Religion Unplugged

Christian movies have a pretty negative reputation.They are criticized for being cheesy, preachy, poorly acted, poorly written, and generally prioritizing lesson-teaching over entertainment or artistic excellence.But, in recent years, their Rotten Tomatoes scores have been on a steady uptick. The critical reviews contain more of the nuance given to secular films, and, en masse, viewers seem to be more positive about their experiences.So, what's happening?The tide that has turned in the faith-based film industry is multifaceted. The studios have become willing to give Christian directors bigger budgets. Writers have started telling stories with more complicated heroes and honest portrayals of life. Skilled and well-established actors like Patricia Heaton, Zachary Levi, Kelsey Grammar, and Dennis Quade are being hiredOne of the innovators behind the industry's compounding improvement is Andy Erwin.Andy Erwin and his brother Jon helped found Kingdom Story Company in 2019. The studio has been responsible for some of the biggest and most positively reviewed Christian films to date—including Jesus Revolution, Sarah's Oil, and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. But the Erwin brothers' breakout hit was 2018's “I Can Only Imagine.” The film follows MercyMe's vocalist Bart Millard from his childhood growing up with an abusive father to his creation of one of the most popular contemporary Christian songs of all time.Now, they're back with the sequel, “I Can Only Imagine 2” which came out in theaters last week.Religion Unplugged's Culture Critic, Joseph Holmes, sat down with Erwin to better understand where the Christian film industry is headed and why the story of “I Can Only Imagine” needed to be expanded on.
I Can Only Imagine: https://icanonlyimagine.com

This year's Winter Olympic Games are filled with Jewish athletes.They can be found in hockey goals, cross country slopes, bobsleds, and skating competitions.But, despite a robust representation in Milan and an even more significant representation in the Paris games of 2024, the stereotype that Jews are bad at sports has not fully vanished.The stereotype is a very old one, but it was probably made most popular by none other than Hitler himself. It has become such a popular delusion that even many Jewish writers and entertainers have adopted it.In order to understand how this stereotype began, and why it is so egregiously incorrect, I sat down with Writer and Radiologist Michael Meyerson.Michael was a tennis player in his younger years and began researching and writing about Jewish Athletes in his spare time as a way to debunk the stereotypeMichael's 300-page book, “Tragedy & Triumph” details the stories of countless jewish athletes who competed in the Olympic Games.Michael explores the constant struggle that Jews have had throughout history to be respected in athletic circles—and it turns out to be much bigger than just the infamous Hitler games.Notably, Michael's book covers several athletes whose stories have made it into major films such as Chariots of Fire and The Boys In The Boat. He even touches on Martin Reisman, the hustling table-tennis player whose life inspired last year's critically acclaimed Marty Supreme.Michael and I talked about his purpose in writing the book, the strange moment when gliding was considered an Olympic Sport, the reason many Jews are so good at fencing, and much more.Tragedy and Triumph: https://www.amazon.com/Tragedy-Triumph-Second-Olympics-Perspective/dp/0645343250

In the Apostle Paul's 1st Biblical letter to Timothy, Paul writes that Christ came into the world to save sinners. He follows that up by stating that he is the foremost sinner.This is sometimes translated as Paul being “chief of sinners” and even as him being, plainly, “the worst.”It's this idea that Christian actor, writer, and podcaster Nathan Clarkson uses to justify the title of his new book: “I'm The Worst.”Nathan's work goes against the cultural current.In an age where many loud voices urge us to put away thoughts of self-criticism and turn instead toward radical self-acceptance, Nathan argues that to truly value ourselves is to understand where we have failed and where we need to grow.Furthermore, Nathan encourages his readers to spend less time bemoaning the people who are making the world worse and more time actively working on what we can do to make the world better.Nathan has acted in The Purge, Silicon Valley, FBI: Most Wanted, Past Lives, and many other movies and TV shows. In addition to acting Nathan has produced multiple feature films through his production company, Clarkson's Creations. He is also a Publishers Weekly Bestselling Author for his book Finding God in Hollywood, among others.Religion Unplugged's Culture Critic, Joseph Holmes regularly co hosts a podcast with Nathan called The Overthinkers, so this week, the pair sat down on our podcast, to discuss Nathan's personal cycles of failure and self-improvement, the ways we villainize the people who differ from us, and how a self-critical mindset can still coincide with self-love.

South Africa has a sexual abuse crisis. And while many of these attacks occur on the streets or in the home, every month, several cases of rape take place in churches and are perpetrated by pastors.The assaulted individuals come from every ethnic group, age, social class, and even gender.For over a decade, tens of thousands of South Africans have been violated in their communities.To better understand South Africa's abuse crisis and how faith communities are involved, I sat down with Vicky Abraham.Vicky is an investigative journalist based in Johannesburg, South Africa. In addition to her work at Religion Unplugged, Vicky's work has appeared in The Roys Report, the Mail & Guardian, City Press and many other publications.Vicky's article last week, entitled “South Africa's Gender-Based Violence Crisis Reaches The Pulpit” details the incredible range of sexual violence that is occurring at the hands of the person who parishioners often trust most, their pastor.Abuse of teenagers is incredibly frequent, with many abusers having been abused in adolescence themselves and then perpetuating the cycle of sexual violence. But Vicky noted that even very elderly people and babies under a year old have fallen victim to abuse. Vicky walked me through the complex path that victims often have to walk in order to report their abuser. When brought to church authorities, many victims are rebuked and told that what they say is going to harm the church and disrupt the spiritual community.For men, who are also frequently victims, police officers will often mock them for having been sexually assaulted, heaping shame on an already devastating situation.Vicky's investigation into pastoral sex crimes is ongoing—with new cases appearing all the time. And while she is pleased with the outraged reactions from many healthy churches and even South Africa's President, Cyril Ramaphosa, there is still a long way to come.#southafrica #southafrican #churches #pastors #christianity #abuse #awareness #africa

In 2025, the whole world watched as Chicago native Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope. Again, everyone watched as Conservative Christian Apologist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at Utah Valley University.But while religious news events like these were known world round, other important stories are being covered all the time by journalists like Bobby Ross Jr., a veteran religion reporter.In addition to covering Kirk and Leo, Bobby also wrote about Christian parents grieving in the wake of the Central Texas floods, faith's role in The Oklahoma City Thunder's championship-winning season, and the possibility of Christian higher education in Europe.So on this week's episode of the Religion Unplugged Podcast Matthew Peterson sat down with Bobby to discuss not only the news trends he anticipates in the year to come, but also his career of 25 years covering faith through on-the-ground reporting in all 50 states and in 20 different countries.Bobby started his career of reporting on what he calls “the Godbeat” back in 2001, when he was working for the Oklahoman.Today, he is Editor-in-Chief of The Christian Chronicle, which focuses on covering Churches of Christ all over the globe. He also writes his column, the “Weekend Plug-In” every Friday at Religion UnpluggedBobby and Matthew's conversation spanned how his interest in baseball shaped his initial career decision, how he maintains fairness and accuracy when covering difficult subjects within his faith tradition, and even how to discern what is true in the age of social media and AI.#religion #godbeat #religionnews #journalist #journalism #christianchronicle #2026 #bobbyrossjr #interview #podcast

Religion sociologist and Religion Unplugged contributor Ryan Burge sits down with culture critic Joseph Holmes to discuss Ryan's book "The Vanishing Church" and why the church has lost its ability to bring Americans together. 

The cargo shipping industry is vital to the sustenance of the modern world. However, the millions of mariners who make the system possible often go unnoticed by the masses. For nearly 200 years, The Seamen's Church Institute has worked hard to ensure that seafarers do not feel invisible. Matthew Peterson speaks with members of the organization to understand how they serve mariners and why the work is so important to them.

How does one balance faithfulness to religious tradition with artistic expression? Culture critic Joseph Holmes interviews director Lotfy Nathan on this very topic. Lotfy was raised in the Coptic Christian tradition and grew up to make a horror film about the childhood of Jesus based on the Infancy Gospel of Thomas--starring Nicholas Cage! 

Christians have many terms for those who came before them. They are called saints, heroes of the faith, and church fathers. But rarely are they referred to simply as ancestors. William H. Lamar IV pastors one of the oldest black churches in Washington, DC. He speaks with Matthew Peterson about his recent book, “Ancestors: Those Who Bless Us, Curse Us, and Hold Us.” He also talks about why it is important for Christians to be aware of the influence of their ancestors, why naming spaces after ancestors can be dangerous, and how Christians can be co-creators with God.Ancestors: https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506482217/AncestorsDonate: https://religionunplugged.com/donate

Few Christians will deny that Jesus and his disciples did miracles 2000 years ago. But does supernatural healing still occur in 2025? On this issue, there is much more debate. But, for New York Times Bestselling Author Lee Strobel, the answer is clear. Culture Critic Joseph Holmes interviews Strobel about his new documentary, The Case for Miracles.The Case For Miracles: https://thecaseformiracles.movieDonate: religionunplugged.com/donate

Catechesis is almost as old as Christianity itself. And while many catechisms have evolved over the years, the age of catechisms is rarely seen as a drawback — if anything, knowing that a catechism is tried and true can be what makes people trust it. But Trevin Wax and Thomas West believe it is worth developing a new catechism. Trevin speaks with Matthew Peterson about why churches and traditions who neglect catechism ought to reconsider.The Gospel Way Catechism: https://gospelwaycatechism.comDonate: religionunplugged.com/donate

American Evangelicalism has major influence over the culture and politics of the U.S. But, where did it all begin? In his recent book, “Jesus Springs,” William Schultz argues that the center of evangelicalism is in Colorado Springs. William and Matthew Peterson talk about how the Western city helped build the evangelical movement into what it is today.

Many writers have been credited with the authorship of the Bible. Some Biblical books list their writers explicitly, others are more ambiguous. But is writing the same as narrating? Raffi Magarik's recent book “Fictions of God” investigates the question of the Bible's narratology and its effects on both the protestant reformation and epic literature.Fictions of God: https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/F/bo253759253.htmlDonate: religionunplugged.com/donate

Pope Francis was undeniably controversial in Catholic and non-Catholic circles alike. So far, his predecessor has been less polarizing, but are the two popes really as different as they appear? Joseph Holmes interviews reporter and writer Christopher White about his recent book “Pope Leo XIV: Inside the Conclave and the Dawn of a New Papacy.”#newpope #pope #popeleoxiv #popefrancis #catholic #catholicism #conclave #vatican #holysee #rome #catholic #christopherwhite

How did a formerly homeless high school dropout end up with a doctorate in public policy and a poverty relief organization? Matthew Peterson interviews Dr. Terence Lester about his recent book “From Dropout to Doctorate.” Lester explains how education changed his life, how he is fighting poverty in Atlanta, Georgia, and how poverty and education can be deeply intertwined.From Dropout to Doctorate: https://www.ivpress.com/from-dropout-to-doctorate?srsltid=AfmBOoqSH7VrFGv8YO3urnrm8HiYz2vPXGEAxewYniwQZm2wfb58v5bLLove Beyond Walls: https://www.lovebeyondwalls.org#fromdroupouttodoctorate #terencelester #dropout #doctorate #education #homelessness #unhoused #homelesscrisis #fightingpoverty #poverty #mentorship #christianservice

“How has christianity changed by the means of transmission?” This is one of the core questions Professor David N. Hempton asks with his book “Christianity at the Crossroads,” in which he recounts the way Christianity has developed from the print revolution to the digital age due to the methods in which it is shared and experienced. Matthew Peterson speaks with Hempton about how these communication styles are interconnected, how the Jesuits existed as a network within a network, how women and men construct networks differently, and more.Christianity at the Crossroads: https://www.cambridge.org/us/universitypress/subjects/religion/church-history/christianity-crossroads-global-church-print-revolution-digital-era?format=HB&isbn=9781009597432Donate: https://religionunplugged.com/donate

Is it possible for faith-based film audiences and horror film audiences to converge? Despite the seeming chasm between the two genres, some of 2025's biggest horror films have much to say about faith. Culture Writers Joseph Holmes and Jillian Cheney discuss the role of religion and spirituality in The Conjuring: Last Rites, Sinners and Black Phone 2.

Over 100 years ago, Muhammad ‘Abduh grappled with the ways in which Islam and Christianity can coexist. He also explored the ways in which the two faiths have either contributed or restricted philosophical and scientific advancement. Now, due to the book's ongoing cultural relevance, Mohammed Gamal Abdelnour and Umran Khan have translated ‘Abduh's “Science and Civilization between Islam and Christianity” into English. Matthew Peterson speaks with the translators about how the book fits into modern interfaith discussion.Science and Civilization between Islam and Christianity: https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/distributed/S/bo245009719.html

The book of Exodus is full of violence, disease, plagues and power struggle. Can this story be told through the lens of a comedic mockumentary? Culture critic Joseph Holmes interviews Mitch Hudson, director of the new faith-based TV show “The Promised Land,” which presents an “Office”-style twist on the story of Exodus.The Promised Land: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePromisedLandSeries/featured

Fr. Stephen M. Koeth's “Crabgrass Catholicism” explores the many ways the Catholic Church drove the creation of suburban culture in postwar America.Crabgrass Catholicism: https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/C/bo250888546.html

Mike Flynt made history by going back to play college football at the age of 59. Now, with a new movie called "The Senior" in theaters from Angel Studios, Mike opens up about his experiences and the strong role faith played.Tags#football #collegefootball #retired #retiree #thesenior #theseniormovie #mikeflynt #interview

Culture critic Joseph Holmes talks to filmmaker and author Salvador Litvak about his new faith-based thriller, "Guns & Moses," and how the film reflects the fears and experiences of modern Orthodox Jews. In theaters October 14th.Guns & Moses: gunsandmosesmovie.com

Edward Wright-Ríos explores the devotees of Our Lady of Juquila and why pilgrimage is so much more than just “sweaty therapy” in his book “Devotion in Motion: Pilgrimage in Modern Mexico.”Devotion in Motion: https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/D/bo248381442.html

Salvation Poem Project President Brennan McPherson sits down with Film Critic Joseph Holmes to discuss his new hand-drawn animation film about the life of Jesus, "Light of the World," which is in theaters September 5th.Light of The World: https://lightoftheworld.com

Violence done at the hands of religious zealots seems as ancient as war itself. But how do peace-preaching religions become violent? And is religious violence more rampant today than it has been in the past? To find out, Matthew Peterson investigated the rise of Hindu nationalism in India and the ongoing persecution of its religious minorities.ANHAD: https://anhadindia.comCSSS: https://csss-isla.comHansen: https://www.alephbookcompany.com/book/the-law-of-force-the-violent-heart-of-indian-politics/Cavanaugh: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-myth-of-religious-violence-9780195385045?cc=us&lang=en&

After many years as a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, Lee Hawkins composed a memoir about how his investigation into his family's history led him on a journey of self-discovery and forgiveness. Matthew Peterson speaks with Lee about his book, "I Am Nobody's Slave"I Am Nobody's Slave: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/i-am-nobodys-slave-lee-hawkins?variant=42417685856290

atthew Peterson speaks with Alina Buzdugan of the Bible Chat app--an AI-powered tool intended to help believers and non-believers grow spiritually and advance their knowledge of scripture.Bible Chat: https://thebiblechat.com

Matthew Peterson speaks with professor and author Philip C. Almond about his recent book "Noah and the Flood in Western Thought."Noah and the Flood in Western Thought: https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/noah-and-the-flood-in-western-thought/D854F3F09B2AB914D50E274C540BC8D8

Are religious people as active in service as they claim to be? Matthew Peterson speaks with author and former Ohio State Governor John Kasich about his recent book “Heaven Help Us,” which explores how faith communities are making America a kinder nation.

Film and culture critic Joseph Holmes interviews actor Kevin Sorbo about his history in the faith-based film industry, which started with the film "What If?." The film was directed by Dallas Jenkins and returns to theatres August 5th & 7th for its 15th anniversary.#kevinsorbo #hercules #godsnotdead #dallasjenkins #thechosen #christianity #christianfilm #faithbasedfilm

How did the turban become so ubiquitous? Matthew Peterson speaks with Chris Filstrup about his and Jane Merrill's recent book, “The Turban: A History from East to West,” to investigate the origins and legacy of the headgear. The Turban: A History from East to West: https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/distributed/T/bo248107952.html

Religion Unplugged culture critic Joseph Holmes sits down with Roy Schwartz, author of "Is Superman Circumcised," to discuss the Jewish roots of the world's first and greatest superhero.Is Superman Circumcised: https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/is-superman-circumcised/?srsltid=AfmBOoqcVvb0Jx6SzCgZpyca-meeutW4pEYZFpjTVkuZrgEovryXzsb-

How did a wealthy royal advisor become one of history's most famous martyrs? Matthew Peterson interviews Michael Staunton about his recent book “Thomas Becket and His World” to understand the medieval Archbishop of Canterbury. Thomas Becket and His World: https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/distributed/T/bo248107940.html

Can biblical art find admiration in a majority Hindu Nation? The Media Project board member Jennifer Arul interviews painter Sabrina Siga about her creative journey as both a secular and sacred artist and the slow progress of biblical art in the Indian subcontinent.

Is religion bound to die out, or is theism ultimately indomitable? This week, Professor Espen Hammer tells Matthew Peterson about his recent book “After The Death of God.”After The Death of God: https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/A/bo242202719.html

Religion Unplugged's columnist Paul Prather is on the show this week to talk with Matthew Peterson about his pastoring, his journalism career, the importance of balanced news engagement and why vulnerability has been so key to his work.Read Paul's Work: https://religionunplugged.com/news?author=62cf1597d8ba387d85eac503

As a prolific hymn writer and preacher, Charles Wesley continues to influence modern churches around the world. This week, Dr. Clive Norris, editor of “Rev. Charles Wesley (1707–88),” speaks to Matthew Peterson about who Wesley was and what made him so influential.Rev. Charles Wesley (1707-88): https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/distributed/R/bo238311671.html

Is religion strictly textual? Jaś Elsner explores the art and artifacts of one of India's most notable Buddhist monuments in his recent book, "Amarāvatī." Matthew Peterson speaks with Jaś to better understand how visuals inform theological beliefs.Amaravati: https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/distributed/A/bo214800056.html#amaravati #buddhism #stupa #amaravatistupa #jaselsner #religiousart #buddha #buddhistart

For nearly as long as we've been around, humans have been looking to the stars to help make sense of the world. But what does that practice look like today? Astrologer, teacher, and author Rebecca Gordon speaks with Matthew Peterson about how she uses astrology in her everyday life and how astrology has affected different religions over the centuries.Visit Rebecca's Website: https://www.rebeccagordonastrology.comRebecca's Free Guide To Reading Your Birth Chart: https://da264.infusionsoft.app/app/form/religion-unplugged-2025

It has been 30 years since the Chinese government kidnapped a major Tibetan Buddhist leader. The victim, a six year-old boy, has not been seen since. Matthew Peterson investigates the disappearance and its ongoing ramifications for Tibetan autonomy.

On this week's episode, we interview Religion Unplugged Executive Editor Clemente Lisi about the death of Pope Francis, his legacy and what happens next with the upcoming conclave to elect a new pontiff. 

Culture critic Joseph Holmes interviews Scott LeRette, author of the beloved memoir "The Unbreakable Boy" and executive producer of the film adaptation of the same name. Scott talks about overcoming addiction, raising a child with special challenges, and how one finds God after walking away from Him.

The Media Project board member Jody Hassett Sanchez interviews journalist Sabrina Ferrisi to learn about Carlo Acutis, who will be canonized as the first millennial saint in April 2025.

"The Chosen," "House of David" and "King of Kings" are just a few of the faith-based movies and TV shows out this Easter which are garnering major publicity in mainstream trades and publications. Have faith-based films finally become mainstream? What is the future of the industry? Religion Unplugged Culture Critic Joseph Holmes, Religion Unplugged Culture Editor Jillian Cheny and The Collision Editor-in-Chief Daniel Blackaby discuss the past and future of the exciting and controversial industry.

How did the Qing dynasty's treatment of Muslims and Christians shape modern Chinese political practice? Matthew Peterson speaks with Hung Tak Wai about his recent book, "Redefining Heresy and Tolerance," to explore the historical struggles of Muslims and Christians in China.

Angela Youngman is a regular contributor to Religion Unplugged, covering everything from animals in churches to religious cyclists. Matthew Peterson sat down with Angela to learn how she finds her unique story ideas, why she likes to focus on the positive, and what she's working on next.

Culture critic Joseph Holmes interviews actor Luke Dimyan about why he relates to his role as Judas Iscariot in "The Chosen," the smash-hit TV show about the life of Jesus. 

Is religion allowed at public schools? This is one of many questions created by the simultaneous American commitments to refrain from establishing a national religion while also protecting freedom of religious expression. Matthew Peterson speaks with June Everett of After School Satan Club/HAIL and Joel Penton of LifeWise Academy to better understand how and why they have brought their religious beliefs to public school children across the nation.

With "Walden," Henry David Thoreau presented fresh viewpoints about materialism, independence and community which have challenged readers for well over a century. But what did the famed American writer believe about religion? Matthew Peterson speaks with Richard Higgins about his recent book, "Thoreau's God," to find out.

Religion Unplugged's Culture Critic, Joseph Holmes, interviews Kevin Downes, CEO of Kingdom Story Company, to learn about the company's new film, "The Unbreakable Boy," starring Zachary Levi and directed by Jon Gunn.

Grammy Award-winning gospel singer Jonathan McReynolds speaks about his new book, "Before You Climb Any Higher." Jonathan tells Matthew Peterson what he has learned about God and success on his journey to becoming a major figure in the gospel music scene.