New Polity

D. C. Schindler, philosopher of metaphysics and Catholic thought, unpacks sexual difference as a metaphysical question. He explains contrariety vs. opposition, reframes Aristotle on sex as positive transcendence, and links soul, body, and species via form and act. Conversations touch on joy, the continuum of life, and how gender functions as a mode of human substance.

Maria Brandell, Fellow of New Polity and Notre Dame biblical theology student, offers a concise reading of Esther and gendered vocation. They explore Esther as a Christian symbol and typology. They trace court politics, Vashti and the harem as control, Mordecai and Esther’s complementary roles, and how symbolic readings illuminate sexual difference and limitation.

Dr. Jared Goff, a professor who links Catholic social teaching to geopolitics; Dr. Alex Plato, an ethics and political philosophy scholar; and Dr. Andrew Willard Jones, an expert on Aquinas and classical just war theory. They probe legitimacy, promulgation, and modern warfare's moral limits. They debate proportionality, ambiguous objectives, secrecy versus public justification, and whether opaque motives mean withholding support.

A lively exploration of sexual difference and its metaphysical puzzles. Discussion of how views of man and woman shape political order and cultural life. Debates range from Thomistic interpretations of gender to modern theories of transgenderism and the soul-body relationship. Promotions for a magazine issue and a conference punctuate the conversation.

Matthew Sanders, founder of Longbeard and builder of MagisteriumAI, argues for Catholic-aligned AI to meet digital seekers. Marc Barnes, New Polity editor and theologian, warns that chatty Catholic bots are probabilistic, fake conversations that risk spiritual harm. They spar over simulated personhood, hallucinations, responsibility, non-chat alternatives, and whether Catholics should build or ban such tools.

Reuben Slife, a careful reader of papal teaching and commentator on tech and Catholic thought, joins to unpack Pope Leo XIV's message on AI. They probe faces and voices as sacred, worry about deepfakes and chatbots simulating relationships, and debate threats to creativity, memory, and civic trust. Short reflections on responsibility, education, and preserving human presence round out the conversation.

Dr. Andrew Willard Jones, scholar of religion, culture, and education, discusses AI’s corrosive effect on writing and the book as a human craft. He warns AI mimics discourse, erases serendipity, and undermines apprenticeship. Short, urgent reflections on libraries, literacy, and what we lose when machine-made prose replaces slow scholarship.

Join Marc and Alex as they reflect on a transformative year. They explore how Christmas fosters evangelization and review magazine issues from 2025. A look ahead reveals plans for an intriguing 2026 conference on gender and politics. The conversation dives deep into AI's impact on creativity and community dynamics, linking cultural homogenization to increased scams. The duo also shares exciting new book insights and upcoming podcasts, emphasizing the importance of personal formation in the face of tech adoption. A festive farewell wraps it all up!

Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify | Listen on other platforms We are excited to announce New Polity's 2026 conference: Man, Woman, Tyrant, Slave. Learn more and register at https://newpolity.com/2026 The sixth annual New Polity conference aims to refute bad ideas concerning marriage and sexual difference; to debate the metaphysics of man and woman; to argue for a profound continuity between the order of man and woman and the political and cosmic order as a whole; to shed a light on the tyranny-destroying potential of marriage; and, in sum, to rediscover the mystery and purpose of sexual difference as revealed by the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. In this podcast, Marc Barnes and Andrew Willard Jones discuss the relation of man and woman, the metaphysical implications, and the 2026 conference. Please consider donating at https://www.newpolity.com/donate Subscribe to New Polity Magazine! https://newpolity.com/magazine Check out our books! https://newpolity.com/press Read more: https://newpolity.com/essays Check out our Catholic Social Teaching Masterclass hosted here in Steubenville, Ohio: https://newpolity.com/masterclass

Dive into a thought-provoking discussion on America's deeper societal issues, exploring the concept of 'structures of sin' and how they shape our perception of truth. The hosts examine the clash between personal faith and secular politics, revealing how a consumer mindset stifles true communal responsibility. Intriguingly, they highlight local businesses as potential sites for transformation and critique modern individualism through the lens of Catholic imagination. Join them as they challenge cultural norms and advocate for a more profound, collective sense of community.