Highest Power: Church + State Ep105: The American Military Fetish, Pacifism, & the War in Iran, with Ben Daniel
Mar 2, 2026
Ben Daniel, a Presbyterian minister, peace activist, and author exploring Christian pacifism. He warns about America’s sacralizing of the military. He explains how media, pastors, and history normalize war. He describes the longings that fuel militarism and imagines neighborhood-level alternatives. He previews his book Grace Over Guns.
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How American Pop Culture Normalizes The Military
- American culture normalizes military reverence through sports, film, games, and local 'hometown hero' displays that silence critique.
- Ben Daniel cites stadium anthems, military film influence since 1929, and roadside 'hometown heroes' signs as concrete examples of this militaristic glorification.
Donna Reed Story About Hollywood And Nuclear Films
- Ben Daniel recounts his aunt Donna Reed's film work and attempts to make an anti‑nuclear film that was altered into pro‑bomb messaging and then flopped.
- He uses that family example to show Hollywood's suppression or transformation of antiwar messages after WWII.
Why Churches Rarely Preach Against War
- Pastors often avoid preaching against war because they fear alienating congregants or losing their jobs, making antiwar messages rare in pulpits.
- Daniel notes only ~16% of pastors addressed the Iraq War from the pulpit and publishers told him pacifism 'won't sell.'