Katelyn Beaty discusses human sinfulness and the evangelical legacy of slavery. They explore the Pope's comments on human nature, the plateauing of religious nones, and the appeal of Christianity's 'weirdness'. Sean McGever delves into the impact of slavery on evangelical leaders like Edwards, Wesley, and Whitefield, revealing lasting effects on the Church today.

The Integrity Crisis in Today's Churches [ mini-series ] In Part 2 of our mini-series on Integrity in the Church, Katelyn Beaty talks about the history of the idea of celebrity, how it's impacted the church, how Billy Graham handled his fame, and how personas, platforms, and profits are harming the church and what to do about it. Note: This isn't a cynical hit piece on the church, but hopefully, a thoughtful conversation on what to do if becoming well-known comes your way. Show Notes On The Rise Newsletter  

Guest host Alissa Wilkinson talks with Katelyn Beaty, author of the new book Celebrities for Jesus, about how the dynamics of fame, influence, and new media are changing our experience of religious faith. They discuss how celebrities like Billy Graham set the tone for a lionization of celebrity in the Evangelical Church, why faith leaders cultivate distance from their congregations and build influencer-style social media presences, and share their thoughts on the future of the Church in our perhaps increasingly celebrity-obsessed culture.Host: Alissa Wilkinson (@alissamarie), senior culture writer, VoxGuest: Katelyn Beaty (@KatelynBeaty), authorReferences:  Celebrities for Jesus: How Personas, Platforms, and Profits Are Hurting the Church by Katelyn Beaty (Brazos; 2022) "Inside Hillsong, the Church of Choice for Justin Bieber and Kevin Durant" by Taffy Brodesser-Akner (GQ; Dec. 17, 2015) "After Columbine, martyrdom became a powerful fantasy for Christian teenagers" by Alissa Wilkinson (Vox; Apr. 17, 2019)  Enjoyed this episode? Rate The Gray Area ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear the next episode of The Gray Area. Subscribe in your favorite podcast app.Support The Gray Area by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcastsThis episode was made by:  Producer: Erikk Geannikis Editor: Amy Drozdowska Engineer: Patrick Boyd Editorial Director, Vox Talk: A.M. Hall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Evangelicals are no longer the largest religious group in the South. Russell Moore says they’ve been replaced by a dangerous new kind of southern secularism. These MAGA-vangelicals don’t attend church, don’t follow the moral teachings of the Bible, and are fixated on politics and conspiracy theories but still call themselves “Christians.” What role does the church have in mitigating the danger of this new sect? Plus, a church in Texas faces legal trouble for performing an evangelistic revision of the musical Hamilton without a license. Then, Katelyn Beaty is back to discuss her new book Celebrities for Jesus: How Personas, Platforms, and Profits are Hurting the Church. She explains why we keep manufacturing more Christian celebrities despite their high failure rate, and why accountability structures aren’t enough. Also this week, Phil eulogizes Freya the walrus, and a man sues after five years of flatulence. Patreon Bonus with Katelyn Beaty: The ugly side of Christian publishing - https://www.patreon.com/posts/70617486/ News Segment 2:45 - Freya the walrus update 9:42 - News of the Butt 15:25 - Church production of Hamilton 25:55 - The new secular south 42:48 - With God Daily https://withgoddaily.com/ Interview with Katelyn Beaty “Celebrities for Jesus: How Personas, Platforms, and Profits are Hurting the Church” - https://amzn.to/3wb3aqJ 44:10 - Interview intro 46:15 - Why this book? 50:45 - Fame vs. celebrity 58:13 - When accountability doesn’t work 1:04:27 - Celebrity and an illusion of intimacy 1:13:29 - Christian celebrity and discipleship 1:19:41 - Credits Other articles and resources mentioned: “When the South Loosens its Bible Belt” by Russell Moore (Christianity Today) - https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2022/august-web-only/russell-moore-white-evangelicals-bible-belt-south-church.html “Fighting Flesh and Blood” by Kristin Du Mez - https://kristindumez.substack.com/p/fighting-flesh-and-blood?sd=pf “A Church Called Tov: Forming a Goodness Culture That Resists Abuses of Power and Promotes Healing” by Laura McKnight Barringer and Scot McKnight - https://amzn.to/3A4jRF9 News of the Butt - https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11041055/Father-stopped-farting-ate-ham-roll-market-five-years-ago-sues-200k.html Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/ Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost 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.

In this discussion, David Zahl, director of Mockingbird Ministries, analyzes the recent Democratic National Convention, focusing on the emotional shifts and 'joyful' messaging amidst political complexities. He urges Christians to engage despite political homelessness. Joining him, Katelyn Beaty explores the 'trad-wife' movement on social media, unpacking its blend of traditional femininity and modern expectations, questioning the quest for validation in today’s influencer culture. Together, they tackle how these trends reshape family dynamics and societal roles.