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This week, Zev Mishell, National Programs Associate at Interfaith Alliance, joins host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to discuss the intersection of systemic violence, hate crimes, and religious and political ideologies in America. Zev is the author of Interfaith Alliance’s new report, Together Against Hate, which closely analyzes how interfaith movements can address hate-based violence by uniting across differences while also examining how White Christian Nationalism is driving the alarming rise of hate in America.
The report comprises case studies of successful strategies, practical recommendations, and a guide to organizations working to combat hate and extremism in the U.S. It is based on extensive research and interviews with nearly two dozen advocacy organizations dedicated to faith-based organizing, upholding civil rights and confronting hate. The full report will be released on Monday, January 13th, on the Interfaith Alliance website.
Episode page: https://stateofbelief.com/2025/january-11-2025-christian-nationalism-and-hate-violence-what-can-we-do/
This week, Dr. Robert P. Jones, president and founder of the Public Religion Research Institute, joins host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to discuss the intersection of race, religion, and politics in America, focusing on the rewriting of history regarding the January 6, 2021 attacks, and the impact of shifting demographics and the influence of polarizing figures like Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
Robby is the author of several influential books that explore democracy, religion, and race in America. Bringing together rigorous scholarship with in-depth research, he is one of the few experts capable of helping us understand the forces shaping our democracy, and the major political and religious movements that seek to shape it in the future.
Episode page: https://stateofbelief.com/2025/january-4-2025-january-6th-bad-theology-bad-for-democracy/
Resisting authoritariansim. Not succumbing to the mass reverence for “the man behind the curtain.” Recognizing the value of those who are different, even if shunned by the majority. Staying true to one’s beliefs no matter what. These themes could just as easily reference American politics and culture on the cusp of 2025 as they do the hit movie musical Wicked.That’s what we explore on the final episode of The State of Belief for 2024, as host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush welcomes colleague Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons, an ardent fan of the Gregory Maguire book and subsequent productions of the Wizard of Oz prequel Wicked.
Defying conventional wisdom and expectations, Elpheba flies above the crowd, both figuratively and literally. Starting with the personal impact of the story during their formative years, Paul and Guthrie discuss its contribution to their passion for social justice and equality. Guthrie’s even written an Advent devotional that weaves in themes from Wicked, and wraps up the conversation with five important lessons for the challenging year ahead from this surprisingly relevant story.
Episode page: https://stateofbelief.com/showarchive/2024/december-28-2024-democracy-defying-gravity-wicked-as-movie-and-metaphor/
This week, Ruth Graham, National Reporter on Religion, Faith and Values at The New York Times, joins Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to reflect on the dynamic intersection of religion and politics in America, especially in light of recent political developments and the evolving religious landscape. Their discussion touches on a range of key issues, from the rise of religious nationalism to shifting religious affiliations and the effects of politics on religious practice.
Ruth speaks about some of her fascinating recent work for the New York Times, including Pete Hegseth and His ‘Battle Cry’ for a New Christian Crusade; In a First Among Christians, Young Men Are More Religious Than Young Women; and America’s New Catholic Priests: Young, Confident and Conservative. She expands on the complexities of religious reporting, the challenges of capturing the diverse and evolving nature of faith in the U.S., and the personal stakes of writing these stories with empathy and understanding.
Episode page: https://stateofbelief.com/showarchive/2024/december-21-2024-top-religion-news-2024-nyt-reporter-ruth-graham/
This week, renowned historian and author Timothy Snyder joins host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to discuss the complex relationship between religion, freedom, and democracy. His new book, On Freedom, explores what freedom truly means, how it has been misunderstood, and why it is critical for our collective survival. It debuted as an instant New York Times best-seller, and has earned praise from leading figures like journalist and historian Anne Applebaum and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy.
In their conversation, Timothy and Paul discuss how religion can positively help people understand what is “good” by guiding them toward values like mercy, grace, and consistency. These values, they agree, support the fundamentally democratic idea that no one is free unless everyone is free.
Episode page: https://stateofbelief.com/showarchive/2024/december-14-2024-timothy-snyder-on-religion-power-and-freedom/
Christian Nationalism has seemingly grabbed the levers of power in America. With an overt passion for power over democracy, the agenda of this authoritarian, exclusionary movement needs to be examined now, more than ever. This week on The State of Belief, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush turns to concerned experts who have been telling this story and sounding the alarm in book and documentary form.
We get Matthew Taylor’s take, with a focus on the nomination of Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense, and his Crusades-evoking tattoos. Matt’s also got a lot to say about the role Christian Nationalism played in getting out the vote in the 2024 election – and ways it’s sure to be a driving force in the incoming administration. None of it is a surprise for Matt, who’s the author of the important book The Violent Take It By Force: The Christian Movement That Is Threatening Our Democracy.
Paul also gets the insights of two of the creators of Bad Faith: Christian Nationalism’s Unholy War on Democracy – Executive Producer Todd Stiefel and Director Stephen Ujlaki. Featuring a who’s-who of knowledgeable voices, many of which you’ve heard on The State of Belief, the film traces the history of corrosive theocratic movements like Christian Nationalism back to the Moral Majority and Council for National Policy, and sounds a credible alarm about what the end game may well be.
Happy Thanksgiving! This week on The State of Belief, we look at gratitude and appreciation from several angles: through the eyes of children, and of a theologian who literally wrote the book on giving thanks.
Host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush welcomes the youngest guests ever to appear on The State of Belief, his sons Walter and Glenn. Together, they think about what it means to be thankful, and share what they are thankful for. Then Paul brings a prayer by his great-grandfather, theologian Walter Raushchenbusch, that has particular meaning for him in this season.
Then, Paul is joined by Dr. Diana Butler Bass, an award-winning author and commentator on religion and spirituality. The conversation covers Diana’s journey as a writer and speaker, particularly in the past eight years; her work on cultivating an online community, The Cottage, on Substack; and her deep exploration into the practice of gratitude. They delve into her book Grateful: The Subversive Practice of Giving Thanks, discussing the transformative power of gratitude, especially in difficult times. Diana shares insights on how gratitude can reframe our understanding of our place in the world, drawing from personal experiences and historical contexts. The episode also touches on her collaborative project, the Convocation, and features a reading of Thanksgiving prayers significant to her.
Episode page: https://stateofbelief.com/showarchive/2024/november-28-2024-the-subversive-power-of-gratitude-with-diana-butler-bass/
This week, we dive into the Israel-Palestine crisis, reflecting on the struggles and the urgent call for peace. Recorded just before Rosh Hashanah and the one-year mark of the October 7th attacks, the conversation focuses on the need for moral leadership to stand against violence and authoritarianism.
The State of Belief host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is joined by Rabbi Jill Jacobs, CEO of T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, to talk about navigating the complexities of condemning violence on all sides, the power of interfaith collaboration, and the crucial role of religious communities—especially Jewish and Palestinian voices—in pushing for peace and justice. She also highlights ways that antisemitism can be a precursor to the erosion of a democracy.
Faced with the surging threat of Christian nationalism, The State of Belief this week explores the urgent need for resistance against authoritarian theocracy, focusing on the roles that faith communities, and particularly Christians, can play in defending religious freedom and multi-faith democracy.
Guest Amanda Tyler joins host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush with critical insights into the ideological and legal battles against Christian nationalism. In her new book How to End Christian Nationalism, Amanda outlines a three-pronged approach to confronting this dangerous ideology: building awareness, advocating for action, and organizing change. She discusses how Christian nationalism distorts the teachings of Jesus and undermines the very essence of religious freedom. Her call for Christians to take a more active role in speaking out and organizing for change serves as both a challenge and a beacon of hope for those committed to protecting a society where religious freedom and diversity are upheld.
Episode page: https://stateofbelief.com/showarchive/2024/november-16-2024-how-to-end-christian-nationalism-with-amanda-tyler/
Every week, Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush hosts lively, funny and poignant conversations with inspiring religious and civic leaders; as well as artists and activists from across the country. Listeners get a potent mix of spiritual wisdom, political strategy, and hopeful commentary from national and local leaders who are rising up to meet this urgent moment in America. With the tagline: “Where Religion and Democracy Meet,” State of Belief is a celebration of our nation’s diversities and an invitation to join together to, in the words of the great James Baldwin, “Achieve our country.”
