Faith Angle

Latest Episodes:

Leading Insights from the 2024 Michael Cromartie Forum Jun 14, 2024

Show notes

Building on the legacy of Michael Cromartie (1950-2017), who founded Faith Angle Forum a quarter-century ago, MCF brings together a select group of exceptionally talented, early-career journalists for a three-day conference in the nation’s capital, focusing on the intersection of faith, culture, and journalism today. This year’s forum explored new narratives in American history, reconsidered the relationship between spirituality and vocational journalism, and examined the interplay between race, religion, and identity in diverse democracies.

Additional Resources:

Michael Cromartie Forum 2024

Journalism, Religion, and Vocation with Will Saletan and Eugene Scott

Religion and Journalism: An Integrating Workshop with Miranda Kennedy and Molly Ball

The Spirit of Our Politics with Michael Wear and Jon Ward

The Nation That Never Was: Reconstructing America's Story with Kermit Roosevelt and Pete Wehner

Understanding Race, Religion, and Identity for Diverse Democracies with Simran Jeet Singh

Brad Wilcox and Isabel Sawhill: On Marriage May 09, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, recorded at Faith Angle Miami 2024, we are joined by Brad Wilcox and Isabel Sawhill for a fascinating, timely conversation about marriage patterns, family structure, shifting gender norms, and poverty rates. In a time of deep polarization, are certain approaches better than others when it comes to exploring the benefits of marriage for children? How does marriage compare with cohabitation, and how do we avoid getting caught in culture war cul du sacs when discussing gender roles, marriage norms, and solutions that can benefit low-income families? Two seminal scholars in this field, Brad and Belle highlight themes from their decades of scholarship on these topics and, in particular, from Brad's most recent book, Get Married.

Guests

W. Bradford Wilcox

Isabel Sawhill

Additional Resources

"Poverty, Religion, and the New Marriage Debate," Faith Angle Miami 2024 session video with Brad Wilcox and Isabel Sawhill

Brad Wilcox PPT Slides

Isabel Sawhill PPT Slides

"How to Think - and Talk - About Marriage Today," by Will Saletan

Get Married: Why Americans Must Defy the Elites, Forge Strong Families, and Save Civilization, by Brad Wilcox

Generation Unbound: Drifting into Sex and Parenthood without Marriage, by Isabel Sawhill

The Two-Parent Privilege: How Americans Stopped Getting Married and Started Falling Behind, by Melissa Kearney

John Inazu and Matthew Kaminski: Learning to Disagree Apr 02, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, we are joined by John Inazu, who is the Sally D. Danforth Distinguished Professor of Law & Religion and Professor of Political Science at Washington University in St. Louis. This week, he published his fourth book: Learning to Disagree: The Surprising Path to Navigating Differences with Empathy and Respect.

John sits down to discuss differences, respect, bridge-building, and the unique role of journalism in all this, with Matt Kaminski, editor-at-large of POLITICO, and the co-founder of POLITICO Europe. Matt served as editor-in-chief of POLITICO from 2019-2023, and he’s covered international politics for more than a quarter-century, still writing regularly on global affairs today.

Together they discuss whether it is possible to disagree in ways that somehow build bridges with neighbors, coworkers, and loved ones, and what role journalists can play in helping us see reality more clearly.

Guests

John Inazu

Matthew Kaminski

Additional Resources

Learning to Disagree: The Surprising Path to Navigating Differences with Empathy and Respect, by John Inazu

Confident Pluralism: Surviving and Thriving Through Deep Difference, by John Inazu

"'Beyond Crazy': The Liberal Jew Mugged by a Post-Oct. 7 World," by Matthew Kaminski

The Exvangelicals: Sarah McCammon and Ruth Graham Mar 11, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, we are joined by Sarah McCammon, National Political Correspondent at NPR, to discuss her book Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church. In it, Sarah tells a compelling, personal story about family, marriage, politics, and church—and she concisely boils down insights from scholars like David Gushee, Kristin Kobes Du Mez, Christian Smith, and others you’ll hear her reference. If the great de-churching currently happening in American society is most acutely felt by Gen Z and Millennials, Sarah’s story is right in the heart of that. And since no one really knows where the future is headed, one question to ask is: If evangelicals or other religious Americans leave the fold, what replaces that unique sense of purpose, transcendent faith, and community? Joining Sarah to discuss that and other urgent questions is Ruth Graham, the brilliant New York Times’ religion, faith, and values reporter.

Guests:

Sarah McCammon

Ruth Graham

Additional Resources:

The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church, by Sarah McCammon

"Evangelical Writer Who Influenced Purity Culture Separates from Wife," by Sarah McCammon and Ruth Graham

"Two Evangelical Leaders on 'Radical Faith'," by Ruth Graham

Testimony: Inside the Evangelical Movement That Failed a Generation, by Jon Ward

Michael Wear and Tim Alberta: The Spirit of Our Politics Jan 23, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, we are joined again by Tim Alberta of The Atlantic and Michael Wear of the Center for Christianity and Public Life, to discuss Michael's brand new book The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life. Michael has been engaging the condition of American politics for more than 15 years, after serving in the White House, helping to launch and lead the AND Campaign, and advising leading policymakers, journalists, practitioners at the intersection of faith and public policy.

Drawing from this experience as well as the work and influence of noteworthy Christian philosopher Dallas Willard, Michael argues that our politics will only get better if we get better. The only way to transcend the current polarized morass we’re in is to deepen and revitalize our spiritual formation. Our politics is downstream of the kind of people we are.

The Spirit of Our Politics argues that the way forward is to better align our political and civic engagement with our religious commitments. And while the democratic answer for believers is never theonomy, or Christian nationalism, or privileging a majority identity—Michael and Tim sketch the contours of what faithful, integrated living might produce.

Guests:

Michael Wear

Tim Alberta

Additional Resources:

The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life, by Michael Wear

The Center for Christianity & Public Life

The Kingdom, The Power, and The Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism, by Tim Alberta

"The Surprising Link between the Gospel and Politics," by Michael Wear

Wear We Are Podcast, with Michael and Melissa Wear

"Tim Alberta and Michael Wear: The Kingdom, The Power, and The Glory," Faith Angle podcast episode

Elizabeth Bruenig and Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac: Advent in the Holy Land Dec 22, 2023

Show notes

On today’s episode, we are joined by The Atlantic’s Elizabeth Bruenig for an Advent reflection with Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac, assistant pastor of Christmas Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bethlehem. Rev. Isaac is an evangelical pastor whose life and ministry have been rooted in Bethlehem in the West Bank, where he is a theologian, Bible college dean, a leader of the peacebuilding initiative Christ at the Checkpoint, and part of the ancient but fast-dwindling community of Christians in the Holy Land. This Christmas, as there is war in the Holy Land, this sobering conversation points to the hope of the Incarnation in the midst of suffering—offered from a unique vantage point and moment, in the place of Christ’s birth.

Guests:

Munther Isaac

Elizabeth Bruenig

Additional Resources:

The Other Side of the Wall: A Christian Palestinian Narrative of Lament and Hope, by Munther Isaac

"Christmas is canceled in the land of Jesus' birth," by Queen Rania Al Abdullah in The Washington Post

"In Bethlehem, the home of Jesus' birth, a season of grieving for Palestinian Christians," by Laura King in The Los Angeles Times

Tim Alberta and Michael Wear: The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory Dec 08, 2023

Show notes

On this episode Tim Alberta and Michael Wear dig deep into Alberta's new book, The Kingdom, The Power, and The Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism. Their discussion covers the shaping of the religious and political expression of American evangelicalism in the latter half of the 20th century until today, including the movement's most influential leaders. They explore how Tim's personal experiences as a pastor's son give his journalism and coverage a unique urgency, and they highlight crucial questions of truth, accountability, and priorities within the evangelical community and in American society more broadly. Guests: Tim Alberta Michael Wear Additional Resources: The Kingdom, The Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism, by Tim Alberta

NPR "Fresh Air" interview with Tim Alberta
"The Long Game" interview with Tim Alberta
Christianity Today Russell Moore Show interview with Tim Alberta
The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life, by Michael Wear

Romney: A Reckoning with McKay Coppins and Peter Baker Nov 21, 2023

Show notes

Author McKay Coppins sits down with Peter Baker of The New York Times to discuss Coppins' best-selling biography Romney: A Reckoning, which offers an intimate look into the life and career of Senator Mitt Romney. Coppins explains the unique process of creating the book, which reads like an authorized biography, but over which he retained editorial privileges. Coppins explains how Romney's faith influenced his political and personal life, and the thread of rationalization toward self-interest that marked Romney's career and that of so many other politicians. Coppins and Baker also discuss Romney's complex relationship with Donald Trump, including Trump's endorsement of Romney in 2012, and Romney's later criticism of former President Trump and failed attempts to derail his candidacy. Explored in the conversation are aspects of Romney’s life not commonly known, but that Coppins had access to through 45 one-on-one conversations as well as unvarnished journal entries and other correspondence. Peter Baker, Chief White House Correspondent for The New York Times, praises Coppins' book for the unique lens it provides into the inner workings of Washington and the Republican party in the Trump era. Guests McKay Coppins Peter Baker Additional Reading Romney: A Reckoning, by McKay Coppins "What Mitt Romney Saw in the Senate," by McKay Coppins The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021, by Peter Baker and Susan Glasser

Luke Russert and Carl Cannon: Look for Me There Nov 08, 2023

Show notes

In this episode, Luke Russert discusses his new book Look For Me There: Grieving My Father, Finding Myself, a reflection on grief, family legacy, religious exploration, and the loss of Luke's father, legendary journalist Tim Russert. Luke is joined by Carl Cannon, Washington Bureau Chief and Executive Editor of RealClearPolitics, who shares from his own experience with family bonds, faith, loss, and his personal friendship with Luke's father.

Guests

Luke Russert

Carl Cannon

Additional Resources

Look For Me There: Grieving My Father, Finding Myself, by Tim Russert

David Brooks and Curt Thompson: How to Know a Person Oct 24, 2023

Show notes

Best selling author and columnist David Brooks sits down with noted psychiatrist Curt Thompson to discuss Brooks' latest book, How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen.
Brooks' aim is to help foster deeper connections at home, work, and throughout our lives, and he and Thompson cover a lot of ground. From thoughts on friendship, depression, what it means to really listen, and how we reflect God, there's a lot here. It's a generous conversation, and one that we hope offers a kind of relational balm in our troubled time.

Guests:
David Brooks.
Curt Thompson
Additional Resources: