replicate promising interfaith civic engagement in their own communities.    Guests Eboo Patel Wajahat Ali    Additional Resources Out of Many Faiths: Religious Diversity and the American Promise by Eboo Patel  Go Back to Where You Came From: And Other Helpful Recommendations on How to Become American by Wajahat Ali   

In this episode of the Faith Angle podcast, Edward Luce of Financial Times sits down with Bernard-Henri Lévy to discuss Bernard's newest book, The Will to See: Dispatches from a World of Misery and Hope.    Guests Bernard-Henri Levy  Edward Luce   Additional Reading The Will to See by Bernard-Henri Levy The Retreat of Western Liberalism  by Edward Luce   

On this episode of the Faith Angle podcast, Ross Douthat of the New York Times sits down with Ryan T. Anderson of the Ethics and Public Policy Center to discuss Ross's newest book, The Deep Places: A Memoir of Illness and Discovery. Ross recounts this deeply personal story of loss, wrestling, and overcoming in the midst of a chronic disease, reflecting on how his conviction and rootedness in the Christian story offered strength in the face of felt pain.    Guests Ross Douthat Ryan T. Anderson    Additional Reading The Deep Places: A Memoir of Illness and Discovery by Ross Douthat

This week on the Faith Angle podcast, we are joined by Jonathan Tran of Baylor University and Tina Nguyen of Puck News, who explore themes of Asian American identity, political engagement, and religious formation in the United States. They discuss the development and distortions of the "model minority" myth, the impact of racial binaries on Asian American identity, the political-economic forces of racism in America, and the ways in which Asian American Christian communities are discovering a more just and redemptive way forward.   Guests Jonathan Tran Tina Nguyen   Additional Reading  Asian Americans and the Spirit of Racial Capitalism by Jonathan Tran

This week on the Faith Angle podcast, we are joined by Paul D. Miller of Georgetown University and Nadine Maenza of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. On August 30, the United States' armed forces completed their withdrawal from Afghanistan, marking the end of a twenty-year war. We can all recall the sickening images and stories that came out of Afghanistan during this period as well as the sobering reality awaiting those left behind. In this episode, our guests consider why events unfolded the way they did in America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, and what that means for America’s presence and policy around the world.   Guests Paul D. Miller Nadine Maenza   Links Paul D. Miller in Foreign Policy  Nadine Maenza in Providence Magazine    Additional Reading Just War and Ordered Liberty by Paul D. Miller 

This week on the Faith Angle podcast, we are joined by Luke Bretherton of Duke Divinity School and Shadi Hamid of the Brookings Institution, who explore the religious nature of American politics and the political implications of American religion. Drawing from Christian and Muslim political-theological resources, they discuss the roots (on both the left and right) of today’s increasing pull toward illiberalism, the tendency of religion to take on the role of identity politics, and the mediating role of religious institutions in society. Guests Luke Bretherton Shadi Hamid  Podcast Links Listen, Organize, Act! Community Organizing and Democratic Politics with Luke Bretherton The Wisdom of Crowds with Shadi Hamid and Damir Marusic  Additional Reading Christ and the Common Life: Political Theology and the Case for Democracy by Luke Bretherton Islamic Exceptionalism: How the Struggle over Islam Is Reshaping the World by Shadi Hamid 

This week on the Faith Angle Podcast, we are joined by Fred Davie of Union Theological Seminary and Brent Orrell of the American Enterprise Institute. These scholar-practitioners share their insights on race in America, the condition of the American church, the intrinsic dignity and potential of every individual, the importance of listening even to one’s political opponents, and the search for vocational meaning and purpose. Guests Fred Davie Brent Orrell Links Hardly Working: A Podcast with Brent Orrell Follow us | faithangle.org

This week on the Faith Angle Podcast, we are joined by John C. Green and Elizabeth Bruenig to discuss John's most recent book Secular Surge: A New Fault Line in American Politics. Guests John C. Green Elizabeth Bruenig Links Secular Surge: A New Fault Line in American Politics Evening Conversation with James K.A. Smith and Elizabeth Bruenig Follow us | faithangle.org

This week on the Faith Angle Podcast, we are joined by Robert P. Jones and Jon Ward to discuss Robert's book White Too Long.   Guests Robert P. Jones Jon Ward Links White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity The End of White Christian America Kindle Edition The Long Game podcast: A conservative Christian book ignites debate over reparations — and faith itself Follow us | faithangle.org