Building The Kingdom Of God

Following the 2016 US presidential election, pundits argued that the 81% of evangelical Christians who voted for Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton viewed him as the lesser of two evils. But, according to historian Kristin Du Mez, this explanation is misguided. In Jesus and John Wayne (2020), she argues that evangelicals endorsed Trump because he was the paradigm of militant masculinity that became orthodox among evangelicals in the last century.

In this guide, we’ve organized Du Mez’s analysis into four historical eras of evangelical masculinity. We’ll discuss: how the first and second World Wars caused evangelicals to shift toward a militant view of masculinity; how the Vietnam War and the feminist movement entrenched this view of masculinity in the ’60s and ’70s; how the lack of a military opponent in the ’90s caused this view to soften; and, finally, how the impact of 9/11 and the Obama presidency created a sense of embattlement that led evangelicals to support Trump in 2020.

In The God Delusion, University of Oxford biologist and anti-religion activist Richard Dawkins seeks to demystify religion and discredit faith. He explores the unlikelihood of God’s existence; how evolution by natural selection explains the centrality of religion to the human experience; and how religion promotes immoral values, impoverishes the human mind, and provides justification for intolerance and persecution. He argues that ultimately, we as humans must free ourselves from our self-imposed shackles by destroying faith and religion and positively embracing the full potential of our species.

Do you feel like social justice advocacy has gone too far? Or like you have to constantly be careful about what you say? The authors of Cynical Theories agree and explain how this came to be. While past movements for equality used to fight for concrete issues, the authors contend that contemporary activists and scholars are instead more concerned with policing language and culture, shutting down rational debate, and challenging the very foundations of liberal society.

In our guide to Cynical Theories, we’ll show how, in the authors’ view, social justice scholarship and activism changed from a force for good to a dangerous movement with totalitarian tendencies. We’ll also discuss why the tenets of liberalism—namely freedom of speech and belief in science—are more important now than ever. Through our commentary, we’ll offer insights and alternate views on the history of social justice and its impact on our modern world.

Have you noticed a shift in American politics throughout your lifetime? Over the past four decades, ideas like libertarianism and free market capitalism have gone from fringe beliefs held mostly by the elite to ideas with significant popular support and impact on our political sphere. In Dark Money, award-winning journalist and author Jane Mayer explores how a small group of extremely wealthy individuals, led largely by Charles and David Koch, have effectively legitimized far-right beliefs in America using their massive wealth.

In our guide, we’ll look at how the Kochs developed their political beliefs, the tactics they used to create their political movement, and how those tactics have affected American society and politics over recent decades. We’ll also examine the historical, social, and political contexts of the book’s events and how they have impacted society today.

Do you ever feel that there is a more authentic, primal self within you waiting to be free? Glennon Doyle has felt this way, too—like a wild animal in captivity who was conditioned not to feel, think, or trust herself. She tells her story in Untamed, part memoir—covering her personal story of addiction and rehab, falling in love with a woman, leaving her marriage, and rebuilding her life—and part call to action for any woman who feels held captive by society’s rules and expectations.

Through exploration of her story, she instructs readers to rebuild their lives using emotion, intuition, and imagination as guiding forces. In this guide, we’ll explore Doyle’s journey out of captivity and her lessons for other captive women. Along the way, we’ll explore complementary ideas from other feminist thinkers, psychological reasoning for aspects of captivity, and practical actionables to help you live Doyle’s principles.

"The Daily," hosted by Sabrina Tavernise, dives into a momentous Supreme Court case that could heavily influence America's gun rights landscape. Alongside legal experts like Adam Liptak, Elizabeth Prelogar, and Justices John Roberts, Clarence Thomas, and Ketanji Brown Jackson, they dissect a contentious hearing centered on the Second Amendment and its application in modern times. The backdrop is the recent Bruin decision, fostering a complexity of understanding how historical precedent should inform current firearms legislation.

This nuanced exploration goes beyond the court's walls with Tavernise's updates on Hollywood's labor advancements and AI's burgeoning role in the entertainment industry. Moreover, the global sphere isn't left unexamined as Tavernise touches on Secretary Antony Blinken's policy statements regarding Gaza, providing listeners with a comprehensive snapshot of current diplomatic and cultural tides. As the episode concludes, hear how the Supreme Court might navigate the delicate balance between adherence to tradition and the dynamic nature of constitutional interpretation, potentially setting a critical foothold for future jurisprudence.

In the latest episode of NPR News Now, join seasoned correspondents Korva Coleman, Clay Masters, and Nina Totenberg, with special insights from Governor Kim Reynolds, as they traverse a web of topics from political endorsements to pivotal Supreme Court cases that reverberate across America. In a dive into Iowa's political scene, Governor Reynolds's early backing of a candidate sets a new precedent before the all-telling Iowa caucuses, while Trump's resultant disapproval hints at growing cracks within the Republican Party, revealing the strategic importance of this early electoral event.

Shifting from political landscapes to the highest court in the nation, Totenberg brings us to the forefront of constitutional debates, presenting a critical look at how the Supreme Court's decision on gun laws in domestic violence cases could redefine gun rights and regulations. The episode moves beyond American borders to address escalating Israeli-Hamas tensions and delves into the business domain, chronicling the downswing of corporate giant WeWork. NPR News Now encapsulates pressing matters, offering perspectives that shape understanding in a world of complex and intertwining issues.