When Time contributing writer Amy Sullivan publisher her column Let’s put ‘Christ’-mas In Its Place in USA Today, we knew we had to have her on the show. 
As provocative as the head-line is, you may be surprised at the faith-based rationale behind the writer’s suggestion. Amy is the author of The Party Faithful: How and Why Democrats Are Closing the God Gap.
Religion Dispatches senior editor Sarah Posner insists that when single-digit Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry releases an ad promising to end “President Obama’s war on Religion,” progressives should just ignore it. She says so on this week’s show, and she wrote about it at Religion Dispatches. Still, we failed to heed her advice… And you’ll hear all about it on this week’s State of Belief Radio.
For reference purposes only, here’s the ad in question (over 4 million views by the way):
Interfaith Alliance and Welton Gaddy responded: “Rick Perry has taken us to a new low in campaign ads with his “Strong” ad. Under the guise of spirituality, Perry has taken the manipulation of religion for partisan political advantage to an incredible, almost unbelievable extreme. With a smile on his face, he trades on personal attacks and provable untruths that reveal no understanding of the first amendment to the Constitution and very little respect for the integrity of religion.” (Read the full statement at the Interfaith Alliance website.)
Our first guest, Amy Sullivan, has also written at Time about this outrageous commercial: Why Rick Perry’s New Ads Are Wrong on Religion–And Obama.
Flunking Sainthood: A Year of Breaking the Sabbath, Forgetting to Pray, and Still Loving My Neighbor. It’s an intriguing book title, and this week’s State of Belief Radio includes an intriguing interview with the author, Jana Riess.
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