Insurrection Epiphany
In this issue of A Public Witness, we journey back to the events of Jan. 6 with a focus on the co-opting of Christian symbols and values. Then we look at the gift of Epiphany’s message and how it can help us find a new way
New Trump Version of the Bible
In this issue of A Public Witness, we take off the extra layers to expose the anti-cheek turning rhetoric employed by the Trump family and their preachers. Then we go the extra mile to consider what we can learn about this effort from another presidential effort
Make Worship Great Again
In this issue of A Public Witness, we attend First Baptist’s “special” Christmas service to detail the clash of liturgies. We give special attention to the inherent political implications of Jesus’s birth. As a benediction, we reflect on the damage moments like this do to the
For the Director of Music (at First Baptist in Dallas)
Editor-in-Chief Brian Kaylor offers some seasonal advice to the music director at First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, ahead of Sunday’s worship service that will include former President Donald Trump.
Unsettling Advent, Day 16
In day 16 of our Unsettling Advent devotional series, David Gushee reflects on Isaiah 29:17-21 and its word for today after the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
Review: The Immaculate Mistake
Voices Editor Jeremy Fuzy reviews a new book by Rodney Kennedy, The Immaculate Mistake: How Evangelicals Gave Birth to Donald Trump. Kennedy utilizes his identity as a scholar of rhetoric and a Baptist preacher to draw out new understandings of the relationship between evangelicals and
Rodney Kennedy on The Immaculate Mistake
In episode 28 of Dangerous Dogma, Rodney Kennedy, a longtime Baptist pastor, talks about his new book The Immaculate Mistake: How Evangelicals Gave Birth to Donald Trump. He also discusses preaching, Southern culture, and Will Campbell.
The Hyperbole Hounds Howling at the Moon
Contributing writer Rodney Kennedy looks at the excessive use of hyperbole in our culture, especially from preachers and politicians. As a teacher of rhetoric and homiletics, he is concerned that hyperbole threatens our commitments and convictions that words matter.
Randall Balmer on Bad Faith
In episode 25 of Dangerous Dogma, Randall Balmer, a professor at Dartmouth College, talks about his new book 'Bad Faith: Race and the Rise of the Religious Right.' He also discusses his evangelical upbringing and his ministry as an Episcopal priest.
The Gospel of Revenge
Contributing writer Rodney Kennedy explores why Donald Trump’s gospel of “getting even” finds a comfortable home among evangelicals. This is not just a political problem but represents a theological issue crying out from the ground for attention.