The Danger of Cynicism

"There is a danger of cynicism and numbness and hardening," he says. "It seems as though the whole world actually is being run by Dwight Schrute." The U.S. political system itself is very much in line with that, Hanks writes.

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Episode notes

“Whenever I'm about to do something, I think 'Would an idiot do that?' And if they would, I do not do that thing.” - Dwight Schrute, The Office

In an age of cultural division and religious disagreement, many people feel that talking to someone with a different perspective on faith is, well, something an idiot would do. But today’s episode of The Russell Moore Show tells a different story as Russell welcomes Rainn Wilson, best known for his iconic performance as Dwight Schrute, to the podcast.

Wilson is fascinated by spirituality. In fact, he’s the co-founder of SoulPancake, which develops content rooted in human connection (remember Kid President?), and the author of the book Soul Boom.

Moore and Wilson’s conversation covers pop culture depictions of religion, Wilson’s upbringing in the Baháʼí Faith, and what it was like to skyrocket from relative obscurity to fame. They talk about trying to discuss religion in Hollywood, what transcendence means, and whether or not the longing for justice points to a judgment day. And they consider what it might look like to encourage today’s young people to consider the role of faith in their lives.

Resources discussed during this episode include: