Rick Pidcock's Avatar

Rick Pidcock

@rickpidcock

Weekly contributor for Baptist News Global | Currently writing "Weapons of Worship" (Broadleaf Books, 2026) | Host of BNG's "Highest Power: Church + State" | Stay at home dad | He/him | www.rickpidcock.com | rickpidcock.substack.com

1,988
Followers
46
Following
1,028
Posts
12.11.2024
Joined
Posts Following

Latest posts by Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock

Preview
Are US military commanders really talking about Armageddon? – Baptist News Global Journalists should begin studying up on theology, reading Hegseth’s old books, and paying attention to what they may have assumed to be fringe

In his book "American Crusade," Pete Hegseth warned against "Islamism" wanting "to implement their version of end-times theology.” Since he now has the War Department bending its knee to the "God of War," it makes sense he might combat their end-times theology with his Christian end-times theology.

06.03.2026 21:52 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
Weapons of Worship: How the Songs of Evangelicalism Form the Soundtrack of Extremism In a sweeping investigation into the music of megachurches and political rallies, a journalist asks: How did praise and worship music beloved by millions of white evangelicals become the soundtrack of...

I've discovered that if I wait until around 11:00, the birds start to quiet down. So Chapter Two of the audiobook is now recorded! Also, if you'd like to pre-order the hardback version, here's the link!
www.broadleafbooks.com/store/produc...

06.03.2026 18:12 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
Are US military commanders really talking about Armageddon? – Baptist News Global Journalists should begin studying up on theology, reading Hegseth’s old books, and paying attention to what they may have assumed to be fringe

A report has been spreading that claims U.S. commanders are pursuing the war in Iran to hasten Armageddon. But despite being shared by major media outlets, the report has come under question. So in this piece, I share what know and don't know at this time.
baptistnews.com/article/are-...

06.03.2026 16:10 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

I'm really thankful for Baptist News Global giving me an opportunity to provide such a consistent analysis of the news each week. If you haven't listened yet, check it out wherever you listen to podcasts! 2/2

06.03.2026 02:21 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Post image

My podcast, "Highest Power: Church + State," isn't so new anymore. We launched it one year ago this week! We've been able to stay consistent, publishing 106 episodes so far featuring a combination of solo shows and 46 guests. 1/2

06.03.2026 02:21 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0

Conservative evangelicals aren't at all going to be bothered by Trump simply moving Greg Bovino and Kristi Noem to other job locations after clear evidence of abuse and coverups. They've been doing this with their pastors for decades.

05.03.2026 21:42 👍 12 🔁 6 💬 2 📌 0

Trump's firing of Kristi Noem is good. But it doesn't mean much if he doesn't also charge and prosecute the men who murdered Renee Good, Alex Pretti, and the non-white people whose names we don't know.

05.03.2026 21:18 👍 3 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
Weapons of Worship: How the Songs of Evangelicalism Form the Soundtrack of Extremism In a sweeping investigation into the music of megachurches and political rallies, a journalist asks: How did praise and worship music beloved by millions of white evangelicals become the soundtrack of...

If you want to know how the worship industry has become complicit in this violence, you can pre-order my book today! 2/2

www.broadleafbooks.com/store/produc...

05.03.2026 14:16 👍 3 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Post image

I shared this screenshot of Christian nationalist worship leader Sean Feucht yesterday with stars in his eyes over the bombing in Iran. In 2023, Feucht explained his violent glee by saying, "The more the world shakes, the happier we become." 1/2

05.03.2026 14:16 👍 3 🔁 0 💬 3 📌 0

Notice how evangelicalism teaches its followers not to trust their feelings when their feelings move them toward love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, but to trust their feelings when their feelings move them toward power and violent retribution.

05.03.2026 02:59 👍 11 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
Cover Reveal for "Weapons of Worship: How the Songs of Evangelicalism Form the Soundtrack of Extremism" Cover Reveal and Pre-order

You can find the pre-order links and some more info about the book at my Substack. 2/2

rickpidcock.substack.com/p/cover-reve...

04.03.2026 20:57 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
Post image

I'm excited to reveal the cover for my book, "Weapons of Worship: How the Songs of Evangelicalism Form the Soundtrack of Extremism" and to let you know that it's now available for pre-order! 1/2

04.03.2026 20:57 👍 7 🔁 0 💬 2 📌 0
Post image

Check out the look on his face as he talks about "the attacks happening, missiles flying, (and) tensions escalating."

04.03.2026 14:21 👍 6 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

While trying to make a connection between Jewish feasts, ancient Persia, and Donald Trump's attack on Iran, Christian nationalist preacher Lance Wallnau said, "The return of Jesus is back on the menu."

04.03.2026 12:28 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

You shouldn't have to parse three centuries worth of Greek words to ease your conscience enough to follow the leadership of women.

03.03.2026 18:19 👍 7 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

yep

03.03.2026 14:56 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Post image

That moment when I agree with William Wolfe.

03.03.2026 13:55 👍 5 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0

Dude, our government is literally being run by Christian nationalists who are making decisions to hasten the end of the world. That’s why we’re taking the Trump administration seriously. 2/2

03.03.2026 01:58 👍 6 🔁 0 💬 2 📌 0

Marco Rubio said, “That entire regime is led by radical clerics who don't make geopolitical decisions. They make decisions on the basis of theology, their view of theology, which is an apocalyptic one. That has to be taken very seriously.” 1/2

03.03.2026 01:58 👍 3 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
Preview
Ep105: The American Military Fetish, Pacifism, & the War in Iran, with Ben Daniel Podcast Episode · Highest Power: Church + State · March 2 · 36m

On tonight's episode of "Highest Power: Church + State," I interview Ben Daniel, who is a Presbyterian pastor and the author of "Grace Over Guns: Pursuing Peace In A Militarized World," about the American military fetish, pacifism, and the war in Iran.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...

02.03.2026 23:17 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Values aren't gendered.

02.03.2026 21:02 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Evangelicals: “It’s so nice to have Christian values running the government again!”

Pete Hegseth: “If you threaten Americans anywhere on earth, we will hunt you down without apology and without hesitation and we will kill you.”

02.03.2026 17:43 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Post image

One thing we have to figure out sooner rather than later is how to convince evangelicals to stop ordering our foreign policy to advance their agendas to hasten the end of the world.

02.03.2026 14:31 👍 5 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
Weekly Roundup: Feb. 27 Here’s the weekly roundup from A Public Witness. In addition to a review of a new book on MAGA politics that is free for anyone to read, paid subscribers to A Public Witness received a look at some un...

Our latest religion news roundup features insights from @alejacorazonhm.bsky.social, @bmietana.bsky.social, @markwingdallas.bsky.social, @rickpidcock.bsky.social, @texasnewsdude.bsky.social, @sky-latte.bsky.social, @robertpjones.bsky.social, @kevinjfrey.bsky.social, @kaylaguo.bsky.social, and more!

27.02.2026 17:57 👍 3 🔁 4 💬 0 📌 0
Post image

When I was at the National Press Club in D.C. in October 2024 and Israel began bombing Iran, Sean Feucht and the worship warriors were excited, cheering and singing while declaring it to be "like end-times Revelation stuff!" Now the United States is bombing Iran and Feucht says it "feels biblical."

28.02.2026 16:11 👍 1 🔁 2 💬 1 📌 0
Preview
'And lead us into laughter ... ’ – Baptist News Global For those of us who deconstruct our conservative upbringing, comedians can play an important role in helping us name and feel our way.

“If God does exist, he does not exist to make you feel better than other people. He exists to make you better FOR other people.”
—Taylor Tomlinson in "Prodigal Daughter"
baptistnews.com/article/and-...

27.02.2026 02:17 👍 4 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Post image

For tonight's episode of "Highest Power: Church + State," I discuss Trump's State of the Union address as well as him belittling the women's Olympic hockey team.

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...

26.02.2026 23:41 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
'And lead us into laughter ... ' – Baptist News Global For those of us who deconstruct our conservative upbringing, comedians can play an important role in helping us name and feel our way.

For my new piece today, I discuss Taylor Tomlinson's new Netflix special "Prodigal Daughter," and share how comedians have accompanied my deconstruction journey.
baptistnews.com/article/and-...

26.02.2026 20:32 👍 8 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Also, they're willing to take into account the harmful fruit of being non-affirming of women in ministry or of LGBTQ people. But they aren't willing to consider the harmful fruit of mononormativity, by which I'm referring to a posture toward reality, not to a strawman excuse to have sex.

24.02.2026 14:18 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

I interact with a lot of LGBTQ affirming Christians. It's notable how similar their reasons for opposition to polyamory are to the reasons conservatives give for opposition to same sex marriage. They get visibly uncomfortable when I ask about it and show the same lack of awareness conservatives do.

24.02.2026 14:05 👍 4 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0