The American Reformer Podcast

Listener and readers will know that, around here, we love Cotton Mather. On this episode, Rick Kennedy, professor of history at Point Loma Nazarene University, talks to Timon about the life and legacy of "America's first evangelical."   #CottonMather #RickKennedy #PointLoma #History #America #Evangelical #Christian   Show Notes: https://www.amazon.com/First-American-Evangelical-Religious-Biography/dp/0802872115  https://eerdword.com/cotton-mather-love-to-hate-him-or-hate-to-love-him/   Dr. Rick Kennedy came to PLNU in 1995. An intellectual/cultural historian, he has authored books and articles on the history of logic, mathematics, architecture, astronomy, education, historiography, and Christian thought. His most recent works are on Cotton Mather, one of early America's most influential pastor-scholars, and the Christian History of Southern California. He is also a former president and secretary to the academic organization: The Conference on Faith and History. His wife is a retired principal of City Tree Christian School at the First Presbyterian Church in downtown San Diego, they have four children, and one grandchild.   Learn more about Rick Kennedy's work at: https://www.pointloma.edu/faculty/rick-kennedy-phd   ––––––   Follow American Reformer across Social Media: X / Twitter – https://www.twitter.com/amreformer Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AmericanReformer/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanReformer Rumble – https://rumble.com/user/AmReformer Website – https://americanreformer.org/   Promote a vigorous Christian approach to the cultural challenges of our day, by donating to The American Reformer: https://americanreformer.org/donate/   Follow Us on Twitter: Josh Abbotoy – https://twitter.com/Byzness Timon Cline – https://twitter.com/tlloydcline   The American Reformer Podcast is  hosted by Josh Abbotoy and Timon Cline, recorded remotely in the United States, and edited by Jared Cummings.   Subscribe to our Podcast, "The American Reformer" Get our RSS Feed – https://americanreformerpodcast.podbean.com/ Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-american-reformer-podcast/id1677193347 Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/1V2dH5vhfogPIv0X8ux9Gm?si=a19db9dc271c4ce5

Five years after the publication of Return of the Strong Gods, Rusty Reno, editor of First Things, provides a retrospective to Timon and Josh on his thesis, the postwar consensus, and America's future.    #RustyReno #FirstThings #Thesis #Consensus #ReturnoftheStrongGods #America #Culture #Politics #Future   Show Notes: https://www.amazon.com/Return-Strong-Gods-Nationalism-Populism/dp/1621578003   R. R. Reno is the editor of First Things magazine. He was formerly a professor of theology and ethics at Creighton University. He is the author of several books including Fighting the Noonday Devil, a theological commentary on the Book of Genesis in the Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible series. His work ranges widely in systematic and moral theology, as well as in controverted questions of biblical interpretation.   Learn more about Rusty Reno's work at: https://firstthings.com/archive/?_author=reno https://x.com/firstthingsmag   ––––––   Follow American Reformer across Social Media: X / Twitter – https://www.twitter.com/amreformer Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AmericanReformer/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanReformer Rumble – https://rumble.com/user/AmReformer Website – https://americanreformer.org/   Promote a vigorous Christian approach to the cultural challenges of our day, by donating to The American Reformer: https://americanreformer.org/donate/   Follow Us on Twitter: Josh Abbotoy – https://twitter.com/Byzness Timon Cline – https://twitter.com/tlloydcline   The American Reformer Podcast is  hosted by Josh Abbotoy and Timon Cline, recorded remotely in the United States, and edited by Jared Cummings.   Subscribe to our Podcast, "The American Reformer" Get our RSS Feed – https://americanreformerpodcast.podbean.com/ Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-american-reformer-podcast/id1677193347 Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/1V2dH5vhfogPIv0X8ux9Gm?si=a19db9dc271c4ce5

Chase Davis, pastor of The Well Church in Boulder, Colorado, and William Wolfe, executive director of the Center for Baptist Leadership, join the pod to breakdown a new bill in the Colorado legislature: "Legal Protections for Transgender Individuals," and the dramatic repercussions it will have, especially on Christians.    #Colorado #News #Trans #Bill #CoLeg #TransgenderBill #Church #Response   Show notes:  Chase's article: https://centerforbaptistleadership.org/transgender-totalitarianism-new-bill-in-colorado-wages-war-on-faith-free-speech-and-the-family/ CBL's call to action: https://centerforbaptistleadership.org/colorado-pastors-call-on-megachurches-to-join-fight-against-democrats-radical-transgender-abortion-agenda/ William's article: https://www.standingforfreedom.com/2025/04/hell-is-empty-and-all-the-devils-are-in-denver/ Join the fight: https://fight1312.com/ CBL podcast: https://centerforbaptistleadership.org/category/podcast/ Full Proof Theology: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/full-proof-theology/id1529701699   J. Chase Davis (M.Div, Th.M, Denver Seminary) is Lead Pastor of Ministry of The Well Church in Boulder, Colorado. Chase is married to Kim and they have two sons. He is the author of Trinitarian Formation: A Theology of Discipleship in Light of the Father, Son, and Spirit (2021). He also hosts the podcast Full Proof Theology. You can find more of Chase’s writing at jchasedavis.com.   Learn more about J. Chase Davis: https://x.com/jchasedavis https://www.jchasedavis.com/   William Wolfe is the Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Baptist Leadership. He has been a part of the Southern Baptist Convention for 13 years. After spending a decade living and working in Washington D.C., including for three Members of Congress, Heritage Action for America, as a Director at the State Department, and as a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense at the DoD, William moved to Louisville, KY, to complete his seminary education in person. During that time, he became increasingly involved in much-needed work to revitalize the SBC as an institution, and the launch of CBL is an outgrowth of that work. He has a B.A. in History from Covenant College and an M.Div. from SBTS.   Learn more about William Wolfe: https://x.com/William_E_Wolfe https://centerforbaptistleadership.org/   ––––––   Follow American Reformer across Social Media: X / Twitter – https://www.twitter.com/amreformer Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AmericanReformer/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanReformer Rumble – https://rumble.com/user/AmReformer Website – https://americanreformer.org/   Promote a vigorous Christian approach to the cultural challenges of our day, by donating to The American Reformer: https://americanreformer.org/donate/   Follow Us on Twitter: Josh Abbotoy – https://twitter.com/Byzness Timon Cline – https://twitter.com/tlloydcline   The American Reformer Podcast is  hosted by Josh Abbotoy and Timon Cline, recorded remotely in the United States, and edited by Jared Cummings.   Subscribe to our Podcast, "The American Reformer" Get our RSS Feed – https://americanreformerpodcast.podbean.com/ Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-american-reformer-podcast/id1677193347 Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/1V2dH5vhfogPIv0X8ux9Gm?si=a19db9dc271c4ce5

Jon Harris, author and host of Conversations That Matter, returns to the show to talk about his new book, Against the Waves: Christian Order in a Liberal Age.    #JonHarris #NewBook #AgainstTheWaves #Christianity #Order #Culture #Faith #Politics   Show Notes: https://americanreformer.org/2025/03/red-pills-without-roots/ Order Against the Waves - Againstthewavesbook.com   Jon Harris is an author, producer, and cultural commentator. He is host of Conversations That Matter podcast, makes documentaries at Last Stand Studios, and frequently contributes to Truthscript, an online editorial featuring accessible, short form essays to help Christians think through contemporary issues.   Learn more about Jon Harris' work at: https://www.jonharrismedia.com/ https://twitter.com/jonharris1989   ––––––   Follow American Reformer across Social Media: X / Twitter – https://www.twitter.com/amreformer Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AmericanReformer/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanReformer Rumble – https://rumble.com/user/AmReformer Website – https://americanreformer.org/   Promote a vigorous Christian approach to the cultural challenges of our day, by donating to The American Reformer: https://americanreformer.org/donate/   Follow Us on Twitter: Josh Abbotoy – https://twitter.com/Byzness Timon Cline – https://twitter.com/tlloydcline   The American Reformer Podcast is  hosted by Josh Abbotoy and Timon Cline, recorded remotely in the United States, and edited by Jared Cummings.   Subscribe to our Podcast, "The American Reformer" Get our RSS Feed – https://americanreformerpodcast.podbean.com/ Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-american-reformer-podcast/id1677193347 Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/1V2dH5vhfogPIv0X8ux9Gm?si=a19db9dc271c4ce5

Alex Petkas, host of the Cost of Glory, talks to Timon and Ben about the right use of the classics.   #AlexPetkas #CostofGlory #Classics #Plutarch #ClassicalEduation #Education   Show Notes: https://americanmind.org/salvo/great-books-is-for-losers/   Alex Petkas is a former Classics scholar turned media entrepreneur. He holds a PhD in Classics from Princeton University. He taught at the University of California, San Diego, and California State University, Fresno. He has published research on many subjects, including classical Athenian oratory, late ancient rhetoric and education, and epistle writing. His research on the ancient media technologies of writing (especially letters) led him to take an active interest in the Classics in modern New Media. His years of experience teaching at Paideia’s Living Greek in Greece program led him to a particular interest in the oral nature of classical texts. His day job is in marketing.   Learn more about Alex Petkas's work at: https://x.com/costofglory https://www.costofglory.com/ https://www.paideiainstitute.org/apetkas   ––––––   Follow American Reformer across Social Media: X / Twitter – https://www.twitter.com/amreformer Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AmericanReformer/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanReformer Rumble – https://rumble.com/user/AmReformer Website – https://americanreformer.org/   Promote a vigorous Christian approach to the cultural challenges of our day, by donating to The American Reformer: https://americanreformer.org/donate/   Follow Us on Twitter: Josh Abbotoy – https://twitter.com/Byzness Timon Cline – https://twitter.com/tlloydcline   The American Reformer Podcast is  hosted by Josh Abbotoy and Timon Cline, recorded remotely in the United States, and edited by Jared Cummings.   Subscribe to our Podcast, "The American Reformer" Get our RSS Feed – https://americanreformerpodcast.podbean.com/ Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-american-reformer-podcast/id1677193347 Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/1V2dH5vhfogPIv0X8ux9Gm?si=a19db9dc271c4ce5

What is “worldview”? What are its uses and abuses? Contributors to our recent worldview symposium, Simon Kennedy, Stephen Wolfe, Joel Carini, & Benjamin Mabry, answer these questions and more in a wide-ranging roundtable discussion.    #Worldview #Christianity #Culture #Society #StephenWolfe #SimonKennedy #JoelCarini #BenjaminMabry #AmericanReformer #Symposium   Show Notes: https://americanreformer.org/2025/02/worldview-and-its-discontents/   Simon P. Kennedy is research fellow at the University of Queensland in Australia and a non-resident fellow at the Danube Institute in Budapest. He is associate editor of Quadrant magazine and teaches at a variety of institutions, including the Lachlan Macquarie Institute and Queensland Theological College.   Stephen Wolfe is a postdoctoral fellow in the James Madison Program at Princeton University. He completed his PhD in political philosophy at LSU in 2020. He has several years of teaching experience, including online teaching, and has published several academic articles. He was born and raised in Napa, California and currently lives in North Carolina with his wife and four children. Stephen holds to the Westminster Confession of Faith. He and his family are members of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Baton Rouge, LA.   Joel Carini is a Ph.D. student in philosophy at Saint Louis University. He holds an MDiv from Westminster Theological Seminary and an MA from the University of Chicago. He writes regularly at his Substack, "The Natural Theologian," joelcarini.substack.com.   Benjamin Mabry is an assistant professor of political science at Lincoln Memorial University. He is a graduate of the University of New Orleans and Louisiana State University. Previously he taught at Louisiana Christian University and Georgia Gwinnett College. His writing has appeared at First Things, the American Mind, and elsewhere.   ––––––   Follow American Reformer across Social Media: X / Twitter – https://www.twitter.com/amreformer Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AmericanReformer/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanReformer Rumble – https://rumble.com/user/AmReformer Website – https://americanreformer.org/   Promote a vigorous Christian approach to the cultural challenges of our day, by donating to The American Reformer: https://americanreformer.org/donate/   Follow Us on Twitter: Josh Abbotoy – https://twitter.com/Byzness Timon Cline – https://twitter.com/tlloydcline   The American Reformer Podcast is  hosted by Josh Abbotoy and Timon Cline, recorded remotely in the United States, and edited by Jared Cummings.   Subscribe to our Podcast, "The American Reformer" Get our RSS Feed – https://americanreformerpodcast.podbean.com/ Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-american-reformer-podcast/id1677193347 Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/1V2dH5vhfogPIv0X8ux9Gm?si=a19db9dc271c4ce5

Joe Rigney of New Saint Andrews College, stops by to talk about his much anticipated new book, The Sin of Empathy.   #JoeRigney #Empathy #Compassion #Emotions #Manipulation #Psychology #Politics #Faith #Book #News   Show Notes: https://americanreformer.org/author/joerigney/ Purchase Dr. Rigney's Book, The Sin of Empathy Canon Press: https://canonpress.com/products/the-sin-of-empathy Amazon: https://a.co/d/7VXmnur   Dr. Rigney is an Associate Pastor at Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho and serves as Fellow of Theology at New Saint Andrews College. He is the author of seven books: Live Like a Narnian: Christian Discipleship in Lewis’s Chronicles (Eyes & Pen, 2013); The Things of Earth: Treasuring God by Enjoying His Gifts (Crossway, 2015); Lewis on the Christian Life: Becoming Truly Human in the Presence of God (Crossway, 2018); Strangely Bright: Can You Love God and Enjoy This World? (Crossway, 2020); More Than a Battle: Experiencing Victory, Freedom, and Healing from Lust (B&H, 2021), Courage: How the Gospel Creates Christian Fortitude (Crossway, 2023), and Leadership and Emotional Sabotage (Canon Press, 2024). Previously, Dr. Rigney served as a professor and president of Bethlehem College & Seminary in Minneapolis, a pastor at Cities Church in St. Paul, and a teacher at Desiring God. Joe lives in Moscow, Idaho with his wife Jenny and three sons.   Learn more about Joe Rigney's work at: https://nsa.edu/contributors/joe-rigney https://emotionalsabotage.com   ––––––   Follow American Reformer across Social Media: X / Twitter – https://www.twitter.com/amreformer Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AmericanReformer/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanReformer Rumble – https://rumble.com/user/AmReformer Website – https://americanreformer.org/   Promote a vigorous Christian approach to the cultural challenges of our day, by donating to The American Reformer: https://americanreformer.org/donate/   Follow Us on Twitter: Josh Abbotoy – https://twitter.com/Byzness Timon Cline – https://twitter.com/tlloydcline   The American Reformer Podcast is  hosted by Josh Abbotoy and Timon Cline, recorded remotely in the United States, and edited by Jared Cummings.   Subscribe to our Podcast, "The American Reformer" Get our RSS Feed – https://americanreformerpodcast.podbean.com/ Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-american-reformer-podcast/id1677193347 Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/1V2dH5vhfogPIv0X8ux9Gm?si=a19db9dc271c4ce5

Noah Wall and Nate Fischer, founders of the State Leadership Initiative, join the pod.    #StateLeadership #NateFischer #NoahWall #Federalism #RedStates #America #Future   Show Notes: https://thefederalist.com/2025/02/19/meet-the-group-writing-the-blueprint-for-dismantling-bureaucracy-in-every-red-state/ https://stateleadership.org/   Noah Wall is the president and founder of the State Leadership Initiative, which aims to develop policies and doctrines that undermine the foundations of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Noah has devoted his career to advancing the values our nation was founded upon: limited government, free markets, individual liberty and the rule of law. Noah is a recognized expert in influencing public policy at the federal, state and local levels. Between April 2023 and December 2024, Wall was the executive vice president for Policy and Government Affairs at the State Financial Officers Foundation (SFOF). And prior to that he served as Executive Vice President at FreedomWorks.   Learn more about Noah Wall's work: https://x.com/noahwwall https://stateleadership.org/about/#our-team   Nate Fischer is the Founder & CEO of New Founding, a cofounder of American Reformer, an investor and entrepreneur, and Founder of the State Leadership Initiative. He makes early-stage venture investments and is the principal of NF Macro, a multi-strategy investment firm. He previously co-founded Trustwork, an online platform for property maintenance services, and InvestRes, a $1.5B real estate investment company. He lives with his wife and four children in Dallas, Texas.   Learn more about Nate Fischer's work: https://www.newfounding.com/about https://twitter.com/NateAFischer   ––––––   Follow American Reformer across Social Media: X / Twitter – https://www.twitter.com/amreformer Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AmericanReformer/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanReformer Rumble – https://rumble.com/user/AmReformer Website – https://americanreformer.org/   Promote a vigorous Christian approach to the cultural challenges of our day, by donating to The American Reformer: https://americanreformer.org/donate/   Follow Us on Twitter: Josh Abbotoy – https://twitter.com/Byzness Timon Cline – https://twitter.com/tlloydcline   The American Reformer Podcast is  hosted by Josh Abbotoy and Timon Cline, recorded remotely in the United States, and edited by Jared Cummings.   Subscribe to our Podcast, "The American Reformer" Get our RSS Feed – https://americanreformerpodcast.podbean.com/ Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-american-reformer-podcast/id1677193347 Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/1V2dH5vhfogPIv0X8ux9Gm?si=a19db9dc271c4ce5

Auron MacIntyre joins Mike and Timon on the show to break down Trump's efforts to shut down USAID.    #AuronMacIntyre #USAID #DOGE #ElonMusk #Government #Waste #Cuts #Jobs #ForeignPolicy #Influence #Shutdown   Show notes:  https://www.theblaze.com/podcasts/the-auron-macintyre-show  https://www.standingforfreedom.com/2025/02/shutting-down-usaid-a-triumph-for-american-taxpayers-and-christian-values/   Auron MacIntyre is the host of “The Auron MacIntyre Show” and a columnist for Blaze News. He offers thought-provoking and mold-breaking insights, drawing from the best political thinkers throughout history to make sense of our current political climate in a way that is easy to digest.   Learn more about Auron MacIntyre's work: https://www.theblaze.com/u/auronmacintyre https://twitter.com/AuronMacintyre   ––––––   Follow American Reformer across Social Media: X / Twitter – https://www.twitter.com/amreformer Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AmericanReformer/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanReformer Rumble – https://rumble.com/user/AmReformer Website – https://americanreformer.org/   Promote a vigorous Christian approach to the cultural challenges of our day, by donating to The American Reformer: https://americanreformer.org/donate/   Follow Us on Twitter: Josh Abbotoy – https://twitter.com/Byzness Timon Cline – https://twitter.com/tlloydcline   The American Reformer Podcast is  hosted by Josh Abbotoy and Timon Cline, recorded remotely in the United States, and edited by Jared Cummings.   Subscribe to our Podcast, "The American Reformer" Get our RSS Feed – https://americanreformerpodcast.podbean.com/ Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-american-reformer-podcast/id1677193347 Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/1V2dH5vhfogPIv0X8ux9Gm?si=a19db9dc271c4ce5

Alan Cornett, host of Cultural Debris, joins Timon to talk about why the work of Russell Kirk is needed today.    #RussellKirk #RootsofAmericanOrder #CulturalDebris #America #Values #Politics #History #Diversity   Show Notes: https://culturaldebrisexcursions.com/ https://www.regnery.com/9781882926992/the-roots-of-american-order/    Alan Cornett is the founder and host of the Cultural Debris Podcast. Alan comes from the Appalachian mountains of eastern Kentucky where his ancestors settled over two centuries ago. He is a former assistant to Russell Kirk, and enjoys books, bluegrass, basketball, bourbon, and Wendell Berry. He studied history at the University of Kentucky and the University of South Carolina. Alan lives in Lexington, Kentucky.   Learn more about Alan Cornett's work: https://culturaldebrisproject.com/ https://x.com/alancornett   ––––––   Follow American Reformer across Social Media: X / Twitter – https://www.twitter.com/amreformer Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AmericanReformer/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanReformer Rumble – https://rumble.com/user/AmReformer Website – https://americanreformer.org/   Promote a vigorous Christian approach to the cultural challenges of our day, by donating to The American Reformer: https://americanreformer.org/donate/   Follow Us on Twitter: Josh Abbotoy – https://twitter.com/Byzness Timon Cline – https://twitter.com/tlloydcline   The American Reformer Podcast is  hosted by Josh Abbotoy and Timon Cline, recorded remotely in the United States, and edited by Jared Cummings.   Subscribe to our Podcast, "The American Reformer" Get our RSS Feed – https://americanreformerpodcast.podbean.com/ Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-american-reformer-podcast/id1677193347 Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/1V2dH5vhfogPIv0X8ux9Gm?si=a19db9dc271c4ce5