The SkyePod: "Drew's News" — December 19, 2025
Host: Skye Jethani
Guest: Drew Dyck

Overview

In this special “Drew’s News” episode, Skye Jethani and Drew Dyck dive into a lively, holiday-tinged conversation exploring quirky internet debates, theological hot potatoes, and recent scientific research on worship. The episode balances humor and depth, with a focus on critical questions that Christians often encounter. Topics include: is Home Alone a Christian movie, shifting evangelical views on hell, and neuroscience findings about worship.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Holiday Gatherings & Podcast Community (00:40–02:19)

• Drew is visiting in person soon, feeling “like the first day of school” about joining the Holy Post crew.
• They discuss the SkyePod format, emphasizing the benefits of Holy Post Plus membership—community, exclusive content, and gift subscriptions.
• Drew’s popular newsletter is highlighted for its humor, worldview, and Canadian flair.

2. Is Home Alone a Christian Movie? (03:02–09:30)

The Die Hard and Christmas Movie Debate (03:02–03:20)

• Drew brings up the perennial debate: “Is Die Hard a Christmas movie?” Both agree: “It is definitely a Christmas movie.” (A, 03:17)

The “Christian” Case for Home Alone (03:32–08:00)

• A thread by Jeremy Tate argues Home Alone contains deep Christian symbolism:
  • Kevin drawn to the church, hearing “Oh Holy Night”
  • Encounter with the neighbor, Old Man Marley, who has a pierced hand (potential Christ figure)
  • Marley saves Kevin at the climax, acting as a Christ-like savior
• Drew summarizes the online argument with tongue-in-cheek drama—“Full body chills. He doesn’t write that. I just said that…” (B, 04:24)
• Skye is amused, but skeptical: “First of all, I think we got to back up and go, what is it that makes a movie Christian?” (A, 05:12)
• They discuss the difference between Christian themes and intent, questioning whether symbolism was deliberate.

Scriptural Subtext & Canon (08:00–09:30)

• Drew adds that an extended, more overtly Christian scene was in the original Home Alone script, suggesting intention.
• Skye: “It would be fascinating to know were these things deliberately put...” (A, 06:26)
• They joke about adding Home Alone to the “canon of Christmas traditions” (A, 06:58) and riff on family experiences watching the film.
• Memorable moment: Drew notes the use of "Christian cuss words" in Home Alone—“Like fudge” (A, 09:17).

3. Kirk Cameron’s Shift on Hell & Annihilationism (09:32–22:08)

Kirk Cameron’s Theological U-Turn (09:32–11:17)

• Kirk Cameron, known for conservative Christianity, recently announced he rejects eternal conscious torment, embracing annihilationism.
• Drew reads Cameron’s quote:
  • “I don’t want to believe in conscious eternal torment for anybody, no matter how wicked they are. If the Scriptures taught it, I would believe it because this is the word of God. But if it doesn’t teach that, we are severely misrepresenting the character of God.” (B, 10:55)
• Backlash from conservative circles ensues; former associates publicly distance themselves from Cameron.

Scriptural and Traditional Arguments (11:17–16:23)

• Skye aligns with Cameron, arguing that “the evidence for eternal conscious torment is really, really weak in Scripture. Incredibly weak. It’s very strong in tradition. It’s very weak in Scripture.” (A, 12:13)
• Skye introduces “terminal punishment”—a nuanced annihilationist view:
  • “The fate of the wicked is death…the cessation of existence. So you have that. The other thing, though, that scripture does say a lot is that God will repay each person for what they have done, and that repayment is proportional…” (A, 13:44)
• He maintains that proportional punishment, not one-size-fits-all torment, is biblically justified.

Evangelical Motivations & Church Tradition (16:23–17:30)

• Skye: Many defend eternal conscious torment by appealing to tradition and as a motivator for evangelism:
  • “A lot of evangelicals feel like…if you don’t have that hanging over you, then why really come to faith? …That’s really sad to me...” (A, 16:24–17:00)
• Skye notes that the Book of Acts, a model for Christian mission, never mentions hell.

Language, Orthodoxy, and Theological Consistency (17:30–21:05)

• Drew wishes terminology could be closer to scriptural language: “Can’t we just use the language of scripture?” (B, 17:31)
• Skye contends using Paul’s words (“wages of sin is death”) doesn’t get one to eternal conscious torment:
  • “Let’s use the words of Scripture. But it doesn’t get you to eternal conscious torment.” (A, 18:25)

Substitutionary Atonement vs. Eternal Torment (18:25–19:05)

• Skye’s key argument:
  • “Jesus died for our sins. He was not eternally tortured for our sins. So if you want to believe in eternal conscious torment, then you have to give up substitutionary atonement…” (A, 18:43)
• He stresses hell views are not creedal or marks of orthodoxy—historically, many respected Christians have held annihilationist positions: “Ignatius of Antioch, Irenaeus, Martin Luther, William Tyndale, John Stott…” (A, 20:40)

Final Thoughts on Justice and Judgment (21:05–22:03)

• Drew and Skye agree there must be post-mortem judgment for justice to be meaningful.
• Skye observes, “What is never taught in the Bible is eternal conscious torment. It’s an inherited Greek philosophy that the medieval church latched onto…” (A, 21:30)
• Drew, humorously: “If I find out you’re wrong, I’m going to come back and burn you at the stake.” (B, 22:03)

4. The Neuroscience of Worship (22:26–24:44)

Worship & the Brain (22:26–24:31)

• Drew summarizes a Relevant Magazine article:
  • MRI studies show worship quiets the brain’s fear center and enhances emotional regulation, empathy, moral reasoning, and self-control.
  • “It actually doesn’t take a ton of time…as little as 12 minutes a day.” (B, 24:05)
• He wonders aloud: Is God the active agent, or are these just psychological phenomena?

Skye’s Response (24:31–24:44)

• Skye pauses, setting up for deeper analysis on what neuroscience can (and can’t) explain about the spiritual nature of worship.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Christmas movies:
  • “Oh, totally. It is definitely a Christmas movie.” — Skye (A), on Die Hard (03:17)
  • “Kevin then has an encounter with a Christ figure, Old Man Marley…his hand was actually pierced all the way through. Full body chills.” — Drew (B), on Home Alone (04:24)
  • “First of all, I think we got to back up and go, what is it that makes a movie Christian?” — Skye (A), (05:12)
• On hell and church tradition:
  • “The evidence for eternal conscious torment is really, really weak in Scripture. It’s very strong in tradition. It’s very weak in Scripture.” — Skye (A), (12:13)
  • “I don’t want to believe in conscious eternal torment for anybody, no matter how wicked they are. If the Scriptures taught it, I would believe it.” — Kirk Cameron, quoted by Drew (B), (10:55)
  • “Let’s use the words of Scripture. But it doesn’t get you to eternal conscious torment.” — Skye (A), (18:25)
  • “If you want to believe in eternal conscious torment, then you have to give up substitutionary atonement…” — Skye (A), (18:43)
  • “What is never taught in the Bible is eternal conscious torment. It’s an inherited Greek philosophy that the medieval church latched onto.” — Skye (A), (21:30)
• On worship and neuroscience:
  • “Worship quiets the brain’s fear center and at the same time strengthens a region of the brain that’s responsible for emotional regulation and empathy and moral reasoning and self control.” — Drew (B), (24:05)

Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:40 — Christmas greetings and podcast logistics
• 03:02 — Home Alone and Christian movie debates
• 09:32 — Kirk Cameron’s new view on hell
• 13:44 — Biblical argument for terminal punishment
• 16:23 — Tradition vs. scripture in doctrines of hell
• 18:43 — Substitutionary atonement vs. eternal torment
• 22:26 — Neuroscience findings on worship

This episode of The SkyePod teems with both playful and profound reflections, offering holiday levity and provocative theological debate. Skye and Drew’s rapport keeps the conversation lively as they move from internet oddities to the deepest questions of faith, always balancing humor and insight.