Extra Words with Mark Hackett

Mark Hackett
  • 5.0 (8)
  • CHRISTIANITY
Extra Words with Mark Hackett

From time to time, I talk with brilliant people about big questions and ideas concerning the Christian faith and church culture in the American South. This podcast doesn’t have regular episodes, but the conversations posted here are full of purpose. Subscribe today and visit markhackett.com for more thoughtful commentary.

Episodes

  1. Dr. Scott Coley: Ministers of Propaganda and the ideology of the Religious Right

    FEB 1

    Dr. Scott Coley: Ministers of Propaganda and the ideology of the Religious Right

    Why does rhetoric in American evangelicalism often feel so self-serving, authoritarian, and antichrist? Scholars, theologians, and even some evangelicals are sounding the alarm on the internal dangers plaguing this subculture, dangers such as nationalism, abuse, and political despotism. Much of the pushback plays out on the battlefield of “what the Bible says” or theology. But when these problems are critiqued through the combined lenses of philosophy and political ethics, we discover what is keeping the dangers entrenched: propaganda. Dr. Scott Coley is a philosopher, scholar, and consultant whose research interests include philosophy of religion, moral epistemology, and political philosophy. In his book Ministers of Propaganda: Truth, Power, and the Ideology of the Religious Right, Scott unravels the language and biblical prooftexting that support Christo-authoritarianism: an ideology that presses evangelical theology into the service of authoritarian politics. His historically-informed argument unsettles white evangelical orthodoxy on a range of issues and convictions; convictions not as unchanging as evangelical leaders would have us believe. In the first half of this conversation, Scott walks us through a specific kind of propaganda common in white American evangelicalism: rhetoric that appropriates an ideal in order to perpetuate intellectual and social practices that wind up contradicting the ideal itself. He explains that we buy into propaganda because of motivated reasoning and ideology, at which point the Gospel becomes corrupted. Then, Mark and Scott discuss the embodiment of this propaganda in the real world, how it undermines the very institutions white evangelicals have built in service to themselves, and explore how we can decode this propaganda and, as we do, recover Jesus's teachings to love our neighbors as ourselves. Purchase your copy of Ministers of Propaganda: Truth, Power, and the Ideology of the Religious Right Read Mark’s review of Scott’s book. Follow Scott on Instagram (scott_m_coley) and Bluesky (@scottmcoley.bsky.social) Follow Mark on Instagram (markhackett.faith) and Threads (@markhackett)

    58 min
  2. Dr. Jennifer Garcia Bashaw: Atonement theory and the Gospel through the eyes of victims

    05/09/2023

    Dr. Jennifer Garcia Bashaw: Atonement theory and the Gospel through the eyes of victims

    What did the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus actually do? Many Christians today genuinely believe the answer is simple: Jesus died for our sins. But sincere followers of Jesus have wrestled with this question for nearly 2,000 years and arrived at very different conclusions along the way. In this episode, we dive down the rabbit hole into the world of Christian atonement theory, asking questions that lead us to more questions. Have we missed major components of The Gospel? Do we really understand Jesus? And why does it feel like some people who are so certain of The Gospel fail to live as Jesus did? Dr. Jennifer Garcia Bashaw is Assistant Professor of New Testament and Christian Ministry at Campbell University. She is also an ordained pastor. In her book Scapegoats: The Gospel through the Eyes of Victims, she shows how many Christians today read the New Testament as victors, not as victims. The teachings and actions of Jesus thus lose much of their subversive significance. The Gospels become one harmonized story about individual salvation rather than distinct representations of Jesus's radical work on behalf of victims. In the first half of this conversation, Jennifer teaches us what atonement theory is and walks us through a few of the more significant theories found across Church history. Then, Mark and Jennifer discuss the embodiment of these beliefs in the real world and explore a new theory — Scapegoat Theory— which illuminates an essential truth of the Gospels: that Jesus modeled a reality in which victims become survivors, and the marginalized become central to the Kingdom of God. Purchase your copy of Jennifer’s book Scapegoats: The Gospel through the Eyes of Victims Read Mark’s essay: Exploring the kaleidoscopic world of Christian atonement theory  Read Jennifer’s Commentary on John 4:5-42 Read Jennifer’s article: What The Gospels Teach Us About Salvation Follow Jennifer on Twitter: @garciabashaw Follow Mark on Instagram (markhackett.faith) and Threads (@markhackett) Subscribe on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, or wherever you get your podcasts. I explore faith and church culture in the American South from Memphis, TN. Never miss a post by ⁠signing up for my free newsletter⁠ or ⁠becoming a member⁠.

    1h 1m

  3. 03/07/2023

    Pastor Claude Atcho: How African American literature can make our faith more whole and just

    “Right now, Black voices are in.” That’s the opening line from Reading Black Books: How African American Literature Can Make Our Faith More Whole and Just by Pastor Claude Atcho from Church of the Resurrection in Charlottesville, VA. Learning from Black voices means listening to more than snippets. It means attending to Black stories. In Reading Black Books, Claude offers a theological approach to 10 seminal texts of 20th-century African American literature. Each chapter takes up a theological category for inquiry through a close literary reading and theological reflection on a primary literary text, from Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man and Richard Wright's Native Son to Zora Neale Hurston's Moses, Man of the Mountain and James Baldwin's Go Tell It on the Mountain. This book helps readers of all backgrounds learn from the contours of Christian faith formed and forged by Black stories, helping us move toward deeper conversations about racial justice in the church. Claude demonstrates that reading about Black experience as shown in the literature of great African American writers can guide us toward sharper theological thinking and more faithful living. In the first half of this conversation, Claude shares some of his keen theological insights on a few formative works from Black writers. Then, Mark and Claude discuss the true universality of these stories and how they can inform our faith in ways that extend well beyond conversations about race, helping to bring renewal to our faith, churches, and communities. Purchase your copy of Reading Black Books: How African American Literature Can Make Our Faith More Whole and Just Learn more about Church of the Resurrection in Charlottesville, VA and support this church plant Check out The Scandal of Reading podcast for inspiring conversations about why Christians should be reading great literature Visit Claude’s website Follow Claude on Twitter: @ClaudeAtcho Follow Mark on Instagram (markhackett.faith) and Threads (@markhackett) Subscribe on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, or wherever you get your podcasts. I explore faith and church culture in the American South from Memphis, TN. Never miss a post by ⁠signing up for my free newsletter⁠ or ⁠becoming a member⁠.

    54 min
  4. Dr. Beth Allison Barr: The Making of Biblical Womanhood and women in the church today

    08/23/2022

    Dr. Beth Allison Barr: The Making of Biblical Womanhood and women in the church today

    “Biblical womanhood” is the belief that God designed women to be submissive wives, virtuous mothers, and joyful homemakers. From career choices to local church roles to important relationships, the everyday lives of millions of women —and men— in North American Christianity are shaped by this belief. But in her paradigm-shifting book The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth, Baylor University historian Dr. Beth Allison Barr explains why biblical womanhood isn’t as biblical as we’ve been told. She shows how this belief is a product of human civilization, not a divine ordination. Her timely book provides needed context for contemporary teachings about women’s roles in the church, providing us all a path forward out of a debate that has devolved into a quagmire. In the first half of this conversation, Beth shares some of the history of women’s roles in the church and home that many American Christians are unaware of. Then, Mark and Beth discuss the real-world implications of gender hierarchy —including widespread abuse and the crisis of masculinity plaguing complementarian church culture— and the hope of what a better future could look like. Purchase your copy of The Making of Biblical Womanhood Discover additional resources on women in church history Read Mark’s review of The Making of Biblical Womanhood and some of his  thoughts on complementarian church culture The New Stealth Translation: ESV - a critique by biblical scholar Scot McKnight Saying Farewell to the ESV - a critique by Rachel Green Miller Visit Beth’s website Follow Beth on Twitter: @bethallisonbarr Follow Mark on Instagram (markhackett.faith) and Threads (@markhackett) Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. I explore faith and church culture in the American South from Memphis, TN. Never miss a post by signing up for my free newsletter or becoming a member.

    1h 3m

  5. 06/01/2021

    Dr. Kristin Du Mez: Nationalism, masculinity, and the making of white evangelicalism

    Why is white evangelical culture often so controlling and resistant to change? Why is there so much abuse in white evangelical churches? And how did the people of “family values” fall in line behind Donald Trump in such large numbers? These are questions answered in Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation by Dr. Kristin Kobes Du Mez, Professor of History and Gender Studies at Calvin University. Her deeply researched history book pushes beyond facile headlines to discover why white evangelicalism isn’t as pure as many of its adherents believe. Historical analysis spanning decades culminates in a stunning conclusion: Donald Trump represents the fulfillment, rather than the betrayal, of white evangelicals’ most deeply held values. In the first half of this episode, Kristin shares some of the history of how white evangelicalism became what it is today. In the second half, Mark and Kristin discuss the real-world implications of white evangelical teachings and culture, and the enduring consequences for us all. Purchase your copy of Jesus & John Wayne Read Mark’s review of Jesus & John Wayne Read Kristin’s piece in the New York Times Follow Kristin on Twitter: @kkdumez Follow Mark on Instagram (markhackett.faith) and Threads (@markhackett) Subscribe on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, or wherever you get your podcasts. I explore faith and church culture in the American South from Memphis, TN. Never miss a post by ⁠signing up for my free newsletter⁠ or ⁠becoming a member⁠.

    1h 23m
  • 5 Episodes

    Ratings & Reviews

    5
    out of 5
    8 Ratings

    About

    From time to time, I talk with brilliant people about big questions and ideas concerning the Christian faith and church culture in the American South. This podcast doesn’t have regular episodes, but the conversations posted here are full of purpose. Subscribe today and visit markhackett.com for more thoughtful commentary.

    Information

    You Might Also Like

    Content Restricted

    This episode can’t be played on the web in your country or region.

    To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

    Stay up to date with this show

    Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.
    Select a country or region

    Africa, Middle East, and India

    Asia Pacific

    Europe

    Latin America and the Caribbean

    The United States and Canada