Pope Francis died on Monday. Will the Catholic Church continue to move in the direction of inclusion and reform, or will it elect a more traditional leader in reaction to the last papacy? Mike Cosper is back to talk about his new podcast from Christianity Today about the Satanic Panic, “Devil and the Deep Blue Sea.” In the 1980s and 90s, the FBI investigated 11,000 reports of satanic ritual abuse, but did not uncover a single credible story. So, why were parents throughout the country worried that heavy metal music, board games, and the Smurfs would lead their kids into devil-worshipping cults? Cosper explains how hucksters leveraged fears over cultural change to create mass hysteria, and why lessons from the Satanic Panic are still relevant today. Also this week, Medieval art reveals the sounds and smells of hell.

Holy Post Plus:

Bonus Interview with Mike Cosper:

https://www.patreon.com/posts/127227607/

Ad-Free Version of this Episode:

https://www.patreon.com/posts/127232165/

0:00 - Show Starts

3:50 - Theme Song

4:12 - Sponsor - Our Place - Go to https://www.fromourplace.com and use code HOLYPOST to get 10% off site wide on beautiful cookware!

5:22 - Sponsor - Rocket Money - Find and cancel your old subscriptions with Rocket Money at https://www.rocketmoney.com/HOLYPOST

12:12 - News of the Butt, Medieval Art Edition

18:46 - Bosch Painting Translated into Music

24:24 - The Legacy of the Pope

32:35 - America vs. The Pope

41:42 - Sponsor - BetterHelp - This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/HOLYPOST and get 10% off your first month

42:50 - Sponsor - Policy Genius - Secure your family’s tomorrow so you have peace of mind today. Go to https://www.policygenius.com/HOLYPOST to find the right life insurance for you

42:00 - Interview

46:23 - Why’s the Satanic Panic Relevant?

53:00 - What is the Satanic Panic?

1:01:03 - Hucksters Behind It

1:11:09 - Did People Want it to Be True?

1:28:45 - End Credits

Links from News Segment:

Reddit Discusses Medieval Face-Butts:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Medievalart/comments/rly22w/can_someone_please_explain_why_medieval_artwork/

Bosch Painting Translated to Music

https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/periods-genres/renaissance/hieronymus-bosch-painting-naked-bum-music/

Other Resources:

Devil and the Deep Blue Sea from Christianity Today:

https://pod.link/1778512810

Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/

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Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost

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The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

It’s Holy Week, and an article in the New York Times argues that Palm Sunday wasn’t a worship procession; it was a protest march. With that theme in mind, Christians held peaceful rallies over the weekend in Philadelphia and San Diego to protest inhumane immigration enforcement policies, including the order allowing government agents into churches during worship gatherings to arrest people. Skye talks to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) about how her faith informs her politics, what lessons the Democrats have learned from their losses in 2024, and why more religious Americans view her party’s brand as “toxic.” Phil, Skye, and Kaitlyn then debrief the interview and discuss whether the Democrats’ struggle is just messaging or something deeper. Also this week: the problem with purple.

Holy Post Plus:

Ad-Free Version of this Episode:

https://www.patreon.com/posts/126742149/

0:00 - Show Starts

3:35 - Theme Song

3:55 - Sponsor - AG1 - Heavily researched, thoroughly purity-tested, and filled with stuff you need. Go to https://www.drinkag1.com/HOLYPOST

5:15 - Sponsor - Sundays Dog Food - Get 40% off your first order of Sundays. Go to https://www.SundaysForDogs.com/HOLYPOST or use code HOLYPOST at checkout.

7:15 - Purple Isn't Real?

17:40 - Christians Protesting ICE

25:05 - Was Palm Sunday a Protest?

34:50 - Why’re We Interviewing a Senator?

36:00 - Sponsor - Public Good Generation - One week immersive program for high school students to https://www.ccpubliclife.org/high-school

37:00 - Sponsor - World Relief: The Path - Join a monthly giving community to help people all around the world! Go to https://www.worldrelief.org/stand

38:05 - Interview

43:50 - Is the Republican Party Faith-Driven?

53:05 - Is the Democratic Brand Toxic?

1:10:30 - Debrief

1:16:20 - Trump Administration Holy Week Statement

1:28:45 - End Credits

Links from News Segment:

World Relief:

https://www.worldrelief.com/advocate

Purple Isn’t Real!

https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a64393667/purple-is-fake/

Faith Groups Protest Ice:

https://religionnews.com/2025/04/07/pennsylvania-faith-groups-build-altar-at-ice-office-in-protest-of-immigration-arrests/?utm_medium=social

Palm Sunday was a Protest, Not a Procession:

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/13/opinion/palm-sunday-protest.html?searchResultPosition=5

White House Presidential Holy Week Message

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2025/04/presidential-message-on-holy-week-2025/

Other Resources:

Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/

Holy Post Plus: www.holypost.com/plus

Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost

Holy Post Merch Store: https://www.holypost.com/shop

The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Donald Trump launched a global trade war because he thinks America’s trade deficit makes us “losers,” but does he even understand what a trade deficit is? Phil introduces a new segment full of statistics that make Kaitlyn and Skye groan. And they discuss David Brooks’ new article in The Atlantic, which compares this moment in U.S. history to the era of Andrew Jackson, and offers hope for what may come after MAGA. Skye interviews Jonathan Rauch about his new book, “Cross Purposes.” Rauch, an atheist, says his antagonism toward Christianity changed when he came to see how vital it is to American democracy and why evangelicals’ failure to follow Jesus is putting the whole country at risk.

Holy Post Plus:

Bonus Interview with Jonathan Rauch

https://www.patreon.com/posts/125941930/

Ad-Free Version of this Episode:

https://www.patreon.com/posts/126225451/

0:00 - Show Starts

3:05 - Theme Song

3:30 - Sponsor - BetterHelp - This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/HOLYPOST and get 10% off your first month

4:35 - Sponsor - Blueland - Get up to 25% off your first order by going to https://www.Blueland.com/HOLYPOST

7:12 - Stock Market Crash!

15:49 - How Idols Steal from Us

20:36 - DEI Removal

27:50 - Nihilism

41:20 - How Do Things Get Better?

48:18 - Sponsor - Hiya Health - Go to https://www.hiyahealth.com/HOLYPOST to receive 50% off your first order

49:22 - Sponsor - Rocket Money - Find and cancel your old subscriptions with Rocket Money at https://www.rocketmoney.com/HOLYPOST

50:30 - Interview

55:04 - Secularization’s Consequences

1:06:22 - Christianity as an Exilic Religion

1:15:20 - Evangelism as Market-Driven Religion

1:26:52 - End Credits

Links from News Segment:

David Brooks Article:

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2025/05/trumpism-maga-populism-power-pursuit/682116/

Other Resources:

Cross Purposes: Christianity’s Broken Bargain with Democracy by Jonathan Rauch:

https://a.co/d/8Zl4bvs

Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/

Holy Post Plus: www.holypost.com/plus

Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost

Holy Post Merch Store: https://www.holypost.com/shop

The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.