Beyond Common Ground: Embodying Covenantal Pluralism
Religion Unmuted
What can a “hot-headed New Yorker” learn from 10 years in Oman? Justin Meyers of the Al Amana Centre joins Religion Unmuted to discuss the power of shway shway—slowing down—and the strategies he’s learned for moving from tolerance to hospitality. He explains how Oman’s unique religious landscape—characterized by the Ibadi tradition and a culture of deep hospitality—provides a framework for peaceful coexistence and covenantal pluralism. RESOURCES AND LINKS • Learn more about the Al Amana Centre: • Visit the Boniuk Institute for the Study and Advancement of...
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The Religion of Whiteness, Christian Nationalism, and the Cosmic Battle for the Soul of America
Religion Unmuted
Is “whiteness” being worshiped in American churches? Sociologist Michael Emerson joins this episode to break down the “religion of whiteness,” which he defines as a system that sacralizes white Western norms. Emerson examines how this phenomenon fuels Christian nationalism and public policy debates both in Texas and across the globe. The conversation concludes with a hopeful call for faith communities to dismantle these racialized structures by returning to original biblical narratives and fostering inclusive social movements. TOPICS COVERED (03:28) - Understanding the...
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More Than Money: Why Taxes Are a Moral Act
Religion Unmuted
Season 4 launches with the surprising intersection of religion, politics, and the morality of taxation. Sociologist Ruth Braunstein joins this episode to explain how Americans often view their tax dollars not just as financial obligations, but as extensions of their moral selves that implicate them in government actions, similar to religious giving. Drawing from research on groups ranging from the Tea Party to anti-war activists, the conversation explores how money is categorized as "sacred" or "profane" and what this means for living in a diverse society. RESOURCES AND LINKS • Learn...
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Spiritual Care in the Hospital Setting
Religion Unmuted
In this episode of Religion Unmuted, host Todd Ferguson speaks with Stacy Auld, Vice President of Spiritual Care and Values Integration for Houston Methodist, a prominent healthcare system. Stacy offers a fascinating look at the multifaceted role of a hospital chaplain, exploring how her work has evolved from providing bedside care to leading system-wide initiatives. Listen to discover the spiritual side of healing and what brings chaplains hope in a demanding but sacred profession. TOPICS COVERED (03:44) - The expanded definition of spiritual care (08:15) - Spiritual care research...
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Principled Pluralism
Religion Unmuted
Tariq Modood is Professor of Sociology, Politics, and Public Policy at the University of Bristol and recipient of the Boniuk Institute’s 2025 Senior Scholar Award. Modood joined Religion Unmuted to discuss the evolving role of religion in modern, multicultural societies. He argues that demographic shifts have led minority groups to assert religious identities as key grounds for inclusion and respect, moving beyond earlier focuses on just racial or ethnic categories. TOPICS COVERED (02:16) - The changing face of identity (06:26) - The US vs UK paradox (10:36) - The challenge of...
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What’s Trending: Gen Z’s Political and Religious Engagement
Religion Unmuted
In this episode we dive into key trends surrounding Generation Z with Melissa Deckman, CEO of the Public Religion Research Institute, including Gen Z’s high rates of religious non-affiliation—with about 36% identifying with no religion. Deckman discusses how Gen Z women are driving progressive political engagement at higher rates than their male counterparts, propelled by issues like feminism, abortion, and LGBTQ rights. She also challenges the narrative of a “masculine religious revival,” noting that her data shows young men's religious practice has remained static over the last...
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Work: What's Religion Got To Do With It?
Religion Unmuted
For many Americans, a significant portion of waking hours are spent at work. In this episode, host Rachel Schneider is joined by three guests to discuss their book, Religion in a Changing Workplace, which explores how faith affects people while at work. They argue that workplaces should not suppress religion out of fear of conflict, but instead provide "nuanced" and even "active" accommodation to help employees flourish. RESOURCES AND LINKS Learn more about the book Religion in a Changing Workplace: Visit the Boniuk Institute for the Study and Advancement...
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When Diversity Efforts Fail
Religion Unmuted
In Who Pays for Diversity? Why Programs Fail at Racial Equity and What to Do about It, sociologist Oneya Fennell Okuwobi examines how well-meaning diversity efforts in universities, corporations, and churches often fail to achieve true racial equity—and can even harm people of color who sacrifice their well-being and advancement for the greater good. In this episode Okuwobi shares how her research on multiracial churches revealed the limits of “racial reconciliation” and “diversity” when these ideals are not paired with real structural change and support. She and host Rachel...
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Digital Faith and Identity
Religion Unmuted
Digital technologies are profoundly shaping personal identity, community, and spiritual life. Our guest Felicia Song has written about these issues in her book, Restless Devices, and tells us how her research stems from both personal and academic inquiry into modern technology and digital media. She argues that faith communities must seriously engage with technology’s role in spiritual formation and communal life, especially as technologies like AI and social media increasingly shape our habits and expectations.
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Rejecting Neutrality in Interfaith Work
Religion Unmuted
In this episode of Religion Unmuted, John Barton and host Elaine Howard Ecklund discuss the urgency of interreligious peacebuilding and how religion can serve as both a barrier and a bridge in global conflicts. Blending theory, practice, and personal narrative, this episode explores how rooted, yet open, religious identities can contribute to peacebuilding in an increasingly divided world.
info_outlineWhere should we turn for the truth about immigration issues today? Whose stories should we be paying attention to? To discuss the possibility of multiple truths, we invite three of our previous guests to return to Religion Unmuted and reflect on their unique viewpoints as scholar, activist, and journalist working on the ground and at the intersection of immigration, religion, and gender. In addition to discussing the search for truth, they also reflect on the search for hope amidst crisis.