We’re joined by Stuart McAllister to talk about the seismic cultural shift that’s led us away from self-sacrifice, patriotism, and martyrdom to radical individualism and an addiction to comfort and convenience. Is it really true that dying for a cause has gone the way of the dinosaur? Or are we seeing it emerge once again, albeit in different ways? And how do we as Christians overcome this addiction to comfort and convenience?

“This was not a terrorist attack, it was a wakeup call. Americans only pay attention to spectacles and violence. What better way to get my point across than a stunt with fireworks and explosives.” These are the words of Matthew Livelsberger, a 37-year-old Green Beret who took his own life before detonating a Tesla Cybertruck at the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas. What are we to make of such a philosophically motivated act of violence? In this episode, we turn to a consideration of the all-American obsession with violence.

While the TOL take on the Christmas holidays might sound like a bit of a bummer, it’s actually more lighthearted than it sounds.

In a provocative lecture for First Things, poet and novelist Paul Kingsnorth argues against Christian civilization, making the case that Christ’s teachings confound our civilizational efforts. The talk has since been expanded into an article if you’d prefer to read it. We do recommend you read the piece as it’s as thought-provoking as it is challenging. Join us as we discuss it.

A string of carjackings linked to a TikTok challenge have raised a number of ethical challenges. Is the manufacturer in any way responsible for the thefts and damages? Is it right to benefit from a class action suite that isn’t necessarily fair? We’re grateful to one of our thoughtful listeners for sending in this question. Join us as we consider what it means to do the right thing in the face of an increasingly complex legal system.