News spin, buckets, and advertising culture
- To what extent are you responsible for other people's perception of what you say?
The hosts work the question: news is delivered as fact-plus-spin and audiences only read their own spin; people sort each other into buckets ('compassionate liberal,' 'heartless wingnut') to avoid complicated middle-of-the-road conversations. The 'Baby It's Cold Outside' debate is used as an example — radio stations pull it over consent concerns while Christians defend it, yet biblically the song depicts fornication, which Christians oppose either way. A host argues an advertising culture has taught everyone to brand their speech, distancing them from core true things. A host addresses Dan by name ('You know what, Dan?').
More on Culture
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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