The “Pastors In Name Only”:  The New (Old) Fight Over Who Counts As Christian episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 3, 2026 · 37 MIN

The “Pastors In Name Only”: The New (Old) Fight Over Who Counts As Christian

from Complexified · host Institute of Religion Politics and Culture, Amanda Henderson, Iliff School of Theology

Why Democratic pastors are being attacked for their faith, not merely their politics. Pastors, seminarians and other faith leaders are running for office as Democrats across the country. Their campaigns are making progressive Christianity newly visible—and prompting opponents to challenge not only their politics, but their legitimacy as Christians. RNS national reporter Jack Jenkins joins Amanda to examine James Talarico’s rise, attacks involving a “Satanist wedding” and biblical inerrancy, and the theological dispute between Raphael Warnock and Mike Johnson over Matthew 25. Do these candidates represent a durable religious political force, or are they a temporary reaction to Trump? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Aug 3, 2026

Embed this episode

NOW PLAYING

The “Pastors In Name Only”: The New (Old) Fight Over Who Counts As Christian

0:00 37:33

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Complexified?

This episode is 37 minutes long.

When was this Complexified episode published?

This episode was published on August 3, 2026.

Can I download this Complexified episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!