616: Black Church Politics & Messy Authenticity with Nancy French
Release Date: 05/08/2024
French Friday: "Nerdfest 2024"
The Holy Post
David French has finally watched Rings of Power season two—and he and Skye don’t quite have the same feelings about it. They compare it to House of the Dragon’s more cynical fantasy world—and why Dune is maybe closer to Tolkien than Martin. They also talk about the Penguin crime drama series, the upcoming Superman movie, and Silo. 0:00 - Theme Song 0:18 - Show Begins 1:16 - David’s Take on Rings of Power 5:40 - Skye’s Beef with Rings of Power 13:20 - House of the Dragon 21:52 - World War I 26:45 - Sponsor - Hiya Health - Go to...
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645: The Red Letter Legacy of Tony Campolo with Shane Claiborne
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Mike Erre joins Phil and Skye to discuss how to survive the holidays. What’s the best way to engage (or disengage) a contentious relative who wants to argue about politics, and how do we remain united as churches and families in these divided times? Professor, author, and preacher Tony Campolo died last week. Shane Claiborne returns to discuss his friendship with Campolo and his legacy of challenging the American church with the “red letters” of the Bible. Also this week—what’s the real goal behind protecting public nativity displays, and disappointed political witches. 0:00 -...
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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
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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
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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...
info_outlinePhil is back! He gives an update about his family’s harrowing medical emergency. Then, new data shows the Democratic Party’s grip on Black Christians may be slipping. Esau McCaulley shares his take on the reason. Nancy French talks with Skye about the themes in her new memoir, “Ghosted,” including church sexual abuse, political tribalism, trauma, and her miraculous experiences with God. Also this week—another book ban backfires, and defensive driving Florida style.
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0:00 - Intro
1:38 - Show Starts
3:10 - Theme Song
3:32 - Sponsor - AG1 - Heavily researched, thoroughly purity-tested, and filled with stuff you need. Go to https://www.athleticgreens.com/HOLYPOST
4:52 - Sponsor - Sundays Dog Food - Get 35% off your first order of Sundays. Go to www.SundaysForDogs.com/HOLYPOST or use code HOLYPOST at checkout.
6:04 - Phil Explains the Medical Emergency
15:52 - The Surgery
24:25 - Esau’s Childhood Stomach Surgery
26:50 - Florida Man Rescues Friend from Alligator
28:14 - Florida Man Tries to Ban Bible from Schools
35:06 - Have Democrats Lost the Black Church?
49:03 - Esau’s Dream Proposal
52:31 - Sponsor - Faithful Counseling - Get 10% off your first month at www.betterhelp.com/HOLYPOST
53:28 - Interview
55:10 - Charismatic Experiences
59:18 - How Did the Frenches Not End Up in MAGA?
1:03:48 - What Radicalized the Republican Voter Base?
1:08:25 - Where There Signs 20 Years Ago That Radicalization Was Coming?
1:11:30 - Pro-Life Republicans Changing Their Stances?
1:22:20 - What’s the Future for the GOP?
1:33:58 - End Credits
Links Mentioned in the News Segment:
Man Runs Over Alligator with Truck to Save Neighbor from Attack
Florida Atheist Uses State’s New Book Banning Law to Object to the Bible
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/chaz-stevens-bible-ban_n_6268e98ee4b0ea625c0e2b58
Have Democrats Lost the Black Church?
https://religionunplugged.com/news/2024/4/15/have-the-democrats-lost-the-black-church
Other resources:
Ghosted: an American Story by Nancy French: https://a.co/d/hwzJItt
Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/
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Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost
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