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Quick to Listen

Did Rush Limbaugh Reshape Christian Radio, Too?

Quick to Listen

Christianity Today

Religion, Christianity, Religion & Spirituality

4.3622 Ratings

🗓️ 24 February 2021

⏱️ 62 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Transcribed highlights of the show can be found in our episode summaries. Last week, conservative talk radio personality Rush Limbaugh died at age 70. Limbaugh’s nationally syndicated political show first hit the airwaves in the late 1980s. He was beloved by many who shared or later adopted his political views and his penchant for conspiracy theories. Many of his critics, however, pointed out his cruel and crass remarks. Limbaugh’s legacy was hardly limited to politics. In a tribute to him, one Christian leader wrote for USA Today, that “ Christian talk programs in particular wouldn't even exist today were it not for Limbaugh's success. Christian radio would still be limited to sermons and songs. But instead, radio stations realized the benefit of capturing even a slice of Limbaugh's audience share and offered new hosts and new voices opportunities to join a new, more democratic discussion of the issues.” Mark Ward Sr. is associate professor of communication at the University of Houston-Victoria in Victoria, Texas. His books include The Electronic Church in the Digital Age, Air of Salvation: The Story of Christian Broadcasting, and The Lord’s Radio: Gospel Music Broadcasting and the Making of Evangelical Culture. Ward joined global media manager Morgan Lee and editorial director Ted Olsen on Quick to Listen to discuss Limbaugh’s impact on Christian radio, how Christian radio differs from Christian TV, and how the medium does or not does not make the message What is Quick to Listen? Read more Rate Quick to Listen on Apple Podcasts Follow the podcast on Twitter Follow our hosts on Twitter: Morgan Lee and Ted Olsen Music by Sweeps Quick to Listen is produced by Morgan Lee and Matt Linder The transcript is edited by Yvonne Su and Bunmi Ishola Christianity Today’s most recent article on mixed-gender friendships Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

This episode is brought to you in part by The Apologetics Guy Show, the podcast that helps you find clear answers to tough questions about Christianity.

0:11.0

Learn to explain your faith with courage and compassion.

0:14.5

Join Moody Bible Institute professor Dr. Mikhail del Rosario at Apologeticsky.com.

0:27.6

Last week, conservative talk radio personality, Rush Limbaugh died at age 70. Limbaugh's nationally syndicated political show first hit the airwaves in the late 1980s.

0:33.6

He was a beloved by many who shared or later adopted his political views and his penchant for

0:38.7

conspiracy theories, including the falsehood Barack Obama was not born in the United States.

0:44.1

Many of his critics pointed out his cruel and crass remarks. During the AIDS crisis, for instance,

0:49.8

Limbaugh's show included a segment called AIDS Updates, which made light of these deaths by playing the

0:55.3

song, I'll never love this way again. Limbaugh's legacy was hardly limited to politics. In a tribute to him,

1:01.3

one Christian leader wrote for USA Today that, quote, Christian talk programs in particular

1:06.2

wouldn't even exist today were it not for Limbaugh success. Christian radio would still be limited

1:11.4

to sermons and songs. But instead, radio stations realized the benefit of capturing even a

1:16.5

slice of Limbaugh's audience share and offered new hosts and new voices opportunities to join

1:20.9

a new, more democratic discussion of the issues. We wanted to more fully dive into the world of

1:27.2

Christian radio and understand

1:29.0

Limbaugh's specific impact on this community. You're listening to Quick to Listen, where we go

1:38.4

be on hashtags and hot takes to discuss a major cultural event. I'm Morgan Lee, global media manager at Christianity Today.

1:45.9

And I'm Ted Olson.

1:47.0

I'm editorial director at Christianity Today.

1:59.0

All right.

2:00.5

Ted, I would love to hear your gut reaction to, I think, not only Limbaugh's death,

2:07.3

but also this claim that we heard about the impact that he left on Christian radio.

...

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