Atheistville with Mike Smithgall

Why the Parties Switched Sides — and How Religion Made It Possible


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The Republican Party once led the fight against slavery. Today, it’s home to America’s Christian nationalist movement. What happened?

In this episode, Mike breaks down how religion shaped every stage of the political party realignment, from Lincoln’s abolitionist Republicans to the rise of the evangelical right. Religion didn’t cause the switch, but it provided the moral vocabulary for both oppression and liberation.

Religion in American Politics: A Short History

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Atheistville with Mike SmithgallBy Atheistville Media