Disarming Leviathan Podcast

Bible scholar Dr. Timothy Gombis joins Caleb for an exploration of the themes of power and government in the New Testament and how they can shape our understanding of American Christian Nationalism. Caleb shares a few pieces from his Christian Nationalist Bible collection.

About Timothy Gombis

Timothy G. Gombis (PhD, University of St. Andrews, Scotland) is professor of New Testament at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, in Grand Rapids, MI. He is author of Paul: A Guide for the Perplexed (T&T Clark, 2010) and The Drama of the Ephesians: Participating in the Triumph of God (IVP Academic, 2010). He regularly writes about Christian identity, biblical studies, books, movies, music, sports, and culture on his blog, Faith Improvised ( https://timgombis.com).

In today's episode of Disarming Leviathan, I am joined by Dr. Samuel Perry. We explore what Christian Nationalism is, the various forms of it, and why so many evangelicals are drawn to it. About SamAn award-winning scholar and teacher, Dr. Perry is among the nation's leading experts on conservative Christianity and American politics, race, families, and sexual behavior. He has been recognized as among the top sociologists in the world in terms of research productivity and impact.

Along with well over 100 peer-reviewed articles published in leading academic journals, Dr. Perry is also the author or co-author of five books, including Growing God's Family (NYU, 2017), Addicted to Lust (Oxford, 2019), Taking America Back for God (Oxford, 2020, with Andrew Whitehead), and The Flag and the Cross (Oxford, 2022, with Philip Gorski). His most recent book is entitled Religion for Realists: Why We All Need the Scientific Study of Religion (Oxford, 2024).

Dr. Perry is also a public sociologist. In addition to frequent speaking engagements around the country, he is a regular Contributor at TIME Magazine and has also written for outlets like The Washington Post, NBC News, and The Dallas Morning News. Dr. Perry's interviews and research findings have also been featured in recent documentaries by Frontline and Al Jazeera as well as sources like The New Yorker, The New York Times, and The Economist.

Caleb joins Dr. Jemar Tisby for a joint podcast that explores the history of American Christian Nationalism and the church and ways that we can engage those who are imbibing this harmful ideology.

About Jemar TisbyJemar Tisby (BA, University of Notre Dame; MDiv, Reformed Theological Seminary) s the New York Times bestselling author of The Color of Compromise and the award-winning How to Fight Racism. He is a historian who studies race, religion, and social movements, and serves as a professor at Simmons College of Kentucky, a historically Black college. He is also the founder of The Witness, Inc. an organization dedicated to Black uplift from a Christian perspective. He has written for national news outlets such as The Atlantic, the Washington Post, and the Religion News Service. He has offered television commentary on CNN and is frequently called upon to provide expert insight on current events related to race and Christianity. He has spoken nationwide at colleges, universities, and other organizations.

About Caleb CampbellPastor Campbell graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Master of Arts in Ministry from Phoenix Seminary in 2015. Caleb is currently a doctoral student at Fuller Theological Seminary. He has served at Desert Springs Bible Church, in Phoenix, AZ since 2006, serving as Lead Pastor since 2015. He also serves on the board of United Pastors of Arizona, is the state-wide regional director of the Surge Network, and is one of the founders of the J29 Coalition. He has spoken at events hosted by Acts 29, the African American Christian Clergy Coalition, American Values Coalition, Surge Network, Grand Canyon University, Converge Arizona, Young Life, and Phoenix Seminary

In today's episode of Disarming Leviathan, I am joined by my friend, Elizabeth Neumann. Elizabeth is a former Homeland Security official who served under both the Bush and Trump administrations at the Department of Homeland Security.

We discuss her book, Kingdoms of Rage, and her unique perspective on radicalization, drawn from her extensive experience in Homeland Security. Elizabeth provides valuable insights into how individuals transition from entertaining certain ideas to engaging in acts of resistance, violence, and even killing.

Our conversation covers how to recognize the signs of this radicalization process, understand what's happening to individuals as they go through it, and effectively engage with those who may be caught up in extremism, helping to guide them away from dangerous paths. Join us for this important and enlightening discussion.

Learn more about Elizabeth’s work at elizabethneumann.org

In today's episode of Disarming Leviathan, I am thrilled to be joined by my friend Sean McGever. Sean holds a PhD from the University of Aberdeen and serves as the Area Director of Young Life in Phoenix, Arizona. Additionally, he is an adjunct faculty member at Grand Canyon University and an accomplished author.

We delve into his latest book, Ownership: The Evangelical Legacy of Slavery and Edwards, Wesley, and Whitfield. Throughout our conversation, Sean provides profound insights into the complex historical and theological connections between evangelicalism and slavery, as examined through the lives and teachings of Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley, and George Whitfield.

Join us for an enlightening discussion that unpacks these important topics and explores how understanding this legacy can inform our approach to engaging with Christian nationalists today.

In today's episode of the Disarming Leviathan Podcast, we are honored to be joined by Reverend Dr. Gary Mason, a distinguished Methodist minister. Dr. Mason holds a PhD from the University of Ulster's School of College and has been awarded an honorary doctorate in Divinity from Florida Southern College for his remarkable contributions to peacebuilding in Ireland.

With an ongoing ministry in Belfast, throughout Ireland, and even extending to America, Dr. Mason's work has been profoundly influential and instructive for me over the past season. In this insightful interview, Dr. Mason shares compelling stories of his bridge-building and peacemaking efforts during the Troubles in Ireland—a period marked by intense ethnic and religious nationalism that often led to violence and warfare.

Through his experiences and the teachings of Jesus as manifest in the church, Dr. Mason demonstrates how peace can be achieved even in the most tumultuous of circumstances. Join us as we explore these powerful narratives and glean valuable lessons for our mission of engaging with Christian Nationalists in America.

You can find out more about Gary at his website rethinkingconflict.com

Cherie Harder joins us for a discussion on how Christians can form a healthy view of engagement in politics and government.

About Cherie HarderCherie Harder serves as President of the Trinity Forum. Prior to joining the Trinity Forum in 2008, Ms. Harder served in the White House as Special Assistant to the President and Director of Policy and Projects for First Lady Laura Bush.

Earlier in her career she served as Policy Advisor to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, advising the Leader on domestic social issues and serving as liaison and outreach director to outside groups. From 2001 to 2005, she was Senior Counselor to the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), where she helped the Chairman design and launch the We the People initiative to enhance the teaching, study, and understanding of American history. Prior to that Ms. Harder was the Policy Director for Senator Sam Brownback and also served as Deputy Policy Director at Empower America.

She holds an Honors B.A. (magna cum laude) in government from Harvard University and a post-graduate diploma in literature from the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, where she was a Rotary Scholar. She is also a Senior Fellow at Cardus, an Editorial Board member of Comment magazine, a past board member of Gordon College and the C.S. Lewis Institute, a current board member of the Convergence Center for Policy Resolution and Faith and Law, and an advisory board member of the National Museum of American Religion.

Dr. Joel Lawrence gives us a broader understanding of how scripture’s teaching on the Kingdom of God can shape modern political engagement. Learn more about our ministry at DisarmingLeviathan.com Learn […]

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Curtis Chang explores how anxiety and rage can often influence our understanding of politics and provides thoughtful coaching on how we can pursue healthy methods of political engagement. More about […]

The post Cultivating Healthy Methods of Political Engagement w/ Curtis Chang first appeared on Disarming Leviathan.

Terry Wildman joins the pod to discuss the history of American Christian Nationalism in America. Learn more at DisarmingLeviathan.com About Terry Wildman Terry M. Wildman (Ojibwe and Yaqui) is the […]

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