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708: Mistaking Certainty for Maturity with Joshua Harris

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Feb 18, 2026

Guest

Joshua Harris

Joshua Harris, author and former pastor famous for I Kissed Dating Goodbye who later apologized and re-evaluated his faith. He narrates his journey from evangelical certainty through public deconstruction and back toward curiosity about Jesus. Conversations also touch on purity culture, platform pressure, rapid promotion in ministry, and why slowing down matters for young leaders.

01:27:29

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ANECDOTE

Sea Walnuts Invade Venice

Hosts discuss invasive warty comb jelly (sea walnut) overrunning Venice's lagoon and collapsing fisheries.
They joke about transient anuses and culinary salvage while noting real ecological harm.

insights

INSIGHT

Moral Roots Fuel Enduring Reforms

Skye and Caitlin note secular progressives miss the motivating Christian story behind social reforms.
Without that story, moral commitments are harder to sustain when costs appear.

insights

INSIGHT

Early Platform Skipped Maturation

Joshua Harris explains how early platform access and homeschooling networks accelerated his publishing and speaking career.
That platform bypassed normal seasons of learning and testing that mature leaders usually experience.

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Studio Quirks and Tractor Beam Laughs

05:20 • 3min

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Cannibal Comb Jellyfish Invade Venice

08:05 • 3min

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Venice Lagoon Damage and Fishing Collapse

11:17 • 3min

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Springfield, Ohio: Churches Mobilize for Haitians

14:03 • 3min

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Legal Win: Judge Blocks TPS Termination

16:57 • 3min

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Erosion of Trust in Government Institutions

19:47 • 3min

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Progressives Rediscovering Religious Value

23:00 • 3min

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Trump, Pagan Power, and Christian Morality

25:50 • 4min

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Militarism, Hypocrisy, and Christian Claims

29:40 • 4min

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Religion's Role in Imagination and Politics

33:25 • 4min

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Can Progressives Use Religion Without Belief?

37:00 • 4min

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Christian Hope Versus Pagan Power

40:40 • 3min

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Inviting Seekers Deeper into Faith

Interview Intro: Joshua Harris Background

54:10 • 3min

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How A 21‑Year‑Old Published A Hit Book

57:04 • 4min

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Evangelical Industrial Complex and Accountability

01:01:24 • 5min

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Costs of Early Promotion and Missed Formation

01:06:00 • 4min

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Advice: Slow Down Young Leaders

01:10:02 • 5min

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Public Deconstruction: Why Go Public?

01:14:39 • 4min

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Platform Pressure and Political Backdrop

01:18:38 • 4min

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Overcorrection After Leaving Evangelicalism

• Mentioned in 187 episodes

Dominion

The Power of Man, the Suffering of Animals, and the Call to Mercy

Matthew Scully

In 'Dominion,' Matthew Scully presents a comprehensive and eloquent case against the mistreatment of animals. The book delves into various aspects of animal suffering, including factory farming, hunting, whaling, and laboratory experiments. Scully challenges the notion that humans have unlimited dominion over animals, as suggested by biblical interpretations, and argues for a moral and compassionate approach to animal treatment. He draws on both religious and scientific perspectives to make his case, emphasizing the importance of empathy and the recognition of animal consciousness and suffering. The book is a call to action for reform and a plea for human benevolence and mercy towards animals.

#2671

• Mentioned in 17 episodes

I Kissed Dating Goodbye

Joshua Harris

In 'I Kissed Dating Goodbye', Joshua Harris argues against the conventional dating scene, suggesting it often leads to superficial relationships and emotional harm. Instead, he advocates for a 'courtship' approach that involves greater parental involvement, group dates, and a focus on purity and marriage intentions. However, Harris later apologized for the book, acknowledging its flaws and the harm it caused to many readers by instilling fear and promoting a legalistic approach to relationships.

Thirty years ago, Joshua Harris became the cheerleader for purity culture with his book "I Kissed Dating Goodbye." Since then, he's apologized for the book, exited from ministry and his marriage, and announced he's no longer a Christian. He talks to Skye about his journey from fundamentalism to deconstructionism, and back toward curiosity about Jesus. Also this week, how the Trump administration is making paganism great again, why secular progressives are rediscovering the benefits of religion, and how Christians in Springfield, Ohio, have organized to protect Haitian immigrants from deportation. Plus, cannibal jellyfish are taking over Venice, and Phil has seen the wrap light.

Holy Post Plus:

Joshua Harris Bonus Interview:

https://www.patreon.com/posts/151002394/

Ad-Free Version of this Episode:

https://www.patreon.com/posts/151013259/

2:15 - Theme Song

2:37 - Sponsor - Rocket Money - Find and cancel your old subscriptions with Rocket Money at https://www.rocketmoney.com/HOLYPOST

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8:52 - Cannibal Jellyfish Attack Venice!

14:18 - Springfield Christians Help Haitian Immigrants

24:04 - Donald Trump, the Pagan King

35:19 - Secular Progressives Miss Religion

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54:09 - Interview

58:35 - Teenage Fame

1:09:52 - What Wisdom Does Joshua Wish He Had?

1:14:50 - Value of Slowness

1:20:22 - Trump and Deconstruction

1:26:55 - End Credits

Links Mentioned in News Segment:

Cannibal Jellyfish Attack Venice!

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15511319/Venice-invaded-cannibalistic-jellyfish-vanishing-anus.html

Ohio Churches Help Haitians:

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/us/springfield-ohio-haitians-deportation-threat.html

Donald Trump, Pagan King:

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/11/opinion/donald-trump-pagan-king.html

Other Resources:

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