Truce - History of the Christian Church

The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe Oct 29, 2024

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In the Kanawha County Textbook War episode, Chris shared that the people of that county fought against some textbooks and stories being read in classrooms and as homework. Edgar Allan Poe's The Cask of Amontillado is one of the texts that was contested.

So Chris decided to read it here as a bonus episode at the end of October. Enjoy!

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Republicans and Evangelicals I Frances Schaeffer and the Shaping of Christian Nationalism (feat. Barry Hankins) Oct 22, 2024

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Frances Schaeffer is one of the most important theological thinkers of the 20th century. He urged fundamentalists and evangelicals to think outside of their separatism and consider how they could reach the world and expand their worldview. He began his career as a preacher in the United States, but a foreign missions board asked him to assess the state of fundamentalism in Europe after WWII. While there he saw great works of art and met fascinating people. Eventually, Schaeffer moved to Switzerland to start L'Abri, a chalet community where wanderers could come, live, and discuss the gospel.

That's where the story may have ended. But his lectures were turned into audio cassettes and books. Then, from this small mountain village, Schaeffer became one of the best-known evangelicals in the world. Once he returned to the United States, his books took on a Christian nationalist tone which sticks with us today.

Our guest for this episode is Barry Hankins. He's the author of Frances Schaeffer and the Shaping of Evangelical America. He is a professor of history at Baylor University.

Sources:

Francis Schaeffer and the Shaping of Evangelical America by Barry Hankins
The Evangelicals by Frances Fitgerald
Reaganland by Rick Perlstein
A helpful article about the Renaissance
A helpful article about the Enlightenment
Schaeffer's film How Should We Then Live?
Gospel Coalition article about secular humanism
A Christian Manifesto by Frances Schaeffer

Discussion Questions:

Have you read any of Schaeffer's work?
What is your "worldview"? How did you get it? How did you become aware of that concept?
Should all Christians have an idea of their worldview? Should it look a certain way?
What do you think about the middle part of Schaeffer's ministry when he was preaching in L'Abri? How does it differ from the last third of his ministry?
How have you seen Christian nationalism? What parts of the Bible do people use to justify it?

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Republicans and Evangelicals I Women's Roundtable Book Discussion Oct 08, 2024

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Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique kicked off second-wave feminism in the United States. The book was published in 1963 and addressed what she called "the problem that has no name". As women's roles shifted with the invention of electricity and the number of workers needed to run farms decreased, women's roles shifted. The idea of a "traditional" woman went from a farm laborer or factory worker to someone who kept the home and managed her children's schedules. This left many women feeling unsatisfied and searching for their purpose in life. Friedan's book addressed those issues and inspired more extreme views of women.

Several "Christian" books were published to respond to Friedan and second-wave feminism. One was The Total Woman, the number one bestselling nonfiction book of the year which has sold over 10 million copies. Published in 1973, it was the genesis of the scene in Fried Green Tomatoes where Kathy Bates goes to the door to meet her husband wrapped in Saran Wrap. It encouraged women to use costumes to greet their husbands, to avoid being "shrewish", and to use Norman Vincent Peele's philosophy of positive thinking.

Another book was The Spirit-Controlled Woman by Beverly LaHaye. This was a companion piece to a book written by her husband Tim LaHaye, but it somehow managed to avoid telling women how to live by the Spirit.

Special guests join Chris for this episode. Each took a different book so we can better understand this movement and counter-movement.

Special Guests:

Amy Fritz of the Untangled Faith podcast
Anna Tran of the Love Thy Neighborhood podcast
Jen Pollock Michel author of In Good Time, A Habit Called Faith, and Surprised by Paradox

Sources:

The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan
The Spirit-Controlled Woman by Beverly LaHaye
The Total Woman by Marabel Morgan

Discussion Questions:

What is your relationship to the books we discussed in these episodes?
What is the difference between first-wave feminism and second-wave feminism?
How have the roles of women changed in society in the last 200 years? What role did electricity, the Industrial Revolution and wars shaped those roles?
What was the "problem that has no name"? How did/does it impact women's lives?
How does this vision of feminism compare and contrast to biblical images of women?
How have we added or subtracted from what the Bible says about women to create our modern image of a "Christian woman"?
Morgan advised her readers to meet their husbands at the door in costumes. What is your opinion of this idea?
What did she mean when she said she had been "shrewish"? Is that term insulting to women? Why?
Is the "Christian ideal" vision of women one that requires women to stay home with children?

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Compelled - KKK Terrorist Finds Christ Oct 02, 2024

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In the 1960s, Tom Tarrants was a young man on a mission - to save America from Communism, Marxism, and desegregation. He was prepared to do anything, including joining the Ku Klux Klan, drive-by shootings, or even dying for his cause. Yet God had a far greater plan for this would-be revolutionary.

Find the Compelled Podcast at https://compelledpodcast.com/

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Republicans and Evangelicals I National Women's Conference Part 2 (featuring Marjorie Spruill) Sep 24, 2024

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The National Women's Conference was set to take place. State meetings were overrun by conservative women causing disruptions to the meetings as they paid the entrance fee with pennies or made noises during the discussions. But liberal women were not angels either. Some went so far as to accuse the conservatives of sending in mental patients to do their voting.

It's easy in all of the noise to forget that this was a monumental meeting. Women from all over the country gathered together to discuss issues that impacted them. They ran the show. They set the agenda. Conservative women, by and large, didn't show up for the main meeting. Why? Because of conspiracy theories circulated by groups led by people like Phyllis Schlafly saying that the elections would be rigged. Also, they started their own conference across town.

This pro-life, pro-family rally was only about three hours long. But it packed a big punch. People from all over the country took busses overnight to attend. They couldn't stay the night because hotels were already booked up for the main meeting. So they came and went on the same day, taking the pro-family, pro-life movement with them.

In this episode, Chris winds up a three-part mini-series that takes us from Phyllis Schlafly's turn against the ERA to this momentous weekend in 1977. The fallout of the conference is still with us today as religious people on the right work together to accomplish their goals, often trying to undo what liberals on the far left have already done. Extremes continue to snipe at extremes as the middle tries to get things done.

Our guest for this episode is Marjorie Spruill, author of the book Divided We Stand. It is an excellent resource that is balanced and well-notated.

Sources:

Divided We Stand by Marjorie Spruill
Reaganland by Rick Perlstein
Interviews from the National Women's Conference
Phyllis Schlafly Report from December 1977
NBC's coverage of Phyllis Schlafly's funeral with Donald Trump's eulogy

Discussion Questions:

What were some positive outcomes of the National Women's Year conference?
What were some challenges they faced?
Why did conservatives feel shut out of the conference?
What do you think about the role of conspiracy theories in conservative circles (example: Schlafly's insistence that the meeting votes were rigged)?
Schlafly was overlooked in the Reagan administration. Why do you think that is?
Why is it so hard for people of different beliefs to work together, even for the common good?
What do you think would have happened if the IWY conference had not featured lesbian rights? Should it have avoided that controversial topic, or was it an issue whose moment had come?

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Republicans and Evangelicals I National Women's Conference Part 1 (featuring Marjorie Spruill) Sep 10, 2024

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In 1977, the Congress of the United States allotted $5 million for the National Women's Conference. The money was intended to bring together women from around the country so that they could put together recommendations for the Congress and President. It would highlight women of color, and those minorities who were sometimes overlooked like Native American women. But there was conflict from its inception.

Liberal women, some of the same who turned NOW into a liberal group, took control. They did not want the far-right to participate, women like Phyllis Schlafly who had fought so hard to stall the ERA. This only made conservative women more bitter.

There was more fuel for the fire. Gay and lesbian rights were added to the discussion topics of the convention. That was a big deal in 1977 when conservative women rallied around Anita Bryant and her fight against equal rights for homosexuals in Miami, Florida. The Bible says that homosexuality is a sin, so some conservative religious people did not want to give homosexuals rights in the US. So for liberal women to incorporate a gay and lesbian plank into the National Women's Conference was a BIG deal. And a way to pick a fight with conservatives.

The battle ultimately led to conservatives hosting their own conference a few miles away. This gathering ultimately united the Religious Right and kicked off the Pro-Life, Pro-Family movement that we know today. How did women play a role in uniting evangelicals with the Republican Party?

Our guest today is Marjoie Spruill. She is the author of the fantastic book Divided We Stand. She is a distinguished professor emerita of history at the University of South Carolina.

Sources:

Divided We Stand by Marjorie Spruill
Reaganland by Rick Perlstein
The Evangelicals by Frances Fitzgerald
Anita Bryant's orange juice commercial
Phyllis Schlafly on PBS video
Former President Trump's eulogy for Phyllis Schlafly
Andy Warhol's cover art for Time Magazine of Bella Abzug
New York Times article about women swinging while their husbands were in Vietnam
"Revive Us Again" by Joel Carpenter

Discussion Questions:

What is your impression of Anita Bryant? Do you remember her?
What rights should homosexuals have in the United States? In the last episode about Phyllis Schlafly, we looked at conflicting opinions of what equal rights look like for women. Should they be treated the same as men or have equality plus protections? Let's transfer that question to homosexuals. Should they have equal rights, fewer rights, or equal rights plus protections?
Should women on the president's council have opened the National Women's Conference to women on the far right?
What do you think will happen once the conference is launched?

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Chris Quits Driving A School Bus Sep 07, 2024

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Help via check at:

Chris Staron

PO Box 3434

Jackson, WY 83001

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Republicans and Evangelicals I Phyllis Schlafly and the ERA (featuring Marjorie Spruill) Aug 27, 2024

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Phyllis Schalfly was a remarkable woman. Regardless of your politics, you have to admire the impact that one person, who was never elected to office, could have on national political conversations. Schlafly was already part of the in-crowd in Washington when she took a stance against the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). She was an exercise in nuance herself-- a woman who fought for traditional views of women in society, while also earning a law degree and touring the nation on speaking tours. She had a family and held a prominent position in the national zeitgeist, even building on battles fought by Anita Bryant.

But who was Phyllis Schlafly? She was a Catholic woman, which is important because Catholics had long been the victims of prejudice in the United States. She was a mother, a popular speaker, publisher of The Phyllis Schlafly Report newsletter, and author of books like A Choice, Not An Echo, which was a conspiratorial screed about stealing elections. This lady knew how to turn a story. She ran for Congress in 1955 and again in 1970, losing both times.

Then in 1972, she learned about the ERA. The Equal Rights Amendment was first proposed by Alice Paul in 1923. The goal was to have men and women treated equally under the law. That means that women would no longer receive special protections either. So... a double-edged sword, right? Women in the 1960s and 70s still had a ways to go when it came to equality. It brought forth some big questions about how to achieve it.

Schlafly wanted to protect the protections. So she formed STOP ERA (Stop Taking Our Protections, ERA) to rally her followers against the ERA. This was a big twist because state after state had rushed to ratify the amendment. But once Phyllis got going, they applied the brakes and waited.

Schlafly may have single-handedly stopped an Amendment to the Constitution.

In this episode, we're going to learn about this dynamo. A woman who is both loved and hated. An intelligent woman, and someone who traded in falsities.

Our guests for this episode are Marjorie Spruill, author of Divided We Stand and Angie Maxwell, author of The Long Southern Strategy.

Important Sources:

Divided We Stand by Marjorie Spruill
The Long Southern Strategy by Angie Maxwell
Reaganland by Rick Perlstein
A helpful list of milestones in women's rights
Video of Esther Peterson
Video of Phyllis Schlafly talking about A Choice, Not An Echo on C-SPAN
A copy of Ladies, Have Ya' Heard? as mentioned in the episode
Illinois State Archives interview with Phyllis
An article from Time Magazine about the ERA's history
Britannica article about The Fairness Doctrine
Smithsonian article about Phyllis Schlafly

Discussion Questions:

What do you think about legal protections for women? Are you an Esther, an Alice, or a Phyllis?
The ERA is really short. Do you think it should be more specific to clarify its position?
How have you seen sexism? How has it impacted your life?
Have you seen women treated well in the workplace? What made the difference?
Are stay-at-home mothers respected in our society? If not, what can you and your church do to support them?
What are your impressions of Phyllis?
Are you okay with people using conspiracy theories to bolster their followings?
We've spent a fair bit of time this season talking about parachurch organizations. What are your thoughts on them?

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Republicans and Evangelicals I RJ Rushdoony and Christian Reconstruction Aug 13, 2024

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RJ Rushdoony is not a household name. But he influenced a lot of interesting people, from members of the New Right to the Christian homeschooling movement. His books and lectures inspired people to pull their kids out of public schools and teach them at home. But who was RJ Rushdoony?

He was deeply impacted by his time doing missionary work on a Native American reservation. There he saw how difficult it was to get anything done and to give people proper access to their government. He went on to work with libertarian organizations like Spiritual Mobilization and the Volker Fund. His mentor Cornelius Van Til taught him to see the triad of government, church, and family in a new way. In Rushdoony's mind, those three spheres should not interfere with each other. BUT, he did want Christians to run the government. Instead of doing a top-down change, he wanted change to begin with families, then rise to the church, eventually taking over the political sphere.

Howard Phillips, one of the founders of the New Right, was a disciple of Rushdoony. So was his son, Doug Phillips, who founded the homeschooling movement known as Vision Forum. In this episode, Chris interviews Paul Hastings of the Compelled podcast about how they met at a Vision Forum film festival.

The special guest for today is Michael McVicar, author of "Christian Reconstruction: R.J. Rushdoony and American Religious Conservatism."

Sources:

Christian Reconstruction: R.J. Rushdoony and American Religious Conservatism by Michael McVicar
Reaganland by Rick Perlstein
The Evangelicals by Frances Fitzgerald
Helpful article about libertarian philosophy
One Nation Under God by Kevin Kruse

Discussion Questions:

How do you think Rushdoony was impacted by his experiences on the reservation?
What is libertarianism? What do you think about it?
In what ways have you seen libertarianism presented in evangelical culture?
What did Rushdoony think about public schools? How was this a departure from progressive-era Christian thinkers?
How does Christian homeschooling differ from other forms of homeschooling?
Why did homeschooling take off in the 1980s and 1990s?
What role, if any, should Christians play in public schools?

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Republicans and Evangelicals I Kanawha County Textbook War Jul 30, 2024

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In 1974, Alice Moore was a member of the school board in Kanawha County, West Virginia. The board met to hear the recommendations of the textbook committee and approve them. But Alice protested when she read a portion from the Autobiography of Malcolm X, which thanked Allah for preventing Malcolm X from being a black Christian. From there they uncovered a number of potentially offensive texts, some because of language, others because of discussions of rape. Race was likely a factor as well, though Moore denied it.

Local pastors decried what they saw as secularism and humanism creeping into public schools. Parents blocked school buses, and others kept their children at home. Soon, there were fights, and dynamite was used to blow up school buildings. What started as a disagreement over books erupted into an all-out war. One that echoed in other parts of the country at the same time as families wrestled with changes in education.

Sources:

"The Great Textbook Wars" - award-winning documentary on the battle
"The Invisible Bridge" by Rick Perlstein
"Soul on Ice" by Eldrige Cleaver (archive.org)
"Androcles and the Lion" by Aesop
Texas Monthly article about the Gablers
Video of the Gablers talking to William F Buckley on "Firing Line"
The New York Times article about schools closed in WV
The New York Times article about the textbook war
Radio interview about the John Birch Society

Discussion Questions:

Had you heard of the textbook war before?
What did you think of the passage from "Soul on Ice"? Should it be read by senior students headed for college? What about other students?
Who should decide what gets taught in local school districts? How about nationally?
How did Alice Moore and others act appropriately? How about inappropriately?
The KKK and John Birch Society show up a few times this season, often opportunistically. Does their appearance automatically smear all participants as racist?
What else was going on in 1974 that could have escalated the panic of the era?

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Republicans and Evangelicals I The New Deal Jul 09, 2024

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Something had to be done. The Great Depression meant the loss of a vast number of jobs and left families waiting on bread lines. Economists like John Meynard Keynes puzzled over what to do. President Hoover took a laissez-faire approach to the catastrophe, only to have matters get worse. Then Franklin D. Roosevelt came into office and his administration kicked The New Deal into gear. It was a program that offered diverse aid to citizens from protections for money in banks to homeowner assistance.

Many Christian leaders came to hate the New Deal, especially libertarians. Their opposition to the New Deal as creeping socialism sparked the National Prayer Breakfast, some of Billy Graham's speeches, and the bonding of capitalism to Christianity and the US. So we should probably know what the New Deal was!

Our guest on this episode is Justin Rosolino. He's a high school history teacher and the author of the book "Idiot Sojourning Soul".

You can find pictures of Chris' 50-mile New Deal Bike Tour on the website at www.trucepodcast.com.

Helpful Links:

FDR's Inauguration Speech on C-SPAN
Interesting YouTube video about the causes of the Great Depression

Topics Discussed:

What was the Social Gospel?
Who was Franklin Roosevelt?
What was the New Deal?
The Civilian Conservation Corp
The Works Progress Administration
Jenny Lake - Grand Teton National Park
Unemployment

Discussion Questions:

Why do some people dislike the New Deal?
Which of the programs most impacts you?
What do you think of the New Deal? Was it a form of socialism?
Do you think there will ever be another New Deal in the US?

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Republicans and Evangelicals I End of School Prayer Jun 25, 2024

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In 1955, the Board of Regents for New York issued an optional prayer to be used in public schools. It became known as the "Regent's Prayer". Here it is: "“Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers, and our Country.” That short prayer was contested not only by non-religious people but also by Protestants who thought that it was too vague. What God is it talking about? Where is the mention of Jesus or the Holy Spirit, salvation, sin, grace, etc.?

With help from the ACLU, parents sued and the case made it all the way to the US Supreme Court. It was known as Engle v. Vitale. It overturned prescribed prayer in schools. In this episode, Chris goes through the arguments the court and Justice Hugo Black made during this landmark decision. A year later, the Court heard Abington School District v. Schempp, which ended prescribed Bible reading in public schools.

This season we're covering how American evangelicals bonded themselves with the Republican Party. There are a lot of reasons that evangelicals started to vote as a block in the late 70s and early 1980s. They range from women's liberation, changes in attitude toward taxation, and battles over gay and lesbian rights, to education. This is part of our coverage of the education section. This episode has been rewritten and recorded, updating an episode from season 3.

Sources:

"One Nation Under God" by Kevin Kruse
Transcript of Abington School District v Schempp
Census data about public and private schools
Transcript and audio of Engel v Vitale

Discussion Questions:

Did you ever pray in school? What did you pray?
Did you ever read the Bible in school?
Is there an "ideal" prayer that should be read in schools? If so, what is it? What objections might parents have?
Is it important for school children to learn about religions in school?
Do you agree or disagree with Justice Hugo Black?

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Republicans and Evangelicals I Can I Love Extremists? Jun 11, 2024

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It seems like so many people define their faith by what they believe about Donald Trump. How can godly Christians return to the gospel to get us back on track?

In this round table discussion episode, Chris is joined by Pastor Ray McDaniel of First Baptist Church in Jackson, WY and Nick Staron to prepare us for the season.

Topics Discussed:

What is Christianity?
The importance of forgiveness and going to those who are angry with us
Why it is important to cover things like the Watergate scandals of the 1970s in a Christian podcast
The need for humility in our lives
The gospel in 10 words or less

Do you have a gospel message in 10 words or less? Find Truce on social media and let us know!

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Republicans and Evangelicals I Long Southern Strategy (featuring Angie Maxwell) May 28, 2024

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When did Republicans, the party of Abraham Lincoln, start courting the American South? It's a big question! For decades, Republicans were known as the party that helped black people (except, you know, for ending Reconstruction to help gain the White House). Then, with the nomination of Barry Goldwater, the tide turned. Goldwater's team promoted him as a racist when he toured the South. And... he won some ground in the traditionally Democratic region.

So when it came time for Richard Nixon to run in 1968, his team decided to court the South. Not out in public like Goldwater had. Instead, they decided to operate a campaign of "benign neglect" where they would not enforce existing laws meant to protect African-Americans.

Our special guest this week is Angie Maxwell, author of The Long Southern Strategy.

Discussion Questions:

What caused the rift in the Democratic Party that made Strom Thurmond leave (hint: it has to do with Truman)?
What was the Democratic Party like before Truman?
What influence did Strom Thurmond have on Nixon?
Who was Barry Goldwater? How did he change the Republican Party by courting white Southerners?
How might the idea of the South being "benighted" impact them as a people?
Why do so many evangelicals see themselves as "benighted"?

Sources:

"The Long Southern Strategy" by Angie Maxwell and Todd Shields.
"Reaganland" by Rick Perlstein
YouTube clip of Nixon not wanting "Law and Order" to mean "racist"
Nixon talking about "law and order" in a speech
Nixon's campaign ad about protests and tear gas
Article about Nelson Rockefeller
Nixon's civil rights ad
Helpful Time Magazine article
"These Truths" book by Jill Lepore
Bio on Strom Thurmond
Article about Reconstruction
"The Evangelicals" book by Frances Fitzgerald
Truman's speech to the NAACP

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Republicans and Evangelicals I Billy Graham and Nixon May 14, 2024

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Billy Graham, the famous evangelist, was good friends with Richard Nixon. The two played golf and gave each other advice. Graham was the person who encouraged Nixon to run for president a second time. He also encouraged Nixon to regularly attend church, so Nixon started the first regular church service in the White House, only to make it another "it" place to be seen. But when Nixon's crimes were made public, Graham continued to support him, commenting only on the strong language used by the president.

What does it mean for Christian leaders to stand behind a corrupt president? In this episode, Chris interviews David Bruce, a historian at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

NOTE: I thought it was especially important to outline the many crimes of the Nixon administration. Today these crimes are downplayed by bad actors wishing to rewrite history. It is important to emphasize that not only were there immoral acts of shenanigans, there were real crimes perpetrated against individuals, organizations, and the American people.

Sources

"The Surprising Work of God" by Garth M. Rosell
An article from The Atlantic about the Pope and Mussolini
"The Popes Against the Protestants" by Kevin Madigan
NPR interview with Kevin Madigan
"A Prophet With Honor" book by William Martin
"The Invisible Bridge" by Rick Perlstein
"The Evangelicals" by Frances Fitzgerald
"The Failure and the Hope: Essays of Southern Churchmen" book of essays accessed on Google Books
New York Times article about how the Watergate break-in was financed
Pat Buchanan hearings during the Watergate investigation
Frost/Nixon transcript

Discussion Questions:

Was Billy Graham being a good friend by supporting Nixon after Watergate?
Should religious leaders maintain a certain amount of distance between themselves and people of power?
Why do we like to see our governmental leaders as religious people?
Was Nixon's church service in the Whitehouse wrong to be a gathering place of the rich and famous?
How bad was the Watergate break-in? How does it change your mind about Nixon to know about the other criminal activity?

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Republicans and Evangelicals I Harold Ockenga - Can Christians Unite? (featuring Joel Carpenter) Apr 30, 2024

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Harold Ockenga was a famous fundamentalist(ish) pastor from Boston. And he had a problem. Liberal Christians had the ear of the government. That meant that military chaplain positions and free radio time were going to liberals, not conservatives. Why shouldn't conservatives have access to the radio waves like theologically liberal Christians? But that would take unity among evangelicals, or, what he called neo-evangelicals.

Neo-evangelicals were evangelicals who didn't separate from the world. In Ockenga's case, this meant maybe going to the movies or an opera. So he, along with other preachers like Billy Graham, founded the National Association of Evangelicals with the hope of uniting neo-evangelicals under one banner.

It didn't work.

The real story, though, sometimes gets lost. The was a big boom in evangelism in the 1940s as WWII wrapped up. Evangelists targeted the youth with organizations like Campus Crusade for Christ springing up left and right. This boom meant that churches swelled in the 1950s, only to begin their long slide a few decades later.

In this episode, Chris speaks with Joel Carpenter, a senior research fellow at Calvin College and author of "Revive Us Again".

Resources Used:

"Revive Us Again" by Joel Carpenter
"The Evangelicals" by Frances Fitzgerald
"The Surprising Work of God" by Garth Rosell
"Reaganland" by Rick Perlstein
NPS article about the Bonus Army
“After the Ivory Tower Falls” book by Will Bunch
Billy Graham audio
National Association of Evangelicals "The New Treason"
Interviews from Harold Ockenga at Wheaton College

Discussion Questions:

What spurred the revivals of the 1940s?
How has youth evangelism shaped American society?
Why is it important to understand the role that cheap higher education played in shaping the 1960s?
Why did neo-evangelicals feel that they needed access to the radio waves?
Is unity important to the Christian walk?

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Republicans and Evangelicals I Prologue: What Is Biblical? Apr 16, 2024

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Thomas McIntyre stood before the US Congress to deliver a moving speech. The man was being hounded by a fringe movement known as the New Right. The movement came from the work of men like Paul Weyrich, Howard Phillips, and Richard Viguerie. Their goal was to disrupt the Republican Party. They wanted to do away with much of the federal government and program to help the poor while simultaneously cutting taxes and increasing the military. They hoped to accomplish this by controlling direct mail. Direct mail! It sounds silly, but by inundating voters and congressional offices with bulk mail they could control the story.

Men like McIntyre and Senator Mark Hatfield didn't know what to do with this influx of petty politics. Someone had even gone so far as to question Hatfield's Christian salvation just because of how we was going to vote on the Panama Canal treaty. What does giving the Panama Canal back to Panama have to do with salvation? Almost nothing.

Today, we're going to explore this wacky phenomenon where we call something "Christian" or "biblical" if it fits out politics not if it is addressed in the Bible. How are we being manipulated by propaganda like this? And what can we do about it?

Discussion Questions:

Was the United States responsible in its claiming the Panama Canal as a territory?
Are there things in your life that you mix with Christianity?
How have your politics gotten confused with your faith?
Does the Bible have anything to say on the Panama Canal treaty?

Sources:

"Reaganland" book by Rick Perlstein
Handy article on the history of the Panama Canal
Congressional record including the speeches

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Behind the Scenes Bonus Mar 26, 2024

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In this special bonus episode, Truce host Chris Staron walks you through a day in the life of a podcast host. He works about 11 hours per day between this show and his full-time job driving a school bus. Imagine what he could do if he were doing this show full-time!!!!

Chris has worked on Truce for 6 1/2 years and is ready to make the show his main focus. We could make that happen if every listener gave $15 per year!

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Season 6 Trailer Mar 19, 2024

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Season six is almost here! This season we're exploring the backstory of why so many evangelicals turned to the Republican Party in the 1970s and 80s. It's a huge story that involves murder, corruption, greed, taxes, school choice, racism, and a lot of big questions. Special guests include Rick Perlstein, Frances Fitzgerald, Marjorie Spruill, Jesse Eisinger, and so many more.

Subscribe to Truce wherever you get your podcasts, or listen at trucepodcast.com

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Advertising, New Cover Art, Season 6 Update Dec 21, 2023

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Season six is coming along nicely! I'm super busy trying to get it all put together before I start releasing episodes. But I want to also make everyone aware that I'm looking for more advertisers for the show. Want to participate? Visit www.trucepodcast.com/advertise to get started!

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Joseph McCarthy and Roy Cohn (featuring Larry Tye, author of Demagogue) Sep 12, 2023

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Joseph McCarthy was an unexceptional junior congressman from Wisconsin. He grew up brawling in the streets, playing cards, and embellishing his stories. Then, during a Lincoln Day address in 1950, Joseph McCarthy told an audience that he had a list of 205 communists working in the government. Within days, he was a household name.

McCarthy started "investigating" suspected communists in the American government, focusing on the US State Department. Along the way, he brought in a young lawyer named Roy Cohn. Cohn was already known for his work sending Julius and Ethel Rosenberg to the electric chair. Now, he and McCarthy bullied and cajoled during private hearings. Being labeled a communist, or even a suspected communist could ruin a person's career. People committed suicide rather than face their scrutiny.

Their reign lasted four years, ending in the televised broadcasts of the Army-McCarthy hearings in which a lawyer asked if McCarthy had any decency. That was pretty much it for McCarthy. But Roy Cohn went on to have a well-connected career, providing legal services for the mob and Rupert Murdoch, owner of Fox News. He also became a mentor to a young real estate mogul named Donald Trump. Famous people like Andy Warhol attended his birthday party at Studio 54. Cohn died of AIDS, something that was killing gay men rapidly in the 1980s, though he denied he ever had it.

This is the story of two men allowed to prey on the fears of the American people for their own gain. One fell hard, the other found himself fighting against his own people.

In this episode, Chris interviews Larry Tye, author of the book "Demagogue". He's also the author of "Satchel: The Life and Times of an American Legend" and "Bobby Kennedy: The Making of a Liberal Icon".

Sources:

"Demagogue" by Larry Tye
Helpful article about the Rosenbergs
Article about Klaus Fuchs
McCarthy's speech in Wheeling, WV
New York Times, February 23, 1954. Pages 16-17 “Transcript of General Zwicker's Testimony Before the McCarthy Senate Subcommittee”
Video from Army-McCarthy hearings (forward to the last 20 minutes if you want to jump to the stuff I used)
The guest list for Roy Cohn's birthday at Studio 54

Discussion Questions:

Why do we love demagogues?
Who are other demagogues in American history?
The threat of communists in the government in the 1950s is sometimes downplayed. Do you think it was a real concern?
McCarthy ran for Congress in an illegal way while still in the Marines. How do you feel about that?
Roy Cohn sometimes went against his own people, claiming that gay people did not deserve equal rights. What might have been his motivation?
Do you see any crossover between McCarthy, Cohn, and Donald Trump?
Cohn died of AIDs in the 1980s when the disease was at its peak. Why might he have wanted to keep his illness a secret?

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Love Thy Neighborhood - Where the Gospel Meets Artificial Intelligence Aug 29, 2023

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The Love Thy Neighborhood podcast is really well produced. But they also take deep dives into some of the things going on in modern Christianity that I can't cover on Truce. They are a good supplement to the stuff we cover on this feed. So we thought... why not share each other's show?

In this bonus episode, you'll hear Chris talking with Anna Tran and Jesse Eubanks about their episode "Where the Gospel Meets Artificial Intelligence". It is a look into the ways in which AI may someday try to gain ground in the spiritual realm. Also, they do an interview with TikTok evangelist York Moore who uses that medium to share the gospel. I was especially interested in the ways in which AI chatbots are building false relationships with people, taking the place of human interactions.

They cover a lot of ground! Let them know that you heard about their show from the Truce Podcast!

Season six starts in just a few months, but I will be launching a bonus episode in a few weeks. Subscribe so you get every new episode as it's released.

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Season 6 Update Jul 04, 2023

Season 5 of the Truce Podcast was a blast! I'm hard at work on season 6, which will discuss how American evangelicals got tied to the Republican Party. It is already coming together so well! I can't wait to share it with you.

God willing, season 6 will drop in the fall or early winter of 2023.

Like, subscribe, sign up for the email list, and remember the show in your prayers!

Godspeed!

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Takeaway #5 - The Only Thing We Have to Fear Jun 13, 2023

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On March 4, 1933, FDR delivered his inaugural address. In it, he used the phrase "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself". I did a little searching and this phrase is used a LOT in Christian books. So often. But it almost always refers to the fear one person has in their heart. In reality, it is a comment on collective fear. The Great Depression started in 1929 and was exacerbated by a bank run in which Americans lost faith in the value of our currency and the banking systems.

That is an important distinction. FDR's speech is about collective fear. As I've contemplated the modernist/fundamentalist debate this season, I keep returning to the idea of fear, not in the US economy but in God's economy. He commands us to love the Lord, keep His commands, love our neighbors, turn the other cheek, and give to those who ask of us. Why do we forget to do this important work? Could it be because we've lost faith in God's economy?

This episode features a clip from my discussion with Jacob Goldstein, former host of NPR's Planet Money podcast and the current host of Pushkin's What's Your Problem? podcast. His book is Money: The True Story of a Made-up Thing.

Select Sources

FDR's Inaugural Address
Jacob Goldstein's Money: The True Story of a Made-Up Thing
Movie: It's a Wonderful Life

Discussion Questions:

Why does it matter that FDR's quote "...the only thing we have to fear is fear itself" is a collective statement and not one about individual fear?
What are some identifying features of God's economy?
Do you trust in the way that God tells us to do things?
When was the last time you prayed for someone who you don't like?
Do you believe in turning the other cheek?

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Takeaway #4 - We Are A People of the Means May 30, 2023

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"The ends justify the means" is a phrase we hear occasionally. Often it is used to justify bad behavior, so long as it creates a profitable outcome. But we Christians know that we are called to live righteous lives. Are we people of the ends, or should we be known as a people of the means?

Chris is joined this week by Pastor Ray McDaniel of First Baptist Church in Jackson, WY, and his twin brother Nick Staron to discuss this important issue.

Discussion Questions:

What does "the ends justify the means" mean?
How have you seen that philosophy played out?
Is that something you believe?
How would things change if we focused more on the way we do things instead of our goals?
How have fundamentalists justified their goals with poor behavior? How have modernists?

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Takeaway #3 - The Great Divorce May 16, 2023

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In 1945, C.S. Lewis published his excellent book "The Great Divorce". It happens to be one of my favorite books. It has many themes, the biggest of which is that there can be no hell in heaven. The two are divorced from each other (hence the title). Another is that humans are easily distracted from God's work and the gospel.

This season I've been telling the backstory of Christian fundamentalism. I think many of us have been distracted from the gospel because of politics or the people around us. If you were joined by a loved one who passed away or an angel who challenged you to walk to heaven, would you? What distracts you from following Jesus? From really going for it?

Special thanks to my improv troupe (Nick, Josh, and Jackie) who helped with voices. Additional vocal work came from Paul Hastings from the "Compelled" podcast and Jerry Dugan from "Beyond the Rut". Give their shows a listen and let me know what you think!

Sources:

The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis (though I only used some concepts)

Discussion Questions:

What distracts you from following God?
Are you tied too strongly to things? Safety? Your family? Your job? Your identity? Your politics?
What books do you read over and over again? Why?
How can a person's own love of intellectualism be a distraction? How can we have compassion?

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Takeaway #2 - Extremes Lead to Extremes May 02, 2023

In the fall of 1814, the powers of Europe gathered together to discuss what to do with the continent after the Napoleonic Wars. Napoleon had changed a lot in his time in power! He cowed the Roman Catholic Church, ended serfdom where he went, freed Jews from their ghettos, took away kingdoms, and placed new kings in charge. The Congress of Vienna was tasked with a Humpty Dumpty scenario and they couldn't put Europe back together again.

The various countries also wanted to be compensated for their efforts to stop Napoleon. Couldn't they take a little piece of land? Encroach on one of the lesser kingdoms? Install their own puppet governments? In trying to undo all of the changes Napoleon made, they became little Napoleons themselves.

In the same way, when we confront extremism with extremism we become exactly what we dislike. Shouldn't Christians be more focused on simple righteousness than culture wars?

Select Sources:

The Rites of Peace by Adam Zamoyski
Napoleon: A Life by Andrew Roberts (a great place to start if you want to learn about Napoleon)

Discussion Questions:

What was the Congress of Vienna?
Why did the congress matter?
Have you ever served God to the point where it cost you something big to do so?
How have you seen the modern Church become what it opposes?
Have you seen Christians or churches act in a righteous way?

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Takeaway #1 - How Should We Deal With Heretics? Apr 18, 2023

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The first-century Christian Church had a lot going on. Their Savior died and was resurrected, sending the Holy Spirit and leaving them with the command to take this new message to all tribes and tongues. The book of Acts records some of their travels, as they went all over the known world with this good news. But they were not the only people evangelizing. So were the gnostics. Gnosticism takes a lot of different shapes. It was a belief system that challenged Christianity, even as some tried to incorporate elements into the faith.

Now consider modernist theology - what we've been talking about all season. It is a belief system that doesn't believe in the miracles or the divinity of Jesus. To evangelicals of the 1800s and 1900s, this was a real threat. Like Gnosticism before it, modernism threatened to destabilize the gospel message. What to do?

In this bonus episode, Chris takes a look at 1-3 John to see what they have to say about dealing with heresy.

Chris is hard at work on season 6! He'll be presenting these short episodes in the meantime to recap some of the themes of season 5.

Discussion Questions:

If you were alive in the mid-1800s and saw modernism rising, what would you do?
Do you think modernism is a heresy?
How should Christians today deal with heresy?
What did the fundamentalists get right and how did they mess up when approaching heresy?

Selected Source Materials:

1-3 John
"The Early Church" by Henry Chadwick

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Inherit the Wind | Christian Fundamentalism Series Mar 21, 2023

US Senator Joseph McCarthy unleashed an era of suspicion on the American people as he went looking for communists. His trials, both public and behind closed doors, focused on the government as well as Hollywood and the Army. He claimed that he had lists of communists, but failed to produce that list. It wasn't until the Army-McCarthy hearings in the spring and summer of 1954 that his unfounded hearings were put to rest.

One year later the play Inherit the Wind opened. It was supposed to be a critique of the McCarthy era set inside of a re-telling of the Scopes "monkey" trial. In doing so, it got many of the facts wrong. John Scopes never spent any time in jail. He didn't have a girlfriend, and that girlfriend was not berated on the stand. The townspeople of Dayton, TN were welcoming to both Bryan and Darrow.

To explore this work of art and revisionist history I spoke with the hosts of the Seeing and Believing podcast Kevin McLenithan and Sarah Welch-Larson.

Select differences between the Scopes trial and Inherit the Wind

John Scopes was arrested but never spent time in jail.
He was "arrested" in a soda fountain where the test trial was conceived and not in school.
Scopes later claimed he never taught evolution, which is why he never took the stand in real life.
The entire case was set up as a publicity stunt to bring attention to the town of Dayton, TN. They got the idea when they saw an ad placed by the ACLU.
The character of Rachel did not exist in real life.
The people of Dayton were welcoming to both Darrow and Bryan and Scopes was loved by many. He even spent time swimming with the prosecution between trial sessions.
The moment when Bryan was on trial was held outdoors.
H.L. Mencken was not some loveable curmudgeon. He was an anti-semite and a racist.
Dayton largely did not vote for Bryan when he ran for president.
Bryan died a few days after the trial, not while in the courtroom.
Darrow did not carry a copy of the Bible and Darwin out of the courtroom.
The textbook in question during the trial was clearly pro-eugenics, was sold in the soda fountain, and had been approved by the state textbook committee.
The preachers of the town were kind. The odd sermon given the night of the trial never happened and the script adds a lot of strange things that are not in the Bible.
Bryan wished the law to have no penalty, unlike his stand-in in the movie who hoped for a harsher punishment.

Sources

Inherit the Wind (1960 version) starring Spencer Tracy
Summer for the Gods by Edward Larson
Chris' own visit to the Dayton museum dedicated to the trial
Helpful video about the Napoleon painting

Discussion Questions:

Where is the line between art and propaganda?
Does art have an obligation to the truth?
Do you see McCarthyism in Inherit the Wind?
Is Inherit the Wind a fair way of discussing the Scopes trial, or a work of revisionist history? Why does it matter?
What would it mean for a group that feels maligned and misunderstood to have a film misrepresent them?

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The Scopes "Monkey" Trial Part Two | Christian Fundamentalism Series Mar 07, 2023

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The trial was basically over. The prosecution won. John Scopes was moments away from being convicted of teaching evolution in Dayton, Tennessee. The ACLU and the prosecution had what they wanted. But Clarence Darrow did not. He wanted to make a monkey out of William Jennings Bryan, the famous "fundamentalist". But how?

Darrow knew that if he turned down the chance to make a closing argument that Bryan would not be able to make one either. That meant that Bryan's carefully crafted words would never get heard. But he had one more trick up his sleeve. He would call Bryan, the lawyer for the prosecution, to the stand. Imagine that! The case was no longer about the defendant. It was about the lawyers trying to flex.

Bryan took the bait. He got on the stand outdoors next to the Rhea County Courthouse in front of an audience of millions. Darrow, in a masterstroke, hit him over and over with the questions of any village atheist. Did Jonah really get swallowed by a large fish? Did the sun really stand still because Joshua prayed that it would? And Bryan... floundered on live radio.

This event was made even more famous by the long-running play Inherit the Wind on broadway, which was followed up by a movie adaptation. But the play got it all wrong. Edward Larson, professor at Pepperdine University, and author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book Summer for the Gods, joins Chris to uncover what really happened on that muggy summer day.

Helpful Sources:

"Summer for the Gods" by Edward Larson
Rhea County Heritage and Scopes Trial Museum Worth a visit!
Court Transcript of the Scopes Trial (easy to find online)
"A Godly Hero" by Michael Kazin

Discussion Questions:

Bryan believed in majoritarianism. What is that idea? What do you think of it?
Do you think Bryan should have gotten on the stand? Why or why not?
How did Bryan do on the stand in your opinion?
Does this court case matter in your understanding of fundamentalism?
How and when should Christians make stands for their beliefs? When should we stay quiet?

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The Scopes "Monkey" Trial Part One | Christian Fundamentalism Series Feb 21, 2023

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Tennessee was the first state in the United States to crack down hard on the teaching of evolution in public schools. Others had dabbled, but Tennessee went all the way. The ACLU wanted to challenge the validity of the case in the courts. In order to do that they needed an educator to teach it, get busted, and be brought to trial.

At the same time, the town of Dayton, TN needed a boost. After the biggest employer closed down it faced serious economic trouble. What if the men of Dayon could manufacture a court case to draw the attention of the nation? They found a young teacher named John Scopes and convinced him to participate in their scheme. They booked Scopes, even though he probably never taught evolution. The ACLU had its case.

Soon William Jennings Bryan and Clarence Darrow hopped on board and it went from a publicity stunt to something for the history books. This is the event that some historians (wrongly) point to as the death of Christian fundamentalism in the United States until it was revived by the Moral Majority. One man fighting for the biblical idea of creation and another for godless atheism. But the real history is far more complex.

Edward Larson, professor at Pepperdine University, joins us to discuss the trial and his Pulitzer Prize-winning book "Summer for the Gods".

Helpful Sources:

"Summer for the Gods" by Edward Larson
Rhea County Heritage and Scopes Trial Museum Worth a visit!
Court Transcript of the Scopes Trial (easy to find online)
"A Godly Hero" by Michael Kazin

Discussion Questions:

What events led to the Scopes trial?
Why did the ACLU feel they had to try the Tennessee Law?
Who should decide what is taught in schools? Teachers? Parents? Lawmakers? Or some combination?
What were William Jennings Bryan's motives for joining the prosecution?
What were Clarence Darrow's motives for joining the defense?
Should prayer be allowed before a trial about religion?
Should Christians get involved in what is taught in schools? To what degree?

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Are All Christians Anti-Evolution? | Christian Fundamentalism Series Feb 07, 2023

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In the 1600s, an Irish Archbishop named James Ussher did a bunch of math. The Bible is full of numbers and genealogies. He sat down and calculated that, in his opinion, the Bible dated creation at 4004 BC. According to Ussher, that is when God created man. That number has really stuck around!

I gathered my small group together to explore the Adams Synchronological Chart. It is a 23-foot-long timeline of human history, beginning in 4004 BC and ending in 1900. There it was! The 4004 BC number! Which brings up an interesting question, right? What did Christians really believe about evolution just before it became a linchpin battle for fundamentalists?

I turned to Edward Larson for answers. He's a professor at Pepperdine University and the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book "Summer for the Gods". The book chronicles the Scopes "Monkey" trial that we'll be covering in the next two episodes. But it also gives us a great introductory look at what Christians believed about evolution in the build-up to the trial.

It turns out that evangelical Christians and even fundamentalists were all over the place when it came to ideas of evolution. Many Christians, like William Jennings Bryan, believed in an old earth and even some forms of evolution. But they thought that it was God who caused that evolution. Charles Darwin, though, said that evolution was a matter of chance adaptations, thus cutting God out of the equation. Fundamentalists like Bryan were determined to stop the spread of Darwinian evolution for that very reason. They believed that if young people were taught that they were the result of grand mistakes then what reason did they have to treat each other with respect? To be good citizens?

Helpful Sources

"Summer for the Gods" by Edward Larson
"A Godly Hero" by Michael Kazin
"The Birth of a Nation" on YouTube
Article about James Ussher and his burial in Westminster Abbey
Helpful article about Lamarck
"The Evangelicals" by Francis Fitzgerald
More about Henry Ford's Anti-Semitism
An interesting article about "The Birth of a Nation"

Discussion Questions:

How did Cuvier and Lamarck differ in their ideas about evolution?
Do you believe in a young or old earth?
Do you believe in some evolution, macro-evolution, or no evolution at all?
What is the best way to oppose an idea?
When should we propose laws to combat ideas we don't like and when should we allow others to believe what they like?
Do you think the fundamentalists were right to combat teaching evolution in schools?
Now that you know about Bryan's failure to call out the KKK, what do you think of him?
"Birth of a Nation" shaped American views about black people. Are there more modern films and series that have shaped society in similar ways? Or changed public opinion in other ways?

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Leopold and Loeb | Christian Fundamentalism Series Jan 24, 2023

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Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb were wealthy young men in the early 1920s. They lived in big homes in Chicago and had world-class educations. They were both pushed hard academically, and Richard was sexually abused as a child. Both graduated early from high school and college. The two were an odd pairing. Nathan was quiet and awkward, not particularly handsome. Richard was gregarious and outgoing, good-looking... and a psychopath.

Nathan loved Richard, and the two sometimes had sex with each other. Richard realized he could control Nathan by trading intimacy for criminal activity. They started with typical juvenile delinquent behavior. Soon, though, Richard wanted more. He considered himself a master criminal, someone too smart to get caught. He and Nathan were exposed to the ideas of Friedrich Nietzsche. Nietzsche wrote that the ultimate purpose of humanity was to evolve into what he called the ubermensch or superman. Leopold and Loeb thought they were that evolved human. Therefore, they should be able to plot and execute the murder of a young boy without ever getting caught.

Only, they were so bad at it that it took very little time to pin it on them. Only the brilliance of Clarence Darrow, the country's most prominent defense attorney, could save their lives.

In this episode, we're joined by Candace Fleming. She's the author of the book Murder Among Friends about the crime.

The version of Also Sprach Zarathustra used in this episode is courtesy of the Creative Commons License and was produced by Kevin MacLeod.

Sources:

Murder Among Friends by Candace Fleming
Helpful article on the Houston Symphony's website about Also Sprach Zarathustra
Article about what Nietzsche meant by "God is dead"
Full text of Also Sprach Zarathustra
Helpful video about Nietzsche's work
Smithsonian article about Leopold and Loeb
William Jennings Bryan's closing arguments of the Scopes trial
Clarence Darrow's closing arguments of the Leopold and Loeb trial

Discussion Questions:

Now that you know what the song Also Sprach Zarathustra is about, does it change your opinion of the piece?
Do you think Nietzsche was right to worry about what would happen after Christianity took a back seat to world events? What should have been our response?
With this little bit we covered about Nietzsche today, what do you think of his work? Can you see why it makes Chris nervous just to mention it in an episode?
Do you see the connection between evolution and superman?
Were people like Darrow and Bryan right to be concerned about young people learning Nietzsche's philosophy?

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Eugenics (Featuring Paul Lombardo) | Christian Fundamentalism Series Jan 10, 2023

Eugenics. It's one of those words that gets thrown around these days, often by people accusing "the other side" of wrongdoing. But what is eugenics?

I invited law professor Paul Lombardo, author of "Three Generations, No Imbeciles", to join me to try to answer that very question. It turns out that that question is harder to answer than you'd think. In the early 1900s, the word "eugenic" was often used to mean "pure" or to imply that a product was healthy for babies. But that word also extended into segregating certain populations from society and forced sterilizations.

It is important to understand the history of eugenics because some Christians use the fear of eugenics as a lens to understand the Scopes "Monkey" trial. I think that is an accurate connection, but we really should understand it. Did William Jennings Bryan support eugenics? Can Christians support eugenics? Many did. There were even competitions that rewarded pastors for writing pro-eugenics sermons. That was especially true for liberal pastors.

In this episode, we attempt to answer some tough questions. I hope you enjoy it!

Helpful Sources:

"Three Generations, No Imbeciles" by Paul Lombardo
"Preaching Eugenics" by Christine Rosen
"Summer for the Gods" by Edward Larson
An article from Smithsonian Magazine about Herbert Spencer
Paul's article about William Jennings Bryan's support of the WCTU and eugenics
CDC article about syphilis
Helpful article about the immigration act
Helpful Focus on the Family article about how some Christians don't believe that the sins of the father carry over
Washington Post article about the "welfare queen" of the Reagan era

Discussion Questions:

What is eugenics?
How did the term "eugenics" differ in the early 1900s from today?
Are you in favor of eugenics? Why or why not?
How is eugenics tied to evolution? How is it not?
Do Christians have a responsibility to play when it comes to protecting people with special needs?
What can we do to help those with special needs?

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Christmas 2022 Dec 20, 2022

Truce will be back on January 10th! Chris is working through the whole break in order to prepare for his big presentation in front of his church. He's trying to get Truce fully funded for 2023.

New episodes are already done, but he's trying to create a little cushion of extra episodes in case of emergencies. Thanks for your support of the show!!!

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The Battle for the Presbyterian Soul | Christian Fundamentalism Series Dec 06, 2022

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Harry Emerson Fosdick had a certain reputation. He was the theological "bad boy" of modernist theology when he stood at a lectern in the 1920s and delivered his famous sermon "Shall the Fundamentalists Win?". He was in New York City. One preacher, preaching one sermon. But this one talk spread all over the country and created real upset. Could modernist theology win in the Northern Presbyterian denomination?

J. Grescham Machen didn't think it should. He was a fundamentalist and wrote in response to Fosdick's sermon. But how does one keep out heresy?

The fundamentalists decided to call in a big-name Christian celebrity -- William Jennings Bryan. He was on a cross-country crusade to stop the teaching of evolution in public schools. Not because he didn't believe in science. He did. The problem that Bryan saw with teaching evolution in school was the cruelty that humanity would express if they believed they were nothing more than animals.

The battle between liberal and conservative Christians was a public one. William Jennings Bryan and Harry Emerson Fosdick wrote competing articles in The New York Times. Would it cause a split in the Northern Presbyterian denomination?

Sources for this episode:

"Fundamentalism and American Culture" by George Marsden
"The Evangelicals" by Frances Fitzgerald
"A Godly Hero" by Michael Kazin
Articles about Fosdick on Christianity Today and the Gospel Coalition
Fosdick's sermon
Machen's response
Westminster Confession of Faith

Discussion Questions:

What do you think are the basic beliefs required to call something "Christianity"?
What if someone does not believe those things but still calls themselves a Christian?
Does it matter when people try to use a word to describe themselves that does not apply to them?
What is to be our response when we encounter someone who spreads false doctrine?

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Mr. Fundamentalist | Christian Fundamentalism Series Nov 22, 2022

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So far this season I've covered William Jennings Bryan, a man who enjoyed the nickname "Mr. Fundamentalist". But he wasn't really a fundamentalist. Experts point to another man as the true face of fundamentalism. That man was William Bell Riley. He was a famous preacher in his day, bouncing around the midwest until he settled in Minnesota. He founded the Northwestern schools to spread his vision of Christianity and picked debates with modernists at the University of Chicago. He formed the World's Christian Fundamentals Association to help deliver denominations from modernism.

But... he lost. A bunch.

In this episode we explore the life of William Bell Riley to discover why he and the fundamentalists burned brightly, only to fizzle out a few years later.

Helpful Links:

God's Empire by William Vance Trollinger
Minnesota History article about Riley
New Hampshire Confession
Fundamentalism and American Culture by George Marsden
The Evangelicals by Frances Fitzgerald

Discussion Questions:

How should we react to heresy?
Do you look for strong leaders like William Bell Riley or do you prefer calm leaders? Why?
Do you have a creed you live by? Does your church profess one? Why or why not?
How do Bible schools shape our world? Have they impacted your life or the lives of friends?
Riley and his friends lost in part because they were all trying to be leaders. Do you think you could submit to the leadership of others? If so, who?

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World War One I Christian Fundamentalism Series Nov 08, 2022

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Send checks to:

Truce Media LLC

PO Box 3434

Jackson, WY 83001

The modernish/ fundamentalist controversy was heating up in the early 1900s. Conservatives saw this coming a long way off but could not stop modernism from taking control of seminaries and popular pulpits. It was everywhere. It all came to a head with WWI.

Theological conservatives saw WWI as evidence that the world was getting worse. To them, it was a chance to fight for patriotic reasons. Modernists were also pro-war because they thought this was the "war to end all wars". There would be no more war after this and democracy would take over the world. The liberals fired the first shots in this theological battle because they thought that premillennialism encouraged people to root for the end of the world.

William Jennings Bryan was Secretary of State in the US during this time and did his best to keep us out of the war.

This episode features the voices of George Marsden (author of "Fundamentalism and American Culture") and Michael Kazin, professor at Georgetown University and author of "What it Took to Win".

Sources:

Fundamentalism and American Culture by George Marsden
The Evangelicals by Frances Fitzgerald
A Godly Hero by Michael Kazin
What it Took to Win by Michael Kazin
These Truths by Jill Lepore
To End All Wars by Adam Hochschild
Dead Wake by Erik Larson (about The Lusitania)
Woodrow Wilson's second inauguration
Short article about Billy Sunday

Discussion Questions:

What was the purpose of WWI? What caused it?
Would you have been for or against the war in the 1900s?
How can pre and post-millenniallism shape a person's view of the world? Does it have to?
How does social Darwinism tie into WWI and WWII?
Is WWI an outcome of changing morality?
How would you tell a large audience of Christians to adapt to changing morality?

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Exciting News About the Future! Nov 01, 2022

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Walter Rauschenbusch and the Great Reversal | Christian Fundamentalism Series Oct 25, 2022

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Walter Rauscenbush published his classic book Christianity and the Social Crisis in 1907. It went on to become a defining work of the social gospel movement. We've spent a lot of time talking about the social gospel this season. That is because it has been identified by historians as the key movement that fundamentalists rebelled against. So we really should understand it, right?

In this episode, Chris takes us through highlights of this classic book in order to understand how the social gospel differed from evangelical Christianity. While it lifted up the necessity of doing good works, the social gospel often omitted salvation altogether. Contrast that to evangelical preachers like D.L. Moody who lived their lives with the sole purpose of evangelism.

This division between evangelicalism and liberal theologies led to the Great Reversal when theologically conservative Christians went from participating in public acts of goodwill to distancing themselves from it.

Breakdown of points made from Christianity and the Social Crisis

Rauschenbush's thoughts on socialism (p152)
Theories on prophets of the Old Testament creating Judaism - p3 - 5
Amos and Jeremiah denied that God ever told them to sacrifice - p6
Morality is the only thing God cares about - p6
God is interested in the morality of the nation over the individual - p11, 29
The Bible has been altered when it comes to the stories of Jesus - p62-63
Wealth is associated with the wicked in the Bible - p13
Jewish people distributed land in communistic ways - p14
John the Baptist and Jesus both wanted to restore theocracy to Israel - p53
Rauschenbush's ideas about how industry chews people up - p370
Socialism is inevitable - outside link page 153

Discussion Questions:

What is Christianity?
How much of Christianity can you remove before it becomes something else?
Why are we so split between those of us who think of good works and those of us who think of salvation?
What is the role of Christians in society?
Now that you've decided on the role of Christians in society, how do you match up with your own expectations?

Select Sources:

Google Books version of Christianity and the Social Crisis
Fundamentalism and American Culture by George Marsden
More on the ship of Theseus

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The Fundamentals | Christian Fundamentalism Series Oct 11, 2022

Between 1910 and 1915 a collection of 90 essays was distributed by two wealthy oil magnates. These essays attempted to nail down the basics of the Christian faith and counteract the growing modernist movement. "The Fundamentals" is often mentioned in history books about Christian fundamentalism, but it is rare for anyone to discuss the essays themselves. So I thought we should break down at least 6 of them together!

I'm joined this episode by some good friends to introduce you to "The Fundamentals". This influential time capsule document takes us inside the proto-fundamentalist movement, just before it really took off.

Discussion Questions:

What would you include in your own list of fundamentals?
Is creationism fundamental? What is the role of evolution in our modern theology?
The fear of evolution wasn't just about people thinking we'd come from chimps. It also revolved around concerns of people applying evolution to other areas of life. How have you seen evolution applied to other studies?
Is the Bible inerrant? What does that mean?
Have you read the full Bible yourself? Why or why not?

Essays we read:

“My Experience With the Higher Criticism” by JJ Reeve
"The Deity of Christ" by BB Warfield
“The Certainty and Importance of the Bodily Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the Dead” by Reuben Torrey
“Science and Christian Faith” by James Orr
“Evolutionism in the Pulpit” by “An Occupant of the Pew”

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The Scofield Reference Bible | Christian Fundamentalism Series Sep 27, 2022

What kind of Bible do you have?

Most of us would answer with the translation we carry. Maybe it's New Living, the King James, or the New International Version. I've heard plenty of conversations about translations in my life. But I've never heard a serious discussion about the notes in various Bibles.

Continuing our long exploration of the Christian fundamentalist movement, we explore the Bible version that nudged the United States toward a particular negative theology. One that encouraged people to question the trajectory of history itself. That was one of the purposes of the Scofield Reference Bible, named for its author C.I. Scofield.

The Scofield Reference Bible emphasizes the premillennial dispensationalist theology we've been talking about all season. It expects that world history is sliding into chaos. That was not the primary view in the late 1800s and early 1900s in the US. Most people thought that humanity could improve things until Jesus returned. This Bible is one of the things that changed that.

Special thanks to Nick, Melanie, Hannah, Marc, and Marian for their help with this episode!

Discussion Questions:

What kind of Bible do you have? Why did you choose it?
What agenda does your Bible have?
What audience is it intended for?
Who wrote your Bible notes?
Flip to Genesis 1 and Revelation 1. What position does it take on creationism? The end of the world?
Have you ever considered the origins of your study notes?

How do you feel about us having so many different targeted Bibles?

Select Sources for this Episode:

The History of the Scofield Reference Bible by Arno C. Gaebelein
The Evangelicals by Frances Fitgerald
Fundamentalism and American Culture by George Marsden
Article on Lyman Stewart who financed this Bible
A Godly Hero by Michael Kazin
Isaiah 37
A Christianity Today article about the changes made to the Scofield Bible (material not used for the episode, but still interesting)
The Scofield Reference Bible (1945 edition)
The MacArthur Study Bible
The Founders Bible
The Battlefield of the Mind Bible

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The Treaties of William Jennings Bryan | Christian Fundamentalism Series Sep 13, 2022

William Jennings Bryan.

If we know him at all it is from the Scopes Monkey Trial at the end of his life. Or maybe we know of his 3 failed campaigns for President of the United States on the Democratic ticket. But many of us are unaware of his efforts to establish world peace. William Jennings Bryan hated war. He wasn't a pacifist - he enlisted for the Spanish-American War after all. But he saw the meaningless carnage of war and vowed to do his best to reduce the amount of bloodshed.

So "The Commoner" used his position as Secretary of State under President Wilson to establish 30 peace treaties. In this mini-episode, we revisit his career and talk about the impact this man might have had if WWI hadn't slowed his progress.

God-willing I'll be back soon with a full episode! Thanks for your patience!

Helpful Sources:

"A Godly Hero" book by Michael Kazin
"A Righteous Cause" book by Robert Cherny
"The Evangelicals" by Frances Fitgerald
"Money: The True Story of a Made Up Thing" by Jacob Goldstein
"What's Your Problem?" podcast from Pushkin Industries, hosted by Jacob Goldstein

Discussion Questions:

William Jennings Bryan was the head of the party of Jim Crow. Do his actions to stop imperialism or war shape how you feel about him?
Would a conciliation treaty policy work today?
Is world peace a worthy goal today? What role do weapons play in that?
How might this tie into fundamentalism?

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Looking Backward | Christian Fundamentalism Series Aug 30, 2022

Now that we've read In His Steps together and discussed it, let's talk about another work of fiction. Looking Backward was written by Edward Bellamy. That name may sound familiar! We talked about his cousin Frances Bellamy in the episode about the Pledge of Allegiance. Frances was a Christian socialist. Edward wrote his famous book looking forward to the year 2000. He predicted that the United States would be a socialist paradise. People would work hard, retire early, and equality would reign.

None of that came true.

We're talking about it today in order to understand the zeitgeist in the late 1800s. This book sold over half a million copies in its first few years of publication. It is now over a million copies. That doesn't happen without stirring something in society. As we'll see, socialism was tied to the Social Gospel. The opposition to the Social Gospel is what would go on to create the Christian fundamentalist movement.

Helpful Links:

What's the Difference Between Communism and Socialism? - Episode of Truce from season 3
A helpful New York Times article about Looking Backward

Discussion Questions:

How have fictional books you've read impacted your worldview?
What do you think about Bellamy's predictions?
How does the fear of socialism and communism impact evangelicalism?
What real threats were facing evangelicalism in the 1800s? How about now?

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In His Steps Discussion Aug 16, 2022

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We've been reading the book "In His Steps" together for the last few weeks. It was written by Charles Sheldon, a man whose book is often associated with the social gospel movement. While some historians struggle over the significance of this work, it's pretty plain how it fits this movement.

I invited patrons of the show to listen early and then discuss their thoughts on this controversial book.

What did you think about the audiobook? Should I record other books this same way?

Discussion Questions:

Did you enjoy "In His Steps"? Why or why not?
How do you think women were portrayed in "In His Steps"?
What do you think about the Home Economics movement?
How did you see the social gospel in the book?
Is the book evangelistic? At which points? If not, why not?
Does Christian media need to be "heavy handed"?

Recommended Resources:

In His Steps by Charles Sheldon
The Secret History of Home Economics

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In His Steps (part 3) Aug 02, 2022

This is part 3 of an audiobook presented on Truce. Please start at part 1!

Become a patron of the show to keep more content like this coming your way!

In His Steps by Charles Sheldon is a classic of Christian fiction. It is also one of the top-selling Christian books of all time. We've been running through the history of Christian fundamentalism this season. It's worth noting that fundamentalism was a reaction to liberal theology, especially modernism. Another form of liberal theology was the "Social Gospel". It was a movement led by people like Walter Rauschenbusch that emphasized the socially conscious aspects of Christianity, while simultaneously downplaying evangelism.

Christian fundamentalists did not like the Social Gospel. For one thing, it had a positive view of human progress. It said that the world could get better and better and then Jesus would return. Christian fundamentalists generally think that world history trends downward.

I'm presenting this original audio recording for many reasons. I think this book offers a great window into the era in which it was created (the late 1800s). It also represents the Social Gospel and a slice of the Holiness movement quite well. Finally, I think we need to hear this story in our modern context. Modern Christian churches are divided. What would happen if we dared to ask "What Would Jesus Do?"

Things to track as you listen:

The role of women in this society
Wealthy attitudes toward the poor
The genesis of financial woes in this book is sometimes economic crisis (the late 1800s was full of panics and recessions) and sometimes sin based
The Holiness movement and those who object to it
Is this book evangelistic? If so, how is the gospel presented? If not, what does this book leave out?
The overall positive view of human progress
Social movements like the pure foods movement, temperance, suffrage, anti-gambling

In His Steps resides in the public domain, but this recording is copyrighted in 2022 by Truce Media LLC.

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In His Steps (part 2) Jul 26, 2022

This is the second part of the series. Please start with part 1.

In His Steps by Charles Sheldon is a classic of Christian fiction. It is also one of the top-selling Christian books of all time. We've been running through the history of Christian fundamentalism this season. It's worth noting that fundamentalism was a reaction to liberal theology, especially modernism. Another form of liberal theology was the "Social Gospel". It was a movement led by people like Walter Rauschenbusch that emphasized the socially conscious aspects of Christianity, while simultaneously downplaying evangelism.

Christian fundamentalists did not like the Social Gospel. For one thing, it had a positive view of human progress. It said that the world could get better and better and then Jesus would return. Christian fundamentalists generally think that world history trends downward.

I'm presenting this original audio recording for many reasons. I think this book offers a great window into the era in which it was created (the late 1800s). It also represents the Social Gospel and a slice of the Holiness movement quite well. Finally, I think we need to hear this story in our modern context. Modern Christian churches are divided. What would happen if we dared to ask "What Would Jesus Do?"

Things to track as you listen:

The role of women in this society
Wealthy attitudes toward the poor
The genesis of financial woes in this book is sometimes economic crisis (the late 1800s was full of panics and recessions) and sometimes sin based
The Holiness movement and those who object to it
Is this book evangelistic? If so, how is the gospel presented? If not, what does this book leave out?
The overall positive view of human progress
Social movements like the pure foods movement, temperance, suffrage, anti-gambling

In His Steps resides in the public domain, but this recording is copyrighted in 2022 by Truce Media LLC.

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Bonus Episode - In His Steps Jul 22, 2022

Want more Truce? Give a little bit each month and you'll gain access to a patrons-only Zoom event!

We'll be getting together to discuss "In His Steps" and answer listener questions. This event is open to anyone who gives $10/month or more on Patreon.

Link: https://www.patreon.com/trucepodcast

Event details: Tuesday August 9, 2022 at 8pm EST/7pm CST/ 6pm MT/ 5pm PST. Zoom link will be posted on Patreon for those who give $10/month or more.

If you cannot give to help the show, but still really want to participate, please get in touch with @trucepodcast on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook and Chris will try to squeeze you in.

Potential discussion topics:

How "In His Steps" ties into the Holiness and Social Gospel movements
What is the role of the female characters in this book?
The role of wealth and poverty in the story
What this book means to us
Is "In His Steps" an evangelistic book?

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In His Steps (part 1) Jul 19, 2022

In His Steps by Charles Sheldon is a classic of Christian fiction. It is also one of the top-selling Christian books of all time. We've been running through the history of Christian fundamentalism this season. It's worth noting that fundamentalism was a reaction to liberal theology, especially modernism. Another form of liberal theology was the "Social Gospel". It was a movement led by people like Walter Rauschenbusch that emphasized the socially conscious aspects of Christianity, while simultaneously downplaying evangelism.

Christian fundamentalists did not like the Social Gospel. For one thing, it had a positive view of human progress. It said that the world could get better and better and then Jesus would return. Christian fundamentalists generally think that world history trends downward.

I'm presenting this original audio recording for many reasons. I think this book offers a great window into the era in which it was created (the late 1800s). It also represents the Social Gospel and a slice of the Holiness movement quite well. Finally, I think we need to hear this story in our modern context. Modern Christian churches are divided. What would happen if we dared to ask "What Would Jesus Do?"

Things to track as you listen:

The role of women in this society
Wealthy attitudes toward the poor
The genesis of financial woes in this book is sometimes economic crisis (the late 1800s was full of panics and recessions) and sometimes sin based
The Holiness movement and those who object to it
Is this book evangelistic? If so, how is the gospel presented? If not, what does this book leave out?
The overall positive view of human progress
Social movements like the pure foods movement, temperance, suffrage, anti-gambling

In His Steps resides in the public domain, but this recording is copyrighted in 2022 by Truce Media LLC.

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The Holiness Movement | Christian Fundamentalism Series Jul 05, 2022

Can a Christian be holy? Can we go a week, a day, or an hour without sinning?

These are questions that modern Christians struggle with. They have their origin in John Wesley, a hymn writer, preacher, and one of the founders of Methodism. In this episode of Truce, we track how this seemingly simple concept got tied up in movements from fundamentalism to Pentecostalism.

This episode is going to seem a bit "out there". But this information is important to fundamentalism. Keswick Holiness in particular created an "us and them" scenario where there are Christians who "get it" and those who don't. The divide is between "carnal" Christians and those who are really saved. This impulse makes it easier for fundamentalists to see themselves as set apart from other Christians.

We're joined by Chris Evans, author of "Do Everything" which is a biography of suffragette Frances Willard.

Helpful Sources and Links:

D.L. Moody: A Life by Kevin Belmonte
The Evangelicals by Frances Fitzgerald
John Wesley's tract on perfection
Fundamentalism and American Culture by George Marsden
Church History in Plain Language by Bruce Shelley

Discussion Questions:

How long can a Christian go without sinning?
Do you see yourself as "better" or "different" from other Christians? Why? How does that impact the way you treat them?
How did the holiness movement shape Pentecostalism?
Do you see history and ideas as straight lines, or as a tangle?

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Moody's Lieutenants | Christian Fundamentalism Series Jun 21, 2022

After the evangelist D.L. Moody died at the end of the 1800s, he left behind a series of lieutenants, guys who carried on the work of sharing the gospel and shaping culture. It was these men who went on to set the foundation of the fundamentalist movement in the United States. James Gray, Arthur Pierson, A.J. Gordon, Charles Blanchard, and William Erdman, C.I. Scofield, and William Bell Riley. These guys went on to found schools, start radio ministries, spearhead publications, and amass large followings. They wrote the influential (if under-read) pamphlet series “The Fundamentals” and would fight the rise of Darwinism in schools and liberal theology in denominations.

In this episode, we'll explore the emergence of fiefdoms in evangelicalism—ministries with little or no denominational oversight. This method of ministry was crucial in landing us where we are today. Could the evangelicals Church of today use a Magna Carta of sorts to keep ministries under accountability?

Helpful Sources and Links:

D.L. Moody: A Life by Kevin Belmonte
The Evangelicals by Frances Fitzgerald
A helpful article on the Magna Carta https://www.britannica.com/topic/Magna-Carta
Fundamentalism and American Culture by George Marsden
Short bio on Reuben Torrey
Forbes article about Christianity in Ivy League Colleges
Church History in Plain Language by Bruce Shelley

Discussion Questions:

Do you think that ministry leaders should be held accountable?
Should accountability be external or is it okay to limit it to internal accountability?
Are there steps that Truce can take as a show to introduce accountability without bogging Chris down with too many requirements?
Do you live in a Christian “bubble”? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the bubble?
Would you let your kids go to a secular school? Why or why not?
It's interesting that Reuben Torrey was seen as snooty. Do you think that attitude is compatible with humble Christian service?

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D.L. Moody | Christian Fundamentalism Series Jun 07, 2022

DL Moody. The name may be familiar. There is a Moody Publishers, a Moody Bible Institute, Moody Radio. His name is all over evangelicalism. His remarkable life story is something worth noting. Though Moody was not a fundamentalist, some of the tactics he used to build his ministry would be employed by some of his lieutenants when they built the foundation of the movement.

So we're going to spend this episode talking about this remarkable man. Born in poverty, educated to only about a 4th-grade level, he would rise to become one of the most important American evangelists. His folksy style and booming voice were winsome to the millions of people to whom he preached. In this difficult series about controversial ideas, why not take some time to discuss something that went right in the late 1800s? The ministry of Moody.

I'm joined in this episode by Kevin Belmonte. He's the author of several history books including D.L. Moody: A Life. Check out his books and let me know what you think!

Helpful Links and Sources

Kevin Belmonte's book D.L. Moody: A Life
The Evangelicals by Frances Fitzgerald
A nice bio on Harry Moorhouse
See the plaque where Moody was converted

Discussion Questions

Have you ever shared the gospel with someone like Mr. Kimball did in the shoe store? Why or why not?
Is there someone you could pray for that they would be saved?
Why do you think Moody was so popular in his day?
Have you ever encountered Moody Radio, Publishers, or Bible Institute?
The “Christian bubble” really started to take shape in the era of Moody. How has the “bubble” impacted your life?
What are your views on poverty? How do people become poor and how can it be fixed? Do you think that all poor people are lazy? Why?

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Social Darwinism and the Spanish-American War | Christian Fundamentalism Series May 24, 2022

The 1800s were an era of big questions, many of which we answered in cruel and selfish ways.

Is one race better than another?
Is one religion? If so, which one? In what ways?
Is one economic system better than another?
Is one system of governance like a democratic republic like the US, or socialist, or monarchy, theocracy, communism, best?

Some people answered these questions with a resounding "yes". But if we think our people and ways are better than anyone else's, what responsibility do we have to spread those things? Men like Henry Cabot Lodge and Theodore Roosevelt were firm believers in social Darwinism, though their vision of it meant teaching those less "civilized" people our ways. And they were okay with the United States taking power over them.

Meanwhile, there were men like William Jennings Bryan who refused to think of others in social Darwinism terms. He spent years fighting that dark philosophy, ultimately prosecuting the Scopes Monkey trial to stop the spread of social Darwinism. But the seeds of eugenics were planted.

Caught in the middle were the people of Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Phillippines, and other colonies of the Spanish empire. Spain was busy imprisoning Cubans in concentration camps. Their ruthless behavior toward America's neighbors caught the attention of the US Senate, which was already champing at the bit for a fight. Men in the United States were worried about their waning influence on society. Groups bellyached about how men were not men anymore thanks to cities and offices. In the minds of some, war was the answer to weak-willed men. And Spain provided that war.

Our guest today is Paul T. McCartney author of “Power and Progress: American National Identity, the War of 1898, and the Rise of American Imperialism”. He teaches at Towson University.

**CORRECTION - In the original version of this story I referred to the USS Maine as the HMS Maine. That was incorrect. HMS stands for "Her Majesty's Ship", which makes no sense for American ships. The current version was changed for accuracy.**

Discussion Questions:

Do you believe your people are somehow superior to another people group? Why?
Does that sound like an attitude Jesus would have?
If you are somehow superior, what is your responsibility to other people?
Should the US help people who are being oppressed around the world? When should we intervene?
Do you think that men are in decline? If so, what is the answer to that?
Do you better relate to Teddy Roosevelt or William Jennings Bryan when it comes to war? Or are you a pacifist?
How would Jesus have responded to the cruelty of Spain?
What do you think about social Darwinism?

Helpful Links and Sources:

"The Evangelicals" by Frances Fitzgerald
"Church History in Plain Language" by Bruce Shelley
"The War Lovers" by Evan Thomas
"Power and Progress" by Paul T. McCartney
"The Origin of Species" by Charles Darwin
Britannica article on Darwin's Beagle voyage
Britannica article about Darwin's London years and natural selection
Bio of Henry Cabot Lodge
Article abouhttp://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/gilded/empire/text7/tillman.pdft Alfred Thayer Mahan
Proctor's Speech
Tillman's Speech
Bryan's Speech
"A Godly Hero" by Michael Kazin

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Populism | Christian Fundamentalism Series May 10, 2022

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Populism is a tricky subject. We use it these days as a slur, but populism can be a useful phenomenon. History professor and author Michael Kazin says that populism is an important tool when it comes to regulating power. In the late 1800s, railroads and banks were out of control. Industrialists like John D. Rockefeller had uninhibited control of their markets. Rockefeller believed in social Darwinism and didn't mind using dirty tactics to undermine his competition.

The Populist Party sprouted out of frustrations women had with the political machines of their day. Republicans and Democrats were not yet willing to accept women and the issues they cared about. Women were slowly becoming a force within politics, but neither party had the guts to accept them. So women and others decided to form their own party. But in the election of 1896, the Populist Party was worried about a split vote. They worried that if they were to run a candidate of their own then they might split the vote. So the Populist Party backed Democratic nominee William Jennings Bryan.

Bryan was a man of God. He quoted the Bible extensively, talked about the example of Jesus. But he was soundly defeated by the Republicans and William McKinley. He had only about 4% of the budget of his opponents. The story of Bryan is an interesting one because it contains the building blocks of fundamentalism.

Discussion Questions:

What is a populist?
Can you name some populists?
What are the advantages of populism? The drawbacks?
How are Donald Trump, Elizabeth Warren, and Bernie Sanders similar?
William Jennings Bryan was one of the first presidential hopefuls from a major party to tour the country. How has this shaped American politics? Why do we like to see politicians in our home states?
What do populism and fundamentalism have in common?
Do you think that fundamentalism relies on strong figures as populism does? Why or why not?

Helpful Resources:

"A Godly Hero" and "What It Took to Win" by Michael Kazin
Library of Congress collection of Chautauqua materials
Bernie Sanders Clip from C-SPAN
Elizabeth Warren Clip from C-SPAN
Donald Trump clip from C-SPAN
Article about Mary Lease
"These Truths" by Jill Lepore
Library of Congress collection of McKinley/Bryan campaign materials. It's worth searching the site in general for images from both of them.

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The Gold Standard and the Great Depression May 03, 2022

The Great Depression. Some say that it was caused by a failure of the stock market. Well... that's not all. Jacob Goldstein, host of NPR's Planet Money podcast and author of "Money: the Truce Story of a Made-Up Thing" joins us to discuss the role the gold standard played in making the depression what it was.

Here is why the gold standard made the Great Depression much worse. Simply put, the panic of 1929 caused people to run to the bank and demand their money back in the form of gold. We were on the gold standard back then and you could literally go to a bank and ask for them to get your money in gold. But banks were running out! There was only so much gold on hand because banks don't generally keep 100% of their money in the vault. And banks (for the ease of our understanding things) "create" money when they do loans. So it was possible for a bank only to have a certain percentage of their loans backed by actual gold.

This created real trouble. If the banks ran out of gold, they'd go broke and have to close. So the Federal Reserve decided to raise interest rates. Raising interest rates gives people an incentive to leave their money in banks because then they get more interest. BUT it also made it harder for people to borrow money or refinance their existing loans. Which put a huge crimp on the American financial system. In order to keep gold in the banks, the Fed had to hobble the loan industry. That meant that businesses couldn't get loans to help with payroll, and people looking to start a business couldn't get the money they needed. And the economy froze.

That is why the gold standard was bad for the economy. Preserving it meant sacrificing the loan industry.

Helpful Sources:

"Money: The True Story of a Made-Up Thing"

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The Gold Standard | Christian Fundamentalism Series Apr 26, 2022

There was a time not so long ago when the value of an ounce of gold cost $20.67. That was true not just in one moment or one year. It was true in the 1880s, 1890s, 1900s, 1920s... This was the gold standard. A person could take $20.67 to a federal bank and receive an ounce of gold in return.

This system worked really well... for a while. But by the 1890s the constant deflation caused by the increasing value of gold meant that people with loans had to work harder and harder to pay them back. The value of gold and the value of goods had an inverse relationship, like a seesaw. One side went up and the other went down.

This is the topic William Jennings Bryan chose to discuss at the 1896 Democratic Convention. And it was that speech that won him the presidential nomination that year. Imagine that! Someone so passionate about inflating the cost of goods that they are chosen to be president! His bimetallism (he wanted to add silver into the mix to devalue the specie) stance came out of his social gospel leanings and his Christian faith. This was a high point for the social gospel. As the evangelical world was about to turn to the darker premillennialist view, Bryan made an impassioned plea that we could, in fact, make this world a better place.

My guest for this episode is the amazing Jacob Goldstein. He's the author of the book “Money: the True Story of a Made-Up Thing”. He's also a former co-host of the Planet Money podcast and now hosts "What's Your Problem?", a show where he interviews guests about the issues in their industries. You'll also hear from Michael Kazin, professor of history from Georgetown and author of "A Godly Hero".

Helpful Links

"Money: The True Story of a Made-Up Thing" by Jacob Goldstein (makes a great gift!)
"A Godly Hero" by Michael Kazin
"The Cross of Gold" speech

Discussion Questions

Have you ever gotten so excited at a political speech that you would gladly carry the politician around the room?
What is money?
Why do some of us want our money to be backed by something else? Why gold?
Is there something inherent in gold that you think makes it forever valuable?
Do politicians and government officials have some responsibility to consider how monetary policy impacts those in the lower classes? What does that look like?
How has your life been impacted by monetary policy?
How do you feel about things like the FDIC?

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How Do We Deal with Christian Fundamentalism? | Christian Fundamentalism Series Apr 12, 2022

This season of the Truce Podcast tracks the history of Christian fundamentalism. So far we've covered the rise of para-church ministries through preachers, the creation of dispensationalism, and the rising threat of modernist theology in the late 1800s. That is a lot to digest! So in this episode, I thought it would be helpful to sit down with some of the smartest guys I know and ask them, "how do we deal with Christian fundamentalism?"

Christian fundamentalism has impacted our lives in various ways. Ray McDaniel (pastor of First Baptist Church in Jackson, WY) shares that he grew up under fundamentalist teaching. Chris Staron (host of the Truce Podcast) talks about his childhood and teen years listening to fundamentalist radio. Nick Staron discusses the last few years when he has seen fundamentalism rise inside his own circle of friends.

Here are some things to consider from this episode:
Modernist theology can be seen as an actual threat to evangelical theology. How should we deal with threats in a godly way?
Do end times teachings open doors for sharing the gospel?
How much do we really know about the end times? And how should that shape the way we live today?
What does it really mean to love people who are from a different denomination?
Do we still need denominations today?
How can we keep ministries accountable?

Helpful links:

The Late Great Planet Earth - hosted by Orson Welles

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The Liberals | Christian Fundamentalism Series Mar 29, 2022

George Marsden characterized Christian fundamentalism as "militantly anti-modernist protestant evangelicalism". Right there you see that fundamentalism is a reaction against something. And that something is modernist theology. Modernism is a broad term used to describe a few different schools of liberal theology. In this episode, we discuss the Tubingen and Berlin schools.

Modernist theology is often marked by the desire to discuss the "historic Jesus". This term can be a bit confusing because it is less about understanding what historic texts say about Jesus and more about discussing the non-miraculous aspects of Jesus' life and ministry.

Our special guest this episode is Chris Evans, professor of Christian History and Methodist Studies at Boston University and author of "Do Everything" a biography of Francis Willard.

Discussion Questions:

What does it mean that fundamentalism is a reaction to modernist theology?
What is modernist theology?
Do you know any theologically liberal people?
Do you find it difficult to both love the Lord and love your neighbor?
What makes someone a Christian? Does your view include theologically conservative people? What about theologically liberal people? Where is the line for you?
How vital are Jesus' miracles to your life and faith?
Is there a tension in Christianity where it is culturally difficult to be theologically conservative and still want to love our neighbors?

Helpful Links and Sources:

"The Evangelicals" by Frances Fitzgerald
An interesting article on Arminius
"Church History in Plain Language" by Bruce Shelley
"Who is An Evangelical?" Thomas Kidd
Historical Handbook of Major Biblical Interpreters edited by Donald K. McKim p 350
Matthew 22:36-40

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The End of Reconstruction | Christian Fundamentalism Series Mar 15, 2022

The 1800s were a time of milking cows and going to the county fair.

Sure... but what else? We tend to think of this century as a quiet, pastoral era when people were friendly and life was simple. But the 1800s were a crazy time! The American Civil War, the Napoleonic Wars, the Spanish-American War, conquest, the suffrage movement, the prohibition movement, massive technological changes. It's a wonder we ever made it out alive.

In this episode, we explore the early life of William Jennings Bryan and the Democratic Party, the party of Jim Crow that he would soon lead. After the Civil War, it was the Democrats who created Black Codes in the South to restrict the upward mobility of African Americans. They were the party of white farmers and soon transitioned into representing labor unions and, eventually, many black people in the United States. Bryan was one of the men responsible for that transition.

Helpful Links and Sources:

"A Godly Hero" by Michael Kazin
Truce episode about the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU)
Meeting notes of the 1873 Evangelical Alliance
"Fundamentalism and American Culture" by George Marsden
"A Righteous Cause" by Robert W. Cherny (book on William Jennings Bryan)
Interesting bio on Stephen Douglas
President Hays' acceptance speech

Discussion Questions:

What do you think of when you think of the 1800s?
Was the 1800s a simpler time?
What mistakes did the Republican Party make in ending Reconstruction?
How should abolitionists have handled the South after the Civil War?
Can a Christian lead a racist political party? Should they?
What were some technological advances that came about in the 1800s? How might they have shifted the way people lived and thought back then?
Are there technological changes going on now that could shift the way we think and interact with each other?
Chris ends the episode by talking about how Christians should be a people of the means, not necessarily the ends. Do you think the ends ever justify the means for Christians?

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Dispensationalism and John Nelson Darby | Christian Fundamentalism Series Mar 01, 2022

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This season we're tracing the history of Christian fundamentalism through the life of William Jennings Bryan. But first, we need to learn some important definitions. Our big word of the week is dispensationalism. It's not as complicated as it sounds. Dispensationalism is (in part) the notion that God treats humankind differently depending on what era we are in. It is not accepted by all Christians, but it is a building block of fundamentalism. Another component of dispensationalism is the secret rapture--the idea that God will take His elect to heaven just before the tribulation. It also asserts that the Christian Church will become apostate before the end times. This last tidbit is important! Premillennialism made Christians suspicious of the outside world, but it was dispensationalism that made us suspicious of each other.

John Nelson Darby is often credited as the father of dispensationalism. He came up with the idea of the rapture and is the man who packaged a bunch of existing ideas into this systematized vision of the Bible. In the 1700s and 1800s, people adapted the scientific notion of categorizing everything into genus and species and applied it to all areas of study, even when reading the Bible. This encouraged people like Darby to break the Bible into "dispensations" or eras.

Our guest this week is George Marsden. He's the author of "Fundamentalism and American Culture".

Discussion Questions:

Are you suspicious of other Christians? Why is that?
Do you believe in the rapture? Why?
Does the God of the Bible behave differently in different parts of the Bible? Or is He the same throughout?
Do you believe that Jewish people were destined to return to Israel based on Matthew 24:32-33 or Romans 11:25-26?
What did you know about the French Revolution before our recent episodes on it? Do you think it was a significant event in world history? If so, why?

Helpful Links:

"Fundamentalism and American Culture" by George Marsden (book)
"The Evangelicals" by Frances Fitzerald (book)
"Who is an Evangelical?" by Thomas S. Kidd (book)
Interesting article about Napoleon, the Pope, and the French Revolution
A fantastic book about Napoleon (one of my fav books) is "Napoleon: A Life" by Andrew Roberts
"American Apocalypse" by Matthew Avery Sutton (note: only the first few chapters influenced this episode)
"The Roots of Fundamentalism" by Ernest Sandeen.
1 Corinthians 1:8
Helpful article about Common Sense Realism
Fascination Smithsonian article about Mount Tambora

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Premillennialism and Postmillennialism | Christian Fundamentalism Series Feb 15, 2022

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What is the difference between premillennialism and postmillennialism? And what does it matter?

After the French Revolution in the late 1700s, Christians began to see the world as coming to an end. Daniel 7 and Revelation 13 describe an oppressor who will wear the people out for a period of time. Some Christian interpret that as being 1260 years. That 1260 years can be placed over the reign of Justinian all the way through history up until the French Revolution. That is just one interpretation that not everyone shares. But if you hold that view then this event was HUGE. It meant that the end of the world was super close. It has now been over 200 years since that event, but many premillennialists still hold up this prophecy as proof of the fulfillment of scripture.

Many Christians were sparked to uncover the meaning of it all. Some turned to an old idea -- premillennialism. It's the notion that the world is on a downward trajectory. Things are going to get really bad and then Jesus will return. Before this time, many evangelicals were postmillennialism. They thought the world was going to get better over time. This split was an important part of what would become the fundamentalist/ modernist debate.

Premillennialism has some dark "logical" conclusions to it. Some premillennialist like pastor John MacArthur argue that since the world is going to burn anyway, we humans shouldn't worry about things like global warming.

Discussion Questions:

Why was the French Revolution such an important moment in world history?
Pre-Revolution the nobles and clergy controlled much of the power in France. They could out-weigh 98% of the population of France. Is this perhaps a reason why the French people turned against them?
Are you a premillennialist, a postmillennialist, or neither?
Did you read the Left Behind books? What do you remember? How did they impact you?
Do you think you have a positive or negative view of world history? How does that impact the way you act?
Should premillennialists see Jesus' second coming as a reason to avoid taking care of the planet?

Helpful Links:

The Victoria and Albert Museum's article about Mysore and Tipoos Tiger
"Fundamentalism and American Culture" by George Marsden (book)
"The Evangelicals" by Frances Fitzerald (book)
"Who is an Evangelical?" by Thomas S. Kidd (book)
Interesting article about Napoleon, the Pope, and the French Revolution
A fantastic book about Napoleon (one of my fav books) is "Napoleon: A Life" by Andrew Roberts
John MacArthur sermon excerpted and used with permission from "Grace to You"

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What Is An Evangelical? | Christian Fundamentalism Series Feb 01, 2022

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Correction: The original version of this episode incorrectly represented Arminian belief. It involves the belief that once grace is offered by God that a sinner can reject the offer. The original version stated that the sinner made the first move to initiate a relationship. That is incorrect. Arminians believe that God makes the first move, but His offer can be rejected. The error has been corrected in this version, My apologies for any confusion.

Who is an evangelical? If you go by the news today, you probably think evangelicals are all American middle-class white men. Nope! Evangelical Christians come in all shapes, colors, and sizes. They can be men or women from anywhere in the world. They can speak any language. And they can have a lot of variety in their beliefs.

This season on the Truce Podcast we are examining the history of Christian fundamentalism. How did fundamentalism begin? What is Christian fundamentalism? Is Christian fundamentalism a good thing, a bad thing, or somewhere in between?

In this episode, we're joined by author and professor George Marsden. He's the author of Fundamentalism and American Culture, which is THE book everyone else refers to when they talk about fundamentalism. According to Marsden, fundamentalism is "militantly anti-modernism protestant evangelicalism". That is a lot of big words! By the end of the season, you should understand all of that. One important part of that definition is the word "evangelicalism". It is one of those words that has been used so much in so many different ways that it can be difficult to define it. There are whole movements to create new definitions these days. But in order to move forward this season, we need to pick some frame of reference. I chose David Beggington's definition of what defines an evangelical:

Bebbington's Quadrilateral

Biblicism (a focus on the Bible)
Conversionism (an emphasis on evangelism)
Crucicentrism (the centrality of the cross)
Activism

Those four things, according to Bebbington, are what make up an evangelical. Again, it is a hotly debated subject.

So when did evangelicalism begin? Many of the sources that I found pointed to the revivals in the decades leading up to the American Revolution. Evangelists like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield spread the gospel using a post-millennialist vision of the end times mixed with Calvinism. This was part of the First Great Awakening. Then there were others after the revolution who spread an Arminian view of salvation. Guys like Finney. Belief in God became more personal, without the direct oversight of a priest or minister. It became an individual's responsibility to look after their spiritual growth.

Welcome to season 5! God willing, I'll be releasing new episodes every other week.

Discussion Questions:

What is an evangelical?
What is a fundamentalist?
If fundamentalists are evangelicals who are angry at something, what are they angry at? Are you one of those people?
Do you believe in the Calvinist view of salvation or the Arminian one? Does it matter? Why?
The Great Awakening movements established a sense that belief in God was not something that needed to be handed down by a priest or minister. Do you think that was a positive move? What are some potential drawbacks (if any)?

Helpful Links and Sources:

"Fundamentalism and American Culture" by George Marsden (book)
"The Evangelicals" by Frances Fitzerald (book)
"Who is an Evangelical?" by Thomas S. Kidd (book)
"A Godly Hero" by Michael Kazin (book)
Transcript of the Scopes trial (book, though you can find it free online)

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Season Five Trailer - The History of Christian Fundamentalism Jan 18, 2022

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In our present moment, it seems that people are inclined to extremes. Christian fundamentalism seems to be on the rise. This season we're examining the history of Christian fundamentalism. We'll start by defining terms like "evangelical", "premillennialism", "dispensationalism", "modernist theology", and "fundamentalism". Then we'll work our way to the Scopes Monkey Trial, that massive media event in 1925 that pitted fundamentalism against evolution.

Our guests this season include George Marsden, Joel Carpenter, Kevin Belmonte, Edward Larson, Paul T. McCartney, and Michael Kazin. We'll also feature a fascinating conversation with Jacob Goldstein, co-host of the Planet Money podcast.

We can never hope to cover every facet of a subject this huge. Instead, the goal is to help normal people like us understand the basics of this movement that is actively shaping world history.

Subscribe so you get every new episode as it is released.

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Christmas and the Sermon on the Mount Dec 23, 2021

Christmas can be a difficult time for many of us. How do we love people who disagree with us? How do we cope with people who don't seem to make sense anymore?

In this bonus Christmas message, I just want to remind all of us of Jesus' command to both love our God AND love our neighbor.

How has 2021 been for you? Leave a comment on social media or on the website at www.trucepodcast.com. God willing, season 5 of Truce will begin in winter 2022.

Merry Christmas,

Chris

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King Leopold's Ghost (feat. Adam Hochschild) Oct 26, 2021

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When you think of the world's worst mass murderers, King Leopold II doesn't usually come up. But due to his forced labor practices in the Congo, nearly 10 million people lost their lives. He did this by pretending that his actions in that region were a missionary effort. In reality, he forced Africans to harvest wild rubber or risk having their hands cut off.

The truth is even darker than that: it turns out that Leopold was far from the only person doing this. This same era was marked by many major world powers engaging in forced labor. From the US in the Philippines to Arab countries in eastern Africa, much of the modern world was built on forced labor.

Author Adam Hochschild joins us for this episode to discuss his book "King Leopold's Ghost".

I first heard about this story on the Noble Blood podcast and their episode "The Red Paint on Leopold II".

Discussion Questions:

Had you heard of King Leopold II before this?
Leopold did send missionaries to the Congo. Was that a positive or negative thing for our Christian witness?
Did you know that other major countries were engaged in forced labor into WWII?
What do you think of the US-backed coup in Congo? Is it okay for the US to get involved in the politics of another nation?

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Christians and the British Slave Trade (feat. Adam Hochschild) Oct 12, 2021

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The British slave trade had several well-known opponents: William Wilberforce and John Newton (who wrote "Amazing Grace") to name a few. But historian Adam Hochschild ("King Leopold's Ghost", "To End All Wars") argues that history has largely forgotten the most valuable member of the abolition movement: Thomas Clarkson. Clarkson was in charge of gathering and disseminating information across the British Isles. He fought for years to end the slave trade and then slavery itself.

This movement is important for many reasons. It was the first to use logos, a coordinated marketing campaign, and it established a high bar for investigative journalism. It was also an ecumenical movement.

In this episode we explore slavery, the importance of slave rebellions, the power of ecumenical efforts, and the book "Bury the Chains".

I mentioned the so-called Curse of Ham in the episode. Learn more about it here.

Helpful discussion questions:

Had you heard of Thomas Clarkson before this episode?
Do you participate in any cross-denominational movements? Where do you draw the line?
Has your church ever participated in anti-racism movements?
Was there any wisdom in ending the slave trade first?
Why do you think John Newton didn't give up the slave trade as soon as he became a Christian?
Was it possible to be a Christian and own slaves?
Do you think humanity will ever go back to slavery?
Do modern payday loans keep people in bondage in the way that debt kept people in bondage in the 1700s?

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Can I Still Love the Church? Aug 17, 2021

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So many Christians are angry at the Church. Not just the Church but their local churches as well. Producer Chris Staron decided to take a look inside one small congregation to see how Black Lives Matter, COVID, the 2020 Presidential Election, and more have impacted one community. How are people in Jackson, Wyoming responding in a time of dissension and deconstruction in the body of Christ?

Special thanks to Ray McDaniel and Karl Klemmer for talking with Chris for this interview.

Helpful Links:

Discussion Questions:

How have the last few years changed your ideas about the global Church?
How have they changed your ideas of your local church?
How would you respond if you were the pastor of a local church today and your congregation wanted you to pick a political side?
Should pastors speak about politics from the pulpit?
Why do we put so much emphasis on messages from the pulpit and discount the ability for congregants to have meaningful conversations on their own?
Are you deconstructing your faith? What does that term mean to you?
If you are deconstructing your faith, have you removed the local church? The Bible? If so, how has that impacted your faith?
Are you open to people who have different opinions? How do you interact with those people? Is it in person?
Do you have friends with different opinions than you? How can you get some if you don't?
Do you see the Church as a "we" and "us" or as a "them"? Why?

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100th Episode Aug 03, 2021

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Truce usually uses research, music, sound effects, and expert interviews to tell complicated stories about the Christian Church. We've made something like 100 episodes! Our listeners recommended that we celebrate by asking Chris questions submitted by audience members.

Special thanks to Melvin Benson of the Cinematic Doctrine podcast for asking the questions!

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The American West: Is It A Sin to Be Wealthy? (featuring Yale Professor Justin Farrell) Jul 20, 2021

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Jackson, Wyoming is a small tourist town in the middle of nowhere. It is just a few miles south of Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone. Millions of people pass through each year as tourists. It's a vacation hotspot. But for those who choose to stay in this region, Teton County is anything but a vacation. Rising income inequality and housing costs have created a hostile environment for working people. The median home price in Jackson went up 47% in 2020 alone, rising to $2.2 million while wages remain stagnant.

We've been talking for the last few episodes about myths of the American West, how cowboy myths about a lone rugged individual have shaped the US. Now it's time to understand how cowboy myths have impacted American Christianity.

Our guest today is Justin Farrell. He's a sociologist and professor at Yale. His book is Billionaire Wilderness. In it, Farrell recounts his studies of the ultra-wealthy. What makes them tick? What are they afraid of? Why do they dress the way they do? And what draws them to the far western border of Wyoming?

Discussion Questions:

Read the story of the rich young ruler (Mark 10:17-27). What do you think of Jesus' warning about wealthy people entering the kingdom of God?
Many of the tax avoidance practices discussed in this series are legal (except pretending to live in one place while living in another). Do you think that legality and morality are tied together?
Are these practices moral?
What types of friction do you experience in your own life?
How would more money change the level of friction you encounter?
How would less money change the level of friction you encounter?
Do you think that friction is a valuable thing to pay attention to in our lives?
What is the role of empathy in a Christian's life?
How do you use money to benefit yourself as opposed to others?

Helpful Links:

Justin Farrell's book Billionaire Wilderness
NY Times article about President Trump changing his residence to get out of paying taxes
Book The Velvet Rope Economy about inequalities in health care, airlines, services, and even Disney World.

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The American West: Conservation Easements Jul 06, 2021

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Some of the wealthiest people in the world live (or pretend to live) in Jackson, Wyoming. That includes some of the biggest names in Hollywood. Digging into the property tax records, we discovered that one of the most successful actors in film history pays less in property tax than a single mom living on less land. What gives? Why are rich people paying less in property tax than working people?

The answer has to do with a thing called a conservation easement. A conservation easement is essentially an agreement between a landowner and the government that says, "I promise I'll keep my property from certain kinds of building projects". In return, the government gives the landowner massive tax benefits on the federal and local levels.

In this episode, Chris digs into the history of these instruments to understand what they are and how they are impacting rural Wyoming and the rest of the country.

UPDATE: The original version of this episode contained an error that has since been corrected. The original version stated that getting an $800,000 tax deduction was essentially the same as getting an $800,000 refund. That is incorrect. My apologies.

Helpful links:

Helpful article about conservation easements
Excellent pamphlet with information about easements
YouTube video about how taxes are assessed
Search the Teton County property tax records

Discussion Questions

What do you think about public land?
Do conservation easements seem fair?
Are conservation easements a helpful way to preserve the environment or government-sponsored private land? Both?
What should Jackson locals do to make the property taxes fair?
How do you feel when you learn that taxation practices favor the rich?
Are there conservation easements where you live?

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The American West: Johnson County War Jun 22, 2021

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The myth of the American cowboy features a lone man who makes his fortune on the open plains. He doesn't need the government, and he doesn't need some big corporation telling him what to do. But that myth is far from the reality in the west. Many cowboys worked for large corporate cattle operations. And when those operations were in danger, he relied on the government for help.

The Johnson County War started when the Homestead Act of 1862 brought new people to central Wyoming. The area just west of the Big Horn Mountains had been free-range grassland where anyone could let their cattle run free. The large cattle operations loved this setup because it saved them an immense amount of money and infrastructure. The new homesteads threatened their empires because they divided up the land and restricted their access. So the Wyoming Stock Growers Association banded together to send a message: get off our land. They send a murder squad to Johnson County, Wyoming to scare the people of Buffalo with a series of brutal murders.

What followed was one of the darkest chapters in Wyoming history. Where big businesses murdered with impunity, aided by the governor and sitting president.

Helpful links:

The Jim Gatchell Museum in Buffalo, WY
The TA Ranch (where the siege took place)
Book used for research: Wyoming Range War by John W. Davis

Discussion Questions:

What role did the Homestead Act play in stirring up trouble in central Wyoming?
Is there a character in the story that you identify with?
Is there any part of you that sympathizes with the WSGA?
How does this story challenge your concept of the American cowboy?
What role does the government have in protecting an industry?
How do you feel about the government's failure to punish the invaders?

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The American West: Jesus and John Wayne (feat. Kristin Kobes Du Mez) Jun 08, 2021

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What do you think of when you picture a cowboy? A rugged, handsome individual? A lover? Someone who doesn't need the government's help? Evangelicalism has long pushed this as the ideal model for the Christian man. What is the impact of that set of ideas?

John Wayne and Ronald Reagan have both become popular figures in American men's ministries. Their names come up often, they both played cowboys in Hollywood. But they are unlikely heroes. Both men were divorced. Wayne wasn't an evangelical, and Reagan had once been a democrat. But both men were instrumental in whipping up anti-communist sentiment in the US, building credibility with a religion focused on individualism.

You can draw a line from them straight to former president Donald J. Trump. All three had questionable public morals but were seen as strong, uncompromising figures. They are seen in many men's books as the epitome of masculinity. That idea, though, comes in contrast with Jesus' own words about turning the other cheek, forgiving our enemies, and loving our enemies.

In this episode, Chris talks with Kristin Kobes Du Mez, author of "Jesus and John Wayne: How Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation".

Discussion Questions

What do you think of when you picture a cowboy?
How have you heard cowboys, soldiers, and fighters discussed in evangelical circles?
What books have you read that stressed the importance of tough men?
What do you picture when you think of a Christian man? How has that been shaped?
What do you picture when you think of a Christian woman? How has that been shaped?
What is your idea of Jesus like? Is He a warrior, a gentle savior, or both?
Can you see the link between the cowboy image and Donald Trump?

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Kaitlyn Schiess and Our Four False Gospels May 25, 2021

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Christians throughout history have responded to politics in different ways. In our modern era, it can seem like Christianity and Republican politics are one and the same. But what do we do when the Bible clashes with our political party? What if our economic model leaves no room for the poor?

Author and theologian Kaitlyn Schiess joins us to talk about her book, "The Liturgy of Politics", as well as how we can heal as a church.

Discussion Questions

How have you seen politics and Christianity mixing in the US?
Is there are healthy way for Christians to engage in politics?
How have your politics informed your ideas of the poor?
Do you think that all poor people are lazy?
How can your local church reach out to people who look/speak/act differently that you do?
How have you see Kaitlyn's four false gospels play out in your life and church?
Prosperity
Patriotism
Security
Supremacy

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Jemar Tisby and How to Fight Racism May 11, 2021

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Do systems really keep minorities down? Even asking the questions sound socialistic to some. But we need to go through our society to root out systems that breed inequality. But how? Sometimes discussions of racism can make us feel helplessly lost.

That's why I called in an expert.

Jemar Tisby is a Christian speaker, author of “The Color of Compromise” and “How to Fight Racism”. He's also an important voice in modern America. Even if you don't agree with everything he writes in his books, it's important to hear what he's saying here. What are the systems that separate black and white people? How can we learn to grieve as a people, as a local church, and as a community?

Discussion Questions:

How can you organize an event at your church (online) to discuss the history of racism in your church, community, schools, and hearts?
Have you ever stopped to do a racial autobiography? (my questions, not Jemar's)
When was the first time you met someone of a different race?
What did your parents teach you, consciously or unconsciously, about race?
Have you ever used a racial slur? Why? How did you feel about it then? How do you feel about it now? What is the power of those words?
Have you ever been afraid of someone from another race? Why? When?
Do you regularly come in contact with people of a different race?
How do you feel when you see a police officer? Why might someone else have a different reaction? How did you come to feel that way?
Are there distinct, racially divided neighborhoods in your area? How did they get there? Do you ever go to a different neighborhood? Why or why not?
Are discussions of race inherently socialistic?
Are discussions of class inherently socialistic?

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Takeaway 5: It's Easier to Call People to a Heritage Than A Saving Faith Apr 27, 2021

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Some of the most common feedback I heard about season 3 of Truce is that I didn't give the Christian America camp enough time to back their opinion. In this mini-episode, I discuss my reason for leaving people like David Barton of Wall Builders off of the show.

I also play a short clip from Gregg L. Frazer who was on our Christian America episodes. His book is "The Religious Beliefs of America's Founders".

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Takeaway 4: Complexity is Cool Apr 20, 2021

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At the 2019 National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Los Angeles, I had a chance to sit down with Dr. Richard Land. Dr. Land is a man of the company line who mixes Republican thought with Christianity. At this interview, Dr. Land said (off mic) that the reason this generation struggles so much is that we are unwilling to see the issues of our time as black and white. Good vs. Evil.

I disagree. I think the opportunity our generation has is that we can finally think of this complex world as complex.

This mini-episode is just one of several meant to help sum up season 3 of Truce.

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Takeaway 3: Treat Labor Well Apr 13, 2021

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A few months ago I produced two episodes about the Christian roots of American labor unions. And... a bunch of people stopped listening to the show. It turns out that many American Christians are conservative and, therefore, anti-union.

This mini-episode is the counterbalance to that series. Here we discuss the inefficient practices at General Motors in the 1980s. It was an era where GM slipped from holding over 40% of the market share to 17%. What happened? It's a story of unions, gasoline, and the reasons we treat labor well.

Resources used:

“Rude Awakening: The Rise Fall and Struggle for Recovery of General Motors” by Maryann Keller
"Crash Course" by Paul Ingrassia

Discussion Questions:

Do you have a bias for or against labor unions?
Who do you know who is or was in a union? What is their work ethic?
The labor unions in GM in the 1980s were inefficient. Does that make all labor unions inefficient?
Does specialization in factories help or hurt in the long run?
Do you have a bias for employers or employees?
Do you work as unto Christ in your own job?
What is the Christian way to work? To employ someone?

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Takeaway 2: Communism as a Scapegoat (feat. Jemar Tisby) Apr 06, 2021

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Season three of Truce has been all about how the rise of communism in Russia impacted the Christian Church. As we approach the end of the season, I want to highlight some of the important takeaways.

One of them is that communism can be used as a scapegoat. That is used by some people to get the public to hate or disregard something they don't like. That could be the COVID crisis or Black Lives Matter.

Our guest today is Jemar Tisby. He's the author of the New York Times Bestseller "The Color of Compromise" and "How to Fight Racism". He's also a frequent voice on the Pass The Mic Podcast. You can access his Substack email list here.

Helpful links:

Article about the Wyoming Health Department official who resigned due to his denial of COVID 19.

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Takeaway 1: Think Deeper About the Past Mar 30, 2021

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MAGA folks look back on the history of the United States and see a golden era: the 1950s. When religion was in the public eye, television and movies were clean, and father came home from work with dinner hot on the table. The trouble is that this vision of the 1950s only existed in our imaginations or if we chose to ignore the world around us. The 1950s were an era of great upheaval, with public monuments to religion being erected at the same time as heavy censorship, McCarthyism, wars, racism, and sexism.

For the next few weeks we'll be revisiting themes from season three of Truce to pull out some important takeaway. Takeaway 1: Think Deeper About the Past.

Helpful links:

The trailer for Secrets of Jonathan Sperry
Chris' interview with director Rich Christiano

Discussion Questions:

What do you think of when you think of the 1950s?
When is it okay to remember just part of history, and when do we need to consider the whole picture?
What era do people who wear MAGA hats want to return to? In other words, when was America greater than it is now?
When you think of your own childhood, what comes to mind?
Do world or social issues play into that?
How is nostalgia a helpful tool?
How can nostalgia shape our memory of the past?
Is there an era you wish to return to?
What can we do to create a fuller picture of the past when we retell it?

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How to Deal With Christian Nationalism Mar 16, 2021

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The January 6, 2021 riot at the US Capitol demonstrated the dangers of extreme Christian nationalism. When we allow our ideas about God and His protection to overrun the Bible, we get into serious trouble. Now, many Christians are questioning their faith. Why does the Jesus of the Bible look so different from us and our country?

In this episode, Chris discusses our strange relationship with the United States. We love it when it affirms us, but we don't know what to do when the US behaves in an evil manner. How do we unify the Church in an era of division?

Helpful Discussion Questions:

How have you seen the United States tied to Christianity?
What do you think people mean when they say the US is a Christian nation?
When have you seen the US behave in a Christian manner?
When have you seen it wander from Christian principles?
Do you follow the Jesus of the Sermon on the Mount, or an economic Jesus?
How can you love people in your local church who believe different things about Jesus than you do?

Helpful links:

You can learn more about the Virginia Law Codes in Rebecca Cox Richardson's book "How the South Won the Civil War".
In the episode, I reference that the US provided rebels in Afghanistan with copies of the Koran and VHS bootlegs of the movie "Rambo". You can learn about that in Steve Coll's book, "Ghost Wars" pages 90 and 194-197.
Learn about John Adam's day of fasting
The Treaty of Tripoli
More about Dalton Trumbo
"Trumbo" movie trailer

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Skye Jethani and Post-Christian America Mar 02, 2021

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How should Christians react in a post-Christian society?

Many theologians describe our modern era as being post-Christian. Meaning that religion was once public in the United States, and it is slowly disappearing. Is that okay? Is it possible that now is a great time to be doing ministry?

In this episode Chris interviews pastor/ author/ podcaster Skye Jethani. He's the author of the book "What if Jesus was Serious?" and co-host of The Holy Post podcast with Phil Vischer. Skye's wisdom for this time helps Christians put today in perspective.

Discussion Questions:

What is meant by the term "post-Christian"?
Do you think we're living in a post-Christian world?
How do our environment and culture impact Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount?
What does it mean to love our neighbors? Turn the other cheek?
Do you agree with Skye when he says that we are to obey our leaders, and yet we are the leaders in the US?
If so, how does that impact how you live and work?
Have you ever lived in an environment that was non-Christian? How does that differ from a culturally Christian area? Was it easier to do ministry in one over another?

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Is School Prayer Illegal? Feb 16, 2021

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When did school prayer end? When was school prayer made illegal?

American Christians have disagreed about school prayer ever since it was declared illegal in the 1960s by the Supreme Court of the United States. But what were the conditions surrounding that debate?

In this episode of Truce, we break down the debate using Justice Hugo Black's majority argument against school prayer. It goes all the way back to the founding of the Church of England when Thomas Cranmer wrote the Book of Common Prayer and helped the king solidify his divorce. Thomas Cranmer was made Archbishop of Canterbury, the highest role in the Church of England. But when Mary Tudor became queen, she executed Cranmer because she was Catholic and he was Protestant.

Justice Black's decision hinged on the story of Cranmer. England was thrown into turmoil with every new regent because they could change the religion. The US, he argued, was founded on principles that would keep that from happening. The Establishment Clause of the US Constitution prohibits the government from establishing a religion. So... is school prayer a violation of the Establishment Clause?

What do you think?

Discussion Questions:

Have you ever used prayer as a weapon like Chris did in the locker room for his school play?
What are the benefits of prayers that are written down? What are the drawbacks?
Do you recite written prayers? Why or why not?
Was the Regent's Prayer right in being non-specific about which God it referred to?
Do you think your country would benefit from a national religion? What if that religion could be changed over time?
Did you ever pray in school?
Should we pray in schools?
What did you think of Justice Hugo Black's majority opinion which used the example of the Church of England in the 1500s as a reason why we should not have school prayer?

Helpful links:

One Nation Under God by Kevin Kruse (book used for research)
Helpful site about Thomas Cranmer
Supreme Court audio of the deliberations for Engel v. Vitale on Oyez.org
Justice Black's majority opinion

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Jerry Falwell and Apartheid (feat. Melani McAlister) Feb 02, 2021

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Jerry Falwell Sr. was one of the most outspoken evangelical Christians in the 1980s. He founded Liberty University and the Moral Majority political movement. In 1985 he went on a trip to visit South Africa, which was then engaged in its apartheid practices. That meant keeping 80% of the land for white use only and moving black people to reservations. It was a black majority country controlled by the white minority.

Upon his return, Falwell made some controversial statements. Including one that American Christians should not protest South Africa or demand sanctions. Seems crazy, right? But South African guerillas were being funded (in part) by the Soviet Union. The worry that communism would take over South Africa was real. Which of the two evils would Christians choose? Backing an apartheid government, or potentially supporting the Soviet-sponsored rebels?

Our guest today is Melani McAlister, author of the excellent book "The Kingdom of God Has No Borders". She is also professor of American Studies and International Affairs at George Washington University.

Discussion Questions:

What do you think of Falwell's position on apartheid?
Do you think the US concern about communism was appropriate?
What were Americans afraid of when it came to communism?
When in history have you or the Church had to choose between the lesser of two evils?
How could that have been handled differently?

Helpful Links:

C-SPAN video of Jerry Falwell (edited for the show)
George Washington University video featuring Melani

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Exporting Jesus and the American Way (feat. Melani McAlister) Jan 19, 2021

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Melani McAlister, author of "The Kingdom of God Has No Borders" and Professor of American Studies and International Affairs at George Washington University joins us to discuss how we export Christianity. In the 1950s and 1960s, American denominations sent white missionaries to Africa to share the good news. But with them went their bias and racism. This was the era of Jim Crow laws. Some missionaries took those laws to Africa, not allowing black people to eat at their tables.

In this episode, we examine the problem of tying the United States to Christianity. When the US makes mistakes or does evil, how does that reflect back on the church?

Christian missionaries sometimes export the United States with their messages. What else is going with our missionaries?

Discussion Questions:

Have you ever been on a mission trip before? What was your motivation for going?
Do you think that it is possible to marginalize the people we are trying to witness to?
How do you feel about showing pictures of poor people in church presentations? How might that practice encourage churchgoers to marginalize a people group?
Do you think poor people in other countries are happier?
Is it okay for us to export the American way with the gospel? If yes, then which things should we export?

Links:

The Kingdom of God Has No Borders
An interesting introduction to the British Empire and their withdrawal from colonialism
An introduction to the troubles in Congo
An NPR article about US-backed rebels

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A Christian Response to the Attack on the US Capitol Jan 07, 2021

When I was a kid, we were playing at a friend's house. I fell and scraped up my knee pretty badly. Dirt and rocks were in the wound. My friend's mom was a nurse, so she got out her medical kit. She did her best to pick out what she could and then showed me her bottle of iodine. Iodine is a strong anti-microbial. Highly effective for cleaning wounds. But, like rubbing alcohol, it stings pretty bad.

Pain, she said, is not always a bad thing. Pain is what our body uses to tell us something is wrong. That we need to make a change. If your appendix hurts, it's helpful. Because if they didn't, you'd have no way of knowing that they were going to burst. Sometimes, we need to feel pain.

I don't know about you, but I'm pretty raw today. I haven't been able to focus on much. Yesterday, January 6, 2021, a mob of Trump supporters, incited by Donald Trump, stormed the Capitol building in Washington DC. It was an act of terrorism. A coup attempt on US soil. I'm angry. I'm scared. And what hurts the most is to know that evangelical Christians share the blame. We were a big part of his support base. Despite his stirring up rebellion, his lies about everything from the size of his inaugural audience to the shameful claims of a rigged election, his obvious conflicts of interest, racism, sexism, and potentially criminal dealings with Deutsche Bank, many of my people stand by his side. And there is nothing he can do to break that spell. Some Christians will support him no matter what.

I started this podcast three years ago for a lot of reasons. There is one big reason, though. I wasn't public about it. I've spent a lot of hours debating whether or not I should tell you. But I started Truce because I think my people, Christians, are headed for persecution. Not because of the Bible. Not because we believe in Jesus, and the world hates Jesus. But because we're acting like children. We worship oligarchs and their money, even though Jesus told us not to. We ignore the poor, even though Jesus commanded us to take care of them. We've acquired a taste for hate, even though the Bible says to love our neighbors. We've sought vengeance when it's clear that vengeance belongs to the Lord.

I don't think anyone deserves to be persecuted. Hear that. Nobody deserves persecution. But I think we're building a pretty strong case against ourselves. Christian media will try to put a positive spin on it, say it's not our fault. That the heathens hate Jesus. Know that this is the reason: because we turned our back on our calling in pursuit of power.

I probably wounded you in saying that. That's okay. We've grown so used to thinking that we deserve a life free from pain. I want to remind you that pain is not always a bad thing. It tells us when we're bleeding, when we're wounded, when we're sick. I think a lot about the Babylonian's taking over Judah in the Old Testament. God's people acted wickedly generation after generation. So they paid for their wickedness.

I won't offer us comfort today. I just won't. Because we won't change until it hurts. Our positive and uplifting media outlets have robbed us of our ability to lament. To grieve. Yes, pray for this country. But if we stop there, we're missing the point. We need to repent, turn from our evil ways, humbly and graciously serve others as Jesus served. Repent.

Until we do, let it hurt. Let today hurt.

God help us.

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McCarthyism Before McCarthy Jan 05, 2021

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Many of us are familiar with Joseph McCarthy and his infamous hearings on Communism in the US government. What we don't know is that McCarthy was far from the first person to use these tactics. In this episode of the Truce Podcast we examine the Rapp-Coudert Committee-- an effort in the New York City school system to root out Communists, Fascists, and Nazis who might be teaching students. In the end, even outspoken Christians participated in this witch hunt, which targeted mostly Jewish teachers and staff.

Discussion Questions:

Why were Americans so afraid of Communists?
Was it against the constitution to withhold rights from people because Rapp-Coudert was just a hearing?
What would you have done if you were accused of being a communist? Would you have named names?
Why were Jewish people targeted for violence by the Christian Front?
Do the actions of one part of a group define the entire group? In this episode, some communists advocated for using schools to teach communism. But, to our knowledge, nobody in the district did that. Yet they were accused of having done so.
Who do we scapegoat today in our society?
Knowing that the Soviets did have spies working in the US government (like Klaus Fuchs who stole nuclear secrets), what should the government have done to root out spies?

Helpful Links:

Bad Faith: Teachers, Liberalism, and The Origins of McCarthyism by Andrew Feffer
Fatty Arbuckle and the MPAA: episode of the Truce Podcast where we talk about how Christians censored the golden age of cinema
The Santa Clause comic strip from the top of the show
Smithsonian article about Soviet spies
Brief article about the House Un-American Activities Committee
Helpful article about the Communist Control Act

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Positive Memories of 2020 Dec 30, 2020

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2020 has been a difficult year for many. I wanted to take a few minutes to discuss things that went well. So I opened up a phone line to collect stories from you, the listeners. Thanks to everyone who submitted their stories!

I'll be opening up the phone lines again in another month to collect more listener feedback.

Happy New Year and thanks for supporting Truce!

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Christmas Episode Exchange Dec 22, 2020

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It's time for our second annual Christmas Episode Exchange! Each year I put out a call on the Christian Podcasters Association Facebook page for 5-minute mini-episodes based on the theme of Christmas. Now I'm going to present several of the best from that group.

1) An Endurance Christmas

2. Letters from Home Podcast

3. Life, Repurposed Podcast

4. Moments with Moni Podcast

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Are Nativity Scenes Illegal on Public Land? Dec 08, 2020

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The 1983 Supreme Court case Lynch v Donnelly brought church and state together in one important decision. In it, the court decided that a city-owned creche (also known as a manger scene) could remain on private land because it was part of a greater display. It wasn't a stand-alone creche. It was surrounded by Christmas trees, a Santa's village, and more. The diorama could stay because it held no significant religious value. It was, in their words, "ceremonial deism".

In this modern era where it seems like religion is slipping away from public life, it's good to stop and ask what we're losing. Do our public displays of piety have any real Christian weight to them in the first place? What are we fighting for if "In God We Trust" doesn't specify which God it's referring to?

Supreme Court audio for this episode was used with a Creative Commons License from Oyez.org. The audio was edited from it's original form.

Helpful Links:

Full Lynch v. Donnelly audio
US Treasury article about symbols on money
One Nation Under God - book by Kevin Kruse
Helpful Slate article about Christmas displays
Helpful article about ceremonial deism
Ligonier article about Festival of the Booths
Pawtucket and the Industrial Revolution
Majority opinion on Lynch v. Donnelly from Justia.com

Discussion Questions:

Where do you see examples of ceremonial deism?
What do expressions of ceremonial deism hope to achieve in our society? Does it work? How can we make them better?
Do you like seeing God on the money? Why?
Where would you like to see more of God in the public square? Where would you like to see less?
Should we be more specific in our public displays?
Do you think the manger scene can be both religious and non-religious?

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The American Coup in Guatemala Nov 24, 2020

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In 1954 the United States government, led by Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, staged a coup to oust President Jacobo Arbenz of Guatemala. For what reason? To help the United Fruit Company.

United Fruit was a giant company, capturing over 90% of the market in its heyday. The juggernaut found President Arbenz to be a nuisance when his agrarian reform meant they would be paid for some of their unused land, which would be given to peasants. With the help of powerful friends like Allen Dulles (the Director of the CIA), the United States staged a coup, installing Castillo Armas in his place.

All of this took place while the USA was busy framing itself as a Christian nation. What does that mean for the Christian Church today? Are we a nation that supports that kind of behavior?

Our special guest for this episode is Stephen Schlesinger, co-author of the excellent book "Bad Fruit: The Story of the American Coup in Guatemala".

Discussion Questions:

What threat did President Jacobo Arbenz pose to United Fruit?
United Fruit owned many utilities in Guatemala from the trains to telephone lines. How would you feel if our utilities were owned by foreign entities? If they controlled our natural resources?
Do you think the land reform deal was a good one for their country?
Were people like John Foster Dulles right to overthrow Arbenz?
How might it have benefited them to do so?
In what way could the actions of the US in the 1950s reflect poorly on Christianity domestically and abroad?
It has been argued that American consumers benefit when Latin American and African countries are thrown in disarray. It means cheaper diamonds, gold, rubber, and more while also stranding the people in those countries in poverty.
Does it bother you that you may be benefiting from unbalanced countries?
Do you find the assumption that we are benefiting to be offensive? Why?
Is there anything we can do about it?

Sources:

"Bad Fruit: The Story of the American Coup in Guatemala" by Stephen Schlesinger and Stephen Kinzer
CIA Document profiling Arbenz
YouTube clips of a documentary on the Guatemalan coup
Then Vice President Nixon talking with Armas after the overthrow
Statistics on Fruit
Financial Times article about United Fruit
Book "One Nation Under God" by Kevin Kruse (for the bio info on the Dulles brothers)
Peurifoy's cable to Washington
President Arbenz's farewell speech
List of governments that the US has overthrown

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Billy Graham v. Communism (feat. David Aikman) Nov 10, 2020

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Billy Graham may have been the most important evangelist of the 20th century. His words were heard by millions of people around the world. He preached in person, on television, magazines, radio, and film. His impact is still felt today. He is also one of the people most responsible for tying Christianity, Capitalism, and the United States. But his legacy didn't stop there. While he denounced communism, he went to great lengths to ensure that communists had access to the gospel too.

Our guest this episode is David Aikman, author of "Billy Graham: His Life and Influence".

Discussion Questions:

Is Jesus' message individualistic, collectivist, or something in between?
If the majority of a nation's citizens say they are Christians, does that make it a Christian nation?
Does hobnobbing with the wealthy and politically connected occasionally backfire? Like, say, when you've come out backing Richard Nixon during the Watergate scandal as Graham did?
Is it possible to cross political and theological lines today in order to spread the gospel?
When do we prioritize the gospel over social issues and when do we have to put our foot down?
When do you walk out into the stadium and take down the ropes that divide us and when do you leave the ropes where they are?

Helpful Links:

Graham sermon "A Way of Life" from this episode.
Newsreel of his 1949 crusade
Truman's statement on the Soviets having the bomb
Decision Magazine article about Graham's crisis of faith
The Evangelicals by Frances Fitzgerald
One Nation Under God by Kevin Kruse

Topics Discussed:

Billy Graham's evangelistic efforts in Romania, Hungary, and China
Was Billy Graham anti-communist?
Billy Graham's sermons
Liberal Christians
Was Billy Graham a fundamentalist?
What is the difference between fundamentalist and mainline churches?

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We Want a King Oct 27, 2020

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What do American Christians really want in the Trump era? I think that we just want representation. We want someone to stand for us, to fight out battles. But that gets tricky. There is a story in the Old Testament that gives us some clues about how that temptation can hurt us in the end.

Discussion Questions:

Have you ever received a gospel tract? What was your reaction?
What kind of information do you think is essential on a tract?
Have you ever received a tract for a different religion?
How did that make you feel?
How did you know it was from a different religion?
Is it okay for corporations to evangelize?
What are the risks of that?
The benefits?
Are capitalism and Christianity the same thing?
If so, where does it say that in the Bible?
Does it feel threatening to question the connection between capitalism and Christianity? Why?

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Rebrodcast: Why Does Donald Trump Appeal to Evangelicals? Oct 20, 2020

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This was one of our first ever episodes! We're rebroadcasting it today because the 2020 US Presidential election is upon us. One of the questions that keeps coming up is: why does Donald Trump appeal to white evangelical Christians? This episode was produced three years ago, so it may sound a little different, but the information is still relevant to today. President Trump has made it pretty clear that he does not know the basic tenants of Christianity. So why do we say that he is one?

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The Ad Council, CIA, and Christian America (feat. Wendy Melillo) Oct 13, 2020

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The CIA, big business, and the Ad Council worked together to create the America that we know and love today. Together, they bonded our ideas of patriotism, capitalism, and religion. But not many of us know who the Ad Council is. Sure they created Smokey Bear, the Crash Test Dummies, and the Crying Indian ads... but who are they?

Wendy Melillo, author of "How McGruff and the Crying Indian Changed America: A History of Iconic Ad Council Campaigns" and professor at American University, joins us to discuss her research into the Ad Council.

Helpful Links:

Religion in American Life Video Ad
Wendy Melillo's fascinating lecture on her book
The creepy "Why?" ad we referenced in the episode
Ad Council's own history website

Discussion Questions:

Have you ever been impacted by advertising? How did it make you feel?
Does it matter where our ads come from? Even public service announcements?
How do you feel about the CIA paying for ads to impact Americans?
Should responsibility for big problems like plastic waste fall on individuals, big corporations, or both?
Do you think the Bible says anything about one economic model over another?

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Rebroadcast: Fatty Arbuckle and the MPAA Oct 06, 2020

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Did Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle murder Virginia Rappe? That questions defined the film industry for thirty years. Upset with Hollywood's moral failures, Christians demanded changes. We took over, fighting until the studios decided to censor themselves.

This special episode of Truce ties into our last episode with Abby Johnson of the Unplanned movie.

This episode explores:

* Who was Fatty Arbuckle?

* Who was Virginia Rappe?

* Did Fatty Arbuckle murder Virginia Rappe?

* What is the MPAA?

* What started the Motional Picture Association of America?

* Did Christians really censor the golden age of films?

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Marketing Christian Libertarianism Sep 29, 2020

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James Fifield was a pastor, radio personality, publisher, and outspoken libertarian. He hated the New Deal and its restrictions. His organization, Spiritual Mobilization, created a marketing campaign that would bond Christianity to capitalism and the United States for decades to come.

Also... you know those Ten Commandments monuments all over the country? Well, it turns out that many of them were built to advertise for one of the highest grossing movies of all time: Cecil B. Demille's "The Ten Commandments".

Helpful links:

List of Ten Commandments monuments placed by the Eagles
Ten Commandments trailer featuring Cecil B. Demille
One Nation Under God by Kevin Kruse
The Evangelicals by Frances Fitzgerald

Discussion Questions:

Is it creepy when corporations tell people how to behave?
Do you like it when companies tie religion to business?
Is Christianity an individualistic religion? A collectivist one? Neither? Both?
Does Leviticus 25:10 mean that we have a right to liberty? Or does it mean something else?
Should monuments to the 10 Commandments be allowed on public land?

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The National Prayer Breakfast and The Family Sep 15, 2020

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When strikes broke out in the 1930's, some wealthy members of the US elite got together... to pray. One of the organizers of prayer groups across the country was Abraham Vereide. In this episode of Truce we tell the story of how Vereide became one of the most influential non-elected men of his time... and how his movement took a dark turn as revealed in Netflix's The Family.

Contributed Voices (not all were used):

Sharon Campbell - All God's Women Podcast
Shea and Michelle Watson - The Pantry Podcast
Annie Quinnell - The Unstoppable Solo Mom Podcast
Tim and JK Winders - Seek Go Create Podcast
Holland Webb - The Afterword Podcast
Markus Watson - Spiritual Life and Leadership Podcast

Discussion Questions:

When is it an appropriate time for a labor strike?
How bad do things have to get before a strike can shut down the economy?
Is there a Christian perspective on labor strikes?
Is there anything wrong or creepy about Christian businessmen praying to end a strike?
Do you think the National Prayer Breakfast is an event focused on piety?
Read Matthew 6 in the Bible. What do you think it means for public prayer? Jesus prayed in public. Is all public prayer wrong, or just some of it? Where is that line?
Vereide's legacy created "The Family", a shadowy organization that tries to create male Christian leaders. Is this good, bad, creepy, or some combination of the three?
"The Family" is focused on male leaders. Why do we struggle as Christians to let women lead?

Helpful Links:

One Nation Under God by Kevin Kruse
Britannica article about The Family
History of the Prayer Breakfast
90% of Everything - book about shipping containers
Crash Course - Great book about unions and the US auto manufacturers
Helpful history of the San Fransisco and Seattle strikes and Bloody Thursday
YouTube video of West Coast during the strikes
"The Family" - the Netflix "documentary".

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An Evaluation Sep 08, 2020

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In this bonus episode, host Chris Staron does his best to quiet fears about where Truce is headed. Is this show pushing a political motive? What about an economic system? Nope.

Truce is about exploring our past in order to make us better. The goal is to remain orthodox and a-political.

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The New Deal (feat. Justin Rosolino) Sep 01, 2020

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Many Christian leaders came to hate the New Deal, especially libertarians. Their opposition to the New Deal as creeping socialism sparked the National Prayer Breakfast, some of Billy Graham's speeches, and the bonding of capitalism to Christianity and the US. So we should probably know what the New Deal was!

Our guest this episode is Justin Rosolino. He's a high school history teacher and the author of the book "Idiot Sojourning Soul".

You can find pictures of Chris' 50 mile New Deal Bike Tour on the website at www.trucepodcast.com.

Helpful Links:

FDR's Inauguration Speech on C-SPAN
Interesting YouTube video about the causes of the Great Depression

Topics Discussed:

What was the Social Gospel?
Who was Franklin Roosevelt?
What was the New Deal?
The Civilian Conservation Corp
The Works Progress Administration
Jenny Lake - Grand Teton National Park
Unemployment

We're focused on making Truce the best Christian podcast on the market. Partner with us by donating at www.trucepodcast.com/donate

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Is the Church with Workers? (feat Heath Carter) Aug 18, 2020

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Donate by visiting www.patreon.com/trucepodcast

Does the church represent working-class people or are we too focused on the wealthy? During the Industrial Revolution many saw churches as clubs for rich people. So working folks formed their own churches, unions, and organizations.

In this episode Heath Carter, professor at Princeton and author of "Union Made" and "The Pew and the Picket Line", talks labor.

Helpful Links:

Rerum Novarum - the decree by the Pope about labor
Interesting video featuring Heath Carter
The Evangelicals by Francis Fitzgerald
One Nation Under God by Kevin Kruse

Topics Covered:

Are labor unions Christian?
What is Christian socialism?
Were the apostles socialists?
Does the book of Acts demonstrate socialism?
What does James 5 say about the wealthy?
What does the Bible say about work?
What does the Bible say about asking for a raise?

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The Pew and the Picket Line (feat. Heath Carter) Aug 04, 2020

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The United States and Russia ran along parallel tracks in the late 1800s and 1900s. Both were empires. Both were tangled in war. Both were feeling the weight of the Industrial Revolution. But they divided in how they would deal with labor. That critical difference changed the history of the world.

In this episode, Professor Heath Carter of the Princeton Theological Seminary starts the first of a two-episode conversation about Christianity and labor. Mr. Carter is the author of Union Made and editor of books such as The Pew and the Picket Line.

Helpful Links:

Heath Carter on Twitter
New York City in 1903 video (Library of Congress)
Interesting video of Heath Carter talking about labor
Article about the Native American from the top of the show

Topics Discussed:

Do Christians support unions?
The F. Scott Fitzgerald quote about first-rate intelligence and two ideas
Working conditions in the 1800s in Chicago
Pew rents
How do churches make their money?

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$12,400 Jul 28, 2020

Would you like to help support the Truce Podcast? You can learn how at www.trucepodcast.com/donate

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Spiritual Life and Leadership Jul 21, 2020

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Is the United States a Christian Nation? How has communism impacted the American Christian Church? In this bonus episode, we're playing an episode from the Spiritual Life and Leadership podcast from Markus Watson. Markus is the author of "Beyond Thingification: Helping Your Church Engage in God’s Mission".

We'll be back in two weeks with a normal, fully produced episode.

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The Case Against the Pledge Jul 14, 2020

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In 1940 the Supreme Court of the United States made a historic decision: that all schoolchildren should stand during the Pledge of Allegiance. Minersville School District v. Gobitis set precedent for three years. Walter Gobitas, a Jehovah's Witness, did not want his children saluting the flag.

In this bonus episode, we discuss the Gobitas case and questions surrounding patriotism and religion.

Our guest in this episode is Professor Charles Dorn of Bowdoin College. His books are Patriotic Education in a Global Age and For the Common Good: A New History of Higher Education in America.

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Your Youth Group Trip Was Cancelled - Now What? Jul 07, 2020

Your youth group trip to South America was cancelled... now what? There are still important ministries that need your help. Truce is raising $25,000 to make this show my full time job. This mission reaches anywhere there is an Internet connection. And we're asking really big questions that will protect our Christian witness.

You can give using a credit card at: www.trucepodcast.com/donate

or send a check to:

Chris Staron

PO Box 3434

Jackson, WY 83001

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The Pledge of Allegiance (Featuring Charles Dorn) Jul 03, 2020

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Who wrote the Pledge of Allegiance for the United States? On this episode of Truce, we examine the conditions under which the Pledge was written and Francis Bellamy, the man responsible for our famous creed.

Along the way we learn about Bellamy's belief in Christian Socialism, the Social Gospel, and Charles Sheldon's book "In His Steps". Even though it is one of the most popular works of fiction in history, it's filled with controversial stuff.

Our guest this episode is Professor Charles Dorn of Bowdoin College. His books are Patriotic Education in a Global Age and For the Common Good: A New History of Higher Education in America.

Helpful Links:

Additional voice over work done by Cale Nelson and his family. He's the host of the Modern Christian Men Podcast
Helpful article by Charles Dorn
Complete text of "In His Steps" by Charles Sheldon
Britannica article about Social Gospel
Gospel Coalition critique of "In His Steps"

Subjects covered:

Is patriotic education okay in public schools?
When did US flags first appear in schools?
Who wrote the Pledge of Allegiance?
When was the Pledge of Allegiance written?
When did they add "under God" into the Pledge of Allegiance?
What is Christian socialism?
Where does the phrase WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?) come from?

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Truce Needs Your Support Jul 01, 2020

Do you love the Truce Podcast? Be a part of supporting the show by giving to keep the show going.

You can send a traditional check (made out to Chris Staron) to:

Chris Staron

PO Box 3434

Jackson, WY 83001

Or donate online using a credit card at: https://trucepodcast.com/donate/

Please note that Truce is not a non-profit and money given to us cannot be deducted on your tax returns. We did this on purpose. 90% of Americans do not benefit from write offs like those given to non-profits because the standard deduction is so high. Non-profits only benefit the wealthy. We want to try to finance this show through normal people.

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Empire: The Game! Jun 23, 2020

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We've spent the last several weeks asking the question: "Is the United States an empire?" Now we want to go even deeper: "Is empire always a bad thing?"

So we invented a game that will explore that question. It's Capture the Flag... with resources.

Topics discussed:

Is empire always a bad thing?
How can the US use resources to build alliances?
Is the US a Christian nation?
How should Christians treat resources?
The US has over 800 military bases. Would we want a foreign military base in or near our land?
Should Christian resist burglars?
Would we want a Chinese military base in the US?
How do we treat countries with less important resources?

Truce is listener supported. Find out how to help at www.trucepodcast.com/donate

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Home of the Forgotten Jun 09, 2020

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The United States, a "Christian" nation, has a bad habit of forgetting its own people. Really. We'll prove it to you! We forget that the territories are a part of our country. Why does that matter? It impacts if/when they can vote and allows us to withhold federal aid. That matters! What happens when a "Christian nation" ignores its own people?

Our guest this episode is Daniel Immerwahr, author of the book "How to Hide an Empire" and an associate history professor at Northwestern University. In his book, he argues that the United States has been an empire since it's inception.

Special thanks to:

Stand up comedian Nick Staron

Helpful Links:

FDR's "Day of Infamy" speech

Topics Covered:

Is the United States an Empire?
Can Puerto Rico vote in congress?
Can Puerto Rico vote for president?
Can American Samoa vote for president?
Who was bombed on December 7, 1941?

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Teddy Roosevelt and the Guano Islands May 26, 2020

Donate a little to help the show on either Patreon or Paypal

Remember to post #nowherenearcuba this week!

When we were done conquering the west, done warring with Mexico, done fighting Native Americans, we looked out across the Pacific Ocean and said... "huh... I wonder what's over there?" The truth is that the United States is an empire. We accomplished that by fighting wars and by seeking out resources.

In the 1800's the United States faced a very real problem: we were running out of nitrogen. Not in the air. There is plenty in the air. We were losing it in our soil. Plants need nitrogen. Where were we going to get it?

The answer we came up with was: bird poop. It's rich in nitrogen and makes a great fertilizer. The trouble is that we didn't have any way to get large quantities of it. Until American businesses took over islands off the coast of our country.

This is the story of greed, a different kind of slavery, a Supreme Court battle, and the worst job in the 1800's.

Our guest this episode is Daniel Immerwahr, author of the book "How to Hide an Empire" and an associate history professor at Northwestern University. In his book, he argues that the United States has been an empire since it's inception

Special thanks to:

Stand up comedian Nick Staron
Paul Hastings of the Compelled Podcast
Angel McCoy of Angel Reads the Bible

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How to Hide an Empire (featuring Daniel Immerwahr) May 12, 2020

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Please fill out our listener survey here: https://forms.gle/G5euVtM3JistChuz7

What do you think of when you hear the word "empire"? Maybe Great Britain? The Soviet Union? The Mongols? Sure. But what if I told you that the United States is also an empire. And always has been.

Our guest this episode is Daniel Immerwahr, author of the book "How to Hide an Empire" and an associate history professor at Northwestern University. In his book he argues that the United States has been an empire since it's inception. We claimed lands owned by native peoples, and then expanded into places like the Philippines, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Alaska, and more. This is the story of war, greed, resources, and tragedy.

Helpful Links:

We recorded some the games in this episode at the Spark Christian Podcast Conference
A lecture from Daniel regarding his book
We received help from these artists:
Stand up comedian Nick Staron (Napoleon)
Holland Webb of the Afterword Podcast
Angel McCoy from Angel Reads the Bible
Colleen and Danny from Fitness at Houston's First

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Is the US a Christian Nation? Apr 28, 2020

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Is the USA a Christian nation?

There are a lot of people who argue that it is. And a lot of others who say that it is not. Which is it? What do we gain by calling it a Christian nation?

Our guest this episode is Dr. Gregg L Frazer, author of The Religious Beliefs of America's Founders: Reason, Revelation, and Revolution and God Against the Revolution: The Loyalist Clergy's Case Against the American Revolution.

Donate a little to help the show on either Patreon or Paypal

Our "Would You Rather Questions":

Would you rather make a hundred thousand dollars a year working for the mob, or be married to the best looking person on earth who cheats on you?
Would you rather sell something benign like corn to Iran or be Vladimir Putin's personal barber?
Would you rather go to a church where the senior pastor is always getting into Twitter fights, or one where the youth pastor is always starting gossip?

Helpful links:

Roy Browning's videos about being a dad on Youtube
Jefferson's letter to the Danbury Baptist Association
The Pencils and Lipstick Podcast
Revived Thoughts
The Grace Over 40 Podcast

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Is Revolution Biblical? Apr 14, 2020

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Was the American Revolution biblical?

There are lots of people who argue that the United States is a Christian nation. But our nation is founded on revolution. The Bible is clear that we are to obey our leaders. How do we reconcile the fact the Revolution was not a Christian act with the assumption of a Christian nation?

Our guest this episode is Dr. Gregg L Frazer, author of The Religious Beliefs of America's Founders: Reason, Revelation, and Revolution and God Against the Revolution: The Loyalist Clergy's Case Against the American Revolution.

Donate a little to help the show on either Patreon or Paypal

Special thanks to those who contributed their voices to this episode including: Paul Hastings of the Compelled Podcast, Eric Nevins of Halfway There, Angel McCoy of Angel Reads the Bible, and Bonnie Burns from Sex Chat for Christian Wives.

Helpful Links:

Live Free or Die image
Jonathan Mayhew sermon
Library of Congress article about the importance of religion to the American Revolution
Romans 13
1 Peter 2:13-14
Galatians 5

Topics:

Who was Jonathan Mayhew?
Were the Founding Fathers Christians?
Is the US a Christian nation?
What does the Bible mean when it says we are supposed to obey our leaders?
Does God back the US?
What makes a nation Christian?
The Roman emperor Nero
King George

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Faith of the Founding Fathers (featuring Dr. Gregg L. Frazer) Mar 30, 2020

Were the founding fathers of the United States Christians or Deists? That question has been at the heart of a debate that comes up all the time in the Church: is the United States a Christian nation?

Our guest for this episode is Dr. Gregg L Frazer. He's the author of The Religious Beliefs of America's Founders and God Against the Revolution.

Donate a little to help the show on either Patreon or Paypal

Helpful links:

Topics discussed:

Were the founding fathers Deists or Christians?
Was George Washington a Christian?
Was John Adams a Christian?
Was Alexander Hamilton a Christian?
Was Thomas Jefferson a Christian?
What does the Constitution say about God?
What did Christians believe in the 1700's?
Did Benjamin Franklin build churches?

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Why Are We Covering This? A Conversation with Eric Nevins Mar 27, 2020

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Are you curious about why Truce is covering the topics that it is? Wondering where this thing is going? We've heard you! In response to the confusion of our audience, we've put together this special interview episode to answer some of your questions.

Chris is joined by Eric Nevins, host of the Halfway There podcast.

Would you like to see Eric's review of Truce in Podcast Magazine? Click here to learn more. The review will come out March 30, 2020.

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Godless Utopia (featuring Roland Elliott Brown) Mar 17, 2020

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In Russia during the Soviet era, hundred of posters and magazine covers were printed to encourage people to abandon their faith. They were state-sponsored and designed to be interpreted even by people who could not read. This propaganda clearly tied anti-Christian sentiment to the United States.

In his new book, Godless Utopia, Roland Elliott Brown collected a number of these images and provided commentary on their meaning.

What does it mean that we call the United States a Christian nation? What does it mean when presidents like Ronald Reagan merge their faith with the US? How does that impact our witness? These are questions we'll continue exploring throughout this series.

Donate a little to help the show on either Patreon or Paypal

Helpful links:

You can view images from the book here. Please note that some of these images may not be appropriate for all eyes.
Watch the whole "evil empire" speech here.
Article about Ruth Snyder, the first woman to be sent to the electric chair
Roland's article about Soviet propaganda (see page 18)
Mobituaries podcast episode about lynching and D.W. Griffith's film "Birth of a Nation"

Topics covered:

What did soviet propaganda look like?
How did Stalin use the Orthodox church to fight in WWII?
What was Ronald Reagan's "evil empire" speech?
Is it okay for US Presidents to speak at Christian events?

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Pioneer 1 Mar 03, 2020

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How strong was the soviet mythology? Strong enough to make a young boy turn in his own parents. At least... that's what the communist government of Russia wanted their people to believe. They created a myth around a boy named Pavlik Morozov who they deemed Pioneer 1.

Select Sources:

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Vladimir Prokhnevskiy: Christian Refugee from Ukraine Feb 25, 2020

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Vladimir Prokhnevskiy moved to the United States as a Christian refugee from Ukraine. He and his family left that country after enduring oppression from their governments. He spoke with Chris about what it was like to live in such poverty, how his father was threatened with work in Chernobyl, and how a shoebox from Operation Christmas Child impacted his life.

Vladimir and his twin brother own Ukramedia, a company that teaches people to make motion graphics. You can watch this video about their lives and work.

It was a thrill to talk with Vladimir. Please consider supporting this show so that we can continue to make these episodes.

You can donate via our Patreon or Paypal pages or at trucepodcast.com.

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Religious Persecution Under the Soviet Union Feb 18, 2020

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After the fall of the Romanov dynasty, Russia fell into the hands of the Bolshevik political party. They led the country into one of the darkest chapters in world history when religious people and dissidents were targeted, imprisoned, and murdered. This history is hard to hear but important for us to know.

Our special guest this episode is Felix Corley of www.forum18.org.

In this episode, we discuss why Vladimir Lenin persecuted Christians and how Joseph Stalin instituted a policy of fear in the Soviet Union.

Helpful Links:

Forum 18
Article about the poem "First They Came"
The Gulag Archipelago by Alexandr Solzhenitsyn
An interesting article about former Soviet countries

Topics discussed:

Why did Vladimir Lenin hate Christians?
Persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
Persecution of Muslims in Russia
How many people did Joseph Stalin kill?
Nikita Khrushchev

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The Rise of Lenin and Stalin Feb 04, 2020

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When the Russian tsars fell, they left a power vacuum. Who would rule Russia after the Romanov dynasty? The Bolshevik's rose to power, led by Vladimir Lenin. Lenin immediately began persecuting anybody he didn't like.

In this episode, we'll examine the dark realities behind the Russian revolution: how it started with good intentions but ended with the death of millions. We'll also see how a culture of fear and suspicion held the nation captive.

Our guests today are Professor Barbara Engel (author of "Russia in World History"), and Roland Elliott Brown (author of "Godless Utopia").

This is part of our series examining how the rise of communism in Russia impacted the Christian church. Check out the rest of season three for more information. We're working hard to make Truce the best Christian podcast on the market. Please rate and review the show!

FACT CHECK NOTICE:

Genghis Khan, who I did not mention in the episode, is in the running for having murdered the most people in history. I discovered this fact after the episode had been completed. Sorry!

Topics covered:

How did Vladimir Lenin come to power?
How did Stalin come to power?
How many people did Stalin kill? (20-25 million)
Is communism bad?
What was the Soviet Union?
How did the Soviet Union begin?
Who were the Bolsheviks?
Why do some people like Stalin?

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What is the Difference Between Communism and Socialism? Jan 21, 2020

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What is the difference between communism and socialism? They get used interchangeably in our culture, but do they really mean the same thing?

In this episode, we'll give a textbook definition of each and then see how those ideas change in the wild. Our guests today are my friend Brian Faehnrich, Professor Barbara Engel (author of "Russia in World History"), and Roland Elliott Brown (author of "Godless Utopia").

The basic difference between communism and socialism is where the profit goes:

In communism, the profits go to the government
In socialism, the profits can go to the people

Also, communism is inherently atheistic, in keeping with the vision of Karl Marx.

Topic Covered:

What is the difference between communism and socialism?
Who was Karl Marx?
Who invented communism?
What was the first communist country? (Russia)
How did Vladimir Lenin rise to power?
Does communism work?
Is communism a utopian idea?
What did Karl Marx have against the Christian church?

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History of The Russian Church Jan 07, 2020

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"We did our best, but it turned out as it always does".

Kind of a dark statement, no? It is a popular Russian phrase that kind of encapsulates the spirit of Russian history. People who try hard to make a change, but that change is not exactly great. In this episode of the Truce Podcast, we spoke with Jennifer Eremeeva, author of the excellent book, "Have Personality Disorder, Will Rule Russia" about the history of the Russian Christian church.

Christianity came to Russia by sword point. It started out as a pagan culture, heavily influenced by the Vikings. When Vladimir, ruler of ancient Moscow, wanted some of the treasures of the Byzantine empire, he had a couple of options. He could invade and capture them, or he could make a trade deal. He tried both, but it didn't quite work out. As part of the peace deal, the Byzantine empire offered him a bride and trade if he converted to Christianity. So he did. Then Vladimir forced his kingdom to convert to Christianity or face death.

This means that Russian held on to their pagan ancestry and co-mingled it with their new Christian faith.

But that's not the end of the journey! Their shared faith became a bonding opportunity when the Mongols invaded. The church was their hub, the thing that connected them to all of the disconnected parts of Russia.

After the Mongols left, things settled down for a bit. Until the Orthodox church showed up. You see, when the Byzantine empire fell to Muslim forces, the Orthodox church needed a new home. So Ivan brought them to Moscow. Now Moscow is home to one of the largest branches of Christianity in the world - the Russian Orthodox church.

From sword point to housing one of the largest branches of the faith, Russia has a varied history with Christianity. Listen to this episode to get the full story.

Sources and links:

Have Personality Disorder, Will Rule Russia - book by Jennifer Eremeeva
Stephen Mansfield interview featured in this episode
Five Minute Bible Hour video about the Orthodox Church

Topic Discussed:

How did the Russian Orthodox church begin?
Who was Prince Vladimir?
When did the Mongols enter Russia?
Who was Ivan the Great?
Why is the Russian church associated with paganism?
What is a good primer on Russian history?
The fall of the Byzantine Empire
How did Moscow become the capital of Russia?
Why do we like dark jokes?

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A Russian Christmas Dec 24, 2019

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Christmas and New Years can be a stressful time for us. But what if you had to celebrate two Christmas' and two Years'? Our special guest Jennifer Eremeeva (author of Have Personality Disorder Will Rule Russia) is an American married to a Russian. Each year they have the potential of four holidays in less than a month. But why?

The confusion has to do with a discrepancy in calendars. It turns out that the old Julian calendar, which is used by the Russian Orthodox Church, is several days different than the Gregorian calendar that we use. This has to do with an old disagreement between the Catholic and Orthodox churches.

Subscribe to Truce so you'll get every new episode as it is released!

Donate here to keep Truce going!

Herring Under Fur Coat:

This recipe is pretty simple, but it may take a few hours to make so do this one in advance.

Ingredients:

1 jar of mayonnaise (squeeze-able is easiest)
3 medium size beats (peeled)
4-5 carrots (peeled)
1 large potato (peeled)
1 jar of pickled herring
1 bag of grated cheddar cheese
1 bunch of fresh green onions
1 jar of pickles

Cooking Instructions:

Peel the beats, carrots, and potato then put them on boil for an hour. Yes, it will look like blood and the beats will dye the other veggies.
While the vegetables are boiling, open the pickled herring (if in a jar). Remove any bones. Dice. Keep refrigerated until it is used.
After the vegetables are boiled, grate each of them separately with the small holes.
On a pie plate make a mound with the potato. Spread it out to the edges of your plate.
Cover the potato with the following layers: mayo, pickled herring, green onions, mayo, carrots, mayo, pickles, beats, mayo, grated cheese.
Place the whole thing in the refrigerator and let it sit for 2-3 hours before consuming. Overnight is okay too. The whole thing will turn a light pink color.
Serve it like any other dip with veggies, crackers, or tortilla chips.

Other Sources

Russian Christmas blog post - Dividing My Time
Jennifer Eremeeva blog post - Is This Christmas?
Britannica article on the Julian Calendar

Topics Discussed:

Why is the Orthodox church on a different calendar?
What are the differences between the Julian calendar and the Gregorian calendar?
What is Christmas like in Russia?
What unique dish should I make for Christmas?
Russian food
Why did Pope Gregory establish the Gregorian calendar?
Who created the Julian calendar?
Russian history

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Christmas Episode Exchange Dec 18, 2019

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Merry Christmas! As a bonus, we are featuring some stories from the Christian Podcasters Association Christmas Episode Exchange. Each person in the group was allowed to submit a 5-minute mini-episode on the theme of Christmas. I've collected a few of them here and some more will be on our Patreon page for people who donate a little each month to keep Truce going. You can access the Truce Patreon page and for those extra stories.

Here are the submissions in order of appearance:

1) Truce Podcast – Christmas Bolero

Chris Staron

http://www.trucepodcast.com

http://www.twitter.com/trucepodcast

http://www.facebook.com/trucepodcast

2) The Road Home To You Podcast

Brandy Goebel – Every Home Needs a Gnome

http://theroadhometoyou.libsyn.com/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/166024570692834/

3) Biblical Chili

https://biblicalchili.podbean.com/

https://www.facebook.com/BiblicalChili/

http://www.twitter.com/BiblicalChili

4) Raising Kids on Your Knees

https://raisingkidsonyourknees.org/

https://www.instagram.com/raisingkidsonyourknees/

http://www.facebook.com/raisingkidsonyourknees

http://www.twitter.com/prayingforkids

5) Letters from Home Podcast

Margaret Glesener and her family sharing their Christmas tradition of sharing.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/letters-from-home/id1444502295

https://www.instagram.com/lettersfromhomepodcast/

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Rasputin Dec 10, 2019

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Rasputin - the rogue monk who changed the face of the world. Or did he?

Grigory Rasputin was a wandering monk from Siberia. A peasant. A long-haired man with a family. Through a series of connections with powerful people, he became the right-hand man of Nicholas II, the Russian tsar. Some claimed that he had the power to heal. He was also a known philanderer.

Rumors of his relationship with the tsarina ran rampant. He, a peasant, may have influenced military decisions in WWI. The man was everywhere all at once--until he was brutally murdered in Petersburg one dark night. They tried cyanide and nothing happened. The shot him, and he fled. Who was this mystery man? What was his impact on Russia? On the Christian church? Listen to this special episode to find out!

Our goal is to become the best Christian podcast out there. We can only do that with your financial support. You can donate on Patreon and Paypal. Every little bit helps!

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The Fall of the Romanovs (2 of 2) Nov 26, 2019

Become a patron of the show and help me make even more great episodes!

Donate by visiting www.patreon.com/trucepodcast

This is the second in a two-part story about the fall of the last czars of Russia. Their murder had a ripple effect across history. After them came Lenin and the rise of communism and the USSR. The modern American church changed to keep up. If Russia was going for collectivism and atheism, the USA would hold on to capitalism and Christianity. Which means that the gospel would soon be identified with money, power, and military might.

In this episode we follow the abdication of Nicholas II to the untimely end of him and his family. Theirs was just the first of a long string of murders that would elevate Lenin and Stalin to power.

Truce is a listener-supported show. Please consider donating a little each month via Patreon (which entitles you to some cool bonus material) or helping out with a one-time gift on Paypal. These gifts are not tax-deductible.

Our research was greatly aided by the following books:

The Romanovs by Simon Sebag Montefiore

A Well Ordered Thing - Michael D Gordin

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Romanov Stroganoff (1 of 2) Nov 12, 2019

Become a patron of the show and help me make even more great episodes!

Donate by visiting www.patreon.com/trucepodcast

One murder changed the course of Christian history. And it wasn't of a pope or church leader - it was the murder of Russia's last czars, the Romanovs. This is the beginning of our series on how communist Russia shaped modern Christianity in America. Tsar Nicholas II made many crucial mistakes: allowing Rasputin into his life, ignoring workers, the Russo-Japanese War, and many others. How we dealt with these tragic errors led the country into the hands of the Bolsheviks.

Oh yeah, and we made stroganoff. The recipe is below.

Truce is a listener-supported show. Please consider donating a little each month via Patreon (which entitles you to some cool bonus material) or helping out with a one-time gift on Paypal. These gifts are not tax-deductible.

Our research was greatly aided by the following books:

The Romanovs by Simon Sebag Montefiore

A Well Ordered Thing - Michael D Gordin

Dairy-free stroganoff recipe

Ingredients:

Egg noodles (as many as necessary - we used half a bag)

1 lbs ground beef

1 can mushrooms (small)

1/2 teaspoon pepper (or to taste)

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon mustard powder

1 diced onion

1/2 cup beef broth

1/2 cup dairy-free sour cream

1/2 cup mayonnaise

Directions:

Brown ground beef in a skillet. A little extra beef is fine. Elk and deer meat work just as well, though you may want to add more seasoning if it is too "gamey".
Put hot water on to boil for the noodles.
Drain the fat from the beef.
Add noodles to hot water.
When the meat is brown, add in garlic powder, pepper, mustard powder, onion, and mushrooms. Cook at about medium heat and stir.
When the onion has softened a little, add in the mayonnaise, sour cream, and beef broth. Let that simmer for about 15 minutes.
Drain noodles. Stroganoff is best served over a big heap of noodles. Put the beef mixture over the noodles and enjoy!

Questions we examine:

Why did communism take over Russia?
Who were the last tsars of Russia?
Who was Rasputin?
What was the Russo-Japanese War about?
Why did Lenin want to stay out of WWI?
Was Tsarina Alexandra crazy or just on a lot of drugs?
How did the downfall of the Russian tsars impact American Christianity?

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Phil Vischer (creator of VeggieTales) Oct 29, 2019

Truce is back with a special guest: Phil Vischer, one of the creators of the VeggieTales video series. He's also the creator of the new Laugh and Learn Bible and one of the hosts of the Holy Post Podcast (strongly recommended).

You can find our bonus material for this episode at www.patreon.com/trucepodcast.

Links:

https://philvischer.com/

Topics discussed:

* How did Phil create VeggieTales?

* How do Christians deal with loss and negative criticism?

* Phil Vischer's recent response to LGBT rights in the Christian Post

* Answering your questions about VeggieTales

* Where is my hairbrush?

* The Laugh and Learn Bible

* Why should I read the Bible on my own?

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Season 3 Trailer Oct 17, 2019

Truce is back for a third season! We'll begin with a conversation with Phil Vischer, creator of the popular VeggieTales animated series and the author of the new Laugh and Learn Bible. Then we're going to take a sharp turn and study Russia: how did tsarist Russia fall, how did communism gain its hold, and how did that shape the American church. I promise you, it's going to be fascinating! Subscribe now so you never miss an episode.

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The Faith of Napoleon Bonaparte Sep 03, 2019

Napoleon Bonaparte. No question he was a military genius and was partially responsible for modernizing Europe. But there are some things we just aren't sure about. Like, was Napoleon a Christian, a Muslim, or a poser?
In this, the final episode of season 2, we're going to explore the faith history of one of the most influential men of all time. We're joined by Pastor Justin Butler (highlandccky.org), author of Double-Sided Power: Studies in the Life of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Our goal is to make Truce the best Christian podcast available. We need your help to do that! We're currently over $3,000 in the hole in this project. Would you consider helping us you? Donate on our website at http://www.trucepodcast.com.
God willing, we'll be back with more Truce in early October.

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Patreon/ Season 3 Update featuring Eric Nevins of Halfway There Aug 27, 2019

We've started to post bonus content for Truce on our Patreon subscribers. If you give as little as $3/ month you'll get special bonus episodes like this one. You can donate at https://www.patreon.com/trucepodcast
Special thanks to Eric Nevins of the Halfway There podcast. Learn more about his show at: https://ericnevins.com/

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We are the 99% Aug 06, 2019

Remember Occupy Wall Street? That movement from the early 2000's caused a stir after the financial crisis of 2007-2008. They demanded that the people responsible for the crash be punished for their actions. We in the Christian church often struggle with the rich-- how to treat them, how to see ourselves. In this episode we take a look at some statistics that will make us rethink our view of the wealthy.
This episode was produced by Nick Staron. When Nick isn't busy with the podcast, he's working as a stand-up comedian. He's the perfect guy for your church picnic, youth night, or college gathering. Find more about Nick at www.nickstaron.com.

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Leverage: How Wealthy Christians Use Money to Change the Church Jul 30, 2019

John D. Rockefeller was a shrewd businessman. Even to the point of breaking the law to get what he wanted. His Standard Oil company was eventually broken up using the Sherman Antitrust act. But his money kept influencing society. On this episode of the Truce Podcast, we take a field trip to the National Elk Refuge and Grand Teton National Park to see how one wealthy family strong-armed Congress into declaring federal land. And we see how this kind of leverage is used in the modern Christian church.
The Bible verse used in this episode was excerpted from the Streetlights Audio Bible. https://www.streetlightsbible.com/

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John D. Rockefeller: Money in the Church Jul 23, 2019

John D. Rockefeller was the richest man... maybe ever. His Standard Oil Company swallowed up the competition and broke the law. Yet, this man claimed the name of Christ.
We're in the middle of a series about money in the church. How does it get to the church? Does it matter where the money comes from and where it goes?
This episode of the Truce Podcast was written and produced by Nick Staron: https://www.nickstaron.com/

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Are Christians Supposed to Tithe? Jul 16, 2019

Are Christians supposed to tithe? It's a big question, one that many pastors disagree on. A tithe literally means 10%. A bunch of people in the Old Testament were commanded to give 10%... are we supposed to continue that tradition today?
This is the first part in our series about money in the church -- how it gets there, where it's used, and how it can be used to gain power. Special thanks to our friends who gathered around the campfire with us.
Topics discussed in this episode:
* Does the 10% tithe still apply to modern Christians?
* What is a tithe?
* What is the verse in Malachi that talks about giving?
* How much money should a pastor make?
* Do we have to pay our pastor?
* Should a pastor wear expensive clothes?
* What does Jerry Savelle think about tithing?

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Using the Internet to Reach Muslims Jun 25, 2019

Reaching Muslims via the Internet. Can it be done? Our special guest today uses Google Ads, videos, and messaging apps to reach out in Muslim countries. We can't give any specifics about who he is or which organization he works for. But we think you'll find this episode inspiring.

Topics explored:

* How can we reach out to Muslims using the Internet?

* What questions to Muslims have about Christianity?

* Where are the greatest numbers of Muslims turning to Christ?

* Where should I start reading in the Bible?

* How do I share my faith with Muslims?

* Is Islam as dangerous as mainstream media says it is?

* How can I be praying for the Muslim world?

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Population Scare! Jun 25, 2019

The Pew Research Center released a study stating that there will be more Muslims in the world than Christians by the year 2050. That study terrified many Christians! Because we're so used to being the dominant religion on Earth. So there seemed to be only one solution -- have more babies.
On this episode of the Truce Podcast, we press pause on the would-be baby boom and ask, "is there a better way?". This episode is the third in a series on reaching out to Muslims.

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Reaching Muslims featuring Samy Tanagho Jun 18, 2019

This bonus episode features Samy Tanagho, author of "Glad News, God Love You My Muslim Friend". Samy explains a few ways that Christians can reach out to our Muslim friends. He recommends that we start with common ground: Jesus as Messiah, Abraham and Isaac, and more.

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Should Christians Fear Muslims? Jun 11, 2019

After 9/11 many American Christians became afraid of Islam. Even to the point of no longer wanting to share the gospel with Muslims. On this special episode of the Truce Podcast, Chris speaks with Dr. Hormoz Shariat of Iran Alive Ministries and Samy Tanagho, author of "Glad News, God Loves You My Muslim Friend".
In this episode we discuss:
* How international ministries can impact Muslim countries like Iran through media
* Ways Christians can reach out to Muslims
* Encouragement for Christians to love on Palestinians as well as Jews.
* Economic and social issues within Iran, including massive inflation.

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Embryo Adoption - featuring Nate Birt of "Frozen But Not Forgotten" Jun 05, 2019

If life begins at conception, what do we do with all of the embryos left after in vitro fertilization? Author and journalist Nate Birt joins us to discuss embryo adoption and his book Frozen But Not Forgotten.

This is a Truce Podcast extra. Truce is a listener supported show. Donate on Patreon, GoFundMe, and on our website. Send us an email to let us know what you think of the show and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

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Fatty Arbuckle and the MPAA May 28, 2019

Did Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle murder Virginia Rappe? That questions defined the film industry for thirty years. Upset with Hollywood's moral failures, Christians demanded changes. We took over, fighting until the studios decided to censor themselves.
This special episode of Truce ties into our last episode with Abby Johnson of the Unplanned movie.
This episode explores:
* Who was Fatty Arbuckle?
* Who was Virginia Rappe?
* Did Fatty Arbuckle murder Virginia Rappe?
* What is the MPAA?
* What started the Motional Picture Association of America?
* Did Christians really censor the golden age of films?

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Censorship May 21, 2019

Freedom of speech. We all say we want it, but do we really? On this episode of the Truce podcast, we talk with Abby Johnson, the subject of the new film "Unplanned" which hit theaters in March. Abby shares her story of having worked for Planned Parenthood and how she quit after witnessing an abortion for herself.

Please note: this episode may not be appropriate for all listeners.

We also speak with Dr. Richard Land about his thoughts concerning censorship.

The interviews in this show (including American Family Radio, The Museum of the Bible, and more) were recorded at the 2019 Proclaim Conference, hosted by the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Anaheim, CA. Special thanks to their team for allowing Chris to attend for free with a press pass.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Did Twitter block the account for the Unplanned movie?

Do we really want unregulated freedom of speech?

Why were conservatives so upset when NFL players knelt during the national anthem?

Are Christian and conservative messages blocked on social media?

Who is Abby Johnson?

What did Abby Johnson see?

What is Planned Parenthood?

How big is Planned Parenthood?

We work hard to create the best Christian podcasts in the world. We can't do that without your help! Please donate on GoFundMe.com, Patreon, or on our website at www.trucepodcast.com.

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How Multi-Level Marketing Targets Christians (4 of 4) May 07, 2019

Did you know that Presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Donald Trump have all stumped for the multi-level marketing industry? MLMs, direct sales, and network marketing have powerful friends. But what about Christian "celebrities"?
On this, our fourth and final episode on MLMs, we're going to demonstrate how the gospel is used to sell an illegitimate business model. People like Josh McDowell have spoken for Amway. But does that make his actions wrong? He is, after all, there to preach the gospel to a captive audience. Who can blame him?
Ideas explored in this episode:
* What was the Trump Network?
* Did Bill Clinton speak at Amway events?
* How was George Bush involved with MLMs?
* Who is Terri Savelle Foy?
* Can we mix the gospel and business?
* Why do Christians and people of faith sell for pyramid schemes?
* How do pyramid schemes target Christians?
Want more information and links? Visit our website at www.trucepodcast.com.
Truce is a listener supported show. Donate now on Patreon, GoFundMe, or at www.trucepodcast.com.

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The Amway Decision (feautring Robert Fitzpatrick of Pyramid Scheme Alert) (3 of 4) Apr 30, 2019

The Amway Decision. The Federal Trade Commission decided that Amway was not an illegal pyramid scheme, but a legitimate business. How did that happen? Why is it important. This week on the Truce Podcast we're joined once again by Robert Fitzpatrick of Pyramid Scheme Alert (https://pyramidschemealert.org/), author of Ponzinomics to explore the history of MLMs.
Also in this episode is a brief history of the founders of Amway: Richard DeVos and Jay VanAndel. The DeVos name probably sounds familiar. Our current Secretary of Education is Betsy DeVos, daughter-in-law to Richard. She's made a lot of news in her position because of her stances on charter schools and arming teachers in public schools.
A lot of information for this episode came from the book "Dark Money" by Jane Mayer (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/215462/dark-money-by-jane-mayer/9780307947901/). It is an excellent read and raises a lot of good questions about money in politics.
Did you know that the Truce Podcast is listener supported? Find out how to help at http://www.trucepodcast.com/donate
Here is a link to the FTC website explaining the characteristics of a pyramid scheme: https://www.ftc.gov/public-statements/1998/05/pyramid-schemes
Topics explored in this episode?
* Is Amway a pyramid scheme?
*Are pyramid schemes legal?
*What makes a pyramid scheme legal?
*Am I in a pyramid scheme?
*Who is Betsy DeVos?
*History of Amway
*Why is Richard DeVos?
*What happened to Blackwater?

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The Human Cost of Multi-Level Marketing (featuring Robert Fitzpatrick) (2 of 4) Apr 23, 2019

We know that tying business to religion can be tricky. Think about recent stories involving Hobby Lobby, Chick-fil-A, or In-N-Out Burger. But what happens when we tie our religion to a business model that just doesn't work?
That's what many multi-level marketing (MLM) companies do every day. They saddle distributors with debt and product they can't sell... often in the name of Jesus. We're joined once again by Robert Fitzpatrick of Pyramidschemealert.org, author of Ponzinomics.
Questions answered: (well... we put this here to help search engines)
What is an MLM?
Is this company a scam?
What is a pyramid scheme?
Do people lose money on MLMs?
Is direct sales for me?
How do people get rich in direct sales?
Is this a Christian company?

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Multi-Level Marketing, Pyramid, and Ponzi Schemes (1 of 4) Apr 16, 2019

What is multi-level marketing? It turns out, it is a very popular business model that targets Christians and other people of faith. But... it is almost guaranteed to fail. Because MLM's and direct sales companies are not designed to sell a product but to sell the business itself.
Joining us for this episode is Robert Fitzpatrick. He's the president of Pyramid Scheme Alert and the author of the new book “Ponzinomics: The Untold History of Multi-Level Marketing and How Direct Sales Became an American Swindle”.
Also mentioned in the episode is the podcast The Dream. Season one talks in great detail about pyramid schemes. Please be aware that some of the episodes use strong language.
Topics covered in this episode:
What is multi-level marketing?
What is a pyramid scheme?
What is a Ponzi scheme?
Who are Ponzi schemes named after?
Who was Charles Ponzi?
Is multi-level marketing the same thing as a pyramid scheme?
What is the difference between a pyramid scheme and multi-level marketing and a Ponzi scheme?
What is a good book about pyramid schemes?
Will I lose money with multi-level marketing?
Is Amway considered multi-level marketing?
Is Herbalife multi-level marketing?
Do pyramid schemes target Christians?
Should I join an MLM?
Which MLM should I join?
Looking for the Amway stats we mentioned? You can find them here: https://pyramidschemealert.org/half-of-amways-products-are-retailed-really-plus-other-wacky-numbers-3/

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Prosperity and Reformed: Follow the Money Apr 10, 2019

We're taking a week off from releasing a full episode of the Truce podcast, but I wanted to give you a little something to think about. Where is your media coming from? Your audio sermons? Your curriculum? Let's start a conversation! You can find the show on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook at @trucepodcast.com. God willing, there will be a new episode next week.

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The Prosperity Gospel (featuring Brandon Kimber from American Gospel) Apr 02, 2019

The Prosperity Gospel. It goes by a lot of names. Prosperity, name it and claim it theology, The Secret, the word of faith movement... but how did it begin? Who came up with the ideas that are now spreading throughout the world?

This week on the Truce Podcast we interview Brandon Kimber, director of the new film American Gospel. The film takes a deep dive into the world of the prosperity gospel, and what the gospel is in the first place. The film is 2.5 hours long, and covers a lot of ground. I recommend watching it in 2-3 chunks as a small group with discussion after each chunk.

Interviews within the movie include Matt Chandler, Francis Chan, John MacArthur, Jackie Hill Perry, Costi Hinn and many others. There are many clips of famous prosperity teachers explicitly preaching in opposition to the Bible, including Benny Hinn, Joel Osteel, Victoria Osteen, Kenneth Copeland, and Bill Johnson of Bethel Church.

Discussed within the episode:

What is the prosperity gospel?

Who founded the prosperity gospel movement?

Who is Phineus Quimby?

How did Phineus Quimby influence Mary Baker Eddy, founder of the Christian Science religion?

Who is E.W. Kenyon and how did he shape our modern blend of New Thought and biblical living?

What is the Christian gospel?

How do I get to heaven?

What happens if God doesn't heal me?

The episode also features a number of gospel presentations that are at about 10 words each. Here are some of them, thanks to First Baptist Church of Jackson, WY.

Jesus' resurrection reconciles holy God and sinful people who believe.

Faith in Jesus is enough to be forgiven and received.

Faith in Jesus is enough to be forgiven and transformed.

God's gift of reconciliation offered to humanity.

Jesus' resurrection reconciles holy God and sinful people who believe.

Christ died so that we might live!

God's righteous wrath shall be averted pleading Christ's death alone.

Choose God’s grace through Jesus or default to God’s punishment.

The truth about God's plan of salvation for believers

Acceptance of undeserved blessings & atonement for yesterday, today, and forever.

Christ's perfect life, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection affords opportunity for a positive eternity for all who are willing to accept it.

Individuals can have peace with God through Jesus’ atoning death.

He died on the cross for my sins even though I constantly fall short.

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Leadership (featuring Mark Galli of Christianity Today) Mar 26, 2019

This week we talk with Mark Galli, editor in chief of Christianity Today about leadership. Are we all called to lead or are just some of us? Does that mean we don’t have to lead if we’re not gifted in that way?
We’re also joined by Paul Wingfield of the One Man and His Wilderness podcast.
Our main Bible verse comes from Romans 12:3-8.
Things we explore in this episode:
* Are all Christians supposed to lead?
* Are all Christians leaders?
* How should Christians lead?
* All members of Christ’s body have different gifts.
* What are the gifts of the spirit?
* Servant leadership
* How to lead in your church
* Why do so many Christian leaders fail?
The Truce podcast is a listener supported show.

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Failure as a Weapon (featuring Andrew Schwab of Project 86) Mar 19, 2019

Is it okay to fail? Are we okay with failure in the Christian church? Even mainstream churches frequently link financial and business success with God's blessing. If we're not rich and don't have a big following, does that mean that God doesn't love us?

This week on the Truce Podcast we sit down once again with Andrew Schwab, lead singer of Project 86 and host of the Pioneers Podcast to discuss failure. He shares with us the difficulties his band faced with their album Truthless Heroes and Atlantic Records. Andrew is also the author of the books "Fame is Infamy", "Tin Soldiers", and "It's All Downhill from Here".

In this episode we explore:

* Is it okay to fail?

* How should Christians handle failure?

* How do I know if I'm a success?

* Does our reliance on success distract from the mission of the church?

* Does God love me for who I am or do I have to work for it?

* How can failure be used as a weapon?

* How do I move on from a failure?

In this episode, we are also joined by Roy Browning of the Business Acumen Podcast. He helps us to look at the numbers of this podcast. Is it a success or a failure? Roy is the owner of JMC Brands. https://jmcbrands.com/

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The Influencer Economy (featuring Andrew Schwab of Project 86) Mar 12, 2019

There are so many temptations for people who create media. We are constantly targeted by scams, encouraged to brag about ourselves, and told we could always be doing better. Those pressures are shaping the modern church. For better or worse.
This week on the Truce Podcast we are joined by Andrew Schwab of Project 86 and the Pioneer's Podcast to explore the odd temptations facing modern Christianity. Andrew is also the author of the books "Fame is Infamy", "The Tin Soldiers", "It's All Downhill from Here".
Truce is a listener supported show. Visit our website at www.trucepodcast.com to donate. Please spread the word about the show and post a review of it on iTunes.
We'll discuss:
* How is technology shaping the modern church?
* How do Christians deal with failure?
* How do people make money on social media and Instagram?
* Should my church podcast its sermons?
* Are we creating new popes with our celebrity Christians?
* Is it okay for Christians to be famous?

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Your Media Time Out Experiences Mar 05, 2019

Author Michelle DeRusha (Katrina and Martin Luther, True You) gave up media for six weeks. She did it for Lent, the time of year right before Easter when some Christians give something up in order to draw closer to God. In this episode of the Truce Podcast we hear from her about her experience, and from you, our listeners about your experience with the Truce Podcast Media Time Out.
If you would like access to the PDF version of the Media Time Out, subscribe to our email update list (I won't sell your data, and emails are few and far between). The link will be emailed to you for free.
If you like the Truce Podcast, please leave us a rating on your favorite podcasting app.
Topics Covered:
What is a media fast?
Who is Michelle DeRusha?
What are people's personal stories about fasting?
What is media bias?
How do we decode bias in our media?
Is NPR bias?
Is cable news bias?
Is Fox News bias?
In our next episode we'll hear from Andrew Schwab of Project 86 and the Pioneers Podcast about the difficulties of being famous in the Christian world.

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The Media Time Out Feb 26, 2019

We're surrounded by media. All the time. On our phones, the television, radio... even music at the supermarket. When was the last time you enjoyed the silence?
This week on the Truce Podcast, we're going to take a break from media. No TV, radio, music, social media, movies... none of it. We're doing it for a few different reasons:
*To demonstrate to ourselves that we don't need our phones as much as we think we do.
*To refocus our attention on God.
*To see how our media is shaping us. We're going to study the bias and marketing that comes at us through our media.
*Our series on the influencer economy will make a lot more sense if you are aware of the messaging that targets you every day.
You can call this a media fast. But the Bible has a lot of specific requirements for fasting. So, let's just call this a “time out”. If you'd like to join along, sign up for our email updates list and you'll be emailed a link to our free PDF version of the curriculum. Feel free to make as many copies as you like!
Why do a media fast?
Because denying ourselves of something can illustrate to us our own reliance on it.
It gives us a great opportunity to talk with our friends about our convictions.
Unlike a traditional fast, you should be talking with your friends and family about this challenge. Hopefully, together, you can come up with solutions to better deal with all of the messaging coming at you.
Once you're done with the media time out, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. And record a voice memo on your smart phone about your experience and email it to us. We may use it on the show.

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Trailer: The Influencer Economy Jan 24, 2019

New episodes of the Truce Podcast are coming soon! Our special guests will include Andrew Schwab of Project 86 and The Pioneers Podcast, author Michelle DeRusha, and Robert Fitzpatrick from Pyramid Scheme Alert. We're exploring how Christians are marketed to and how sometimes makes us fall into some pretty dark traps.
Subscribe on Apple Podcast, Google Play, or Spotify. www.trucepodcast.com

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The Christmas Truce Dec 18, 2018

In World War II the world was in chaos. Men shooting other men. The old world of horses and bayonets collided with machine guns and tanks. In the midst of the madness, thousands of men left their trenches on Christmas and met their neighbors. It was a spontaneous gathering of brothers. We in the Christian church can learn a lot from them.
Truce is a listener supported show. Click here to help.
Our Bible readings were performed by Jasen Banks from the Word x the World podcast.

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The Rosetta Stone Dec 11, 2018

The events of Daniel 11 helped to disprove Mormonism. In this episode, we take a look at the Rosetta Stone, the Book of Abraham, and Joseph Smith.
Truce is a listener-supported podcast. Help by donating via Patreon and GoFundMe. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. http://www.trucepodcast.com
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!

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Christianity Today's Living and Effective Nov 20, 2018

Living And Effective is the newest podcast from Christianity Today and the Christian Standard Bible. Chris sat down with Richard Clark (@TheRichardClark) to discuss media ethics and the nature of Christian broadcasting. Is it okay to talk about infidelity when discussing Dr. Martin Luther King? Is a discussion of Christianity in the 1970's complete without a conversation about where the Jesus People are today? Is Christian media required to stay positive?
Subscribe to Living and Effective on any podcasting app or listen at http://www.livingandeffective.com.
Truce is a listener supported podcast. Support the show at http://www.patreon.com. Our Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram handle is @trucepodcast.

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Help! (For One Minute) Nov 13, 2018

We need your help! Truce is taking a break this week so we can do some marketing. In the meantime, please:
1) Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, or where ever you listen
2) Tell two friends about the show
3) Pray for Truce!
God willing, we'll see you next week. Until then, check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Predicting the End Nov 06, 2018

We're still here, despite the fact that dozens of predictions have told us that the world would have ended by now. John Hagee, Jack Van Impe, Joseph Smith, Jehovah's Witnesses, John Wesley, Harold Camping and so many others have made bogus predictions. What should we think about this? How do people of faith look when we are clearly wrong in such public ways? In this episode of the Truce podcast, we examine some of the reasons behind these predictions and discuss a better way forward.
Truce is the Christian podcast that uses journalistic tools to look inside the Christian church. We press pause on the culture wars to explore how we got here and how we can do better.

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Suffrage: The Textbook and the Hatchet (2 of 2) Oct 30, 2018

It took a long time for women to get the right to vote. And it took a lot of different opinions about how to go about fighting for that right. Frances Willard, the second president of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, used marches and speeches. Her fellow WCTU member, Carrie Nation, preferred... a hatchet.

On this episode, the second in a series, we look at a few of the women who were involved in this important movement. Frances Willard, Carrie Nation, and more.

Truce is a listener-supported podcast. We're about a thousand dollars in the hole after two seasons of the show. Consider donating a few dollars to keep this thing going.

Guests:

Jenna DeWitt @Jenna_DeWitt

Jim Vorel from Paste Magazine @JimVorel

Claire White from the Mob Museum in Las Vegas @TheMobMuseum

Sarah Ward from the Woman's Christian Temperance Union https://www.wctu.org/

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Suffrage: How Women Stopped the Drink and Gained the Vote (1 of 2) Oct 23, 2018

The 1800's were a drunken mess. The median adult in the US drank 1.7 bottles of 80 proof alcohol each week. Each week! The 1800's were also a time when women didn't have many rights: they couldn't vote, were expected to stay home, and were somewhat invisible in the public sphere. Until they'd had enough.

Thanks to the efforts of organizations like the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, women fought for their rights. On this episode of the Truce Podcast, we begin our series on this historic battle.

Guests:

Jenna DeWitt @Jenna_DeWitt

Jim Vorel from Paste Magazine @JimVorel

Claire White from the Mob Museum in Las Vegas @TheMobMuseum

Sarah Ward from the Woman's Christian Temperance Union https://www.wctu.org/

And remember to check out The Word in the World podcast: https://www.thewordxtheworld.com/

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Is Jesus Eternal?: Begotten Oct 09, 2018

Is Jesus eternal? There is a key word in the gospels and the Nicaean Creed: begotten. We don't use it much today, but some people take it to mean that Jesus hasn't been around since the beginning of time. Jehovah's Witnesses use it as proof that Christ was created by God. But does it mean that? No. Our special guest for this episode is Professor Gerald Bray.

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A Roman Emperor and the Easter Bunny Oct 02, 2018

How did we decide on the day we celebrate Easter? Believe it or not, it was decided 1700 years ago at the Council of Nicaea, which was called by the Roman emperor Constantine. There was some confusion as to whether or not it should be tied to the Jewish celebration of Passover. This is the third part in our series on Constantine.

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Constantine: Council of Nicaea and the Spread of Relics Sep 25, 2018

Modern Christians believe that Jesus is God, eternal. But some people in the early church didn't think so. So early leaders decided to call the Council of Nicaea. Today people like Dan Brown (the DaVinci Code) might see this as when Constantine decided to make Jesus divine. Is that true? Our guests are Professor Gerald Bray and Professor David Potter. This is the second of four episodes on the legacy of the Roman emperor Constantine.

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Constantine: Persecuted to Preferred Sep 18, 2018

Who was the first political leader to use Christianity to his benefit? We see it all the time today, but when did it begin? This is the first part in a series looking at the impact of the Roman Emperor Constantine on history. We're still dealing with this guy 1700 years later. He was a warrior, a murderer, and a pagan priest. He also may have saved Christianity. Our guests are Professor Gerald Bray and Professor David Potter.

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The Heart Behind Christian Films (Part 2 of 2) Sep 11, 2018

In part one we examined the history and economics of this maligned art form. Now let's understand the heart behind Christian filmmaking. If we're going to share the hope we have in Christ, then we need tools like this. We're joined by filmmakers Rich Christiano (Time Changer, Unidentified, Play the Flute) and Wes and Amanda Llewellyn (The Moment After I & II).

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The Humble Christian Film: Economics and History of an Art Form (Part 1 of 2) Sep 04, 2018

Christians have many tools at their disposal -- Bible studies, tracts, sermons. But the punching bag of ministry tools has got to be the humble Christian film. We think of this as an upstart medium, but it's not. It's as old as filmmaking itself. In this two-part series, we examine the economics, the history, and the heart behind this much-maligned art form. We're joined by filmmakers Rich Christiano (Time Changer, Unidentified, Play the Flute) and Wes and Amanda Llewellyn (The Moment After I & II).

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Healing the Southern Baptist Convention Jun 08, 2018

The Southern Baptist Convention meets again next week. So, as a follow up to our curse of Ham story, we talked to Pastor Dwight McKissic Jr (@pastordmack) about his efforts to address racial issues within the SBC. A new resolution is on the table that would officially apologize for misusing the Bible to justify slavery and oppression. That resolution specifically calls out the so-called "curse of Ham".
Genesis 9 tells the story of Noah and his sons after the ark. At first glance, it seems as though this is just a weird story. But it has dramatic ramifications for world history. You see, Noah places a curse on one of his descendants. His kids will be the servants of all the others. I.e. slaves. For years, organizations like the SBC taught that the curse was on Ham, whose offspring became the African people. The text tells a different story. It clearly states that Canaan, Noah's grandson, is cursed. The Canaanites settled in what would become Israel and were given the boot in the book of Joshua.
But this lie has stuck around. Pastor McKissic and others will see that it is officially dealt with.
Truce is a listener supported podcast. Donate at www.trucepodcast.com and connect with us on social media at @trucepodcast.
Special thanks to Andy Huff for our beautiful logo.
Be praying for the SBC and their meeting!

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Scott Pruitt, Christianity, and NPR's Embedded Jun 04, 2018

In April of 2018 @NPREmbedded produced a podcast episode about Scott Pruitt, the current head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the Trump Administration. It covered, among other things, his record on the environment, and... his Christian faith. In this, the first episode of season 2, we take a look at Genesis 1 and ask what it can (and can't) tell us about our role in the environment.
Special thanks to @NPREmbedded for their help. You can find our guests at @joewertz and @TomDreisbach. Our logo is by Andy Huff. This program is listener supported. If you'd like to donate, visit us at www.trucepodcast.com.

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Girolamo Savonarola: One Man Against the Renaissance Mar 26, 2018

Girolamo Savonarola was an inspiration to Martin Luther and an early martyr for the Protestant Reformation. He's also a controversial figure – more Old Testament prophet than humble friar. Our guest Samantha Morris (https://theborgiabull.com) discusses her book Girolamo Savonarola: The Renaissance Preacher and the history of the “mad preacher of Florence”.

Think you could end a movement? Destroy some of the best art ever made? Nearly topple the Italian Renaissance? Of course not, but that's what one man tried to do at the end of the 1400's. He was a righteous man who fought against the evil of Pope Alexander the VI. But he we went too far—trying to make the world behave in a godly fashion instead of changing the hearts of Florence. In a time before the Bible was readily available in people's own languages, Girolamo Savonarola was put to death by the very superstition he tried to defeat.

Truce is a listener-supported podcast. Leave us a comment on iTunes and be sure to visit us at www.trucepodcast.com. You can follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/trucepodcast) and Twitter (@trucepodcast). Our host is Chris Staron, author of Cradle Robber and writer/ director of the films Bringing up Bobby and Between the Walls.

Artwork by @andrewjohnhuff.

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Church Discipline Mar 26, 2018

When churches face evil or unrepentant behavior we have to make a tough call. What does church discipline look like? It turns out that it involves several steps from talking to the person one-on-one to expelling them from the congregation. There isn't a one-size-fits-all approach. Jonathan Leeman from www.9marks.org joins us to talk about his book on church discipline.

Our main text is from Matthew 18 where Jesus lays out a clear plan for disciplining a brother or sister in Christ. Though the process seems easy, it is not without disagreement. Some people argue that discipline is tied to church membership. If someone sins, take away their membership to the congregation. The only problem is that membership is not in the Bible. It is an invention of man. But so are many other cherished parts of the church-going experience: youth group, Sunday school, crosses as decoration, even holidays like Christmas and Easter are not specifically outlined in the Bible.

Truce is a listener-supported podcast. Leave us a comment on iTunes and be sure to visit us at www.trucepodcast.com. You can follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/trucepodcast) and Twitter (@trucepodcast). Our host is Chris Staron, author of Cradle Robber and writer/ director of the films Bringing up Bobby and Between the Walls.

Artwork by @andrewjohnhuff.

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Plantation Jesus Mar 26, 2018

In this podcast extra we're taking a look at how ethnicity sometimes trumps our commitment to God. How can we, as believers, move forward in a Church that seems divided by race and ethnicity? Skot Welch is is the founder of Global Bridgebuilders, an organization that works with companies and churches to encourage diversity. He and his friend Rick Wilson wrote the upcoming book Plantation Jesus: Race, Faith, and a New Way Forward.

Truce is a listener-supported podcast. Leave us a comment on iTunes and be sure to visit us at www.trucepodcast.com. You can follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/trucepodcast) and Twitter (@trucepodcast). Our host is Chris Staron, author of Cradle Robber and writer/ director of the films Bringing up Bobby and Between the Walls.

Artwork by @andrewjohnhuff.

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The Curse of Ham and the Southern Baptist Convention Mar 26, 2018

The Curse of Ham. It sounds like something from Game of Thrones, but it is actually a mis-reading of an Old Testament scripture that has been used for hundreds of years to justify racism and slavery. This week we take a look inside the Southern Baptist Convention's controversial 2017 meeting and interview pastor Charles Hedman from Capitol Hills Baptist Church (http://www.capitolhillbaptist.org).

The “curse” comes from Genesis 9. Noah (yes, the guy from the flood) is back on dry land. He gets drunk and his boys cover him up out of shame. Enraged by their behavior, Noah places a curse on one of his family members: his descendants will be in service to the others. Trouble is, despite the Bible saying that Canaan is cursed, many people pretend that Ham is in order to oppress his descendants: those of African descent. This obvious fallacy has been used for decades to justify terrible acts-- and all because we refuse to see what's so clearly there.

Truce is a listener-supported podcast. Leave us a comment on iTunes and be sure to visit us at www.trucepodcast.com. You can follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/trucepodcast) and Twitter (@trucepodcast). Our host is Chris Staron, author of Cradle Robber and writer/ director of the films Bringing up Bobby and Between the Walls.

Artwork by @andrewjohnhuff.

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Stephen Mansfield: Choosing Donald Trump Mar 26, 2018

We all know a little something about President Donald Trump, how he bankrolled his family fortune into celebrity. But what do we know about his religious history? Our guest for this episode is author, speaker, podcaster Stephen Mansfield. Stephen is the New York Times bestselling author of Choosing Donald Trump.

The charismatic preacher and author of The Power of Positive Thinking, Norman Vincent Peele, preached before the Trump family when Donald was just a boy. Principles of that ministry can still be seen in the president today: thinking of oneself as blessed, denying negativity, seeing oneself as deserving of God's blessing. The president was also heavily influenced by Paula White, a pentecostal preacher and a member of his Faith Advisory Council.

Though Donald Trump may offend many Christians, he lays claim to our faith. What do we do with that information?

As a note, this episode was recorded before the passing of Billy Graham so there is one reference to him as if he is still alive.

Truce is a listener-supported podcast. Leave us a comment on iTunes and be sure to visit us at www.trucepodcast.com. You can follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/trucepodcast) and Twitter (@trucepodcast). Our host is Chris Staron, author of Cradle Robber and writer/ director of the films Bringing up Bobby and Between the Walls.

Artwork by @andrewjohnhuff.

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Evangelical Christians and Donald Trump: An Unlikely Love Affair Mar 26, 2018

When were Christians first tied to Donald Trump? It seems to have started when Dr. James Dobson of FamilyTalk said on tape that Donald Trump is a Christian. He is not the only person making that claim. Paula White, Michelle Bachmann, Kenneth Copeland, and many other sing the same song.

But it doesn't look like we're buying their rhetoric. American Christians don't really believe that Trump is one of us. So what do Christian leaders stand to gain by pretending he is? They want to repeal the Johnson Amendment, which prohibits pastors and churches from making specific kinds of political speech. Americans love free speech... when it works to their advantage. The trouble is, Republican lawmakers want to repeal the amendment for more nefarious reasons.

Truce is a listener-supported podcast. Leave us a comment on iTunes and be sure to visit us at www.trucepodcast.com. You can follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/trucepodcast) and Twitter (@trucepodcast). Our host is Chris Staron, author of Cradle Robber and writer/ director of the films Bringing up Bobby and Between the Walls.

Artwork by @andrewjohnhuff.

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Season One Trailer Mar 19, 2018

Truce is a show about the Church. What makes evangelical Christians tick? How do we impact the culture, and how does the culture shape us? Using journalistic tools we will journey together into one of the most powerful forces in world history: the gospel. Truce is a new podcast from the creator of the film "Bringing up Bobby" and the novel "Cradle Robber". Visit www.trucepodcast.com for more information.

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