How is increased immigration enforcement impacting the right to religious freedom? Should some "sensitive" locations be treated differently? Get an update on the twists and turns of this legal issue that has real world consequences for religious freedom, houses of worship, schools, hospitals, and other key places in our community. Holly and Amanda discuss the change in policy from the Trump administration, and they go in-depth on the legal and policy response – including long-term strategies and short-term solutions.

SHOW NOTES

Segment 1 (starting at 00:35): A new policy that upended everything

Holly wrote about the change in the sensitive locations policy in her column for our magazine in the spring of 2025: Defending churches and other sensitive locations from government intrusion

Amanda mentioned the online tracker of incidents: ProtectSensitiveLocations.org

Segment 2 (starting at 07:59): The legal response

Learn more about the specific immigration cases on the immigration page of BJC's website.

You can also visit the website of the Law, Rights and Religion Project to see their report on immigration and religious liberty.

Baptist News Global shared an update on the lawsuits last week: Sensitive locations lawsuit amended with more concerns

Segment 3 (starting at 26:28): The policy response

BJC supports the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act (H.R.1061 / S.455). Want to ask your members of Congress to support the long-term solution? Use our simple form, and we'll send an email from you!

Amanda mentioned the following two articles:

• From PBS Newshour: Trump's deportation agenda is about to get a $70 billion infusion from Congress (via the Associated Press)
• From The Hill: House sends reconciliation bill funding immigration enforcement to Trump's desk by Sudiksha Kochi

Want special emails about our show? Click here to sign up for our email list! You can also let us know at the bottom of that form if you want updates on immigration and other topics.

Video of our episodes are now on YouTube! Click here for the season 7 playlist.

Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. Keep these conversations ad-free with a gift to BJC.

Get caught up on all things court-related as Amanda and Holly run through some big decisions and changes over the past few months, including the multiple decisions in cases about posting the Ten Commandments, the dismissal of a legal challenge to the Johnson Amendment, and the Supreme Court's undermining of section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

SHOW NOTES

Segment 1 (starting at 00:35): A new decision undermining the Voting Rights Act

The BJC Center for Faith, Justice and Reconciliation released a statement about the decision in Louisiana v. Callais that undermined section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

Segment 2 (starting at 09:26): Supreme Court updates: Landor wait, Chiles v. Salazar decision, and cert petitions

We discussed the oral arguments in Landor v. Louisiana Department of Corrections on episode 5 of season 7: A religious freedom case flying under the radar

We talked about Chiles v. Salazar briefly in the season premiere: The Supreme Court in a New Era

Segment 3 (starting at 21:23): Decisions – plural! – in some Ten Commandments cases

BJC released a statement after the decision in Rabbi Nathan v. Alamo Heights, which allowed the state of Texas to require the posting of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms: First Amendment, pluralism both undermined in decision to uphold Ten Commandments mandate for Texas classrooms

Segment 4 (starting at 35:46): Johnson Amendment update

See BJC's resource page on the Johnson Amendment at BJConline.org/JohnsonAmendment.

Do you want special emails about our show? Click here to sign up for our email list!

Video of our episodes are now on YouTube! Click here for the season 7 playlist.

Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can keep these conversations ad-free with a gift to BJC.

The "Christian nation" rhetoric and spectacle we're seeing is not just bad history – it's having real ramifications for religious freedom for all in our country today. Amanda is back from sabbatical, and she and Holly discuss recent developments, including an increase in anti-Sharia legislation and fear-mongering that goes with it. They fact-check last week's congressional hearing on the topic and share Amanda's testimony.

Plus, Amanda and Holly discuss the recent "Rededicate 250" event on the National Mall, which elevated common myths tied to Christian nationalism. People can gather to pray, and there have been public worship gatherings before – so, what made that event different?

SHOW NOTES

Segment 1 (starting at 00:35): Christian nationalism, myths, and "Rededicate 250"

Holly is quoted in this article from Religion News Service by Bob Smietana: A Christian nation? At 250, America is still fighting over what that means

Amanda is quoted in this Washington Post article by Michelle Boorstein, Laura Meckler and Natalie Allison: White House to host 9-hour prayer festival focused on Christian roots of U.S.

Amanda is also quoted in this Wall Street Journal article by By Meridith McGraw and Terell Wright: A 'Revival' on the National Mall: White House Puts Prayer at Center of Washington

Amanda mentioned this wrap-up of the event – which includes some fact-checking – from Religion News Service by Jack Jenkins, Aleja Hertzler-McCain, and Adelle Banks: Trump allies lead thousands in prayer to 'rededicate' America to God on National Mall

You can read Amanda's op-ed in Baptist News Global about the event: When Government Claims God

Segment 2 (starting at 14:45): The latest congressional hearing on anti-Sharia measures

For more on the tragic shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, here's a story from the Associated Press by Julie Watson, Michael Biesecker, and John Seewer: San Diego mosque shooters met online and left writings expressing hate, FBI says

BJC released a statement on the shooting, which you can read on our website.

The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Constitution and Limited Government held a hearing on May 13, 2026, titled "Sharia-Free America:Why Political Islam & Sharia Law are Incompatible with the U.S. Constitution: Part II." We played Amanda's opening statement, as well as a portion of the opening statement of Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md.

You can watch the entire hearing and learn more on the website of the House Judiciary Committee.

You can read Amanda's written testimony at this link.

Do you want special emails about our show? Click here to sign up for our email list!

Video of our episodes are on YouTube! Click here for the season 7 playlist.

Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. Your gift to BJC is tax-deductible, and you can keep these conversations ad-free with a gift to BJC.

Amanda is back from sabbatical, and Respecting Religion is returning with all-new episodes on Thursday, May 21. Tune in for analysis of various court decisions impacting religious freedom -- including the mulitple decisions about mandates to post the Ten Commandments. Plus, Holly and Amanda will discuss a disturbing trend in anti-Muslim sentiment and the rise of Christian nationalism tied to celebrations for America's 250th birthday.

Join us on Thursdays for these conversations and more in the coming weeks.

See all episodes of Respecting Religion on our website: BJConline.org/respectingreligion

What do people mean when they say we were founded as a "Christian nation"? Is that true?

Revisit this 2019 conversation on the political and religious history behind that idea. BJC Executive Director Amanda Tyler talks with Dr. Steven Green, author of Inventing a Christian America: The Myth of the Religious Founding, about the political history of this concept, including how, when and why it originated. They also discuss misguided claims that the Ten Commandments are the basis of our legal system. On the second half of the episode, we hear from church historian Bill Leonard on what religious leaders said and did during the founding of the United States and how that relates to the freedoms we have today.

This conversation was part of our podcast series on the dangers of Christian nationalism, first released on August 14, 2019.

SHOW NOTES

Segment 1 (starting at 02:22): Steven Green on the political history of the idea

This program originally aired August 14, 2019, as episode 3 in our 10-part BJC Podcast series on the dangers of Christian nationalism.

Dr. Steven Green is the Fred H. Paulus Professor of Law and Affiliated Professor of History and Religious Studies at Willamette University. His most recent book – released in 2022 – is Separating Church and State. He is the author and co-author of several books, including Inventing a Christian America: The Myth of the Religious Founding; Religious Freedom and the Supreme Court; and The Third Disestablishment: Church, State, and American Culture, 1940-1975.

Segment 2 (starting at 21:18): Bill Leonard on the religious history of the idea

The Rev. Dr. Bill Leonard is the founding dean at the Wake Forest University School of Divinity, who now holds the title of "professor of divinity emeritus." He has written some 25 books, and his research focuses on church history with particular attention to American religion, Baptist studies, and the Appalachian religion.

During the episode, Amanda Tyler mentions an article he wrote for Baptist News Global: Legislating 'In God We Trust': using the state to do the Church's work.

To learn more about BJC's work countering Christian nationalism, visit ChristiansAgainstChristianNationalism.org or BJConline.org/ChristianNationalism. You can also access our discussion guide to go with this podcast series.

Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.

Is the separation of church and state in the Constitution? How does Christian nationalism overlap with white supremacy? Why do we keep seeing so many proposals to post the Ten Commandments? In this wide-ranging conversation from 2024, Amanda Tyler talks about these issues and more as she discusses her book "How to End Christian Nationalism" with the Rev. Dr. Bill Leonard.

"How to End Christian Nationalism" is a vital companion for countering the dangerous ideology, and it is available from your favorite local bookseller.

This conversation was recorded Oct. 29, 2024, and was first released Nov. 7, 2024.

SHOW NOTES

Segment 1 (starting at 01:30): Amanda Tyler and Bill Leonard on "How to End Christian Nationalism"

You can order Amanda's book, How to End Christian Nationalism, wherever you get your books. Visit EndChristianNationalism.com for more information.

The Rev. Dr. Bill Leonard is the founding dean at the Wake Forest University School of Divinity, who now holds the title of "professor of divinity emeritus." He has written some 25 books, and his research focuses on church history with particular attention to American religion, Baptist studies, and the Appalachian religion.

You can watch a video recording of this conversation (and entire podcast) on BJC's YouTube channel.

This event was a partnership between Knollwood Baptist Church, First Baptist on Fifth, and Ardmore Baptist Church – all three churches are located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.

Christian nationalism was on full display at the ReAwaken America tour, which was a series of conferences that fused Christian language and symbols with conspiracy theories and election denials. Amanda went inside a Miami event in 2023, and she shared her experiences in this podcast – from assembly-line baptisms to the reaction of the crowd as speakers moved seamlessly from religious worship songs to calls for political violence.

This episode originally aired May 18, 2023, and it is our most downloaded show of all time.

SHOW NOTES

Segment 1 (starting at 01:18): The Christian nationalism of the ReAwaken America tour

Amanda and Holly discussed the ReAwaken America tour in episode 5 of season 4: Christian nationalism and the midterm elections

This conversation was originally Episode 22 of Season 4.

Amanda and Holly mention this article about the ReAwaken Tour in The New York Times by Michelle Goldberg: Whose Version of Christian Nationalism Will Win in 2024?

Amanda wrote a response to Michael Flynn's call for "one religion" in 2021, published by Baptist News Global: If you're paying attention to Christian nationalism, you won't be shocked by Michael Flynn's call for 'one religion under God'

Segment 2 (starting at 06:08): The Pastors for Trump event

Amanda and Holly mentioned this article on the Pastors for Trump group by Peter Stone for The Guardian: Pro-Trump pastors rebuked for 'overt embrace of white Christian nationalism'

During this segment, we played a clip of Pastor John Bennett speaking during the Pastors for Trump event in Miami.

Segment 3 (starting at 16:14): ReAwaken America, baptisms, and our counter-witness

Amanda and Holly mentioned Brian Kaylor's reporting on the ReAwaken America tour. You can see his twitter thread with clips from Miami and read his piece in the A Public Witness newsletter, which is part of the Word&Way network: Michael Flynn's Soup for the Soulless

For more about Baptism and different ways Christian denominations approach it, check out this story from 2001 by the PBS program Religion and Ethics Newsweekly.

BJC and Faithful America created electronic billboards that were on trucks and a boat in Miami. See the video of the billboards in this post on the @EndChristianNationalism Instagram account.

Visit ChristiansAgainstChristianNationalism.org to explore the resources provided by the Christians Against Christian Nationalism movement.

Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.

A 2022 decision from the Supreme Court continues to sow confusion and misguided claims four years later. Today, we're revisiting our conversation on the Kennedy v. Bremerton decision, where the Court ruled for a public school official and abandoned long-standing Establishment Clause protections in ways that harm the religious freedom rights of students. Hear Amanda and Holly react right after this decision and ponder just what, exactly, would actually constitute "coercion" for this Court. The Supreme Court did not overrule the previous school prayer cases with the decision, but it did gut some of the consensus that protects the religious liberty rights of everyone at public schools.

This conversation was recorded in front of a live audience on June 29, 2022, and was first released July 7, 2022.

SHOW NOTES

Segment 1 (starting at 02:57): Not solving a problem, but creating one: Kennedy v. Bremerton decision

You can read the Bremerton opinion here, written by Justice Neil Gorsuch. Justice Sonia Sotomayor's dissenting opinion includes photos of the prayer practice at issue (see pages 9 and 10 of the dissent, which are on pages 49 and 50 of the opinion PDF document).

We released three podcasts on this case:

• We previewed the case in April 2022 in Episode 14 of Season 3 in an episode titled "#NoPrayToPlay."

• We recapped the oral arguments in Episode 15 of that same season: "The coach is the loudspeaker and the field is his classroom: Recapping the arguments in Kennedy v. Bremerton"

• We released this episode as our season 3 finale. The full episode is titled "Not solving a problem, but creating one: Dissecting the Kennedy v. Bremerton decision"

Segment 2 (starting at 26:51): Concluding thoughts

For all of BJC's resources on this case, visit BJConline.org/Bremerton.

Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.

What is the cost of speaking out against Christian nationalism? In 2024, Rob Reiner came on the podcast to talk about a film he produced, called "God & Country." In this episode from our archives, Amanda Tyler talks with Reiner and Dan Partland, the director of the film. "God & Country" discusses the dangers of Christian nationalism to the country, to the faith, and to pluralism.

This program originally aired January 18, 2024

SHOW NOTES

Segment 1 (starting at 02:22): Rob Reiner and Dan Partland on Christian nationalism

Released in February 2024, "God & Country" is available to watch on several streaming platforms. You can learn more at GodAndCountryTheMovie.com.

About the guests:

• Dan Partland, the director of the movie, is a veteran documentary producer and director for film and television. His work includes several landmark nonfiction features and series over the past three decades, and he's a two-time Emmy winner for best nonfiction series.
• Rob Reiner was a producer of the film. He first came to fame as a two-time Emmy award winning actor in the landmark television series "All in the Family." He went on to become an acclaimed director of some of the most popular and influential motion pictures in American film history, and he remained a dedicated political activist until his death in 2025.

The exact phrase "separation of church and state" is not in the U.S. Constitution, but the concept is laid out several times, including Article VI's prohibition on any religious test for office, the First Amendment's prohibition of a government establishment of religion, and the First Amendment's guarantee of the free exercise of religion. Read more in Brent Walker's "Top 5 Myths of the Separation of Church and State."

Learn more about the Christians Against Christian Nationalism campaign – a project BJC began in 2019 – by visiting ChristiansAgainstChristianNationalism.org.

Segment 2 (starting at 20:56): Post-screening Q&A with Partland and Reiner

BJC and the Freedom From Religion Foundation released a comprehensive report on the role of Christian nationalism in the January 6 attack on the Capitol. You can access it here.

Dan Partland mentioned The Power Worshippers, a book by Katherine Stewart on the rise of religious nationalism. It serves as a basis for the movie.

Segment 3 (starting at 40:39): Closing

Michelle Boorstein covered the screening for The Washington Post in this article: 'God & Country' film spotlights Christian nationalism's threat to democracy

Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.

Is an American flag in a church sanctuary an example of Christian nationalism? What about faith-based advocacy? Helping voters get to the polls? Saying the Constitution is "divinely inspired"? In this conversation from 2024, Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman answer some common questions they hear about Christian nationalism, and they talk about the questions we all should be asking ourselves when evaluating the political ideology.

This program originally aired March 21, 2024

SHOW NOTES:

Segment 1 (starting at 01:25): What does it mean to determine the level of Christian nationalism?

This podcast episode won the "Best in Class" award from the Religion Communicators Council in 2025. It was first released as episode 21 of season 5 on March 21, 2024.

Learn more about the Christians Against Christian Nationalism movement and how you can get involved at ChristiansAgainstChristianNationalism.org.

Segment 2 (starting at 09:09): Answering some political questions about Christian nationalism

Amanda mentioned this op-ed by David French in The New York Times: What is Christian Nationalism, Exactly?

Visit this link to access the report on Christian nationalism and the January 6 insurrection from BJC and the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

Amanda mentioned this article by Steven Monacelli for the Daily Dot: A new social network built on a vision of Christian supremacy in America gains traction with GOP politicians

Hear Amanda and Holly's reaction to President Trump's 2020 appearance at St. John's Church with a Bible in episode 15 of our first season: Protests, the president and the photo op with a Bible

Segment 3 (starting at 29:56): Answering some church-related questions about Christian nationalism

Read about the 2024 survey results from PRRI on the support for Christian nationalism at this link that Amanda mentioned during the podcast. UPDATE for the re-release of this episdoe: PRRI's most recent report on the topic was released in February 2025, which is available at this link.

To learn more about Patriot Churches, read this 2020 article in The Washington Post by Sarah Pulliam Bailey: Seeking power in Jesus' name: Trump sparks a rise of Patriot Churches

Segment 4 (starting at 39:40): History and civics questions about Christian nationalism

Amanda and Holly spoke about some lawmakers sharing the idea that the Constitution is "divinely inspired" in episode 10 of season 4: A report, a prayer vigil, and a somber anniversary: Two years after January 6. It was also re-released as a "best of" episode in January 2026.

Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.