# Developing a Theology of Politics w Dr. Michael Giles Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-intersection-with-dr-j-friends-7057547/developing-a-theology-of-politics-w-dr-michael-giles Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-intersection-with-dr-j-friends-7057547/developing-a-theology-of-politics-w-dr-michael-giles.md Podcast: [The Intersection with Dr. J + Friends](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-intersection-with-dr-j-friends-7057547) Published: 2026-06-12T17:40:13+00:00 Episode link: https://share.transistor.fm/s/a637deef Audio file: https://media.transistor.fm/a637deef/c3b00555.mp3 Processing state: not_requested JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-intersection-with-dr-j-friends-7057547/episodes/developing-a-theology-of-politics-w-dr-michael-giles Duration seconds: 3423 ## Resource In a political culture overflowing with opinions but often lacking deeper reflection, Dr. J sits down with Dr. Michael Giles to explore a deceptively simple question: What is political theology, and why does it matter? Far more than partisan preferences or ideological instincts, political theology asks how our understanding of God, human nature, authority, and the common good shapes the way we think about politics. Drawing from Augustine and various intellectual traditions, Dr. Mike argues that every political vision rests upon deeper assumptions about reality, whether we recognize them or not. Along the way, Justin and Mike trace the historical roots of modern democracy, examining the influences of ancient Athens, the Roman Republic, Christianity, and the humanism of the Enlightenment. They discuss how Christian ideas of human dignity helped transform political thought and why understanding these historical foundations remains essential for navigating contemporary debates. The conversation also confronts a challenge unique to every generation: our tendency to become prisoners of our own moment. As Dr. Giles observes, we often swim in cultural waters we scarcely notice, making it difficult to recognize the assumptions and narratives shaping our political imaginations. How have Christian, Enlightenment, and other philosophical ideas shaped democratic institutions? And how can historical awareness help us better understand the opportunities and tensions of our present age? For listeners interested in faith, politics, history, and public life, this episode offers an introduction to political theology and a compelling invitation to think more deeply about the ideas that shape our civic lives. LINKS: Website: michaeltgiles.com City of God by Augustine Augustine & the Li… ## Actions - request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-intersection-with-dr-j-friends-7057547/episodes/developing-a-theology-of-politics-w-dr-michael-giles/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode. - read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-intersection-with-dr-j-friends-7057547/developing-a-theology-of-politics-w-dr-michael-giles.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource. A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed. ## Transcript Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.