609: Rebounding Pastors, Shifting Evangelicals, & Rethinking Christian Media with Jon Houghton
Release Date: 03/20/2024
The Holy Post
King Charles III addressed Congress last week, citing his Christian faith as a foundation for pluralism and peace. President Trump, in contrast, gave a speech welcoming the King that referenced Christianity as a cultural identity requiring exclusion and protection. Phil, Skye, and Kaitlyn unpack the two very different visions of faith. Alan Noble is back to discuss his new book, “To Live Well,” and why young people are looking for virtues that are grounded in something more than online influencer advice. Also this week: Was the shooter at the White House Correspondents' Dinner a devout...
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Phil, Skye, and Kaitlyn hosted a live podcast recording in Atlanta on April 22. They were joined by Grammy-winning hip-hop artist Lecrae to discuss his journey through doubt and deconstruction toward a renewed faith in Christ. He shared what helped him through the dark season, and why he felt the need to abandon the “fraud” but not the “faith.” They also discussed the tenets of Just War Theory, innovative Chinese cars, and they responded to audience questions you won’t want to miss. Holy Post Plus: Ad-Free Version of this Episode: 0:00 - Show Starts 1:09 - Theme Song...
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Anthropic has sought the help of Christian theologians to make Claude, their A.I. model, more ethical, but they are also meeting with representatives from other religious and philosophical traditions. Should this make us more optimistic about tech companies controlling the future? The Atlantic has a story about the popularity of John Mark Comer even among non-religious young adults. Is his advocacy of contemplative Christian practices the answer to digital secularism our culture has been searching for? Kelsey Kramer McGinnis, co-author of “The Myth of Good Christian Parenting,” talks with...
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It’s been another week of deranged comments and posts from the President. This time he has targeted Pope Leo by accusing him of being weak on crime and catering to the radical left. Mr. Trump followed up by posting an A.I. image of himself as Jesus. The outrage was swift, including from his own MAGA supporters, but are they actually to blame for his messianic self-image? On Palm Sunday, the Pope said Jesus does not hear the prayers of those who wage war. Most assume he was referring to the Secretary of Defense’s wrathful prayer for U.S. troops in Iran. Defenders of Pete Hegseth’s prayer...
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We have a roundup of extravagant Easter celebrations, including helicopter egg drops, holy week drone shows, and skydiving bunnies. But what do these spectacles really achieve, and what do they communicate about the way of Jesus? Bible sales are breaking records. Is Donald Trump the reason? Conservative writer Peter Wehner, who worked for three Republican administrations, is back to explain how MAGA has rewired evangelical morality and what pastors should do about it. Also this week, the contrasting Easter messages of the Pope and the President. Holy Post Plus: Ad-Free Version of this...
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Catholic bishops around the U.S. are reporting a dramatic increase in applications for church membership and a surge of new converts as Easter approaches. What’s driving this new interest in the Catholic Church, and why aren’t evangelical churches seeing a similar boom? Mike Erre joins Phil and Kaitlyn to discuss the trend. Gabriel Salguero is back to update Skye on the impact of immigration enforcement on Hispanic churches and communities. He shares about two evangelical pastors detained in ICE facilities, and why Latino voters are abandoning Donald Trump after giving him record support...
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A recent article in The Atlantic argues that we should stop using the label “Christian nationalism” to criticize the religious right because both conservatives and progressives throughout American history have been motivated by Christian faith. Phil, Skye, and Kaitlyn discuss what the article gets right and why we need to keep talking about the danger of Christian nationalism. Phil wonders why Catholic leaders are outspoken in their criticism of the Iran war, while fewer evangelical leaders are speaking up. Kaitlyn talks with Amar Peterman about his book, Becoming Neighbors: The Common...
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In the past, Christian fundamentalism was defined by a literal reading of the Bible and conservative social values. They believed in things like a seven-day creation, the rapture, prophecies about the return of Jesus, and supporting the state of Israel. But data shows that fewer evangelicals hold these beliefs, but that doesn’t mean fundamentalism is going away. Skye and Kaitlyn are joined by Mike Erre to discuss the changing definition of Christian fundamentalism in America, and why the older variety may have been better. Then Bob Goff talks about his new video project through the Holy Land...
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Do you remember the children’s book, “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day”? That title also sums up what most Americans think about Trump’s new war with Iran. Kaitlyn explains why the war is immoral based on Christian theology, Phil channels Ezra Klein to define America’s new “heads on pikes” foreign policy, and Skye says the war fits Donald Trump’s long pattern of laziness and impatience. Then, Preston Sprinkle is back to discuss his latest book, “From Genesis to Junia,” about his journey to determine what the Bible really says about women in...
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The U.S. launched a military strike on Iran and President Trump is framing it in moral terms. Phil, Kaitlyn, and Katelyn Beaty discuss the administration’s shifting justifications for war, and why Christians should be cautious of language that makes it easier to dehumanize enemies. Then, they turn to the mass shooting in Austin and the predictable scramble to turn tragedy into political leverage. Kaitlyn interviews Carrie McKean about why distrust in public health and debates over immigration are often more complicated than our partisan categories allow. Also this week, don’t take selfies...
info_outlineAfter a number of difficult years and dismal statistics, a new report from Barna says pastors are on the mend. Another book about “ex-vangelicals” has been released. Does it have anything new to add to the conversation? And a record number of Latinos in the U.S. are leaving Catholicism to become Pentecostal evangelicals. What does it mean for the future of the church? Then, Holy Post Media’s CEO, Jon Houghton, joins Skye to discuss how he’s leading the organization, why Christian media needs to change, and the new projects launching this year. Plus, Wrinkle the duck, Albert the alligator, and an "audacious scheme" with super sheep.
Genesis Explainer Video
Holy Post Plus
Getting Schooled - Macrina the Younger
https://www.patreon.com/posts/100424439/
0:00 - Intro
1:02 - Show Starts
2:10 - Theme Song
2:31 - Sponsor - AG1 - Get your FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase, go to https://www.athleticgreens.com/HOLYPOST
3:51 - Sponsor - Sundays Dog Food - Get 35% off your first order of Sundays. Go to www.SundaysForDogs.com/HOLYPOST or use code HOLYPOST at checkout.
5:03 - Petitions to Change News of the Butt
6:18 - Animal News, Wrinkle the Duck in a Buc-ee’s
10:16 - Animal News, Giant Blind Alligator Swims with Children
13:22 - Animal News, Montana Mountain King, the Giant Super-Sheep
20:25 - Are the Pastors Doing Better?
25:06 - The Exvangelicals
38:42 - Are New People Coming to Evangelicalism?
49:17 - Latinos Moving from Catholicism to Evangelicalism
54:56 - Sponsor - Blueland - Get 15% off your first order by going to Blueland dot com slash HOLYPOST
56:02 - Sponsor - Rocket Money - Find and cancel your old subscriptions with Rocket Money at https://www.rocketmoney.com/holypost
57:10 - Interview
59:12 - Why Did Jon Houghton Want to Join the Holy Post?
1:03:09 - Why Did We Hire Jon Houghton to Join the Holy Post?
1:10:05 - Why Are We a For-Profit Company?
1:18:37 - Directions for Projects Going Forward
1:22:36 - Kaitlyn Schiess’s New Show
1:34:49 - End Credits
Links Mentioned in the News Segment:
Duck Banned from Buc-ee’s
https://pethelpful.com/pet-news/man-banned-bucees-service-duck
Albert the Alligator Swam with Children and Was Seized by Authorities
Giant Sheep Clone, Montana Mountain King
https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/16/us/montana-sheep-wildlife-trafficking-charges-trnd/index.html
Hopeful Increase for Pastors
https://www.barna.com/research/hopeful-increases-pastors/
“Exvangelicals” Book
https://religionnews.com/2024/03/15/hurting-most-the-people-who-follow-the-rules/
Latinos Flock to Evangelicalism
https://www.thefp.com/p/latinos-are-flocking-to-evangelical?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Other resources:
Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/
Holy Post Plus: www.holypost.com/plus
Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost
Holy Post Merch Store: https://www.holypost.com/shop
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