Democrats are pro-choice and Republicans are pro-life. Right? According to Ryan Burge it’s not that simple. He says a closer look at the data reveals more nuance to the issue, including a significant number of Black and Latino Democrats who are strongly pro-life, and pro-life Republicans who support traditionally progressive social policies. In a post-Roe America, the abortion issue is getting a lot more complicated. Then, Skye talks to Old Testament professor M. Daniel Carroll about a theology ...
Nov 08, 2023•1 hr 17 min
Whether you're a parent, a youth pastor, a teacher or a young person yourself, you've probably seen all of the headlines concerning Gen Z. Rates of depression and loneliness are surging, their relationship with technology is kind of troubling, and they are leaving the church in droves. We've talked about these trends a lot on the Holy Post, but we're not alone. Tenx10 is a new collaborative discipleship initiative whose mission is to make faith matter more for this younger generation. We've part...
Nov 03, 2023•49 min
The Republicans in Congress have finally chosen a new Speaker of the House, and he’s a Bible-affirming, young Earth creationist, election denying, Southern Baptist. What does Mike Johnson’s rise say about the growing influence of Southern fundamentalism in politics? Then, Phil interviews Warren Throckmorton and Michael Coulter about their book, “Getting Jefferson Right,” and the attempts by Christian Nationalists to revise American history to remove the wall os separation between church and stat...
Nov 01, 2023•1 hr 27 min
Liberty University, the country’s largest Christian college, is facing a record-breaking fine of $37.5 million for failing to report crimes, including sexual assaults, that occur on its campus. David French and Skye Jethani discuss the case and its similarities to other scandals within Christian institutions. Why is there a culture of cover-ups within American evangelicalism? French points to the “siege mentality” of the culture war, and Jethani unpacks the way strong group identities make us di...
Oct 27, 2023•55 min
A Christian writer in Australia has a list of seven “pointless” things Christians fight about “for no good reason” including predestination, evolution, the inerrancy of the Bible, and worship. Phil presents all seven to Kaitlyn and Skye and discovers that maybe they’re not all pointless. Then, Kaitlyn interviews best-selling author and professor Matthew Desmond about his most recent book, “Poverty, by America.” He says the amount of poverty in the country is not an intractable problem but a choi...
Oct 25, 2023•1 hr 25 min
Whether you're a parent, a youth pastor, a teacher or a young person yourself, you've probably seen all of the headlines concerning Gen Z. Rates of depression and loneliness are surging, their relationship with technology is kind of troubling, and they are leaving the church in droves. We've talked about these trends a lot on the Holy Post, but we're not alone. Tenx10 is a new collaborative discipleship initiative whose mission is to make faith matter more for this younger generation. We've part...
Oct 20, 2023•1 hr 1 min
World-renowned New Testament scholar N.T. Wright is back! He’s written an entire book about the 8th chapter of Romans, and he talks to Skye about how this chapter and its themes—including glorification and even salvation—are widely misunderstood. Also this week—How over-simplifying the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can lead to bad takes about the war in Gaza, including the justification of terrorism and atrocities. David French has a new article explaining why devotion to Trump won...
Oct 18, 2023•2 hr 39 min
Skye’s new book “What If Jesus Was Serious About Heaven?” Is here! Kaitlyn interviews him about the book, why popular Christian beliefs about heaven are so often unbiblical, and how heaven can become an idol that replaces Jesus as the center of our faith. Also this week: Reactions to the war that’s erupted in Israel. How will the End Times industry spin this unprecedented attack? Phil returns from Nashville with insights about why evangelicals are bad at comedy but good at anger. Kaitlyn learns ...
Oct 11, 2023•1 hr 22 min
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 bee...
Oct 09, 2023•38 min
For decades most Americans have said other people cannot be trusted. The exception was regular churchgoers who reported more faith in their neighbors, but new data says attending church no longer boosts social trust. What’s changed? Why are political conservatives suddenly talking much less about abortion and much more about transgender issues? Young earth creationists and Christian nationalists are flirting. What’s the attraction? Kaitlyn Schiess talks to author and Instagram historian, Jasmine...
Oct 04, 2023•1 hr 25 min
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 bee...
Oct 02, 2023•38 min
Even pro-life critics of Donald Trump credit him with appointing three Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v Wade. But now Trump is calling further restrictions to abortion a “terrible thing.” Why are pro-life conservatives still overwhelming supporting the ex-President? David French discusses the shifting politics of the pro-life movement, the risk of aligning with Trump, and why abortions are on the rise after overturning Roe. Plus, data shows most Americans have always been ignorant abo...
Sep 29, 2023•1 hr 7 min
The Senate is relaxing its dress code so senators can wear hoodies and gym shorts, but senate staffers are still required to wear suits and ties. Is it a meaningless change or the sign of wider institutional decay? A new study finds 7 out of 10 pastors say their congregations are more fearful about the world and the future. Are they really being shaped by the gospel of Christ or by the fearmongers in the media? And researchers asked religious Americans, what’s the bigger problem today—actual rac...
Sep 27, 2023•1 hr 16 min
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. One of those people is Kristen Du Mez, a New York Times best selling author and professor of History at Cal...
Sep 25, 2023•38 min
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 ...
Sep 20, 2023•1 hr 27 min
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 bee...
Sep 18, 2023•39 min
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 Bel...
Sep 13, 2023•1 hr 29 min
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...
Sep 06, 2023•1 hr 27 min
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 ...
Sep 01, 2023•1 hr 13 min
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?...
Aug 30, 2023•2 hr 32 min
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 ha...
Aug 23, 2023•2 hr 38 min
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 im...
Aug 16, 2023•2 hr 32 min
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 chur...
Aug 09, 2023•2 hr 37 min
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 ...
Aug 02, 2023•2 hr 37 min
The presidential campaign of Ron Desantis recently fired a young communications staffer who created and posted a video celebrating fascism. It turns out the man has a history of engagement with racist, misogynist leaders of the Alt-Right movement. David French explains why so many conservative young men are being drawn to the Alt-Right, and how they are now occupying more influential roles within the American conservative movement and the Republican Party. Then, Skye Jethani and David French dis...
Jul 28, 2023•1 hr 6 min
Hollywood is struggling. Fewer people are going to theaters, but this week saw the opening of two huge movies including Barbie. Can the movie revive Hollywood, or will its social commentary drive more Americans away? Florida’s anti-woke policy is now revising how its public schools teach history by saying enslaved people benefited from the skills they learned. What’s really behind the move to downplay the evil of slavery? Dr. Carmen Imes is back to discuss her new book “Being God’s Image.” She s...
Jul 26, 2023•2 hr 31 min
The feminist movement has made significant advances in the last 50 years, but data indicates men are falling behind. Fewer men then women are graduating from college, deaths of despair are highest among men, and the phrase “toxic masculinity” is ubiquitous in the culture. Phil, Skye, and Kaitlyn discuss Christine Emba’s new article seeking a positive vision for masculinity and why it’s elusive to both the right and left. Then, Kaitlyn talked to Justin Giboney from the And Campaign about the upco...
Jul 19, 2023•2 hr 42 min
The Supreme Court has released two highly anticipated and controversial rulings about race, sexual identity, and discrimination. First, colleges and universities may no longer give preferential status to applicants based on their race. Is the end of affirmative action really the catastrophe some are claiming? And a web designer will not be required by law to create websites for same-sex weddings. Is this ruling a defeat for LGBT rights, or a victory for free speech? And why has the reporting abo...
Jul 12, 2023•1 hr 16 min
Throughout the Bible, God’s people are commanded to show hospitality to strangers. But Christian Nationalists unhappy about the number of immigrants in the U.S. are redefining biblical hospitality and twisting the words of Jesus to justify the deportation of millions. What does their inversion of biblical teachings reveal about the Christian Nationalist agenda? Then, pastor, political science professor, and Holy Post Pundit, Ryan Burge, is back to talk about the surprising data around the politi...
Jul 05, 2023•1 hr 20 min
An Air Force veteran recently came forward with whistleblower allegations that the U.S. government has possession of extra-terrestrial vehicles, more reports of UAPs (unidentified arial phenomena) have been declassified, and senators, former CIA directors, and even former President Obama are speaking publicly about UFOs. Self-identified "nerds" David French and Skye Jethani debate the evidence that we're not alone in the universe, explore the massive theological implications of discovering intel...
Jun 30, 2023•1 hr 4 min
