RaptureTok reacts to the failed prediction of the rapture happening this past Tuesday, the R-rated anime Demon Slayer debuts at #1 in theaters, and ways parents can find solutions to the problem of parental loneliness. But first:
Song of the Week – “Man I Need” by Olivia Dean
Reaching as high as #5 on Spotify’s Daily Top Songs USA chart, the song “Man I Need” by Olivia Dean is about the desire for a relationship with a reliable man who knows how to communicate. Although on the surface, the topics are the same as Sabrina Carpenter’s new single “Tears” (currently at the #10 spot on Spotify), Dean’s song is as classy as Carpenter’s is crass. Put it on in the car and consider asking your teen, “Are you surprised to hear a woman singing about ‘needing’ a man in 2025?” For the lyrics, click here.
And now for our three conversations…
1. Enraptured
What it is: A South African pastor claimed he had received a vision that the rapture would begin on September 23, spawning the hashtag #rapturetok.
Why this was biblically predictable: Teens on #rapturetok seemed equal parts amused and afraid of what the rapture would mean for their earthly future (or lack thereof). But they didn’t need to fear—predicting when a rapture is coming virtually guarantees that it won’t. In Matthew 24:36, Jesus says, referring to the end of the age, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” In other words, anytime someone claims to know when the world is going to end, we can know that they don’t really know. Our individual futures may seem murky, especially in times of cultural upheaval, making it tempting to declare the end is near. But no matter what happens tomorrow or the next day, Christians have the hope of the renewal of all things to look forward to, as Revelation 21:5 promises.
Continue the conversation: How might the idea of the church being raptured away from earth change the way it thinks about its role on earth?
2. Demon Slayer
What it is: An R-rated anime film called Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle debuted as the #1 movie in America.
Why it makes sense: The long-running and incredibly popular Demon Slayer series is rapidly approaching its conclusion. Infinity Castle picks up right where the show’s most recent season left off, with the heroes trapped in an elaborate and, well, infinite castle (which happens to be the machination of a demon). The violence in Demon Slayer is unrestrained. There’s blood and severed limbs (demons in this series can regenerate), and a theme of suicide running through the movie. But there’s also heartfelt and poignant storytelling. The show and this movie often linger on the evil nature of the demons, with many of them being sadistic and grotesque. At the same time, these story arcs often culminate with acts of heroism, showcasing the redemptive power of goodness and hope.
Continue the conversation: Can you think of a movie or TV show that you would have enjoyed more if it were less violent?
3. An Ongoing Emergency
What it is: It’s been almost a full year since the US Surgeon General declared an epidemic of burnout and stress among parents. Twelve months later, has anything changed?
Why it’s not an easy fix: In its initial advisory, the Department of Health and Human Services pointed to loneliness, busyness, and cultural pressures as factors contributing to parental distress. But loneliness, a strong driver of depression, isn’t something a government grant or awareness program can instantly diffuse. Many middle-class parents find themselves living in a party-less, youth activities-dominated social desert. Outside of church settings (and sometimes, let’s be honest, inside church settings), the “village” parents look for to raise their teens alongside often proves to be a judgmental and socially perilous place. But practically, what is the solution?
Let’s translate this one further…
I used to think loneliness was something that would happen to me later—perhaps when I lost a parent, or at the dawn of the empty-nest years. What I didn’t expect was for it to creep in through the edges of my busy, mom-of-five, 39-year-old life.
But here it is—following me in the grocery aisle, lurking in the shadows of the bedtime social media scroll, in the silence between carpools and sports drop-offs. It shows up in the moments I am utterly surrounded, yet somehow not fully seen.
Parenting today is a paradox: we are endlessly connected, yet aching for communion. Thanks to social media, we know what our neighbors ate for dinner, but we weren’t actually present at their table—and they weren’t at ours. It makes parenting strangely public, and yet painfully private. We share milestones and memories, but carry our deeper needs alone.
The Surgeon General’s warning echoes what many parents already know: parenting in America has become unsustainably isolating. Nearly two-thirds of parents report loneliness. Many of us live under constant stress, quietly asking, Is it just me?
It’s not just you.
In Genesis 2:18, God declared, “It is not good for man to be alone.” That wasn’t just about marriage—it was about community. We are formed in the image of a relational God, made for togetherness.
The early church knew this. Acts 2:46 tells us they “broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.” Their community didn’t revolve around shared parenting styles or curated compatibility—it was spiritual formation forged through proximity, prayer, presence, and the bearing of one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2).
When we envisioned a community of monthly givers at Axis, we looked to their example. If we wanted to build our legacy, it had to be about communion. Side note: that’s why The Table exists—as a quiet rebellion against a culture of loneliness. It’s a collective of families and individuals committed to making sure the sacred, slow work of asking good questions, listening well, and letting ourselves be known—not only survives, but flourishes. And because of The Table, Axis’ resources can stay free for everybody.
We all know that real community—imperfect, embodied, enduring—isn’t built overnight. It starts with an invitation, a meal, or a simple question. Making the first move can feel impossible. But this week, we want to encourage you to do it.
To create space where honesty can replace performance.
Where grace interrupts judgment.
Where depth grows in the soil of everyday life.
It may be the work of our lifetime to rebuild the real-life communities that digital life tried to replace. But if we want to, we get to do it—together.
Continue the conversation:
- When was the last time you felt lonely?
- When was the last time you felt fully seen?
- What are the biggest differences between online and offline communities
For more context and nuance, check out our Roundtable podcast on Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts. On your way out, here’s a quick survey of some of the rest of the cultural landscape:
- Fourteen-year-old influencer Zuza Beine from the Glow House passed away this week after an 11-year battle with leukemia.
- Robot umpires are officially coming to Major League Baseball in 2026. The
- Summer I Turned Pretty will return as a Prime movie, bringing Belly, Conrad, and the rest of the Cousins Beach crew back for the final chapter.
- The “pi**er” trend has hit college campuses, with students posting viral clips of public urination and even sparking “pi**er hunter” accounts trying to track them down.
- Axis’s new Conversation Starter video, “What Social Media Steals From You,” looks at how scrolling on our smartphones shapes our presence, our kids, and even our faith.
Parenting Together,
Brie Naughton and the Axis Team
PS: Know someone who could use our conversation starters with their teens? Share the CT with a friend!