Faithful Politics

Technology entrepreneur Patrick Gruhn joins Faithful Politics to discuss how artificial intelligence is being used to explore the writings and theology of Pope Benedict XVI.

Gruhn explains how the Pope Benedict XVI AI works as a research tool, how it uses verified sources to reduce hallucinations and bias, and why the project is designed to help users investigate Benedict’s thought rather than simulate a conversation with him.

The conversation also explores Magisterium AI, efforts to digitize historic Vatican documents, the risks of treating AI-generated answers as authoritative, and Gruhn’s broader view that AI can increase productivity and human flourishing while still requiring careful moral judgment.

Patrick also discusses Benedict’s emphasis on faith and reason, why he believes AI should preserve human dignity, and how Catholics and researchers can use these tools to better understand church teaching.

The website for the Benedict XVI Society and the Pope Benedict XVI AI project is:
https://benedictxvisociety.org/

Bio
Patrick Gruhn is a German-born technology entrepreneur, lawyer, and software developer working at the intersection of artificial intelligence, finance, and faith. He is co-CEO of Perpetuals, vice president of the Pope Benedict XVI Foundation, and an investor in Catholic media and technology projects. His recent work includes developing AI tools that help users explore the writings of Pope Benedict XVI and Catholic teaching through verified church sources.

Josh and Will sit down with Dr. Syed A.H. Zaidi, a scholar of Islamic philosophy, theology, and intellectual history, for a wide-ranging conversation about his personal journey from New York political operative to academic, and what that journey reveals about faith, identity, and politics in America today. Dr. Zaidi traces his path from a politically connected Pakistani-American family in New York, through years working for prominent (and often controversial) Democratic politicians, to a late-in-life pivot toward the study of Islamic philosophy and Sufism.

From there, the conversation opens into a broader discussion of what Islam actually teaches, how Sunni and Shia traditions differ, the history of Islamophobia in the U.S., the influence of Saudi-funded Wahhabism on global Islam, and how Muslim Americans navigate hot-button political issues like same-sex marriage ballot measures. The episode closes with a sober reflection on the state of American political life — and a shared hope that today's polarization is a passing phase rather than a permanent condition.

Guest Bio
Dr. Syed A.H. Zaidi is a core lecturer in Islamic Studies at Butler University, where his research focuses on Islamic Neoplatonism, Shia thought, Sufism, and the relationship between philosophy and religious revelation. He earned his PhD in Islamic Civilizations from Emory University and is currently working on books examining the Brethren of Purity and the development of Hermetic thought from late antiquity through the medieval Islamic world. He also directs the Muslim Studies Endowment at Butler University.

Historian Joseph L. Locke joins Faithful Politics to discuss his new book, One State Under God: A History of Religion in Texas.

Locke traces how religion shaped Texas from Indigenous traditions and Spanish missions to Protestant growth, segregation, the Religious Right, and today’s Christian nationalist politics. He also explains why early Texas Protestants strongly defended church-state separation, how that changed over time, and why figures like James Robison and David Barton became so influential.

The conversation offers a broader look at how Texas became a major force in the national relationship between religion and politics.

About Joseph L. Locke

Joseph L. Locke is an associate professor of American history at the University of North Texas. His work focuses on Texas, the American South, and the development of religion and politics in the United States. He is also a co-creator and editor of The American Yawp.

Book: One State Under God: A History of Religion in Texas: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9781477334201

The conversation delves into the work of Warren Throckmorton, who fact-checks historical claims, particularly those made by political operative David Barton. The discussion highlights the influence of Barton and the credibility and integrity of historical claims, shedding light on the need for accurate historical representation and the impact of political alignment on historical narratives. The conversation delves into the historical context of the American Revolution, exploring the laws and events that shaped the period. It also examines the influence of Christianity on the founding of the United States, shedding light on the role of religion in the nation's early history.

Takeaways
Historical Fact-Checking
Influence of Political Operatives
Credibility and Integrity in Historical Claims Historical context of the American Revolution
The influence of Christianity on the founding of the United States

Chapters
00:00 Discussion on David Barton's False Claims and Influence (Continued)
34:28 The Historical Context of the American Revolution
39:59 The Influence of Christianity on the Founding of the United States

How did once-fringe religious movements gain influence within the Republican Party and access to the highest levels of American political power?

Will Wright speaks with author and scholar Keri Ladner about her book, American Dominion: The Rise and Radicalization of a New Christendom. They examine the history and political influence of dominionism, a movement built around the belief that Christians are called to exercise authority over government, education, media, business, religion, family, and the arts.

Keri explains the connections among Christian nationalism, the New Apostolic Reformation, the Seven Mountain Mandate, Christian Reconstructionism, neo-Confederate Christianity, faith healing, spiritual warfare, and the modern religious right. She also traces how these movements helped build evangelical support for Donald Trump and contributed to election conspiracy theories surrounding January 6.

The conversation explores:
What dominionism means within American Christianity
The origins and goals of the Seven Mountain Mandate
The New Apostolic Reformation and its prophets and apostles
Bethel Church, faith healing, and the political power of worship music
Lance Wallnau and the claim that Donald Trump is a modern-day Cyrus
Doug Wilson, Christian Reconstructionism, and neo-Confederate theology
Pete Hegseth and the influence of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches
How religious movements with conflicting theologies formed a common political coalition
The relationship between Christian nationalism, white supremacy, and political radicalization
What American democracy could face if dominionist movements continue gaining power
This episode offers an extensive examination of the history, theology, and political strategy behind one of the most influential movements shaping religion and politics in America.
About Keri Ladner
Keri Ladner, PhD, is a scholar of fundamentalist religion, American politics, and the radicalization of the conservative movement. She earned her doctorate from the University of Edinburgh and specializes in how religious beliefs and movements become embedded within American political power structures.

She is the author of American Dominion: The Rise and Radicalization of a New Christendom and End Time Politics: From Moral Majority to QAnon. Her research examines dominionism, the New Apostolic Reformation, evangelical politics, Christian nationalism, faith healing, QAnon, and the development of the modern religious right.
Get the Book
Purchase American Dominion: The Rise and Radicalization of a New Christendom https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9798216275763