Straight White American Jesus

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“You’re confusing Christians with Christianity.” This is another response that those undergoing “faith deconstruction” often receive when engaging with the partisans of high-control religion. This response reflects widespread cultural understandings of religion, so it has a ring of plausibility. But is it? Listen to this week’s episode as Dan discusses why this response is not only implausible, but is weaponized by the partisans of high-control religion to coerce and control those who would challenge it.

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC

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Brad interviews Zach Mack, host of NPR's Alternate Realities. Zach shares his personal journey with his father, who became radicalized by online conspiracy theories and New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) prophecies. Through a unique bet involving 10 conspiracy predictions, Zach and his father navigated their relationship, exploring the reasons behind his father's beliefs while growing closer despite differing worldviews. The conversation delves into the mechanics of online radicalization, the role of religious prophets like Julie Green, and the impact on family dynamics. Zach's story highlights the challenges and complexities of engaging with loved ones consumed by misinformation.

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC

Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163

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Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 800-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/

This episode of Straight White American Jesus focuses on the removal and censure of Representative Al Green during the State of the Union, highlighting the symbolic image of Green confronting Donald Trump, with JD Vance and Mike Johnson standing behind Trump. Hosts Brad Onishi and Dan Miller delve into Christian nationalism, discussing how different Christian denominations unite under Trump’s illiberal movement. Also covered are current legislative actions, such as Trump’s threat to close the Department of Education, and a high-profile response to DEI threats in Georgetown Law, showcasing the administration’s attempts to reshape American education and federal policies. The show also touches on hopeful signs of legal resistance against the administration’s overreach and outcomes of state-level political efforts.

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC

Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163

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Why does Donald Trump look and sound like a Prosperity Gospel preacher? What are the actual ties of the president to this tradition of Christian healers and televangelists?

In​ this episode of Spirit & Power, Dr. Leah Payne speaks with Dr. Gabriel Raeburn - Senior Research Fellow, Harvard Slavery Remembrance Program, Harvard and the Legacy of Slavery Initiative - about the health and wealth preachers who love Donald J. Trump, and their ​affinities with tech billionaires like Elon Musk & Peter Thiel. Fully embracing the glitz and glam of Trump's 21st Century second term, prosperity preachers are setting their own political agendas and living the high life with their favorite president, a long way from their impoverished, Depression-Era roots.

Resources & Links:

Visible Saints: the History of a Puritan Idea, Edmund Morgan

​Oral Roberts and the Rise of the Prosperity Gospel, Jonathan Root

Pew Research Center’s 2006 study: Spirit and Power – A 10-Country Survey of Pentecostals

“The Future of “Born-Again Evangelicalism” Is Charismatic and Pentecostal,” PRRI by Fanhao Nie, Ph.D., Flavio Rogerio Hickel Jr., Leah Payne, Tarah Williams, Ph.D.

​God Gave Rock & Roll to You: a History of Contemporary Christian Music, Leah Payne

​

Join Leah & many other scholars, activists, and artists considering music the rise of Pentecostal and charismatic Christianity at the 2025 Summer Institute for Global Charismatic & Pentecostal Studies at Candler School of Theology at Emory University, May 21-23 in Decatur, GA. Registration is free!

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Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 800-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC

In this bonus episode of 'Straight White American Jesus,' hosts Brad Onishi and his cohost delve into a critical analysis of a tumultuous press conference between President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky. They explore how the event sheds light on Trump's worldview and his approach to foreign policy, characterized by dominance and transactional relationships, a stark departure from traditional American exceptionalism. They discuss the implications of Trump's tactics, contrasting his approach with historical U.S. policy and the symbolic significance of Zelensky's stance. The episode also features listener questions and a humorous story from Dan.

For subscribers - a story from Dan's church days about a woman at church getting very personal during Sunday school + listener Q+A.

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Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 800-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/

If someone is working through faith deconstruction, it’s a virtual guarantee that they will be confronted with this dismissal of their questions and critiques at some point. But what exactly is going on when a partisan of high-control Christianity says this? What response are they trying to bring about from the person deconstructing? And how is this response intended to insulate high-control religion from criticism and honest questioning? Join Dan this week for answers to these and other questions.

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC

Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163

Check out BetterHelp and use my code SWA for a great deal: www.betterhelp.com

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Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 800-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/

This episode explores a disturbing incident in Northern Idaho where activist Teresa Borrenpohl was forcibly removed from a town hall meeting by unidentified men, believed to be part of a private security team, raising concerns about the erosion of democratic norms and the rise of extralegal militias. Brad speaks with activists Tamara Sines-Kermelis and Megan Kunz to discuss the political climate in Northern Idaho, the implications of such actions, and the importance of public accountability and civic engagement in combating authoritarian tendencies. They share their personal experiences and emphasize the need for vigilance and bravery in the face of growing extremism.

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC

Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163

Check out BetterHelp and use my code SWA for a great deal: www.betterhelp.com

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Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 800-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/

Brad and Dan discuss a range of pressing issues under the Trump administration, focusing on the controversial 'Golden Visa' proposal. Donald Trump's plan would allow wealthy foreigners to purchase U.S. citizenship for $5 million, raising questions about who is deemed valuable in America. They talk about the broader implications of this policy, including its exclusionary stance towards asylum seekers, the elderly, and those on Medicaid. They also tackle Elon Musk's unprecedented influence over the executive branch, particularly through mass firings and the contracting of federal communications systems. The episode examines plans for mass deportation, including proposals involving military contractors and private mercenaries. Additionally, the hosts scrutinize the moral and ethical values underpinning these policies, comparing them to historical practices in Russia under Vladimir Putin.

.Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC

Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163

Check out BetterHelp and use my code SWA for a great deal: www.betterhelp.com

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Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 800-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/

“Why do you always focus on the negative?” “Why are you so negative all the time?” If you have posed hard questions about high-control religion, or if you have undergone (or are undergoing) “faith deconstruction,” it is a virtual guarantee that you have been confronted by questions like these. But why? Why is that questioning dismissed or judged as being “negative”? Why does honest questioning provoke such visceral negative reactions? How does all of this relate to the toxic positivity of high-control religion? Check out this week’s episode as Dan considers these questions.

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC

Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163

Check out BetterHelp and use my code SWA for a great deal: www.betterhelp.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subscribe for $5.99 a month to get bonus content most Mondays, bonus episodes every month, ad-free listening, access to the entire 800-episode archive, Discord access, and more: https://axismundi.supercast.com/

Subscribe to One Nation, Indivisible with Andrew Seidel: 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/one-nation-indivisible-with-andrew-seidel/id1791471198

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0w5Lb2ImPFPS1NWMG0DLrQ

In the inaugural episode of One Nation Indivisible, host Andrew L. Seidel explores the provocative question of whether the United States today mirrors Germany in the 1930s. Joined by German historian Annika Brockschmidt, the episode examines historical parallels, focusing on the rise of authoritarianism and fascist tendencies in both countries. They discuss the use of legal mechanisms, political violence, and propaganda, highlighting similarities and differences between Trump and Hitler. The conversation delves into how average citizens and political figures can act to resist these dangerous trends, emphasizing the importance of civic engagement and vigilance in preserving democracy.

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/StraightWhiteJC

Order Brad's book: https://bookshop.org/a/95982/9781506482163

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