Church and Main

Episode 54: Yael Ossowski On What‘s So Bad About Facebook?

Remember around 2009 or 2010 when everyone seemed to love Facebook? As a pastor, I was told about all the wonderful virtues of social media, especially Facebook. Mark Zuckerberg, the founder, was an icon. He visited then-President Obama at the White House. He got the Hollywood treatment with the movie “The Social Network.” Remember when there was speculation that he might run for President?How things have changed. Zuckerberg and Facebook are now in the doghouse. Now people seem to blame the platform for everything, from genocide to the loss of civility to affecting the outcome of the 2016 Presidential election. Facebook is now likened to Big Tobacco with Democrats and Republicans looking to find some way to regulate the platform.Today, I chat with Yael Ossowski, the deputy director of the Consumer Choice Center and the cohost of Consumer Choice Radio. We talk about how Facebook can be used for good, what critics get wrong, and what would happen to the internet if Section 230, the US law that governs most of the internet today were radically altered or removed.Australia’s Attempted Blackmail of Facebook Shows the Pendulum Swings Back on ConsumersFacebook trustbusters motivated by partisan politics, not consumer protectionFacebook failures may be real, but the case for increased censorship is weakHow to bring back the old internetBe sure to rate us and leave a review. Share the podcast with others! What did you think of the podcast episode? Questions? Send an email: denminn@gmail.com.website: enroutepodcast.orgTwitterFacebook PageYouTube Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 53: What Does Communion Have to Do With Racial Justice?

This is a special episode where I got to talk to one of my mentors. Doug Skinner is a retired pastor in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the same denomination I’m ordained in. I He lives in the Dallas Fort Worth area and we talk every so often via Zoom to talk about theology. Today, you get to join in on our discussion. We talk about an experience he had after a day of anti-racism training about the role communion has in racial reconciliation. That leads to a wider discussion about the language of the church and social justice. In some ways, they are becoming more and more separated from each other. How do topics like the cross, theology, and communion have to do with sexuality or gender issues? Sit back and find out listen in as I talk to mentor and friend Doug Skinner about the Divine Act of Christ’s death on the cross, expressed in communion and what it means for the public square.Doug Skinner's BlogPlease leave a rating or review on your podcast platform. Share the podcast with others! What did you think of the podcast episode? Questions? Send an email: denminn@gmail.com.website: enroutepodcast.orgYouTube: https://bit.ly/enrouteyt Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 52: What Is Christian Democracy with William Fleming

The United States stands alone among major democracies in having just two parties. For many years that was okay; because the Democrats and Republicans were actually two coalitions with smaller “parties” within them. But as the parties have become purer, our politics have become more polarized and unable to govern. It has also left a lot of people who were once part of either party on the outs. Pro-life Democrats and Moderate Republicans have become rare in our political culture.Could a third party break the logjam? History would tell us no but William Fleming would say yes. Fleming is the head of the Georgia state affiliate of the American Solidarity Party. What’s unique about this party is the ideology that it springs from. The ASP is a Christian Democracy party. You might think this is some kind of far-right theocratic party, but it’s not. Instead, Christian Democracy is an ideology that is ground in Catholic Social Teaching and Neocalvinist thought. It takes these teachings to provide solutions on issues such as poverty and the environment. The parties are found throughout the world, with the most well-known being the Christian Democrats in Germany and the Christian Democrats of Chile.In this episode, we learn about Christian Democracy and the American Solidarity Party.American Solidarity PartyThe American Commons MagazinePelican Brief PodcastPlease leave a rating or review on your podcast platform. Share the podcast with others! What did you think of the podcast episode? Questions? Send an email: denminn@gmail.com.website: enroutepodcast.orgTwitterFacebook PageYouTube: https://bit.ly/enrouteyt Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 50: When Is Inclusion a Bad Thing?

Support the podcast: enroutepodcast.org/donateOne of the biggest gifts Mainline Protestantism has given to many people is the work of inclusion. It’s the belief that churches should be places where the walls that separate people by race, gender, sexual orientation are torn down. Mainline churches were at the forefront of the civil rights movement, welcomed women into roles of leadership and allowed LGBTQ persons to participate openly in church life.But are there limits to inclusion? For many years, the Mainline churches were involved in demographic inclusion, like we just discussed above. The goal was to bring diversity into the life of the church, but the basics of the faith, like what is found in the Nicean or Apostles Creed such as the divinity of Jesus Christ, the Trinity, and the Resurrection would be held in common. But over the last two or three decades, there has been a shift towards what might be called conceptual inclusion. Inclusion here is not about the role of women or LGBTQ people in the church, but about allowing heterodox ideas in the larger church. Those ideas would include the views shared earlier like the divinity of Christ or the Resurrection.What kind of church does that look like? According to Episcopal Priest Frederick Schmidt, it leaves Mainline Protestantism with no reason for existing. Schmidt is currently the Vice-Rector of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Nashville. He is an Episcopal Priest, spiritual director, retreat facilitator, conference leader, writer, and academic. Before his current position, Schmidt held the Rueben P. Job Chair in Spiritual Formation at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL, and directed the Job Institute for Spiritual Formation. We talk about the dangers of conceptual inclusion, the loss of religious language in the public square and in the church and what this all means for Mainline Protestantism.The Roots of CognicideWhat Are We Being Inclusive For?Mainline Struggles in the Rural MidwestThe Progressive Obsession with FundamentalismBe sure to rate us and leave a review. Share the podcast with others! What did you think of the podcast episode? Questions? Send an email: denminn@gmail.com.website: enroutepodcast.orgTwitterFacebook PageYouTube: https://bit.ly/enrouteyt Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

Bonus: Who Killed Sears and Kmart?

For over a century, Sears was one of this nation’s leading retailers. In the 1920s, you could literally buy a house from Sears. The postwar years saw Sears moving into malls across the land. KMart started in 1962, the same year that saw a number of other discount retailers like Target and Walmart open for business. Throughout the 1970s and 80s, KMart became the go-to place for finding things at a good price. Shoppers were on the lookout for their famous blue light specials.Over the last decade, hundreds of stores were closed and the two chains are now basically defunct.The common story is that Sears and Kmart didn’t keep up with the times and they pin the blame on the rise on Amazon. Now the online retail behemoth does have a role in the demise of Sears, but it's only a small role. Actually, the reason Sears and Kmart have vanished from American retail is because of one man- the one-time CEO of Sears Holdings, Eddie Lampert.In this bonus episode, we hear from retail journalist Warren Shoulberg who has followed Lampert and what he did to Sears. Shoulberg is a long-time expert in all things retail and the right person to talk about what really happened to Sears. This part of a larger interview I did with Shoulberg on retail will show up in a few days, but it’s important to hear this story about one retailer and what its downfall says about American society in general. So let’s hear from Warren Shoulberg.Warren Shoulberg's Column in ForbesEddie Lampert and BSThe Sears Saga No One KnowsTranscript to Part OneSupport this Podcast: https://ko-fi.com/dennislsandersBe sure to rate us and leave a review. Share the podcast with others! Questions? Send an email: denminn@gmail.com.website: enroutepodcast.orgTwitterFacebook PageYouTube: https://bit.ly/enrouteyt Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 49: Ariel Hill-Davis on Republican Women for Progress

Late last week, we got the news that Anthony Gonzalez a second-term GOP congressman from Ohio decided to not seek a third term in 2022. He gave the usual reason of wanting to spend time with his family. But in an interview with the New York Times Gonzalez gave another reason. Gonzalez was one of a small number of Republicans that voted to impeach President Trump in the wake of the January 6 insurrection. Because of his vote, he got a Trump-backed challenger in the Republican primary and his family was subjected to death threats.The departure of Gonzalez is one of a long line of Republicans that have left Congress because of Trump. Political commentator Jonah Goldberg wrote in a recent column that the retirement of Gonzalez shows there is no safe harbor for Republicans who don’t bend the knee to former president Trump. It does seem that any Republican whether in Washington or in state capitols can’t stay neutral when it comes to Trump. You can support Trump or suffer the consequences-there is no middle ground.What happened to Gonzalez is proof positive to many that the Republican Party is firmly in the hands of former President Donald Trump. But don’t tell that to Ariel Hill-Davis. Hill-Davis is one of four co-founders of Republican Women for Progress. Started in the wake of Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign and subsequent victory, Republican Women for Progress is an organization whose mission is “that Republican women deserve to speak up, not stand aside.” Hill Davis says RWFP is an attempt to “create space” for women who are interested in governing and not political theatrics.Republican Women for Progress WebsiteOhio House Republican, Calling Trump ‘a Cancer,’ Bows Out of 2022Podcast Episode: Reed Howard on the Future of the GOPPodcast Episode: Josh Lewis on the Past, Present and Future of the GOPSupport this Podcast: enroutepodcast.org/donateBe sure to rate us and leave a review. Share the podcast with others! Questions? Send an email: denminn@gmail.com.website: enroutepodcast.orgTwitterFacebook PageYouTube: https://bit.ly/enrouteyt Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 46: Josh Lewis on the Future of Conservatism

What is conservatism? What is the Republican Party? In the years since Donald Trump headed down that golden escalator, American conservatism has suffered an identity crisis. Is it the party of Ronald Reagan, a party of limited government, low taxes, and free markets? Is it the party of Donald Trump a party of nationalism, xenophobia, and owning the libs?Josh Lewis the force behind the Saving Elephants podcast joins me in a wide-ranging conversation about the nature of conservatism before and during Trump and how what passes as conservatism is different from the conservatism Josh is familiar with.About Josh: Josh is CPA in Tulsa, Oklahoma who is a lifelong Republican had led his university chapter of the College Republicans and was the Treasurer of the Tulsa County Republican Party. He's a diligent student of American conservatism and is passionate to find ways for conservatives to survive and thrive in the 21st century. Josh has contributed to such publications as The Millennial Review and The Liberty Hawk.Saving Elephants Podcast and BlogSupport this Podcast: https://ko-fi.com/dennislsandersBe sure to rate us and leave a review. Share the podcast with others! Questions? Send an email: denminn@gmail.com.website: enroutepodcast.orgSupport this Podcast:https://ko-fi.com/dennislsandersBe sure to rate us and leave a review. Share the podcast with others! Questions? Send an email: denminn@gmail.com.website: enroutepodcast.orgTwitterFacebook PageYouTube: https://bit.ly/enrouteytTwitterFacebook PageYouTube: https://bit.ly/enrouteyt Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

Little Jaunts: Michael Siegel on the Coronavirus

This is the first episode of what I hope will be a microcast called "Little Jaunts" (sticking with the travel theme). Little Jaunts will showcase shorter versions of past interviews with each episode being 10-15 minutes long.In this first episode, I share part of an interview I did with astrophysicist, Michael Siegel on the Coronavirus, the Delta Variant and how to talk to the unvaccinated.Show notes: Dealing with the Unvaccinated No, the Unvaccinated Aren’t All Just Being Difficult Support this Podcast: https://ko-fi.com/dennislsandersBe sure to rate us and leave a review. Share the podcast with others! Questions? Send an email: denminn@gmail.com. website: enroutepodcast.orgTwitterFacebook Page YouTube: https://bit.ly/enrouteyt Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

The Blue, the Black and the Grey: Chris Mackowski on the American Civil War

The Civil War is a pivotal event in the history of the United States. Fought between 1861 and 1865 is a story of a sundered nation, a battle of justice for African Americans, the end of slavery and the reconciliation of the American nation. We talk to Chris Mackowski of the Emerging Civil War Blog to talk about Civil War History and how it affects America today.Emerging Civil War Blog“Stonewall Jackson Is Down”Support this Podcast: https://ko-fi.com/dennislsandersBe sure to rate us and leave a review. Share the podcast with others! Questions? Send an email: denminn@gmail.com.  website: enroutepodcast.orgTwitterFacebook Page YouTube: https://bit.ly/enrouteyt Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 40: Rob Sanders on the Interstate Highway System (Rewind)

Why does the Interstate Highway System matter?  What made it so amazing?  Why is it so unappreciated today?  How is it learning from its past mistakes?In this Rewind Episode originally broadcast in April 2021, I talked to Rob Sanders who like me, is a transportation geek.  Rob is the creator and host for Road Guy Rob, a video, web, and podcasting platform which connects the general public with today’s cutting-edge developments in transportation engineering. A Utah native, 12-year veteran of public radio, where Rob was drawn to every transportation story he got his hands on.  He was so interested in transportation that he went back to school to get a Master's in Civil Engineering from Brigham Young University in 2018.In this episode, we talk about the Interstate Highway System and its impact on the United States. Show Notes:Road Guy Rob's website Road Guy Rob YouTube ChannelDennis Sanders-Thoughts from a Freeway Lover Freeways without Futures- Congress for New UrbanismCelebrating Fifty Years of the Interstate Highway System- US Department of TransportationSave Our Freeways! - Andrew ZimmermanHow Racism Shaped Interstate Highways - NPRRacist Interstates?- Stephen Malanga Support this Podcast: https://ko-fi.com/dennislsandersBe sure to rate us and leave a review. Share the podcast with others! Questions? Send an email: denminn@gmail.com. website: enroutepodcast.orgTwitterFacebook Page YouTube: https://bit.ly/enrouteyt Get full access to Church and Main at churchandmain.substack.com/subscribe