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612: The Religious Vacuum, Politics, & the Powers with N.T. Wright

The Holy Post

Release Date: 04/10/2024

680: Cancelling Colbert, Starving Gaza, & American Charisma with Molly Worthen show art 680: Cancelling Colbert, Starving Gaza, & American Charisma with Molly Worthen

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CBS has cancelled the top-rated late-night talk show. Was it really a financial decision, or was it done to get the Trump administration to approve a corporate merger? And will Stephen Colbert now come on the Holy Post? Horrific images of starvation are coming out of Gaza as pressure builds on the Israeli government to end the war, but when does pro-Palestinian activism cross the line into antisemitism? Historian Molly Worthen’s new book, “Spellbound,” explains how charismatic political and religious movements have shaped America, and why they depend more on a compelling story than a...

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679: Individualism, Transhumanism, & Learning from Abolitionists with Daniel Lee Hill show art 679: Individualism, Transhumanism, & Learning from Abolitionists with Daniel Lee Hill

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Why is our society so fractured and angry? David Brooks’ recent article draws from the work of moral philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre to explain how we got here, but what is the solution? With the growth of A.I., some Christians think technology may be how God redeems humanity and gives us eternal life. But is this still Christianity or a strange new Silicon Valley heresy? Kaitlyn talks to Daniel Lee Hill about his latest book, “Bearing Witness: What the Church Can Learn from Early Abolitionists.” Also this week—dolphins learn to puff the magic fish.   Holy Post Plus: Ad-Free...

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678: Is Gen Z Having a Religious Revival? with Ryan Burge show art 678: Is Gen Z Having a Religious Revival? with Ryan Burge

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The IRS has decided churches are no longer prohibited from endorsing political candidates. Is this a win for free speech or a reason for some churches to become even more partisan? The Department of Homeland Security has released a creepy new promotional video that uses the Bible to frame border security as a mission from God. The Christian who gave George W. Bush the idea of “compassionate conservatism” says the passing of the Big Beautiful Bill marks the end of an era for the GOP. Professor Ryan Burge is back with data about the religious outlook of Gen Z. Some see evidence of a revival,...

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677: Ending PEPFAR & Why the Self-Esteem Movement Failed with Sharon Hodde Miller show art 677: Ending PEPFAR & Why the Self-Esteem Movement Failed with Sharon Hodde Miller

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When George W. Bush created the PEPFAR program in 2003, it was celebrated by evangelical leaders and has saved more than 26 million lives in Africa from HIV/AIDS. So why weren’t evangelicals outraged when Donald Trump killed PEPFAR, which has already resulted in over 75,000 deaths since January? Phil, Skye, and Kaitlyn unpack the arguments for and against PEPFAR, and how evangelical support for “small government” only applies to some programs. Then, Katilyn talks to Sharon Hodde Miller about what the self-esteem movement gets wrong about insecurity, and how we can recover the Christian...

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676: Classroom Culture Wars & the Spirituality of Secular America with Rachel Martin show art 676: Classroom Culture Wars & the Spirituality of Secular America with Rachel Martin

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With Phil on vacation, Kaitlyn and Esau join Skye to talk about the Supreme Court’s ruling that public schools must allow students to opt out of gender or sexuality content that may contradict the religious beliefs of their families. At the same time, more Americans say public schools should hire chaplains to offer spiritual guidance to students. With schools increasingly becoming the front line in the culture war, can public education survive? Then, Skye talks to Rachel Martin, the co-creator of NPR’s Wild Card podcast and former host of Morning Edition, about what she’s learned from...

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675: Iran, End Times, & the Political God Gap with Senator Chris Coons show art 675: Iran, End Times, & the Political God Gap with Senator Chris Coons

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Nothing fires up the End Times industry faster than America dropping bombs in the Middle East. After President Trump decided to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities this weekend, YouTube was flooded with convoluted and contradictory videos on the biblical implications of the war. But if this really is a prelude to Christ’s return, as many online end timers claim, why are they stoking panic and fear? Shouldn’t Christians welcome this news? Skye talks to Senator Chris Coons about how his faith informs his politics, why he went to divinity school, and what the Democrats can do to close the...

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674: Parades, Protests, and Habeas Corpus with Michael Bird show art 674: Parades, Protests, and Habeas Corpus with Michael Bird

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It was a wild weekend. Donald Trump presided over a military parade on his birthday while an estimated 5 million Americans protested around the country. Phil, Skye, and Kaitlyn discuss the optics of both events and ask, with America’s divided politics and media silos, is protesting still effective? They also unpack a new article by Abby McCloskey in CT that argues evangelicalism’s focus on a private, personalized faith undermines learning, curiosity, and exercising the mind. Then, theologian and Holy Post Pundit, Michael Bird, is back. He offers an outsider’s perspective on Trump’s...

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673: The L.A. Protests & Becoming a Priest and Podcaster with Esau McCaulley show art 673: The L.A. Protests & Becoming a Priest and Podcaster with Esau McCaulley

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Protests in Los Angeles against the Trump administration’s immigration policies have turned violent, but will the images of vandalism and attacks on police actually help the President? And Phil asks if there is any way to prevent necessary mass protests from becoming violent. One of the most respected Bible scholars of the last century has passed away. Old Testament professor Walter Bruggemann contrasted the world’s vision of scarcity with God’s kingdom of abundance, but Kaitlyn thinks his understanding of exile is over-applied today. Skye talks with his Holy Post Media colleague, Esau...

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672: Gender Worship Wars & the Joy of Being Cultural Outsiders with Patrick Miller show art 672: Gender Worship Wars & the Joy of Being Cultural Outsiders with Patrick Miller

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In the past, debates over worship styles were often marked by generational differences; however, a new article suggests that this is changing. For Gen Z, worship preferences may be dividing along gender lines instead. For younger Christians, is CCM from Venus and liturgy from Mars? Drew Dyck joins Skye and Kaitlyn to discuss the evidence, the implications, and the solution for the worship gender divide. Then, Kaitlyn interviews Patrick Miller about his new book with co-author Keith Simon, “Joyful Outsiders.” He says there are six different ways we can respond to the loss of Christian...

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671: Mailbag! God’s Pronouns, Project 2025, & Asking Jesus Into Your Heart show art 671: Mailbag! God’s Pronouns, Project 2025, & Asking Jesus Into Your Heart

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Phil, Kaitlyn, and Skye respond to questions from the listeners, including whether lay people should go to seminary, how important is attending a church after being hurt by one, and whether Christians should make violent video games. They also venture into theological topics like what pronouns are appropriate for God, what doctrines do we emphasize too much, and why they all think telling kids to “ask Jesus into your heart” is a bad idea. The crew also revisits the topic of Project 2025 and whether they regret their dismissive opinions about it from before the election. Also this...

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More Episodes

This week we’re discussing a series of articles exploring what we’re gaining and losing as fewer Americans are committed to religion and attending church. Even some non-believers are beginning to worry that the decline in religion may not be good for society, but does it also represent a new opportunity for the message of Christianity? Then, N.T. Wright is back to discuss his new book with co-author Michael Bird, “Jesus and the Powers.” While everyone knows mixing faith and politics can be dangerous, Wright says there’s also a danger when we refuse to mix them. He talks to Skye about what the Bible says on matters of church and state, and why we should defend liberal democracy despite its many problems. Also this week: Is the sun alive? And a Florida man shares the Bible at Walgreens on Easter.

 

0:00 - Sponsor - Richmont Graduate University - Join a Christian mental health counseling program! Use referral code HOLYPOST at checkout to skip the application fee. Go to https://www.richmont.edu/

0:35 - Intro

1:21 - Show Starts

3:08 - Theme Song

3:30 -  Sponsor - Wheaton Graduate School - Learn in a rich, rigorous Christian environment - www.wheaton.edu/holypost

4:34 - Kaitlyn’s new show announcement!

8:08 - Curiously, Kaitlyn Trailer - Go to holypost.com/follow to check it out!

10:15 - Florida Man Strikes Again (with a Bible) on Easter

13:43 - Does the Sun Dream of Electric Sheep? Consciousness and the Sun.

19:43 - The Cost of the Churchgoing Bust

28:52 - How Trump Fills the Secular Void

44:19 - Is Trumpism Emptying Churches?

52:24 - Sponsor - Hiya Health - Go to www.hiyahealth.com/HOLYPOST to receive 50% off your first order

53:28 - Sponsor - Faithful Counseling - Get 10% off your first month at www.betterhelp.com/HOLYPOST

54:33 - Interview

56:02 - Why Doesn’t Separation of Church and State Work?

1:14:02 - Does the Kingdom of Heaven Imply There Will Be No Government?

1:17:10 - When Should Christians Submit to Governing Authorities?

1:24:56 - The Value of Liberal Democracy 

1:30:15 - End Credits


Links Mentioned in the News Segment:

Florida Man Arrested for Hitting Manager with a Bible on Easter

https://www.christianpost.com/news/florida-man-arrested-for-smacking-walgreens-manager-with-bible.html#:~:text=A%20Florida%20man%20was%20arrested,a%20Bible%20on%20Easter%20Sunday.

 

The Sun’s Consciousness

https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a60229168/panpsychism-everything-has-a-soul/

 

Trump is Emptying Churches

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2024-04-07/trump-s-brand-of-christian-conservatism-is-driving-people-from-church

 

How Trump Fills a Void in an Increasingly Secular America

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/04/05/trump-religion-secularism-authoritarian-populism/

 

The True Cost of the Churchgoing Bust

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/04/america-religion-decline-non-affiliated/677951/

 

Other resources:

Jesus and the Powers: Christian Political Witness in an Age of Totalitarian Terror and Dysfunctional Democracies by N. T. Wright and Michael F. Bird: https://a.co/d/7tCBCK8

 

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