616: Methodists, Politics, and the Perpetual Crisis Mentality
About this episode
Crowhill and Pigweed discuss the intersection of religion and politics through the lens of Methodism and its historical and modern implications.
Crowhill and Pigweed drink and review a Sweet Baby Jesus chocolate peanut butter porter and discuss a question that's challenged churches and society for centuries. Should religion and politics mix? Using a collection of social issue position papers published by the United Methodist Church as a starting point, the conversation explores the history of Methodism, from John Wesley's "heart strangely warmed" experience and the Holy Club at Oxford to the circuit riders who helped spread the movement across the American frontier. Along the way, they examine how Methodism became deeply associated with social reform, including efforts against slavery, drunkenness, and other social ills. The discussion then turns to modern political issues, including immigration, worker justice, climate change, the death penalty, abortion, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Crowhill and Pigweed consider how churches apply biblical principles to contemporary policy debates, where the line between moral teaching and political advocacy should be drawn, and whether clergy are always equipped to speak authoritatively on complex public issues. A recurring theme is the idea that movements formed in…
People in this episode
Hosts: Crowhill, Pigweed
Topics covered
- Methodism
- Religion and Politics
- Social Reform
- Contemporary Issues
- Crisis Mentality
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: United Methodist Church
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