Óptica: Reflective Faith & Latinidad is hosted by Pastor Gabriel Salguero—a podcast at the intersection of faith, culture, and Latinidad. Dr. Gabriel Salguero is the lead pastor at The Gathering Place in Orlando Florida and the National Latino Evangelical Coalition president, a coalition of Hispanic Evangelical congregations from across the United States. He is known for his profound insights on some of the most challenging themes for our society today and their impact on the growing Latino ...
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Join VeggieTales and What's in the Bible? creator Phil Vischer and co-host Skye Jethani (author, speaker, pastor) for a fast-paced and often funny conversation about pop culture, media, theology, and the fun, fun, fun of living a thoughtful Christian life in an increasingly post-Christian culture.
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671: Mailbag! God’s Pronouns, Project 2025, & Asking Jesus Into Your Heart
1:06:42
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1:06:42Phil, Kaitlyn, and Skye respond to questions from the listeners, including whether lay people should go to seminary, how important is attending a church after being hurt by one, and whether Christians should make violent video games. They also venture into theological topics like what pronouns are appropriate for God, what doctrines do we emphasize…
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670: The Nicene Creed is Cool Again & Reading the Bible like Dallas Willard with Dave Ripper
1:28:51
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1:28:51Why are more churches rediscovering and reciting the Nicene Creed? And what can the ancient articulation of Christian belief offer the church in these divided times? Phil, Skye, and Kaitlyn discuss the 1700th anniversary of the creed and its place in the modern church. The Bible is critical to our faith, but have we been taught to worship the Bible…
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669: From Common Good to Culture War—Lessons from the Q Conference with Katelyn Beaty
1:28:18
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1:28:18We have a pope and he’s American! Cardinal Robert Prevost from Chicago is now Pope Leo XIV, and his connection to The Holy Post is closer than anyone imagined. Phil, Skye, and Kaitlyn discuss reactions to the new Pope and the significance of his name. Katelyn Beaty is back to discuss the evolution of the Q Conference, led by Gabe and Rebekah Lyons.…
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LET THEM SUFFER: WHEN LOVE LEAVES HOME | OPTICA PODCAST
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29:31Dr. Gabriel Salguero introduces an episode of Optica focused on encouraging a sober and gospel-centered approach to humanitarian assistance and foreign aid. They aim to shift the conversation from partisan debates to a biblically grounded discussion informed by Christian values, particularly those found in scripture.Key points include: • Scripture’…
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668: Pope Donald, Human Flourishing, & the Pastor’s Wife with Beth Allison Barr
1:33:30
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1:33:30The 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 rel…
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667: The Future of Faith in America with John Kasich
1:27:18
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1:27:18A 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 a…
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666: Lessons from the Satanic Panic with Mike Cosper
1:25:19
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1:25:19Pope 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 in…
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665: Can Democrats Win Back Religious Voters? with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
1:29:16
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1:29:16It’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 …
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664: An Atheist Says America Needs Jesus with Jonathan Rauch
1:27:27
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1:27:27Donald 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 er…
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663: Snow White, Scarcity, & Why Immigration is Pro-Life and Bri Stensrud
1:27:47
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1:27:47Disney’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 C…
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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: https://pod.link/1765560765
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662: Why Nazi Comparisons Don't Help & Hosting Cultural Conversations and Lee C. Camp
1:23:47
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1:23:47It’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 politica…
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In this episode of Optica, Dr. Gabriel Salguero explores the concept of false peace versus true peace. He shares that peace is not merely the absence of conflict but must include truth and justice to be genuine. False peace, he explains, avoids conflict at any cost, lacks self-reflection, ignores underlying issues, and seeks superficial harmony wit…
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661: Non-Cringy Christian Media & the Nicene Creed and Glenn Packiam
1:22:36
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1:22:36A 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…
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Dealing with Difficult People | Optica Podcast
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10:43In this episode of *Optica*, Dr. Gabriel Salguero discusses how to effectively handle difficult people, a challenge everyone faces at some point. He shares key strategies to navigate these interactions while maintaining professionalism and respect. *Key Takeaways:* 1. **Maintain Composure** – Stay calm, professional, and respectful, even when provo…
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660: Following Christ in “Negative World” and Charlie Peacock
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1:32:02With 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 wh…
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Leadership in a Culture of Crisis Part II with Dr. A.R. Bernard | Optica Podcast
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19:16In this second episode of "Optica" with Dr. Gabriel Salguero, the guest is Dr. A.R. Bernard, a renowned pastor, mentor, author, and leader of the Christian Cultural Center in New York. They discuss leadership, particularly in a crisis culture, the importance of balancing continuity with change, and navigating the challenges of longevity in ministry…
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659: The Root of Racism is Greed Not Hate with Malcolm Foley
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1:31:07After a made-for-T.V. meltdown in the Oval Office between President Trump and President Zelensky of Ukraine, the administration cut all military aid to Ukraine and sided with Russia instead. Will this cause some evangelicals to rethink their support for Trump, and if so where will they go? Two popular Christian books are saying that empathy is mani…
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French Friday: A Unified Theory of Trump
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1:05:26In his first month in office, Donald Trump has broken international agreements with allies, ended all foreign aid, voted with America's enemies in the UN, posted a plan to turn Gaza into a Trump casino and resort, purged the Pentagon of military commanders, appointed podcasters and conspiracy theorists to his cabinet, and threatened to invade or an…
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658: Justice, Mercy, & Becoming Good News People with Derwin Gray
1:28:28
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1:28:28Has Wheaton College, the flagship of evangelical higher ed, gone woke? Concerned parents and alumni have published a letter accusing the school of valuing diversity more than discipleship. Others have responded by defending Wheaton against the unfounded claims of the MAGA mob. What does the controversy reveal about the state of evangelicalism in th…
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The SkyePod - SkyeDIVE: Worship & Justice
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51:40Skye explains the strong biblical ties between two seemingly related concepts: worship and justice. Can you even have one without the other? Get the full episode by signing up for Holy Post Plus: https://www.patreon.com/posts/122739547/
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657: The Government, God, & Grift with Katherine Stewart
1:26:25
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1:26:25Since WWII, the United States has been actively engaged in foreign aid as part of its strategic foreign policy, and Christians of all theological and political views have broadly supported this effort. In the first month of the Trump administration, however, Christians on the far right have suddenly turned against international aid. What’s behind t…
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Leadership in a Culture of Crisis with Dr. A.R. Bernard | Optica Podcast
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26:58In this episode of "Optica" with Dr. Gabriel Salguero, the guest is Dr. A.R. Bernard, a renowned pastor, mentor, author, and leader of the Christian Cultural Center in New York. They discuss leadership, particularly in a crisis culture, the importance of balancing continuity with change, and navigating the challenges of longevity in ministry. Dr. B…
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656: Defunding USAID and Blue Like Jazz’s Gospel of Vibes with Ross Douthat
1:28:39
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1:28:39The 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 y…
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655: What If Jesus Was Serious About Justice with Skye Jethani
1:23:18
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1:23:18During a recent Fox News interview, Vice President J.D. Vance cited “an old school and very Christian concept” to justify rejecting refugees and ending international aid. Bishops from his own church disagreed. The Holy Post crew explores the concept Vance was citing, how he misunderstands it, and why his interpretation undermines the entire New Tes…
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In this episode of *Optica*, the discussion centers around a critical question: Are we unintentionally sending a message to people in our churches that they don’t belong? The episode emphasizes that church decline is not only a result of external pressures like time constraints and economic struggles but also due to deeper issues within the church …
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French Friday: What Happened to Checks & Balances?
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1:05:18David French brings us his thoughts on why the GOP is no longer the party of the Constitution. Have political party allegiances broken the system? What Constitutional guard rails can operate when people are worried about falling out of the President’s favor? Then, he talks about Carl Schmitt, a German political thinker who may have the key to under…
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654: Inauguration Consternation & Respecting Refugees with Matthew Soerens
1:28:43
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1:28:43The first week of the second Trump administration has seen refugees cut off and January 6th criminals cut loose. Franklin Graham declared in his inauguration prayer that God himself had chosen the President. The MAGA faithful applauded this mix of Christian faith and politics, but when Bishop Budde asked the President to “show mercy” to frightened …
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653: Character, Christian Colleges, & Why Trump Won with Robert P. Jones
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1:22:14According to New York Times columnist, David Brooks, our society has given up on moral formation to focus instead on individual success and happiness. Can we recover a culture of shared virtue? Surprising new data shows that overall college enrollment is down, but Christian colleges and universities are growing. What’s the explanation? Then Robert …
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652: Families Need Formation Not Formulas with Emily McGowin
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1:30:03How can we help those impacted by the L.A. wildfires? Because of A.I., climate change, and falling fertility rates, Ezra Klein says we are living “in the age of monsters,” but is he really just upset about Trump? And how is technology fundamentally rewiring our brains to avoid social interaction, and what should we do about it? Phil, Kaitlyn, and S…
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Cultivating Healthy Leadership | Optica Podcast
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651: The Jimmy Carter Cudgel & Preparing for Mass Deportations with Gabriel Salguero
1:28:51
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1:28:51Former president and born again Christian, Jimmy Carter, died at the age of 100. As the media reflects on his legacy of public service and humanitarianism, some are contrasting Carter’s faith with that of conservative white evangelicals. Esau McCaulley says Carter is being used as a cudgel by progressives to shame their political opponents. Is he r…
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650: Mailbag: Past Regrets, Future Hopes, & Fitting Everyone in Heaven
1:10:42
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1:10:42Happy new year! We’re starting 2025 by answering questions from the Holy Post audience. You’ve asked us about movies and shows we are looking forward to this year, and what regrets we have about things we’ve said in the past. Phil explains his fashion choices, Skye explains why he’s still a conservative, and Kaitlyn has an idea for replacing “News …
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The MeToo movement was a huge cultural movement—but now, many major government leaders with sexual abuse scandals under their belt seem to go under the radar—how did we get to this point? And what about the aftermath of the ChurchToo movement? David and Skye discuss this, as well as a case in the Supreme Court about Tennessee’s ban on transgender m…
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649: The Christmas Story Facts & Fiction with Nijay Gupta
1:26:10
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1:26:10Merry Christmas! In celebrity conversion news, Denzel Washington got baptized at his church in Harlem just days before his 70th birthday and became a licensed minister, and New York Times columnist, David Brooks, has written about his surprising journey from agnosticism to Christianity. What do these stories tell us about our culture’s ongoing hung…
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648: Hurt & Healed by the Church with Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez
1:24:54
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1:24:54A Catholic bishop, with a social media following second only to the Pope, is proving that dumbing down the faith is the wrong way to reach young adults. But is his celebrity status getting in the way? A new study finds the most generous people are also the most likely to consistently read the Bible. Kaitlyn talks to Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez abou…
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647: The Death of Dating & Megachurch Anti-Racism with Hahrie Han
1:29:47
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1:29:47More Americans than ever are single but they’re not happy about it. A new article in The Atlantic examines how the sexes are drifting apart, why more men are looking for a partner than women, and the side-effects of using an app rather than community to find a date. Then, political scientist Hahrie Han’s new book “Undivided” explores why the racial…
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646: The Late Great Hal Lindsey & Writing Prayers with Douglas McKelvey
1:17:03
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1:17:03Many ideas about the end times including the role of Israel, the mark of the beast, and the rapture became popular through Hal Lindsey’s best-selling book from the 1970s, “The Late Great Planet Earth.” Lindsay died last week at 95. We discuss his legacy and how his book is still shaping the American church long after most of its theology has been d…
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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…
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645: The Red Letter Legacy of Tony Campolo with Shane Claiborne
1:29:48
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1:29:48Mike 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 …
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644: Unplugging from Politics & the Real Meaning of Acts with N.T. Wright
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1:17:29After 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 communit…
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643: How Trump Won the Election with David French
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1:28:25It’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 m…
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642: How the Friendship of Lewis & Tolkien Changed the World with John Hendrix
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1:19:57The 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 ov…
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641: The Roots of Racial & Environmental Injustice with David Swanson
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1:35:43With 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 Sw…
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640: Holy Post LIVE from Chicago with Charlie Dates
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1:34:50Today’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 B…
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639: The Apostle to the Apostles with Jennifer Powell McNutt
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1:27:32The 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 …
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638: Keep Christianity Weird & Lessons from the Church Abuse Scandal with Kristen Kobes Du Mez
1:29:37
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1:29:37Being 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 h…
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637: Your Church is Too American with Steve Bezner
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1:29:12Steve 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 organiza…
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