Religious Innovation
Recommending a Tyler Cowen Conversation
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
Economist Tyler Cowen has a popular podcast interviewing people he finds intriguing. While I find Cowen’s podcast somewhat intriguing, his choice of guests doesn’t always grab me the same way Russ Roberts’s does.
Nevertheless, the Tyler interview is a rapid-fire affair, and if the topics interest you, you might find his methods useful. Cowen’s approach is more obviously guided by pre-formulated questions rather than a casual ramble across the cerebral landscape.
That intro aside, a recent Conversation with Tyler was with British historian, The Reverend Diarmaid MacCulloch, who has written several books about the history of Christianity. The Reverend MacCulloch was new to me, as were (quite naturally) his historical perspectives on how the religion has evolved from its foundation.
I could hardly agree more with Tyler’s take in the intro from his homepage:
Tyler considers Diarmaid MacCulloch one of those rare historians whose entire body of work rewards reading. This work includes his award-winning Cranmer biography, his sweeping histories of Christianity and the Reformation, and his latest on sex and the church, which demonstrates what MacCulloch calls the historian’s true vocation: unsettling settled facts to keep humanity sane.
The link to the episode includes the audio links, the YouTube version, and the interview transcript, for those who prefer to scan the text version first.
There was lots of detail regarding the evolution of the faith and its institutions. And the concluding discussion about what history means as an endeavor in its own right was a thoughtful bonus.
And for those who were already familiar with MacCulloch and his work: Why didn’t you tell me? Hmm? Why?
I have not heard of this gentleman, but I'll try to pull up the podcast on Spotify. His name implies that he will have a Darling Little Accent.
Meanwhile, I need to get the Wasted Youth moving on the day and start loading all the stuff for Envirothon into the trunk of the Honda. I love my Honda.
I used to do expert witness work for a Christian law firm. I’d crack them up by proclaiming “I’m not a Christian, I’m a carpenter.” Christians with a sense of humor are fun.