Playboy's nudity reversal and the illusion of influence
- Can a comparison be drawn between how Playboy attracted people and how the church attracts people?
The hosts discuss the news that Playboy is bringing nude photography back after its non-nude experiment starting March 2016, with Cooper Hefner admitting removing it entirely was a mistake. Their takeaway: Playboy fooled itself into believing it had cultural influence beyond naked images, when nudity was always the actual currency. They generalize the warning: if you attract people with flash (or fear, or promises) rather than the thing itself, people bail when the lure disappears, and it is a poor way to exert lasting influence, including in church and marketing.
More on Culture
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Dear LFTP: the mother-in-law moved in
- My mother-in-law moved in seven months ago and it’s been difficult — how can we sort this out?
The last letter comes from a wife whose mother-in-law moved in seven months ago with no boundaries, rising bills, unpaid prescriptions, and open disrespect.
From No. 604 · Rearview Mirror
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Church, emotions, and the self-focus of affluence
- How do you help people in an affluent, self-focused culture see that they need Jesus?
Ben revives a question from two or three shows back: are church services and worship tunes postured toward certain personality types — predominantly emotions and dealing with emotions?
From No. 603 · Found Out
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Dear LFTP: a son's Taiwanese wife
- My son married a woman from Taiwan whom I dislike and have nothing in common with; what should I do?
Mike (speaker-2) reads a Dear LFTP letter from a parent whose son married a woman from Taiwan: she is sweet but the writer calls her 'uncultured,' dislikes her housekeeping, cooking, English, and dress, and says they are never invited over.
From No. 537 · The Bible Confuseth
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Article: why people reject Christianity, and record unhappiness
- Can you be holy and happy at the same time?
- Are people actually unhappier than past generations, or just more willing to say so?
A host reads an article arguing that beneath surface objections, two reasons top the list for rejecting Christianity: bad experiences with professing Christians who look nothing…
From No. 519 · Folk Ain’t Happy