The Faith Angle

One of the highest-profile #nevertrump evangelicals David French joins The Faith Angle podcast to discuss the unholy alliance evangelicals have made with Donald Trump. The writer for National Review and almost-presidential candidate talks about how evangelicals are ignoring Scripture and evangelical tradition to support one of the most immoral and unchristian leaders in American history and why they should stop.

Kirsten and Jonathan answer questions from Faith Angle listeners from why Arizona is Kirsten’s second favorite state to what the duo thinks of religious liberty laws.

The difficulties to honestly discussing race are many, but the effort is still worth it. In this episode, author and activist Austin Channing Brown shares her experiences of helping religious organizations become more inclusive and why she has devoted her life to a fight that seems to never end.  

After his New York Times column “Dear White People” went viral, professor George Yancy discovered firsthand how conversations on racism are often not well received. Hear Kirsten and Jonathan explore how honest conversations about race are often fraught and contentious.  

Evangelicalism has an image problem. Today, many see it as nothing more than a cover for white republicanism and as a result, they are leaving the movement. Is a mass exodus warranted or should principled dissenters stay and work for change? Kirsten and Jonathan interview Christopher Stroop, one of the leaders of the evangelical movement who started the popular #emptythepews hashtag, and Lisa Sharon Harper, an author and activist who is still holding onto the “evangelical” label despite the movement’s flaws.  

It has been widely reported that on any given Sunday, more women than men will attend church in America. Some have concluded that the Church has been “feminized” and needs to become more masculine, so Kirsten and Jonathan explore the myths and pitfalls of “muscular Christianity.” The duo also interviews Owen Strachan, an author and leading voice among Christians who believe men have been ordained by God to lead in the home and church.  

The Trumpvangelicals aren’t going away, a new poll shows. But that didn’t stop a group of influential anti-Trump evangelicals from gathering and calling for a new expression of faith in America. Jonathan and Kirsten also address a longtime tension between religion and science that affects everything from climate change debates to teaching evolution in schools. The duo talks to “Science Mike,” author of Finding God in the Waves, about how science can actually enhance and enrich your faith.

This week, The New Yorker claimed that people in the Big Apple are creeped out by Chick-fil-A’s Christian values. Kirsten and Jonathan discuss whether this news narrative is true and, more importantly, problematic. They also talk about how to nurture gratitude in a time where headlines drive us toward discouragement and interview Diana Butler Bass, a scholar who will revolutionize your understanding of gratitude.  

It’s been five years since Pope Francis’ election, so Kirsten and Jonathan discuss his influence—from his personal life to his most controversial comments. He’s wildly popular among Catholics and Christians generally, but many conservatives are concerned he is changing the Church for the worse, particularly when it comes to marriage. So the episode wraps with a lively debate between The New York Times columnist Ross Douthat and Jesuit author Fr. James Martin.  

Kirsten and Jonathan discuss The Atlantic’s recent firing of pro-life columnist Kevin Williamson who said women who have abortions should be hanged. They also interview conservative commentator and radio host Erick Erickson for his perspective. You can read Erickson’s full article in Townhall here.

On this episode, the hosts discuss how the NRA attacked Kirsten because of her recent comments on CNN, which prompts several big questions: What should people of faith think about the NRA? Are gun issues really just mental health problems? Is it fair to dismiss the gun reform protests of students because they are young? Then, Kirsten and Jonathan talk with activist, historian and hip-hop artist Propaganda to get his views on the gun debate in America, including the ways that gun issues are also race issues.  

  This week, Kirsten and Jonathan discuss another difficult topic: misogyny and sexism in the Church. The hosts discuss how they were taught to think about feminism growing up, how early Church fathers shaped Christians’ views on gender and whether engrained sexism among some Christians primed the pump for Trump. The duo also speaks with New York Times best-selling author Rachel Held Evans about whether the Bible prescribes a hierarchy among the genders and how she believes we should confront sexism in religious communities.    

The wait is over. In the inaugural episode of The Faith Angle podcast, Kirsten and Jonathan share how they met and why they believe this kind of conversation is needed now more than ever. They discuss why America is so divided right now—including a new Pew Research poll—and how conservative evangelicals’ support for Donald Trump has become a point of conversation in American media. The Faith Angle duo also talk with Eric Metaxas, best-selling author and prominent Trump supporter, who makes some surprising comments, including offering an apology for some of his controversial comments.  

What does it mean to live as a person of faith in this crazy moment in American history? That’s the question behind The Faith Angle, a provocative podcast from journalists Kirsten Powers and Jonathan Merritt. From bathroom bills to conservative Christian cake bakers to Pope Francis’ impact, the duo will explore the issues that matter to people of faith. Each episode features an explainer on this issue, discussion of relevant headlines, and a lively interview with a thought leader. Think of it as ‘a survival guide for the faithful in Trump’s America.”