Congressman Jared Huffman joins Faithful Politics to discuss his new book, No Prophets: The Fight to Save Democracy from Christian Nationalism, and the growing influence of Christian nationalism in American politics and government.

We talk about Donald Trump, January 6, the New Apostolic Reformation, prophetic politics, Christian Zionism, church-state separation, Christian founding myths, and the religious movements Huffman believes are gaining influence at the highest levels of government. We also discuss why a humanist member of Congress decided to write a book about Christianity and what he believes Christians, secular Americans, and political leaders should understand about this movement.

Get No Prophets on Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9781324130482

Rep. Jared Huffman represents California's 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He publicly identifies as a humanist and in 2018 helped establish the Congressional Freethought Caucus, which focuses on church-state separation and public policy grounded in reason, science and constitutional principles.

He is the author of No Prophets: The Fight to Save Democracy from Christian Nationalism, which examines the religious movements, political networks and theological ideas influencing the rise of Christian nationalism in American government. 

Chelsea Kim Long grew up deeply embedded in conservative evangelical Christianity. She knew what she believed, what Christian womanhood was supposed to look like, and the life she expected to have.

Then life got complicated.

Motherhood, a traumatic birth, miscarriage, infertility, a complicated pregnancy, and questions about women's place within Christianity forced Chelsea to reconsider much of the theology she inherited.

But she never wanted to leave Christianity.

Chelsea joins Faithful Politics to discuss her new book, Faithfully Dissident Daughters: Reclaiming Christian Womanhood beyond Patriarchy, and why deconstruction doesn't always end with walking away from faith.

We discuss patriarchy, male headship, women's spiritual authority, abortion, feminine images of God in Scripture, and the tension of being told by some Christians that you've gone too far while being asked by former Christians why you're still holding on.

At the center of the conversation is a simple question: Can you question the Christianity you inherited and still remain Christian?

Bookshop.org - Faithful Politics affiliate link:
https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9780664269456

Chelsea Kim Long:
https://www.chelseakimlong.com

Guest Bio:
Chelsea Kim Long is a writer, lay theologian, meditation teacher, and neighborhood pastor whose work explores Christianity through women’s embodied experiences and contemplative spirituality. She co-leads an intentional neighborhood faith community in San Diego, where she lives with her husband and three children.

Her debut book, Faithfully Dissident Daughters: Reclaiming Christian Womanhood Beyond Patriarchy, combines personal narrative, theology, and Christian history to explore women’s spiritual authority, faith reconstruction, and feminine expressions of the Divine within the Christian tradition. The book features a foreword by Dr. Christena Cleveland and releases September 8, 2026, from Westminster John Knox Press.

Why does American patriotism sometimes feel almost religious?

Church historian Wes Crawford joins Faithful Politics to discuss his forthcoming book, One Nation over God, and the complicated relationship between Christian faith, patriotism, and American civil religion.

Crawford explains how the United States developed a kind of civil religion built around sacred texts, symbols, rituals, holidays, and national stories. We talk about why the Constitution can be treated almost like scripture, why the national anthem can carry such emotional weight, and what happens when love of country begins competing with allegiance to God.

The conversation also gets practical. We discuss patriotic church services, Veterans Day, the flag, Christian nationalism, political polarization, cognitive dissonance, and the difficulty Christians face when their political identity becomes intertwined with their faith. Crawford argues that patriotism itself can have a legitimate place, but Christians need to recognize when national devotion takes on the characteristics of worship or begins overriding their religious convictions.

One Nation over God: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9780802885470

Guest Bio
Wes Crawford is vice provost and associate professor of church history at Abilene Christian University. His research focuses on American religion, race, and the history of Churches of Christ. He previously served for twenty years as a senior pastor and continues to preach and teach in churches. He is the author of Shattering the Illusion and Courage in the Sheer Silence. His newest book, One Nation over God, examines the relationship between Christian faith, American patriotism, and civil religion.

Technology entrepreneur Patrick Gruhn joins Faithful Politics to discuss how artificial intelligence is being used to explore the writings and theology of Pope Benedict XVI.

Gruhn explains how the Pope Benedict XVI AI works as a research tool, how it uses verified sources to reduce hallucinations and bias, and why the project is designed to help users investigate Benedict’s thought rather than simulate a conversation with him.

The conversation also explores Magisterium AI, efforts to digitize historic Vatican documents, the risks of treating AI-generated answers as authoritative, and Gruhn’s broader view that AI can increase productivity and human flourishing while still requiring careful moral judgment.

Patrick also discusses Benedict’s emphasis on faith and reason, why he believes AI should preserve human dignity, and how Catholics and researchers can use these tools to better understand church teaching.

The website for the Benedict XVI Society and the Pope Benedict XVI AI project is:
https://benedictxvisociety.org/

Bio
Patrick Gruhn is a German-born technology entrepreneur, lawyer, and software developer working at the intersection of artificial intelligence, finance, and faith. He is co-CEO of Perpetuals, vice president of the Pope Benedict XVI Foundation, and an investor in Catholic media and technology projects. His recent work includes developing AI tools that help users explore the writings of Pope Benedict XVI and Catholic teaching through verified church sources.

Josh and Will sit down with Dr. Syed A.H. Zaidi, a scholar of Islamic philosophy, theology, and intellectual history, for a wide-ranging conversation about his personal journey from New York political operative to academic, and what that journey reveals about faith, identity, and politics in America today. Dr. Zaidi traces his path from a politically connected Pakistani-American family in New York, through years working for prominent (and often controversial) Democratic politicians, to a late-in-life pivot toward the study of Islamic philosophy and Sufism.

From there, the conversation opens into a broader discussion of what Islam actually teaches, how Sunni and Shia traditions differ, the history of Islamophobia in the U.S., the influence of Saudi-funded Wahhabism on global Islam, and how Muslim Americans navigate hot-button political issues like same-sex marriage ballot measures. The episode closes with a sober reflection on the state of American political life — and a shared hope that today's polarization is a passing phase rather than a permanent condition.

Guest Bio
Dr. Syed A.H. Zaidi is a core lecturer in Islamic Studies at Butler University, where his research focuses on Islamic Neoplatonism, Shia thought, Sufism, and the relationship between philosophy and religious revelation. He earned his PhD in Islamic Civilizations from Emory University and is currently working on books examining the Brethren of Purity and the development of Hermetic thought from late antiquity through the medieval Islamic world. He also directs the Muslim Studies Endowment at Butler University.

Historian Joseph L. Locke joins Faithful Politics to discuss his new book, One State Under God: A History of Religion in Texas.

Locke traces how religion shaped Texas from Indigenous traditions and Spanish missions to Protestant growth, segregation, the Religious Right, and today’s Christian nationalist politics. He also explains why early Texas Protestants strongly defended church-state separation, how that changed over time, and why figures like James Robison and David Barton became so influential.

The conversation offers a broader look at how Texas became a major force in the national relationship between religion and politics.


About Joseph L. Locke

Joseph L. Locke is an associate professor of American history at the University of North Texas. His work focuses on Texas, the American South, and the development of religion and politics in the United States. He is also a co-creator and editor of The American Yawp.

Book: One State Under God: A History of Religion in Texas: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9781477334201

The conversation delves into the work of Warren Throckmorton, who fact-checks historical claims, particularly those made by political operative David Barton. The discussion highlights the influence of Barton and the credibility and integrity of historical claims, shedding light on the need for accurate historical representation and the impact of political alignment on historical narratives. The conversation delves into the historical context of the American Revolution, exploring the laws and events that shaped the period. It also examines the influence of Christianity on the founding of the United States, shedding light on the role of religion in the nation's early history.

Takeaways

• Historical Fact-Checking
• Influence of Political Operatives
• Credibility and Integrity in Historical Claims Historical context of the American Revolution
• The influence of Christianity on the founding of the United States

Chapters

• 00:00 Discussion on David Barton's False Claims and Influence (Continued)
• 34:28 The Historical Context of the American Revolution
• 39:59 The Influence of Christianity on the Founding of the United States

How did once-fringe religious movements gain influence within the Republican Party and access to the highest levels of American political power?

Will Wright speaks with author and scholar Keri Ladner about her book, American Dominion: The Rise and Radicalization of a New Christendom. They examine the history and political influence of dominionism, a movement built around the belief that Christians are called to exercise authority over government, education, media, business, religion, family, and the arts.

Keri explains the connections among Christian nationalism, the New Apostolic Reformation, the Seven Mountain Mandate, Christian Reconstructionism, neo-Confederate Christianity, faith healing, spiritual warfare, and the modern religious right. She also traces how these movements helped build evangelical support for Donald Trump and contributed to election conspiracy theories surrounding January 6.

The conversation explores:

• What dominionism means within American Christianity
• The origins and goals of the Seven Mountain Mandate
• The New Apostolic Reformation and its prophets and apostles
• Bethel Church, faith healing, and the political power of worship music
• Lance Wallnau and the claim that Donald Trump is a modern-day Cyrus
• Doug Wilson, Christian Reconstructionism, and neo-Confederate theology
• Pete Hegseth and the influence of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches
• How religious movements with conflicting theologies formed a common political coalition
• The relationship between Christian nationalism, white supremacy, and political radicalization
• What American democracy could face if dominionist movements continue gaining power

This episode offers an extensive examination of the history, theology, and political strategy behind one of the most influential movements shaping religion and politics in America.

Keri Ladner, PhD, is a scholar of fundamentalist religion, American politics, and the radicalization of the conservative movement. She earned her doctorate from the University of Edinburgh and specializes in how religious beliefs and movements become embedded within American political power structures.

She is the author of American Dominion: The Rise and Radicalization of a New Christendom and End Time Politics: From Moral Majority to QAnon. Her research examines dominionism, the New Apostolic Reformation, evangelical politics, Christian nationalism, faith healing, QAnon, and the development of the modern religious right.

Purchase American Dominion: The Rise and Radicalization of a New Christendom https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9798216275763

What happens when journalists cover politics without understanding the religion shaping the story?

Brian Kaylor, president and editor-in-chief of Word&Way and the leader of A Public Witness, joins Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram to explain why religion reporting matters in an era of Christian nationalism, government-sponsored worship, and growing confusion about the role Christianity plays in American public life. Kaylor describes how political reporters can miss biblical references, theological claims, and denominational differences that are central to understanding events such as January 6, presidential elections, and the political influence of conservative Christianity.

The conversation then turns to Kaylor’s reporting on Christian worship services organized inside the Pentagon and other federal agencies. He explains the involvement of Pete Hegseth, Doug Wilson, Franklin Graham, Southern Baptist leaders, defense contractors, violent biblical rhetoric, and a prayer borrowed from Pulp Fiction. The episode also examines the constitutional difference between a private religious group using a government building and the government planning and hosting its own worship service.

The final episode of Church & State 250 returns to the principle at the center of the series: America’s most significant religious experiment was the decision to separate church and state. Kaylor argues that this separation protects religious minorities, government employees, and Christianity itself from the corrupting influence of political power.

Guest Bio
Brian Kaylor, PhD, is president and editor-in-chief of Word&Way, an independent Christian media organization founded in 1896, and the leader of A Public Witness, a publication covering religion, politics, and culture. A Baptist minister with a doctorate in political communication from the University of Missouri, Kaylor is an award-winning journalist, author, speaker, and scholar whose work focuses on Christian nationalism, political rhetoric, religious liberty, church-state separation, and the ways Christianity is used to support government power. He is the author or co-author of seven books, including Sacramental Politics, Baptizing America, and The Bible According to Christian Nationalists. His Government Worship Watch project documents worship services organized by the Pentagon and other federal agencies, making his reporting central to understanding the current relationship between Christianity and the federal government.

Books Mentioned
The Bible According to Christian Nationalists: Exploiting Scripture for Political Power by Brian Kaylor
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9780827203501

Baptizing America: How Mainline Protestants Helped Build Christian Nationalism by Brian Kaylor and Beau Underwood
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9780827203389

Relevant Links & Resources
Brian Kaylor Official Website
URL: https://briankaylor.com/

A Public Witness
URL: https://publicwitness.wordandway.org/

Word&Way
URL: https://wordandway.org/

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What happens when Christians begin to believe they are entitled to rule over everyone else? 

Matthew D. Taylor, a scholar of religion and politics and visiting scholar at Georgetown University’s Center on Faith and Justice, joins Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram to explain how Christian nationalism fits inside a much older story of Christian supremacy, empire, and political power. Taylor traces the pattern back to Constantine, Christendom, and the long history of Christians using Jesus to justify conquest, coercion, and rule. 

He then brings the story into the present through MAGA Christianity, the New Apostolic Reformation, the Seven Mountain Mandate, prophecy around Donald Trump, Paula White-Cain, Lance Wallnau, spiritual warfare, and January 6. The conversation helps listeners understand why Christian nationalism is not one movement, but a spectrum of beliefs and networks competing for power. It is also a warning about what America’s 250th means if Christians try to restore the divine right of kings.

Guest Bio
Matthew D. Taylor, PhD, is a scholar of religion and politics and a visiting scholar at Georgetown University’s Center on Faith and Justice. His work focuses on Christian nationalism, religious extremism, Christian supremacy, American Islam, and the role of religious pluralism in defending democracy. He is the author of Scripture People, The Violent Take It by Force, and the forthcoming Defying Tyrants: Following Jesus in a World of Christian Antichrists. He also created Charismatic Revival Fury, an audio documentary series on the New Apostolic Reformation and the Christian leaders and ideas that helped fuel January 6. His research connects directly to this episode’s focus on Christian imperialism, MAGA Christianity, prophecy, spiritual warfare, and the fight over America’s democratic future.

Book Mentioned
The Violent Take It by Force: The Christian Movement That Is Threatening Our Democracy by Matthew D. Taylor
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9781506497785

Defying Tyrants: Following Jesus in a World of Christian Antichrists by Matthew D. Taylor
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9798341900370

Relevant Links & Resources
Matthew D. Taylor Official Website
URL: https://www.drmatthewdtaylor.com/

Support Sarah Stankorb’s work and preorder Damned If She Does: Why Women Quit Church and What It Means for the Future of Religion, Releases September 15, 2026.  Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9798889837091

Website: https://www.sarahstankorb.com/

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