Know Your Enemy The Christian Right's "Wild Faith" (w/ Talia Lavin) [Unlocked]
Aug 23, 2025
Talia Lavin is a journalist and author known for her book, Wild Faith: How the Christian Right is Taking Over America. In this discussion, Lavin explores the complex dynamics of the Christian right, linking its rise to figures like James Dobson and phenomena like the Satanic Panic. They address how conspiracy theories, such as QAnon, shape political views among evangelicals and the implications of authoritarian parenting styles within this community. Lavin emphasizes the emotional toll of these beliefs and the urgent need for broader conversations on faith and politics.
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Harm-Focused Lens
- Talia Lavin frames Wild Faith as examining harms done to women and children, not just mocking leaders.
- She argues this viewpoint reveals how conservative evangelical beliefs translate into real-world damage.
Kellers And The Satanic Panic
- Lavin recounts the Kellers, daycare providers accused in the satanic panic who fled and were imprisoned for decades.
- They later received $3.1 million but lost irreplaceable years of their lives.
Supernatural Belief Fuels Conspiracy
- Lavin links belief in pervasive supernatural evil to increased susceptibility to conspiracy theories.
- Spiritual demonology provides simplistic answers for complex personal and societal problems.
