This week on The State of Belief, truth through comedy. Host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush welcomes comedic genius John Fugelsang, author of the new book Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person's Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock-Fleecing Frauds coming September 9th. Together, they delve into the tension between progressive values and mainstream Christianity, or as John puts it, being “too Christian for the liberals and way too liberal for the Christians.” As they explore this topic, John summarizes the teachings of Jesus: “Welcome the stranger, man. I mean, that's about it.” The child of a former Catholic priest and former Catholic nun, John aims his sharp wit and brilliant mind at a topic he is deeply passionate about: using Scripture to challenge the all-too-often unchallenged claims to godliness by Christian Nationalists and fundamentalist Christians.

"I was raised in a Christianity that was about service, that was about love, that was about forgiveness, that guided us to the margins. What are you doing for the least among us? Are you welcoming the stranger? Are you caring for the poor? Are you trying to help those who are hated and despised on the lowest rungs? Because that was Jesus's whole ministry. You reach out to the marginalized.”

“And, of course, as you know, the nice Christians don't get the airtime. You don't see the Christians on cable news talking about how war is bad or how homophobia is bad. You see the other kind - because villains make for better TV than nice people.”

- Actor, author, comedian, commentator John Fugelsang.

Also in this episode: an excerpt of Texas State Rep. James Talarico's definition of Christian Nationalism from a public conversation last week with Interfaith Alliance Vice President of Programs and Strategy Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons, who's also a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress. The event was co-sponsored by the Center for American Progress Action Fund and Interfaith Alliance. The full recording is available here.

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