Episode 535: What Does the Global Church Believe About Guns? with Morgan Lee
Release Date: 11/16/2022
The Holy Post
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Following the 9/11 terrorist attack 25 years ago, Americans began using more “good versus evil” rhetoric, but have we taken it too far? Many of the tech bros developing AI were fans of sci-fi novels and movies in middle school, but completely missed the point of those stories. We may all pay the price. Bonnie Kristian, the deputy editor at Christianity Today, returns to discuss her new book “In Defense of Evangelicalism.” While she agrees with many of the recent criticisms of the movement, she says the problems within evangelicalism are bugs rather than features and believes its...
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Historian Kristin Kobes Du Mez, author of the best-selling “Jesus and John Wayne,” is back with another look at the forces that shaped modern American evangelicalism. This time she explores the backstory of evangelical femininity in her new book, “Live Laugh Love: The Secret History of White Christian Women and the World They Made.” Also this week: Phil wants to know what links three recent celebrity deaths—Dolly Parton, Gloria Steinem, and Wendell Berry. To the surprise of many, The Christian Post has published an anti-Christian nationalist article. Is it a sign that the evangelical...
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Why are the Christians who profess right doctrine about God often the most opposed to social justice in his name? That contradiction is at the heart of Charlie Dates’ new book. He talks with Skye about how separating justice and righteousness is damaging both white evangelicalism and young black activists. Also this week: Reflections on the wisdom of Dolly Parton, why religious tolerance isn’t enough to heal America’s divisions, and the difficulty of being an introvert within evangelicalism. Holy Post Plus: Ad-Free Version of this Episode: 0:00 - Show Starts 0:44 - Theme Song...
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Dating apps were supposed to make romance easier, but have they actually made men and women worse at dating? Kaitlyn Schiess takes over the host chair with Skye Jethani and Mike Erre to talk about Bumble’s decision to let men make the first move and why modern dating culture seems to be leaving everyone frustrated. Then they turn to AI and ask what happens when people start outsourcing friendship, advice, and intimacy to chatbots, and why churchgoing Christians may be especially eager to trust the technology. Later, Kaitlyn talks with musicologist Kelsey McGinnis about the resurgence of...
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Since the 1980s, the Republican Party has increasingly been associated with Christianity, while the Democratic Party has distanced itself from religious rhetoric to be more inclusive. But is that changing? This year, a surprising number of pastors are running for Congress as Democrats, and they are not shy about infusing their campaigns with faith. Republicans eager to protect their brand are fighting back by calling these progressive clergy candidates “PINOs”—Pastors in Name Only. In related news, Ryan Burge reveals surprising data about the political views of mainline ministers....
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The age of generic, non-denominational Christianity may be coming to an end. Phil, Skye, and Kaitlyn discuss why Christians are increasingly drawn to narrower theological identities, and whether the internet is turning legitimate doctrinal differences into purity tests and church fights. Then, the crew opens the mailbag to answer whether prenuptial agreements are compatible with Christian marriage and if praying in public is an authentic expression of faith or an uncomfortable performance. They also consider what Christians should read to better understand the end times and why Jesus supplied...
info_outlineThe U.S. midterm elections were full of surprises. The Holy Post crew asks if the political side of the pro-life movement has hit a wall, and if the Republican Party is really moving on from Donald Trump. Then, new data shows a sharp rise among evangelicals who didn’t attend college and who don’t attend church identifying as Republicans. What does it mean? And a new book chronicles the rise of Charlie Kirk, Candace Owens, and the rage-fueled conservative youth culture. Then, Skye talks to Christianity Today’s Morgan Lee about what global Christian leaders think about guns and self-defense. Her reporting on the issue reveals a wide spectrum of beliefs, how our perspective may be more cultural than biblical, and why dysfunctional governments elevate the appeal of guns. Plus, no one accidentally licks a toad.
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News Segment
0:00 - Intro
4:26 - Psychedelic toads
9:24 - Midterm election debrief
22:33 - Conservative youth culture
34:01 - New data on evangelical Republicans
42:44 - Sponsor: Faithful Counseling
Get 10% off your first month at faithfulcounseling.com/holypost
Interview with Morgan Lee
“Should Christians Own Guns for Self-Defense? A Global Snapshot” (Christianity Today) - https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2022/october-web-only/guns-christians-self-defense-mass-shootings-protection.html
Morgan Lee: https://twitter.com/Mepaynl
43:58 - Interview intro
47:42 - Article overview
51:38 - “God-given right to self-defense”
59:18 - Biblical basis for arguments
1:10:34 - Safe societies and effectiveness of government
1:14:42 - Credits
Links from news segment:
Christian’s film, “The Girl Who Wore Freedom” - https://geni.us/TheGirlWhoWoreFreedom
“Please stop licking psychedelic toads, National Park Service warns” (Washington Post) - https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/11/08/national-park-toad-sonoran-desert-hallucinogenic/
“How America’s conservative youth youth movement grew a powerhouse on the cult of rage” (Religion News Service) - https://religionnews.com/2022/10/31/how-americas-conservative-youth-movement-grew-a-powerhouse-on-the-cult-of-rage/
Data from Ryan Burge on evangelical Republicans -https://twitter.com/ryanburge/status/1588292184914432000
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