Robert George on how to disagree and remain spiritually grounded

The American legal scholar and public intellectual, Professor Robert George, joins host James Martin, S.J., on “The Spiritual Life” podcast to talk about the practice of dialogue in the church and society, as well as his own rich faith journey. 

Raised in the heart of Appalachia, West Virginia, by his Syrian Antiochian Orthodox father and Italian Catholic mother, Robert’s childhood was solidly rooted in faith and inspired by the moral heroism of his father. 

In addition to his extensive professional accomplishments, including as the sixth McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence at Princeton University, Professor George has long modeled civil dialogue with his friend and fellow interlocutor, Professor Cornel West. 

Timecodes:

0:00 Building trust for challenging conversations

5:27 Robert George’s Orthodox and Catholic “mixed” religious upbringing 

9:14 The impact of a father’s relationship with God

13:45 Robert’s father’s act of heroism

22:28 What Jane Austen’s characters can teach us about God’s ways

24:30 Praying slowly with attention

35:15 How Robert’s dialogues with Dr. Cornel West began

45:20 You’ll only allow someone you trust to challenge your deeply held beliefs

48:12 Audience Question: How can we better respond to God’s calls for improving the world?

Link to Father Jim’s spiritual advice column for this episode: https://www.americamagazine.org/podcasts/2026/06/01/robert-george-james-martin-spiritual-life

Some of Robert George’s books:

Truth Matters: A Dialogue on Fruitful Disagreement in an Age of Division

In Defense of Natural Law

Making Men Moral: Civil Liberties and Public Morality Do you have a spiritual question for Father Jim? You can write to us at: thespirituallife@americamedia.org Become a subscriber today at Americamagazine.org/subscribe

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