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.