The Russell Moore Show

One of the great American novelists on her little-explored Theological foundations

Over the next few weeks, the Russell Moore Show is digging into the archives and bringing back some of our favorite episodes, like this one from 2021 (before the show included video!) with great American novelist, Marilynne Robinson.

On the occasion of her new novel, Jack, Russell welcomed Marilynne to explore some of her Theological foundations that no one asks (but he wished someone would). They talk about the place of religion in society, sin and evil, and the transforming power of grace in each of our lives.

In a review of Jack, Russell wrote, "Reading this book, you will find yourself bound up in the stories and in the characters' spoken and unspoken internal dialogues, but you will end up realizing that you have been meditating on such big themes as love, fidelity, regret, and as always in Marilynne Robinson, a theology of creation, fall, redemption, meaning, and grace."

These were things worth meditating on in 2021, and they remain so in 2026.

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From the Moore to the Point newsletter: How you can protect yourself from brain rot—and why it matters to the rest of us. Find the David Brooks episode here.

Watch the video of this episode on The Russell Moore Show YouTube Playlist here.

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Russell’s conversation with Rainn Wilson (Dwight Schrute).

Watch this conversation on YouTube.

Over the next few weeks, the Russell Moore Show is digging into the archives and bringing back some of our favorite conversations.

This inaugural “best of” episode from May of 2023 is with Rainn Wilson, best known as Dwight Schrute from the TV series, The Office, who utters this phrase: “Whenever I’m about to do something, I think ‘Would an idiot do that?’ And if they would, I do not do that thing.”

In an age of cultural division and religious disagreement, many people feel that talking to someone with a different perspective on faith is, well, something an idiot would do. But Rainn Wilson disagrees: he’s fascinated by spirituality, generally. In fact, he’s the cofounder of SoulPancake, which develops content rooted in human connection (remember Kid President?), and the author of the book Soul Boom.

Though Russell and Rainn have genuine disagreements, the conversation is respectful, and ultimately covers pop culture depictions of religion, Wilson’s upbringing in the Baháʼí Faith, and what it was like to skyrocket from relative obscurity to fame. They talk about trying to discuss religion in Hollywood, what transcendence means, and whether or not the longing for justice points to a judgment day.

Resources discussed during this episode include:

Soul Pancake

Rainn Wilson and the Geography of Bliss

Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution by Rainn Wilson

The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron

Keep up with Russell:

Subscribe to Russell on Substack

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Submit a question for the show at [email protected]

Subscribe to the Christianity Today Magazine: Special offer for listeners of The Russell Moore Show: Click here for 25% off a subscription.

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Do you have what it takes to thrive in the era of AI?

Watch the video of this episode on YouTube Playlist

We talk a lot about AI on this show. And at a time when everyone is questioning the ethics of it all, David Brooks is more interested in what kind of people we should be no matter what happens with AI. His latest for The Atlantic, “The People Who Will Thrive in the AI Age” starts with a comforting bit of research: AI is not necessarily taking our jobs or lessening our workloads. Instead, it’s changing the way we relate to our work. And, the way we respond to this change will have more to do with our success in an AI era than anything else. Brooks says that the future doesn’t belong to those who optimize every task, but to those who continue pursuing the uniquely human work of enthusiasm and volition.

If you’ve been wondering what kind of person will succeed in the onslaught of AI technology, how to be the kind of person that weathers the perceived storm, or what the development of AI means for the modern Christian: this conversation is for you.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

“The People Who Will Thrive in the AI Age” by David Brooks

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami

The Hungry Mind: The Origins of Curiosity in Childhood by Susan Engel

Keep up with Russell:

Subscribe to Russell on Substack

Sign up for the weekly Moore to the Point newsletter

Submit a question for the show at [email protected]

Subscribe to the Christianity Today Magazine: Special offer for listeners of The Russell Moore Show: Click here for 25% off a subscription.

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From the Moore to the Point newsletter: No matter which way we turn, we don’t know what home is. That’s why Homer still rings true, even in the era of IMAX and SpaceX.

Watch the video of this episode on YouTube here.

Keep up with Russell:

Sign up for the weekly newsletter where Russell shares thoughtful takes on big questions, offers a Christian perspective on life, and recommends books and music he's enjoying.

Subscribe to the Christianity Today Magazine: Special offer for listeners of The Russell Moore Show: Click here for 25% off a subscription.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices