Drew Marshall

February 20, 2007 1:16 PM

Drew Marshall hosts Canada's "most listened to" spiritual radio program. As a former pastor who is fed up with phony church culture, he does an interesting job of critiquing North American Christianity from the inside. This fair-minded interview with Richard James, the high priest of the Wiccan Church of Canada, is worth a listen, as is the longest interview ever recorded with the late James Brown. Those unfamiliar with Marshall can get a feel for his style by watching his interview on 100 Huntley Street, a Canadian Christian talk show. It aired only once and was then pulled due to the ensuing controversy.
posted by Pater Aletheias (23 comments total)

Due to the recent passing of Mr. James Brown on December 25th, 2006, we have temporarily removed the links to Drew Marshall's lengthy half-hour interview with the Godfather of Soul.

We just weren't making enough money off of it.
posted by phaedon at 1:19 PM on February 20, 2007

Heh.
posted by grobstein at 1:24 PM on February 20, 2007

Oops. My bad. I should have double checked to see that it was still up.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 1:25 PM on February 20, 2007

We just weren't making enough money off of it.

I'm sure that's it. Every single Christian media personality is a money-grubber. There's no way that it's something as simple as a low-budget operation that couldn't handle or afford the spike in bandwidth.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 1:28 PM on February 20, 2007

I like the handle, by the way. "Pateras Tis Alitheas" would also work.

On preview: I would hardly call Drew Marshall "low budget".
posted by phaedon at 1:30 PM on February 20, 2007

And yes, as a Christian, I think its fair to say that every Christian media personality *is* a money-grubber, n'est-ce pas?
posted by phaedon at 1:33 PM on February 20, 2007

Ted Haggard being the notable exception. He's in it for the sex.
posted by phaedon at 1:35 PM on February 20, 2007

And yes, as a Christian, I think its fair to say that every Christian media personality *is* a money-grubber, n'est-ce pas?

I can't imagine many scenarios where it would be fair to say "every single [person of type X] is a [bad thing]." In Drew Marshall's case, he's never solicited donations over the air, and the show lost money for several years before it's audience grew large enough for the show to be profitable as a commercial operation. That doesn't mean he's taken a vow of poverty, but I think it does demonstrate some basic integrity. But, hey, if you want to slap a label on him, go ahead. I don't know the guy but I'm sure he's heard worse.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 1:39 PM on February 20, 2007

Somewhat interesting. Thanks.
posted by koeselitz at 1:48 PM on February 20, 2007

Also, everybody knows Canadians don't make any money.
posted by koeselitz at 1:49 PM on February 20, 2007

Excellent post! This will certainly rob me of a productive afternoon.

phaedon... rapidly crossing into "sounding like an asshole" territory.

posted by Baby_Balrog at 1:53 PM on February 20, 2007

'Still doing flannelboard...!'
posted by kmennie at 1:54 PM on February 20, 2007

There's no way that it's something as simple as a low-budget operation that couldn't handle or afford the spike in bandwidth.

Youtube. Torrent. Simple.
posted by aramaic at 1:57 PM on February 20, 2007

Catholic insider is the podcast/godcast of a priest from the archdiocese of Utrecht. My home town.
Supposedly he does a nice job of presenting catholic themed soundseeing tours.
posted by jouke at 2:03 PM on February 20, 2007

I see a lot of celebrity interviews on that page, which sets off my "this guy is a phony" alert. So why exactly, isn't he? What about phony church culture is he criticizing?
posted by Pastabagel at 2:04 PM on February 20, 2007

And on the "Next Show" link, which takes you here, there are a ton of links to Promise Keeper resources, which I would have dismissed as ads but for the "New Man" link on the menu which takes you to an order page for promise keeper related crap. There is also some sketchy affiliation with "FaithLife Financial", which I assume is as credible as JP Morgan or Prudential.

Now my "phony" meter is pegged in the red.
posted by Pastabagel at 2:16 PM on February 20, 2007

And on the "Next Show" link there is a large ad, which takes you here...
posted by Pastabagel at 2:18 PM on February 20, 2007

Also, everybody knows Canadians don't make any money.

Sure we get paid.

In Canadian Tire Money.
posted by Bearman at 3:47 PM on February 20, 2007

Spiritual talkback radio is very difficult. My show was that before it became a public radio show. I don't think Drew's show is very good, having listened to it. I don't think it hits the right notes on "phony church culture". For example, he doesn't say really anything about prosperity gospel, which a lot of theologians are having serious issues with. Drew, from my own listening, is shoring up the faith of his listeners by interviewing people who will shore up his faith and then takes on guests who he knows will fire up his constituency - like the leader of a "Mormon" polygamy sect (too bad he can't seem to make the distinction between Mormon and retard). But, talkback is hard because the reaction is instantaneous and raw. Drew has singers and models and actors because they do not carry controversy. He is popular, but only carried on Christian radio stations. Perhaps people like him because he is not a literalist like many of his brethren south of the border; he seems to have trained his language though to a particular lilt of the Canadian Evangelical population. I wonder if he'd ever get around to speaking to Paul Giuliano of the United Church of Canada or Archbishop Andrew Hutchison or Mary Bennett of the Canadian Unitarian Council. He's had Bruce Clemenger of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada but, as I said, that's a safe option that doesn't allow debate but only rhetoric.
posted by parmanparman at 4:28 PM on February 20, 2007

Ted Haggard being the notable exception. He's in it for the sex.

and, allegedly, the drugs.
but not the Rock'n'Roll, that's the devil's work.
posted by CKmtl at 5:04 PM on February 20, 2007

but not the Rock'n'Roll, that's the devil's work

You've never listened to the New Life band, have you?
posted by konolia at 7:36 PM on February 20, 2007

Hey. Thanks for the links. Never heard of this guy. Sounds a lot like Brennan Manning. Watch the youtube stuff - it s good.
posted by internal at 8:29 PM on February 20, 2007

The New Life band is the devil's work? Well I'll be damned!

Drew sounds cool: a man who is actively seeking new and challenging viewpoints. Not an altogether popular pastime in so many sects.
posted by five fresh fish at 9:19 PM on February 20, 2007