Breaking Points with Krystal and Saagar 12/9/23: COVID, TRUMP, Q-ANON: Evangelical Extremism with Tim Alberta
Dec 9, 2023
Tim Alberta, a staff writer for The Atlantic and author of "The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism," dives into the complex mix of faith and politics. He discusses the strong influence of conspiracy theories like Q-Anon within evangelical communities. Alberta also reflects on the radicalization of the church and urges a return to its core mission. Furthermore, he explores the changing identity of evangelicals in America and the challenges they face in today's political climate.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Evangelical Identity
- The term "evangelical" has become a political label.
- It now means conservative white Republican rather than a theological belief.
Southern Baptists and Politics
- Saagar Enjeti grew up around Southern Baptists, observing their deep involvement in politics.
- The Southern Baptist Convention's existence is tied to political acts, including the Civil War and segregation.
Healthy vs. Unhealthy Political Engagement
- Christians have a civic duty to engage politically, but there's a line between healthy engagement and unhealthy obsession.
- Conspiracy theories within the church, like QAnon, damage the credibility of the Gospel.
