Being 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 her new documentary, “For Our Daughters,” about the sexual abuse scandals that have shaken the faith of many in the church. She sees a link between the theology and culture that created and covered-up sexual abuse in the church, and the rise of political idolatry within evangelicalism. Also this week—hurricanes are now political, and a Haitian pastor in New Hampshire with a sense of humor invites pets to his church.
For Our Daughters Full Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkES4X_qb6c
Holy Post Plus:
Getting Schooled: Debt and Theology 101
0:00 - Intro
1:18 - Show Starts
3:24 - Theme Song
3:45 - 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.
4:50 - Sponsor - AG1 - Heavily researched, thoroughly purity-tested, and filled with stuff you need. Go to https://www.drinkag1.com/HOLYPOST
7:18 - Terry Gilliam’s News of the Butt
10:30 - Haitian Priest Blesses Pets
15:05 - Hurricane Helene
23:02 - Cultural Christianity Michael Bird Article
34:58 - Why Christian Beliefs are Necessary for Christian Virtue
53:47 - Sponsor - The National Association of Evangelicals - Listen to the Difficult to explore how Christians can become peacemakers. Go to https://www.nae.org/introduction-difficult-conversations-podcast-series/ to check it out!
54:53 - Sponsor - Faithful Counseling - This episode is sponsored by Faithful Counseling. Give online therapy a try at https://www.faithfulcounseling.com/HOLYPOST and get 10% off
56:00 - Interview
1:02:26 - How Women are Blamed for Men’s Sins
1:08:47 - Are Churches Better Prepared to Address Sexual Abuse?
1:14:54 - Is the Culture More Likely to Call Out Abuse Now?
1:18:17 - The Link Between January 6 and Sexual Abuse Scandals
1:24:04 - Will There Be a Church Backlash if Kamala Wins?
1:29:04 - End Credits
Links Mentioned in the News Segment:
Haitian Priest Blesses Pets:
Disaster Relief for Hurricane Helene:
The Rise of Cultural Christianity:
Other resources:
Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/
Holy Post Plus: www.holypost.com/plus
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Holy Post Merch Store: https://www.holypost.com/shop
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Phil said that if you look where Christianity left the biggest “imprint,” that’s where you’d want to live, but I disagree! If you think of countries that are struggling/not “attractive,” many of them are the way they are precisely BECAUSE of colonizing Christianity. “Christian” countries came and decimated economies, cultures, and values, motivated by greed and power. Cultural Christianity is, I believe, dangerous when separated from a true humility and the markers of the kingdom of God. I think comments like this also reveal how deeply white Americans (or any of European descent) have internalized the belief that a capitalist economy/culture is the best, and wealth is a marker of a successful country.
Outstanding discussion with Du Mez. I applaud her for doing this documentary. It's so needed. There's lots more where this came from. I encourage you to also do a podcast with Shelia Wray Gregoire. She is shining a light on all the toxic evangelical books that have led to abuse. One look at her comments thread on her FB page, Bare marriage, and you'll see just how rampant patriarchal abuse/sexual abuse is in churches and in homes. Thousands upon thousands of women. Thank you for bringing light to this topic. Women are not objects. We are people who Jesus loves. He loves us all equally and women should be treated equally.
I love the Haitian priest's comedic timing. Blessing animals is a tradition that Catholic and High-Church protestant churches do in honour of St. Francis of Assisi's feast day on Oct. 4th. St. Francis loved animals so much that he was said to preach to them as well as to people, because he believed that God loved animals so much that they deserved to know their creator, too. He tamed a wolf that was eating people and animals just by making the sign of the cross over the wolf, and then the wolf lived the rest of its life in peace with the townspeople, among many other stories.
This anecdote brought up fond memories of having my pets blessed at the…
Cultural Christianity is a problem especially when is reduces the transforming power of Christ to something that is not relevant.
However, the discussion with Du Mez highlighted something even worse. Evangelical ministries who claim to be proclaiming the true Gospel, but who are so Machiavellian they would crush any victim and anyone who would dare ask questions regarding their ministry.
That sort of mindset is also the same power dynamic present in the Trump/MAGA movement. It is the case where Church Politics and Politics are mirroring each other.
It also explains why 80% of White Evangelicals will vote for a thug like Trump again in a few weeks. Evangelicals love the will to power in both government and church.
Hey friends, I’m a Mennonite listener dropping in to say: when you make your list of organizations that are on the ground and actively providing practical hurricane relief/response, please include Mennonite Disaster Service!