The execution of Troy Davis last night in Georgia has reinvigorated public debate over the death penalty. Davis was convicted in the 1989 murder of Georgia police officer Mark MacPhail. The execution made headlines because there were questions raised about the evidence in the case, including recantations by seven of the nine witnesses against Davis.
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The execution was condemned by Pope Benedict XVI, former president Jimmy Carter, and governments around the globe. In the U.S., most Christians support the use of the death penalty to punish murders. Unlike Catholics and mainline Protestants, evangelicals support for capital punishment remains high even among those who say their views are shaped most by their religious beliefs.
Public opinion on the death penalty has changed dramatically over the past couple of decades. According to polls by Gallup, support for the death penalty was highest in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. At that time, 80 percent of Americans said they favored executing murderers. Since then, support has dropped to 64 percent.
A 2010 poll by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press found support for the death penalty was very high among white evangelicals. Much of these differences were due to race or ethnicity. Three-quarters of evangelicals favor the use of capital punishment. White Mainline Protestants had a similar level of support. Only 60 percent of Catholics approve of the death penalty, but this lower level of support is due to Hispanic Catholics. (only 43 percent support). Black Protestants are the most opposed to the death penalty, with only a third approving of the death penalty.
On today’s episode Heather visits with Madison Prewett Troutt to discuss dating, waiting, and falling in love. You may recognize Madison from season 24 of The Bachelor, where she was a finalist. Madison made national news when she shared on the show that she was a virgin and saving herself for marriage. She later eliminated herself from the competition. Fans fell in love with Madison and her commitment to her Christian faith. Now she has written a book about dating and singleness to encourage other women. The Love Everybody Wants: What You're Looking For Is Already Yours is available wherever you buy Christian books.
This week Heather also debuts a new segment that will run all month called Friends in the Kitchen, featuring celebrity chef Danielle Kartes. Heather and Danielle connected at a conference last year and became fast friends. You may recognize Danielle from her regular appearances on The Kelly Clarkson Show. If you do, you’ll know why there’s no one better to talk recipes, friendship, and current events with than this spirited woman. As for why she’s doing a food segment on Viral Jesus? Heather says she started cooking regularly over the Christmas break and discovered how much she loves it. She also knows that food and food photography is a popular subject among the creators and influencers out here in the land of Instagram and TikTok. So get your taste buds ready! If you like this segment, make sure to email us at HellotoHeather@gmail.com and let us know you’d like us to bring you more recipes and more of Danielle.
Danielle’s Hibachi Bowls
On today’s show, Danielle says a great thing to make if you want to gain confidence in the kitchen are Hibachi Bowls. Here is Danielle’s recipe.
Hibachi Bowls:
Prep time 10 minutes
Cook time 15 minutes
Serves 4
4-6 servings cooked Calrose rice
1 1/2 pounds XL shrimp (can also do veggies, steak, or chicken)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon Aleppo chili pepper or paprika
1 teaspoon onion powder
2 zucchinis
5-8 mushrooms
1 cup pea pods, chopped
1 bunch green onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
Soy sauce to taste
Sesame seeds to garnish
Sriracha Mayo
1 cup mayo
1/2 cup sriracha
Juice of a lime
2 tablespoons chopped green onion
1. Cook rice according to package instructions.
2. Fry shrimp 3-4 minutes over medium-high heat in olive oil and seasonings. Remove from heat and set aside.
3. Fry sliced veggies and a handful of green onions in the same pan over high heat. This is a quick cook. If the pan gets too hot, decrease heat.
4. Once veggies are crisp tender, around 5 minutes, add shrimp and garlic, then season with a touch of soy sauce. Stir fry 2-3 minutes over medium-high heat.
5. In a bowl whisk together mayo, sriracha, lime juice, and green onions.
6. Assemble the bowl and enjoy!
You can find more from Danielle by getting her latest cookbook, Butter, Flour, Sugar, Joy.
Guest Bio
Madison Prewett Troutt first stood out for her stance on relationships during her season on The Bachelor. Since completing the program, young women have continued to turn to Madi for relationship advice, which she talks about frequently on her social channels (3.2 million social followers). She was single as she started writing The Love Everybody Wants and married her husband Grant Troutt last fall as she finished the manuscript. Although she shares for the first time some of their love story, her book isn’t a manual for how to get a boyfriend or a manifesto for getting married. It’s about understanding the foundations of love and your self-worth.
Host Bio
Heather Thompson Day is an associate professor of communication at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She is the author of eight books, including I’ll See You Tomorrow and It’s Not Your Turn. Reach out to Heather on X, the app formerly known as Twitter at @HeatherTDay and on Instagram @heatherthompsonday. Receive Heather’s weekly inspirational email every Friday at 7pm EST; sign up at www.heatherthompsonday.com/links.
Viral Jesus is a production of Christianity Today
Host and creator: Heather Thompson Day
Executive Producer: Ed Gilbreath
Producer: Loren Joseph
Mix Engineer: Alex Carter
Director of CT Podcasts: Mike Cosper
Many Americans say their views on the death penalty are shaped by their religious beliefs. Pew asked what was the most influential on people’s thinking on this issue. Catholics were the most likely to say their beliefs were the most important (34 percent). Around one-quarter of evangelicals and Black Protestants also said their beliefs were most important. Mainline Protestants were the least likely to cite their beliefs.
There is almost no difference between evangelicals who say they are influenced by their beliefs and those who do not. Around 70 percent of both kinds of evangelicals support the death penalty. Evangelicals who cite religious beliefs are most influential to them are the same as those who say their views are shaped most by personal experience, education, the median, family, friends, or anything else. For other Protestants and Catholics, religious beliefs make them more opposed to the death penalty. Catholics who say they are most influenced by their beliefs oppose the death penalty. Only a third of these Catholics support the death penalty. Support for the death penalty doubles if a Catholic does not cite religion as most influential on their thinking. Similarly, one-quarter of Mainline Protestants who are influenced by religious beliefs support the death penalty. The vast majority of other Mainline Protestants favor capital punishment. For both groups, those who see their beliefs as influencing their views are much less likely to support the death penalty.
