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Conversations with Coleman

Why Liberal Religion is Losing Ground

Conversations with Coleman

The Free Press

Philosophy, Society & Culture

4.5610 Ratings

🗓️ 26 January 2026

⏱️ 62 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Our guest today is Rabbi David Wolpe. He’s spent decades debating atheists, leading one of the country’s largest synagogues, and thinking seriously about what holds a moral society together once traditional faith loosens its grip. Wolpe discusses how secular movements quietly take on the structure—and zeal—of religion. We get into Judaism as a form of peoplehood, the strange moral logic of modern campus activism, antisemitism as a conspiracy engine, and why slogans and ideology can harden into dogma. Wolpe also reflects on his time teaching at Harvard, the limits of academic tolerance, and what he learned about institutions under pressure.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Welcome to another episode of Conversations with Coleman. My guest today is Rabbi David Wolpe.

0:06.0

Rabbi Wolpe is an American conservative rabbi, author, and a scholar in residence at the Maimonides Fund.

0:13.0

He was named the Most Influential Rabbi in America by Newsweek and one of the 50 most influential Jews in the world by the Jerusalem Post.

0:22.1

In this episode, we talk about Rabbi Wolpey's old debates with Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris,

0:27.8

and the other new atheists. We talk about why liberal religion is in decline all over the world.

0:33.6

We talk about anti-Semitism in America, and in particular how it's similar to and different from other forms of bigotry. We talk about anti-Semitism in America, and in particular how it's similar to and different from other forms of bigotry.

0:40.8

We talk about what the word Zionism means and whether that word is still necessary.

0:45.6

We talk about the rabbi's controversial Atlantic article in which he called Donald Trump and Elon Musk pagans.

0:52.5

We talk about the relationship between enlightenment values

0:55.9

and Christianity and much more. So without further ado, Rabbi David Wolpey.

1:06.7

Now all the traitors present?

1:11.6

Let's get started, shall we?

1:13.6

From rags to riches.

1:15.0

I'm so sick of this.

1:16.2

Working like a dog and being treated worse.

1:18.3

Yorkshire to New York.

1:19.9

Poor climbers, you and me.

1:21.5

A life dedicated to revenge.

1:23.5

Let's make this an occasion to remember.

1:26.1

A woman of substance on Channel 4 starts tonight at 9.

1:30.3

Rabbi David Wolpe, thanks so much for doing my show.

1:33.6

I'm delighted to be here.

...

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