636: America’s Government Teacher on Hope & Resilience with Sharon McMahon
Release Date: 09/25/2024
644: Unplugging from Politics & the Real Meaning of Acts with N.T. Wright
The Holy Post
After an exhausting year of politics and the re-election of Donald Trump, what is a faithful way for Christians to navigate the next four years? Should we continue to immerse ourselves in political news, or is it better to disconnect from the media? And should Christians join the political fights online, or unplug to better serve our local communities? The Holy Post crew responds to articles by a number of Christians leaders addressing these questions. Then, New Testament scholar, N.T. Wright, is back to discuss the book of Acts. Wright says an understanding of ancient temples is the key to...
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643: How Trump Won the Election with David French
The Holy Post
It’s been a week since the election and why Americans voted to send Donald Trump back to the White House is beginning to come into focus. The entire Holy Post team—Phil, Skye, Kaitlyn, and Esau—is here to talk about why Trump won and how Harris lost. Was it the economy? Was it racism and misogyny? Was it identity politics or disinformation in the media? Everyone has a theory. Then New York Times columnist and Holy Post regular, David French, is back to give his take on the election. He explains why Kamala Harris’s decision to focus on abortion backfired, and why January 6 did...
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642: How the Friendship of Lewis & Tolkien Changed the World with John Hendrix
The Holy Post
The 2024 election is finally here. Who won? We don’t know because we recorded this episode on Monday. But we do know that MAGA men are not happy about their wives secretly voting for Kamala Harris. And a new study finds trust in American institutions—especially the media—continues to decline. Is there a way to reverse the trend? Then, to take an overdue break from politics, Skye talks to author and illustrator, John Hendrix, about his new graphic non-fiction book “The Mythmakers” about the remarkable friendship between C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. It’s a fun conversation about...
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641: The Roots of Racial & Environmental Injustice with David Swanson
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With only a week before the presidential election, Phil and Kaitlyn are joined by Mike Erre to discuss Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden. Why do so many white evangelicals ignore the racism, misogyny, and dehumanizing rhetoric coming from the MAGA movement? It is really about supporting certain policies or the idolatry of power? Then, David Swanson is back to discuss his latest book, “Plundered: The Tangled Roots of Racial and Environmental Injustice.” Swanson says we will be compelled to engage both issues when we see their shared origin in the sin of greed. Also this week—the...
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640: Holy Post LIVE from Chicago with Charlie Dates
The Holy Post
Today’s episode is all content from our recent live event in Chicago. Phil, Skye, and Kaitlyn discuss the rapid shift in public opinion about immigration—and it’s not just among Republicans. Why is support for immigration down dramatically among Democrats and independents too? Then Charlie Dates, the pastor of Progressive Baptist Church and Salem Baptist Church in Chicago, joins the show to talk about the widening divide between the black church and white evangelicalism, why he’s tired of talking about white evangelicals, and where he sees hope for the future of the church in the U.S....
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639: The Apostle to the Apostles with Jennifer Powell McNutt
The Holy Post
The election is just three weeks away and Phil is exhausted, Kaitlyn is concerned that evangelicals supporting Harris are making the same mistake as those supporting Trump, and Skye blames the whole mess on WWJD bracelets. Based on Kaitlyn’s recent Religion News Service article, the Holy Post crew discuss a better way for Christians to think about politics and voting. Then, Wheaton College professor of theology and history, Jennifer Powell McNutt, talks to Skye about her new book, “The Mary We Forgot.” She argues that the Mary Magdalene we encounter in the Gospels is not a scandalized...
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638: Keep Christianity Weird & Lessons from the Church Abuse Scandal with Kristen Kobes Du Mez
The Holy Post
Being a cultural Christian used to be an insult, but more people are embracing the label with pride. The Holy Post crew unpacks what’s behind the growing affection for cultural Christianity, and they explain why it’s more important than ever to embrace the weird, supernatural beliefs of the faith. Historian Kristen Kobes Du Mez is back to discuss her new documentary, “For Our Daughters,” about the sexual abuse scandals that have shaken the faith of many in the church. She sees a link between the theology and culture that created and covered-up sexual abuse in the church, and the rise...
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637: Your Church is Too American with Steve Bezner
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Steve Bezner, a pastor in Houston, had a troubling realization—his people were being shaped more by social media, YouTube, and cable news than by the Bible, and their views of money, sex, and power looked more American than Christian. He talks with Kaitlyn about his new book, “Your Jesus Is Too American,” and how being more relational than organizational may be the first step toward healing our churches. Also this week, are American evangelicals going through the five stages of grief? If so, what does it mean to accept our loss of cultural influence? For the first time, new data says Gen...
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French Friday: The Pope’s Humility & the Joy of MAGA
The Holy Post
In a military operation straight out of a spy novel, Israel infiltrated Hezbollah’s communication networks and detonated pager bombs and walkie talkies. David French and Skye discuss the operation and the long term ramifications. Then, they break down Pope Francis’ controversial comments on salvation that have sparked backlash among conservative Catholics. Finally, they unpack a surprising trend: why are young men returning to church in greater numbers than women? Is it a sign of hope for the church, or something more complicated? 0:00 - Theme Song 0:17 - Episode Starts,...
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636: America’s Government Teacher on Hope & Resilience with Sharon McMahon
The Holy Post
With both the election and polls getting closer, new research from Lifeway says a record number of pastors are refusing to say who they’re voting for—even on an anonymous survey. Mike Erre says he wouldn’t answer the survey either. His reason may surprise you. Phil explores how Pat Buchanan’s 1992 presidential campaign was a harbinger of today’s politics. And diversity experts featured in Matt Walsh’s new documentary claim he lied to get them to participate in the film. Walsh says it’s okay to lie for the greater good of winning the culture war. Is he right? Then, Kaitlyn...
info_outlineWith both the election and polls getting closer, new research from Lifeway says a record number of pastors are refusing to say who they’re voting for—even on an anonymous survey. Mike Erre says he wouldn’t answer the survey either. His reason may surprise you. Phil explores how Pat Buchanan’s 1992 presidential campaign was a harbinger of today’s politics. And diversity experts featured in Matt Walsh’s new documentary claim he lied to get them to participate in the film. Walsh says it’s okay to lie for the greater good of winning the culture war. Is he right? Then, Kaitlyn interviews America’s Government Teacher and social media sensation, Sharon McMahon, about her new book “The Small and the Mighty.” McMahon says history can give us hope and resilience to live faithfully in our divided times. Also this week—Be careful, that’s not an Oreo on the ground.
0:00 - BioLogos - Go to https://biologos.org/podcast/language-of-god/ and check out the Language of God podcast!
1:05 - Intro
2:24 - Preview of The Esau McCaulley Podcast
5:36 - Show Starts
6:58 - Theme Song
7:19 - Sponsor - The National Association of Evangelicals - Listen to the Difficult to explore how Christians can become peacemakers. Go to https://www.nae.org/introduction-difficult-conversations-podcast-series/ to check it out!
8:26 - Skye’s New Hat
13:24 - News of the Oreo Butt
18:27 - LifeWay’s Research on Pastors’ Voting Polls
27:42 - Mike’s Church Navigating the Political Divide
30:58 - The GOP’s Slow Turn from Evangelicalism
42:41 - Has Anti-Immigration Sentiment Become Mainstream in Christianity?
51:00 - Matt Walsh’s “Am I a Racist?”
57:38 - Sponsor- Brooklyn Bedding - Brooklyn Bedding is offering up to 25% off sitewide for our listeners! Go to https://www.brooklynbedding.com/holypost to get yours now!
58:40 - Sponsor - World Relief - Visit https://worldrelief.org/holypost/ to learn more about refugee resettlement!
59:48 - Interview
1:01:34 - How Did McMahon Get Into Teaching History on the Internet?
1:06:55 - How Do You Engage Online Without Falling Into Outrage?
1:10:30 - What Is Your Most Important Work?
1:16:09 - What Is Your Capacity?
1:27:17 - Septima Clark
1:33:27 - Loving Your Enemies
1:39:16 - End Credits
Links Mentioned in the News Segment:
Oreo Spider Butts
https://boingboing.net/2024/09/14/trapdoor-ravine-spiders-butt-easily-mistaken-for-oreo-cookie.html
The GOP’s Slow Turn from American Evangelicalism
Half of Pastors Plan to Vote for Trump, Nearly a Quarter Wouldn’t Say
https://www.christianitytoday.com/2024/09/trump-vote-pastors-evangelical-election-lifeway-survey/
How Far is Too Far?
https://wng.org/opinions/how-far-is-too-far-1726567683
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