Let's face it, religion isn't known for being particularly fashion-forward. Many might even say they’re directly opposed—vice and virtue, decadence versus humility, maximalism versus modesty. But lately, scholars from both the fashion world and Christian theology are arguing that maybe the story isn't quite so simple.

On this episode, we’ll talk to the pastor, theologian, and professor Robert Covolo about the long history of fashion in Christianity and clothing as a form of communication, a way to construct identity, interact in complex societies, and even connect with the divine. Whether or not the ultimate goal is to get closer to God or to one another, fashion and beauty can open our hearts and minds to something beyond ourselves.

Robert Covolo is the Executive Director of the Center for Faith + Work Los Angeles and a Professor at the Honors College at Azusa Pacific University. He is the author of Fashion Theology. Learn more about his work on his website.

Money may not buy happiness. But it turns out that the way it’s distributed can affect everything from happiness and a sense of meaning to physical health and mortality.

On this episode, we’ll explore the role economic inequality plays in the wellbeing of individuals and societies, and ask how religion fits into the picture. We’ll talk to psychologist Keith Payne about how our sense of where we stand in society can influence our behavior, our health, and even how religious we are. And we’ll also talk to religious studies scholar Bart Ehrman about Christianity’s complicated relationship with wealth, from the teachings of the historical Jesus to the establishment of modern welfare institutions and the rise of Protestant movements like the Prosperity Gospel.

Keith Payne is a Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He is the author of the books The Broken Ladder and Good Reasonable People. Learn more about his work on his website.

Bart Ehrman is the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the author or editor of over thirty books on Christianity and the New Testament, including Love Thy Stranger: How the Teachings of Jesus Transformed the Moral Conscience of the West. Find out more about his work on his website.

The United States is a country founded on the separation of church and state. But what did the founders really mean by that? Should religion be banished from public life and policy debates? Or could it serve a purpose in the pursuit of happiness and freedom for all?

On this episode, recorded during the Aspen Ideas Festival, we'll explore what the US founding fathers really thought about the different roles religion could play in society, how that view has changed through history, and what it means for the upcoming US elections.

David French is an American political commentator and current opinion columnist for The New York Times. He is a senior fellow of the Trinity Forum, a former senior editor for The Dispatch, and former staff writer for National Review.

Jeffrey Rosen is CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center, a professor of law at the George Washington University Law School, and a contributing editor for The Atlantic.