Respecting Religion

Hear excerpts from a special event we organized at the University of Southern California on race, religion and citizenship in this episode of Respecting Religion. The Rev. Dr. Joseph Evans and the Rev. Dr. Christopher The brought their unique experiences and expertise to a conversation on religious and racial identity, moderated by the Rev. Dr. Najuma Smith-Pollard. Hear their insights about a theology of democracy, their experiences with racism, how to identify authoritarianism, and what lessons Scripture has for our current climate.

Segment 1 (starting at 00:35): The event on race, religion and citizenship

The Rev. Dr. Joseph Evans and the Rev. Dr. Christopher The were the speakers for this year's edition of our annual Walter B. and Kay W. Shurden Lectures, titled "Whose country is it anyway?" held April 2 on the campus of the University of Southern California. Their conversation was moderated by the Rev. Dr. Najuma Smith-Pollard. Click on each name to read more about them and their impressive credentials.

Listen to the entire program at this link.

The event was in partnership with USC's Office of Religious & Spiritual Life, the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture, and Berkeley School of Theology.

Learn more about BJC's annual series at BJConline.org/ShurdenLectures.

Segment 2 (starting at 1:45): A theology of democracy, experiences of racism, and a new understanding of The New Colossus

Rev. Dr. The mentioned "warmth of other suns," giving credit to how Isabel Wilkerson uses the phrase. She is the author of the book The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration.

Rev. Dr. The mentioned "The New Colossus," the poem by Emma Lazarus that is inscribed on a plaque in the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. You can read it here.

Segment 3 (starting at 12:29): Authoritarianism and lessons from Scripture

Rev. Dr. Evans mentioned Walter Wink, a theologian who discussed how power structures resist our need for transformation. Learn more about him in his obituary from The New York Times.

Segment 4 (starting at 18:27): Politics and access to power

Dr. Catherine Brekus delivered the 2023 Walter B. and Kay W. Shurden Lecture, which focused on the myth of American "chosenness." Hear it in episode 23 of season 4, and listen to the panel that followed it on episode 24.

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

When former President Donald Trump announced during Holy Week that he was endorsing the "God Bless the USA" Bible, the reaction was swift. But, beyond the punchlines and the obvious concerns, Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman discuss why the video is concerning to our current political moment and the continued rise of Christian nationalism. Not all examples are this obvious – what does this mean to those important conversations?

Segment 1 (starting at 00:38): Why is this a problem?

The New York Times has more about the video and the marketing in this article by By Michael Gold and Maggie Haberman: Trump's Newest Venture? A $60 Bible.

Segment 2 (starting at 08:11): Reacting to the video pitch

You can watch the video endorsing the Bible at this link on YouTube.

Amanda and Holly talked about using the Bible as a prop and the idea of "divinely inspired" founding documents in episode 21 of this season, titled "But … is it Christian nationalism?"

Dr. Jemar Tisby shared about how he and other authors worked to stop an earlier version of this Bible in an article on his Substack: Three Years Ago We Stopped Harper Collins/Zondervan from Publishing the "God Bless the USA" Bible

Segment 3 (starting at 26:44): Understanding how this is part of a larger political strategy

Holly read from this piece by Michael C. Bender in The New York Times: The Church of Trump: How He's Infusing Christianity Into His Movement

Amanda discussed her experience attending the ReAwaken America tour in episode 22 of season 4.

Amanda read from this piece by David French in The New York Times: Trump is no Savior

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

There are many religious holidays in the spring, but not all are given the same public acknowledgment – from government-sponsored events to time off from school and work. Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman discuss how Christian privilege shows up in how our country recognizes and accommodates certain holidays, as well as how holidays help us understand and celebrate the religious pluralism in our country.

SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 00:38): The March Madness of spring break and public school holidays

Access "A Parent's Guide to Religion in Public Schools" published decades ago by the National PTA and the First Amendment Center with funding from the Freedom Forum at this link on BJC's website.

Segment 2 (starting at 15:05): Religious holidays and public officials/elected leaders

Read about Dr. Anthea Butler's experience at the White House St. Patrick's Day celebration in this reflection on her Substack.

Segment 3 (starting at 24:00): Reflections on Christian privilege

Amanda mentioned her forthcoming book, How to End Christian Nationalism. It releases October 22, and it is available for preorder at endchristiannationalism.com.

Read the story by Kevin Reynolds in the Salt Lake Tribune discussing Muslim players fasting during March Madness, which coincides with Ramadan: BYU doesn't have to play on Sundays. So should the NCAA better accommodate Muslim athletes during Ramadan?

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"? Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman answer some common questions they hear about Christian nationalism, and they talk about the questions we should be asking ourselves.

SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 00:38): What does it mean to determine the level of Christian nationalism?

Learn more about the Christians Against Christian Nationalism campaign, including the statement of principles, at ChristiansAgainstChristianNationalism.org. If you are a Christian who agrees with the statement, we encourage you to sign your name!

Segment 2 (starting at 08:23): Answering some political questions about Christian nationalism

Amanda mentioned this recent 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 29:09): Answering some church-related questions about Christian nationalism

Read about the new survey results from PRRI on the support for Christian nationalism 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 38:54): 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

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

Get a first-hand account of attending the State of the Union address on this episode. Amanda Tyler talks with Holly Hollman about her experience, providing a new way to think about who represents our country in the room during the president's address. She shares about her invitation and various discussions with members of Congress about Christian nationalism. Plus, if you've ever wondered what it's like to serve your country by working at a polling place on Election Day, hear about Amanda's experience in Texas and how you can do the same, helping to ensure free and fair elections for our representatives in D.C.

SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 00:38): The cost of speaking out against Christian nationalism

Amanda mentioned this article by Jack Jenkins for Religion News Service: Freethought Caucus' Huffman invites Christian nationalism critic to State of the Union

Read the report published by BJC and the Freedom From Religion Foundation on Christian nationalism and the January 6, insurrection.

Click here to watch Rep. Jared Huffman's floor speech on the dangers of Christian nationalism, which mentions the joint report.

Hear Amanda's conversation with Rob Reiner and Dan Partland on their film "God & Country" in episode 12 of this season of Respecting Religion

Segment 2 (starting at 08:44): Attending the State of the Union address

Amanda and Rep. Jared Huffman filmed a video together before they went to the State of the Union address. You can watch it on Instagram.

Amanda and Holly discussed the Alabama ruling impacting IVF treatments in the state on episode 18 of this season of Respecting Religion.

Segment 3 (starting at 30:23): Serving as an election worker

Holly spoke with Chris Crawford of Protect Democracy about ways people of faith can be involved in free and fair elections on episode 14 of this season of Respecting Religion.

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

The Supreme Court declines to hear thousands of cases a year, but one recent denial included a troubling statement from Justice Samuel Alito. Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman look at a case out of Missouri about potential jurors being struck from the jury pool because of their anti-LGBTQ beliefs, and they break down Justice Alito's 5-page statement that seems to be asking for another case with the same issue at stake. What could this mean for the future, and why is Justice Alito still hung up on the Obergefell v. Hodges decision from 2015?

SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 00:38): What happened in this case?

Holly mentioned this resource from The Washington Post that shows an update on cases as the term progresses: The Supreme Court Trump-Colorado ruling, and big 2024 decisions to come

Amanda and Holly discussed Donald Trump's plan to create a task force fighting anti-Christian bias in episode 13 of this current season 'God Made Trump,' Biden campaigns at a church, and more news from the campaign trail

Amanda read from this article in The New York Times by Abbie VanSickle describing the factual background of the lawsuit: Justice Alito Renews Criticism of Landmark Ruling on Same-Sex Marriage

Segment 2 (starting at 14:33): Why did Justice Alito write this statement?

You can read Justice Alito's statement on the denial of cert on page 25 of this PDF document of the order list from the Supreme Court on Feb. 20, 2024.

Amanda mentioned three cases invoked by Justice Alito:

• Trinity Lutheran v. Comer (2017)
• Church of Lukumi Babalu Aye, Inc. v. City of Hialeah (1993)
• Carson v. Makin (2022)

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

An alarming ruling from the Alabama Supreme Court is leading to the shutdown of in vitro fertilization clinics, and the concurrence's use of Scripture and Christian theology is causing additional concerns. Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman look at this troubling ruling, the various religious views on life, and why it's an issue for a justice to cite the Bible in an opinion.

SHOW NOTES: Segment 1 (starting at 00:38): What is the Alabama case about?

The Alabama Supreme Court case is called LePage v. Center for Reproductive Medicine. You can read the decision and the concurrence here.

For additional information on the case, listen to the NPR interview with law professor Mary Ziegler in this story: How Alabama's ruling that frozen embryos are 'children' could impact IVF

Amanda and Holly discussed the Dobbs decision in episode 4 of season 4.

Segment 2 (starting at 13:18): The decision and even more-troubling concurrence

Listen to the "On the Media" interview with Matthew D. Taylor: Christian Nationalism is Reshaping Fertility Rights, and Books Dominate at the Oscars

Amanda talked about her experience at the ReAwaken America tour in episode 22 of season 4 of Respecting Religion.

Segment 3 (starting at 31:15): Additional reactions to the opinion

Read the entire piece by Noah Feldman for Bloomberg at this link: Embryos Are Now Children in Alabama. Blame the Supreme Court.

Amanda and Holly discussed the Kennedy v. Bremerton decision in episode 21 of season 3.

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

Presidents have made broad appeals to our country without dividing along religious belief throughout American history. Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman look at presidential leadership and talk about how our country's founding documents set up our system of government that does not create a "Christian nation" in any sort of legal sense – rather, it ensures freedom of religion and freedom from a state establishment of religion. They also talk about why people like to claim we are a "Christian nation" and the reasons that is a problematic statement.

Segment 1 (starting at 00:38): Religious freedom at the founding

Learn more about the celebration of the holiday known as Washington's Birthday from the National Archives.

Amanda and Holly mentioned this article by Peter Smith for the Associated Press: Many believe the founders wanted a Christian America. Some want the government to declare one now. He also wrote this piece with some frequently asked questions.

Amanda mentioned a book she is writing that will come out later this year, which is titled How to End Christian Nationalism.

Watch Holly's video answering the question "Is America a Christian nation?" at this link.

The Rev. Jennifer Hawks wrote this piece about Article VI for Baptist News Global: How the Constitution's original religious freedom guarantee almost didn't happen

Amanda spoke with historian Steven Green in 2019 for this episode of our podcast series on the dangers of Christian nationalism: We were founded as a Christian nation?

Michael Meyerson is the author of Endowed by our Creator: The Birth of Religious Freedom in America. You can read more about his 2014 lectures – given for the Walter B. and Kay W. Shurden Lectures on Religious Liberty and the Separation of Church and State – in this recap.

The BJC Fellows Program is open to all young professionals interested in deepening their historical, legal and theological understanding of religious liberty. The deadline to apply for the 2024 class is March 1 – visit BJConline.org/Fellows to learn more and apply.

Segment 2 (starting at 24:21): Words from previous presidents

Click here to visit BJC's website page with a few quotes from Founders, presidents, and Baptists about the relationship between church and state. The quotes include links or citations to the original source material.

Segment 3 (starting at 33:20): What now?

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

There is a novel – and concerning – development in public education and the relationship between the institutions of church and state: Oklahoma and Guam have proposed religious charter schools. Litigation has already started. But, what is a religious charter school, and why is the idea such a problem? Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman say they are illegal and that they challenge some basic assumptions.

Segment 1 (starting at 00:38): What are religious charter schools, and what's the problem?

Holly and Amanda discussed the trouble with school vouchers in episode 8 and episode 9 of this season.

In an order on his way out the door, former Oklahoma Attorney General John O'Connor issued an opinion that said religious charter schools were ok, but then new Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond reversed that guidance. Read Don Byrd's article for BJC's website about the Oklahoma and Guam charter schools: Guam joins Oklahoma in approving government-funded religious charter schools after legislature overrides governor's veto

Segment 2 (starting at 12:39): The lawsuits in Oklahoma trying to stop this action

You can download the petition for the lawsuit by Oklahoma Attorney General Genter Drummond in the Oklahoma Supreme Court at this link on the website of the Oklahoma State Courts Network.

The lawsuit brought by the ACLU, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and others is called OKPLAC, Inc. v. Statewide Virtual Charter School Board. Read the Complaint and learn more on the websites of the ACLU and of Americans United. OKPLAC is the "Oklahoma Parent Legislative Advocacy Coalition."

Segment 3 (starting at 18:43): State and constitutional questions about charter schools

Visit this resource from the U.S. Department of Education to learn more about charter schools.

The trinity of recent Supreme Court cases mentioned were: Trinity Lutheran v. Comer (2017) Espinoza v. Montana Dept. of Revenue (2020) Carson v. Makin (2022)

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

Much is said and assumed about the religious landscape of Black America, but it's more diverse than the common narratives. Holly Hollman speaks with Dr. Sabrina E. Dent and Dr. Anthony Pinn about misconceptions and how they brought together Black Church leaders and Black nontheists for key conversations. Tune in for this open and honest conversation about how we can work across racial and religious lines to help all communities thrive.

SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 00:35): Misconceptions about the religious landscape of Black America

Dr. Anthony Pinn is the Agnes Cullen Arnold Professor of Humanities at Rice University, and he's also the Founding Director of Rice's Center for Engaged Research and Collaborative Learning. He is the author/editor of more than 35 books, and he is also director of research for the Institute for Humanist Studies. Read Dr. Pinn's full biography here.

Dr. Sabrina E. Dent is the director of the BJC Center for Faith, Justice and Reconciliation, which is the home of our project on Race and Religious Freedom. Learn more about the Center on our website and in this video. She is the editor and contributing author of the book African Americans and Religious Freedom: New Perspectives for Congregations and Communities. Read Dr. Dent's full biography here.

"(Dis)belief: Reimagining the Religious Landscape of Black America" was the topic for the 2023 Religious Freedom Mobile Institute. Click here to read about it in a piece by Jaziah Masters, Research Fellow for the BJC Center for Faith, Justice and Reconciliation.

Segment 2 (starting at 20:13): The connections between religious freedom and racial justice

BJC's "Religious Freedom Has Been White Too Long: Voices of Black Scholars" was BJC's 2021 lecture featuring Dr. Anthony Pinn, Dr. Nicole Myers Turner, Dr. Teresa L. Smallwood, and Dr. David Goatley. Watch the event at this link and read a recap on our website.

James Baldwin wrote in The New York Times on Feb. 2, 1969, that the bulk of the country's white population is beyond hope of moral rehabilitation. "They have been white, if I may so put it, too long."

Segment 3 (starting at 30:23): Key moments from the conference

As mentioned, Dr. Dent and Dr. Pinn will be co-editors of a forthcoming book of essays from the participants in the conference. Keep up with BJC and the BJC Center for Faith, Justice and Reconciliation for the latest!

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