Segments
When a candidate who misquotes the Bible and brags about infidelity is winning among Evangelicals, is it time to stop talking about the faith vote? This week on State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance’s radio show and podcast, our host Rev. Welton Gaddy talks with journalist Sarah Posner about the Donald Trump and the Evangelicals. We’ll discuss “the sin of certainty” a fascinating idea from Professor Peter Enns. And we’ll get an update on the latest work to make the Methodist Church more inclusive from the head of the Reconciling Ministries Network.
Reconciling Ministries: Field Notes from the United Methodist Church General Conference
There’s a give and take between our nation’s laws and our communities’ religious beliefs in the long struggle for LGBT equality. Over the last several years many religious denominations have been moved to change their policies on same-sex marriage and LGBT inclusion in religious leadership – sometimes faster than the rate of secular change, sometimes slower. The latest flashpoint in this process is the United Methodist Church General Conference where activist groups including the Reconciling Ministries Network – and more than a hundred clergy who came out publicly, at great risk – are pressuring the Church to change its approach to LGBT equality. We’ll hear from Matt Berryman, Executive Director of Reconciling Ministries.
The Sin of Certainty
Call it a rise of fundamentalism, call it a collapse of the center, but something is definitely going on in the religious and political world these days. Professor Peter Enns is out with a new book that outlines what he thinks is at the core of what we’re seeing – The Sin of Certainty: Why God Desires Our Trust More Than Our “Correct” Beliefs. Professor Enns will join Welton this week to discuss his book, and why he contends that a need for certainty can get in the way of the struggle that’s often needed for religious maturity.
Evangelicals and the Bombastic Billionaire
For those of us who get a certain sense of schadenfreude watching the politicians and the mainstream media try to understand religious voters, nothing has been more entertaining than the handwringing about Evangelical Christians supporting Donald Trump. But Sarah Posner is that rare journalist who has been able to cover the issue with the depth of knowledge and respect for religion and religious freedom necessary to make sense of how Evangelicals have responded to The Donald. We bring her back to discuss her latest writing on the matter and what she sees changing as Trump becomes the presumptive Republican nominee.
