A new survey of worship leaders finds that four megachurches have cornered the worship music market. Should we care who is writing the songs we sing in church, and what gets lost when market forces influence local ministries? A sermon clip has gone viral showing a megachurch pastor scolding people who arrive late or leave early because they are treating the “church like it’s a religious show instead of a welcoming family.” But are people acting like church is a show because that’s the model church leaders have created? We explore the history of how churches came to copy theaters and its impact on the church’s mission and power. Then, Phil talks to Karen Swallow Prior about her new book, “The Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images, and Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis.” She explains how the current crisis in evangelicalism finds its roots in trying to preserve Victorian values rather than biblical ones. Also this week: a celebrity bear is above the law. Patreon Bonus:  Holy Post Office -  How do you justify the O.T God who commanded Israel to annihilate other nations, with the New Testament themes of loving our enemies? https://youtu.be/IMEMzA8rJZQ 0:00 - Intro   1:49 - Show Starts   4:10 - Theme Song   4:27 - Sponsor - Hiya Health   5:36 - Animal News   14:05 - How we choose worship music in church   34:55 - JD Greear’s recent viral clip   56:03 - Sponsor - AG1 To get your FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D AND 5 free travel packs with your first purchase, go to athleticgreens.com/HOLYPOST    57:32 - Sponsor - Blueland To get 15% off your first order, go to Blueland.com/HOLYPOST   58:38 - Interview Intro Karen Swallow Prior   1:03:36 - How Victorian literature influenced Evangelicalism    1:12:20 - Evangelicialism and Empire   1:24:43 - Broadening our imagination   1:36:43 - End Credits Links mentioned in news segment:   Hank the Tank: Fugitive burglar bear captured in California https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66429736 Few worship leaders avoid Hillsong, Bethel songs — despite controversies and scandal https://religionnews.com/2023/07/11/few-worship-leaders-avoid-hillsong-bethel-songs-despite-controversies-and-scandal/ JD Greear’s sermon clip - https://twitter.com/laurchas22/status/1687426921586622464 Other resources:   The Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images, and Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis by Karen Swallow Prior https://amzn.to/3qm5F9N Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/   Holy Post Plus: www.holypost.com/plus   Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost   Holy Post Merch Store: https://www.holypost.com/shop The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.  

Karen Swallow Prior and Matthew Barrett discuss the crisis in evangelicalism due to power struggles and changing focus. They explore the impact of Victorian values on evangelical culture, the use of metaphors and imagery in shaping evangelical identity, and the influence of missions, capitalism, and entrepreneurial spirit on modern evangelical practices.

Welcome back to the Losing Our Religion series of The Russell Moore Podcast! This special series of episodes around Russell Moore’s newest book, Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America, explores navigating the Christian faith in confusing times.This week, Moore welcomes his good friend, author, and professor Karen Swallow Prior to the show. Moore and Prior discuss their newest titles—Prior’s The Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images, and Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis and Moore’s Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America, which have powerful crossovers. They talk about the history of evangelicalism, the significance of metaphors and language in the church, and biblical interpretation. Their conversation covers conversion stories, social media, and their thoughts on the classic John Bunyan work The Pilgrim’s Progress.Tune in for an episode that is engaging, insightful, and infused with hope in the gospel. Resources mentioned in this episode include: The Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images, and Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis by Karen Swallow Prior Areopagitica by John Milton The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan The work of Flannery O’Connor The work of Thomas Kinkade Fierce Convictions: The Extraordinary Life of Hannah More—Poet, Reformer, Abolitionist by Karen Swallow Prior Grab a copy of Russell’s new title, Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America, here! If you’re able, join us for a live event hosted by Beth Moore in Houston on August 9. Click here for details.Do you have a question for Russell Moore? Send it to questions@russellmoore.com.Click here for a trial membership at Christianity Today.“The Russell Moore Show” is a production of Christianity TodayExecutive Producers: Erik Petrik, Russell Moore, and Mike CosperHost: Russell MooreProducer: Ashley HalesAssociate Producers: Abby Perry and Azurae PhelpsCT Administration: Christine KolbSocial Media: Kate LuckyDirector of Operations for CT Media: Matt StevensAudio engineering by Dan PhelpsVideo producer: Abby EganTheme Song: “Dusty Delta Day” by Lennon Hutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark Driscoll, a controversial pastor, joins a diverse group including scholar Karen Swallow Prior and media producer Phil Cooke, to tackle the scandals plaguing evangelical churches. They discuss the dangers of charismatic leadership that leads to abuse and the urgent need for accountability. The conversation dives into the intersection of faith and politics, addressing the fallout of Christian nationalism. Together, they explore the resilience of faith within marginalized communities and the hope for a transformative rebirth in church culture.

Karen Swallow Prior, Professor of English Literature, discusses the role of imagination in faith, redefining evangelicalism, and reviving enchantment in Christianity. They explore the power of literature, personal struggles within evangelical circles, and the impact of the evangelical imagination on beliefs. The conversation also touches on historical influences on domestic life, the importance of authentic conversion experiences, and finding hope and self-awareness within evangelicalism.

Karen Swallow Prior, PhD, SUNY, discusses the influence and perception of ideas within the evangelical community, the integration of desires and social imaginaries, the impact of Victorian and Enlightenment time periods on evangelicalism, and the significance of the printing press on Christianity. The hosts reflect on their own assumptions and behaviors while expressing gratitude for the guest's work.

Renowned social commentator Karen Swallow Prior discusses the meaning of 'evangelical' and its controversies in different contexts. They explore the power of metaphor and imagination in understanding spiritual realities and address the importance of addressing injustices faced by women and people in the church and community.

Controversial discussions over 'Christ is King' involving Candace Owens, Andrew Klaven, Jenna Ellis, James Lindsay. Karen Swallow Prior debates if women should be punished for abortion. Insights on Haiti's situation and liberalism.

Karen Swallow Prior, author of 'The Evangelical Imagination - How Stories, Images & Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis', discusses the power of imagination, crisis within the institutional church, the role of storytelling in evangelicalism, and the need for balance between personal experience and community.

Karen Swallow Prior, an author and contributor to Religion News Service, discusses the impact of J.R.R. Tolkien's works on today's conservative sentiments. She explores the emotional depth of reading against film adaptations. Krista Boan, founder of Screen Sanity, then delves into the implications of cell phone bans in schools, highlighting their effect on student learning and mental health. The conversation also touches on evolving abortion trends and the ethical complexities surrounding women’s choices post-Dobbs, emphasizing the need for understanding in a polarized landscape.