First Things Podcast
By First Things
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Description
First Things is published by the Institute on Religion and Public Life, an interreligious, nonpartisan research and educational 501(c)(3) organization. The Institute was founded in 1990 by Richard John Neuhaus and his colleagues to confront the ideology of secularism, which insists that the public square must be “naked,” and that faith has no place in shaping the public conversation or in shaping public policy. Learn more at firstthings.com/learnmore.
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CleanEpisode 4 – NFP vs. Sex Ed (8. 5. 16) | What can natural family planning teach you about the body that sex ed won’t? Catholic writer and "science nerd" Leah Libresco guests on this segment, as does her fiancé, assistant editor Alexi Sargeant. Then, why are Catholic and Evangelical Republicans parting ways over Trump? Leah crunches the numbers, and Rusty envisions life for religious conservatives during a Trump presidency. Finally, Matthew and Julia discuss this week’s news from Rome, and conclude that ordaining women as deacons not only makes no sense, but would set women back. | 8/5/2016 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanEpisode 3 – Death of a Country Priest (7. 29. 16) | Was the murder of Fr. Jacques Hamel by Islamic State militants an act of “absurd violence,” as Pope Francis suggests, or did it have clear religious motivations and implications? Matthew disagrees with First Things senior fellow Francesca Aran Murphy. Then, what are we to make of the two new vice-presidential nominees, each of whom is Catholic in his own way—Mike Pence the “Evangelical Catholic” and Tim Kaine the “Pope Francis Catholic”? Finally, Julia hosts a session of “Ask a Theologian.” Find out whether all dogs go to heaven, why the Pope Emeritus wears white, which way is liturgical East—and more! This episode features music by Sergey Cheremisinov, Scott Holmes, and Unthunk. | 7/29/2016 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanEpisode 2 – Does Liberal Catholicism Have a Future? (7. 22. 16) | Liberal Catholics are growing impatient. What if Pope Francis fails to institutionalize his reforms? Editors Rusty, Mark, Matthew, and Julia discuss, and are politely opposed by their guest, Commonweal editor Matthew Boudway. Then assistant editor Alexi Sargeant drops in to evangelize for Pokémon Go. Finally, the editors reflect on the feelings of insecurity that seem to be motivating Americans in both parties (and no party) during this political season. Musical credits: “OST 01 Tutorial” by Sawsquarenoise, “Generic Falling Blocks Puzzle” by Mathgrant, “Shrine” by Visager, and “Final Sacrifice” by Visager. All four are used under Creative Commons licenses, which can be found with the full tracks at FreeMusicArchive.org. | 7/21/2016 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanEpisode 1 – Inside the August/September 2016 Issue (7. 15. 16) | Is Donald Trump a disciple of the power-mad Nietzsche, or of positive-thinking guru Norman Vincent Peale? Editors Rusty, Mark, Matthew, and Julia discuss. Then Carl Trueman Skypes in and disputes mildly with Rusty about the meaning of the recent "bigot-baiting" in Bakersfield, California. Finally, the editors are joined by human rights lawyer Darren Geist, a critic of Amnesty International's dehumanizing new policy on prostitution. | 7/15/2016 | Free | View in iTunes |
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Clean2015 Erasmus Lecture featuring Ross Douthat | Now in its 28th year, the Erasmus Lecture brings in world-renowned speakers to New York—including Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Archbishop Timothy Dolan, Gilbert Meilaender, and Rabbi Jonathan Sacks—to address an audience of over five hundred people each year. In 2014, Archbishop Charles Chaput’s lecture was streamed live to hundreds of households and its video received over 7,000 views. The lecture also appears in the pages of First Things and on firstthings.com. | 2/14/2016 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanHabit-Forming: Liturgies of Education | From the first pages of Scripture, God is revealed as a divine liturgist. His creative speech is repetitive, ritualized. Made in the image of this God, human beings are liturgical creatures. Godly habits are formed not only by instruction but by practice. Soldiers drill to become good soldiers. A basketball player trains his muscles so that each foul shot is identical to every other. In the church, the liturgy is one of the Spirit’s instruments for shaping godly persons and communities, and the same is true in education. Dr. Leithart’s lecture will explore the implications of this perspective for education and present examples of healthy and unhealthy educational rituals. Every educational model assumes an answer to the question, ‘What is a human being?’ If we are liturgical creatures, the classroom is the space for a formative liturgical dialogue between teacher and students. | 2/12/2016 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanThe Perils of Religious Liberty featuring Yuval Levin | As religious communities seek to defend America’s “first freedom” they would be wise to consider what it means to make religious liberty their preeminent public issue. | 2/10/2016 | Free | View in iTunes |
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Clean1st Annual Poetry Reading | featuring Christian Wiman and Danielle Chapman | 2/8/2016 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanThe Meaning of Marriage | A discussion on The Meaning of Marriage with First Things Editor, R. R. Reno. | 11/6/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanThe Truth Shall Set You Free | featuring Robert Louis Wilken | 8/30/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanRecovering Classic Evangelicalism | Applying the Wisdom and Vision of Carl F. H. Henry | 8/6/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
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12 |
CleanFirst Things 25th Anniversary Panel Discussion | This year marks the 25th anniversary of First Things. In celebration of our silver anniversary, First Things hosted a dinner and panel discussion in honor of the magazine’s founder, Fr. Richard John Neuhaus, on Tuesday, May 19th, 2015 in New York City. First Things is pleased to offer its readers an opportunity be a part of this special event. | 6/9/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanOn Creative Minorities featuring Rabbi Jonathan Sacks | 2013 Erasmus Lecture | 6/2/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
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Clean“Christian Witness in America” a First Things Lecture presented by editor R.R. Reno | The moral and political developments of the past twenty years have left people of faith in an increasingly defensive position—defending marriage, defending religious liberty, defending the reasonableness of faith itself. The militant secularism targeting Christians in America over this period has reignited a fundamental debate about the place of faith in this country and whether the “American experiment” itself is compatible with Christianity and its views of the human person and community. Thoughtful Christians have come down on both sides of this debate. On one side are those who argue that America’s free-market economy, liberal democratic institutions, and global leadership are compatible with, and can be leavened and guided by, Christian values. Others have taken the view that modern capitalism and the individualistic ethos of American culture are fundamentally at odds with crucial Christian insights into the human person and our social destiny. The questions and implications raised by this debate are significant. Should Christians accept the incompatibility of their faith with the American system, turning their efforts instead to constructing communities of belief that exist outside of traditional American institutions? Or should they redouble their efforts to engage the culture and seek out a new positive, compelling political witness within the American project? In his lecture, R. R. Reno sorts through the new challenges Christians face in America and discusses how best to meet them. | 5/6/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
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Clean"Strangers In A Strange Land" featuring The Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. | 2014 Erasmus Lecture | 5/5/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanBeauty and Faith in the Age of Twitter | The Digital Revolution is often heralded as an epochal advance in human knowledge and communication. If only that were true! For when we examine the most eager adopters of digital tools, the Millennials, we find the opposite is taking place. Progress in educational achievement has slowed, American students’ rank among those in other countries has fallen, and skills deficiencies have climbed. Furthermore, religious devotion has declined. At the same time, their immersion in social media, gaming, and other advents has soared (while TV time has remained constant). It’s hard not to take the trends as related. In this presentation, Bauerlein lays out some of the challenges digital technology poses to faith and humanistic study. He welcomes any responses at mbauerlein@firstthings.com. | 4/26/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanGay And Catholic | Accepting My Sexuality, Finding Community, Living My Faith | 4/22/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanThe Seven Big Myths About Marriage featuring Christopher Kaczor | Dr. Christopher Kaczor is William E. Simon Visiting Fellow in Religion and Public Life in the James Madison Program at Princeton University and is Professor of Philosophy at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. He graduated from the Honors Program of Boston College and earned a Ph.D. four years later from the University of Notre Dame. Dr. Kaczor’s research on issues of ethics, philosophy, and religion has been in, among other publications, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, the Huffington Post, National Review. | 4/20/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanEvangelicals and Catholics Together On Marriage | This month’s issue of FIRST THINGS contains a “Marriage Statement” by Evangelicals and Catholics Together, a sober reassertion of the truths that underlie marriage and have for two millennia. Two of the signers of the statement, Fr. Thomas Guarino and Professor Timothy George, sat down with FIRST THINGS last week for a discussion of the statement—its origins, content, and purpose. | 4/15/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanRandy Boyagoda On The Thought And Character Of Father Neuhaus | Randy Boyagoda’s biography of Fr. Richard John Neuhaus, Richard John Neuhaus: A Life in the Public Square came out last month and has already received significant notice. A few weeks ago, Boyagoda himself took up a central theme of Neuhaus’s in an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, underscoring the delicate relationship of religion and politics in the United States throughout American history. Last week, he sat down for an interview with FIRST THINGS to continue the discussion of the life and significance of Fr. Neuhaus. | 4/15/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
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CleanThe Catholic Writer in America | A Podcast With Dana Gioia | 4/13/2015 | Free | View in iTunes |
| 21 Items |
Customer Reviews
Incredibly Informative!
I don't agree with all that is said, but that's the point. First Things brings together some of the most influential yet disparate voices in Christianity today. As a Confessional Lutheran, I find myself agreeing with most of what is said, despite the denominational differences. Even when I disagree with the speaker, the issues are always addressed in a thoughtful manner by highly educated individuals. Highly recommend!
Content is excellent, technical presentation is not.
I'm a big fan of First Things, and the opportunity to put some of their best voices in a podcast format is very exciting. However, the remarkably bad technical presentation is extremely off-putting. It sounds like there's one mic and everyone is huddled around from various distances. It's distracting to the point of frustration at times. Not what I would expect from this brand.
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