In this week’s episode of The Bulletin, host Mike Cosper chats with Kirsten Sanders and CT’s editorial director of ideas and books, Bonnie Kristian, about topics that are especially close to home for many—belonging, fatigue, and loneliness. The trio discuss the surgeon general’s new advisory on loneliness, pilots’ concern about fatigue in a busy summer, and why it’s so hard for us to return to church after the pandemic.
Joining us this week:
Bonnie Kristian is an experienced journalist skilled in compelling opinion writing, concise news delivery, and meticulous editing. Bonnie is the author of Untrustworthy: The Knowledge Crisis Breaking Our Brains, Polluting Our Politics, and Corrupting Christian Community (2022) and A Flexible Faith: Rethinking What It Means to Follow Jesus Today (2018). As a journalist, she writes opinion pieces on foreign policy, religion, electoral politics, and more. Her column, The Lesser Kingdom, appears in print and online at Christianity Today. She is a fellow at Defense Priorities, a foreign policy think tank, and her work has been published at outlets including The New York Times, The Week, USA Today, CNN, Politico, Reason, and The Daily Beast. A graduate of Bethel Seminary, she lives in Pittsburgh with her husband and twin sons.
Kirsten Sanders (PhD, Emory University) is a theologian interested in Christology and questions of material embodiment. Kirsten has written for Mere Orthodoxy, Comment Magazine, Sapientia, Christianity Today, and Hedgehog Review. Her first book on Christology and human difference is forthcoming from Baylor University Press. She is the founder of Kinisi Theology Collective, a public theology project.
Resources Referenced: “‘Why Church?’ Is the Wrong Question” | Christianity Today “What If Churches Ask for More and No One Says Yes?” | Christianity Today “The Misunderstood Reason Millions of Americans Stopped Going to Church” | The Atlantic Hillary Rodham Clinton: “The Weaponization of Loneliness” | The Atlantic
Read More from Christianity Today about today’s topics: “The Riddle of Church Loneliness” “Crowded Loneliness & Quiet Contemplation” “Tired of the Show: Why the Church Can’t (and Shouldn’t) Compete with Hollywood” “Rethinking Faith” “God’s Yoke for the Decision Fatigued” “The Fine Art of Rejuvenation”
“The Bulletin” is a production of Christianity Today Executive Producer: Erik Petrik Producer: Clarissa Moll and Matt Stevens Associate Producer: Azurae Phelps Editing and Mix: TJ Hester Music: Dan Phelps Show Design: Bryan Todd Graphic Design: Amy Jones Social Media: Kate Lucky
