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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I went on Substack Live today to discuss how worship songs that may be written for one reason can get co-opted for violence by someone else. rickpidcock.substack.com/p/how-songs-...

rickpidcock.substack.com

How Songs Become Weapons

A recording from Rick Pidcock's live video

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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Here's my interview on the Culture, Faith, and Politics podcast from last night about my book. www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqPn...

youtube.com

The Dark Reality of MAGA Turning Worship Songs Into Weapons of War (with Rick Pidcock)

YouTube video by Culture, Faith, and Politics

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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Complementarian churches are pyramid schemes. 1/2

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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Here's a message I received today from someone who read my book. www.broadleafbooks.com/store/produc...

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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

This is what's considered worthy of prime time coverage at Fox News these days.

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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Here's my interview on the "Christianity Without Compromise" podcast about my book, "Weapons of Worship: How the Songs of Evangelicalism Form the Soundtrack of Extremism." The audio-only version is also available on other podcast platforms. youtu.be/5F3wv9xuT0w?...

youtu.be

Is Worship Music Forming Christian Extremists? - Rick Pidcock

YouTube video by Jake Doberenz

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randy r. potts @thephatic.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

if you want to know why white evangelicals are so primed for violence, these songs are a HUGE part of it

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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

I just purchased the Kindle version of my book. Here's a screenshot of the most recent books in my Kindle library, the vast majority of which I reference in "Weapons of Worship." www.broadleafbooks.com/store/produc...

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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

The long awaited day is finally here! "Weapons of Worship" is available now! If you purchase it online, please give it a rating or review on Amazon or Goodreads. 1/2

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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

As a reminder, tomorrow is launch day, which means that's when reviews can be posted at places like Amazon. So if you wouldn't mind giving it a rating or better yet, writing a few short sentences and posting them there when it opens up, it would be really helpful to draw people to the book. Thanks!

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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

What are people saying about "Weapons of Worship"? Here's Fr. Joash Thomas! The official launch is tomorrow! www.broadleafbooks.com/store/produc...

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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Look at what Mark Driscoll Christianity has devolved into. Also, this is the guy Josh Howerton looks up to and wants to emulate.

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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I have a new website! You can learn more about me and my book, "Weapons of Worship," as well as explore more than 300 links to articles, 165 links to podcasts, hundreds of citations and interviews from other platforms, and even some music I’ve written along the way. rickpidcock.com

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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

What are people saying about "Weapons of Worship"? Here's Matthew Boedy! www.broadleafbooks.com/store/produc...

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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

One of the most frustrating features of modern evangelical conversations around gender and sexuality is that they often appeal to the liberating equality that the early church taught as a way of attracting people to their modern embodiment of empire.

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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

This is pretty surreal. When I had my cleaning business, I regularly woke up at 5:00 a.m., drove up through the mountains, and walked through this exact mall entrance to clean the windows at an Old Navy store. 1/2

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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

I went on the Heretic Happy Hour today to discuss my book! Some of the ways worship gets weaponized that we talk about include its lyrics, political rallies, oligarchy, promotion of straight white men, design of worship services, artificial intelligence, and more! Check it out!

podcasts.apple.com

#296: Worship Wars with Rick Pidcock

Podcast Episode · Heretic Happy Hour · September 22 · 55m

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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

We're just 7 days away from the official launch of my book, "Weapons of Worship: How the Songs of Evangelicalism Form the Soundtrack of Extremism." But it's already starting to show up in Barnes & Noble stores across the country! Here are a few places where you can walk in to pick it up today!

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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Just purchased Sarah Stankorb's audiobook, "Damned if She Does: Why Women Quit Church and What It Means for the Future of Religion."

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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

With so many books coming out, including my own, about how white evangelicalism has harmed us, I decided to have a conversation with Johnna Harris about some of the challenges and temptations of building a platform that shares the stories of those who have been harmed by people with platforms.

podcasts.apple.com

Ep163: Building a Platform that Shares the Stories of Those Harmed by People with Platforms, with Johnna Harris

Podcast Episode · Highest Power: Church + State · September 21 · 45m

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Chris Lilley 🇵🇸🇺🇦 @frostinthepines.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Another thought-provoking book release this week! In *Weapons of Worship*, @rickpidcock.bsky.social shows how the rhetoric of Christian worship as warfare and violence against the "enemy" has taken on a sickening, nationalist reality within white evangelicalism in the US. 🧵

A photograph of the book "Weapons of Worship" by Rick Pidcock resting on a wooden surface. The top of the dark cover features a quote reading, "'Sharp . . . in-depth . . . fascinating.' —KATHERINE STEWART". The title is printed in large, white block letters above an image of a microphone on a stand, which is illuminated by a red, smoky glow emanating from the bottom of the cover. The subtitle below the microphone reads, "HOW THE SONGS OF EVANGELICALISM FORM THE SOUNDTRACK OF EXTREMISM".

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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

What are people saying about "Weapons of Worship"? Here's Christa Brown! www.broadleafbooks.com/store/produc...

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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

“It’s what we’re calling the ‘Send Me Tour.’ If you know your book of Isaiah chapter 6 verse 8. The Lord said, ‘Who will I send?’ And Isaiah says, ‘Lord, I’m here. Send me.’” —Pete Hegseth (who apparently doesn't know the book of Isaiah)

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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

The Audible version of my audiobook is now up to #23 in Church & State. Ironically, it's right behind Jonathan Cahn's book, who I describe in mine smashing a literal stone altar in front of the U.S. Capitol and performing an exorcism on the nation in October 2024 so the Republicans could win. 1/2

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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Where in the Bible does it say God called Christians to stand for the United States by using Communion as a weapon? www.broadleafbooks.com/store/produc...

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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

The Audible version of my book released a little early. And it's currently outselling the Christian nationalism book by Doug Wilson and Al Mohler, and Matt Walsh's book. 1/2

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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

"Oh come on, Rick! You're looking too deeply into things!" Here's a screenshot from my book, along with a screenshot from Sean Feucht's post just 12 hours ago. a.co/d/0f4rKeF7

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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Thank you to everyone who has bought my audiobook today on Audible! It's already the #1 New Release in Contemporary Christian Music! a.co/d/0f4rKeF7

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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Good news! In addition to releasing the hardcover of my book early, Amazon has now released my audiobook early. So if you listen to audiobooks on Audible, you can go ahead and purchase it now! a.co/d/03vsrD5k

a.co

Amazon.com

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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

My book title is not an insult. It's simply accurate. Sean Feucht says, "Worship is our weapon." Hence the title, "Weapons of Worship." www.broadleafbooks.com/store/produc...

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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Speaking of "Weapons of Worship," this pastor had his church design a stage like a battleship. Then with "The Battleship Church" on the screen behind him, he shot off multiple cannons, which caused some parishioners to scream, and then he jumped down off the "ship" with an AR-15 in his hands.

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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Case in point. Cory Asbury has a new song out this year with the lines: We might lose all our composure We might set the world on fire Watch us bow a little lower Just to lift your name up high. 1/3

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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

The title of my book is, "Weapons of Worship: How the Songs of Evangelicalism Form the Soundtrack of Extremism." Case in point. www.broadleafbooks.com/store/produc...

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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

I'm not hurling insults. This is simply how it works. 1/2

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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Launch day is less than two weeks away now. But we're already starting to see copies of "Weapons of Worship" out in the wild. www.broadleafbooks.com/store/produc...

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Sarah Stankorb @sarahstankorb.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

I am so proud. My second book, DAMNED IF SHE DOES: Why Women Quit Church and What It Means for the Future of Religion, is out today. Not only do these women's stories matter individually, they are a major indicator for the future of religion and this country. www.broadleafbooks.com/store/produc...

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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Today is the launch day for Kristin Kobes Du Mez's new book, "Live Laugh Love." And the Theobros are now using an egalitarian pacifist woman to counter Du Mez's presentation of the facts. Here was my piece about why evangelicals feel shocked when historians call out the harm of their leaders.

baptistnews.com

What’s so upsetting to evangelicals about Kristin Du Mez?

Unfortunately, not everyone in evangelicalism receives Du Mez’s scholarship with such openness, says Rick Pidcock.

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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

While I wanted to suggest Josh Howerton shouldn't be trusted with AI license plate and facial recognition technology, I also wanted to speak to the larger trend of churches outside of Lakepointe using AI. 1/2 baptistnews.com/article/how-...

baptistnews.com

How much privacy should you expect at church?

Imagine a world where high-control pastors monitor movements of every staff member, church member or visitor using artificial intelligence.

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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Josh Howerton has completely lost the plot. baptistnews.com/article/how-...

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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

My launch date isn't officially until September 29. But Amazon just started shipping copies. And they're already down to just 12 copies left in stock. So if you want one of those 12, you should snatch it up while you can. a.co/d/0chce0Ak

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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

What are people saying about "Weapons of Worship"? Last week, I shared an endorsement from the dean of a seminary. This one's from Hemant Mehta, editor of Friendly Atheist. www.broadleafbooks.com/store/produc...

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Aaron, just Aaron @a-j-ruszk.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

“And they devoted themselves to the Apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and the prayers [, and Batman tracking the Joker around Gotham style monitoring] No true Scotsman fallacy and all that but this is not a church

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Brandon @ CrucibleOfThought @crucibleofthought.com · 14/09/2026

This is a problem. But here's the elephant in the room: we think of church like a giant corporation that has business interests and needs to protect its reputation. The entire underlying model doesn't look ANYTHING like the Bible describes. Why are we surprised it doesn't look and act like Jesus?

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Reposted by Rick Pidcock

Charles Spargur @cspargur.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

And 3rd parties (esp. for-profit businesses!) SHOULD NOT have this level of access into the church! This company could "take over" this church without the leadership even noticing! (Or just push leadership to be focused on the "giving" score of the members.

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Charles Spargur @cspargur.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

This is scary and spiritual abuse. Not even the apostles expected this level of deference in the NT ("follow me AS I follow Christ") This church is not focused on developing members relationships with God and other members. It is focused on controlling their members.

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Charles Spargur @cspargur.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

"You can totally disagree with me, you just can’t do it here. You know, what we have to have is a church and a staff that has 100% unity. That’s the expectation, 100%.” This is not the mindset of an "ensample to the flock" this is the mindset of a "lord". (1Pet5:3) This is NOT biblical leadership.

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Rick Pidcock @rickpidcock.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Josh Howerton's Lakepointe Church is using AI technology with license plate recognition and facial recognition capabilities to track everyone who attends their church. And it's not just them. Here's my latest. baptistnews.com/article/how-...

baptistnews.com

How much privacy should you expect at church?

Imagine a world where high-control pastors monitor movements of every staff member, church member or visitor using artificial intelligence.

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