Veterans of Culture Wars

Our first international interview with guest Dr. Marcia Pally as we talk about her book "White Evangelicalism and Right Wing Populism: How Did We Get Here?". We discuss the duresses that white Evangelicals perceive themselves to be under, a history of how those perceived stressors and "us vs them" thinking inflames right wing populism. We also discuss how some Evangelicals at the end of the 1800s and beginning of the 1900s were socialists and/or supported more social programs. Toward the end, we talk briefly about her book on Leonard Cohen. Professor Pally teaches at New York University, at Fordham University and is an annual guest professor at Humboldt University’s Theology Faculty. In 2019-2020 she was a Fellow and The Center for Theological Inquiry, Princeton. Her research interests are culture, religion, and politics as well as the intersection of culture and language. She is the author of several books. Connect with Dr. Marcia Pally: Website:  https://marciapally.com/ Twitter:  @Marcia_Pally Dr. Pally's books mentioned on the podcast: -"White Evangelicals and Right-Wing Populism:  How Did We Get Here?"  Order here:  https://www.amazon.com/White-Evangelicals-Right-Wing-Populism-Routledge/dp/1032134828 -"From This Broken Hill I Sing To You: God, Sex, and Politics in the Work of Leonard Cohen"  Order here:  https://www.amazon.com/this-Broken-Hill-Sing-You/dp/0567694763/ -"The New Evangelicals: Expanding the Vision of the Common Good"  Order here: https://marciapally.com/2020/07/the-new-evangelicals-expanding-the-vision-of-the-common-good/ -Check out Zach's music by going to:  https://muzach.bandcamp.com Twitter: Twitter: @vcwpod Zach- @muzach Dave- @Davejlester Podcast music by Zach Malm Logo by Zach Malm

From the popular leftist podcast "Know Your Enemy", Matt Sitman joins the VCW hall to share his story about being raised in fundamentalist Christianity and experiencing culture shock when he attended Grove City College while moving into an Evangelical culture.  He discusses being a part of the historic Falls Church in Virginia in 2006 when there was an ugly church split over the appointing of an openly gay bishop.  Moving from the conservative right to the left, he talks about how his faith has changed and remained constant while talking about the prospects for a religious left. Connect with Matt Sitman: Listen to "Know Your Enemy" podcast right here:  https://know-your-enemy-1682b684.simplecast.com/ Twitter: @MatthewSitman Mentioned on the podcast: -More on Matt Sitman's political and faith shifts via his personal story:  https://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/leaving-conservatism-behind-blue-collar-republican-progressive -Matt Sitman writes about depression:  https://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/leaving-conservatism-behind-blue-collar-republican-progressive -Check out Zach's music by going to:  https://muzach.bandcamp.com Twitter: Twitter: @vcwpod Zach- @muzach Dave- @Davejlester Podcast music by Zach Malm Logo by Zach Malm

Seattle Pacific University, an evangelical school affiliated with the Free Methodist Church since 1891, is in a fight over LGBTQIA+ inclusion and equality. This came to a head on May 23rd when the board rejected proposed changes supported by an overwhelming majority of students and faculty, following a threat of disassociation by the Free Methodist Church. Students have been organizing mass protests and exploring legal options ever since. On this episode, we speak with professor Christopher Hanson and graduating senior Cambria Judd Babbitt, who walk us through the events that led up to this, what's happened since, what the experience has been like for students and faculty, why this is bigger than just SPU, and where it's headed.  GoFundMe for the lawsuit against the SPU board for breach of fiduciary duty: https://gofund.me/0c0908b7  Stay updated on social media by following:  Instagram @engaygetheculture  Instagram @asspspu  Twitter @SPUisGay (AKA engaygetheculture)  To contact Chris, go to https://spu.edu/academics/school-of-education/faculty-staff-directory/hanson-christopher  Cambria is at https://www.linkedin.com/in/cambria-judd-babbitt-734b751b1/  Twitter: @vcwpod  Zach- @muzach  Dave- @Davejlester  Podcast music by Zach Malm  Logo by Zach Malm

From the podcast "You Have Permission", Dan Koch stops by the VCW hall to share his Evangelical story and talk about the Southern Baptist (Guidepost Solutions) Abuse report that was released a few weeks ago.  Also, we discuss spiritual abuse both defining the term and giving information on how to identify if this has happened to you. Connect with Dan Koch: You can listen to "You Have Permission" podcast hosted by Dan Koch right here:  https://www.dankochwords.com/yhp.html Twitter: @DanKoch Mentioned on the Podcast: -Russell Moore on the Southern Baptist sexual abuse scandal:  https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2022/may-web-only/southern-baptist-abuse-apocalypse-russell-moore.html -Peter Wehner on the damage done to Evangelical Christianity:  https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/05/southern-baptist-convention-abuse-report/630173/ Twitter: @vcwpod Zach- @muzach Dave- @Davejlester Podcast music by Zach Malm Logo by Zach Malm

Dr. Kait Dugan returns to the VCW hall to talk about death, apocalypse and her expertise, Karl Barth.  She talks about getting her doctorate, how thinking a lot about death has helped her in life and Pauline views of the apocalypse.  Finally, as the managing director at the Center for Barth Studies at Princeton Theological Seminary, she discusses Karl Barth and his influence on Christianity including what Barth can teach us about resisting fascism. Connect with Dr. Kait Dugan: Visit the Center for Barth Studies website (Princeton Theological Seminary):  https://barth.ptsem.edu/ Follow Dr. Kait Dugan on Twitter:  @kaitdugan Get a copy of "The Finality of the Gospel: Karl Barth and the Tasks of Eschatology" (edited by Dr. Kait Dugan):  https://www.cokesbury.com/9789004509832-The-Finality-of-the-Gospel Twitter: @vcwpod Zach- @muzach Dave- @Davejlester Podcast music by Zach Malm Logo by Zach Malm

Author Shannon TL Kearns returns to the VCW hall to discuss his new memoir, "In the Margins: A Transgender Man's Journey with Scripture" which is coming out August 9th, 2022.  We discuss Shannon's story and how his relationship with Scripture changed over time.  We chat about some of the Biblical accounts that have meant a lot to him as he transitioned and beyond. Pre-Order Shannon Kearns' memoir right here:  https://www.eerdmans.com/Products/7948/in-the-margins.aspx Connect with Shannon online: Twitter:  @shannontlkearns Website:  shannontlkearns.com Twitter: @vcwpod Zach- @muzach Dave- @Davejlester Podcast music by Zach Malm Logo by Zach Malm

Russia expert and trans activist Chrissy Stroop joins the VCW hall to discuss Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Putin's religious and ethno-nationalist mindset, the connections between the Kremlin and some on the American right and the various anti-trans state laws that are being proposed in red states around our country.  She also shares her Evangelical story. Connect with Chrissy: Twitter:  @C_stroop Website:  https://cstroop.com/ Mentioned on the pod: Portland June 4th meet-up: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pdx-meetup-tickets-310758094827 Sam Thielman in Forever Wars on the Nashville Statement:  https://foreverwars.substack.com/p/at-war-with-the-pedophile-knowers?s=r Twitter: @vcwpod Zach- @muzach Dave- @Davejlester Podcast music by Zach Malm Logo by Zach Malm

The return of author and professor Joel Heng Hartse to the VCW Hall! He talks about his new book Dancing About Architecture is a Reasonable Thing to Do, the process of writing about music, discussing Hillsong with a punk icon, and the joy of "fucking shit up for the Lord". Plus, Weezer. Get Joel's book Dancing About Architecture is a Reasonable Thing to Do here: https://wipfandstock.com/9781498293822/dancing-about-architecture-is-a-reasonable-thing-to-do/ Connect with Joel Heng Hartse: Twitter:  @joelhenghartse Website:  www.joelhenghartse.com Mentioned on the Pod: Bear Witness to Lil Markie Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaeJ60Zazvk -Check out Zach's music by going to:  https://muzach.bandcamp.com Twitter: @vcwpod Zach- @muzach Dave- @Davejlester Podcast music by Zach Malm Logo by Zach Malm

VCW listener Jon Smart joins us to discuss his Evangelical story including his time in YWAM.  Zach and Dave conducted an experiment when a guest had to postpone a returning appearance on our show.  We tweeted out an invitation for someone who has been listening to the show to come on and talk to us.  Our new friend, Jon Smart, answered that call. Follow Jon Smart on Twitter:  @tssbro -Check out Zach's music by going to:  https://muzach.bandcamp.com Twitter: @vcwpod Zach- @muzach Dave- @Davejlester Podcast music by Zach Malm Logo by Zach Malm

Writer, film critic and professor Alissa Wilkinson joins the VCW pod to talk about her new book "Salty: Lessons on Eating, Drinking, and Living from Revolutionary Women"!  She shares her Evangelical story, discusses her jobs which include being a professor at King's College, a film critic at Vox and an author.  Finally, we talk about her favorite film from last year "Bergman Island", Ingmar Bergman, and the Columbine martyrdom fantasy that came out of the horrific late 90s school shooting. Pre-order Alissa's new book:  https://www.amazon.com/Salty-Lessons-Eating-Drinking-Revolutionary-ebook/dp/B0992WT625 Connect with Alissa: Twitter:  @alissamarie Website:  https://www.alissawilkinson.com/ Vox Film Reviews:   https://www.vox.com/authors/alissa-wilkinson Mentioned on the pod: "After Columbine, martyrdom became a powerful fantasy for Christian teenagers" - https://www.vox.com/culture/2017/4/20/15369442/columbine-anniversary-cassie-bernall-rachel-scott-martyrdom Trailer for Bergman Island:  https://www.vox.com/authors/alissa-wilkinson -Check out Zach's music by going to:  https://muzach.bandcamp.com Twitter: @vcwpod Zach- @muzach Dave- @Davejlester Podcast music by Zach Malm Logo by Zach Malm