Persuasion With Erin Straza And Hannah Anderson

Erin and Hannah kick off a new series called Finding Common Ground. Each episode will consider a different aspect of natural revelation and how the world around us gives us the common ground we seek—and desperately need—with our fellow humans. Despite the rifts we feel with others ideologically, there is still much we have in common. By turning our eyes to the creation and its rhythms, we find commonality in our shared human experience. We can look to the patterns God embedded in the natural world as markers for our own experiences. Seasonal patterns, life stages, natural laws—things like these remind us that something greater is happening in the universe, regardless of our personal differences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our holidays are usually marked by all kinds of festivities. There are family gatherings, dinners with friends, work parties, community celebrations, church programs, and more. But this year? Most of these are cancelled due to the COVID pandemic. We will miss out on gift exchanges and cookie swaps and catching up with friends and family. It's disappointing for everyone.

Thanksgiving is typically full of feasting and family and friends. But this year? For most of us, gathering with others to enjoy our typical feast is off the table due to the global pandemic. Even if you are able to celebrate with your immediate family, the day is likely to be tinged with emptiness. And emptiness has a way of diminishing our gratitude, even on Thanksgiving.

In this episode of Persuasion, Erin Straza and Hannah Anderson kick off a new miniseries titled Happy, Thankful, People. Each episode of the series includes a special guest who has something specific to share about how we can clear some of the hurdles that come with the holiday season. Barnabas Piper joins this episode to discuss our expectations of seasonal happiness and joy. In Hoping for Happiness: Turning Life's Most Elusive Feeling into Lasting Reality (The Good Book Company, 2020), Barnabas offers a biblical framework for living a grounded, hopeful, and genuinely happy life—even in the midst of the holiday frenzy and even in a year like 2020

In this episode of Persuasion, Erin Straza and Hannah Anderson wrap up their For God and Country series. Each episode has tackled an aspect of how faith and politics collide. This final conversation looks at the value and power of a single vote, the one we've been entrusted with for each item on our ballot. Voting truly is a privilege, but in these politically charged days, the weight of casting our vote in the right way is heavy indeed. There is fear and guilt all mixed together, and it's used by both sides to sway us to choose the way that benefits their party. In addition, Christians also struggle with the burden of making the right choice—the one that honors God and His ways.

With the amount of turmoil that's typically associated with political conversation and engagement, it can be very tempting to look for a reprieve. Every issue truly is connected to the common good that we're called to work toward. But when every conversation turns into a politically charged exchange, it's quite tempting to demand that others stop being so political all the time. While tempting, however, what is really behind our wish that others don't be so political?

Racial reckoning, a threatening pandemic, devastating wildfires... our country is practically pulling apart at the seams. In the middle of all this, we're facing the usual fervor associated with a presidential election. Except this isn't like other presidential elections, because of heightened turmoil of our times makes the discord all the more obvious. Emotions are running high. Everyone is looking for reason to take offense—and no one has to look very long or far to find it. The climate feels oppressive and hopeless. So for those who find hope in their Christian faith, it seems the best response to all this is to simply preach the gospel. Certainly if we just focus our energy on getting more people saved, that will solve everything. Certainly Jesus can fix this mess... right?

Perhaps during this series you've become open to the idea that political engagement is an avenue for kingdom flourishing to bring about the common good. And perhaps you've also clarified the sort of nation you want to build with your political engagement. Now we move from theory into practice, because political engagement will actually require you to dig into the system we have in order to make the world better.  

Erin Straza and Hannah Anderson invited Sam Perry to Persuasion to share about his research with Andrew Whitehead on Christian nationalism. Their book, Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States, helps us understand the driving factors that define and lead to Christian nationalism in our country. For episode 201 of the For God and Country series, Sam explains how Christian nationalism is a form of political idolatry that we must be aware of and reject.

In this episode of Persuasion, Erin Straza and Hannah Anderson dig into the For God and Country series. In this conversation, Erin and Hannah look to the pain points Christians are feeling and use them to unearth the way fear can sway our political leanings. In Christian circles, there has been increasing concern about religious rights and freedoms, as well as rally cries to take our nation back for God. To help us understand the factors feeding these ideas, Hannah speaks with Sam Perry, who has done significant research on Christian nationalism. Together with Andrew Whitehead, Sam authored a book of his findings titled Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States. Sam addresses the growing conflation of Christian faith with nationalism, which at its core is political idolatry. Because we are so accustomed to these messages and stances within the Church, we can become blind to how we've adopted ideals and stances that are contrary to the gospel. Is it truly our mandate to take Ameri

In this episode of Persuasion, Erin Straza and Hannah Anderson kick off their fall series called For God and Country. Each episode of the series will tackle an aspect of how faith and politics collide. To get the conversation started, Erin and Hannah host fellow Christ and Pop Culture writer Kaitlyn Schiess. Kaitlyn is a seminary student and bright thinker with a new book releasing September 8 from InterVarsity Press titled The Liturgy of Politics: Spiritual Formation for the Sake of Our Neighbor. She wrote this book to help fellow Christians recognize the formative power of the political forces all around us and then to help us recover historic Christian practices that shape us in faith so that our political engagement is more effective. Considering the stress most people experience in political conversations, this is one area we could all grow in!

Humor has been rather hard to find in 2020. We've had month after month of very serious happenings. When the world is falling apart, laughter feels wrong—even callous. Serious things call for a serious countenance... right? In this episode of Persuasion, Erin Straza and Hannah Anderson kick off a late summer miniseries called Getting By. Each episode of the series includes a special guest who has something specific to share about how we can get by in life considering the world as it is today. Luke T. Harrington joins this conversation to help us see the value of humor—especially in dark times. His latest release from Thomas Nelson is titled Murder-Bears, Moonshine, and Mayhem: Strange Stories from the Bible to Leave You Amused, Bemused, and (Hopefully) Informed. This nonfiction humor book looks at some of the odd tales in the Bible, examining and casting new light on some of the Bible's stranger moments. Luke's work flows from a truly unique perspective on life and faith. And that perspective is one we all ne

Our current moment of political, social, and even religious upheaval has been isolating in many inexplicable ways. COVID-19 restrictions have eliminate many of our opportunities to build friendships and network with colleagues. Many of us are now working, schooling, and worshiping from home, severing limiting our social circles. As a result, psychologists are reporting higher rates of depression. More than ever, we can see the crucial role community and connectedness contribute to our well being. We need friends.  In this episode of Persuasion, Erin Straza and Hannah Anderson continue their Getting By summer miniseries. Each episode of the series will include a special guest who has something specific to share about how we can get by in life considering the world as it is today. Gina Dalfonzo joins this conversation to help us see the value of nurturing friendships even in the most dire of circumstances. Her latest release form Baker Publishing, The Remarkable Friendship Between C. S. Lewis and Dorothy L. Say

In polite conversation, when someone greets you and asks how you are doing, the typical, benign reply is to say you "are doing just fine, thanks." But today, that reply feels disingenuous at best, considering the global pandemic, the racial reckoning across our nation, and the general polarization in society. Saying we are doing just fine, even when we're not, lines up with our country's indefatigable spirit. We are a nation of overcomers and go-getters—people who suck it up and keep moving ahead. 

After four months of navigating COVID-19 worries and addressing societal inequalities, it seems that most of us are embracing the reality that our world is forever changed. We're learning new ways to work, build community, celebrate milestones, and more. But none of it is easy or second nature. It's actually quite difficult. Most of us are getting by... but just barely.

We’re a people that loves to manage every scenario and have backup plans for every contingency. So what happens when the whole world screeches to a near halt and all the data we’ve used for decision making is no longer valid? Well, for most of us, this has produced a not so insignificant level of anxiety. As much as we like looking ahead toward the next thing, it’s tough to come to terms with something when the variables are unknown. In this episode of Persuasion, Erin Straza and Hannah Anderson wrap up their Growing Viral: Well-Being in the Age of Corona series. For this conversation, Erin and Hannah discuss how we accept our new reality that is largely unknown to us. Despite experts best guesses, no one knows how long the pandemic will last, what impact it will have on our society for the future, or if our global economy will recover. Our normal may be long gone, leaving in its place room for something new.

Loss and grief are central to the COVID-19 pandemic. We’ve lost loved ones, jobs, freedoms, and security. Some have lost their wedding dates or vacations. Some have lost sleep or a sense of purpose. Discouragement is common as we all scramble to find meaning in the midst of a crisis. This collective grief weighs upon our society, stretching it thin. For this conversation, Erin and Hannah discuss the discouragement we are all experiencing. Without schedules to hem us in, we wander aimlessly through our days, wondering if there’s any reason to get up early or get dressed or even shower. 

COVID-19 has taken away so much from us, including our sense of control. Our plans have been cancelled, and our movements are restricted. We can no longer go where we want when we want with whomever we choose. Loss of control may make us angry or fearful or frustrated (or all of those!). In its absence, we begin to play games of If Only or What If in an attempt to regain a bit of what we’ve lost. For this conversation, Erin and Hannah discuss the loss of control we are all experiencing. From rebelling against the restrictions to compulsively adhering to them, we all react differently to the way this pandemic is exerting its power over our lives.

Anger is on the rise during the COVID-19 pandemic—and for good reason. Almost every aspect of our lives has been upended. We are now working and learning from home. All of our public gatherings have been cancelled or postponed, from weddings to funerals to sports to graduations. We have been asked to stay home with our family unit—and the lack of variety is enough to get on our last nerve. Anger is certainly understandable in this viral age.

The world is grappling with a pandemic that is changing life as we know it. We are grieving the loss of loved ones. Those who have recovered are facing uncertain long-term health conditions. The global economy is struggling along with unknown ramifications for millions of employees. As the coronavirus runs its course, the only thing we know for sure is that life as we know it is forever changed. Yet, facing this reality is no easy task. John Starke joins this conversation to help us look at our use of denial in this season and how lament offers a more fruitful way forward.