Topic: Spiritual War

Sociologist Christian Smith argues in his new book that traditional religion has become "obsolete" in American culture, citing 1991 as a pivotal turning point following the Cold War. While Smith attributes the decline to shifting national identity and economic changes, critics point out that he omits the primary factor: the birth of the consumer internet. The discussion posits that the internet has effectively replaced traditional faith as the new central "religion" and cultural framework.

The discussion critiques Tim Alberta's definition of Christian nationalism as a "marriage of bad history and bad theology." The hosts argue that critics are fear-mongering about a theocratic takeover while ignoring the spiritual warfare context and the secularist leanings of the current administration.