Crossing Faiths is a podcast where people from diverse religious backgrounds openly discuss everything you're NOT supposed to discuss at the dinner table. Join hosts Jt Pinna, a career national security, international affairs, and D.C. insider, and Elliot Toman, a former media director in the Evangelical church, as they engage in lively conversations about the impact of faith on current events. Crossing Faiths also welcomes guests from various religious and experiential backgrounds to share…
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In this episode of Crossing Faiths, John Pinna speaks with Naweed Kawusi, a former Colonel in the Afghan National Army and author of The Bleeding Nation , about his harrowing escape from Afghanistan during the 2021 collapse and his transition to life in Brazil. The conversation delves into the complex history of foreign intervention in Afghanistan, with Kawusi arguing that the nation’s "Gordian…
In this episode of Crossing Faiths, John Pinna speaks with John Havens about the intersections of artificial intelligence, human dignity, and holistic well-being. Reflecting on his 2016 book Heartificial Intelligence: Embracing Our Humanity to Maximize Machines , Havens argues that the rush to automate and replicate human intelligence must be grounded in clear boundaries, ethical disclosures, and…
In this episode of Crossing Faiths, John Pinna interviews Ruth Reck, a social media content creator who documents her visits to faith-based attractions and religious sites alongside her wife. The discussion centers on Reck’s experiences exploring young-earth creationist locations—such as the Ark Encounter and the Creation Museum—as well as evangelical megachurches. Reck shares her motivations for…
In this episode of Crossing Faiths , John Pinna interviews Devan Patel, a lawyer and strategist who collaborates with multi-faith communities on technology, policy, and ethics. The discussion centers on the intersection of artificial intelligence, human dignity, and religious communities, particularly focusing on the Vatican's forward-looking involvement in the AI discourse. Patel shares details…
In this episode of Crossing Faiths , John Pinna interviews Jason Boyett about the concept of collective effervescence—a term originally coined by sociologist Émile Durkheim to describe the intense burst of shared energy and emotion that occurs when people gather for regular religious rituals. Boyett explains that this phenomenon is essentially a neurochemical event driven by group synchronization,…
In this episode of Crossing Faiths , John Pinna interviews Jason Boyett to explore the deep cross-cultural and personal complexities of navigating different structural beliefs, focusing on how individuals form, question, and expand their understandings of faith. Boyette shares his journey from growing up in a conservative Southern Baptist tradition to writing 12 Major World Religions , emphasizing…
In this episode of Crossing Faiths, John Pinna and Elliot Toman discuss the multifaceted nature of religion, dynamic interpretations of Islamic principles, and the socioeconomic impacts of modern capitalism. The conversation begins with a casual sci-fi reference to Star Trek and quickly segments into a philosophical debate regarding whether religion is meant to enforce a collective societal order…
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In this episode of Crossing Faiths, John Pinna speaks with Dr. Minhas Khan from Peshawar University about the complexities of intra-faith relations and the limitations of Samuel Huntington’s "Clash of Civilizations" theory. They explore how the perception of the Muslim world as a monolithic entity is often a reductive Western construct used to serve political agendas, rather than an accurate…
In this episode of Crossing Faiths, John and Elliot discuss the intricate and often nuanced overlaps between different religions and belief systems, comparing and contrasting internal divisions within Islamic tradition with those in Christian tradition. They explore the historical and theological distinctions between Sunni and Shia Islam, examining how each sect interprets concepts like…
In this episode of Crossing Faiths, John and Elliot discuss the multifaceted and often unsettling implications of technology and power in our society. The conversation shifts from science fiction, specifically the depiction of Starfleet in Star Trek , to historical events like Pearl Harbor and World War II, examining how societies grapple with traumatic events and the subsequent need for…
