It’s Not The Right Kind Of Christianity For Some
The ladies behind Girls Gone Bible have built a brand blending Instagram-worthy aesthetics with unapologetic evangelical fire. It’s part influencer, part old-school revival—an odd mix that’s bound to ruffle some feathers. And ruffle they have, because Amanda Marcotte—the perpetually outraged spinster who scribbles for Salon, the digital safe space for kale-munching progressives—is absolutely fuming.
Her latest hit piece is dripping with the usual leftist disdain for faith, femininity, and anything that doesn’t grovel at the altar of modern feminism. Let’s break down her little tantrum, shall we?
I may just have to treat this like a Bible study—breaking down each paragraph, line by line, verse by verse—because Ms. Marcotte flings words onto the internet like liquid Jell-O, hoping something will stick. And sure enough, they’ve congealed into yet another tiresome, predictable hit piece.
First, some background on the Girls Gone Bible podcast in case you are not familiar.
Girls Gone Bible is a faith-based podcast hosted by Angela Halili and Arielle Reitsma.
They tackle Christianity, everyday life, and the challenges of modern faith. Their goal? Honest conversations with no sugarcoating. Angela and Arielle call themselves “a couple of imperfect girls serving an absolutely perfect God.” The podcast has taken off, drawing in listeners who connect with their raw, real approach to spirituality and personal growth.
Well, Salon just can’t have that—especially not two young, attractive women who are conservative and spreading the message of Jesus. That’s practically a crime in their world.
Now, I’ll be the first to admit, it makes me cringe a little when people build their online presence or fame around Christianity. But given the choice, I’d rather see imperfect people trying to share the Word than watch society unravel with teenagers getting stabbed to death at a track meet.
Halili and Reitsma look nothing like stereotypical church ladies, to put it mildly. They look like sexy young actresses on the outer fringes of Hollywood, which is what they are: According to IMDB, their movie roles include the horror movie victim in “Spin the Bottle” and the “slutty girl” in “Rock of Ages.” This incongruity between cosmopolitan appearance and fundamentalist message is central to their popularity. – Salon
Okay, so apparently, Christians are supposed to fit into some mold according to morose Mandy. And she really thinks she hit a home run by digging up some ancient IMDb pages. It’s clear Mandy’s never bothered to crack open a Bible, let alone read about the people from the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings of the Torah—or, as Christians would call it, the First Testament. The people used by God were very flawed.
The people in the New Testament? Yeah, just as flawed as anyone in the Old Testament. But here’s where it gets interesting: the focus shifts to how Jesus Christ took those messes and transformed them. What sets the New Testament apart is Jesus Himself. He doesn’t just point out flaws; He offers forgiveness, grace, and a way to redemption through faith. It’s all about second chances.
But this next paragraph from Miss Mandy nearly made me spew my coffee all over my laptop. Amanda goes on to say more about the two ladies from the Girls Gone Bible podcast.
Whether or not this is entirely strategic, “Girls Gone Bible” and other female-centric, Christian-themed podcasts can be understood as parallel to the better-known “manfluencer” content of Andrew Tate, Jordan Peterson and others.
Alright, calm down, puddin’
First off, keep Jordan Peterson’s name out of your mouth — and definitely don’t pair it with Andrew Tate’s. They’re two completely different beasts. Amanda knows this; she just likes stirring the pot. The Salon blogger goes on for quite a bit, claiming that the far right has somehow captured a larger audience of MAGA supporters and young men, apparently through lifestyle and entertainment content. Is Amanda surprised they aren’t at home watching porn like the men on the left are probably doing?
From what I gather, the Girl Gone Bible podcast is trying to attract a young female audience. So, what’s the problem with that? It seems like a good move to engage a demographic that’s often overlooked in certain spaces. Why is Amanda so bent out of shape over it?
There Is No Gotcha, Amanda
Amanda thinks she’s uncovered a “gotcha” moment with some old leaked videos of the Girls Gone Bible hosts, showing them as young, partying women—probably from before they gave their lives over to Christ. But even if these videos are from the early stages of their faith journey, no one is perfect, even after inviting Jesus into their hearts and striving to walk with Him.
Here’s a little advice for Girls Gone Bible hosts Angela Halili and Arielle Reitsma: take a moment to sit down and handwrite a heartfelt thank-you note to Amanda Marcotte. After all, she’s just helped boost your podcast’s popularity even more—whether she meant to or not.
All That For Nothing
It seems like Amanda spent an eternity writing her hit piece on Girls Gone Bible, and yet, it manages to say absolutely nothing. Honestly, if you’ve spent any time on social media, you probably know more than Marcotte does at this point.
Clearly, after slogging through all that nonsense, it’s obvious Amanda has a personal issue with women who believe in God and lean conservative. I guess if women aren’t growing out their armpit hair, dying their hair purple, getting face piercings, and aborting babies every year, then they’re just terrible in her eyes. Meanwhile, liberal women bash men, emasculate them at every turn, and still somehow think they’re making progress.
Of course, there will be some hardcore Christian evangelicals lining up with Marcotte to pass judgment. You’ll probably see them on X tweeting out their opinions, but don’t be fooled by the tone—it’s jealousy dressed up as contempt. Deep down, they’re just upset that they only have 42 followers on whatever social media platform they’re pretending to be important on.
Now, I’m not saying you should go to these two young ladies from the popular podcast for all your spiritual guidance. But, honestly, there’s no need to waste your time tearing them down either. If you really want to do something productive for them, pray. And while you’re at it, throw in a prayer for Amanda too.
Feature Image: Screenshot from Girls Gone Bible Instagram account/edited in Canva Pro
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