When Donald Trump first started his campaign for president back in 2015, he immediately showed the world who he was by using incendiary rhetoric which included racist dog whistles and horrific xenophobic bigotry that scapegoated immigrants. At the time, I was working on my thesis, which later became my first book, and I wrote in …
Tag: America
Dear Brian from Boston
Brian from Boston called into Tell Me Everything with John Fugelsang because he was riled up about the God Squad. According to Brian from Boston, we were not credible because, wait for it, our vocabulary was not to his liking. Brian started off by saying he was going to "cast his pearls before swine," meaning …
Once more for the folks in the back
The 2024 election season is upon us and some Americans are already mailing in their ballots. This week, as so many weeks have been this year, was full of political news of the type that should be working on the hearts and minds of American voters, in particular those who inexplicably remain inclined to vote …
For just such a time as this
On Sunday this week my friend and former seminary colleague Liz Fulmer preached a sermon about Esther, Haman, and Mordecai from the book of Esther in the Hebrew Bible. At a key point in both the story in Esther and in the pastor's sermon, there came the phrase, "for just such a time as this." …
Hooked on a feeling
The Democratic National Convention to nominate Kamala Harris and Tim Walz ended last night. It was four days of raucous crowds, feel-good vibes, and high energy that was filled with memorable speeches, and many moving moments. The display of American diversity was beautiful to see in the sea of faces that made up the crowd …
Let’s talk about the N.A.R.
Last week I was able to attend an online webinar hosted by Political Research Associates (PRA) that was related to the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) movement and Christian reconstructionism. The panel was led by leading scholars of right-wing, authoritarian Christian movements in the U.S. and added to the information I have previously learned as I …
The selective outrage of shallow faith
The quadrennial Olympic celebration of athletic prowess is well underway in Paris, but one of the biggest talking points has not been about the amazing feats in the world of sport, but a misunderstood interpretation of the Olympic Opening Ceremony. For most people, this was nothing more than an artistic display paying homage to the …
A grand view of what church should be
Yesterday I went to a church that I had never been to before. I often need to be intentional about stepping out of my comfort zone because I have PTSD and that can lead to a lot of self isolation and metaphorically sleepwalking through my days. Thus it was yesterday when I woke up with …
Josh Hawley wears no clothes
When I was in sixth grade my elementary class in Blue Ridge, Texas put on a production of The Emperor Has No Clothes. As I was the newest student in the class, having moved from Kansas City, MO to north Texas, I volunteered to perform in the play and was given a role as one …
The God Squad Pod is here
As a result of all of the positive feedback from the God Squad panel on Tell Me Everything with John Fugelsang on SiriusXM Progress, and the encouragement from John and his producer Chris Hauselt, the God Squad has created and now released into the wild, the God Squad Pod. In our first episode, in honor …
The Tattooed Theologian 