Reviews

i really appreciate the hosts’ and guests’ work to analyze and educate on a variety of subjects. i’ve learned a lot, and the hosts come across as clever, caring, and funny people with good intentions and a passion to share vital knowledge. thank you for that, genuinely. there are some things i would change, but i do not hold ill will even with my critiques. i feel like they’re a little out of touch with disabled people; i think they should speak about ableism more and keep our experiences in mind. on a related note it does trouble me that the conference they promoted earlier this year (?) had many people attend but no mask requirement; this is a safety hazard, especially to those with immune issues who come into contact with attendees. i’d like to hear more discussion of palestine. i know, it’s focused on usa politics, but i also know that the usa is funding violence there. it upset me to hear no mention of the recent attacks in the humanitarian area, killing displaced civilians in cold blood, during this weekly round up. biden saying he would only withdraw support if a ground invasion took place certainly seemed noteworthy to me. sometimes the pre interview talks gets a bit long- i think i would rather hear the notes on it at the end, actually, so i get the context behind it first. since the additions to paid only content, there have been some really abrupt ends to episodes. i’m sometimes left a bit startled and disoriented. i’d like less jarring outros, please. 😅 still, i appreciate the work and hope the best for you. thank you.

Great great episode. I passed it on to friends and family. Appreciate your work so much.

If you want to know... Have the ears that hear.

This show is great! I was raised Pagan and am now Buddhist, so I have almost zero relevant cultural context (although I have read the Bible and been to church because… I’m also a nerd). I picked up this show because of “the Trump thing”, I’ve been very curious about what’s going on “over there” in Evangelical world that makes this all make sense. The most recent episode with Samson and Delilah was really eye opening about how Evangelicals construct their sexual double standard. Thank you for letting me peek through the window!

We need SWAJ podcast right now more than ever!!!

Some of these pieces seem as though they were taken from my growing up.

SWAJ is a podcast that is incredibly vital in explaining things going on in religion and politics. Truly doing the Lord’s work here.

I am a recent follower of the show. Very informative. As to the subject of IVF, the zygote formed in a Petri Dish is not an embryo. An embryo will not form until it finds a host, a woman. Without a uterus, there is no embryo.

This podcast is providing an important public service by giving us insight into a powerful political force.

SWAJ is a national treasure! Dan and Brad are calling out the dangers of conservative White evangelical politics and power. As a GenX, I never thought I would hear religion challenged like this in my whole lifetime. That’s why this podcast is such a thrill for me!!! Thanks for ur insightful analyses of so many topics we all deal with in our deconstruction. You guys have helped me so much to heal my broken heart and set me free from harmful indoctrination. Thx u sooo much!! #Exvangelical #SWAJ

We love to see it

She not her

We are living through a terrifying moment in US history where theocratic fascism is knocking at our door. This podcast helps listeners understand how this has come about.

This show is doing important work vital the preservation of American democracy, but the hosts aren't doing themselves any favors. Brad Onishi tends to talk as much or more than the people that he interviews. A good interviewer asks insightful, probing questions and gets out of their subjects way, letting the person share their insights, opinions and expertise. Brad seems to turn every interview into his own personal chance to rant at the state of America (which I totally relate to). Meanwhile, Daniel Miller is the kind of pastor/professor who talks for 30 minutes about one bullet point without managing to say much of anything of substance and still considers it a "deep dive." I love the work they are doing, and it needs to be done. I just wish that the interviews were more guest forward and that Dan's teaching was less long-winded so that he could cover more actual substance in the same amount of time.

Keep sounding the alarm on White Christian Nationalism and impending fascism. Please!! On today’s episode, you explained why you don’t like to use the term “cult.” I think you must have a strong narcissistic leader that demands to be worshipped and adored to be a cult. It’s not because a religion is different. MAGA is a Cult because Trump is their cult leader who they slavishly follow.

9 cells qualify as an embryo… However, the Bible says, after God’s breath, this seems to me ‘after’ a child is born…

As a Buddhist who has read (what I thought was) a lot about Christian beliefs, I have long been confused by the many seeming contradictions displayed politically conservative Christians. Then came the Trump presidency, COVID, and January 6th... All those contradictions were magnified. Brad and Dan decode the tangle of contradictions and explain the historical developments that have resulted in the nationalistic tendencies in some of my fellow Americans that seek to erase me and so many others from this country. The paid subscription is worth it.

I like that this podcast isn’t full of “not all Christians” apologia, or smug internet-atheist rants the virtues of reason over superstition or whatever. There’s something here that’s usually missing in this type of content. Brad doesn’t engage with arguments with fundamentalists on their own terms, or try to use some rosy idea of “true Christianity” to try and prod them into being better. He directly addresses why the core beliefs of these movements are both invalid and harmful. Christian fundamentalists, literalists and evangelicals are wrong because their religion is wrong, not because they’re misunderstanding their own texts and mythologies.

Markthemonk is spot on. Although I’ve listened to only two episodes so far, it’s clear that the folks behind this podcast have the rare ability to make the esoterica of their realm not only approachable but understandable to laypeople like me. And the importance of SWAJ’s content strikes me as at once timeless and contemporaneous. Bravo.

…there’s not enough Brad.

…who kept saying he would cut to Dan but just kept on talking.

As an almost life long atheist who ascribes to the view that I lack both an art brain or a faith brain, some kind of innate capacity that can’t be taught, at some level my Catholic upbringing still compels me to listen and learn about the impact of religion in all of our lives. When I first heard that there are likely genetic differences between those on the left and those on the right, it seems evident that we must now find a common language that can speak to all of us. Thus the perspective of the presenters offered here is so fascinating in it’s breadth and depth that it helps me to understand the issues facing us in this complex time of media manipulation and a worldwide move to a post industrial push towards isolation and nationalism-fear driven at its core-and dangerous to all. Thank you!

I come for the deconstruction, I stay for the healing.

I love this podcast. It may finally get my writing career going! Brad, 5 hours on CRA, a man after my own heart!! Teach, teach, teach!!!

This is a podcast with a very specific theme that is extremely important today. The alarm about Christian Nationalism often goes unnoticed by the media in general. They break down the issues like academics and not like some commentators with little to no training in analyzing and critical thinking.

A show that helps so many of us who are trying to understand how so many Christians of varying stripes have willingly sacrificed their credibility and ethics.

I agree 100%. At Midnight, January 1, 2024, my Family gave a toast to “Democracy, may she live forever”. We resolved to get in shape (physically and mentally) to fight for democracy and NOT be afraid. “The only thing to fear is fear itself.” FDR Thank you for this thoughtful episode. It is not over. It will not be over. But we cannot give up.

I’ve been searching for a political podcast that examines the relationship between politics and White Christianity, this is it. It’s amazing to hear someone voice the thoughts I’ve had for MONTHS. Something needs to change or our country will fall to fascism. Love what y’all do!

SWAJ is a national treasure! Dan and Brad are calling out the dangers of conservative White evangelical politics and power. As a GenX, I never thought I would hear religion challenged like this in my whole lifetime. That’s why this podcast is such a thrill for me!!! Thanks for ur insightful analyses of so many topics we all deal with in our deconstruction. You guys have helped me so much to heal my broken heart and set me free from harmful indoctrination. Thx u sooo much!! #Exvangelical #SWAJ #ILeftBecause

I lean more conservative than the hosts but as a Christian I have learned a lot from this podcast. I appreciate the hosts’ deep understanding of Christianity, the challenge to traditional Evangelical beliefs and practices especially in the area of politics. I would love to hear more conversations with people who hold opposing viewpoints.