The Holy Post

Over the last decade, white evangelicals in the U.S. have lost their moral credibility. In response, Peter Wehner says the church should embrace a form of "Christian humanism." The Holy Post crew discusses his article, what he gets right, and why that label may be a barrier for some. Kaitlyn interviews biblical scholar Michael Rhodes about his book,"Reimagining Biblical Politics: What Scripture Says About Public Life and Why It Matters." Rather than looking to specific verses to define our political positions, Rhodes says we must allow all of Scripture to shape our imaginations and then use discernment as we engage our unique political context. Also this week—controversy over the design of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, how faith-based apps are gamifying Christianity, and the benefits of talking to dogs.
Holy Post Plus:
Ad-Free Version of this Episode:
https://holypost.substack.com/p/726-reimagining-biblical-politics
Bonus Interview:
https://holypost.substack.com/p/how-christians-can-live-faithfully
 
0:00 - Show Starts
2:44 - Theme Song
3:08 - 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
 
4:29 - Sponsor - Hiya Health - Go to https://www.hiyahealth.com/HOLYPOST to receive 50% off your first order
 
5:57 - Talking to Dogs Makes Ya Smart?
 
11:41 - Obama Presidential Center
 
23:56 - World Relief Update with Matthew Soerens - In this immigration update, Matthew Soerens shares insights on the global displacement crisis. Start a new monthly gift to World Relief by June 30 and receive a copy of his book, Seeking Refuge, as a thank-you gift. Begin your monthly partnership today at worldrelief.org/holypost.
 
29:13 - Sponsor - Feeding America - Feeding America, led by neighbors! Give now to end hunger at https://www.feedingamerica.org
 
29:45 - Sponsor - World Challenge - Want to help people around the world? Get involved today at https://worldchallenge.org/HOLYPOST
 
30:57 - Turning Prayer into an App
 
57:22 - Interview
 
1:04:42 - What Do We Mean by "Politics?"
 
1:15:40 - The Ambiguity of Esther
 
1:23:30 - Scripture Transforms Politics
 
1:34:26 - End Credits
 
Links Mentioned in News Segment:
The Commodification of Christianity:
https://www.freyaindia.co.uk/p/the-commodification-of-christianity
 
American Christians Face a Choice:
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/06/christian-humanism-trump-choice/687475/
 
Other Resources:
crossRhodes: Reimagining Biblical Politics:
https://pod.link/1888014284?view=apps&sort=popularity
 
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.

Last year, the President celebrated his birthday with a military parade. This year, he hosted a UFC cage match on the South Lawn of the White House. It's easy to compare it to the gladiator games honoring the Roman emperor, but Phil asks whether it's a sign that America would rather emulate pre-Christian Roman values than biblical ones. Americans can no longer agree on how to teach American history, so we're not teaching it much at all. Is it possible to recover a shared national story? Nijay Gupta is back to discuss his latest book, "Paul for the World," and why the Apostle would not recognize a modern Christianity that's focused on heaven rather than earth. Also this week—the science behind dad jokes.
Holy Post Plus:
Ad-Free Version of this Episode:
https://holypost.substack.com/p/725-the-cage-match-for-americas-story
Bonus Interview:
https://holypost.substack.com/p/should-the-church-preserve-ethnic
0:00 - Show Starts
3:12 - Theme Song
3:35 -  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
4:38 - Sponsor - Rocket Money - Find and cancel your old subscriptions with Rocket Money at https://www.rocketmoney.com/HOLYPOST
5:38 - Science Supports Dad Jokes
14:49 - UFC Fight at the White House
30:45 - Sponsor - Feeding America - Feeding America, led by neighbors! Give now to end hunger at https://www.feedingamerica.org
31:15 - 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!
32:17 - "American Dream" Finding Cuts
35:02 - What Story is America Telling?
52:16 - Interview
57:46 - Is Social Justice Christian?
1:06:20 - Epicureans and Stoics
1:14:33 - Bonhauffer and the Incarnate Church
1:28:15 - End Credits
 
Links Mentioned in News Segment:
Sciences Supports Dad Jokes:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2026/06/15/science-suggests-cringe-worthy-dad-jokes-may-serve-an-actual-purpose/
 
No Common American Narrative:
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/07/american-history-common-narrative/687301/
 
Other Resources:
Paul for the World: A Grounded Vision for Finding Meaning in This Life—Not Just the Next (What Paul's Letters Say about Work, Friendship, Money, Wellness, Justice, and More) by Nijay Gupta:
https://amzn.to/3RZR8ON
 
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.

While secular journalists, scholars, and even the Pope are wrestling with big questions about Artificial Intelligence, the war in the Middle East, and what it means to be truly human, the Southern Baptists have decided the most urgent problem in 2026 is banning women from preaching. Phil asks why evangelicals are still fixated on issues from 50 years ago, while other Christian traditions are leading the culture in tackling modern questions. Zachary Wagner, author of "Men of Virtue," joins Skye and Kaitlyn for a roundup of masculine news. Wagner says the excesses of some expressions of feminism have fueled a subculture of male grievance, and that a pagan vision of masculinity is now masquerading as Christian throughout the manosphere. Also this week, nuns are challenging the tech giants, and Google wants permission to "debug" Florida.
 
Holy Post Plus:
Ad-Free Version of this Episode:
https://holypost.substack.com/p/724-the-problem-with-pagan-masculinity
 
Looksmaxing, Beauty, and Masculinity - Bonus Interview with Zachary Wagner:
https://holypost.substack.com/p/looksmaxing-beauty-and-masculinity
 
0:00 - Intro
 
2:58 - Theme Song
 
3:20 - Sponsor - Our Place - Go to https://www.fromourplace.com and use code HOLYPOST to get 10% off site wide on beautiful cookware!
 
4:22 - 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
 
5:48 - Google Mosquitos!
 
11:27 - Nuns Pressuring A.I.!
 
14:48 - A.I. Misconduct and Sin
 
20:15 - Sponsor - Feeding America - Feeding America, led by neighbors! Give now to end hunger at https://www.feedingamerica.org
 
20:46 -  - Sponsor - World Challenge - Get your 30-day devotional free from World Challenge at https://worldchallenge.org/HOLYPOST
 
21:50 - 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!
 
22:49 - Frozen in the Cold War
 
46:22 - Interview
 
48:40 - Aspirational Masculinity
 
59:13 - Are the Fruit of the Spirit Gendered?
 
1:10:28 - Unified by Antifeminism
 
1:26:50 - End Credits
 
Links Mentioned in News Segment:
Google's Literal Debugging: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jun/01/google-permission-release-mosquitoes-california-florida
 
Catholic Nuns and Palantir A.I.
https://religionnews.com/2026/06/03/catholic-sisters-push-palantir-on-human-rights-as-faith-leaders-rally-in-new-york/
 
A.I. and Sin
https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/2026/06/pope-leo-ai-christian/687388/
 
Other Resources:
Men of Virtue: How the Fruit of the Spirit Forms Male Character in the Modern World (A Guide for Men Seeking Biblical Masculinity, Perfect Father's Day Gift) by Zachary Wagner: https://amzn.to/4uZRL9o
 
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.

The Pope's first encyclical about the importance of human dignity and the threat posed by A.I. is causing a stir. Some secular journalists are celebrating Leo's moral clarity, while Trump administration officials are saying the Pope should stay in his lane. Historian Yuval Noah Harari has his own warning about A.I. and explains how we are moving from an "attention economy" into an "intimacy economy." With the launch of Holy Post Media on Substack, Kaitlyn and Skye take you behind the paywall to sample everything offered by Holy Post Plus, including a daily devotional for people who hate devotionals. Also this week, a dog in Nebraska stands his ground.
 
Holy Post Plus:
Ad-Free Version of this Episode:
https://holypost.substack.com/p/723-pope-leo-ai-and-the-intimacy
 
Getting Schooled - Matchmaking 201:
https://holypost.substack.com/p/getting-schooled-matchmaking-201
 
0:00 - Show Starts
 
1:49 - Theme Song
 
2:12 - Sponsor - Poncho - If you've been looking for the perfect shirt—something breathable, fits great, feels even better, and stands out in a good way—give Poncho a try. Get $10 off and free shipping your first order by using this link: https://www.ponchooutdoors.com/holypost
 
3:23 -  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.
 
4:28 - With God Daily is Here!
 
8:27 - Dog Shoots Woman!
 
10:55 - The Pope's Encyclical on A.I.
 
24:50 - How A.I. Hacks Brains
 
34:21 - Sponsor - Feeding America - Feeding America, led by neighbors! Give now to end hunger at https://www.feedingamerica.org
 
34:55 - Sponsor - World Relief - Multiply your impact today! Start your monthly partnership with World Relief to walk alongside refugees and others on the move. Give today at http://worldrelief.org/holypost
 
36:00 - 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!
 
37:05 - Narcissism and A.I.
 
53:07 - Tour of HP+
 
56:28 - With God Daily
 
1:03:46 - My Hill to Die On
 
1:11:34 - Getting Schooled
 
1:18:37 - 66 Verses
 
1:26:25 - Advice-ish
 
1:33:58 - End Credits
 
Links Mentioned in News Segment:
Dog Shoots Woman at 7-Eleven!
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/26/dog-shotgun-nebraska-convenience-store
 
Slate on the Pope's A.I. Encyclical:
https://slate.com/technology/2026/05/artificial-intelligence-pope-leo-encyclical.html
 
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.

Last week, Stephen Colbert ended his tenure as the host of The Late Show on CBS. Along with witty political commentary and comedy, Colbert was also open about his Catholicism at a time when many were growing skeptical of faith. Phil, Skye, and Kaitlyn discuss Colbert, the criticism public Christians receive, and how to discern which examples of public faith to emulate. It's graduation season, and Karen Swallow Prior is back to discuss her new book, "You Have a Calling." She says our culture has narrowed our understanding of calling to paid work, but finding our calling is not a matter of following a formula. Also this week, new data on what the cutting of USAID is doing to the most vulnerable parts of the world, more reflections on Rededicate 250, and remora fish take brown-nosing to new depths.
Holy Post Plus:
Ad-Free Version of this Episode:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/159315601/
 
0:00 - Show Starts
1:25 - Theme Song
1:45 - 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
 
3:06 - Sponsor - Hiya Health - Go to https://www.hiyahealth.com/HOLYPOST to receive 50% off your first order
 
4:12 - 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



6:44 - Sucker Fish and Manta Butts!
 
10:45 - Is the Nation Rededicated to God?
 
15:56 - Is Association Endorsement?
 
19:24 - USAID Cuts Consequences
 
34:26 - Sponsor - Brooklyn Bedding - Use code HOLYPOST for 30% off sitewide for a great night's sleep! Go to https://www.brooklynbedding.com/HOLYPOST
 
35:30 - Sponsor - Feeding America - Feeding America, led by neighbors! Give now to end hunger at https://www.feedingamerica.org
 
36:17 - Colbert's Public Christianity
 
53:07 - Interview
 
55:33 - What's a "Calling?"
 
1:06:50 - "Author" as Unpredictable Calling
 
1:12:44 - Children and Vocation
 
1:25:14 - End Credits
 
Links Mentioned in News Segment:
The National Catholic Reporter on Rededicate 250:
https://www.ncronline.org/opinion/religion-display-trumps-dc-rally-was-not-gospel-jesus-christ
Sucker Fish Hiding in Manta Ray Butts!
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/sucker-fish-are-hiding-in-manta-rays-buttholes-new-study-reveals/ 
Effects of Defunding USAID:
https://www.thelancet.com/article/S0140-6736(25)01186-9/fulltext
New York Times on the USAID cuts:
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/09/opinion/foreign-aid-cuts.html
 
Other Resources:
You Have a Calling: Finding Your Vocation in the True, Good and Beautiful (The Perfect High School or College Graduation Gift for 2026) by Karen Swallow Prior: https://a.co/d/07W6Tn7P
 
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.