The Stephen Mansfield Podcast

This past July, the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life reported the results of a survey regarding the American people’s trust of government institutions. The most trusted people are scientists (83%), while trust of politicians hovers around 37%. At this point in history, the American people don’t trust government institutions and leaders enough to deal with large crises. The 2020 Presidential election will probably be won within a percentage point or two, and that will raise questions from the public. And who will we turn to then?

With an average age of 24, Iran is a young country. In this episode, Stephen pulls back the curtain and provides some background information about what’s taking place in Iran culturally and spiritually. Beneath the crust of the nation’s older Islamic men there is a young and vibrant group of people. Furthermore, the growth of Christianity is booming. (The Christian population is estimated to be between 500,000 and one million.) Let’s pray for Iran and support this new generation as they battle the hardened crust on top of their nation.

Qasem Soleimani was undoubtedly a terrorist who cost many hundreds of American lives. He was an enemy of the United States and the tip of the spear in the Shiite and Iranian takeover of Iraq. It is good that he has gone. But the Trump administration’s reckless dancing-in-the-endzone approach will bring trouble for years to come. In this episode, Stephen discusses the Soleimani assassination (and what it could mean for global politics) from several perspectives. If you’ve been struggling to understand the events leading up to this event, tune in! Image via Maryam Kamyab, Mohammad Mohsenifar

How did “evangelical,” which has its roots in the Greek word for “good news,” come to have a largely negative association with right-wing politics? In this episode, Stephen briefly traces the history and usage of the word, discussing along the way: the ancient church, John Wesley and the Methodist movement, Billy Graham and Richard Nixon’s friendship, and our own age – an era that saw 81% of white evangelicals vote for Donald Trump. This episode originally aired on January 3, 2018.

Merry Christmas! Reading is on many listeners’ minds this time of the year. In this episode, Stephen shares some of the top reading habits he’s developed over the years. Listen in to discover tactics that will make you a better and more accomplished reader. This episode is a must-listen for veteran readers and would-be readers alike! This episode originally aired on July 4, 2018.

Whether you’re a Christian or not, the Christmas season is an excellent time to allow the humanity, warmth, love, and graciousness of the Christmas season wash over you. In this podcast, Stephen recommends some books and movies through which you might allow yourself to be transformed… Joyeux Noel (watch the trailer) It’s a Wonderful Life (watch the trailer) A Christmas Carol (watch the trailer) The Gospel of Luke (read) The Man Who Invented Christmas (watch the trailer) The Man Who Invented Christmas: How Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol Rescued His Career and Revived Our Holiday Spirits by Les Standiford In the Dark Streets Shineth: A 1941 Christmas Eve Story by David McCullough This episode originally aired on December 20, 2017.

The political middle has been abandoned. The mainstream may talk about the “middle” as a place for those with weak, undecided opinions, but Stephen sees the “radical middle” as a place for thoughtful voters with convictions and morals. In this episode, Stephen gives some examples of what a right-of-center political viewpoint looks like. This episode originally aired on December 6, 2017.

Politically speaking, Stephen finds himself right of center – what he’s come to call “the radical middle.” While this podcast is not about Stephen’s political beliefs, he believes that his experience and viewpoint may help listeners make sense of our current political climate. This episode originally aired on November 29, 2017.

Happy Thanksgiving! Give thanks, for despite what the negative news cycle may tend to portray, we live in the most remarkable time of human history. No, the world’s not perfect. But in this episode, Stephen celebrates the good with a bounty of uplifting facts. Did you know the global illiteracy rate has dropped form 46% to 18% since 1970? Or that 720 million fewer people lived in extreme poverty in 2010 than in 1981? Tune in to this brief episode, and give thanks!

In what has become a Stephen Mansfield Podcast Thanksgiving tradition, Stephen tells the story of the Pilgrim Thanksgiving, the one that has inspired the American holiday. So gather the family and listen to this brief, exciting account of an episode from our nation’s history and from our heritage of faith. (This episode has appeared previously on the Stephen Mansfield Podcast.)