Former Christian radio personality Melinda Schmidt joins Phil and Skye to talk about Christian radio, movies, TV, and whether Christian media stunts spiritual growth in the name of retaining an audience. Plus, The Atlantic writes about evangelicals losing jobs for opposing Trump!
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Regarding the willingness of overseas podcasts to have open debates between Christians and atheists: having lived in Europe for most of my life, I can state with some certainty that other cultures enjoy the “art” of intellectual sparring, just as we do. The major difference is that there isn’t the same fixation with *winning* as there is here. In other cultures, even after the most robust debates, both sides are able to walk away without one of them having been crowned the victor. A well-fought battle is enough to satisfy both the adversaries and their spectators. With the competitive nature of the American spirit, we’re more likely to reject debates in which a winner isn’t crowned. Not only does this make a “believer vs. atheist” discussion more contentious (because someone must be proven right), but it runs the risk of causing an outcry among listeners if “their side” doesn’t come out on top.
I agree Michele. So much of the rhetoric from both sides is “us” vs “them”, with “them” being whoever disagrees with “us”. And whoever they are must be defeated. Compromise is often seen in America as weakness. I’m very disheartened especially when Christian groups resort to this sort of behavior because more often than not they are doing the exact things they accuse the other side of doing. And I think along with the fixation on winning is the fear of “losing”. Why bother enter a debate you might not win? Better to just yell and appeal to your respective bases. The closest thing we have to Unbelievable? is Intelligence Squared, and even then there’s a winner.
Great podcast as always! Thank you!
Thanks for wading into topics we need to discuss!
The main point of ‘81% of evangelicals voted for Trump’ was completely ignored to my ears. That was 81% against ‘Benghazi/ Libyan War/ Bill’s Bimbo-threatening/ email server leaked classified Afghani names of collaborating people who got killed’ Hitlary’, not Ted (who still got edged out).
Hello Phill,
I just love watching VeggieTales, I like how you and Mike take biblical lessons and bring them to life in creative stories mixed with humor and silliness. I also have been watching your podcasts they are really good!!!!! I was wondering if you could allow me to share my life story on your podcast. I was born with Aspergers Syndrome which is form of autism, though it has been quite a struggle for me living in it’s shadow God has brought me through in times where otherwise would have been next to impossible because of how sever it had become when I was very young. However this I do know if you are humble enough to know that you did not come all this way on your own and acknowledge that God had His hand over every aspect of your life He will lift you up and do amazing things through you to bless the lives of others and that is why I want to share .
Hi Morgan! We don’t do life stories on the podcast – we generally interview authors and scholars about books and cultural topics. But thanks for reaching out!
Phil