Talkin‘ Politics & Religion Without Killin‘ Each Ot

Mar 09 2025 75 mins 14

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In this episode, we welcome back David French, columnist for The New York Times, former constitutional attorney, and author of Divided We Fall. We discuss the current state of American democracy, the challenges of political division, and how we can engage in civil discourse despite deep ideological differences. David also shares a personal update on his family and reflects on the profound trials and growth that come with adversity.

📌 What We Discuss:

✔️ How David and his family navigated the challenges of a serious health crisis.

✔️ The rise of political polarization and the factors driving it.

✔️ Why distinguishing between “unwise, unethical, and unlawful” is crucial in analyzing political actions.

✔️ How consuming different perspectives (even opposing ones) helps in understanding political dynamics.

✔️ The role of Christian values in politics and how they are being redefined.

⏳ Episode Highlights

📍 [00:01:00] – David French’s background and his journey from litigation to journalism.

📍 [00:02:30] – Personal update: David shares his wife Nancy’s battle with cancer and their journey as a family.

📍 [00:06:00] – How to navigate personal trials while maintaining faith and resilience.

📍 [00:10:00] – The danger of political paranoia and the pitfalls of extreme polarization.

📍 [00:18:00] – The "friend-enemy" paradigm in American politics and its influence in Christian fundamentalism.

📍 [00:24:00] – Revisiting Divided We Fall: How America’s divisions have devolved since 2020.

📍 [00:40:00] – The categories and differences of unwise, unethical, and unlawful political actions.

📍 [00:55:00] – The balance between justice, kindness, and humility in political engagement.

📍 [01:00:00] – The After Party initiative: A Christian approach to politics focused on values rather than policy.

💬 Featured Quotes

🔹 "You don't know who you truly are until your values are tested." – David French

🔹 "If we focus on the relational, we can have better conversations even across deep differences." – Corey Nathan

🔹 "Justice, kindness, and humility—if you're missing one, you're doing it wrong." – David French

🔹 "The United States has a history of shifting without repenting. We just move on." – David French

📚 Resources Mentioned

David French’s Writing: New York Times

David’s Book: Divided We Fall

The After Party Initiative – More Info

Advisory Opinions Podcast (with Sarah Isgur & David French) – Listen Here

📣 Call to Action

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