656: Defunding USAID and Blue Like Jazz’s Gospel of Vibes with Ross Douthat
Release Date: 02/12/2025
668: Pope Donald, Human Flourishing, & the Pastor’s Wife with Beth Allison Barr
The Holy Post
The White House is facing backlash for posting an AI image of Donald Trump as the Pope. Was it a careless joke or a calculated distraction? The most extensive study of its kind finds that the world’s largest Muslim country far outranks the United States in human flourishing, and also explains why secular elites are discovering a new respect for religion. But is there more than a practical purpose behind faith? Historian Beth Allison Barr is back to discuss her latest book, “Becoming the Pastor’s Wife.” She says expectations for ministry spouses aren’t rooted in Scripture but in a...
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667: The Future of Faith in America with John Kasich
The Holy Post
A slate of new articles analyzes Pope Francis through America’s progressive-conservative polarization, but are they confusing political categories with theological ones? Surprising data show that Gen Z is returning to religion, and belief in an afterlife is on the rise, but what's the explanation? Are young people returning to the church to rebel against their secular parents? Former Ohio Governor John Kasich believes America is on the cusp of a spiritual revival, and his new book, “Heaven Help Us,” explores how religious institutions are leading the way. He talks to Skye about how God...
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666: Lessons from the Satanic Panic with Mike Cosper
The Holy Post
Pope Francis died on Monday. Will the Catholic Church continue to move in the direction of inclusion and reform, or will it elect a more traditional leader in reaction to the last papacy? Mike Cosper is back to talk about his new podcast from Christianity Today about the Satanic Panic, “Devil and the Deep Blue Sea.” In the 1980s and 90s, the FBI investigated 11,000 reports of satanic ritual abuse, but did not uncover a single credible story. So, why were parents throughout the country worried that heavy metal music, board games, and the Smurfs would lead their kids into devil-worshipping...
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665: Can Democrats Win Back Religious Voters? with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
The Holy Post
It’s Holy Week, and an article in the New York Times argues that Palm Sunday wasn’t a worship procession; it was a protest march. With that theme in mind, Christians held peaceful rallies over the weekend in Philadelphia and San Diego to protest inhumane immigration enforcement policies, including the order allowing government agents into churches during worship gatherings to arrest people. Skye talks to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) about how her faith informs her politics, what lessons the Democrats have learned from their losses in 2024, and why more religious Americans view her...
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664: An Atheist Says America Needs Jesus with Jonathan Rauch
The Holy Post
Donald Trump launched a global trade war because he thinks America’s trade deficit makes us “losers,” but does he even understand what a trade deficit is? Phil introduces a new segment full of statistics that make Kaitlyn and Skye groan. And they discuss David Brooks’ new article in The Atlantic, which compares this moment in U.S. history to the era of Andrew Jackson, and offers hope for what may come after MAGA. Skye interviews Jonathan Rauch about his new book, “Cross Purposes.” Rauch, an atheist, says his antagonism toward Christianity changed when he came to see how vital it is...
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663: Snow White, Scarcity, & Why Immigration is Pro-Life and Bri Stensrud
The Holy Post
Disney’s new live-action remake of Snow White has been a disaster with people on all sides of the political divide and culture wars finding something to hate about the film, but could it also be full of important Christian theology? Phil and Skye are joined by Mike Erre to examine the biblical theme of abundance versus scarcity, how it applies to Christians, and why so many evangelicals have accepted a zero-sum vision that is contrary to the kingdom of God. Kaitlyn Schiess interviews Bri Stensrud, director of Women of Welcome, about her journey from being a pro-life advocate to also being...
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French Friday: Now Only on The SkyePod
The Holy Post
French Friday is now only available on The SkyePod! Follow The SkyePod now on your podcast streaming platform of choice for full episodes of French Friday every month:
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662: Why Nazi Comparisons Don't Help & Hosting Cultural Conversations and Lee C. Camp
The Holy Post
It’s become popular to compare our current political moment with the rise of the Nazi Party in Germany in the 1930s, but what if the better comparison is Germany in the 1920s? A new article by Paul Miller argues that to avoid the rise of authoritarianism, Christian in the United States should do the hard work now of creating an alternative political narrative rather than the easy work of demonizing one side or the other as “Nazis.” Skye talks to Lee Camp, the creator and host of “No Small Endeavor,” about creating spaces for diverse people to have important conversations and why fear...
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661: Non-Cringy Christian Media & the Nicene Creed and Glenn Packiam
The Holy Post
A new slate of Christian movies and television shows is managing to draw both acclaim from critics and the attention of non-believers. Are the days of cringy Christian media finally behind us? Phil, Skye, and Kaitlyn discuss the impact of “The Chosen” and the new Amazon series, “House of David.” What do these shows get right that so many past faith-based projects got wrong? The Oscar-winning documentary, “No Other Land,” cannot find a distributor in the U.S. because critics say it’s antisemitic, but Phil managed to watch it anyway. He offers his take on the movie, why it’s...
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660: Following Christ in “Negative World” and Charlie Peacock
The Holy Post
With declining church attendance and shifting values, there’s no denying that our culture’s posture toward Christianity has changed. Some say America is now “post-Christian,” but author Aaron Renn believes it is downright “anti-Christian.” In a recent NY Times profile, Renn explains why he thinks Christianity now occupies a “negative world,” and why the winsome approach of leaders like Tim Keller should be abandoned for more aggressive tactics. Then, Phil talks with legendary musician, songwriter, and producer Charlie Peacock about his new memoir, “Roots in Rhythm: A Life in...
info_outlineThe White House is defunding USAID, one of the largest distributors of foreign aid, and blaming it on wasteful spending—like a D.E.I musical in Ireland. But as Phil, Skye, and Kaitlyn unpack, the real losers are Christian relief organizations like World Relief and Catholic Charities, which now face devastating budget cuts. Then, it’s been over 20 years since the release of Blue Like Jazz, the bestselling book that made faith feel cool. Did it offer a helpful critique of evangelicalism, or was this the beginning of the rise of vibes-based Christianity? Also, New York Times columnist Ross Douthat joins Skye to discuss his new book, Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious. He explains why our increasingly secular culture is still drawn to spirituality and why rejecting religious institutions in favor of “DIY faith” may not be the answer. Plus, we have a trailer for a new season of Why I’m Still a Christian.
Holy Post Plus:
Bonus Interview with Ross Douthat:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/122056691/
0:00 - Show Starts
2:18 - Theme Song
2:41 - Sponsor - Hiya Health - Go to www.hiyahealth.com/HOLYPOST to receive 50% off your first order
3:45 - Sponsor - Rocket Money - Find and cancel your old subscriptions with Rocket Money at https://www.rocketmoney.com/holypost
8:25 - Trump and Christian Persecution
12:22 - Elon Shuts Down USAID
19:53 - Did USAID Really Fund That?
24:29 - Principle of Unitary President
35:42 - Blue Like Untethered Christianity
39:57 - Consumerist Christianity and Vibes
46:41 - Why I’m Still a Christian Season 2 Sneak Peak!
48:05 - Sponsor - Sundays Dog Food - Get 40% off your first order of Sundays. Go to https://www.SundaysForDogs.com/HOLYPOST or use code HOLYPOST at checkout.
50:08 - Sponsor - Glorify - Sign up for the #1 Christian Daily Devotional App to help you stay focused on God. Go to https://glorify-app.com/en/HOLYPOST to download the app today!
51:11 - Interview
52:30 - A Case for Religion?
56:26 - Why Not Just Argue for Jesus?
1:02:23 - Are Secular Circles Falling Apart?
1:11:00 - Fine Tuning Argument
1:23:04 - Why Not Pursue Spirituality on Your Own?
1:28:05 - End Credits
Links Mentioned in News Segment:
Editorial: SIlence in the Face of Trump’s Cruelty is Complicity:
https://www.ncronline.org/opinion/editorial/editorial-silence-face-trumps-cruelty-complicity
Contact Bishops and Diocese by State:
https://www.usccb.org/about/bishops-and-dioceses/all-dioceses
USAID Trump Fact Checker:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/02/07/usaid-trump-fact-checker/
Blue Like Jazz:
https://www.christianitytoday.com/2025/01/blue-like-jazz-donald-miller-church-optional/
Other resources:
Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious: https://a.co/d/3oVuOKR
Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/
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Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost
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