Analyzing Christianity
Calvinism and Arminianism in the New SBC Power Squabble
Calvinism and its counterpart, Arminianism, and how they factor into the SBC’s current power squabbles.
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Megachurches: Not Actually the Cause of Christian Scandals
Many Christians also think that the megachurch model is causing their scandals and overall decline. It isn’t, though. Today, let me show you how megachurches amplify existing dealbreaking flaws in authoritarian Christianity.
Analyzing Christianity
The Megachurch Model Reveals the New Normal of Christianity
Hi and welcome back! It didn’t take long after Hillsong’s troubles became public for Christians to engage in one of their favorite pastimes: criticizing megachurches. Non-megachurch-attending Christians hate megachurches for all kinds of reasons. Today, I want to show you some of those reasons — and what the megachurch model Read more
Analyzing Christianity
Ex-Christians and the Myth of the Virtuous Deconversion Excuse
Today, let me show you what a virtuous excuse is, and why you’ll find none of them in the evangelical conceptualization of deconversion.
Analyzing Christianity
Why Culture Warriors ALWAYS Flunk the ‘Greatest Commandment’
Hi and welcome back! Evangelicals’ support of super-conservative politics and conspiracy theories has been getting some much-needed attention of late. Suddenly, the culture warriors of evangelicalism are pulling back to a discussion about getting back to that love stuff Jesus commanded them to show without fail. They call it their Read more
SBC Watching
LifeWay is on a continuing spiral to the bottom
LifeWay is the publishing and propaganda arm of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) — and easily the denomination’s biggest and most influential subgroup. But in recent years, LifeWay looks more and more like a star that is falling. Today, let me catch you up on what’s going on with this evangelical publishing company — and show you why their most recent leader reflects this dysfunctional group’s covert goals a lot better than its stated ones.
Analyzing Christianity
Todd Bentley: What a Friend He Has–er, HAD in Rick Joyner!
One thing you can absolutely count on with evangelical leaders: their insular Good Ole Boys network certainly protects its own. I’m sure Todd Bentley is most appreciative of the help it’s given him over the years. Today, let’s see how Todd Bentley’s pals helped him back onto the gravy train — again, and why Bentley might be beyond their help this time around the tracks.
Analyzing Christianity
Bobbie Houston and the Casual Cruelty of Evangelicals (LSP #178)
Bobbie Houston, the co-founder of the Hillsong megachurch, released an audiobook in 2003 that used a hurtful slur. She’s making the usual disclaimers to excuse herself. So today, Lord Snow Presides over yet another evangelical hypocrite using yet another slur and issuing yet another not-pology — and what this behavior does to their witness.
Analyzing Christianity
Prophecy: All These False Prophets Need to Quit Messing Up the Game!
As soon as evangelicals staged their January 6th insurrection attempt, I knew we’d be seeing the usual infighting afterward. And yes, we sure did. Almost immediately, Christians sprang into action there. One group seemed especially upset, though, and that was self-styled Christian prophets who hadn’t signed on with the insurrection attempt. Now, Read more
Analyzing Christianity
Prophecy: Why Evangelicals Can’t Deal With False Prophets
Hi and welcome back! Yesterday, we talked about a set of predictions made by Greg Locke, an especially cringey right-wing evangelical pastor. He drew upon evangelicals’ rich history of prophecy to make a bunch of predictions — none of which came to pass. And thanks to the way evangelicals engage Read more