Our fresh religion news roundup features insights from @jackjenkins.me, @nuriamk.bsky.social, @brianmannadk.bsky.social, @faithfulpolitics.bsky.social, @ffrfaction.bsky.social, @chrispolansky.bsky.social, @zschonfeld.bsky.social, @drleahpayne.bsky.social, and more!

Thanks so much to Chris Lilley for this thoughtful review of God Gave Rock & Roll to You for CrossCurrents - it’s an honor to think with smart people about the power & meaning of #CCM! www.jstor.org/stable/27372...

Thanks so much to Chris Lilley for this thoughtful review of God Gave Rock & Roll to You for CrossCurrents - it’s an honor to think with smart people about the power & meaning of #CCM! www.jstor.org/stable/27372...

“Kid Rock is less an odd booking than a recognizable character in a familiar story. If anything, TBN’s involvement underscores how thoroughly charismatic media has become a conduit for contemporary conservative activism.” Yours truly on America’s Halftime Show & TBN www.ms.now/opinion/kid-...

Come learn about this amazing program we are cooking up at Portland Seminary! slate.georgefox.edu/register/?id...

About to do a little lite reading thanks to @ctrrelpol-washu.bsky.social & @ryanburge.bsky.social

Come learn about this amazing program we are cooking up at Portland Seminary! slate.georgefox.edu/register/?id...

And analysis from PRRI Affiliated Scholar @drleahpayne.bsky.social: bsky.app/profile/drle...

www.ms.now/opinion/kid-... by @drleahpayne.bsky.social

Check out this great new op-ed by @drleahpayne.bsky.social on tonight's alternative Half Time show. www.ms.now/opinion/kid-...

🙏🤘🎸

Excellent MS NOW piece by @drleahpayne.bsky.social on Kid Rock performing on TBN tonight & what it says about Pentecostal Christianity: www.ms.now/opinion/kid-...

“Kid Rock is less an odd booking than a recognizable character in a familiar story. If anything, TBN’s involvement underscores how thoroughly charismatic media has become a conduit for contemporary conservative activism.” Yours truly on America’s Halftime Show & TBN www.ms.now/opinion/kid-...

For the 2nd edition of In Defense of Ska, I interviewed Leah Payne, author of God Gave Rock 'n' Roll To You to get some backstory on Christian rock music, because I wrote a section on the Christian Ska scene This week, I'm dropping our interview to the IDOS Patreon (link in bio)

649. This week we chat with Leah Payne about her book, God Gave Rock and Roll To You: A History of Contemporary Christian Music. We focus the family of Jimmy Swaggart, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Mickey Gilley in the history of Rock and Roll. louisianaanthology.blogspot.com/2025/10/649-...

The Journal of Praise & Worship (JPW) is launching in early 2026. This new journal is an interdisciplinary, open-access (no article processing charges), peer-reviewed journal that will be published annually. More info as description and subscription guidelines develop.

"Lizzie McAlpine but make it happy and about God" #ContemporaryChristianMusic (aka #CCM) in one sentence!

"Lizzie McAlpine but make it happy and about God" #ContemporaryChristianMusic (aka #CCM) in one sentence!

January, 2020 with @caitlincutt- absolutely no clue what was headed our way

My youngest thinks it should be Super Goal instead of #SuperBowl and this makes so much sense 🏈

Thanks to @uclubpdx and @daleynewsnw for the kind invitation to talk about how #ccm is shaping American public life!

Come hang out with me this Thursday at @universityclubportland! Thursday, January 22 | 6:00pm Free to Attend RSVP: www.uclubpdx.com/link.aspx?l=...

😈

Come hang out with me this Thursday at @universityclubportland! Thursday, January 22 | 6:00pm Free to Attend RSVP: www.uclubpdx.com/link.aspx?l=...

I spoke with Jennifer Park at @christianitytoday.com about K-Pop and #CCM: www.christianitytoday.com/2026/01/kpop...

Maybe you’ve already heard it on the latest episode- I’m so happy to announce that from February onwards, @drleahpayne.bsky.social and I will each do one long, in-depth interview per month for @straightwhitejc.bsky.social with experts from our research fields. So excited about this project!

I spoke with Jennifer Park at @christianitytoday.com about K-Pop and #CCM: www.christianitytoday.com/2026/01/kpop...

Not a guilty pleasure, but I've been listening to Iron Maiden for motivation today. Just finished The Number Of The Beast, which ended up distracting me for too long while I tried to find out if the songwriter had a Charismatic background, lol

Closed out our wedding reception with this years ago and have no regrets www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7k0...

We Built This City on Rock and Roll I believe in a thing called love No Sugar Tonight Brandy The Final Countdown Princes of the Universe All Night Long Holding Out for a Hero Rio Hungry Like the Wolf Take Me Home Tonight Secret Agent Man

Lost Dogs - Why Is the Devil Red Mark Heard - Happy Cornbread Anniversary

Aw I love this post. I Got Five On It by the Luniz! Maybe not for everybody but fills me with joy every time.

Today I'm writing and listening to guilty pleasure songs for motivation. Would love to add some of your guilty pleasure songs to my play list!

This takes courage in any industry, but especially in #CCM:

"I am ready to fight for every young and innocent person who has been, and continues to be, abused in the music industry and in the Church" #CCM superstar Stacie Orrico's statement on her sexual abuse lawsuit against her former manager people.com/stacie-orric...

This takes courage in any industry, but especially in #CCM:

"I am ready to fight for every young and innocent person who has been, and continues to be, abused in the music industry and in the Church" #CCM superstar Stacie Orrico's statement on her sexual abuse lawsuit against her former manager people.com/stacie-orric...

My book God Gave Rock & Roll to You traces how charismatic and Pentecostal Christians overtook Southern Baptists in the evangelical music biz of #CCM -this graph from @ryanburge.bsky.social illustrates the losses in the SBC & gains in the AG in terms of membership:

Thanks to @daviddark.bsky.social for joining @andrewgill.biz and I on #RockthatDoesntRoll! daviddark.substack.com/p/music-cant...

Deadline extended to 1/19 for applications for the Center for Religion and Cities' Public Scholars Fellowship. #AcRel

My book God Gave Rock & Roll to You traces how charismatic and Pentecostal Christians overtook Southern Baptists in the evangelical music biz of #CCM -this graph from @ryanburge.bsky.social illustrates the losses in the SBC & gains in the AG in terms of membership:

Thanks to @daviddark.bsky.social for joining @andrewgill.biz and I on #RockthatDoesntRoll! daviddark.substack.com/p/music-cant...

@skestenbaum.bsky.social's latest about Judah Smith, a West Coast Pentecostal celebrity in the lineage of Aimee Semple McPherson. Tons of keen observations & good lines here (my fave - "sloppy agape"): www.vulture.com/article/juda...

So excited about this new podcast from @jstuart.bsky.social and @ccjones.bsky.social about family history (especially as I'm thinking about a family history research project). The first episode features a fantastic interview wih @kawulf.bsky.social.

@skestenbaum.bsky.social's latest about Judah Smith, a West Coast Pentecostal celebrity in the lineage of Aimee Semple McPherson. Tons of keen observations & good lines here (my fave - "sloppy agape"): www.vulture.com/article/juda...

Pittsburgh isn't an outlier - CCM sounds are taking over radio waves across the country. More and more radio stations trade local music for conservative evangelical theologies and political ideologies: www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

What's an underrated horror film that haunts you? For me, it's The Invitation www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-mp...

"A growing trend has taken over the Pittsburgh airwaves, one that signals a telling shift away from rock blocks and morning DJs into spiritual and political ideology." www.pghcitypaper.com/arts-enterta...

What's an underrated horror film that haunts you? For me, it's The Invitation www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-mp...