The Holy Post

732: Mailbag! Prenups, "Mere Christianity," and Did Jesus Help People Get Drunk?

The age of generic, non-denominational Christianity may be coming to an end. Phil, Skye, and Kaitlyn discuss why Christians are increasingly drawn to narrower theological identities, and whether the internet is turning legitimate doctrinal differences into purity tests and church fights. Then, the crew opens the mailbag to answer whether prenuptial agreements are compatible with Christian marriage and if praying in public is an authentic expression of faith or an uncomfortable performance. They also consider what Christians should read to better understand the end times and why Jesus supplied wine to an already-drunk wedding party. Also this week, why the VeggieTales have nothing to fear from the cyclosporiasis outbreak.   Holy Post Live! https://www.holypost.com/events   Holy Post Plus: Ad-Free Version of this Episode: https://holypost.substack.com/p/732-mailbag-prenups-mere-christianity?r=35kf51&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true 0:00 - Show Starts 0:33 - Theme Song 0:55 - Sponsor - Ridge - The Ridge 5-in-1 Power Bank, power on-the-go without compromise! Get 40% off Ridge by going to https://www.ridge.com/HOLYPOST 2:23 - Sponsor - Sundays Dog Food - Get 40% off your first order of Sundays. Go to https://www.SundaysForDogs.com/HOLYPOST or use code HOLYPOST at checkout. 3:25 - Is Mere Christianity Over? 22:33 - Christian Prenups? 29:41 - Did  Cyclospora get Bob and Larry? 31:03 - Sponsor - If you want your generosity to make a real, lasting difference for refugee students and their families, start your monthly partnership today at https://worldrelief.org/holypost 32:23 - Sponsor - Sponsor - BetterHelp - This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/HOLYPOST and get 10% off your first month! 33:33 - Did Jesus Get People Drunk? 46:05 - Praying in Front of Non-Christians? 52:07 - What Liquid Would You Dispense from Your Fingers? 55:43 - End Credits Links Mentioned in News Segment: Is Mere Christianity Over? https://mereorthodoxy.com/is-the-era-of-mere-christianity-over/   Other Resources: Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/   Holy Post Plus: www.holypost.com/plus   Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost   Holy Post Merch Store: https://www.holypost.com/shop   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.  

731: Why You Should Talk to Strangers with Nicholas Epley

"Big Eva" may be fading, but a new generation of online Christian influencers is taking its place. Phil, Skye, and Kaitlyn discuss the rise of "Gig Eva," how digital platforms are reshaping Christian authority, and why accountability to real churches and communities still matters. Then, the number of words people speak each day is dropping as more of everyday life moves online. The crew considers what we lose when convenience replaces even the smallest human interactions. Then, Skye talks with behavioral scientist Nicholas Epley about why conversations with strangers usually go better than we expect. They discuss how small choices to connect with others can make us happier, healthier, and less divided. Also this week, a new explosive ocean discovery.   Holy Post Plus: Ad-Free Version of this Episode: https://holypost.substack.com/p/731-why-you-should-talk-to-strangers?r=35kf51&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true   0:00 - Show Starts   0:44 - Theme Song   1:06 - Sponsor - Access Forge - Go to https://www.accessible.faith/ to unlock the first two Belonging by Design lessons and use promo code HOLYPOST to get $200 off the full program   2:10 - Sponsor - Feeding America - Your support puts healthy food within reach, fueling the future for kids and their families. Give now at https://FeedingAmerica.org/SummerHunger   2:52 - Orcas Exploding Sunfish!   9:40 - Big Eva is now Gig Eva   29:43 - Sponsor - World Relief - Update with Matthew Sorens! Help today at http://worldrelief.org/holypostadvocates   34:08 - Humans are talking less!   45:46 - Interview   52:07 - The "Quiet Car" on the Train   59:17 - The Power of Reciprocity   1:08:51 - Testing for Yourself   1:17:07 - Technology's Role in This   1:31:52 - End Credits   Links Mentioned in News Segment: Orcas Raming Into Sunfish: https://www.npr.org/2026/07/24/nx-s1-5905327/orcas-ram-sunfish-hard-explodes   From Big Eva to Gig Eva: https://firstthings.com/goodbye-big-eva-hello-gig-eva/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email   Humans Speaking Fewer Words: https://www.theatlantic.com/family/2026/07/talking-less-reasons/688074/   Other Resources: A Little More Social: How Small Choices Create Unexpected Happiness, Health, and Connection: https://amzn.to/3RIeF6K   Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/   Holy Post Plus: www.holypost.com/plus   Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost   Holy Post Merch Store: https://www.holypost.com/shop   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.  

730: The Idolatry of Church Growth with Andrew Root

Why was there almost no emphasis on "church growth" before the 1970s, and how does the fixation on it for the last 40 years correspond with the American economy? Skye talks with Andrew Root about his new book, "Baal and the Gods of More," about the link between the modern church growth movement and ancient pagan fertility gods. A new report by Ryan Burge says that for decades those who left the church were turned off by partisan politics and the religious right, but that trend might be changing. Also this week, Brazil blames its poor performance in the World Cup on evangelicals, European evangelicals issue a statement, and an old theory about early Christianity and psychedelic mushrooms is back.   Holy Post Plus: Ad-Free Version of this Episode: https://holypost.substack.com/p/730-the-idolatry-of-church-growth?r=35kf51&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true   Bonus Interview with Andrew Root: https://holypost.substack.com/p/why-churches-cant-stop-chasing-growth?r=35kf51&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true   0:00 - Show Starts   4:07 - Theme Song   4:30 - Sponsor - AG1 - Heavily researched, thoroughly purity-tested, and filled with stuff you need. Get the AG1 $76 Welcome Pack for free when you order from https://www.drinkag1.com/HOLYPOST   6:01 - Sponsor - BetterHelp - This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/HOLYPOST and get 10% off your first month!   7:03 - Was Jesus a Mushroom?   12:52 - Brazil Blames Evangelicals for Soccer Failure?   21:40 - Sponsor - Tyndale -  To celebrate the NLT's 30th anniversary, Use code CURIOUS30 to receive 30% off any NLT Bible! https://tyndale.com   22:44 - Sponsor - Access Forge - Go to https://www.accessible.faith/ to unlock the first two Belonging by Design lessons and use promo code HOLYPOST to get $200 off the full program   23:47 - Sponsor - Feeding America - Feeding America, led by neighbors! Give now to end hunger at https://www.feedingamerica.org   24:20 - European Evangelicals   49:38 - Interview   54:32- Fertility Gods   1:02:09 - Capitalism and False Gods   1:18:26 - The Rise and Fall of American Growth   1:31:52 - End Credits   Links Mentioned in News Segment: Popular Science Posits Jesus was a Psychedelic Mushroom: https://www.popularmechanics.com/culture/a69061008/god-sacred-mushroom-christianity-debate/   Did Evangelicals Ruin Brazil's Soccer Performance? https://religionnews.com/2026/07/17/some-world-cup-fans-are-blaming-brazils-loss-on-evangelicals/?utm_medium=social   European Evangelicals Differentiate from American Evangelicals: https://religionunplugged.com/news/european-evangelicals-draw-a-clear-distinction-from-their-american-counterparts?utm_source=flipboard&utm_content=topic/christianity   Other Resources: Baal and the Gods of More: Rescuing Church Growth from Idolatry (A Theological Critique of Modern Ministry Metrics and Success-Driven Strategies) by Andrew Root: https://a.co/d/0c0ijKLw   Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/   Holy Post Plus: www.holypost.com/plus   Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost   Holy Post Merch Store: https://www.holypost.com/shop   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.  

729: Church Trauma & the Apostle Paul with Scot McKnight

Some of the Apostle Paul's letters in the Bible can be defensive, sarcastic, and even mean. New Testament scholar Scot McKnight says his nasty tone may stem from deep pain. But Paul's trauma wasn't caused by the persecution of nonbelievers but by fellow Christians. He offers Skye an illuminating look into what the apostle can teach us about church trauma today. Mike Erre joins the podcast crew to discuss the declining support for Israel among American Christians, the weird work of VR missionaries, a theory about aliveness that challenges introverts, and a robot that responds when nature calls.   Holy Post Plus: Ad-Free Version of this Episode: http://holypost.substack.com/p/729-church-trauma-and-the-apostle   0:00 - Show Starts 0:40 - Kaitlyn Was Summoned Away 3:04 -  Sponsor - Rocket Money - Find and cancel your old subscriptions with Rocket Money at https://www.rocketmoney.com/HOLYPOST   4:08- Sponsor - BetterHelp - This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/HOLYPOST and get 10% off your first month! 5:17 - Self-Driving Toilets! 11:54 - VR Missionaries 20:21 - Sponsor - Feeding America - Your support puts healthy food within reach, fueling the future for kids and their families. Give now at https://FeedingAmerica.org/SummerHunger 20:54 - Sponsor - PolicyGenius - Secure your family's tomorrow so you have peace of mind today. Go to https://www.policygenius.com/HOLYPOST to find the right life insurance for you 22:00 - Sponsor - Access Forge - Go to https://www.accessible.faith/ to unlock the first two Belonging by Design lessons and use promo code HOLYPOST to get $200 off the full program   23:04 - Americans Less Supportive of Israel   28:56 - Prosperity Gospel and Israel   36:10 - Aliveness and Where to Find it   50:19 - Interview   52:30 - Damaged Leaders   1:03:25 - Paul and Trauma   1:15:44 - Prescriptive vs Descriptive   1:27:54 - End Credits   Links Mentioned in News Segment: Aliveness: https://benbyfax.substack.com/p/aliveness   Christian Support for Israel Plummets: https://religionnews.com/2026/07/09/new-polls-show-plummeting-support-among-faith-groups-for-israeli-government-netanyahu/   Other Resources: Traumatized Church: What Paul's Relationship with the Corinthian Church Teaches Us About Helping Those Who are Hurting by Scot McKnight: https://amzn.to/4pltGYx Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/   Holy Post Plus: www.holypost.com/plus   Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost   Holy Post Merch Store: https://www.holypost.com/shop   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.  

728: The Political Divide over Matthew 25 plus Tish Harrison Warren

Two members of Congress, one Republican and one Democrat, had a meeting recently where they fundamentally disagreed about the meaning of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25. Their disagreement has now spilled into the media. Why has this chapter of the Bible become the new dividing line between Christians in the public square? Kaityn interviews Tish Harrison Warren about her new book about Christian resilience and what disillusioned believers can learn from the desert mothers and fathers. And fifty years ago, the media declared 1976 the "Year of the Evangelicals." The Holy Post crew discusses one historian's look back at that year and debates whether it was really the turning point for American evangelicalism.   Holy Post Plus: Ad-Free Version of this Episode: https://holypost.substack.com/p/728-the-political-divide-over-matthew   0:00 - Show Starts 1:50 - Theme Song 4:20 - Sponsor - Brooklyn Bedding - Use code HOLYPOST for 30% off sitewide for a great night's sleep! Go to https://www.brooklynbedding.com/HOLYPOST 5:23 - Sponsor - Our Place - Go to https://www.fromourplace.com and use code CURIOUSLY to get 10% off site wide on beautiful cookware! 6:23 - America 250 Celebration 12:44 - The Turning Point of Evangelicalism 28:04  - Sponsor - AG1 - Heavily researched, thoroughly purity-tested, and filled with stuff you need. Get the AG1 $76 Welcome Pack for free when you order from https://www.drinkag1.com/HOLYPOST 29:34 - Sponsor - BetterHelp - This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/HOLYPOST and get 10% off your first month! 30:37 - Does Matthew 25 Apply to Nations? 46:20 - Interview 49:42 - Weariness 56:30 - Desert Mothers and Fathers 1:04:00 - What is Acedia? 1:19:13 - Become All Flame 1:29:17 - End Credits   Links Mentioned in News Segment: Growing Divide Over Matthew 25: https://religionnews.com/2026/07/01/in-congress-a-growing-divide-over-matthew-25/?utm_medium=social   Christianity Today on the Turning Point for Evangelicalism: https://www.christianitytoday.com/2026/06/1976-was-a-turning-point-for-evangelicalism-george-marsden-history/?utm_source=flipboard&utm_content=topic/christianity   Other Resources: What Grows in Weary Lands: On Christian Resilience by Tish Harrison Warren: https://a.co/d/0bJc9P34   Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/   Holy Post Plus: www.holypost.com/plus   Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost   Holy Post Merch Store: https://www.holypost.com/shop   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.