Brian Kaylor
@briankaylor.bsky.social
2.8K followers 230 following 1K posts
Baptist minister with PhD in political communication. New book: 'Baptizing America.' President & Editor-in-Chief - @WordAndWay.bsky.social [email protected] http://publicwitness.wordandway.org
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briankaylor.bsky.social
Last week I broke the story about the 1st public school chaplain in Florida (publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/pastor-pus...). Glad to see someone else see this is newsworthy. It's troubling to see lack of media attention to how the school "chaplain" laws are being implemented on the ground level.
friendlyatheist.com
Florida’s first "school chaplain" under Gov. Ron DeSantis’ new law isn’t a counselor at all.

He’s a Jan. 6 supporter with extremist views, and he urges parents to avoid public education.

This program is already a disaster.

www.friendlyatheist.com/p/floridas-f...
Florida's first public school chaplain is a Jan. 6 supporter—and a warning to everyone
The appointment of Rev. Jack Martin shows how Florida's chaplain law has become a Trojan horse for Christian Nationalism in public schools
www.friendlyatheist.com
briankaylor.bsky.social
Yep, that's unfortunate. It almost feels like she was chosen as someone Trump would like (& thus not get as angry about losing)
briankaylor.bsky.social
Huh, so the guy murdering fisherman off the coast of Venezuela with his rebranded "Department of War" didn't get the Nobel Peace Prize.
briankaylor.bsky.social
Missouri is preparing to execute someone who has strong innocence claim, whose jury didn't vote to sentence him to death, & who is an inspiring leader ministering to his fellow prisoners:
publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/the-impend...
The Impending Execution of a Prison Pastor
Imagine that through a series of harrowing life events, you find yourself sent to a maximum security prison.
publicwitness.wordandway.org
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
wordandway.bsky.social
State and federal courts have denied nearly all paths for relief or even the use of modern DNA testing for Lance Shockley’s strong innocence claim, leaving intervention from Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe as likely the only option.

This will be the first execution for the “pro-life” Catholic governor.
The Impending Execution of a Prison Pastor
Imagine that through a series of harrowing life events, you find yourself sent to a maximum security prison.
publicwitness.wordandway.org
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
wordandway.bsky.social
Today’s issue of A Public Witness looks at Lance Shockley’s extensive history of Christian leadership while in prison, as well as the role restorative justice should play in our criminal legal system.
The Impending Execution of a Prison Pastor
Imagine that through a series of harrowing life events, you find yourself sent to a maximum security prison.
publicwitness.wordandway.org
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
wordandway.bsky.social
Some Christians today argue that empathy is wrong, even calling it a sin and unbiblical.

For @boozybiblescholar.bsky.social, an associate professor of New Testament and Greek at the McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University, this idea is absurd.
Reading the Bible in Ways That Challenge White Supremacy and Patriarchy
Some Christians today argue that empathy is wrong, even calling it a sin and unbiblical.
publicwitness.wordandway.org
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
wordandway.bsky.social
“The Bible According to Christian Nationalists” is officially out now!

This book unpacks the techniques behind the misuse of biblical texts like numerology, selective key words, and rewriting scripture, showing how these misinterpretations distort the teachings of Jesus.
The Bible According to Christian Nationalists: Exploiting Scripture for Political Power
Exploiting Scripture for Political Power
bookshop.org
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
wordandway.bsky.social
As the news demonstrates pretty much every day, Christian Nationalism is a threat to democracy and the Christian witness.

Those of us seeking to follow the teachings and example of Jesus should not stand quietly by and allow Christian Nationalists to profane our sacred texts.
Out in the World
On Friday, a group of Anglican men declared they would gather “for such a time as this” to oppose the selection of Sarah Mullally as the first female head of the Anglican Communion.
publicwitness.wordandway.org
briankaylor.bsky.social
Department of Homeland Security recruiting people to join ICE & help "protect our sacred land." You don't get to claim you're protecting sacred land & show a church when you're arresting pastors & took away protection churches have from immigration raids!
publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/when-trump...
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
wordandway.bsky.social
The latest review from @drbobcornwall.bsky.social covers the new book “The Bible According to Christian Nationalists: Exploiting Scripture for Political Power” by our own @briankaylor.bsky.social.

“[Brian] suggests that knowing the Bible can aid in resistance to Christian Nationalism.”
Review: The Bible According to Christian Nationalists - Word&Way
In this new book, Brian Kaylor exposes the ways Christian Nationalism distorts scripture through seven different problematic approaches to interpreting and applying the biblical text.
wordandway.org
briankaylor.bsky.social
Over on X, Fox News highlights how Johnson read the Bible during press conference full of inaccurate claims & partisan attacks. It's almost like he's trying to advertise my new book that releases today:
The Bible According to Christian Nationalists bookshop.org/a/110819/978...
briankaylor.bsky.social
With my new book releasing today, it's a great day to go to @bookshop.org & buy it while supporting indie bookstores: bookshop.org/a/110819/978...
bookshop.org
Can’t decide what to buy on Prime Day?

Try: absolutely nothing, and then go support indie bookstores instead 📚
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
wordandway.bsky.social
With the weaponization of Scripture regularly making headline news, “The Bible According to Christian Nationalists” officially releases today to point to better ways of reading and applying sacred texts.
Out in the World
On Friday, a group of Anglican men declared they would gather “for such a time as this” to oppose the selection of Sarah Mullally as the first female head of the Anglican Communion.
publicwitness.wordandway.org
briankaylor.bsky.social
Thanks for taking the time to read & write about it!
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
wordandway.bsky.social
It’s book release day!

Get your copy of “The Bible According to Christian Nationalists: Exploiting Scripture for Political Power” now:
The Bible According to Christian Nationalists: Exploiting Scripture for Political Power
Exploiting Scripture for Political Power
bookshop.org
Reposted by Brian Kaylor
faithfulpolitics.bsky.social
What happens when politics and Scripture mix?
@briankaylor.bsky.social of @wordandway.bsky.social joins Faithful Politics to explore how the Bible is used in public life—and how to keep faith from being reduced to a political brand.
Watch 🎧 youtu.be/dVhmiPai9oU
The Bible According to Christian Nationalists with Brian Kaylor
YouTube video by Faithful Politics Podcast
youtu.be
briankaylor.bsky.social
As we watch Department of Homeland Security (& Department of War) co-opt Bible verses, we need to push back against such weaponization of Scripture. My new book drops tomorrow to help do that: The Bible According to Christian Nationalists bookshop.org/a/110819/978...
The Bible According to Christian Nationalists: Exploiting Scripture for Political Power
Exploiting Scripture for Political Power
bookshop.org