David Brooks on his conversion, vulnerability and the challenges of talking about morality

[@deirdrecollins3987]

I watch him every Friday on PBS. A thoughtful humble man. Great interview.

[@charlespeace97]

Modeling intelligence, confidence and humility, Brooks comes across as authentic, someone to be emulated and a rare commodity for his stature. Thanks

[@jimmieoakland3843]

I am an Irish Catholic, who lost my way. But when I began wending my way back, even I started with "Mere Christianity."

[@gavincargill-valuetheperson]

Since ‘discovering’ David Brooks on PBS with Mark Shields some years ago I’ve been hooked! Many thanks for your questions and observations which triggered off some very practical as well as thought provoking responses. In recent times I’ve suggested to my American friends that in the UK David Brooks and Richard Rohr are two people who are helping followers of Jesus and those on the journey as an antidote to the influence of ‘some others’!

[@likable72]

I’d been watching David for quite sometime. I liked his opinions and enjoy him every Friday on PBS. It keeps me ortho -ethically sane in this world full of troubles.

[@giniabeatty9774]

All who have followed David for the past few years have seen him develope into a more mature and intimate soul and complete individual that has come to understand the sacred in life.

[@carolinem1698]

God has been working on David for years. I really enjoy listening to him.

[@gooddaysahead1]

What? Are you anthropomorphizing a fantasy?

[@twopintsofmilk]

This was brilliant. Thank you ❤

[@UTEXTRACK]

Authenticity and humility.

[@matthiasbrandt1252]

What an excellent interview. Both you and Mr. Brooks were brilliant. Thanking God that He became a Christian!

[@gooddaysahead1]

Funny, I had no idea god was a christian. Where did you get that idea? God isn't religious. God doesn't practice a religion.

[@rebeccavandam2834]

Thank you, enjoyed this conversation with David as I always do. Recently studied the NT Book of Hebrews which tightly connects the Old Testament with Jesus. Then we are on to the sermon on the mount which again tightly connects the old covenant with the new covenant. Thus creating understanding how your Judaism with Christianity and the person of Jesus can both come alive. See also Tim Mackie ( Bible Project) who used the phrase “creating hell” in our world as a substitute for sin.

[@Peace2U689]

Thank you for this fascinating and earnest conversation with David Brooks. As a longtime fan, I was delighted to hear that we share a Great Books / Hutchins college experience. Alas, mine was with Shimer College and not U of C.

[@njg12345678]

Fantastic interview (conversation) with David Brooks. A favorite commentator of mine.

[@joannagiresi8730]

I think you did a great job interviewing David Brooks Thanks so much for asking thought provoking questions and I really enjoyed your podcast!! Best wishes as I subscribe to your channel🥰

[@rosedwight804]

How terrific- so thoughtful. I want to get his next book.

[@thos1950]

Brooks’ journey to faith reminds me somewhat of Malcolm Muggeridge’s trajectory to the same in an earlier time.

[@kristinakelly5051]

I like “missing the mark” for sin. Without double checking I think the word stems from an archery word perhaps? First time listening here and love it .

[@careyrowland]

Profoundly true.

[@belmounlv1]

Character! Morality! Critical thinking! How wonderfully basic.

[@gavincargill-valuetheperson]

PS - I should have added Tony Campolo to David Brooks and Richard Rohr!

[@lilijastoppler377]

What if we understand "sin" as our deep-rooted belief, that we are separated from God (Good, Love, Life). This belief causes fear and some kind of "rage" in us, which separates us from and make it easier to hurt each other. What if we contemplate on the thought that we are not God, but we are individuals that reflect God (Good).

[@Sad_Bumper_Sticker]

I have been leftist atheist all my life and will never change that but I have always missed a discussion on how to be a good human. These conversations are either brought up by conservatives, the intellectually religious. When philosophers take on the subject is feels cold and devoid of feeling and humanity. Also giggled hearing “Think Yiddish, Act British”.

[@julesjgreig]

Very good. Thank you very much.

[@noelhausler2911]

I wonder if he has read any books by Bart Ehrman. Has he read the gospels horizontally, especially the resurrection stories?

[@MarloweDash]

Christian hypocracy and self righteousness do not seem to exist on DB but are ubiquitous elsewhere and it is this blindness in faith that profoundly repel me from ‘the faithful’.

[@mileshalpern9320]

As a Jew, I cannot help being repulsed by David's conversion. He is a Jew and every Jew understands that (almost every). On a logical note, it's his life to do with what he please. On a moral level, it's his life to live. On an emotional level, I find his conversion sickening. How can a Jew do such a thing! I am a secular Jew. There are about 15 million Jews on this earth. Number of Christians, 2.4 billion. Nice going Dave. On an emotional level I can't help believe you to be a traitor. Some of us cannot live by logic alone of which I am one. I do not understand you and don't profess to be able to. It is, after all, your life.

[@belmounlv1]

There is no Judeo-Christian culture. Very different values!

[@tedgemberling2359]

So you want him to be a Jew, but not necessarily a religious Jew? Apparently he has found his religious aspirations to be more fulfilled in Christianity. Can't he be a genuine supporter of the Jewish people while being attracted to Christianity? If not, why not?

[@Sad_Bumper_Sticker]

But lioking at Jewish hisory in Europe since the Middle Ages and later history in the US, conversion to Christianity has been a art off Jewish History if one likes it or not. It’s neither a niche nor a new phenomenon. Historically, some have done it to avoid antisemitism and to assimilate or avoid social rejection, but many genuinelly found Christianity more profound. I am an atheist but would never be repulsed by any Jewish person’s conversion. There were also Shoah Survivors who, due to being brought up in Christian Homes during the war, identified as Christians after the war even after reuniting with surviving Jewish Femily members, do you perceive them as “Traitors” as you lightly use the term?

[@LawrenceLeiken]

Brooks has been a conservative, then he was a liberal. Now he is a Christian slave moralist, concerned with sin, guilt, and inversion of the power structure. He ought to read Nietzsche, the right passages, not the wrong ones.