Finding Your Spine
In a time when courage feels increasingly rare, Finding Your Spine challenges the status quo. Hosted by Dr. Chase Spears, this weekly podcast explores how Christians—and even secular conservatives—can stand firm in their values amid the pressures of cancel culture. With insightful commentary and bold conversations, Dr. Spears examines the tradeoff many make between conscience and comfort, reminding listeners that true freedom requires the spine to defend it. Tune in each week for thought-provoking discussions that inspire moral courage in an age of compromise.
Finding Your Spine
Navy Chaplain Forced into Homelessness?
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Dr. Chase Spears sits down with Navy Chaplain Jonathan Shour to discuss his courageous stand against the military’s COVID vaccine mandate. Shour shares the intense pressure he faced during chaplain training, the personal toll on his family—including months of technical homelessness while his wife was pregnant—and the moral challenges within the Chaplain Corps.
They explore the film Duty to Disobey, in which Shour appears, and what it reveals about institutional failures, unlawful orders, and the duty to resist when conscience and constitutional rights are at stake. The conversation covers religious accommodations, the role of chaplains under pressure, the balance between faith and military duty, and the lasting impact on trust in institutions. Shour also discusses the Alvarado v. Austin lawsuit filed by dozens of chaplains and reflects on legitimate versus illegitimate authority.
This episode highlights stories of moral courage, the importance of medical freedom in the military, and why chaplains must prioritize their calling to support service members’ constitutional rights. Viewers will gain insight into a pivotal chapter in recent military history and the personal costs of standing firm.
00:00:00 – Introduction
00:00:33 – Standing Against the Mandate
00:02:03 – Duty to Disobey Trailer
00:03:12 – Seeing Himself in the Film
00:04:19 – Jonathan’s Military Background
00:05:37 – Children’s Health Defense Role
00:07:46 – Moral Failure in the Military
00:13:53 – Pressure on Chaplains
00:18:07 – Religious Accommodation Concerns
00:24:35 – Family Homelessness Experience
00:35:34 – Alvarado v Austin Lawsuit
00:39:53 – Legitimate vs Illegitimate Authority
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