The Dangerous Rise of Christian Nationalism in the Military
The Progressive Christians Podcast
Release Date: 10/31/2025
Is Artificial Intelligence ANTI Christian?
The Progressive Christians Podcast
Time is running out to submit your questions for the Q&A! Comment below or email us to have your questions answered. We encourage silly and personal questions too, not exclusively “serious” or “theological” ones! This week, we continue our discussion from last week about Artificial Intelligence. In our previous episode, we focused more on the material impacts of AI. This week, we shifted to a more spiritual and metaphorical investigation. We also addressed Everest’s original question - is AI ANTI CHRISTIAN? Don’t worry, we make sure to look at all angles, and even end with some...
info_outline
How Should Christians Feel About Artificial Intelligence?
The Progressive Christians Podcast
Have y'all heard about this crazy new thing called Artificial Intelligence? Just kidding, of course you have - it’s been impossible to avoid for the last few years. Our co-host Everest felt inspired to talk about the ethics of AI because of a discussion they led during Sunday School a few weeks ago, and oh boy, did we get into it - so much that we had to split the episode into two parts! This week, we tackle the more “worldly” concerns - AI's impact on ecosystems, people’s neighborhoods, people’s livelihoods, copyright, education, and the way that AI can change our brains. The ethics...
info_outline
How To Survive A Conservative Family Christmas
The Progressive Christians Podcast
This episode goes out to everyone who is feeling anxious about going home for the holidays this week. We get you, and we are you! Here are our thoughts on how to handle toxic family dynamics and ideally improve family communication on contentious topics. We discuss the cognitive dissonance around loving people who hate you, how to stay in community and conversation with them, and even break down specific techniques for the types of conversations you might be having. We finish with a sample conversation and getting to the root of what causes all this tension in the first place, and how to take...
info_outline
Samantha Fulnecky, Transphobia, & The Conservative Christian Grift
The Progressive Christians Podcast
On this week’s episode, we wanted to talk about some of the current stressors on our queer listeners. We discuss the Oklahoma University “bible essay” situation with Samantha Fulnecky, and the way that Conservative Christian grifters use the bible to leverage hatred for profit. We answer listener questions on how to talk to family members with regressive social views during the holidays. Finally, we talk to our queer listeners and make sure everyone in our community knows how beloved they are. And, as a bonus - this episode has all of the podcast super friends! Show Notes: Assignment...
info_outline
What Does Progressive Christianity Look Like in a Conservative Area? (with Pastor Ben Stringer)
The Progressive Christians Podcast
In today’s episode, Rev. Blair and Rev. Dr. Carter talk with Ben Stringer - an attorney and pastor in Springfield, Missouri. In 2024, Trump won Missouri with almost 20% over Harris. Though Springfield is often referred to as “having a church on every street,” Progressive Christianity has often struggled to find advocates in the area. We talk with Stringer about his experience growing up in a Conservative Baptist family, becoming a Civil Rights Lawyer to live out his calling as a Christian, how the courts are being used to help and hurt people in this turbulent time, and how he...
info_outline
Can Christians Embrace Socialism?
The Progressive Christians Podcast
If you're a Christian and you’re American, you've probably been taught that socialism is unbiblical. That capitalism is God's chosen economic system. That Jesus would be against redistributing wealth, and the early church in the book of Acts was nothing more than a group of friends sharing their stuff. The election of Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani and Rev. Blair's viral TikTok in response to Mamdani's election, which appeared on Jesse Watters' nightly Fox News show, prompted us to ask: Should Christians be socialist? Are Christian ethics really at odds with socialism? Or have many of...
info_outline
Is Having Empathy Really A Bad Thing?
The Progressive Christians Podcast
Conservative figures like podcast host Allie Beth Stuckey and theologian Joe Rigney are leading a campaign against a feeling they consider dangerous and are weaponizing against Christians—empathy. They argue that empathy has been hijacked and can become toxic and sinful. In this episode, we’ll explore their distinction between what they call “toxic empathy” and “biblical compassion.” We analyze their arguments, their use of the Bible, and how they overlook the teachings and ministry of Jesus to justify their claims. Ultimately, the conservative opposition to empathy helps explain...
info_outline
What is JD Vance's Christian Nationalist Vision?
The Progressive Christians Podcast
Vice President JD Vance wants to be the next leader of the MAGA movement. Speaking during a recent Turning Point USA event at Ole Miss, he cast a vision for America that blends Christian Nationalism, white supremacy, and conservative populism. In this episode, we discuss Vance’s beliefs about immigration, how his wife, Usha Vance, got caught up in the rhetoric, and how Pope Francis and Pope Leo offer a very different Roman Catholic perspective on how we are to love our immigrant neighbors. The Progressive Christians Podcast is available on all podcast platforms, TikTok, and Instagram. You...
info_outline
The Dangerous Rise of Christian Nationalism in the Military
The Progressive Christians Podcast
This is the second episode in a three-part series on Christian Nationalism and its role in Donald Trump's White House. In this episode, we discuss Pete Hegseth and how his theology is influencing the Department of Defense. Hegseth was affiliated with the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC) in Nashville before his appointment, and he has stated that he affirms the teachings of Doug Wilson, a pastor and co-founder of the CREC. Wilson openly endorses Christian Nationalism and believes that America, and indeed the entire world, should be governed by biblical...
info_outline
Christian Nationalism & Its Role in Shaping America's Politics
The Progressive Christians Podcast
This is the first of a three-episode series on Christian nationalism and its influence in Donald Trump's White House. In this episode, we define Christian Nationalism and describe how Christian Nationalists use religion to shape American politics. We specifically discuss the impact of Stephen Miller and Russ Vought and how their policies on immigration, border protection, the government shutdown, and public services cannot, in good faith, be called Christian. The Progressive Christians Podcast is available on all podcast platforms, TikTok, and Instagram. You can find the links and the...
info_outlineThis is the second episode in a three-part series on Christian Nationalism and its role in Donald Trump's White House. In this episode, we discuss Pete Hegseth and how his theology is influencing the Department of Defense. Hegseth was affiliated with the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC) in Nashville before his appointment, and he has stated that he affirms the teachings of Doug Wilson, a pastor and co-founder of the CREC. Wilson openly endorses Christian Nationalism and believes that America, and indeed the entire world, should be governed by biblical principles—specifically, his own interpretation of those principles.
Show Notes
- https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/what-to-know-about-the-archconservative-church-defense-secretary-pete-hegseth-attends
- https://theconversation.com/what-is-crec-the-christian-nationalist-group-has-a-vision-for-america-and-defense-secretary-pete-hegseths-support-258273
- https://religionnews.com/2025/07/14/with-pete-hegseth-in-the-pews-a-christian-nationalist-outpost-launches-in-dc/
- https://youtube.com/shorts/JGoymv33ZWc?si=0Czzwd_D6msjk0gx
- https://youtu.be/qFeIO0ZjdF8?si=KnSmLODBeVQ2JTCA
The Progressive Christians Podcast is available on all podcast platforms, TikTok, and Instagram. You can find the links and the links to the host's social media here: https://linktr.ee/theprogressivechristians
The Progressive Christians Podcast is a ministry of The Loft, a worship community of Westwood United Methodist Church. If you have an idea for the show or want to connect with us, please email us at progressivechristians@theloftla.org.