Truce - History of the Christian Church

Chris Staron

Truce explores the history of the evangelical church in America, from fundamentalism to pyramid schemes to political campaigns. Host Chris Staron uses journalistic tools to investigate how the church got here and how it can do better. The current season follows the rise of the Religious Right, examining the link between evangelicals and the Republican Party. Featuring special guests like Rick Perlstein, Frances Fitzgerald, Jesse Eisinger, Daniel K. Williams, and more.

  1. 2d ago ·  Bonus

    Mental Health and True Religion in Ukraine

    Give to help Chris make Truce Russia began attacking Ukraine in February of 2014. The full-scale invasion started in 2022. Since then, the people of Ukraine have fought to protect their homeland, while also trying to continue with their daily lives. They have to cook, take the kids to school, go to work, and fall in love. All the while, bombs are falling in their country. Hospitals, schools, energy sites, and homes are all targets. How are people in Ukraine addressing the mental health crisis there? On this special bonus episode, I'm playing a conversation for you that I had with my friend Jiří Pasz. He's an author, journalist, and photographer who travels the world looking for answers. What causes people to be evil? To be good? To act like humans? He is part of a collaborative project, Invisible Wounds. We'll also be playing clips from his discussions with Anatoli Raichinets (Deputy General Secretary of the Ukrainian Bible Society and a pastor of an evangelical church in Kyiv) and Grigori Semenchuk (Ukrainian poet, musician, and cultural manager). Sources: https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/russia-expands-attacks-energy-facilities-western-ukraine-2026-10-20/ https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/ukraine-disputes-trumps-claim-of-energy-ceasefire-as-russian-diesel-deal-draws-fire https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjn5v21py07vo https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/11/world/europe/trump-zelensky-diesel-energy-russia-.html https://www.dailywire.com/news/ben-shapiro-confronts-zelensky-on-christian-persecution-and-conscription-in-exclusive-interview Discussion Questions: What do you think about Donald Trump's plan to lift sanctions against Russian diesel? What role do we have in critiquing our elected officials? How do we know that we're not in a cult? Why is it important that we love our enemies? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  2. Oct 13

    Republicans and Evangelicals I History of Homeschooling

    Give to help Chris make Truce Homeschooling is a controversial subject. It began as something done by counter-culture folks and morphed into a beloved practice by fundamentalists and evangelicals. It has yielded students who excel over their public school peers... but also a good many people who are woefully undereducated. There have been legal fights over this method of education for decades, including some that RJ Rushdoony championed. As we wrap up season 6 and ask, "What is the legacy of the Religious Right?" we must include homeschooling. It has become almost a litmus test in evangelical circles. If you don't homeschool your children, it can even cause some members of your church to question your parenting. Our special guest today is Shawn Peters, who co-wrote the book Homeschooling: The History and Philosophy of a Controversial Practice with James G. Dwyer. Sources: Homeschooling: The History and Philosophy of a Controversial Practice by James G. Dwyer and Shawn Peters Education in Massachusetts: Early Legislation and History by George Barrell Emerson How Stuff Works article about public schools Christian Reconstruction: RJ Rushdoony and American Religious Conservatism by Michael McVicar Questions: Do you know people who were homeschooled? How did they turn out? How did the movement get started? What role did RJ Rushdoony play in keeping it going? What are some positive things about public education? What are some negative things? Can Christians leave society and still expect it to act in Christian ways? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  3. Sep 29

    Republicans and Evangelicals I Constitutional Originalism

    Give to help Chris make Truce How do we interpret the Constitution? It seems like an easy question, right? It turns out, it's quite difficult. As we wrap up season 6 of Truce, we're exploring some of the things that conservative evangelicals got out of their partnership with the GOP. One of the things they got was constitutional originalism. Constitutional originalism is a theory of interpretation that holds the Constitution should be understood according to its original public meaning at the time it was adopted. Originalists argue that this approach anchors constitutional law in objective historical meaning, rather than in the personal values or policy preferences of modern judges. By tying interpretation to the text as it was originally understood, originalism aims to preserve democratic legitimacy: changes in constitutional meaning should come from amendments passed by the people, not from judicial reinterpretation. Supporters also claim that originalism promotes stability and predictability in the law by constraining judicial discretion. Critics of originalism counter that the Constitution was written in broad, open-ended language precisely to allow adaptation to changing social and technological conditions. They argue that strict adherence to historical meanings can freeze outdated norms into modern law and fail to address contemporary realities the framers could not have foreseen. In practice, critics also contend that historical evidence is often ambiguous, allowing judges to selectively invoke history to reach preferred outcomes. As a result, the debate over originalism reflects a deeper tension between constitutional stability and constitutional flexibility in a living society. Our special guest is Austin Steelman, historian at Clemson University. Sources: These Truths by Jill LePore Reagan by Bob Spitz Griswold v. Conn. from Oyez.org Article about Robert Bork Robert Kennedy's speech about Bork on C-SPAN (about 27 minutes in) Article about Gorsuch and originalism Article about Kavanaugh AP story about Barrett's philosophy Discussion: What is constitutional originalism? Why might some people like it? Dislike it? Are there questions in US law that are not addressed by the Constitution? What are some examples? How should those be addressed in an originalist worldview? In a worldview that sees it as a living document? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  4. Sep 15 ·  Bonus

    Kristin Kobes Du Mez: "Live, Laugh, Love"

    Give to help Chris make Truce Kristin Kobes Du Mez is best known for her book Jesus and John Wayne, which looked at masculinity in American evangelicalism. Her new book, out now, does the same for femininity and positivity. Women today are often told to "live, laugh, love" and focus on the positive. They are to put mind over matter, even though that concept is not explicitly stated in the Bible. This attitude can make women susceptible to abusive relationships, scams, and multi-level marketing schemes. The book covers a wide swath of history, from Love Comes Softly to The Total Woman and the Little House books. Kristin and I had a lot of fun geeking out over history. I'm excited for you to hear it! Discussion Questions: What are some of the messages that women get in your type of Christianity? How do they differ from what men hear? What is Keswick Holiness? How did it inform the Pentecostal movement? What is New Thought? How do these ideas push people toward free-market capitalism? What about multi-level marketing? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  5. Sep 1 ·  Bonus

    200th Episode Celebration!

    Give to help Chris make Truce Can you believe it? The Truce podcast has crossed the 200-episode mark! Actually, this is something like the 203rd episode... but we still need to celebrate! In this special bonus episode, Nick Staron joins Chris to answer listener questions like: What was the most difficult interview you've ever done? How do you decide how long a season should be? Which books have shaped your worldview? Have you ever considered doing a season on liberal Protestantism? and more! Thank you SO MUCH for your help in making this show. I really appreciate your prayers and that you're sharing this project with your friends. God willing, there will be a new episode in two weeks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  6. Aug 18

    Rupublicans and Evangelicals | The Far Right's Plan to Takeover the GOP

    Give to help Chris make Truce Richard Vigueries. What can be written about him? His nickname was "the founding father of the Religious Right". He founded RAVCO, which was a fundraising organization that raised money for... well, who didn't it raise money for? In his book, Takeover, Viguerie laid out a detailed plan of how the far right could take over the Republican Party. It is a fascinating book, one that may not have had an overwhelming impact, but the idea within the book has. In this special epsiode, Chris walks listeners through the book and the impact of the ideas inside. Sources: Takeover by Richard Viguerie Reaganland and Before the Storm by Rick Perlstein The Evangelicals by Frances Fitzgerald God's Own Party by Daniel K Williams Revive Us Again by Joel Carpenter These Truths by Jill LePore A Choice Not An Echo by Phyllis Schlafly The Lord's Prayer Discussion Questions: Who was Richard Viguerie? What are some of his grievances? Why do you think he skipped the Republican presidents of the 1920s in his history? What did he think of FDR? Of Robert Taft? How do you see the conservative wound in this book? What were some of Viguerie's prescribed tactics for taking over the GOP? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  7. Aug 4

    Republicans and Evangelicals | The War on Mark Hatfield

    Give to help Chris make Truce Our season has spent a lot of time looking at how some evangelicals tied themselves to the GOP as the party became more conservative. But not every evangelical Republican was taken in by the conservative swing. In this episode, we're taking a look at Senator Mark Hatfield, an evangelical Republican who didn't follow the pack. Senator Mark Hatfield had a long and influential career in public service spanning nearly five decades. After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II and earning degrees from Willamette University and Stanford University, Hatfield began his political journey in the Oregon Legislature, winning election to the Oregon House of Representatives in 1950 and then to the Oregon State Senate in 1954. He went on to become Oregon’s youngest Secretary of State at age 34 and was elected Governor of Oregon in 1958, where he served two terms and oversaw the expansion of the state’s infrastructure and environmental programs. In 1966, Hatfield was elected to the U.S. Senate, beginning a 30-year tenure that made him the longest-serving senator in Oregon’s history at the time. In the Senate, Hatfield was known as a moderate Republican who often put conscience ahead of party, particularly on issues of war and defense spending. Deeply shaped by his wartime experiences and Christian faith, he consistently opposed military authorization bills, including votes against the Vietnam War and the Persian Gulf War, and co-sponsored efforts like a nuclear freeze resolution. Hatfield twice chaired the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, using that position to direct federal funds to Oregon for health, transportation, and research projects, and to support biomedical research at institutions like the National Institutes of Health. His independent approach earned him respect across party lines, and although the GOP shifted rightward over time, he remained a distinctive figure in national politics until his retirement in 1997. Sources: IMDB and Amazon reviews of the movie Bringing up Bobby Stand Alone or Go Home by Lon Fendall Transcript of the Keynote Address by Gov. Hatfield at G.O.P. Convention, NY Times, July 14, 1964 “CONVENTION ENDS; Extremism in Defense of Liberty ‘No Vice,’ Arizonan Asserts” New York Times, July 17, 1964 Before the Storm by Rick Perlstein With God on Our Side by William C Martin FBI files on Mark Hatfield from archive.org Conflict and Conscience by Mark O. Hatfield. Between A Rock and A Hard Place by Mark O Hatfield Nixonland by Rick Perlstein “When a Candidate Conspired With a Foreign Power to Win An Election” by John A Farrell. Politico website, August 6, 2017. H. R. 17123 “The Amendment to End the War” Bill Bright and Campus Crusade for Christ by John G Turner One Nation Under God by Rus Walton “Born Again Politics” New York Times by Gary Wills. August 1, 1976. Congressional record, February 28, 1978. Discussion Questions: How would you describe Hatfield's faith? How did Hatfield defy conservative Republican evangelicals? Why did Hatfield oppose the Vietnam War? Would you have the courage to do what Hatfield did? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  8. Jul 21

    Republicans and Evangelicals | Where the Gang Ended Up part 2

    Give to help Chris make Truce Jimmy Swaggart was caught in a major controversy in the late 1980s. It involved the famous American televangelist, who was a leading figure in Pentecostal Christianity. In 1988, Swaggart publicly admitted to “moral failure” after reports surfaced that he had been involved with a prostitute, behavior that directly contradicted the strict moral standards he preached. The revelation led to his suspension by the Assemblies of God, his church denomination, and caused significant damage to his reputation and ministry. Swaggart delivered a widely televised, tearful confession, which became one of the most memorable moments in religious broadcasting, symbolizing broader concerns at the time about hypocrisy, accountability, and power among high-profile televangelists. This proved to be a problem for Pat Robertson, who was running for president. Just as he needed his conservative brothers and sisters on his side... they disappeared or chose another politician. When he lost the race, he continued his streak of being shelved by politicians. He and other evangelicals with large followings placed their hope in politicians to save them. Only to find disappointment. Sources: The Evangelicals by Frances Fitzgerald Reaganland by Rick Perlstein Pat Robertson: A Life and Legacy by David Edwin Harrell Jr. Andrews, T. M. (2017). The Rev. Marvin Gorman, who prompted Jimmy Swaggart's downfall in the '80s, dies at 83 Art Harris, W. P. (1988, Feb 26). Jimmy Swaggart's secret life in the world of no-tell motels 'shouting, weeping' Preacher was just another man on prowl. Toronto Star RNC National Convention speeches 1988, around 2:35:00 God's Own Party by Daniel K Williams PETER STEINFELS (1989, Jun 12). Moral majority to dissolve; says mission accomplished. New York Times Rolling Stone Magazine article on Jay Sekulow. By Andrew Perez, January 3, 2024 Washington Post article about Robertson's death Discussion Questions How did success become a problem for the Moral Majority and Christian Coalition? Why is it a problem that we keep being marketed to with fear? How could conservative evangelicals argue both that they were the majority AND a persecuted minority? Why does it matter? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Truce explores the history of the evangelical church in America, from fundamentalism to pyramid schemes to political campaigns. Host Chris Staron uses journalistic tools to investigate how the church got here and how it can do better. The current season follows the rise of the Religious Right, examining the link between evangelicals and the Republican Party. Featuring special guests like Rick Perlstein, Frances Fitzgerald, Jesse Eisinger, Daniel K. Williams, and more.

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