Potluck Potpourri! Charlie Kirk polarization, Millennial Sainthood, Digital Chaplains, and Faith by State

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The Core Four are back! Host Dale McConkey is joined by Christy Snider, Michael Papazian, and Michael Bailey for a wide-ranging conversation on faith and culture.

We start with reactions to the Charlie Kirk assassination, unpacking how instantly polarizing it was, how social media amplified extreme voices, and how it revealed the deep fusion of religion and politics in American life. The group compares this moment with other flashpoints—from 9/11 to George Floyd—asking why some events unite while others divide.

Christy then introduces us to Saint Carlo Acutis, the first millennial canonized by the Catholic Church, whose deep love for the Eucharist and digital evangelism continue to inspire. That leads into a lighthearted game of “Saint or AIn’t?” where the Core Four try to tell whether quotes come from Acutis or AI.

From there, Michael P. highlights a New York Times story on AI and religion, sparking reflection on whether chatbots can serve as “digital chaplains.” The group weighs the accessibility and affirmation AI can provide against the irreplaceable depth of human pastoral care.

Finally, Michael B. walks us through Pew’s rankings of religiosity by state, exploring why the most religious states are overwhelmingly red, how psychology and fear might shape both politics and piety, and why America is still an outlier compared to wealthy nations.

As always, it’s a smorgasbord of curiosity, with both seriousness and laughter around the table.

The views expressed on Church Potluck are solely those of the participants and do not represent any organization.