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By Ray Kirstein
This week’s episode of The State of Belief tackles one of the most pressing issues in modern American politics: the influence of Christian Nationalism. Host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush welcomes an insightful lineup of guests to examine how this authoritarian movement has shaped the nation, particularly during the recent 2024 election.
Dr. Matthew D. Taylor, an expert on religious politics and the author of The Violent Take It By Force: The Christian Movement That Is Threatening Our Democracy, shares his analysis. He discusses the movement’s influence in rallying voters and its implications for the future, including the controversial nomination of Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense, whose background stirs debates about ideology and symbolism.
The episode also features Todd Stiefel and Stephen Ujlaki, the creative minds behind the documentary Bad Faith: Christian Nationalism’s Unholy War on Democracy. They dive into the film’s exploration of the historical roots of Christian Nationalism and its unsettling trajectory, underscoring the danger it poses to democratic values.
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Hear this week’s episode below:
Ray Kirstein is the Producer of the State of Belief podcast.