Ep. 83 - Pro-Life: A History of Strife & ”Do I Stay Christian?” w/ Author Brian McLaren

Growing Up Christian

This week we’re joined by author, speaker, and Emergent Church pastor, Brian McLaren (the interview starts at 1:27:00)! His most recent book is entitled “Do I Stay Christian?: A Guide for the Doubters, the Disappointed, and the Disillusioned,” and in it, he attempts to help readers make a responsible, honest, ethical decision about their religious identity by asking some of the toughest and most common questions about their faith. Follow Brian on Twitter (@brianmclaren), visit www.brianmclaren.net for more resources and information, and pick up a copy of “Do I Stay Christian?” wherever books are sold!

…but first, we have to talk about last week. The SCOTUS decision to overturn Roe v. Wade rocked the country, and there’s been little else on most people’s minds. Rather than weigh in with opinions that we’re certain aren’t unique or profound, we thought it might be helpful to walk through the history of the anti-abortion movement in America. You might be surprised to hear that there hasn’t always been so much consensus on abortion among Christians, and that it only recently became such a galvanizing social issue. Our retelling is a bit muddled, at times, so for those of you who would like a more linear, cohesive account of the history, we highly recommend an episode of Throughline, an NPR podcast, called “The Evangelical Vote (2019).”