According2Sam Podcast

'Profane'

The decision to attack Iran has drawn widespread criticism, much of it directed at President Trump. Some critics argue that he was influenced by Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but ultimately, the decision was his alone. As Commander in Chief, he makes the final call—and he chose to proceed with the attack. That decision is now being second-guessed not only by Democrats, but also by prominent right-wing podcasters who supported him during his reelection campaign. In addition, Trump has faced criticism from Catholic bishops and Pope Leo, who have argued that the war is unjust. In response, the president has pushed back against his critics, including the podcasters and the pope. His remarks about Pope Leo, in particular, have sparked controversy, raising questions about whether his response crossed a line. Did it cross a line? Join the conversation and get answers to this question and more on According2Sam episode #399. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.according2sam.com [https://www.according2sam.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

'American Pope'

When Bishop Robert Francis Prevost was selected as the new pope in May 2025, President Trump was just over 100 days into his second term. Many people believed Prevost’s selection was a response to Trump’s reelection, with the idea that an American pope might be better positioned to challenge an American president. Nearly a year into Pope Leo’s papacy, he has indeed taken positions that appear to challenge the president on several key issues. For example, he recently criticized the policy of attacking Iran, though he did not mention either the president or the conflict directly. Instead, he stated that Jesus does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war—an apparent reference that many interpreted as directed at Trump. Is the relationship between the first American pope and the president of the United States getting off to a rocky start? Join the conversation and get answers to this question and more on According2Sam episode #398. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.according2sam.com [https://www.according2sam.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

'Replacements'

Supersessionism—the belief that Christians have replaced the Jewish people as the chosen people and heirs of God’s covenant—has a long history within the Catholic Church. Many early Church Fathers taught that Christianity had superseded Judaism and that the Church was the “new Israel.” For this reason, the doctrine is often referred to as “replacement theology,” reflecting the idea that the Church has taken the place of Israel. While highly controversial today, it was not always regarded as such. Among those commonly associated with this teaching are Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Origen, Augustine, and others. However, did the Apostles—who were themselves Jewish and the earliest followers of Jesus—teach that Christians replaced the Jewish people, or did they teach that the Body of Christ replaced the Temple? Join the conversation and get answers to this question and more on According2Sam episode #397. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.according2sam.com [https://www.according2sam.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

'The Sequel'

Throughout the history of cinema, there have been a plethora of films about the life of Jesus. Among them, The Passion of the Christ, directed by Mel Gibson, stands at the pinnacle. The film focuses solely on the final hours of Jesus’ life on earth—his arrest, trial, and execution—along with the degradation and torture he endured in between. It was filmed in original Aramaic, and it is presented with the high drama that Gibson is known for producing. It is widely regarded as a masterpiece, but one criticism of the film is that it leaves the impression Jesus’ execution was a tragedy. Now, more than two decades later, Gibson is developing a follow-up project about events after the crucifixion. What are we likely to see in this sequel? Join the conversation and get answers to this question and more on According2Sam episode #396. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.according2sam.com [https://www.according2sam.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

'Pascha'

Early followers of Jesus Christ were all Jewish. It was Jews who first witnessed his miracles, and his audience for the Sermon on the Mount was entirely Jewish. Jews watched his crucifixion, and the first people he appeared to after his resurrection were also Jews. All of Jesus’s followers who received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost were Jewish, and as the Church grew and spread throughout the Roman Empire, it was largely Jewish believers who carried the message. They brought the teachings of Jesus across three continents, spreading them within Jewish communities throughout the diaspora. Given these origins, how did Christianity become separated from its Jewish roots, and how did the shift from celebrating Jesus’s resurrection during Passover to observing Easter contribute to that separation? Join the conversation and get answers to these questions and more on According2Sam episode #395. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.according2sam.com [https://www.according2sam.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]