Episode 18 - Israel, Jews, and Antisemitism

About this episode

The episode discusses the relationship between antisemitism and Zionism in the context of a controversial article by Dr. Gerald McDermott.

Few hot button issues are hotter than the question of the Jewish people and antisemitism. But that’s the very question on the table in today’s episode of Canterbury Trails. Our listeners know this podcast is dedicated to the cultural apologetic for Anglicanism, so why are we talking about this subject? We're responding to a recent article in The Christian Post (“New Antisemitism Rising Among Christians is Heresy”) written by a prominent Anglican professor, Dr. Gerald McDermott. And here’s the problem: McDermott’s article adopts a Zionist perspective—a perspective in opposition to the historic views of the Church—then equates rejection of his Zionism to antisemitism, which he then defines as a heresy. We’re not looking for a fight, but we are looking to shift the terms of this debate. To help answer this inflammatory article, our hosts, Jared Lovell and C. Jay Engel, have invited Father Ricky McCarl of Good Shepherd Anglican Church in Harrisburg as today’s guest. Father Ricky serves as vicar of the church, and as a hospice chaplain. His uncle was a Palestinian and a Christian who witnessed firsthand a lot of appalling history in that part of the world—and he shared those stories…

People in this episode

Hosts: Jared Lovell, C. Jay Engel

Guest: Father Ricky McCarl

Topics covered

• antisemitism
• Zionism
• Christianity
• Anglicanism
• cultural apologetics
• Jewish people

Keywords

• antisemitism
• Zionism
• Christianity
• Anglicanism
• Father Ricky McCarl
• Dr. Gerald McDermott
• cultural apologetics

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Good Shepherd Anglican Church, The Christian Post

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• Episode 24 - The Formularies and Christian Life · February 19, 2026 · 1h 7m
• Episode 23 - Church Authority and Christian Unity · February 16, 2026 · 1h 12m
• Episode 22 - Anglicanism 101: Worship and Liturgy · February 5, 2026 · 1h 10m
• Episode 21 - Death, Mourning, and Christian Burial · January 30, 2026 · 1h 25m
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