480: The Myth of the Religious Right with Randall Balmer

[@JohnThomas-ut3go]

How about an event to teach Christians hand to hand Christian loving skills.

[@veggiet2009]

Fist bumps please 😉

[@plasmatikification]

This is why I am decidedly Mennonite Bretheren.

[@greglogan7706]

Nice!

[@claudehaynes6419]

The comparison to Rome and its decline is often made for the United States. The quote that Christians transformed the Roman world with love may not be historically accurate. After Christianity became the state religion (as some today desire) the decline continued because the politics remained pagan, and the ritual of religion, and the retention of power, became more important than the message.

[@greglogan7706]

I like your description of the history much better - it seems much more accurate

[@MichaelJohnson-vi6eh]

cannot overestimate what a surprise this was. great interview!!!! my church basically expelled its black membership in the 1870's and built a new church for them - we are only now 150 yrs later renewing ties, sad.

[@martarico186]

You guys are great!!! Thank you for the funny start... it eases the pain of what our country is going through. And yes, tell us about your mushroom

[@lindagoodrich2928]

Wow what a great interview. I learned so much about the history I lived through as a child. Thanks for cutting back on the ads. So much better! Thank you so much for covering this topic.

[@katiekruger4381]

Agree with Skye that it's better now that we can see the fruit of years of partisan infiltration to the church, though it's still shocking. And, Kaitlyn encourages my hope. We need to pray for her and the Christians like her that God is raising up who can clarify the issues and herald God's word on these matters.

[@greglogan7706]

Katie, Just curious - was that new information to you? In asking this, I do realize that the Trump worshippers and false prophets - who are millions of white American evangelicals - that even has caught me by surprise....

[@davissalaki8703]

It's a little ironic that they have a guest on who is actually partisan (a Democrat) yet Skye talks about partisan infiltration in the church.

[@davissalaki8703]

@@greglogan7706 y'all make strawman so fast it's hard to figure out where you are getting the material

[@nikkio.9990]

@@davissalaki8703 but does the Holy Post only allow democrats on? See the differnce? They platform left right and in between. Only when I left the event church and started attending a Methodist one did I ever experience a congregation where members have a variety of political beliefs. Every other evangelical circle I had ever been in especially homeschool ones are basically the base of the Republican party.

[@robertmcnamara5859]

According to a lengthy study by PEW Research, the LDS Church grew during covid-19 2018 - 2021 while Protestant churches declined 12% in membership and attendance. Many churches have closed and in some cases buildings were for sale, as the loss of tithes has made it impossible for them to pay for public services and building maintenance. The Protestant sect separated from the Catholic Church, which means that they are wrong, regardless of whether Catholicism is right or wrong. The only way Protestant doctrines could be considered legitimate, would be if they were inspired by revelation through a modern day prophet. The doctrine which is based on the creed that the bible is an accurate description of God's word belies the fact that Catholicism came from the first church and that Protestants were apostate once they separated from it. Their doctrinal interpretations are merely heresy and honest Christians recognize this hypocrisy. The Protestant convention is so panicked over its steady decline in the past decade that small groups of radical fundamentalists have doubled down on their efforts to convert Mormons (still fastest growing religion on Earth!) by utilizing You Tube and other social media outlets to discredit LDS beliefs in the hope of converting disillusioned Mormons.

[@darrellboone9274]

Instead of training "Christians" to hand-to-hand combat,they should look at what Jesus said to Peter when he drew a sword(to "defend" Jesus)🙄:"He who lives by the sword,shall die by the sword"(Math.26:52)

[@LoneWolfRanging]

Oh how witty. But what about the verse saying to sell your cloak and buy a sword?

[@billdeanscoutermoose9430]

@@LoneWolfRanging If you are able to heal the person you strike with the sword, as Jesus did in this instance, you can buy all the swords you want. Look at the context, and instead of using this an an excuse to arm yourself, wonder why Jesus said "No more of this" and un-Van Gogh-ed the servant.

[@JohnThomas-ut3go]

The interview in this episode is very illuminating. If we look at abortion laws passed, effect of policy, the targets of the rhetoric show a distinct and still current of racism in the Evangelical right's abortion movement.

[@davissalaki8703]

And yet the left through the actually racist Planned Parenthood organization (founded by a racist and concentrated in minority communities) have aborted nearly 20 million black babies.

[@dckmusic]

Kaitlyn's expressions are absolutely priceless when the silly stuff gets over the top.

[@thetruest7497]

Fantastic interview. I really have to commend the hosts of this podcast on their interviewing skills and being willing to tell a very unforgiving group the truth that they need to hear.

[@davissalaki8703]

Really? Because this podcast is filled with strawman charactertures and thinly veiled contempt for conservative Christians. Doesn't seem very "forgiving" to me.

[@thetruest7497]

@@davissalaki8703 it's filled with facts that conservative bigots don't want to hear. But that's not the important part, the important part is that you can be better. The podcast lets you know that you don't have to be that way, white supremacy doesn't have to be part of your faith.

[@davissalaki8703]

@@thetruest7497 On the contrary, it's filled with poisonous lies that enflame hatred and division. If anything I said would even be remotely considered white supremacy, then the phrase has been so thoroughly warped it has lost all impact. It's the equivalent to a grade school insult at this point. We should not slander fellow believers, even though I'm sure most of us (including myself) have done it before. Col 3:7-8 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth

[@martarico186]

Agree with skye about the responsibility of the church in cultura. Thank you all.

[@bethprather9241]

I was raised Southern Baptist in Ky.. This is another terrible and sad truth of crazy. It upsets me and way too many in southern Baptist.... prayer is needed.

[@JadeousTenerim]

False light invasion of privacy is a cause of action for portraying an individual unflatteringly in words or pictures as someone or something that person is not. Some states recognize the concept by either common law or statute, although several states have explicitly rejected it. Because I had to look it up to know what they're talking about lol

[@pastorfred3460]

Thank you...thank you...thank you... for bringing truth to displace a harmful narrative that has polluted too many churches.

[@chuckthompson5724]

Amen Skye, the Bride has all the power she needs to shape culture. The Church can do all things through Christ who enables her.

[@salimapeacejoy]

So now Christians are going to be ordained to do drive-bys. Lord help the American Church in the name of Jesus!

[@homeschoolingmadeeasy7798]

I'm reading the Birch Bark series (it's like Little House on the Prairie but about Ojibwe) to my kids, and yesterday the grandma collected the "smoke" of puffball mushrooms for her medicine kit. Apparently they are antibacterial.

[@robertmcnamara5859]

Thta sounds amazing I would love to learn more about it.

[@veggiet2009]

"all the groovy kids on TikTok are into mushrooms" - Phil Vischer 2021

[@noybnoyb356]

Thank you for this episode. I wish I had something like this when growing up and attending these evangelical, so-called Christian schools and university. This episode confirms that many of my teachers were disingenuous liars when it came to the abortion issue. I remember a one of my high school professors stating a few times that the abortion issue caught the Church off guard. Lie! They chose to ignore it and only used it when convenient to cover their true motivation, which was protecting their racism. This interview, the previous interview you did with Robert P. Jones, and the other discussions you have done about racism and Christian nationalism reveal the true motivation force behind many people's Christianity is sadly racism. When I dig deeper into the main targets of that racism over the past 500 years that racism is rooted in super secessionism or replacement theology.

[@davissalaki8703]

So Margaret Sanger gets a free pass for founding planned Parenthood and openly advocating black infanticide, but evangelicals are somehow using this movement to cover their racism? I know a lot of evangelicals that are against abortion, I don't know any that are against it to cover their own racism, at least it has never come up conversationally. Demonizing fellow Christians because of simplistic assumptions about their motivation or character is wrong. We were all forgiven a great debt, we shouldn't be so quick to dismiss fellow believers

[@freeindeed7]

@@davissalaki8703 As a black Christian who grew up in predominantly white Christian circles, the hypocrisy is hard to exaggerate. The racism was obvious, and seeing the affects on myself/my siblings has been difficult over the years. It was a bad witness for Christ. I am not surprised by non-Christians acting like non-Christians. Why would I care about Sanger acting like she doesn't have the Holy Spirit when...she doesn't have the Holy Spirit? When Christians are a bad witness that concerns me more. I am one myself, after all. I don't want to be associated with the racism. And the only reason I know I'm not is that my skin color saves me from the charge, not my faith. I would like my faith to also be a point against racism, but...it isn't. White conservatives have made sure of that...we'll see for how long that is the case.

[@76JStucki]

Thumbs up for the connection to supersessionism! So true!

[@davissalaki8703]

@@freeindeed7 I obviously do not have familiarity with your situation, but in the Christian circles I grew up in I did not see any discrimination based on skin color. I did see it regarding people's weight, which is unfortunate. The point of Sanger is to highlight the racist roots of Planned Parenthood and how that organization killed and is killing a heart wrenching number of black children. Something that Phil and his minions don't want to discuss because they are only interested in the critique of conservatives. The point remains though, no matter what you went through growing up it's important to let go and forgive, because we all were forgiven an unimaginable debt. I'm not saying this is a problem unique to you though, I have held bitterness in my heart in the past and there may be current bitterness. We are so completely broken without Christ, He is truly the only hope in this world.

[@freeindeed7]

@@davissalaki8703 You are talking to someone who has been dehumanized since childhood by people claiming to speak for God; your advice reflects ignorance of the depth of the issue. There is a lot involved in healing from racism besides forgiveness. Speaking the truth about what happened is part of it. Connecting into genuine Christian community is part of it. There are many parts to it. But know this...racism is a longstanding pattern among white Christians in America. It is a pattern that must be repented of if reconciliation is to occur. Forgiveness means I will not repay, nor even desire to repay; it does not mean I invite dehumanization into my life by choosing to be with those who refuse to treat me/talk about me as equal. Conservatives have been critiquing other Christians and the wider culture A LOT my whole lifetime. They should be open to some critique in return. As for Sanger...again, couldn't care less about blind people going the wrong way. They're blind! Those who claim they can see must be held to a higher standard. Those who claim the name of Jesus, especially, since I agree with you that He is the only hope in this world.

[@kristinewiderquist4390]

"Thief in the Night" scarred me for years! I'm glad Dr. Balmer's father was a loving man in person because love is NOT what I got out of that movie!

[@r.altman6458]

I keep listening to your news and interviews and I hear Galadriel’s voice saying men “above all desire power.”

[@martarico186]

God will call us into account when we meet Him face to face. The church is such a small remnant. The love of money is the root of all evil.. Thanks for such eye opener for me to focus on Christ and not the leaders. Blessings!

[@MichaelTBalonek]

At the Indigenous Peoples'Day celebration and potluck in Rochester, NY, someone made puffball mushrooms that were dipped in oil and flour and barbecued in a way that it seemed like grilled chicken!

[@juliegibson9647]

My kindergartner is home sick from school today, and when he heard the theme song, he came over and looked over my shoulder. I paused and asked if he recognized the voice. He squealed, “Mr. Phil!” 😂

[@suemilliganramge9443]

I’m a little late to the party for this one, and maybe I missed it, but is there any discussion in this book regarding Reagan’s race baiting with the “Welfare Queens”? I think that was a big hook for northern voters.

[@scottylamm9673]

We saw Thief in the Night and A Distant Thunder more than once in my youth group. They were formative in many ways.

[@gaynorkelly9413]

Thank you, thank you, thank....I've been asking and asking where this seemingly desparaging term 'woke' has come from relating to societal concerns when historically the church used to lead in social reform (often as part of missionary outreach) and all I've heard is 'silence'. Now I understand....'woke' is a safe way to say I don't give a damn about people who suffer injustice or see any need to play a part in alleviating it cos Jesus is coming anytime now (forget The Good Samaritan story or Pauls admonition to feed the orphans and widows....2000 yrs ago....and they too were looking for His imminent return)....and of course that 'boring' subject of racism and how the 'right' mobilised politically. I didn't want it to go there....not my brothers and sisters in Christ, but as the terminology started right after the George Floyd incident I had an inkling....sad they don't have the courage to say that instead of lumping it in with wanting true social justice for ALL, as if that was a dirty word and the antithesis to the way Jesus walked . God always finds a way to answer my heartfelt questions. I rarely listen to this channel as it takes too long to get to the 'meat' for me...lol. Glad I did today!

[@hprfire]

Phil, I think it would be great if you pulled together a video on post millennialism and premillennialism in the American church and its effects on the gospel. Might be a good foundation before transitioning to your race and evangelical videos

[@politereminder6284]

Truce podcast is doing a wonderful series on this right now. Highly recommended deep dive.

[@lindseyhendrix2405]

I’m new here but boyyyyyyy 🔥🔥🔥 Kaitlyn(?) had me snapping and responding (and even rewinding) like I was in a good service! Adding her book to my good reads account. If I could politely suggest one thing; it would be to divvy up the video into time stamps based on topic/discussion where viewers can choose when to tune in or skip ahead to the meat of the conversation. I’m not a creator myself so I have no idea how to even do that or point you in the direction of how to but I have seen other podcasts who post here implement that format and it works really well for everyone. And I’d argue it helps bring in (and keep) new viewers because theyre not overwhelmed with an hour plus video not knowing where the thing that piqued their interest begins. 🤙🏽 subscribing after I hit post!

[@stevewillicombe8572]

How about “pass the assault” says my daughter, Lindsey.

[@hprfire]

While Abortion is of prime importance to may evangelical voters, I think there were a lot of conflicted feelings and moral reservations about Trump until Dobson claimed that Trump gave his life to Christ back in 2016. That gave innumerable people I know in the Midwest the license to vote for Trump unreservedly.

[@76JStucki]

Yeah, that’s pretty much what happened. Of course, Dobson’s retraction of that statement 5 days later wasn’t nearly as widely reported.

[@danielhall3197]

On top of numerous other Christian leaders who came out in support of Trump. But the majority of them (if not all) were fundamentalists looking for political power or attention seekers trying to weasel their way into some kind of powerful position. Trump knew he needed to get the evangelical vote, so he went to certain Christian leaders he knew would get into the political fray and pretty much gave them a quid pro quo to give them things they wanted in exchange for their support. It's sad that so many people have put so much faith in those people.

[@DorotheasFavs]

The Thief in the Night movie scared the crap out of me as a child!

[@bethprather9241]

As a past Southern Baptist.. this is above and beyond sad.crazy and sad. I guess some or many put vRussell moore and Beth Moore in a non Christian category because they don't support Trump. Good God almighty help us

[@randalynkiltz4633]

Puff balls are really good. Cut it into steaks and fry. Please don't toss it PS love your posts!! Finally people who understand

[@salimapeacejoy]

I just love Kaitlyn!

[@JohnThomas-ut3go]

I grew up in a Pentecost church. I could see the ugliness Skye was ending on those decades ago. I have kids now and would like them to understand Christian belief but I don't feel I can trust the Christian church.

[@davissalaki8703]

The Christian church is just other believers. Does the Bible not teach us to live and forgive one another? Were we all not forgiven a great debt so we should forgive our brothers and sisters? We are broken sinners in need of a Savior

[@greglogan7706]

@@davissalaki8703 Maybe it's not really the "Christian" church but actually the evangelical religious community.... A pretty big difference

[@JohnThomas-ut3go]

@@davissalaki8703 I'm not sure what forgiveness has to do with it. I do not feel they have done me wrong or harm. I just do not trust the Christian church to be a place of loving community that Jesus and those that came after that fill out the NT were teaching.

[@davissalaki8703]

@@JohnThomas-ut3go I don't think that's the purpose of the church. Sure we are supposed to love and support each other, but to do that in the mutual goal of spreading the Gospel.

[@JohnThomas-ut3go]

@@davissalaki8703 I suggest you reread the New Testament. In it you will not find the church described as a building, a place, a denomination it is the people who are the church. People are the community. You do not have a church without community. You can not spread the gospel without outreach and love into other communities. Community is one if the major themes foundational to the gospel.

[@missrobin2088]

Kaitlyn nailed it over and over!

[@tigers7834]

They seem to always talk about the protests but never talk about the Jan 6 incident in DC. I wonder what is the difference between the two?

[@kathierezek3515]

Phil your fear about releasing the kraken from your puffball is hilarious! Reminds me of the TV series "Braindead" some years ago. Which I think was rather prescient considering where our governmnet is now!

[@bethprather9241]

Oh my we have all lost it all. WE ARE GOING CRAZY TOO

[@ShaunCKennedyAuthor]

I just realized I've never seen Kaitlin and Christian in the same room at the same time. Coincidence? I'll let you decide.

[@harmonysummers]

Pass the Salt ministries should change their name to Pass the Assault.

[@jendcox]

Oh, man. You beat me to it.

[@ignigma]

Fine Skye! I'll buy it! But that's it for like a month and a half!

[@benbrown8258]

I have to disagree with the commentator who said it's better now than five years ago. I live in Southwest Michigan and I have been discouraged from walking on the public trails and threatened because I'm African American by other walkers some of which claim to be members of the same faith I am. Most of my life I attended Christian Reformed churches that were Multicultural. in the past 10 years some have become unidirectional in my community to the point of last week disenfranchising 85% of all African Americans in my County. That wasn't happening 5 years ago. I would like to hear your commentators speak to that

[@danielhall3197]

For clarity, he wasn't saying it was really better now than five years ago. His point was that it was all hidden five years ago, but now it's all out in the open. So we are better off, now, being able to see it out front so we know to deal with it. That's why he compared it to a medical diagnosis. You may have some hidden medical issue, but we are better off if we know about it so we can do what needs to be done. Sometimes that may take it getting worse in order for it to reveal itself for us to go to the doctor to get the diagnosis. It's definitely not good to get the diagnosis, but we're better off knowing it than it stay hidden. He was trying to bring some kind of positivity and hope to the conversation.

[@paulberger3430]

I deeply hope that Gentle and Lowly sitting on Kaitlyn's shelf can be attributed to her theology!!!!!

[@nurserobin]

I was raised evangelical Baptist. If you want to win people over you might want to start by not judging others not like you. Stop thinking you're better! I know. We all were taught to think we are the people who are right,and better! You will never win people over if you don't believe BLACK LIVES DO DO DO DO DO DO DO DO DO DO MATTER!

[@2serve4Christ]

39:51 "Of course the church has the resources...WE HAVE THE SPIRIT OF GOD..." - Skye Jethani YES YES YES #AMEN !!!! Am I the only one who thinks too many Christian folk's idea or concept of God is way too small. What are you so afraid of? WE HAVE THE SPIRIT OF GOD!!! 1st Corinthians 9:19 Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ.

[@carlad.prince9760]

I agree with Sky and Katlin

[@chuckthompson5724]

Kaitlyn please which church father were you paraphrasing? I need that quote.

[@bethprather9241]

Sep of church and state actually there is a law that if politics are preached or persuaded then churches can lose their tax free status

[@josephgreer8819]

The Ozarks area in Missouri and Arkansas seem to be a rallying place for the far-right. There is another KZbin channel "God, Family, and Guns" has been saying things recently the align with these sentiments.

[@davissalaki8703]

God, family and guns could have been the motto of the founding fathers. Sad we have drifted so far from them. They would be considered right wing extremists today

[@plasmatikification]

@@davissalaki8703 Have you ever read your founding fathers religious beliefs? Pretty far-left actually.

[@davissalaki8703]

@@plasmatikification I know the Thomas Jefferson has some bizarre beliefs, but please explain the widespread leftist beliefs of other founding fathers. I do not recall impassioned speeches about critical race theory, abortion, or gun control

[@plasmatikification]

@@davissalaki8703 you could Google "were the founding fathers heretics" for yourself l, if you like.

[@Justanotherconsumer]

There’s a clip I think it was on John Oliver of the Grand Muckety-Muck Dictator guy of Turkmenistan firing a gun from a bicycle. It must be a real skill!

[@acy24boo]

@9:19 that eye roll is the best reaction

[@enigma1865]

The SBC issue sounds like a return to "affairs of honor" or dishonor perhaps.

[@musicappreciate]

Here is an example of when Phil and Co. should be laughing. Conflating street fighting people and Christianity. Quick Paul- sign up.

[@elbryant1226]

It seems to me that Skye has seen things in the Evangelical church, but has chosen to remain "partially" silent and non-confronting. I really like the Holy Post, but I still think the folks are too white adjacent to understand why many Christians of color come at many of these issues differently.

[@scottwatson8659]

Agreed, I really like the Holy Post but it still is ensconced in an Evangelical mindset and worldview. Therefore the framing and questions still are about what is within the purview of this sociocultural movement. Okay, it is what it is but it won't allow them to offer more pointed, wholistic critiques. Skye is the one who typifies this the most. Look, they hardly have anyone on as a guest who is outside the Evangelical bubble. Interestingly, this guest isn't a self-identifying Evangelical anymore, he's an Episcopal priest, but Skye pointedly goes out of his way to show his background Evangelical bona fides to validate his work? His work as a eminent historian, at an Ivy League college, would legitimate his work on the face of it.

[@76JStucki]

Ok but, as they point out multiple times in multiple episodes, the fact that they are coming from within evangelicalism gives their critique more weight among white evangelicals. You may not think it’s perfect, but it also can have more effectiveness that way. Pros and cons.

[@ZipplyZane]

@@scottwatson8659 I think that can actually be a virtue, though. It makes it more palatable to a white evangelical audience. (Though it would work a lot better if they wouldn't specifically mock evanngelicals. Mock the stupid stuff, but don't mock the identity of the people you most need to reach.) I would like to see them have guests from outside this to come on, too. But the general viewpoint of Christian white moderates is I think useful to reach others like them.

[@Vader-xl1bl]

29% want to quit. Just...wow!

[@bman11714]

It sounds like in all your podcasts that you have a finger on the pulse of the Church. How are you able to do that? Where do you get your info to make these generalizations of what the Church, especially “white evangelical” is up to?

[@davissalaki8703]

It seems to come from Phil's passion to malign conservative Christians and his increasingly skewd perspective

[@AmandaOlsen]

They both claim to read widely. I have no reason to doubt that. I understand this to be a primary source of their ability to make generalizations. The other is that Skye worked for Christianity Today which would give him a bird's eye view. Also Phills continued interaction throughout his career through making movies for a Christian audience also gives him a particular but more narrow view. Another big source is that Skye reads the book of each person he interviews. That's tremendous content. I think if you add all these things up, it makes sense.

[@bman11714]

@@AmandaOlsen It seems like most of their generalizations revolve around Southern churches.

[@davissalaki8703]

@@AmandaOlsen They are out of touch with the conservative Christian in the pew. Christianity Today has become little more then a platform for progressive Christians. And the guests they pick on this podcast are nearly exclusively leftists. Reading a book from s leftist does not help one get in touch with orthodox evangelicals. There is a growing disconnect between these evangelical elites and the people they claim to represent. The arrogance and thinly veiled contempt towards other Christians that exudes from these folks is unfortunate.

[@marycorbett1744]

I would love to hear an in depth conversation about the Reagan presidency and policy. He is so revered...wrongly so I think!

[@shanewilson2484]

@46:27 Skye is a genius

[@filminspector6775]

1:08:47 June 31st is not a day

[@sandrainternicola9196]

My kids are really good at jousting on their bicycles! 😆...just saying lol

[@marshallsilva9389]

'Heavyweights of Evangelical World' was Ted Haggard one of those heavyweights??😊 (trouble with dogmatic superstitious Christians, always fighting mock battles w imaginary dragons)

[@lbamusic]

Jesus is coming back for whom and for what? Matt 7:13-14 , 21-23. It's way more likely that any future rapture is an individual one, when each of us dies. 2Cor.5:6-8

[@TechWaltMD]

Took too long to get to substance

[@glendagaskin151]

Why not use the Bible to explain problems. It answers all our questions. Loving God and our neighbor as ourselves. Also we are to proclaim the Word Boldly.

[@salimapeacejoy]

Get rid of the mushrooms already! They have me itching talking about mushrooms (:

[@patpatterson12]

I don't understand this line in the opening song: "If it's breakfast, IT'S YOUR TOAST!" I'm inclined to believe that the line is just there for rhythm and rhyme.

[@dkecskes2199]

"If its breakfast, Get* your toast"

[@patpatterson12]

@@dkecskes2199 Thanks! I still don't understand the significance of the line to the opening song, though. I suppose I should have referenced the time stamp, and if I can get my cat to move: @2:26

[@curtismartin2866]

If it's Breakfast, get you oatmeal just kinda doesn't workm

[@patpatterson12]

@@curtismartin2866 This is ENTIRELY too breakfast-food-centric! What about: "If it's breakfast, get a couple of Nathan's Chili Dogs with Kraut"

[@curtismartin2866]

@@patpatterson12 Fine. Phil can just re-record the line as "If it's Lunch, grab a sandwich to munch." Happy Now? Harumph.

[@JohnThomas-ut3go]

Mushroom was an anecdote not a story.

[@sirelfinjedi]

Is a giant puffball mushroom a veggie?

[@jendcox]

12:14 Pass the Assault, more like.

[@pj3115]

You got $200? You can file a lawsuit! And you can find a lawyer who will file it for you apparently as well if you are a loser of an SBC election. Oh, my goodness.

[@Matthew-Anthony]

We all know who is responsible for the violent crime and riots. It is NOT the "religious right". Nice try at gaslighting. Stop accusing Christians of what their political opponents are doing.

[@paulnesselroade5252]

Why are the most bizarre stories attached to "white evangelicals," as if these most outrageous examples somehow exemplify a systemic problem with the much larger, much more heterogeneous group? (And yes, I know there are substantial problems with the larger group - but I'm not sure taking up fighting is one of them...perhaps you all disagree.) And do we know that these karate-practicing Christians were white? It's just shooting (and laughing) at easy targets. I know this is the fun pre-game part of the show, but it still shows a pension for using the marginal to beat up the larger group. I enjoy your show and I think you have a large platform on which to act and influence others. Try to find guests who push back a little - or you should push back a little with your guests. Adding this element would only benefit the viewers/listeners. Otherwise, isn't this show vulnerable to the same critique it uses to lambaste main-stream evangelicalism, i.e., just preaching to the choir?

[@veggiet2009]

It is a humorous example. But I do believe that underlying issues that lead up to the example are prolific in the (predominently white) evangelical church. The issues being: A. A prioritizing of preserving status and personal safety over Christian virtues. And B. A glorification of violence as a "manly" virtue. I've seen these things in churches around and in my Christian family members. And if you take these to there extreme you find groups teaching how to fight

[@andrewzook8648]

I can see your point... It's crossed my mind, a little. But I'm not sure this is the place to get the team's attention. I'd email them directly with this or on the show's web site.

[@ZipplyZane]

Yeah, it makes it hard. This would be the perfect podcast to show actual evangelicals if they wouldn't make fun of them so much. Just leave out that part, even. Don't mention that they're evangelicals. Just point out how silly it all is. It's kinda weird, since they have every evangelical views themselves, really. Sure, they reject some, but not all of them. Their right wing allegiances still seem to be holdovers from the Christian Right.

[@myoneblackfriend3151]

Hmmm, division within the Church.

[@marionopisso212]

Need to stop all this "us" versus "them" rhetoric. We are all creations of God, and He loves us all. Inclusive not exclusive thinking will go a long way toward healing the world's problems.

[@davissalaki8703]

Phil lately seems to only be about division and seems to have such contempt for other Christians, it's quite sad

[@marionopisso212]

@@daydreamerz We will not solve these problems with the same mind that created them. We need a paradigm shift in thinking.

[@daydreamerz]

@@marionopisso212 Perhaps you are correct. I assume you were being concise, but by not specifying what this mindset and paradigm shift should be, that well-meaning sentiment is empty and offers no solution. And whatever the solution, discussing the problem is step #1.

[@marionopisso212]

@@daydreamerz The shift in thinking is that we fully grasp that we are all one - human family. When we think dually everything is divided into twos e.g rich/poor, pretty/not pretty, black/white, right/wrong, smart/stupid, dems/GOP. This thinking is judgmental, competitive, unfriendly, combative. A paradigm shift in thinking is to see things as one, united. Like a waterwheel that moves and flows and benefits. It has separate parts but is of one whole that can accomplish much. Primitive tribal thinking has to go if peace is ever to be stable. But we are raised in a dual thinking world. And as I said previously we cannot solve this problem with the same mind that created it. It is the ultimate addiction. We are comfortable with the way we think and never entertain the thought that there may be other ways. Interestingly, the mind can handle one, two but not three. Just look at christianity and the Trinity, people just can't make sense of the Trinity, however can God be Trinity. It's easy really. Family. We have a lot of introspection ahead.

[@davissalaki8703]

@@daydreamerz Why should people be confronted about injustices they had nothing to do with simply because of their skin color? I am not saying this to put you down but I feel that is absurd. I may be relatively less melaninated that some folks, but am not racist and have never oppressed anyone because of their skin color as far as I know. It's insulting and bizarre to assume that I have because of the level of pigmentation in my skin. This whole CRT is part of an agenda to split people based on superficial differences and cause artificial division. I hope that everyone will one day see that, especially brothers and sisters in Christ

[@ZZ-eg7to]

The “far left” talking about the “far right”…what a train wreck! And then the icing on the cake, an interview with Randall Balmer, who received an M div from Union theological seminary. That should tell you all you need to know!

[@andrewzook8648]

Please stop reading the Bible then... everything I heard today was deeply Biblical & trying to follow Jesus. I suspect you have no idea what "far-left" actually is...

[@davissalaki8703]

@@andrewzook8648 It seems like every podcast is just an extended therapy session to justify voting for candidates that continue infanticide. Throw in some talk about those mustache twirling white conservative evangelicals and you got yourself a podcast.

[@jhosky1]

Any disagreement on the actual facts laid out? Or just going to engage in name calling and guilt by association fallacies?

[@bradnitzsche2436]

@@davissalaki8703 Sadly I agree...almost every post is rife with Trump derangement syndrome and calling everything they disagree with using "white" as a slander makes this seem like a blm political action commitee.

[@ZipplyZane]

Absolutely no one on this podcast is far left. I'm a progressive, which is about middle left. And all of these guys are to the right of me. It's telling that you hear people talking about the problems with bigotry, and assume that means they can't be right wing.

[@davissalaki8703]

Why should we trust a dude that ran as a Democrat to have a fair and balanced view of history? You don't think someone from the political left might have an axe to grind? You don't even bother to get anyone that has a more conventional view of the evangelical movement and it's role in politics, just leftists. Your motivations are paper-thin Phil. Here's an obvious dot to connect about racism and abortion: Margaret Sanger.

[@bkucenski]

Frederick Douglass outs the slave loving origin of Evangelicals in his autobiography. While he was an escaped slave in Britain attending a conference to talk about his experiences as a slave, evangelical "leaders" were there to argue the "moral" case for slavery. Which of course was rejected by Britain which outlawed slavery in their entire empire in 1832.

[@davissalaki8703]

@@bkucenski And yet many of the founding fathers generations before were strong proponents of abolishing slavery. It was Christians who spearheaded the movement to get rid of slavery

[@bkucenski]

@@davissalaki8703 not southern christians. Frederick Douglass called them children of the devil.

[@davissalaki8703]

@@bkucenski that's true, there was a movement by some immoral people to use the Bible to justify slavery. But it's hard to consider folks twisting the Bible to suite their own whims evangelicals. They had a fundamentally warped view of basic doctrines, including "love your neighbor". I feel like that's playing fast and loose with the term evangelical

[@Epok17]

@@davissalaki8703 I think most would agree that people using scripture to justify slavery is not christian. Unfortunately those people weren’t corrected and became a staple of American Christianity for a time. That type of theology has had lasting affects on our country and church.