Louder with Crowder: Jay Dyer on Hollywood, The Occult, and the Attack on the American Soul

Date: November 26, 2025
Guest: Jay Dyer
Host: Gerald (for this episode)

Episode Overview

This episode features Jay Dyer, an author, debater, and Orthodox Christian apologist, joining Gerald for an in-depth discussion on the profound intersections between Hollywood, the occult, propaganda, religion, and the crises facing the American soul. The conversation branches into church history, spiritual questions, the influence of secret societies, American Protestantism, Christianity’s relationship to Israel, and deeper questions of faith, truth, and cultural manipulation. Jay and Gerald also explore polemics between Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox positions, while highlighting the importance of informed belief in the current sociopolitical climate.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Jay Dyer's Faith Journey and Debating Background

Timestamps: [06:12]–[14:19]

• Jay’s Spiritual Path:

  • Raised a Baptist, got into philosophy and apologetics, and adopted debate techniques inspired by Dr. Greg Bahnsen.
  • Read deeply into church fathers and church history, moving from Protestantism to Catholicism (Latin Mass) and, eventually, to Orthodox Christianity after a long period of study and catechesis.
  • Quote:

    "I got really interested in apologetics and I put a lot of years into that... modeled my debate style after Dr. Bahnsen." – Jay Dyer [08:31]

  • Took nearly a decade to thoroughly vet Orthodoxy before converting, emphasizing the importance of having all theological questions answered.

• Discussion about Catechumenate:

  • The Orthodox approach to faith formation is slow and deliberate, with an in-depth catechism process focusing on commitment and understanding, rooted in early church practices.
  • Quote:

    "I actually think it's better sometimes to take your time... you don't want to go into something and then have like a shock of, oh, I didn't get this question answered." – Jay Dyer [11:55]

  • Playful banter about the ritual of spitting to renounce Satan upon entry.

2. Critique and Comparison of Christian Traditions

Timestamps: [12:00]–[16:29]

• Exploration into the differences and challenges encountered in Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox traditions.
• Emphasizing the intellectual rigor required to genuinely defend one’s faith tradition, and the problematics Gerald witnessed in Protestant charismatic practices (e.g., speaking in tongues, repetitive “rededications”).
• The value of seeking steel-man arguments from each perspective and not settling for online strawman versions.

3. Hollywood, the Occult, and Propaganda

Timestamps: [20:06]–[34:12]

• Jay’s Book Series: Esoteric Hollywood

  • Explores the interconnectedness of Hollywood, intelligence agencies (Pentagon/CIA), occult practices, and broader social engineering.
  • Book series available at jaysanalysis.com.
  • Quote:

    "Film is packed with that kind of stuff... A lot of directors, a lot of these actors are into satanic cults." – Jay Dyer [23:37]

• Origins and Case Studies:

  • Jay elucidates how, through academic work, he discovered undeniable links between governmental agencies and the film industry.
  • Brought up British and American efforts to use cinema for WWII propaganda and beyond.
  • Influence of notorious occultists (e.g., Aleister Crowley) within intelligence circles and Hollywood avant-garde.

• Concrete Examples:

  • Analysis of films like Wag the Dog (meta-narrative on propaganda), Eyes Wide Shut (exposure of elite occult underbellies), and the entire James Bond franchise (coded propaganda laced with real intelligence themes).
  • Quote:

    "Ian Fleming was involved in high level British naval intelligence operations... He was writing into the stories a lot of the real operations that he went through." – Jay Dyer [32:41]

• Modern Propaganda:

  • Gerald highlights contemporary forms, such as LGBTQ+ storylines being woven throughout mass media and children’s movies as an example of deliberate message seeding.
  • Quote:

    "Just as a propaganda thing: All of the LGBTQ stuff that we saw kind of foisted on us in all the different movies... That's the kind of stuff that happens." – Gerald [28:38]

4. Debates, Apologetics, and Top Christian Voices

Timestamps: [34:12]–[41:07]

• Jay and Gerald discuss top-tier debaters and representatives of Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox thought:

  • For Protestants: Gavin Ortlund is widely respected for steel-manning and fair engagement.
  • For Catholics: Tim Gordon and Trent Horn are noted; for Orthodoxy, select names artfully debate specialized topics (UBI Petras, Perry Robinson, etc.).
  • Quote:

    "It's interesting, in our domain, we've got several people that focus very heavily on certain areas... I guess it's just fallen kind of to me to be the guy that debates more broadly." – Jay Dyer [38:41]

• Riffing on the lack of deep-rooted historical education in modern Protestant congregations.

• Emphasis on the value of long, detailed debates as learning tools for laity.

5. Israel, Zionism, and the “Evangelical Problem”

Timestamps: [43:42]–[72:41]

• The Ted Cruz Case:

  • Recent headlines where Ted Cruz struggled to articulate his strongly pro-Israel stance, revealing a broader lack of theological foundation among evangelicals.
  • Play and discussion of Cruz’s statement that “the church is asleep” to antisemitism; both Gerald and Jay argue the opposite – evangelicals are hypersensitized, often without deep understanding.

• Zionism and Political Context:

  • Jay unpacks the complex, secular socialist origins of modern Zionism and Israel’s foundation, detailing British/Fabian involvement.
  • Talks about Christian Zionism’s rise in America through the “Scofield Study Bible,” encouraged by elite Oxford/Fabian circles to steer evangelical support towards Israel as fulfillment of prophecy.
  • Quote:

    "The modern nation of Israel is a complex thing that was put there by the British Empire. It's a British imperial outpost." – Jay Dyer [48:28]

• Dispensationalism’s Impact:

  • Gerald and Jay discuss the almost dogmatic support for Israel among American evangelicals and its roots in dispensationalism and Scofield’s widely popular annotated Bible.
  • Quote:

    "America has been...wedded to whatever...the right side of Israel wanted. That's just the facts." – Jay Dyer [55:23]

• Scripture and “Replacement Theology”:

  • Distinguish between “supersessionism” (replacement) and nuanced understanding: The church as the fulfillment of Israel, but not negating God's promises to ethnic Jews.
  • Orthodox position: the church is the “new nation,” as detailed in Matthew 21, Galatians 3 & 4, Romans 11 (which promises a future conversion for the Jews), and Hebrews.
  • Quote:

    "We believe, with Romans 11, that there is a future conversion of the Jews. We don't know when that will be... that is the patristic interpretation." – Jay Dyer [60:53]

• On John Hagee’s Rhetoric:

  • Clip and breakdown of Hagee's declaration that “the Jewish people are the most unique people on the face of the earth... a special treasure above all people.”
  • Jay agrees that much is “sort of half the story,” and without Christ, the Old Covenant is obsolete per Jeremiah and the New Testament.
  • Orthodox (and broader traditional Christian) teaching: The only way Jews can be saved is “in Christ,” but their survival is itself a witness to the Bible’s truth.
  • Critique of dual-covenant theologies popular in some dispensational circles.

6. Actualizing Faith and Historical Awareness

Timestamps: [72:41]–[76:07]

• Gerald expresses his desire for Protestants to reclaim church history and resist blind adherence to shallow talking points, with the Israel question exemplifying the dangers.

• Jay traces the liberalization of mainline Protestant churches—under the influence of wealthy families (e.g., Rockefellers)—as a reason deep biblical theology eroded, with only a few seminaries (like Dallas Theological) dominating the American evangelical doctrine scene.

7. Calls for Intellectual and Spiritual Depth

Timestamps: [76:07]–[End]

• Gerald and Jay encourage Christians to know why they believe what they believe, urging respectful, deep, and honest debates.
• Expression of intent to continue these topics in future episodes (feminism in Protestant churches, eschatology, practical apologetics).
• Quote:

  "As Christians, again, know why you believe what you believe, it's very, very important. I don't think God has called us to just have a completely uninformed faith." – Gerald [76:07]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Hollywood and the CIA:

  "Film is packed with symbolism... and all of that turned out to be real. Not everything, but much of it. More than you would think." – Jay Dyer [23:37, 23:56]

• On Cautious Conversion:

  "I think it's better sometimes to take your time... you don't want to go into something and then have like a shock of, oh, I didn't get this question answered." – Jay Dyer [11:55]

• On Biblical Israel:

  "The kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation, producing the fruits thereof." – Jay Dyer, citing Matthew 21:43 [58:56]

• On the “Church is Asleep” claim:

  "The church is asleep to antisemitism is one of the most crazy things I think I've ever heard in my life... the church is fully awakened to that and... oversaturated, brainwashed." – Gerald [47:29]

• On Modern Christianity’s Crisis:

  "Protestants... need to have a grounding in their faith and to start studying something that we've unfortunately walked away from. And that's early church history." – Gerald [41:42]

• On Eschatology:

  "We believe the church is the kingdom... the church is now the one that is in covenant with Christ and the Jews can come back in, but that's in Christ." – Jay Dyer [64:27, 65:03]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Jay Dyer Introduction & Spiritual Biography: 06:12–14:19
• Catechumenate & Church Differences: 14:19–16:29
• Esoteric Hollywood & the Occult: 20:06–34:12
• Best Debaters in Christianity: 34:12–41:07
• American Evangelicalism and Zionism: 43:42–55:23
• Biblical Case for the Church as Israel: 58:56–65:26
• Hagee Clip & Critique: 66:25–69:32
• Liberalization of Protestantism & Seminaries: 72:41–75:33
• Conclusion and Final Calls: 76:07–End

Episode Takeaways

• Deep, historical, and theological awareness is crucial in turbulent times—surface-level slogans and tribalistic thinking put faith at risk.

• Hollywood’s influence is profound, subtle, and often coordinated between vested interests, government, and the spiritually dark—Christians must approach cultural consumption critically.

• Christian theological positions—especially related to Israel, the end-times, and faith tradition—demand historical grounding. Protestants especially are encouraged to reclaim the church fathers and challenge inherited assumptions.

• Open, fearless dialogue (including debate) remains the surest path toward truth and a resilient American soul.

Find Jay Dyer’s Work:

• jaysanalysis.com (Esoteric Hollywood books, livestreams, and analysis)
• YouTube: Jay Dyer
• X/Twitter: @J_D007

Closing Note:
The show finishes with Gerald expressing the need for ongoing, honest conversations about faith, culture, and history, promising to invite Jay back for further deep dives into these vital issues.