Unpacking faith, masculinity, and hope with Rev. Angela Denker on Compass 164: Disciples of White Jesus. Dive into a candid conversation exploring how our images of Jesus, shaped by culture and media, influence everyday faith, identity, and relationships.

Discover practical wisdom for nurturing authentic spirituality at home, at church, and in daily life — plus stories of empathy, resistance, and a kinder, more inclusive community. Need new language to talk about difficult faith questions or searching for ways to live out a more compassionate Christian witness? This episode is for you.

Rev. Angela Denker is an award-winning author, ELCA Lutheran pastor, and veteran journalist. Her first book, Red State Christians, was the 2019 Silver Foreword Indies award-winner for political and social sciences. Her second book, Disciples of White Jesus: The Radicalization of American Boyhood, came out on March, 25, 2025. She is a columnist for the Minnesota Star Tribune and has written for many publications, including Sports Illustrated, the Washington Post, and FORTUNE magazine, and has appeared on CNN, BBC, SkyNews, and NPR to share her research on politics and Christian Nationalism.

In this episode:

00:00 Exploring Faith and Identity Issues

05:18 “The Crusades’ Legacy in Modern Masculinity”

08:04 Misrepresentation of Jesus Online

10:59 Reclaiming Masculinity Through Relationships

15:13 Caution in Church Involvement

19:33 Journey to Writer and Pastor Role

22:04 White Men: Danger and Struggle

25:32 “Confronting Localized Violent Masculinity”

30:15 “Embrace Presence Amidst Distractions”

33:25 Closing

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Visit umc.org/Compass for show notes and more episodes.