S6E26 Box-Checking Faith, Science Denial, and Democracy in Peril - Beach Talk with Betsey Newenhuyse

PLEASE NOTE: EDITING ERRORS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED. 

This week on Beach Talk with Betsey Newenhuyse, we’re reflecting on Memorial Day from Betsey’s visit to Ft. Sheridan Cemetery—where memory and meaning converge. We’ll share personal thoughts about our dads and how sensational politics and shallow discourse often diminish this solemn day.

Betsey brings us a notable message from Pete Buttigieg that cuts through the noise. We dive into the bizarre age obsession—“Biden’s old!”—while so many political leaders are aging out. 

We’ll also head down a rabbit trail: Young Earth creationism, QAnon, and my latest Substack post on the Scopes Trial. Anti-science. Anti-expertise. Anti-intellect. The Ark Encounter. The clergy survey. The 1960 film, Inherit the Wind. When faith becomes a box-checking exercise—what’s left?

I’ll touch on Diarmaid MacCulloch’s brilliant insights in his history of Christianity and sex. I’ll talk about my professor’s lecture on the difference between astrology and astronomy—it tells us a lot about Christian Nationalism’s current dogma.

Finally, we’ll confront the attack on universities (hello, Harvard), Jemar Tisby’s Roadmap to Ruin, Project 2025, and what it all means for the Church—and for our democracy.