Episode Details

It’s time for the quarterly books episode of The Russell Moore Show!

Tune in as Russell and producer Ashley Hales talk about their recent reads ranging from politics to poetry. The two discuss a variety of topics including Augustine’s argument in City of God , how theological convictions become slogans, and the world of Contemporary Christian Music (CCM). Their conversation considers what true joy looks like, why it’s okay not to understand everything we read (even in the Bible), and how books can give us words for our most deeply felt human experiences.

Books mentioned in this episode include:

• God Gave Rock and Roll to You: A History of Contemporary Christian Music by Leah Payne
• City of God by Augustine 
• God's Rascal: J. Frank Norris and the Beginnings of Southern Fundamentalism (America's Baptists) by Barry Hankins
• Joy: 100 Poems by Christian Wiman
• Zero at the Bone by Christian Wiman
• Four Quartets: A Poem by T.S. Eliot
• Lutheran Slogans: Use and Abuse by Robert W. Jenson
• A Shining by Jon Fosse
• The Inferno by Dante Alighieri
• The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy
• The Maytrees: A Novel by Annie Dillard

Additional resources mentioned in this episode include:

• Petra
• Amy Grant
• Rich Mullins
• “Christian Wiman’s Work Against Despair” 
• George M. Marsden
• Eugene Peterson
• Music & Meaning with Charlie Peacock
• Owen Barfield
• C.S. Lewis
• J.R.R. Tolkien

Do you have a question for Russell Moore? Send it to questions@russellmoore.com.

Special offer for listeners: 

Russell Moore will join friends David French and Curtis Chang in Washington, DC for The After Party LIVE! on April 19. As a faithful listener to the podcast, we'd love for you to join us and use this $20 off offer just for listeners! The After Party is a free six-part video curriculum designed for people & pastors alike, and offers "a better way" for Christians to engage in politics.

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