Still Christian, Still Hardcore (#313)

In this episode, I talk with Stephen Keech, frontman of metalcore band Haste the Day, about maintaining Christian faith in a scene where many have moved away from religious identification. Stephen shares his journey from rigid evangelical beliefs to a more nuanced, "malleable" faith that has allowed him to adapt while keeping his core convictions. We explore why Christian bands thrived in heavy music (the natural synergy between spiritual warfare themes and metal's intensity), the market forces that initially pushed bands to identify as "Christian," and the judgmental culture that drove many artists away. Stephen discusses his transformative encounters that challenged his inherited viewpoints, his shift toward Eastern Orthodox theology, and how fatherhood redefined his purpose after leaving the "ministry platform" of being in a Christian band. Throughout, we examine what it means to be "Christ-like" in today's polarized world while acknowledging the complexity of maintaining faith in creative spaces increasingly skeptical of Christianity.

Stephen's Website | Stephenkeech.com

Stephen on Instagram | @stephenkeech

Episode Mentioned:

Episode #118 | I Don't Believe in that God: Joey Holman

Episode #139 | Christian Heavy Music: Theology, Attachment, Power

Highlights:

02:58 The Evolution of Christian Metalcore

11:52 The Tension Between Faith and Performance

23:57 The Malleability of Faith

51:00 Experiential Faith: Tent Poles vs. Picket Fences

01:09:48 The Moral Dilemma of Modern Christianity

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Edited by Josh Gilbert (joshgilbertmedia.com -- he is accepting more work!)

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