Veterans of Culture Wars

Revisiting our conversation with Jessica Johnson, a professor (at William and Mary College) and author of "Biblical Porn:  Affect, Labor and Pastor Mark Driscoll's Evangelical Empire".  We talk about her anthropology work at Mars Hill Church in Seattle (from 2006-2008) which resulted in the definitive book about that megachurch.  Zach and Dave have shared their stories about being a...

EPISODE REPLAY:  We were honored to talk with Christian activist Shane Claiborne earlier this year about America's epidemic of gun violence.  We recorded this episode on March 24th - a few days after mass shootings in Atlanta and Boulder, and the 3rd anniversary of the March For Our Lives. The conversation includes why gun violence is both a heart problem and a law/legislation problem, w...

Jolie Monea and Tiffany Eneas, formerly members of The Trinity Church in Scottsdale, AZ, join the pod to talk about their experiences at Mark Driscoll's desert church, where Mark and Grace Driscoll present themselves as spiritual "father" and "mother" in front of the church while congregants are the "family". Jolie also shares about how her long-term friendship with the Driscolls (one of her daugh...

Larry Norman biographer Gregory Alan Thornbury (Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music) joins the podcast to talk about the godfather of Christian rock music and the larger Jesus Movement that he inspired and later disavowed. He also talks about Critical Kayfabe Theory, a way of interpreting the actions of public figures like Mark Driscoll through the lens of professional wrestlers, who have...

Our first official return guest, Stephanie Drury from Stuff Christian Culture Likes, comes back on the pod. We talk about a variety of things related to the Christianity Today podcast "The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill". In what ways did Mark Driscoll shape Mars Hill into a rape culture and teach about sex in specific ways that re-traumatized victims of sexual violence? Why did so many women at Mars...

Matt Nightingale joins us to discuss the new Netflix documentary Pray Away, his own experience with gay conversion therapy, and his subsequent journey to acceptance, involving coming out as a married dad in his 40s. We also talk about 2 major figures in evangelicalism and what they meant to him: author Rachel Held Evans, and Jesus Movement hippie preacher Lonnie Frisbee, a gay man who claimed to m...

Stories of control and paranoia from The Trinity Church, where at least one leader believes Mark Driscoll is the closest thing to Jesus on earth. Chad and Ben talk about how they ended up there, why they left, and why they feel Mark Driscoll should not be leading a church. Follow Chad Freese on Twitter:  @deardriscoll Mentioned on the podcast: -Former security director Chad Freese's website:...

Zach and Dave discuss the first three episodes of Christianity Today's new podcast "The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill" by Mike Cosper, and Zach gives his thoughts on the fourth episode (which was released after our initial recording). Mentioned in this episode: The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill: https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/podcasts/rise-and-fall-of-mars-hill/ Raft of Dead Monkeys: https://rafto...

Evangelical subculture has a habit of copying different art forms from the wider culture.  In the era of superhero movies developed from long running Marvel and DC comic books, what were Christian comic books like?  Cultural critic and co-host of the podcast Young Adult Movie Ministry, Sam Thielman joins the pod to discuss Christian comic books and committed Christian personalities who h...

Author, mom, and math teacher Wendy Alsup joins the podcast to talk about masculinity (farmers vs warriors), her excellent book "Companions in Suffering", and her thoughts on forgiveness (which will be in a forthcoming book released in January 2022). Connect with Wendy Alsup: Website featuring her ministry and work:  https://theologyforwomen.org/ Email:  theologyforwomen@gmail.com Twitte...

Do evangelicals want to know the truth about abusive pastors? American history? Conversion therapy? In this wide ranging interview, Professor Warren Throckmorton talks about his Baptist background and journey with Evangelical Christianity. He discusses being a psychology professor and studying gender and sexuality, learning and changing his mind on LGBTQ issues and opposing an anti-gay law in Ugan...

Zach and Dave are back from a break! Zach presses Dave on whether he is still an Evangelical.  Zach discusses what he has been learning about religious trauma.  Both hosts talk about their favorites movies of 2020 and argue about whether "Shrek" is a good movie (this is still not a debate show, but there are some assertions that require a response, evidence that demands a verdict)....

From the Non-Partisan Evangelical Podcast, Pastor Paul Swearengin joins us to talk about the reasons people are leaving the Evangelical church based on polling information given in a recent Gallup religion survey.  We discuss the toxic mixture of faith and political power, racism in the church, marginalization of LGBTQ people and people not believing they find Jesus in the general church anym...

Lindsey DuBois joins the pod to talk about her experiences in the Evangelical church and her work as a clinical hospital chaplain especially in the time of COVID.  Lindsey is doing incredibly courageous work helping and praying with people walking through experiences of traumatic loss and grief. -Check out Zach's music by going to:  https://muzach.bandcamp.com -Read Dave's occasional blo...

Evangelical activist Shane Claiborne joins the podcast to talk about America's epidemic of gun violence.  We recorded this episode on March 24th - a few days after mass shootings in Atlanta and Boulder, and the 3rd anniversary of the March For Our Lives. The conversation includes why gun violence is both a heart problem and a law/legislation problem, why Americans make idols of guns and rugge...

Author Sarah Welch-Larson (Becoming Alien:  The Beginning and End of Evil in Science Fiction's Most Idiosyncratic Film Franchise) joins the pod to talk about evil and creation/discreation in the Alien film franchise, and her interpretation of the series through the lens of Dr. Catherine Keller's "The Face of the Deep: A Theology of Becoming". Get a copy of Sarah Welch-Larson's book by going h...

Zach created this audio collage for our upcoming episode discussing gun violence with Shane Claiborne, and we've decided to release it now as a standalone episode, in recognition of the recent mass shootings, and to affirm our support for meaningful change to reduce gun violence in America. Every name you hear is a victim of gun violence.  Where you can help: https://everytown.org/ https://mo...

Peacemakers Andrew Larsen and Cari Conklin-Larsen join the pod to talk about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and some of the Evangelical theological beliefs that shape America's approach to this ongoing crisis. Mentioned on the pod: Jewish Voice for Peace- Video:  Israel Palestine Conflict 101.  https://jewishvoiceforpeace.org/israeli-palestinian-conflict-101/?fbclid=IwAR1Y0n21BelyVv6si...

Author of the book "Jesus and John Wayne:  How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation", Dr. Kristin Kobes Du Mez joins the pod to talk about how white evangelicals redefined Biblical masculinity to fit the militant masculinity of secular icons like John Wayne, Teddy Roosevelt, and William Wallace. We talk about Mark Driscoll, Donald Trump, Beth Moore, egalitarianism and c...

Benito Cereno, co-host of the Apocrypals podcast and comics writer (Invincible, The Tick) joins the pod to discuss the Biblical canon and extra-Biblical literature. Spoiler alert: it's weird! He also talks about his upbringing in the Southern Baptist Church and his life as a comic book writer. Dave plays trivia host as Zach and Benito face off in a game of "God-Breathed or Not-Breathed"....

Pastor of Renewal Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, Ryan Egli, joins the podcast to talk about his multi-denomination life journey in Evangelical Christianity.  From Charismatic roots to Cornerstone Music Festival to the Mennonite Faith to a Grace Brethren College and beyond, he describes his experiences through different expressions of Evangelicalism.  He also talks about his commitm...

Roger Ebert said, "The movies are like a machine that generates empathy." Film critic and author Jeffrey Overstreet joins the pod to talk about how Evangelicals approach movies, cinematic art, transcendence, and empathy, as well as spiritually based themes in the films by the Coen Bros.  He also shares some of his favorite films from 2020. -Jeffrey Overstreet's website:  lookingcloser.or...

Managing director of the Center for Barth Studies at Princeton Theological Seminary, Kait Dugan joins the pod to talk about Evangelicals and Qanon as well as share her story with Evangelical Christianity.  We chat about why Evangelicals seem susceptible to belief in conspiracy theories and more. Articles on Evangelicals and Qanon: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/the-faqs-what-chris...

Author Christy Rood comes on the podcast to discuss her faith story involving fundamentalism and her book on identity "Tracing the Threads: Examining the Story of Self for Lasting Change".  We discuss the different strands of fundamentalism and talk about how Evangelicals approach identity. Pick up a copy of her book here:  https://gcdiscipleship.com/books/tracing-the-thread Mentioned on...

Zach and Dave chat about Dave Ramsey's financial guru empire that grew out of the Evangelical Church with a syncretistic blend of faith and American capitalism.  Also Zach shares a warning about the inherent demonic danger of Christian ventriloquial performance. On Ventriloquism: -Liberty Gospel Tracts - "What does the Bible say about ventriloquism?" - http://www.libertygospeltracts.com/quest...