The Civitas Podcast

Peter Leithart and James Wood have a conversation with David P Goldman. David P. Goldman is a Washington Fellow at The Claremont Institute’s Center for the American Way of Life. His research focuses on China, American manufacturing, and trade policy.Goldman is Deputy Editor of Asia Times, where he has written the "Spengler" column since 2001. He is also a Senior Fellow of the London Institute for Policy Research. He previously was a partner at Reorient Group (Hong Kong), and global head of fixed income research at Bank of America and Cantor Fitzgerald. He was also a Managing Director at Credit Suisse and Bear Stearns, a member of Institutional Investor's All-America Fixed Income Team, and was the Pulliam Fellow at Hillsdale College in 2017.His books include You Will Be Assimilated: China's Plan to Sino-Form the World (2020), How Civilizations Die (2011), and It's Not the End of the World — It's Just the End of You (2011).Goldman writes frequently for The Claremont Review of Books, The Wall Street Journal, First Things, Newsweek, Law & Liberty and Tablet Magazine. He has published numerous scholarly articles on economics, finance, and intellectual history._________________To Give to Theopolis, click HERE.Get the Theopolis App, HERE.Use Code "theopolitan" to get your first month free!Sign up for In Medias Res, HERE.

Aaron Renn, a thoughtful writer and consultant based in Indianapolis, discusses the evolving landscape of Christianity in America. He critiques the shift from cultural dominance to marginalization, delving into historical events that shaped this change. Renn explores the impact of technology on societal trends, including the rise of new forms of gambling. The conversation also highlights the political evolution of evangelical engagement and emphasizes the church's need for renewed cultural commitment amidst challenges. Lastly, he underscores the balance of divine agency and human responsibility in shaping society.

Peter Leithart and James Wood have a conversation with Jeff Shafer. Jeff Shafer is Director of the Hale Institute. He graduated with honors from the Regent University School of Law in 1995. Early in his legal career, he operated a general practice firm in Cincinnati with a particular emphasis on criminal defense litigation. Thereafter, he practiced in a law partnership, focusing on elections law and civil constitutional cases. From 2005 to 2020, he served as Senior Counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom at its Washington, D.C., and Scottsdale, Arizona offices. Mr. Shafer has litigated public interest cases in federal and state trial and appellate courts throughout the United States, as well as developing academic and advocacy initiatives on matters of policy concern. Outside of the courtroom, he has addressed a wide array of audiences in academic and community venues, in the US and abroad, on matters of legal and cultural interest.________________Machine Antihumanism and the Inversion of Family Lawby: Jeff Shafer_________________To Give to Theopolis, click HERE.Get the Theopolis App, HERE.Use Code "theopolitan" to get your first month free!Sign up for In Medias Res, HERE.

Jon Askonas, an Assistant Professor of Politics at the Catholic University of America, dives deep into the friction between technology and conservative values. He critiques how conservatism has struggled to adapt to modern advancements and emphasizes the significance of the family unit in this transition. The conversation also highlights the need for government support in nurturing innovation while preserving human experiences. Askonas proposes a proactive redefinition of conservatism, advocating for a balance between technological progress and community life.

Peter Leithart and James Wood answer some of your questions, closing the episode with a discussion of what they have been reading. To Give to Theopolis, click HERE.Get the Theopolis App, HERE.Use Code "theopolitan" to get your first month free!Sign up for In Medias Res, HERE.

Peter Leithart and James Wood talk with Rod Dreher about his recent work, Living in Wonder: Finding Mystery and Meaning in a Secular Age. Purchase the book:Rod DreherLiving in Wonder: Finding Mystery and Meaning in a Secular Age_______About Rod DreherRod Dreher is a journalist and author of six books, including the New York Times bestsellers The Little Way of Ruthie Leming (2013), The Benedict Option (2017), and Live Not by Lies (2020). His work covers the intersection of religion, culture, and politics. Dreher has worked as a columnist for the New York Post, the Dallas Morning News, National Review, the American Conservative, the European Conservative, and other publications, and his work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and Time. He is an Orthodox Christian. A native of Louisiana, Dreher lives in Budapest, where he is a senior fellow at The Danube Institute.More Books by DreherLive Not by Lies: A Manual for Christian DissidentsThe Benedict Option: A Strategy for Christians in a Post-Christian Nation The Little Way of Ruthie Leming

Peter Leithart and James Wood talk with Tim Nichols and Joe Anderson about their work in Englewood, Colorado.  Joe Anderson is a Pastor at Christ the Anchor church in Englewood, Colorado. For the last 10 years, Joe has led the local pastors prayer group and organized meetings between the pastors and local government officials that have led to several collaborative initiatives between the Church in Englewood and the city government. Additionally, since 2019, Joe has served on City Council in Englewood.Tim Nichols cut his teeth in ministry teaching at the seminary level while pastoring a small church plant in the California desert, frequently getting whiplash in the transitions between the two. He presently teaches middle school at Hammersmith School, a homeschool hybrid program, operates a bodywork practice, teaches martial arts, and serves in pastoral roles at Christ the Anchor church and at Centerpoint Church, an outreach to the homeless community in Englewood.Together, they've founded Headwaters Christian Resources, a nonprofit devoted to local ministry and producing resources for the broader church, and written the Victorious Bible curriculum for middle school, Loving: Spiritual Exercises in Tangibly Loving your Literal Neighbors, and an assortment of smaller projects.Links: Peter Leithart's article on Micro-Christendoms can be found HERE.Tim and Joe's Theopolis Conversation on "Proclamation" can be found HERE.Click HERE for Tim Nichols' excellent articles at Theopolis.

D.C. Schindler, a Professor at the John Paul II Institute and author of 'God and the City,' discusses how metaphysics intertwines with contemporary politics. He argues for revisiting classical political theories to address modern challenges and critiques the modern political frameworks. The conversation highlights divine influence in governance, the church's vital role in civic life, and the relationship between authority and freedom. Schindler emphasizes the need for a metaphysical understanding of social structures that acknowledges the divine.

Peter Leithart and James Wood talk with Philip Bess about architecture, cities, and his book titled Till We Have Built Jerusalem. Philip Bess is Professor of Architecture at the University of Notre Dame.

Peter Leithart and James Wood talk with David Dusenbury about his books "I Judge No One" and "The Innocence of Pontius Pilate: How the Roman Trial of Jesus Shaped History."David Lloyd Dusenbury is a philosopher, historian of ideas, Times Literary Supplement contributor and senior fellow at Budapest's Danube Institute. He is also Chair for Jewish-Christian Relations at the University of Antwerp.Titles from Dusenbury: I Judge No One: A Political Life of JesusThe Innocence of Pontius Pilate: How the Roman Trial of Jesus Shaped HistoryArticles by George Steiner mentioned in this episode:The Scandal of RevelationTwo Suppers