Below the Upper Room

On this very special episode the gals weigh in on Taylor Swift’s new album: The Tortured Poets Department. Adrianna and Mackenzie give their overall thoughts of the album, reflect on Taylor’s career, and break down each song.

Welcome to another episode of BTUR! Where Adrianna and Mackenzie discuss the latest happenings in music, tv, and movies. And the gals dare ask the question: why are there so many scary nun movies?

The gals are back again! Adrianna and Kenzie gather to discuss Lent, St. Patrick's Day, and pop princesses. The gals then dive into ways that some Oklahoma politicians flirt with Christian nationalism, banned books, and the little things we can do to try and make things better.

Sources:

https://time.com/6300200/how-oklahoma-became-ground-zero-in-the-war-over-church-state-separation/

https://tulsaworld.com/news/community/sand-springs/drummond-warns-of-spreading-christian-nationalism-in-public-schools/article_f95abd5c-2905-11ee-99b8-4bc13fe9ac8d.html

https://www.oklahoman.com/story/opinion/columns/guest/2024/01/25/ou-professor-explains-christian-nationalism-and-why-it-is-wrong-for-oklahoma/72315873007/

https://www.politico.com/newsletters/weekly-education/2023/07/17/the-republican-who-sees-christian-nationalism-seeping-into-public-schools-00106533

https://www.oklahoman.com/restricted/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.oklahoman.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2Freligion%2F2024%2F01%2F11%2Fjackson-lahmeyer-white-christian-nationalism-studies-faithful-america-list%2F71343530007%2F

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/01/opinion/religion-schools-constitution-oklahoma.html

https://okcfox.com/news/local/organization-head-calls-ryan-walters-a-christian-nationalist-cautions-against-religious-indoctrination-at-public-schools-annie-laurie-gaylor-ffr-freedom-from-religion-foundation-oklahoma-state-superintendent-instruction-republican-islamic-republic-iran

https://www.aol.com/white-christian-nationalism-danger-democracy-120114983.html

https://abcnews.go.com/US/oklahoma-education-superintendent-ryan-walters-fire-anti-lgbtq/story?id=107626475

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/oklahoma-principal-drag-queen-resigns-ryan-walters-pressure-rcna138132

https://apnews.com/article/oklahoma-education-superintendent-walters-libs-tiktok-raichik-4db2bcb9d8e0582f67329f6879bdf6ba

https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2024/02/27/ryan-walters-fight-over-library-books-at-oklahoma-district-what-we-know/72685988007/

https://www.the74million.org/article/the-mystery-of-ryan-walters-how-a-beloved-history-teacher-became-oklahomas-culture-warrior-in-chief/?mibextid=Zxz2cZ

https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/02/us/nex-benedict-oklahoma-doe-investigation/index.html

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/oklahoma-lawmakers-advocates-work-to-bring-chaplains-to-public-schools-despite-setbacks/ar-BB1jsJs7?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=LCTS&cvid=babf5534d0d54e20b6da220a693d4a9b&ei=57

https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2021/february-web-only/what-is-christian-nationalism.html

https://www.newsweek.com/christian-nationalism-history-us-marjorie-taylor-greene-1729187

https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2022/10/27/views-of-the-u-s-as-a-christian-nation-and-opinions-about-christian-nationalism/

https://oklahomawatch.org/2023/06/22/walters-faith-committee-wants-ten-commandments-in-every-public-classroom/

https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2024/01/30/oklahoma-teacher-sues-ryan-walters-defamation-after-bonus-paid-in-error/72405753007/

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/23/us/oklahoma-nonbinary-student-superintendent.html

https://oklahomawatch.org/2024/03/13/state-dollars-prop-walters-national-media-blitz/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXdwYN5xCYQ

Adrianna and Mackenzie discuss which of their 2024 predictions cam true. The gals then discuss the similarities and differences between their many home town mega churches. The gals ask the tough questions: Why are there so many mega churches in Tulsa? How did these mega churches come to be? And how accurate is The Righteous Gemstones?

Sources:

⁠https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry?entryname=RELIGION⁠

⁠https://www.life.church/who-we-are/?utm_source=life.church&utm_medium=website&utm_content=MoreMenu-WhoWeAre&utm_campaign=Life.Church⁠

⁠http://hirr.hartsem.edu/cgi-bin/mega/db.pl?db=default&uid=default&view_records=1&ID=*&sb=4&State=OK⁠

⁠https://ktul.com/news/local/new-life-ranch-purchases-dry-gulch-from-church-on-the-move-opens-for-fall-retreats⁠

⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gospel_Bill_Show⁠

⁠https://tulsaworld.com/life-entertainment/guts-church-pastor-did-a-180-turn-in-his-20s/article_c6f2a6c1-450f-5b8b-9833-c06087281f0c.html#:~:text=%E2%80%9CWe%20called%20it%20Guts%2C%E2%80%9D,the%20guts%20to%20serve%20me%3F⁠

⁠https://gutschurch.com/⁠

⁠https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry?entry=BO021⁠

⁠https://www.rbtc.org/about/⁠

⁠https://www.bostonavenue.org/⁠

⁠https://asburytulsa.org/⁠

⁠https://ktul.com/news/local/asbury-church-formally-separates-from-united-methodist-denomination-immediately-congregation-new-senior-pastor-harrison-separation-mission-jesus-members-dalton-religious-religion⁠

⁠https://www.victory.college/⁠

⁠https://www.rbtc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/RBTC-128770-Student-Handbook-2020-2021_.pdf⁠

⁠https://www.thisamericanlife.org/304/heretics

Happy New Year everyone! Adrianna and Mackenzie sit down and discuss NYT opinion pieces, modest wedding dresses, and their 2024 predictions. The gals then have an exclusive interview where truths are are spoken and secrets are revealed.

Adrianna and Mackenzie discuss the latest Taylor Swift news, A new decree by the Pope, and differing opinions surrounding the song Oh Mary Did You Know? The gals then review two films by Rankin/Bass that have...unique takes on the nativity story.