In this episode, Matthew D. Taylor joins me to talk about his new book, Defying Tyrants: Following Jesus in a World of Christian Antichrists, and why he believes American Christianity has reached an emergency. We trace the merger of Christianity and empire back to Constantine, then read Mark, 1 John, and Revelation as challenges to Caesar’s vision of power. Matthew explains what John meant by antichrist and why the early church aimed that word at fellow Christians. I ask him what we’re supposed to do when the wheat and the weeds grow together, and what following Jesus looks like when Christians choose empire.
Matthew D. Taylor is the author of Defying Tyrants, The Violent Take It by Force, and Scripture People, and his work has appeared or been featured in the New York Times, Weekend Edition, On the Media, Rolling Stone, The Bulwark, Politico, Sojourners, and Religion News Service. A religious studies scholar who specializes in American Islam, Christian nationalism, and Christian extremism, he is also the creator of the Charismatic Revival Fury podcast series. Taylor holds a PhD from Georgetown University and an MA from Fuller Theological Seminary. He is currently a senior visiting scholar at the Center on Faith and Justice at Georgetown University.
Matthew's Book:
