Episode Details

Not just Independence Day, but all month long, American citizens are celebrating our nation’s semiquincentennial called “America 250.” Other fans from around the world are joining in! But some folks, of course, feel uncertain about such patriotism. Don’t our countries have a lot of problems? Isn’t our eternal citizenship in Heaven? Let’s explore how Scripture endorses “the glory and honor of the nations.” And let’s recall how fantastical stories illustrate this good love of our country.[1. Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash.]

Episode sponsors

1. Worlds Collide by Clint Hall
2. Above the Circle of Earth (softcover) by E. Stephen Burnett
3. Iffy Eats Monsters for Breakfast by Bryan Timothy Mitchell
4. Lorehaven Guild: July 2026 book quest for The Silver Chair

Mission update

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1. Why some struggle to love their homeland

• We’ll disclaim illegitimate hatred or homeland, called oikophobia.
• Some prefer imaginary or opposite “homes” rather than real ones.
• Still others are rank traitors for bad reasons, and can be rejected.
• Yet more legitimately, “home” has a bad stigma for some people.
• We must not let “home was bad for me” turn into “it’s bad for all.”
• Nor should we let this impulse turn into “the nation is bad for all.”
• Yes, a few countries are built on truly wicked foundations.
• But most are not—certainly not those with listeners to us now.
• Even if people do like America, however, they may feel guilty.
• A similar impulse occurs to Christians who like other earthly gifts.
• “Our treasure is in heaven, so nothing here on Earth matters.”
• Subtle gnosticism: if it all burns, why value these temporal places?

2. How stories remind us of good homelands

• Naturally we begin with the classics by authors who loved England.
• Lewis and Tolkien saw bad battles and offered critiques at home.
• But their stories remind us how good heroes fight for their peoples.
• Hobbits foresee the danger to the Shire and leave home to stop it.
• Aragorn loves his people and his country, despite their flaws.
• Faramir doesn’t love weapons but “that [land] which they defend.”
• Narnia’s kings and allies fight for her and for other good countries.
• The Horse and His Boy is about the good country of Archenland.
• Even harsh Calormenes, opposed to Narnia, have good qualities.
• Classic sci-fi by the French Jules Verne honors American spirit.
• Japanese stories adore American heroes, and we return the favor.
• On this side of the pond, stories show America’s flaws and heroes.
• Independence Day (1996) shows a pulpified-U.S. fighting aliens.
• Transformers and Top Gun movies tend to follow that tradition.
• Overtly “patriotic” stories are more about flavor, not philosophy.
• Back in the UK, Stephen thinks Harry Potter shows this differently.
• Spoilers: Harry learns Pr