In this final part of our conversation with George Weigel, we discuss the relationship of modernity to the Catholic church and Pope John Paul II’s view of “authentic humanism.” The interview concludes with a discussion on the biggest challenge facing Christian churches worldwide and his perspective on the future of America. Other topics we cover: “The Irony of Modern Catholic History,” humanism, nationalism, universalism, pluralism, orthodox Christianity, the Catholic Church’s various religious ...
Dec 30, 2024•30 min•Season 2Ep. 13
In this episode, George Weigel discusses human freedom, the four principles of Catholic social doctrine, and how Pope John Paull II saw human creativity as the generator of wealth and the human flourishing that a Christian worldview sustains. Other topics we cover: The human condition, Catholic social doctrine, the common good, limited government, orthodox Christianity, Michael Novak and “The Spirit of Democratic Capitalism,” the importance of freedom, morality, Centesimus Annus, and more. Georg...
Dec 23, 2024•29 min•Season 2Ep. 12
The first of a three-part conversation with George Weigel, we discuss the dilemma of modernity that Pope John Paul II addressed in his life, the collapse of communism in Europe and the revolution of moral conscience that occurred, and how John Paul II was involved and what he believed about a rich understanding of human freedom. Other topics we cover: worldview, the importance of Pope John Paul II to modern history, modernity, and the fall of communism. George Weigel is a Distinguished Senior Fe...
Dec 16, 2024•37 min•Season 2Ep. 11
This is the final episode of a three-part series with Erika Bachiochi where we discuss modern feminism, the sexual revolution, and the role men and women play together in a free and healthy society. Other topics we cover: Judith Butler, the history of coverture, the temperance movement, abortion, gender equality, the Industrial Revolution, shared parenthood, new wave feminism, and some of the great influential leaders of the women’s rights movements throughout several centuries such as Susan B. ...
Dec 09, 2024•52 min•Season 2Ep. 8
In this episode with Erika Bachiochi, we get the history of early feminist Mary Wollstonecraft and the similarities between a modern day champion of similar beliefs, Mary Ann Glendon. Erika also discusses the connection between the Industrial Revolution and the women’s rights movement, as well as walking us through the four phases of feminism. Other topics we cover: Rights Theory, modernity, abortion, sex as a construct, and the four waves of feminism. Erika Bachiochi is a legal scholar at the E...
Dec 02, 2024•29 min•Season 2Ep. 7
This is the first episode of a three-part conversation with Erika Bachiochi. Erika discusses her personal history and her intellectual journey through the political spectrum. She also discusses the 18th century author and advocate, Mary Wollstonecraft, the origins of the feminist movement, and the rights and duties in a free and just society. Other topics we cover: her personal background, the Abigail Adams Institute, Catholic feminism, “The Rights of Women,” and introduction to Mary Wollstonecr...
Nov 25, 2024•43 min•Season 2Ep. 6
This is the second of a two-part conversation with Heather Mac Donald. In this discussion, Mac Donald challenges popular opinion and conventional wisdom as we wade into several cultural controversies like the consequences of diversity over meritocracy, the breakdown of the family, and women’s vs. trans’ rights. Other topics we cover: race, gender, higher education, feminism, toxic masculinity, and the future of America’s politics. Heather Mac Donald is the Thomas W. Smith Fellow at the Manhattan...
Nov 18, 2024•42 min•Season 2Ep. 10
This is the first of a two-part conversation with Heather Mac Donald about her personal background, the people who shaped her, her worldview, and love of music. We also have an interesting conversation about why, unlike many of our previous Contributors, she does not believe in either capital “T” truth or the existence of God. Other topics we cover: studying the deconstruction of language, the source of courage in her work, the litmus test between libertarians and conservatives, and the evidence...
Nov 11, 2024•44 min•Season 2Ep. 9
This episode is the third of a three part conversation with Eric Metaxas, advocate for living a Christian life and the best-selling author whose biographies, children’s books, and works of popular apologetics have been translated into more than 20 languages. In this episode, Praxis Circle’s Doug Monroe asks Eric about “Religionless Christianity,” the culture wars in America, and why many in our society ignore evidence for the existence of the supernatural. Near the end, Eric explains whether he ...
Nov 04, 2024•41 min•Ep. 16
This episode is the second of a three part conversation with Eric Metaxas. He continues the discussion about his worldview and personal responsibility to write about faith in our secular age. Eric also explains why atheism, not faith in God, is the enemy of science. He ends the episodes describing the origin and purpose of his two books, “Letter to the American Church” and “Religionless Christianity.” Other topics covered: the role of humor in effective communication, making the case for God, th...
Oct 28, 2024•39 min•Ep. 15
This episode is the first of a three part conversation with prolific author and speaker Eric Metaxas. We discuss Eric’s personal story of growing up the child of immigrant parents, attending Yale University, and the miraculous experience that brought him to God. He explains also what led him to write biographies of Christian heroes and why he remains committed to telling these stories. Other topics covered: the current trouble with Ivy League schools, the reality of good and evil, experience wit...
Oct 21, 2024•44 min•Ep. 14
The final part of our five episode series with Dr. Stephen Meyer, a former geophysicist turned philosopher of science, who offers profound insights into the intersection of science, philosophy, and faith. We discuss the importance of a good theology of nature, how a “non-materialistic” explanation can still be scientific, and our ultimate problem: Men have forgotten God. Lastly, Meyer answers the question, “Are you optimistic or pessimistic about America?” Other topics we cover: theistic evoluti...
Oct 14, 2024•27 min•Season 2Ep. 5
In this episode of our five-part conversation with Dr. Stephen Meyer, we discuss his “Return of the God Hypothesis,” the Big Bang, Darwin’s system, and the argument on behalf of theistic intelligent design. Other topics we cover: arguments for the existence of God, biology, astronomy and the Big Bang theory, theistic design, quantum cosmology, fine-tuning of the universe, multiverse theory, problems with Darwinism, and more. Dr. Stephen Meyer is the Director and Senior Fellow of the Discovery In...
Oct 07, 2024•35 min•Season 2Ep. 4
This is the third of a five-part conversation with Dr. Stephen Meyer, a former geophysicist turned philosopher of science, who offers profound insights into the intersection of science, philosophy, and faith. In this episode, Dr. Meyer explains science and faith throughout the history of mankind and how the understanding of Christian God led to the Scientific Revolution in much of Europe. From St. Augustine to Robert Boyle to Dr. Meyer himself, “Theism allows science to do good.” Furthermore, we...
Sep 30, 2024•27 min•Season 2Ep. 3
In this episode of our five-part conversation with Dr. Stephen Meyer, we discuss the innate sense people have for morality and God, as well as some of the scientific beliefs of Newton, Leibniz, and Einstein. Other topics we cover: the importance of good philosophy, the relationship between relativism and materialism, the fact-value divide, and moral knowledge. Dr. Stephen Meyer is the Director and Senior Fellow of the Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture with a Ph.D. in the philo...
Sep 23, 2024•30 min•Season 2Ep. 2
This is the first of a five-part conversation with Dr. Stephen Meyer, a former geophysicist turned philosopher of science, who offers profound insights into the intersection of science, philosophy, and faith. Meyer has emerged as a leading intellectual voice presenting compelling evidence for God via intelligent design in the creation, development, and sustaining of the universe and of life on earth. Topics we cover: the Discovery Institute, worldview, the Bible’s metaphysics, philosophy, the id...
Sep 16, 2024•39 min•Season 2Ep. 1
In the last part of our interview, Mary Eberstadt concludes by discussing the reason for the rise in religious “nones,” the historical impact of religious vs. secular wars, the future of the Catholic Church, and both the progress and backsliding the United States has made in the past decade. Mary Eberstadt holds the Panula Chair in Christian Culture at the Catholic Information Center and is a Senior Research Fellow at the Faith & Reason Institute. She is the author of many books, including h...
Oct 20, 2023•16 min
In the second part of our interview, Mary Eberstadt discusses her book “Primal Screams” and her argument that the Sexual Revolution of the 1960s has created identity politics. We also have a conversation on contemporary feminism, how the summer of 2020 was a fulfilled “prophecy,” the turmoil people are facing because of loneliness, and how her faith helps her live a life free of fear. Other topics we cover: What policy changes could help the family? Who are the culture wars really between? Why a...
Oct 19, 2023•26 min
Mary Eberstadt is an essayist, novelist, public speaker, and author of several nonfiction works. In the first part of her interview with Praxis Circle, Eberstadt discusses her growing up years in upstate New York, important life influences, pursuing both a career and motherhood, and her thoughts on how and why the younger generations today have been robbed. Mary Eberstadt holds the Panula Chair in Christian Culture at the Catholic Information Center and is a Senior Research Fellow at the Faith &...
Oct 02, 2023•28 min
From philosophy to the sacred, part three of our interview with Sir Roger Scruton now turns to a discussion on politics. As a British outsider looking in, Scruton examines the uniqueness of the American political system, our culture (defining it as “ghost-haunted”), and the connection between Donald J. Trump and Brexit. Finally, Scruton offers an answer at the very end of our episode to the question: “Are you optimistic or pessimistic about America?” Other topics we cover: Is there a spiritual w...
Sep 25, 2023•31 min
“Lifeworld,” “worldview,” “conservative,” “the sacred,” “oikophilia”–a word Sir Roger Scruton coined himself—what do they mean? In part two of our interview, Scruton defines his terms and sheds light on some of today’s most discussed philosophical topics. We also have a conversation on the importance of the law of noncontradiction to reason; his personal move towards Christianity and political conservatism; and finally, what makes a human being a person. Other topics we cover: What is your world...
Sep 18, 2023•29 min
Praxis Circle had the honor of conducting one of Sir Roger Scruton’s last interviews before his passing from cancer in 2020. Listen to part one for a conversation on philosophy, the pursuit of truth, and several dual issues: foundations and constructions, elitism and anti-elitism, and a particularly poignant distinction between a culture of repudiation vs. affirmation. While weighty topics, Scruton offers thoughtful answers that can help us understand and navigate today’s often troubling times. ...
Sep 11, 2023•28 min
In the final part of our interview, Dr. Anne Bradley discusses the “Gini Index,” income inequality, democratic capitalism, and social justice. She offers real insight on how we are already curing poverty worldwide through market trade and human agency. Finally, Bradley shares why we should be optimistic about the future of American economics–but only if we protect our liberties. Other topics we cover: Should America have a balanced budget? Are we living in a post-Christian world today? Why is im...
Sep 04, 2023•36 min
In the third part of our interview, Dr. Anne Bradley explores the various facets of capitalism and socialism in-depth and explains why socialist economic theory is making a “comeback” in the United States. By using real data and examples, she shows us how these two economic theories impact the flourishing of different societies and why socialism ultimately fails those who try it. Other topics we cover: Does wealth creation require certain self-limiting principles? Is “hockey stick” economic grow...
Aug 28, 2023•29 min
In the second part of our interview, Dr. Anne Bradley challenges the common interpretation of “self-interest” and explains how it can be a force for good in the world. She also dives into the concept of how legitimately earned business profit helps–not hurts–mankind. Other topics we cover: What is capitalism and why do you dislike the term? Is there a disconnect between Christian churches and the concept of work? What is the goal of business in a Christian society? Listen to find out more! Dr. A...
Aug 21, 2023•28 min
Dr. Anne Bradley is a dedicated economics professor, author, wife, and mother. In her interview with Praxis Circle, Bradley discusses how her Christian worldview has shaped her life choices and understanding of economics. She also explains how economic freedom is rooted in biblical teaching about the value of human life and the importance of worldview to one’s daily life. Other topics we cover: What people or events shaped who you are? What are some of Christianity’s key suppositions? Do worldvi...
Aug 14, 2023•28 min
In the final part of our interview, Dr. Os Guinness discusses how differences between the 1776 American and 1789 French revolutions are creating a crisis in the United States: cultural Marxism, the peace of despotism, and an important question at the heart of the issue… will Americans choose renewal or decline? Guinness also discusses China and Christianity, the conservative movement in America, and a return to covenantalism in government through family, school, and houses of worship. The episod...
Aug 07, 2023•42 min
In part three of our interview, Dr. Os Guinness draws on several of his books to discuss topics such as active vs. passive faith, reciprocal responsibility in America, engaged citizenship, modernity, time, renewal, and "covenantalism." Why do faith and freedom require transmission? How do we sustain American freedom? What does it mean to live biblically with truth, love, and compassion? Guinness addresses these questions and more in this episode. Other topics we cover: How do we measure progress...
Jul 31, 2023•30 min
Here’s a question on defining reality: what is America? In part two of our interview with him, Dr. Os Guinness defines our nation through the concepts of ordered freedom, the Torah, covenantalism, and more. He also discusses the political and social state of both the U.S. and Europe, offers fascinating descriptions of populism and globalism, and expands on the history that relates to these current political trends. Other topics we cover: What are your thoughts on Brexit? What’s the difference be...
Jul 24, 2023•27 min
The first of a four part series of conversation with British author and social critic, Os Guinness, described as a “quiet voice on behalf of faith, freedom, truth, reason and civility.” Os discusses his inspiration in life and how his experiences shaped his worldview. In the second half of the episode, Os discusses differing beliefs about time, to include the Biblical view of “Covenantal” time. Finally, Os finishes this part of the conversation with a discussion of analysis and advocacy for fait...
Jul 17, 2023•25 min
