Veterans of Culture Wars

A special election day 2024 edition of the VCW Podcast! Podcaster and content creator April Ajoy joins us to discuss her brand new book "Star-Spangled Jesus: Leaving Christian Nationalism and Finding a True Faith". We talk about her personal faith story and how her faith has evolved over time. We also make election 2024 predictions! Buy April's book: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/april-ajoy/star-spangled-jesus/9781546006701/ Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vcwpod Dave's second podcast- "Does the Bible Say THAT?": https://open.spotify.com/episode/0a8CCeIvjiFn1lKwKmxNt6?si=H1UswE0VT3m2tmZNFuSC4Q Twitter: @vcwpod Zach- @muzach Dave- @Davejlester Check out Zach's music by going to:  https://muzach.bandcamp.com

Scott Coley joins the show to talk about his book Ministers of Propaganda: Truth, Power, and the Ideology of the Religious Right. We discuss the weaponization of the term "biblical", common sensism, the remarkable pivot of George Wallace, young earth creationism and more. Buy Scott's book: https://www.eerdmans.com/9781467466004/ministers-of-propaganda/ Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vcwpod Dave's second podcast- "Does the Bible Say THAT?": https://open.spotify.com/episode/0a8CCeIvjiFn1lKwKmxNt6?si=H1UswE0VT3m2tmZNFuSC4Q Twitter: @vcwpod Zach- @muzach Dave- @Davejlester Check out Zach's music by going to:  https://muzach.bandcamp.com

Justin Gentry joins the show to talk about his work as a former pastor and current co-podcaster (REVcovery Room, Scidentity Crisis, and Go Home Bible, You're Drunk), as well as helping organize the annual Content Warning event, coming to Atlanta next February. Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vcwpod Dave's second podcast- "Does the Bible Say THAT?": https://open.spotify.com/episode/0a8CCeIvjiFn1lKwKmxNt6?si=H1UswE0VT3m2tmZNFuSC4Q Twitter: @vcwpod Zach- @muzach Dave- @Davejlester Check out Zach's music by going to:  https://muzach.bandcamp.com

Podcaster and originator of the exvangelical hashtag Blake Chastain returns to the VCW hall to talk about his new book Exvangelical and Beyond: How American Christianity Went Radical and the Movement That's Fighting Back. Buy Blake's Book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/747796/exvangelical-and-beyond-by-blake-chastain/ Katelyn Beaty article on what "post-Evangelical" means to her: https://katelynbeaty.substack.com/p/what-it-means-to-be-post-evangelical-anxiety Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vcwpod Dave's second podcast- "Does the Bible Say THAT?": https://open.spotify.com/episode/0a8CCeIvjiFn1lKwKmxNt6?si=H1UswE0VT3m2tmZNFuSC4Q Twitter: @vcwpod Zach- @muzach Dave- @Davejlester Check out Zach's music by going to:  https://muzach.bandcamp.com

Dr. Matthew Taylor returns to the VCW hall to discuss his forthcoming book (out October 1, 2024) "The Violent Take it By Force: The Christian Movement That is Threatening Our Democracy". Dr. Taylor talks about some of the major figures within the independent Charismatic movement, what he sees as 4 quadrants of Evangelicalism, how independent Charismatics have taken over the Religious Right, and more. Pre-order the book right here: https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506497785/The-Violent-Take-It-by-Force Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vcwpod Dave's second podcast- "Does the Bible Say THAT?": https://open.spotify.com/episode/0a8CCeIvjiFn1lKwKmxNt6?si=H1UswE0VT3m2tmZNFuSC4Q Twitter: @vcwpod Zach- @muzach Dave- @Davejlester Check out Zach's music by going to:  https://muzach.bandcamp.com

Alycea, who uses the pseudonym Transvangelical, and Wyld Violet are online sex workers who incorporate their evangelical experience into their work and have a new podcast called Not Safe for Worship. We talk about deconstruction, purity culture, ethics in porn consumption and production, and even touch on the current political climate regarding trans rights and safety. Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vcwpod Dave's second podcast- "Does the Bible Say THAT?": https://open.spotify.com/episode/0a8CCeIvjiFn1lKwKmxNt6?si=H1UswE0VT3m2tmZNFuSC4Q Twitter: @vcwpod Zach- @muzach Dave- @Davejlester Check out Zach's music by going to:  https://muzach.bandcamp.com

Dr. Matt Warner joins the VCW to talk about being fired from Grace College in Winona Lake, IN for what he describes as unspoken political expectations. Outside activists found old social media posts by him (involving posts about LGBTQ, Black Lives Matter and criticism of Tucker Carlson) and they pressured college board members to let this professor go. We talk about education vs indoctrination, Implicit vs explicit boundaries as well as shifting grounds in the world of higher Christian education. Religion News Service article on Dr. Matt Warner being fired from Grace College: https://religionnews.com/2024/05/08/grace-college-professor-ousted-after-online-commentators-flag-woke-social-media-posts/ Christianity Today article on Dr. Matt Warner: https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2024/may/grace-christian-college-professor-matthew-warner-fired-twee.html Conversation between Matt Nightingale and Dr. Matt Warner on Common Sanctuary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_95wah0Rsbk Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vcwpod Dave's second podcast- "Does the Bible Say THAT?": https://open.spotify.com/episode/0a8CCeIvjiFn1lKwKmxNt6?si=H1UswE0VT3m2tmZNFuSC4Q Twitter: @vcwpod Zach- @muzach Dave- @Davejlester Check out Zach's music by going to:  https://muzach.bandcamp.com

Meg Wise joins the VCW hall to talk about her experiences at John MacArthur's Church in Los Angeles County, CA. She talks about their response to the COVID pandemic and the scandal involving MacArthur publicly shaming a woman whose husband was sexually abusing their kids. Follow Meg Wise: On X/Twitter: _nomadic_soul Read A Deconstruction Chronicle here: https://thedeconstructionchronicles.substack.com/p/a-deconstruction-chronicle-meg-wise?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true Article on John MaArthur publicly shaming Eileen Gray: https://ministrywatch.com/former-member-of-john-macarthurs-megachurch-says-he-shamed-her-for-leaving-her-abusive-husband-against-church-counsel/ Christianity Today article on Hohn Cho challenging Elders of John MacArthur's Church to do justice in Eileen Gray case: https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2023/february/grace-community-church-elder-biblical-counseling-abuse.html Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vcwpod Dave's second podcast- "Does the Bible Say THAT?": https://open.spotify.com/episode/0a8CCeIvjiFn1lKwKmxNt6?si=H1UswE0VT3m2tmZNFuSC4Q Twitter: @vcwpod Zach- @muzach Dave- @Davejlester Check out Zach's music by going to:  https://muzach.bandcamp.com

Burn this episode to the top blank CD on your spindle and throw it in your anti-skip discman, because writer and podcaster Jason Kirk joins the VCW hall to talk about his new novel, Hell is a World Without You, a coming-of-age story set in early 2000s evangelical youth group culture, and chock full of the rapture anxiety, purity culture, retreats, AIM chat logs, and Christian metalcore bands that bring that world to life, along with a few references to the movie Wild Things. Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vcwpod Dave's second podcast- "Does the Bible Say THAT?": https://open.spotify.com/episode/0a8CCeIvjiFn1lKwKmxNt6?si=H1UswE0VT3m2tmZNFuSC4Q Twitter: @vcwpod Zach- @muzach Dave- @Davejlester Check out Zach's music by going to:  https://muzach.bandcamp.com

Co-Host of the Holy Post podcast, Kaitlyn Schiess stops by the VCW hall to talk about her new book, The Ballot and the Bible. She discusses points of American history and how the Bible was interpreted on multiple sides of an issue by Christians- sometimes for good, sometimes for bad, and sometimes for really ugly evil. Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vcwpod Dave's second podcast- "Does the Bible Say THAT?": https://open.spotify.com/episode/0a8CCeIvjiFn1lKwKmxNt6?si=H1UswE0VT3m2tmZNFuSC4Q Twitter: @vcwpod Zach- @muzach Dave- @Davejlester Check out Zach's music by going to:  https://muzach.bandcamp.com