LIFE: AS WE KNOW IT
People view life differently, leading to diverse opinions on issues like war, abortion, and capital punishment. Some see all human life as sacred and oppose taking it under any circumstances. Others believe life isn’t always absolute and that taking a life can sometimes serve a greater good. There’s no simple answer—each person must decide for themselves. These interviews aim to explore these perspectives and invite you to reflect on your own beliefs about the value of life.
Tremper Longman III, Ph.D.
Emeritus Professor of Biblical Studies; Distinguished Scholar of Biblical Studies
Old Testament scholar Tremper Longman III discusses the Bible’s complex and often misunderstood relationship to abortion. Drawing from his book The Bible on the Ballot, Longman explains that Scripture offers no direct laws against abortion but does provide moral principles and attitudes to consider. He unpacks key passages like Exodus 21 and Psalm 139, arguing that while life has moral worth from conception, the Bible does not equate all abortions with murder. Longman critiques the absolutism often found in evangelical rhetoric and calls for a more compassionate, nuanced, and theologically grounded approach that considers both the potential of life and the lived experiences of women facing difficult decisions.
Corinna Lain
S. D. Roberts & Sandra Moore Professor of Law
Law professor and former prosecutor Corinna Lain discusses the legal, historical, and moral dimensions of the death penalty, drawing on over a decade of scholarship. She explains how the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily struck it down in Furman v. Georgia due to its arbitrary and racially biased application, and examines the evolving justifications for capital punishment—deterrence, retribution, and incapacitation—highlighting their practical and ethical shortcomings. Lain also explores the role of redemption, the humane treatment of those on death row, and the racial disparities that persist in sentencing. She shares hopeful trends, including a dramatic decline in executions and death sentences, suggesting the death penalty is quietly disappearing from the American legal landscape.
Shane Claiborne
Activist & Author
Shane Claiborne reflects on the moral, spiritual, and social costs of the death penalty, drawing from his activism and faith-rooted opposition to state-sanctioned execution. He shares stories of people impacted by capital punishment—from victims' families to those on death row—and highlights the racial and economic disparities that shape who lives and who dies. Claiborne challenges the Church to reclaim its prophetic voice by opposing the death penalty as incompatible with the teachings of Jesus, especially in a justice system marked by error and bias. Through personal anecdotes and national trends, he paints a picture of a movement growing in hope, where grace, redemption, and restorative justice take precedence over retribution.
MSG Juan Mata
CEO Quiet Pro Tactical
Retired Master Sergeant Juan Mata, served in the Green Berets for 14 years, and before that was a Ranger, and an Infantryman. He now runs a company called Quiet Pro Tactical, an organization dedicated to giving back to local communities and teaches law enforcement to be better protectors for their citizens. Juan Mata, the Principal Instructor, a former 14-year Green Beret Combat Veteran. He has numerous combat deployments including Iraq and Afghanistan. His qualifications include Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat Course, Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape, Tactical Combat Casualty Care, Special Operations Terminal Attack Controller, Technical Surveillance, Counter-surveillance, and U.S. Army Ranger School.
Eric Berger
Constitutional Law Professor
Professor Eric Berger joined the faculty in 2007. He received his B.A. with Honors in History from Brown University, and his J.D. from Columbia Law School, where he was a Kent Scholar and an Articles Editor on the Columbia Law Review. After law school, Professor Berger clerked for the Honorable Merrick B. Garland on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. He then practiced in Jenner & Block's Washington, D.C. office, where he worked on litigation in several state and federal trial and appellate courts, including the United States Supreme Court. Professor Berger's matters there included cases involving lethal injection, same-sex marriage, the detention of foreign nationals at Guantanamo Bay, and internet obscenity.
Abby Johnson
Pro-Life Activist, Author
Once the director of a Planned Parenthood clinic, Abby Johnson is now a passionate, outspoken advocate for the sanctity of human life of pre-born babies. During her stint with Planned Parenthood, she became increasingly disturbed by the organization’s activities and reached a sharp turning point when she was asked to assist in an abortion in which she watched in horror as a 13 week old baby was killed. Soon afterward, Abby departed from Planned Parenthood and quickly became a well-recognized supporter of the pro-life movement. She travels widely as a public speaker and is the author of the national best-selling book, Unplanned, which led to a movie about her experiences also titled Unplanned. She and her husband have eight children and reside in Texas. Learn more about Abby at her website, abbyjohnson.org.
Karen Tumulty
Editor, Columnist Washington Post
Karen Tumulty is Deputy Editorial Page Editor and a columnist for The Washington Post. In her previous role as a national political correspondent for the newspaper, she received the Toner Prize for Excellence in Political Reporting. She joined The Post in 2010 from Time magazine, where she had held the same title. During her more than 15 years at Time, Tumulty wrote or co-wrote more than three dozen cover stories. She also held positions with Time as congressional correspondent and White House correspondent. Before joining Time in 1994, Tumulty spent 14 years at the Los Angeles Times, where she covered a wide variety of beats. During her time there, she reported on Congress, business, energy and economics from Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C. Tumulty is a native of San Antonio, where she began her career at the now-defunct San Antonio Light. Tumulty holds a bachelor of journalism from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from Harvard Business School.