612: The Religious Vacuum, Politics, & the Powers with N.T. Wright

This week we’re discussing a series of articles exploring what we’re gaining and losing as fewer Americans are committed to religion and attending church. Even some non-believers are beginning to worry that the decline in religion may not be good for society, but does it also represent a new opportunity for the message of Christianity? Then, N.T. Wright is back to discuss his new book with co-author Michael Bird, “Jesus and the Powers.” While everyone knows mixing faith and politics can be dangerous, Wright says there’s also a danger when we refuse to mix them. He talks to Skye about what the Bible says on matters of church and state, and why we should defend liberal democracy despite its many problems. Also this week: Is the sun alive? And a Florida man shares the Bible at Walgreens on Easter.   0:00 - Sponsor - Richmont Graduate University - Join a Christian mental health counseling program! Use referral code HOLYPOST at checkout to skip the application fee. Go to https://www.richmont.edu/ 0:35 - Intro 1:21 - Show Starts 3:08 - Theme Song 3:30 -  Sponsor - Wheaton Graduate School - Learn in a rich, rigorous Christian environment - www.wheaton.edu/holypost 4:34 - Kaitlyn’s new show announcement! 8:08 - Curiously, Kaitlyn Trailer - Go to holypost.com/follow to check it out! 10:15 - Florida Man Strikes Again (with a Bible) on Easter 13:43 - Does the Sun Dream of Electric Sheep? Consciousness and the Sun. 19:43 - The Cost of the Churchgoing Bust 28:52 - How Trump Fills the Secular Void 44:19 - Is Trumpism Emptying Churches? 52:24 - Sponsor - Hiya Health - Go to www.hiyahealth.com/HOLYPOST to receive 50% off your first order 53:28 - Sponsor - Faithful Counseling - Get 10% off your first month at www.betterhelp.com/HOLYPOST 54:33 - Interview 56:02 - Why Doesn’t Separation of Church and State Work? 1:14:02 - Does the Kingdom of Heaven Imply There Will Be No Government? 1:17:10 - When Should Christians Submit to Governing Authorities? 1:24:56 - The Value of Liberal Democracy  1:30:15 - End Credits Links Mentioned in the News Segment: Florida Man Arrested for Hitting Manager with a Bible on Easter https://www.christianpost.com/news/florida-man-arrested-for-smacking-walgreens-manager-with-bible.html#:~:text=A%20Florida%20man%20was%20arrested,a%20Bible%20on%20Easter%20Sunday.   The Sun’s Consciousness https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a60229168/panpsychism-everything-has-a-soul/   Trump is Emptying Churches https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2024-04-07/trump-s-brand-of-christian-conservatism-is-driving-people-from-church   How Trump Fills a Void in an Increasingly Secular America https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/04/05/trump-religion-secularism-authoritarian-populism/   The True Cost of the Churchgoing Bust https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/04/america-religion-decline-non-affiliated/677951/   Other resources: Jesus and the Powers: Christian Political Witness in an Age of Totalitarian Terror and Dysfunctional Democracies by N. T. Wright and Michael F. Bird: https://a.co/d/7tCBCK8   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.