Truce - History of the Christian Church

Donate to help keep Truce going!Who wrote the Pledge of Allegiance for the United States? On this episode of Truce, we examine the conditions under which the Pledge was written and Francis Bellamy, the man responsible for our famous creed.Along the way we learn about Bellamy's belief in Christian Socialism, the Social Gospel, and Charles Sheldon's book "In His Steps". Even though it is one of the most popular works of fiction in history, it's filled with controversial stuff.Our guest this episode is Professor Charles Dorn of Bowdoin College. His books are Patriotic Education in a Global Age and For the Common Good: A New History of Higher Education in America.Helpful Links: Additional voice over work done by Cale Nelson and his family. He's the host of the Modern Christian Men Podcast Helpful article by Charles Dorn Complete text of "In His Steps" by Charles Sheldon Britannica article about Social Gospel Gospel Coalition critique of "In His Steps" Subjects covered: Is patriotic education okay in public schools? When did US flags first appear in schools? Who wrote the Pledge of Allegiance? When was the Pledge of Allegiance written? When did they add "under God" into the Pledge of Allegiance? What is Christian socialism? Where does the phrase WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?) come from? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Do you love the Truce Podcast? Be a part of supporting the show by giving to keep the show going. You can send a traditional check (made out to Chris Staron) to:Chris StaronPO Box 3434Jackson, WY 83001Or donate online using a credit card at: https://trucepodcast.com/donate/Please note that Truce is not a non-profit and money given to us cannot be deducted on your tax returns. We did this on purpose. 90% of Americans do not benefit from write offs like those given to non-profits because the standard deduction is so high. Non-profits only benefit the wealthy. We want to try to finance this show through normal people. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Become a patron of the show and help me make even more great episodes! Donate by visiting www.patreon.com/trucepodcastWe've spent the last several weeks asking the question: "Is the United States an empire?" Now we want to go even deeper: "Is empire always a bad thing?"So we invented a game that will explore that question. It's Capture the Flag... with resources.Topics discussed: Is empire always a bad thing? How can the US use resources to build alliances? Is the US a Christian nation? How should Christians treat resources? The US has over 800 military bases. Would we want a foreign military base in or near our land? Should Christian resist burglars? Would we want a Chinese military base in the US? How do we treat countries with less important resources? Truce is listener supported. Find out how to help at www.trucepodcast.com/donate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Become a patron of the show and help me make even more great episodes! Donate by visiting www.patreon.com/trucepodcastThe United States, a "Christian" nation, has a bad habit of forgetting its own people. Really. We'll prove it to you! We forget that the territories are a part of our country. Why does that matter? It impacts if/when they can vote and allows us to withhold federal aid. That matters! What happens when a "Christian nation" ignores its own people?Our guest this episode is Daniel Immerwahr, author of the book "How to Hide an Empire" and an associate history professor at Northwestern University. In his book, he argues that the United States has been an empire since it's inception.Special thanks to:Stand up comedian Nick Staron Helpful Links:FDR's "Day of Infamy" speech Topics Covered: Is the United States an Empire? Can Puerto Rico vote in congress? Can Puerto Rico vote for president? Can American Samoa vote for president? Who was bombed on December 7, 1941? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Donate a little to help the show on either Patreon or PaypalRemember to post #nowherenearcuba this week!When we were done conquering the west, done warring with Mexico, done fighting Native Americans, we looked out across the Pacific Ocean and said... "huh... I wonder what's over there?" The truth is that the United States is an empire. We accomplished that by fighting wars and by seeking out resources.In the 1800's the United States faced a very real problem: we were running out of nitrogen. Not in the air. There is plenty in the air. We were losing it in our soil. Plants need nitrogen. Where were we going to get it?The answer we came up with was: bird poop. It's rich in nitrogen and makes a great fertilizer. The trouble is that we didn't have any way to get large quantities of it. Until American businesses took over islands off the coast of our country.This is the story of greed, a different kind of slavery, a Supreme Court battle, and the worst job in the 1800's.Our guest this episode is Daniel Immerwahr, author of the book "How to Hide an Empire" and an associate history professor at Northwestern University. In his book, he argues that the United States has been an empire since it's inceptionSpecial thanks to: Stand up comedian Nick Staron Paul Hastings of the Compelled Podcast Angel McCoy of Angel Reads the Bible Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Donate a little to help the show on either Patreon or PaypalPlease fill out our listener survey here: https://forms.gle/G5euVtM3JistChuz7What do you think of when you hear the word "empire"? Maybe Great Britain? The Soviet Union? The Mongols? Sure. But what if I told you that the United States is also an empire. And always has been.Our guest this episode is Daniel Immerwahr, author of the book "How to Hide an Empire" and an associate history professor at Northwestern University. In his book he argues that the United States has been an empire since it's inception. We claimed lands owned by native peoples, and then expanded into places like the Philippines, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Alaska, and more. This is the story of war, greed, resources, and tragedy.Helpful Links: We recorded some the games in this episode at the Spark Christian Podcast Conference A lecture from Daniel regarding his book We received help from these artists: Stand up comedian Nick Staron (Napoleon) Holland Webb of the Afterword Podcast Angel McCoy from Angel Reads the Bible Colleen and Danny from Fitness at Houston's First Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Become a patron of the show and help me make even more great episodes! Donate by visiting www.patreon.com/trucepodcastIs the USA a Christian nation?There are a lot of people who argue that it is. And a lot of others who say that it is not. Which is it? What do we gain by calling it a Christian nation?Our guest this episode is Dr. Gregg L Frazer, author of The Religious Beliefs of America's Founders: Reason, Revelation, and Revolution and God Against the Revolution: The Loyalist Clergy's Case Against the American Revolution.Donate a little to help the show on either Patreon or PaypalOur "Would You Rather Questions": Would you rather make a hundred thousand dollars a year working for the mob, or be married to the best looking person on earth who cheats on you? Would you rather sell something benign like corn to Iran or be Vladimir Putin's personal barber? Would you rather go to a church where the senior pastor is always getting into Twitter fights, or one where the youth pastor is always starting gossip? Helpful links: Roy Browning's videos about being a dad on Youtube Jefferson's letter to the Danbury Baptist Association The Pencils and Lipstick Podcast Revived Thoughts The Grace Over 40 Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Become a patron of the show and help me make even more great episodes! Donate by visiting www.patreon.com/trucepodcastWas the American Revolution biblical?There are lots of people who argue that the United States is a Christian nation. But our nation is founded on revolution. The Bible is clear that we are to obey our leaders. How do we reconcile the fact the Revolution was not a Christian act with the assumption of a Christian nation?Our guest this episode is Dr. Gregg L Frazer, author of The Religious Beliefs of America's Founders: Reason, Revelation, and Revolution and God Against the Revolution: The Loyalist Clergy's Case Against the American Revolution.Donate a little to help the show on either Patreon or PaypalSpecial thanks to those who contributed their voices to this episode including: Paul Hastings of the Compelled Podcast, Eric Nevins of Halfway There, Angel McCoy of Angel Reads the Bible, and Bonnie Burns from Sex Chat for Christian Wives.Helpful Links: Live Free or Die image Jonathan Mayhew sermon Library of Congress article about the importance of religion to the American Revolution Romans 13 1 Peter 2:13-14 Galatians 5 Topics: Who was Jonathan Mayhew? Were the Founding Fathers Christians? Is the US a Christian nation? What does the Bible mean when it says we are supposed to obey our leaders? Does God back the US? What makes a nation Christian? The Roman emperor Nero King George Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Were the founding fathers of the United States Christians or Deists? That question has been at the heart of a debate that comes up all the time in the Church: is the United States a Christian nation?Our guest for this episode is Dr. Gregg L Frazer. He's the author of The Religious Beliefs of America's Founders and God Against the Revolution.Donate a little to help the show on either Patreon or PaypalHelpful links: Jefferson's letter about his beliefs Searchable database of founding father documents John Adam's diary entry from Feb 13, 1756 Topics discussed: Were the founding fathers Deists or Christians? Was George Washington a Christian? Was John Adams a Christian? Was Alexander Hamilton a Christian? Was Thomas Jefferson a Christian? What does the Constitution say about God? What did Christians believe in the 1700's? Did Benjamin Franklin build churches? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Become a patron of the show and help me make even more great episodes! Donate by visiting www.patreon.com/trucepodcastAre you curious about why Truce is covering the topics that it is? Wondering where this thing is going? We've heard you! In response to the confusion of our audience, we've put together this special interview episode to answer some of your questions.Chris is joined by Eric Nevins, host of the Halfway There podcast.Would you like to see Eric's review of Truce in Podcast Magazine? Click here to learn more. The review will come out March 30, 2020. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices