Faithful Politics

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: Will@faithfulpoliticspodcast.comWhat happens when your zip code determines your child’s future?In this episode, Will and Josh talk with Jason Bedrick, a research fellow at the Heritage Foundation’s Center for Education Policy, to unpack the complex—and often contentious—landscape of school choice. Bedrick shares his 20+ year journey in education reform, tracing his advocacy for parental rights and religious liberty back to a post-9/11 awakening and Milton Friedman’s theories.The conversation explores vouchers, education savings accounts (ESAs), the history and distortion of school choice post-Brown v. Board, and how pandemic-era frustrations accelerated parental engagement. Bedrick also addresses the tension between religious freedom and government schooling, pushing back on claims that school choice fuels segregation or undermines civic unity.If you’re wondering how school choice intersects with parental rights, government responsibility, First Amendment protections, or the values debate in public schools, this episode is a must-listen.Subscribe, share, and join the conversation as we examine what true educational freedom looks like—and who gets to decide.👤 Guest BioJason Bedrick is a research fellow at the Heritage Foundation’s Center for Education Policy, where he focuses on education freedom, religious liberty, and classical education. A former New Hampshire state legislator, Bedrick has spent over two decades working in the school choice movement and is one of the nation's most prominent voices advocating for education savings accounts and parental rights.Support the show🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest?👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests:faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going:https://www.patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPolitics📩 Reach out to us:Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: Josh@faithfulpolitics.comPolitical Host, Will Wright: Will@faithfulpolitics.com📱 Follow & connect with us:Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitikInstagram: faithful_politicsFacebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcastLinkedIn: faithfulpolitics📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content:faithfulpolitics.substack.com

Roy Scranton, a writer and former U.S. Army soldier, dives deep into the philosophical complexities of climate change. He challenges the optimistic narratives surrounding progress and innovation, arguing they may hinder genuine action. Reflecting on his military experiences in Iraq, he emphasizes the importance of confronting harsh realities with compassion and honesty. Scranton advocates for ethical responses to our environmental crisis, urging listeners to find meaning in a collapsing world rather than solely focusing on salvation.

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: Will@faithfulpoliticspodcast.comWhat happens when a religious sect rooted in patriarchy and Christian nationalism gains influence over America’s largest government agency?Dr. Samuel P. Perry, a scholar of race, religion, and rhetoric at Baylor University, joins Will to unpack the rise of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC)—a small but strategically influential network founded by Doug Wilson in Moscow, Idaho. Perry explains how the CREC uses media, schools, and publishing arms like Canon Press to shape a hyper-patriarchal, theocratic vision of society. He also explores the implications of Pete Hegseth—Trump’s Secretary of Defense—being a member of a CREC church.The conversation covers Christian reconstructionism, the erosion of church-state separation, militant rhetoric, and the creeping normalization of extreme ideology through polished media ecologies. Perry also warns how these theological fringes have real-world implications, from women in combat to anti-LGBTQ policies in the military.If you've never heard of the CREC, now is the time to pay attention.Subscribe, share, and join the conversation.👤 Guest Bio:Samuel P. Perry is a scholar of rhetoric and public discourse at Baylor University, specializing in the intersection of race, religion, and politics. He is the author of Rhetorics of Race and Religion on the Christian Right, and his research has appeared in leading journals and outlets like Salon and The Conversation.🔗 Resource Links:CREC Overview: https://crechurches.orgDoug Wilson’s Canon Press: https://canonpress.comHeath Druzin’s Podcast Extremely American: https://www.extremelyamerican.comSam Perry’s Article in Salon: https://www.salon.com/2025/06/23/what-is-crec-the-christian-nationalist-group-has-a-vision-for-america-and-pete-hegseths-backing_partner/Support the show🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest?👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests:faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going:https://www.patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPolitics📩 Reach out to us:Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: Josh@faithfulpolitics.comPolitical Host, Will Wright: Will@faithfulpolitics.com📱 Follow & connect with us:Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitikInstagram: faithful_politicsFacebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcastLinkedIn: faithfulpolitics📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content:faithfulpolitics.substack.com

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: Will@faithfulpoliticspodcast.comNearly 60% of Americans still believe the Pope speaks infallibly—but what does that actually mean?In this illuminating episode, Dr. Stephen Okey, a Catholic theologian at Saint Leo University, helps us unpack the mysteries of the papacy—from apostolic succession and the theology of confession to why popes change their names and how AI may shape the next Catholic revolution. With humor and clarity, Okey demystifies concepts like papal infallibility and ex cathedra pronouncements, clarifying that only two infallible statements have ever been made—and both were about Mary.As the Catholic Church wrestles with moral leadership in an age of automation, this episode also explores the social teachings of Pope Leo XIII, how they inspired the new Pope Leo XIV, and what all this means for the dignity of work, human agency, and religious liberty in 2025.Subscribe, share, and join the conversation as we ask: How should theology engage public life in a digital world?Guest BioDr. Stephen Okey is a Catholic theologian and Associate Professor of Theology at Saint Leo University, where he specializes in theological anthropology, Catholic social teaching, and the intersection of faith, technology, and public life. He writes the Substack Okey Doxy and hosts a podcast where he interviews leading theologians.🔗 Resource LinksDr. Stephen Okey’s Substack: https://stephenokey.substack.comOkey Doxy Podcast: https://stephenokey.substack.com/podcastSupport the show🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest?👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests:faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going:https://www.patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPolitics📩 Reach out to us:Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: Josh@faithfulpolitics.comPolitical Host, Will Wright: Will@faithfulpolitics.com📱 Follow & connect with us:Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitikInstagram: faithful_politicsFacebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcastLinkedIn: faithfulpolitics📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content:faithfulpolitics.substack.com

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: Will@faithfulpoliticspodcast.comNearly 4 in 10 Americans now say they actively avoid the news. Why is our information landscape leaving so many people overwhelmed, cynical, or checked out?In this episode, Will and Josh sit down with award-winning journalist Julie Rose, host of the Top of Mind and Uncomfy podcasts, to explore the moral cost of our fast-paced, sensational news culture. After years at NPR stations and BYUradio, Julie burned out—and reimagined journalism from the ground up. She now creates longform conversations designed to slow us down, challenge certainty, and foster empathy.Together, they unpack media bias, bridge-building across ideological divides, abortion discourse, and why persuasion may not be the goal of dialogue—but curiosity might be. If you’ve ever felt disillusioned with the news, this is your invitation to rethink how you consume—and contribute to—the conversation.🎧 Subscribe, share, or leave a review to keep meaningful dialogue alive.Guest BioJulie Rose is an award-winning journalist and host of the Top of Mind podcast, where she explores hard topics with empathy, curiosity, and nuance. Formerly a host at BYUradio and a reporter for NPR stations including WFAE Charlotte, Rose has conducted over 10,000 interviews in her career. Her work focuses on deepening understanding across political, cultural, and moral divides.Top of Mind with Julie Rose: https://www.byuradio.org/topofmindUncomfy Podcast: https://www.topofmind.org/uncomfySupport the show🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest?👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests:faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going:https://www.patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPolitics📩 Reach out to us:Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: Josh@faithfulpolitics.comPolitical Host, Will Wright: Will@faithfulpolitics.com📱 Follow & connect with us:Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitikInstagram: faithful_politicsFacebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcastLinkedIn: faithfulpolitics📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content:faithfulpolitics.substack.com

Pat Kahnke, a former pastor and author of "A Christian Case Against Donald Trump," critiques the intertwining of Christianity with politics. He discusses how 80% of white evangelicals still supported Trump, revealing the moral dilemmas facing the Church today. Kahnke shares his journey away from the GOP, highlighting the need for a '40-year wilderness' for healing. The conversation tackles themes like care vs. harm, truth vs. deception, and the church's integrity amid political pressures, urging a return to gospel-centered values.

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: Will@faithfulpoliticspodcast.comCan the Bible affirm same-sex relationships without compromising its authority?More than half of LGBTQ youth raised in non-affirming Christian households report suicidal thoughts, according to The Trevor Project. In this timely and vulnerable conversation, Matthew Vines—author of God and the Gay Christian and founder of The Reformation Project—joins Will and Josh to explore the moral, theological, and pastoral implications of excluding LGBTQ people from covenantal love.Raised in an evangelical church, Matthew shares his deeply personal story of coming out, challenging the “clobber verses,” and making a theologically conservative case for full LGBTQ inclusion. The conversation also unpacks celibacy mandates, biblical context vs. timeless principles, and how churches can (and can’t) offer belonging without affirmation.Josh remains non-affirming, but open. The result is a rare, emotionally intelligent dialogue that refuses easy answers—and models what truth-seeking looks like across deep difference.Guest BioMatthew Vines is the author of God and the Gay Christian and founder of The Reformation Project, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing LGBTQ inclusion in the church while upholding biblical authority. A Harvard-trained theologian turned advocate, Vines is known for articulating an affirming theology rooted in evangelical hermeneutics and traditional biblical scholarship.God and the Gay Christian (Amazon)https://www.amazon.com/God-Gay-Christian-Biblical-Relationships/dp/1601425163The Reformation Project Websitehttps://reformationproject.org/Matthew Vines on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@ReformationProjectSupport the show🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest?👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests:faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going:https://www.patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPolitics📩 Reach out to us:Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: Josh@faithfulpolitics.comPolitical Host, Will Wright: Will@faithfulpolitics.com📱 Follow & connect with us:Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitikInstagram: faithful_politicsFacebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcastLinkedIn: faithfulpolitics📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content:faithfulpolitics.substack.com

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: Will@faithfulpoliticspodcast.comWhat happens when the church adopts the worldview of its cultural critics?According to recent data, nearly 60% of American Christians now say it's more important to be “kind” than to uphold biblical truth. But what if that kindness is shaped by a secularism that quietly undermines Christian convictions? In this episode of Faithful Politics, we sit down with Dr. John West—author of Stockholm Syndrome Christianity and VP of the Discovery Institute—to explore how secular assumptions have infiltrated the church from within. West, a longtime scholar of politics, religion, and science, argues that many church leaders have internalized a materialist worldview that strips faith of its power to transform.We talk homelessness, public policy, marriage, religious liberty, and why Christians need to recover a holistic view of human dignity—not just “throw money at problems.” It’s a thought-provoking dialogue on the tensions between compassion, conviction, and cultural conformity.👤 Guest BioDr. John West is Vice President of the Discovery Institute and co-founder of its Center for Science and Culture. Formerly chair of political science at Seattle Pacific University, West holds a PhD in government from Claremont Graduate University. He is the author or editor of 13 books and has directed 12 documentaries on faith, politics, and culture. His latest book, Stockholm Syndrome Christianity, explores how secular worldviews have reshaped the American church.Support the show🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest?👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests:faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going:https://www.patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPolitics📩 Reach out to us:Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: Josh@faithfulpolitics.comPolitical Host, Will Wright: Will@faithfulpolitics.com📱 Follow & connect with us:Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitikInstagram: faithful_politicsFacebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcastLinkedIn: faithfulpolitics📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content:faithfulpolitics.substack.com

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: Will@faithfulpoliticspodcast.com81% of white evangelicals voted for Donald Trump in 2016—and for many lifelong churchgoers, that moment was a spiritual breaking point. In this episode, author and podcaster Erin Hicks Moon joins the show to talk about what happens when the faith you inherited no longer feels like home. Erin, co-host of Faith Adjacent and author of I’ve Got Questions: The Spiritual Practice of Having It Out with God, unpacks what it means to deconstruct, grieve spiritual loss, and stay tethered to Jesus in a time of disillusionment. With honesty and humor, she explores questions around religious trauma, purity culture, Christian nationalism, and how to find peace without pretending the damage never happened. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering whether faith can survive doubt—or whether you can still love Jesus after being hurt by his followers—this episode is for you.👤 Guest BioErin Hicks Moon is a writer, speaker, and co-host of the Faith Adjacent podcast, where she brings theological insight and a sharp wit to questions of faith and culture. She is the author of I’ve Got Questions: The Spiritual Practice of Having It Out with God, and writes a popular Substack newsletter called The Swipe Up. Erin serves as a senior creative at The Popcast Media Group and is known for creating welcoming spaces for spiritual honesty and curiosity.Support the show🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest?👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests:faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going:https://www.patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPolitics📩 Reach out to us:Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: Josh@faithfulpolitics.comPolitical Host, Will Wright: Will@faithfulpolitics.com📱 Follow & connect with us:Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitikInstagram: faithful_politicsFacebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcastLinkedIn: faithfulpolitics📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content:faithfulpolitics.substack.com

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: Will@faithfulpoliticspodcast.com📜 Did abolitionists fight slavery with theology? And what does that mean for us today?Though slavery was abolished over 150 years ago, its legacy haunts American Christianity—and our public life. In this timely episode, theologian Dr. Daniel Lee Hill, author of Bearing Witness, joins the show to unpack what the 19th-century abolitionists can still teach us today about faith, justice, and public responsibility. A professor at Baylor’s Truett Theological Seminary, Dr. Hill highlights three often-forgotten figures—Maria Stewart, William Still, and David Ruggles—who combined Christian conviction with courageous action to resist oppression.We explore the theological roots of the abolitionist movement, the contradictions of using the Bible to both justify and dismantle slavery, and how theology is still used today in debates around incarceration, immigration, and LGBTQ inclusion. Hill’s insights challenge both apathy and despair—calling us to archive, mentor, and organize in our time as the abolitionists did in theirs.👤 Guest BioDr. Daniel Lee Hill is a theologian and assistant professor of Christian theology at George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University. He is the author of Bearing Witness: What the Church Can Learn from Abolitionists and holds a PhD from Wheaton College. His work explores ecclesiology, public theology, and the intersections of history and justice.Support the show🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest?👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests:faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going:https://www.patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPolitics📩 Reach out to us:Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: Josh@faithfulpolitics.comPolitical Host, Will Wright: Will@faithfulpolitics.com📱 Follow & connect with us:Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitikInstagram: faithful_politicsFacebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcastLinkedIn: faithfulpolitics📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content:faithfulpolitics.substack.com