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Leah Payne

@drleahpayne.bsky.social
3.7K followers 690 following 421 posts

Author, God Gave Rock & Roll to You: a History of CCM @OUPReligion | Affil. Scholar @PRRI | Pods: @PRX #RTDR | #SpiritandPower | #WeirdReligion

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Reposted by Leah Payne
Leah Payne @drleahpayne.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Pope Leo on AI & the arts
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Lars Gotrich @totalvibration.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
I converted to Catholicism at the wildest time.
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Leah Payne @drleahpayne.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Pope Leo on AI & the arts
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Leah Payne @drleahpayne.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
@andrewgill.biz and I spoke w/ the very brilliant @nicomuhly.com! If you're in NYC, see him at Carnegie Hall on 10/4! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
Nico Muhly
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David Dark @daviddark.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
We are a beginning.
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Leah Payne @drleahpayne.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Still buzzing from the premiere of Safe for the Whole Family @ the Nashville Film Festival - an inspiring labor of ❤️ from Jason Ikeler w/ stories from artists who experienced the quirky world of #ccm pop stardom like THE @jenniferknapp.bsky.social & @nikkileonti.bsky.social & Crystal Lewis & more!
Nashville film festival photoJennifer KnappCrystal Lewis
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Leah Payne @drleahpayne.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
HUGE congratulations to @jasonikeler.bsky.social - Safe for the Whole Family premieres next week at the Nashville Film Festival! 🎸✝️ 🤘@people people.com/safe-for-the...
people.com
Safe for the Whole Family Documentary Trailer Exposes the Dark, Exploitative Side of the Christian Music Industry (Exclusive)
PEOPLE has an exclusive look at the first trailer for ‘Safe for the Whole Family: How to Make a Christian Superstar.’ The upcoming documentary explores the rise of contemporary Christian music, its st...
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Leah Payne @drleahpayne.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
It was a joy to be with the students of @pdxseminary last week - we talked about faith and cultural engagement in the midst of the culture wars. They were so insightful!
It was a joy to be with the students of @pdxseminary last week - we talked about faith and cultural engagement in the midst of the culture wars. They were so insightful!
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Leah Payne @drleahpayne.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
HUGE congratulations to @jasonikeler.bsky.social - Safe for the Whole Family premieres next week at the Nashville Film Festival! 🎸✝️ 🤘@people people.com/safe-for-the...
people.com
Safe for the Whole Family Documentary Trailer Exposes the Dark, Exploitative Side of the Christian Music Industry (Exclusive)
PEOPLE has an exclusive look at the first trailer for ‘Safe for the Whole Family: How to Make a Christian Superstar.’ The upcoming documentary explores the rise of contemporary Christian music, its st...
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Reposted by Leah Payne
Center for the Study of Religion & American Culture @csraac.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
From awards to interviews, articles, and new podcasts, our YSAR alumni and mentors keep busy! Check out some recent work from YSAR! Learn more about YSAR: raac.indianapolis.iu.edu/programs/you...
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Leah Payne @drleahpayne.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Dr. Khyati Y. Joshi's new podcast Mixed: Stories and Strategies for Multiracial and Interfaith Families is out today (1st 2 eps!) and it's fascinating, poignant, funny, and insightful. Check it out! redcircle.com/shows/b09749...
redcircle.com
Mixed: Stories and Strategies for Multiracial and Interfaith Families
Listen to Mixed: Stories and Strategies for Multiracial and Interfaith Families on RedCircle
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Leah Payne @drleahpayne.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Happy annual Newsies Rewatch Day to all who celebrate
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Leah Payne @drleahpayne.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
👀 podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Battlestar Galactica opening scene
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Leah Payne @drleahpayne.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Happy annual Newsies Rewatch Day to all who celebrate
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Leah Payne @drleahpayne.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Thanks so much for reading! 🤘🎸✝️
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Rivikah @rivikah.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Time for this year's nonfiction reading courtesy of @drleahpayne.bsky.social
The cover of God Gave Rock & Roll To You by Leah Payne
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Leah Payne @drleahpayne.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Thanks to Hannah Rott of @rns.org for inviting me to comment on how/why charismatic orgs like Bethel are rarely derailed by scandal: religionnews.com/2026/09/02/y...
religionnews.com
Young people at Bethel church still seek the spirit, despite scandals
(RNS) — Young worshippers say they hope the church's troubles — including failed prophecies and pastoral misconduct — will lead to repentance and revival at a prominent Charismatic Christian church.
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Leah Payne @drleahpayne.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
REWIND to the first season of Rock that Doesn't Roll! @dlmayfield.bsky.social @bradleyonishi.bsky.social substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com
Rewind: SIC Innovations (ft. Brad Onishi and DL Mayfield)
For 1990s evangelical teens, punk, hardcore, and ska were a gateway to a passionate, edgy way to express their Christianity outside the mainstream.
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Leah Payne @drleahpayne.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Thanks to Hannah Rott of @rns.org for inviting me to comment on how/why charismatic orgs like Bethel are rarely derailed by scandal: religionnews.com/2026/09/02/y...
religionnews.com
Young people at Bethel church still seek the spirit, despite scandals
(RNS) — Young worshippers say they hope the church's troubles — including failed prophecies and pastoral misconduct — will lead to repentance and revival at a prominent Charismatic Christian church.
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William Shakespeare @shakespeare.lol · 25/08/2026
[Exit Queen.]
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Leah Payne @drleahpayne.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
💔 www.nytimes.com/2026/08/25/a...
nytimes.com
Dolly Parton, Country Music Superstar Whose Songs Spoke to Millions, Dies at 80
Known for her outsize persona, appearance and talent, she rose from rural poverty to become a top-selling singer, songwriter and entrepreneur.
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Dr. Bradley Onishi @bradleyonishi.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
@drleahpayne.bsky.social in conversation with @krystafauria.bsky.social of the @apnews.com - on the Religious Left and the rise of Democrats of faith: axismundinetwork.substack.com/p/the-axis-r...
axismundinetwork.substack.com
The Axis Report: Is the Religious Left Really Rising?
Newsletter + The Longform Interview
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Leah Payne @drleahpayne.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
“Brian Doerksen gave evangelicalism its soundtrack but not its current theology” - Yours Truly on how the “Jesus is my boyfriend” sounds of Doerksen & the Vineyard gave way to the rock ‘em sock ‘em militarism of top-selling worship music today: religionnews.com/2026/07/30/b...
religionnews.com
Brian Doerksen gave evangelicalism its soundtrack but not its current theology
(RNS) — Today's evangelical worship culture often reflects a very different vision of God than the one Doerksen’s songs proclaimed.
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Leah Payne @drleahpayne.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Yes, the revivals in Toronto and Pensacola had very different outcomes
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Stephen @stephenwaldron.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
This article touches on something I'm writing about in my book: the charismatic dominionism of the NAR and adjacent circles should be understood against the backdrop of 1990s revivals that did not lead to the right-wing sociopolitical changes that many Pentecostals and charismatics had hoped for.
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Leah Payne @drleahpayne.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
“Brian Doerksen gave evangelicalism its soundtrack but not its current theology” - Yours Truly on how the “Jesus is my boyfriend” sounds of Doerksen & the Vineyard gave way to the rock ‘em sock ‘em militarism of top-selling worship music today: religionnews.com/2026/07/30/b...
religionnews.com
Brian Doerksen gave evangelicalism its soundtrack but not its current theology
(RNS) — Today's evangelical worship culture often reflects a very different vision of God than the one Doerksen’s songs proclaimed.
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Charles S. Freeman @cspencef.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
@drleahpayne.bsky.social Can I safely assume you know about this? www.kickstarter.com/projects/the...
kickstarter.com
The Songs Live On: Music of the Jesus Revolution
Double LIVE album (20 songs), concert documentary DVD celebrating the pioneers of Jesus Music on CD, Vinyl & Digital Download.
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Leah Payne @drleahpayne.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Why are there so many Christian Metalcore Bands? I enjoyed speaking with Laura Bradley of @thefringeblog.bsky.social about Xian Metalcore, American politics & gender - check it out here! www.thefringe.blog/p/the-story-...
thefringe.blog
Why Are There So Many Christian Metalcore Bands?
How bands like Underoath, The Devil Wears Prada, Norma Jean, and more conquered a corner of the hardcore scene.
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Dr. Bradley Onishi @bradleyonishi.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
Tomorrow! @drleahpayne.bsky.social in conversation with Dr. Lerone Martin on SWAJ.
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Leah Payne @drleahpayne.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
🔥 Extra, Extra! The 2027 Summer Institute for Global Charismatic & Pentecostal Studies invites scholars, journalists, artists, faith leaders, & students to gather @ Candler School of Theology, May 27–28, 2027, for “Tongues of Fire, Winds of Change: Pentecostalism, Politics, & Transnational Powers.”
Save the date for 2027 Summer Institute for Global Charismatic and Pentecostal Studies at Candler School of Theology
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Leah Payne @drleahpayne.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
🏔️❤️
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Burke, vt, To kill w/out marks & selling body for med dissection @bleaktheology.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
@drleahpayne.bsky.social is the best explainer why this resonates so deeply. CCM is derivative, yes, but add powerbrokers, “worldview”, & economics behind it. What @kkdumez.bsky.social's Jesus and John Wayne does for masculinity, she does the same for music. www.drleahpayne.com/god-gave-roc...
drleahpayne.com
God Gave Rock and Roll to You — Leah Payne
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Leah Payne @drleahpayne.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Introducing this xennial classic to my buddies
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Dex Anderson @dexanderson.com · 03/07/2026
kinda want to find a place that does a Christian Rock Karaoke for ex-evangelical millennials just so I can scream-sing WISDOM ALWAYS CHOOOOSES THESE BLACK EYES AND THESE BRUISES at full volume
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Leah Payne @drleahpayne.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Thanks, Austin! Yes, God Gave Rock and Roll to You argues that American evangelicalism has been "Pentecostalized" through song. In the aughts, this was a source of frustration for Reformed folks like John Piper. www.amazon.com/God-Gave-Roc...
Text from God Gave Rock & Roll to You
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Leah Payne @drleahpayne.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Passion was in many ways an attempt to harness the power of Charismatic music, and infuse it with Reformed ideas. The effort had mixed results!
text from God Gave Rock and Roll to You
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Leah Payne @drleahpayne.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Thanks, Austin! Yes, God Gave Rock and Roll to You argues that American evangelicalism has been "Pentecostalized" through song. In the aughts, this was a source of frustration for Reformed folks like John Piper. www.amazon.com/God-Gave-Roc...
Text from God Gave Rock & Roll to You
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Michael "Austin" Kamenicky @kamenickyma.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
This is actually in many ways a story about music. Reformed evangelicals started listening to and singing Pentecostal and Charismatic music. This had observable effects on their theology and ecumenical attitude. @drleahpayne.bsky.social is the real authority here.
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Leah Payne @drleahpayne.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Really enjoyed my conversation w/ Will Wright and Josh Burtram on the Faithful Politics podcast as part of their Church & State: 250 years of Faith in America series. We talked CCM & American politics from Nashville to DC - Amy Grant & DC Talk & Carman and the worship music biz were all in there!
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Jordan Wood @thecrossoverappeal.com · 12/06/2026
No thank you! I’ve been trying to pull a project together about deconstruction music, especially on the perimeters of Christian metal and post hardcore, and when I found your book it felt like a miracle lol.
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Leah Payne @drleahpayne.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
Wow, thank you so much!
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Jordan Wood @thecrossoverappeal.com · 12/06/2026
Cracked open God Gave Rock and Roll to You by @drleahpayne.bsky.social this morning. Feel like I’ve been waiting for a book like this for years.
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PRRI @prri.org · 10/06/2026
PRRI Affiliated Scholar and former Public Fellow @drleahpayne.bsky.social reflects on how PRRI's research has supported her research into American charismatic and Pentecostal Christians. Join us in strengthening the future of data-driven public scholarship: prri.org/data-democra...
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Leah Payne @drleahpayne.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Worship music is everywhere these days! I spoke with @bmietana.bsky.social for this segment of NPR’s All Things Considered about how songs like How Great Is Our God give political gatherings spiritual significance: www.npr.org/2026/05/27/n...
npr.org
Why an apolitical worship song has become popular with conservative activists
A Christian worship song has turned up everywhere from prayer services at the Pentagon to the Charlie Kirk memorial service. The song is apolitical, so what accounts for its use at political events?
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Dr. Bradley Onishi @bradleyonishi.bsky.social · 17/05/2026
Tomorrow on SWAJ - @drleahpayne.bsky.social speaks with Dr. Jonathan Calvillo about rupture and realignment among Latine people of faith in the US:
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Leah Payne @drleahpayne.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
“The Nicolae Carpathia character is really helpful because that character is a proxy for a certain evangelical critique of cosmopolitan European culture“ - I enjoyed speaking w/ @miguelpetrosky.bsky.social for his @therevealer.bsky.social piece on the Euro Antichrist therevealer.org/european-ant...
therevealer.org
European Antichrist — The Revealer
Why many right-wing evangelicals disdain Western Europe
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Burke, vt, To kill w/out marks & selling body for med dissection @bleaktheology.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
This RTDR ep is probably one of my most favorite podcast episodes of all time. I am absolutely the target audience here. I had no idea about Brecht, Mahalia Jackson, Ari Up, & so much more. Strap in. Thank you, @drleahpayne.bsky.social and @andrewgill.biz. Well done. rtdrpod.com/episodes/onl...
rtdrpod.com
Only Visiting This Punk Planet via Germany (ft. Nina Hagen)
Nina Hagen is a true legend. She's considered an icon of German culture. And she's known as "the Godmother of German Punk." But our interview with her...
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Leah Payne @drleahpayne.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
Mother’s Day weekend is a great weekend to think about a Mother of CCM
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Leah Payne @drleahpayne.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
“Her legacy is secure as a CCM icon, and so I don’t think it’s surprising that we’ve seen her over the last few years continue to have a mind of her own.” - Amy Grant, queen of CCM, challenged evangelical norms, even as she was marketed as the epitome of Christian womanhood. wpln.org/post/amy-gra...
wpln.org
Amy Grant grapples with the Trump era and her own mortality in "The Me That Remains"
Amy Grant steers her new album, "The Me That Remains," towards social consciousness.
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Leah Payne @drleahpayne.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
“Her legacy is secure as a CCM icon, and so I don’t think it’s surprising that we’ve seen her over the last few years continue to have a mind of her own.” - Amy Grant, queen of CCM, challenged evangelical norms, even as she was marketed as the epitome of Christian womanhood. wpln.org/post/amy-gra...
wpln.org
Amy Grant grapples with the Trump era and her own mortality in "The Me That Remains"
Amy Grant steers her new album, "The Me That Remains," towards social consciousness.
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