French Friday: Update from Ukraine & The Future Of Affirmative Action
Release Date: 05/26/2023
583: One Black Family’s Story about Poverty, Racism, & Grace with Esau McCaulley
The Holy Post
Theologian and writer, Esau McCaulley, is back to talk about his new memoir “How Far to the Promised Land: One Black Family’s Story of Hope and Survival in the American South.” He says there is grace in learning to tell the complicated facets of his family’s story, rather than reducing it to a single story about race, poverty, or trauma. McCaulley believes that’s a lesson we need to apply to America’s story as well. Also this week, David Brooks writes about the courage and wisdom of three women during World War II. What do their stories tell us about the Christian life today? Plus,...
info_outline
Why I’m Still a Christian with Lecrae
The Holy Post
The last five or six years have been rough for many thoughtful faithful Christians. The embrace of Trump and Trumpism, the rise of ethnic nationalism and xenophobia, conspiracy theories and abuse scandals have rocked the church. Many have walked away in disgust. Some have spoken out and paid the price and yet, rather than walking away, they have remained committed to Christ and his church. We wanted to sit down with a few of those who have cried out like voices in the wilderness and who have been attacked by the church they love, and yet still remain. One of those people is Lecrae, an award...
info_outline
582: The Rise and Fall of New Atheism with Justin Brierley
The Holy Post
If you live in a part of the country that was originally settled by Puritans or Quakers you will probably live a lot longer than if you live in a region colonized by the Scots, the Irish, or that was dominated by slavery. A new article explores why this is true, and we discuss how immigration patterns from 200 years ago even impacts how we read the Bible. UK broadcast, speaker, and host of the Unbelievable? Podcast, Justin Brierley, is back to discuss his new book, “The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God.” In it he documents how the same political divisions and culture war issues that are...
info_outline
581: How Evangelicalism Lost Its Way with Russell Moore
The Holy Post
A prominent conservative Calvinist has denounced white Christian Nationalism as heretical and racist, but the movement is still gaining popularity within theologically Reformed circles. How deep is this divide among the anti-woke theobros? New data says the massive rise in loneliness and depression is linked to the rise in singleness, and that marriage remains the best predictor of happiness. Then, Russell Moore is back to discuss his new book, “Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America.” He explains how evangelical churches form people to value authoritarian leadership,...
info_outline
French Friday - Marriage, Parenting, & Prolonged Adolescence
The Holy Post
In a more personal French Friday, David French shares about the mix of pride and sadness he felt when his adult children and his grandchildren recently moved away. This leads to a wider conversation with Skye Jethani about the challenges and blessings of parenting, the pros and cons of getting married young, and why millennials in nearly every developed country are delaying marriage and having fewer kids. They also touch on the recent Republican primary debate, and what Trump’s indictments mean for the 2024 presidential race. 0:00 - Theme Song 0:17 - David and Skye open up about...
info_outline
580: The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy with Robert P. Jones
The Holy Post
Data indicates that white supremacy is growing in popularity, and according to FBI statistics hate crimes have spiked by 35 percent in recent years. Why can’t America shake itself free from white supremacy? The president and founder of Public Religion Research Institute, Robert P. Jones, is back to discuss his new book about the real roots of white supremacy in the 15th century Doctrine of Discovery. Also this week, why are religious Republican primary candidates losing so badly to Donald Trump? Holy Post Pundit and sociologist, Ryan Burge, says despite 30 years of conservative political...
info_outline
579: How the Bible is Used & Abused in Politics with Kaitlyn Schiess
The Holy Post
An unknown country singer with a fake name has skyrocketed to the top of the charts with the song “Rich Men North of Richmond,” and the film “The Sound of Freedom” has become one of the top-grossing movies of the year. These sleeper hits were both fueled by the MAGA media and conservative audiences. What do they say about the movement and the divisions in American culture? Then, Skye talks to Kaitlyn about the launch of her new book, “The Ballot and the Bible,” and the way political movements have used and abused scripture throughout American history. She also explains how George...
info_outline
578: How America Got Mean & Why We Misread the Bible with John Walton
The Holy Post
In a new article in The Atlantic, David Brooks asks how America became so mean. He says moral formation used to be a key part of social, religious, and educational structures in the country, but after World War II communal virtues were abandoned for an individualistic and therapeutic model. Simply put, we stopped teaching people how to be good. But what’s missing from Brooks’ solution? A popular preacher says he won’t watch The Chosen because it violates the Second Commandment prohibiting any images of God. Is he right? Then, Dr. John Walton is back to discuss his new book, “Wisdom for...
info_outline
577: How Church Became Theater & the Evangelical Imagination with Karen Swallow Prior
The Holy Post
A new survey of worship leaders finds that four megachurches have cornered the worship music market. Should we care who is writing the songs we sing in church, and what gets lost when market forces influence local ministries? A sermon clip has gone viral showing a megachurch pastor scolding people who arrive late or leave early because they are treating the “church like it’s a religious show instead of a welcoming family.” But are people acting like church is a show because that’s the model church leaders have created? We explore the history of how churches came to copy theaters and...
info_outline
576:Christian A.I., Church Dropouts, & Fixing Men with Christine Emba
The Holy Post
A new chatbot based on OpenAI claims to have a “biblical worldview” and invites users to ask questions directly to the Apostle Paul. Is this a helpful tool, or another step closer to replacing Christian community with artificial intelligence? Then, a new article in The Atlantic says 40 million Americans have stopped attending church because our culture is addicted to work and no longer values community. But is it all the culture’s fault, or does the church also carry some blame? Washington Post columnist, Christine Emba, is back to discuss her new report about the masculinity crisis. She...
info_outlineDavid French has just returned from Ukraine where he saw the devastating impact of the Russian invasion. He talks to Skye about the resilience of the Ukrainian people, the need for more American support, and how a Trump victory in 2024 is part of Putin’s war plan. Then, the Supreme Court appears likely to rule against colleges and universities that consider race in the admission process. What are the arguments for and against Affirmative Action, and how will the court’s decision reverberate beyond higher education?
0:00 - Theme Song
0:17 - Why there is not more U.S. support of Ukraine
20:35 - David’s experience in Kyiv
33:37 - Sponsor - Hiya Health
Go to hiyahealth.com/HOLYPOST to receive 50% off your first order
34:44 - Sponsor - Magic Spoon
Go to magicspoon.com/HOLYPOST and use code HOLYPOST to get $5 off
36:22 - Harvard Affirmative Action Case in the Supreme Court
45:45 - Previous Affirmative Action cases
58:49 - End Credits
Links mentioned in interview
Why Ukraine Needs Those F-16s
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/21/opinion/21french-ukraine-f16-fighters.html
I Just Arrived in Kyiv. The Ukrainian Valor Is Breathtaking.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/18/opinion/ukraine-kyiv-missile-patriot.html
Other resources:
David French: https://twitter.com/DavidAFrench
Support us and find premium content by going to
https://www.patreon.com/holypost
The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.