92: 92: The West's Claim to Western Values
11/20/23 • 34 min
A Christian and a Muslim talk religion and politics. This week, John and Elliot discuss Ayaan Hirsi Ali's essay, "Why I Am Now a Christian," in which the popular thought leader describes her transition from Muslim to atheist to Christian. This leads to a lively discussion on the appropriateness of the West's claim to what are popularly called "Western values."
A Christian and a Muslim talk religion and politics. This week, John and Elliot discuss Ayaan Hirsi Ali's essay, "Why I Am Now a Christian," in which the popular thought leader describes her transition from Muslim to atheist to Christian. This leads to a lively discussion on the appropriateness of the West's claim to what are popularly called "Western values."
Previous Episode
91: A War of Minorities
This conversation covers a wide range of topics related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including the roles of Hamas, Hezbollah, Jordan, Egypt, and Iran. Hot takes on Jordan Peterson and Ben Shapiro's perspectives, with cautions against holding views that are too simplistic. There is debate over the religious and territorial roots of the conflict, with mention of displaced European Jews and indigenous populations. The recent Hamas attack in Israel is discussed, with speculation about security lapses.
Next Episode
93: Unpacking the Resurfaced Bin Laden Letter
John and Elliott discuss Osama bin Laden's controversial 2002 "Letter to America" that recently resurfaced and went viral on TikTok. They debate the letter's authenticity and analyze it through various lenses - post-colonialism, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, generational reactions to 9/11 and the War on Terror.
Touching on the oppressor-oppressed narrative prevalent today, they examine philosophical questions around justification of violence and the complex historical realities that often defy simple characterization. John recounts his Thanksgiving conversations around the Israeli-Palestinian issue and advocates for more nuance.
In the end, they land on similar views - that no ideology justifies harming innocent civilians or disproportionate military responses that only perpetuate violence. They call for more ethical, practical solutions focused on human dignity and minimizing suffering on all sides.
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