Zealots at the Gate

Muslims and Christians on Natural Law

Are there universal moral laws that bind all humanity? Are some things just right and wrong? In a polarized world, can we hope to agree on moral issues? Christians and Muslims have long histories of discussing the existence of a "natural law." But where do they differ? Join us for a fascinating discussion of these and many other issues as we meet with two experts on natural law, Micah Watson of Calvin University and Anver Emon of the University of Toronto. Links: * Micah Watson's faculty page: https://calvin.edu/people/micah-j-watson [https://calvin.edu/people/micah-j-watson] * Hopeful Realism: Evangelical Natural Law and Democratic Politics: https://bookshop.org/a/65404/9781514007709 [https://bookshop.org/a/65404/9781514007709] * Anver Emon's faculty page: https://www.law.utoronto.ca/faculty-staff/full-time-faculty/anver-emon [https://www.law.utoronto.ca/faculty-staff/full-time-faculty/anver-emon] * Islamic Natural Law Theories: https://a.co/d/i6nKaBq [https://a.co/d/i6nKaBq]

What Mormonism Reveals About America

The Mormon faith is deeply American in just about every way, and yet Mormons have never quite been accepted in America. Why? What is it like to be a Mormon in America? How do Mormons navigate American politics? Many of them voted for Trump, but do they like him? Join us as we talk with Matthew Bowman, the Howard W. Hunter Chair of Mormon Studies at Claremont Graduate University, as he walks us through the history of Mormonism, his own beliefs, and the way he thinks about our current political landscape as a Mormon. Links: Matthew Bowman's book The Mormon People: The Making of an American Faith: https://bookshop.org/a/65404/9780812983364 Bowman's latest book, Joseph Fielding Smith: A Mormon Theologian: https://bookshop.org/a/65404/9780252088056 [https://bookshop.org/a/65404/9780252088056] Christian: The Politics of a Word in America https://bookshop.org/a/65404/9780674244917 [https://bookshop.org/a/65404/9780674244917] Matthew Bowman's bio: https://www.cgu.edu/people/matthew-bowman/ [https://www.cgu.edu/people/matthew-bowman/]

What the Hell? The Fate of Non-Muslims

Are you afraid of hell? Do you know who's going there? We know that our beliefs about the afterlife can often influence the ways in which we treat so-called insiders and outsiders. What we think about hell can even influence our political action in society. Join us as we talk with Mohammad Hassan Khalil, author of Islam and the Fate of Others [https://amzn.to/4kEi6oM], who offers a deep historical dive on how Muslims have thought about salvation in the past and present, not only for those from other religions but for themselves too. Links: Khalil's book, Islam and the Fate of Others: https://www.amazon.com/Islam-Fate-Others-Salvation-Question/dp/0199796661 [https://a.co/d/8m3gRbX] Khalil's latest book, Jihad, Radicalism, and the New Atheism: https://www.amazon.com/Radicalism-Atheism-Mohammad-Hassan-Khalil/dp/1108432751/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0 [https://a.co/d/5vO9tfQ]

The Seven Deadly Sins in our Divided Age

The seven deadly sins aren't just a relic of the past—they continue to shape the way we live, lead, and engage with one another. In this episode, Elizabeth Oldfield, a Comment contributing editor and breakout author from the UK, explores how these enduring vices influence our divided age. Her new book, Fully Alive: Tending to the Soul in Turbulent Times, offers a thoughtful look at how faith and character can help us navigate the tensions of today. LINKS Elizabeth Oldfield's new book https://www.amazon.com/Fully-Alive-Tending-Turbulent-Times/dp/1587436507 [https://www.amazon.com/Fully-Alive-Tending-Turbulent-Times/dp/1587436507] Discussing Elizabeth's Commune: https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/parenting/article/middle-class-commune-joint-bank-accounts-noisy-sex-peckham-0jnhvhgmh [https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/parenting/article/middle-class-commune-joint-bank-accounts-noisy-sex-peckham-0jnhvhgmh]

How to Lose an Election (Well)

That's it! I'm moving to Canada. After a long election season, many American voters will find it difficult to accept defeat. And while it is hard, democratic life demands the regular practice of political concession—admitting that, however just your cause, the people did not agree with you. Shadi Hamid and Matthew Kaemingk discuss how Christianity and Islam can help with electoral patience and learning to lose gracefully. To bow one's head in prayer is to accept that the world (and the election) is beyond your control. And while this might be "the most important election of our lifetime," there are much more important things in our lives than elections. Links: We discuss the Muslim Struggle over which political party to support https://comment.org/podcasts/do-muslims-fit-in-a-political-party/ [https://comment.org/podcasts/do-muslims-fit-in-a-political-party/] Is Democracy God's Will? https://comment.org/podcasts/is-democracy-gods-will/ [https://comment.org/podcasts/is-democracy-gods-will/] Shadi Hamid in The Washington Post: A wake-up call for Kamala Harris from Muslim and Arab Americans https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/10/22/harris-muslim-arab-american-vote/