The State Of Belief

Faced with the surging threat of Christian nationalism, The State of Belief this week explores the urgent need for resistance against authoritarian theocracy, focusing on the roles that faith communities, and particularly Christians, can play in defending religious freedom and multi-faith democracy.

Guest Amanda Tyler joins host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush with critical insights into the ideological and legal battles against Christian nationalism. In her new book How to End Christian Nationalism, Amanda outlines a three-pronged approach to confronting this dangerous ideology: building awareness, advocating for action, and organizing change. She discusses how Christian nationalism distorts the teachings of Jesus and undermines the very essence of religious freedom. Her call for Christians to take a more active role in speaking out and organizing for change serves as both a challenge and a beacon of hope for those committed to protecting a society where religious freedom and diversity are upheld.

“The way I understand Christian Nationalism is it's a political ideology and a cultural framework that tries to merge American and Christian identities, suggesting that to be a real American, one has to be a Christian - and not just any kind of Christian, but a Christian who holds certain fundamentalist religious beliefs that are in line with conservative political priorities. Christian Nationalism overlaps significantly with White supremacy, with a narrative that the only people who truly belong in this country are the people who held power at the beginning of the country - and that is White Protestant Christian men who own property. Everyone else is effectively a second-class citizen in the eyes of White Christian Nationalism.”

- Amanda Tyler, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty (BJC), leading the organization as it upholds the historic Baptist principle of religious liberty: defending the free exercise of religion and protecting against its establishment by the government. The lead organizer of Christians Against Christian Nationalism and the author of How to End Christian Nationalism, Amanda is also the co-host of BJC’s Respecting Religion podcast. Her constitutional law analysis and advocacy for faith freedom for all have been featured by major news outlets, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, CBS News, ABC News, CNN, and MSNBC, and she has testified before Congress on religious liberty and Christian nationalism. A graduate of Georgetown University and The University of Texas School of Law, she lives in Dallas with her husband and son.

In the wake of a deeply consequential election, The State of Belief this week unpacks the electoral role played by religious communities, exploring how various faith groups influenced voter turnout and political coalitions.

Guests Skye Perryman, Katherine Stewart, Adelle Banks and Bob Smietana join host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to share critical insights into the diverse religious communities shaping our democracy. Their dedication to engaging in nuanced reporting and analysis, and fostering partnerships within and beyond faith traditions, reflects a commitment to upholding a vibrant and inclusive democracy. Their insights explore how we can value and uplift a wide range of voices in the face of intense polarization, Christian nationalism and extremism.

Skye Perryman stresses the critical need to safeguard religious freedoms. "I think there's a huge role for people who have spiritual and moral commitments, including religious commitments, in this fight for democracy. And I know that there's a lot of attention to the corrosive role of religious philosophies…whether that's Christian Nationalism or religious fundamentalism." Katherine Stewart points out that "Christian nationalism is sort of a reactionary nationalism. It's about who gets to properly belong in the country and who doesn't. So it's fusing a kind of religious identity with a partisan political identity, that you're either in or you're out. You're with us or you're not.”

Bob Smietana reflects on broader political shifts over the past few elections, stating, "In the last eight years, the last three elections, there's been a lot of focus on White evangelicals who are very strong supporters of Donald Trump... but some of this is that White Christians in general, for whatever reasons, have leaned toward Donald Trump." Adelle Banks looks at the fight ahead and recalls a conversation with a Black minister preparing his Sunday sermon, saying, "He's going to be addressing grief, and talking about the need to have kind of a prophetic grief... as opposed to a pathetic grief... people should be trying to be resilient and moving forward, thinking of examples in the past where African-Americans have made it through difficult times."

Skye L. Perryman is President and CEO of Democracy Forward, a nonpartisan, national legal organization that promotes democracy and progress through litigation, regulatory engagement, policy education, and research. She has built a visionary team of legal, policy, and communications experts to confront anti-democratic extremism head-on while also using the law to advance progress and a bold vision for the future. Skye is a Board Member of Interfaith Alliance.

Katherine Stewart writes about the intersection of faith and politics, policy, education, and the threat to democratic institutions. Her latest book, The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism, was awarded first place for Excellence in Nonfiction Books by the Religion News Association and a Morris D. Forkosch award. Her new book Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy comes out early 2025.

Adelle M. Banks is the projects editor and a national reporter for Religion News Service, covering topics including religion and race, the faith of African Americans and partnerships between government and religious groups. She co-authored Becoming a Future-Ready Church: 8 Shifts to Encourage and Empower the Next Generation of Leaders.

Bob Smietana is a national reporter for RNS based near Chicago, covering evangelicals, weird religion and the changing religious landscape. He is the author of Reorganized Religion: The Reshaping of the American Church and Why it Matters.

This week’s episode of The State of Belief features interviews with guests along Interfaith Alliance’s “The Vote is Sacred Bus Tour.” Host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush visits with Karim Khayati, Rabbi Deanna Sussman, Rev. Sarah Jones, Dan Osborn, Connie Ryan, State Sen. Rev. Sarah Trone Garriott, Rt. Rev. Betsey Monnot, Rhonda Lindner, Rev. Breanna Illéné, and Khalilah Worley, leaders empowering voters to hit the polls to defend religious freedom and multi-faith democracy.

These conversations spotlight a shared commitment among diverse leaders—politicians, clergy, and activists—to advocate for social justice, community engagement, and the empowerment of marginalized groups. Underlining the bus tour’s goal of highlighting the role of diverse religious communities engaged in inspiring pro-democracy activism, these leaders’ efforts reflect a shared commitment to fostering a vibrant, multi-faith democracy, working alongside amazing partners to lift up the voices of all Americans in the face of extremism and Christian nationalism.

Karim Khayati, Rabbi Deanna Sussman, and Rev. Sarah Jones are leaders in the Muslim, Jewish, and Christian faith communities, respectively, that make up the unique Tri-Faith Initiative in Omaha, Nebraska. A fitting place to begin The Vote Is Sacred bus tour, and their thoughts are a fitting way to start this week’s show.

Dan Osborn highlights the lack of working-class representation, stating, “Less than 2% of our elected officials in the House and Senate came from the working class... I'm going to have a worker agenda.” Connie Ryan echoes the need for change, emphasizing that “reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, and public schools are on the ballot,” calling for people to harness “the magical power of voting” to stand up for justice.

State Sen. Rev. Sarah Trone Garriott reminds us that “every single elected office matters,” while the Rt. Rev. Betsey Monnot emphasizes the Episcopal Church's commitment to justice, stating, “One of the vows that we take... is to respect the dignity and worth of every human being.” Rev. Breanna Illéné also recognizes the intersection of faith and politics, asserting, “Your faith should impact your life. Politics impact your life... and they do mix and need to mix.” Rhonda Lindner expresses hope for democracy by asserting, “If every Wisconsin voter who wants to vote and who should vote, votes... democracy and the will of the people will stand.” And even as gerrymandering threatens the fairness of the vote in several states, Khalilah Worley Billy reminds us to "Find joy in this election."

This fall, a number of faith- and values-driven organizations have taken to the road, bringing a positive message to communities across the country aboard colorful, activist-filled buses. From the Nuns On The Bus & Friends Vote Our Future Tour, to the Revolutionary Love Tour, to the Faith & Democracy Tour, to the Vote Common Good Confronting Christian Nationalism Tour, to Interfaith Alliance’s own The Vote is Sacred Tour, a lot of face-to-face conversations are happening, and a lot of hope is being spread. This week on The State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance's weekly radio program and podcast, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush checks in with some of these tours, and finds out what the conversations are sounding like across the country.

Valarie Kaur is just wrapping up a six-week stretch of the Revolutionary Love Bus Tour, part of a deeply spiritual and place-specific experience of community and a vision for a new level of connection. She and her crew took a break from singing while traversing the South to check in with The State of Belief.

Rev. Doug Pagitt is no stranger to long and grueling bus tours, bringing the message of Vote Common Good. This election season, the focus is on confronting Christian Nationalism, and he, too, was in motion as he shared his reasons for this particular focus in 2024.

The sole non-bus participant in this roundup, Dr. Kristin Kobes Du Mez, describes the music-, wisdom-, and hope-laden gatherings organized by The Convocation Unscripted, under the banner of The Faith and Democracy Tour. She also updates Paul on her documentary film, For Our Daughters: Stories of Abuse, Betrayal, and Resistance in the Evangelical Church.

Kristin encourages us to embrace our role in the fight for justice and democracy: “This is not a time for cynicism, certainly not a time to give up or to feel hopeless. It's a time to cut through all of the muddiness out there, all of the messages coming through, and just focus. This is who you are. This is what we believe, and this is what you can do.”

And Interfaith Alliance is pulling into traffic with The Vote is Sacred Bus Tour. The brainchild of Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons, it brings members of the Interfaith Alliance team to a number of communities to encourage getting out the vote and to raise up the critical issue of voter protection.

The Mother Superior of all of these bus tours, the Nuns On the Bus & Friends Vote Our Future Tour, was featured on The State of Belief just a few weks ago.

Valarie Kaur is a renowned civil rights leader, lawyer, award-winning filmmaker, and author known for her visionary work in social justice and racial healing. As the founder of the Revolutionary Love Project, she leads movements on reclaiming love as a force for justice.

Doug Pagitt is a social activist, author, and possibility enthusiast dedicated to enlisting people in the hopes and dreams of a more just world. As Co-founder and Executive Director of Vote Common Good, he mobilizes people of faith to engage in civic life.

Kristin Kobes Du Mez is the New York Times bestselling author of Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation, and Professor of History and Gender Studies at Calvin University. She holds a PhD from the University of Notre Dame and her research focuses on the intersection of gender, religion, and politics.

Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons is the Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy at Interfaith Alliance, where he leads efforts like the upcoming “The Vote is Sacred” Bus Tour. An ordained Baptist minister and a leading advocate at the intersection of religion and policy, Guthrie has dedicated his career to empowering faith communities to advance social justice and counter religious extremism.

Marking the Freedom to Read Day of Action, this week’s episode of The State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance's weekly radio program and podcast, features interviews with Qiana Johnson, Rev. Kim Coleman, and Rabba Rori Picker Neiss – influential leaders working at the intersection of faith and activism to combat censorship and book bans. They join host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to discuss the critical role that religious communities can play in resisting book bans, supporting vulnerable groups like LGBTQI+ youth, and ensuring that libraries remain spaces for learning and inclusion. Each explores how faith can be a driving force for justice and community-building in the fight against censorship.

Rabba Picker Neiss detailed how censorship works to suppress diverse viewpoints. “Anytime people are uncomfortable with a book because it doesn't reflect them, then it's a silencing of anyone different. And fundamentally, we're all different. And that's the beauty that we have in this country. That's the ethos that I think both of our organizations are working off of. That's the strength that we can really bring.”

Qiana Johnson also emphasized how book bans can ensure that members of our communities are harmfully marginalized, making our whole society worse off. “Parts of the human story are being weaponized, and parts of the human story are being denigrated, and parts of that human story and our beauty are being hidden. And part of the community is being told that they aren't truly part of the community, that they are dangerous parts of the community…We learn from things that are challenging, but we have to do that.”

Rev. Kim captures the urgency of taking action and being vigilant in the face of threats like book ban: “People of faith are called to be proactive, not reactive. Jesus told us to go and make disciples. We have a custom of waiting till something tragic happens before we awaken... but we don’t have to be on the defensive anymore.”

Qiana Johnson is the Associate Dean of Libraries, Collections, and Content Strategies at Dartmouth, focusing on acquisitions, discovery, access, preservation, and management of information resources. She's also an ordained deacon in the Episcopal Church.

Rabba Rori Picker Neiss is the Senior Vice President for Community Relations at the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) and previously the Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis. She has also served on the clergy team at a Modern Orthodox synagogue.

The Very Rev. Kim Coleman is the president of the Union of Black Episcopalians (UBE) and the rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Arlington, Virginia. She leads UBE in addressing racism and advocating for Black Episcopalians, raising awareness about book bans within the Episcopal Church.

In his new book, Dr. Matthew D. Taylor sheds light on the alarming rise of authoritarianism in Christian nationalist movements. In The Violent Take It By Force: The Christian Movement That Is Threatening Our Democracy, Matthew explores the rise of the New Apostolic Reformation, a radical movement within American evangelicalism that is mobilizing in support of Trump and other far-right leaders. This week, he joins host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, host of The State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance's weekly radio program and podcast, to discuss how this movement intertwines charismatic faith with extreme politics, a dangerous combination that culminated in the January 6th attack on the Capitol – and continues to hang over democracy as a major threat.

Emphasizing the need for a cohesive pro-democracy movement, Matthew and Paul review strategies for countering the impact of extremist groups through education and persuasion – highlighting the importance of reaching out to those who may have been misled but can still be engaged in constructive dialogue.

“We need to try to find all the allies we can, all the fellow travelers we can, and try to build a coalition that is pro-democracy. And I see the edges of that. I see the glimpses of that, and it fills me with hope because I think there are people who are listening to the better angels of our nature right now. We need their voices to be louder. We need them to be amplified.”

- Matthew D. Taylor, Ph.D., senior scholar and the Protestant scholar at the Institute for Islamic Jewish Christian Studies, specializing in Muslim-Christian dialogue, Evangelical and Pentecostal movements, religious politics in the U.S., and American Islam. Before coming to ICJS, Matt served on the Georgetown University and The George Washington University faculty. He is a member of the American Academy of Religion and the North American Association of Islamic and Muslim Studies. Dr. Taylor's literary and visual works include Scripture People: Salafi Muslims in Evangelical Christians’ America, the audio-documentary series “Charismatic Revival Fury: The New Apostolic Reformation,” and his latest book, The Violent Take It By Force: The Christian Movement That Is Threatening Our Democracy.

October 7th marks the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza – a war that is still raging and even spreading, costing tens of thousands of lives and untold suffering and trauma for so many in the region. This week, The State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance's weekly radio program and podcast, focuses on marking this solemn occasion, and exploring the impact that it’s had on interfaith relations between diverse communities here in the US.

The episode shares extended excerpts from a powerful recent panel discussion moderated by host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, featuring expert guests from the Muslim, Jewish and Christian communities – Dr. Najeeba Syeed, Rabba Rori Picker Neiss, and Rev. Fred Davie. Alongside that panel, Paul is also joined this week by Rabbi Jill Jacobs, CEO of T’ruah, a heartfelt conversation on the emotional and spiritual weight of the Jewish High Holy Days as they intersect with the ongoing violence in the Middle East.

These conversations delve into the complexities and conflicts faced by religious communities, offering strategies for fostering collaboration, empathy, and understanding in a divided society. They reflect on how global conflicts can have intense local impacts here in the US, underscoring the need for dedicated relationship-building to create a more inclusive future.

Discussing the ongoing conflict in Israel/Palestine, Rabbi Jill Jacobs reflected, “Most people want to live their lives in peace. And various leaders are deciding to continue to escalate.” She added, “We’re sitting in this liminal moment where we see that things could get much worse, or God willing and the leaders willing, they could get better.”

During the panel, Dr. Syeed emphasized the importance of facing challenges head-on: "We can't afford to disengage from the pain. We must show up, even in discomfort, and be ready to have the hard conversations that can lead to healing." Rabba Picker Neiss stressed the need for dialogue: “We need to ask questions and then we need to listen to the answers. We need to hold space, and we need to recognize that offering someone space doesn't mean giving up any of our own power.” Rev. Fred Davie offered a hopeful perspective, expressing that their collective efforts “serve as a bit of leaven, a bit of yeast, for this larger effort to build a kind of world…that we’d all like to see.”

Rev. Fred Davie is the Senior Strategic Advisor to the President at Union Theological Seminary, where he previously served as Executive Vice President for a decade. In his current role, he advises on public programming, racial justice, and social justice initiatives.

Rabbi Jill Jacobs is the CEO of T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, leading over 2,300 rabbis and cantors in advocating for human rights in North America, Israel, and the occupied Palestinian territories.

Rabba Rori Picker Neiss is the Senior Vice President for Community Relations at the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA). Previously, she was the Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis and a member of the clergy at Bais Abraham Congregation.

Dr. Najeeba Syeed is the El-Hibri endowed chair and executive director of the Interfaith Institute at Augsburg University. She is a recognized leader in peacebuilding, having twice received the Jon Anson Ford Award for reducing violence and being named Southern California Mediation Association’s “Peacemaker of the Year” in 2007.

Mary J. Novak and Kristin Du Mez are two incredible women whose work at the intersection of activism and faith is driving critical change in our society. This week, they join host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush on The State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance's weekly radio program and podcast, to explore how faith can be used as a tool for tremendous social progress, or for abuse – and how people can work together to help foster inclusive communities and challenge the forces of oppression.

Kristin's new film, For Our Daughters, explores the troubling culture of submission and sexual abuse within the evangelical church, and its connection to the Christian nationalist agenda aimed at undermining women's rights in the upcoming 2024 election.

“I thought it was really important to put their stories, in all of their power, in front of the country. In front of Christian women in particular, in front of Christians, and just hear them and grapple with: how could this be allowed to happen? How could, even after these wrongs were exposed…How could this persist? And then, what are we doing as Christians, as church members, and as voters to perpetuate these systems that foster abuse?” 

- Kristin Kobes Du Mez, New York Times bestselling author and Professor of History and Gender Studies at Calvin University. She holds a PhD from the University of Notre Dame and her research focuses on the intersection of gender, religion, and politics. She has contributed to The New York Times, The Washington Post, and NBC News and has been featured on NPR, CBS, and the BBC. Her latest works include her book, Jesus and John Wayne and groundbreaking documentary, For Our Daughters: Stories of Abuse, Betrayal, and Resistance in the Evangelical Church.

“People of all backgrounds and religious and cultural persuasions are working together to help build the common good through policy and politics…because we can all come together. And when we collaborate, we have the power to decide the future we will inhabit.”

- Mary J. Novak, Executive Director of NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, the first lay leader and the sixth woman to hold this role. With a background in organizing, activism, law, education, chaplaincy, and restorative justice, she introduced a shared leadership model to advance NETWORK's mission. Under her guidance, the organization is building stronger partnerships for the common good and positioning itself for future growth in pursuing justice. NETWORK organizes the incredible Nuns on the Bus & Friends Tour, traveling across the country starting September 29th to directly advocate for and pursue social justice through the lens of Catholic social teaching.

In states and communities across the country, people of diverse religious and secular beliefs are coming together to fight for freedom of conscience for all. Many are doing it under the banner of Interfaith Alliance, organizing local affiliates to address pressing challenges to our constitutional liberties and pluralistic values. Rev. Dr. Sharon Harris Ewing, Rev. Anne Flynn, and Ross Keys are prime examples of how grassroots activism is shaping the future of religious freedom and equality. Their work leading Interfaith Alliance affiliates across the nation highlights the growing importance of combating discriminatory policies, fighting religious indoctrination, and fostering inclusive communities nationwide.

For this week's episode of The State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio show and podcast, all three join Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to discuss the critical role interfaith collaboration plays in addressing societal challenges. Together, they explore how political activism, local faith leaders, and grassroots movements shape communities in Southwest Florida, Pennsylvania, and North Dakota, all within the broader context of America’s evolving cultural and spiritual landscape. Together, they represent the strength and diversity of interfaith efforts around the country.

 "Understand the ramifications of the issues that you're facing. Understand that your vote counts. And, yes, you can be frustrated. And, yes, you don't have to like everybody or everything that someone else does, but you have to be informed, make a decision, and commit.”

- Rev. Anne Flynn, a deacon in the Episcopal Church and a leader of Interfaith Alliance of Pennsylvania.

“When folks come together, work together, communicate, and share messaging, you can have success even in places where it can get pretty dark at times.”

- Ross Keys, a seasoned activist and organizer who currently leads Interfaith Alliance of North Dakota.

“In this very conservative environment where I live, there is so much enthusiasm for our work. Our numbers keep growing. This is a huge beacon of hope among all the Christian nationalist and other views that are out there–that people are responding to our message.”

- Rev. Dr. Sharon Harris Ewing, board president of Interfaith Alliance of Southwest Florida. She brings her rich experience as both an ordained minister and a longtime educator.

As American society evolves, Dr. Robert P. Jones explores how rigid, traditional norms are losing their influence, leading to a growing need for greater religious and racial diversity and inclusion. His latest book, The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy and the Path to a Shared American Future, analyzes the historical and ongoing legacy of White supremacy, offering a comprehensive exploration of how colonialism, genocide, and racial violence are deeply woven into the fabric of America's history.

For this week's episode of The State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio show and podcast, Robby joins host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to explore how political and religious landscapes are continuously altered by the growing cultural diversity within American society, driven by the rise of interfaith and interracial families, and the many who identify as religiously unaffiliated.

“We had Barack Obama and Kamala Harris, who are mixed-race candidates. And that's also a reality in most of America. And I think this kind of blending of racial and religious identities…this is the way that most Americans are actually navigating their lives. It doesn't look like the hierarchical, patriarchal, homogeneous, white picket fence… neighborhood where all the people look like them, and all the people their kids go to school with look like them. That's not the reality that most Americans are living with today, whatever mythology is out there. So I think that we're just seeing it come in more public, symbolic ways that we're seeing at the top of these tickets, even on the Republican side.”

- Dr. Robert P. Jones, president and founder of the Public Religion Research Institute and a prominent author whose recent book, The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy and the Path to a Shared American Future, became a New York Times bestseller and has just been released in paperback with a new and compelling afterword. His previous works include White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity, which won a 2021 American Book Award, and The End of White Christian America, which was honored with the 2019 Grawemeyer Award in Religion. Robby's writing is regularly found in The Atlantic, TIME, and Religion News Service and is frequently featured in major media outlets, including CNN, MSNBC, NPR, and The New York Times. Robby also writes a weekly newsletter focused on confronting and healing from the legacy of White supremacy in American Christianity, found at www.whitetoolong.net.