Best of: Were we founded as a ‘Christian nation’?
Respecting Religion
What do people mean when they say we were founded as a “Christian nation”? Is that true? Revisit this 2019 conversation on the political and religious history behind that idea. BJC Executive Director Amanda Tyler talks with Dr. Steven Green, author of Inventing a Christian America: The Myth of the Religious Founding, about the political history of this concept, including how, when and why it originated. They also discuss misguided claims that the Ten Commandments are the basis of our legal system. On the second half of the episode, we hear from church historian Bill Leonard on...
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Best of: ‘How to End Christian Nationalism’
Respecting Religion
Is the separation of church and state in the Constitution? How does Christian nationalism overlap with white supremacy? Why do we keep seeing so many proposals to post the Ten Commandments? In this wide-ranging conversation from 2024, Amanda Tyler talks about these issues and more as she discusses her book “How to End Christian Nationalism” with the Rev. Dr. Bill Leonard. “How to End Christian Nationalism” is a vital companion for countering the dangerous ideology, and it is available from your favorite local bookseller. This conversation was recorded Oct. 29, 2024, and was...
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Best of: Inside the ReAwaken America tour
Respecting Religion
Christian nationalism was on full display at the ReAwaken America tour, which was a series of conferences that fused Christian language and symbols with conspiracy theories and election denials. Amanda went inside a Miami event in 2023, and she shared her experiences in this podcast – from assembly-line baptisms to the reaction of the crowd as speakers moved seamlessly from religious worship songs to calls for political violence. This episode originally aired May 18, 2023, and it is our most downloaded show of all time. SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 01:18): The Christian...
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Best of: A decision that continues to create misguided claims: Kennedy v. Bremerton
Respecting Religion
A 2022 decision from the Supreme Court continues to sow confusion and misguided claims four years later. Today, we’re revisiting our conversation on the Kennedy v. Bremerton decision, where the Court ruled for a public school official and abandoned long-standing Establishment Clause protections in ways that harm the religious freedom rights of students. Hear Amanda and Holly react right after this decision and ponder just what, exactly, would actually constitute “coercion” for this Court. The Supreme Court did not overrule the previous school prayer cases with the decision, but it did...
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Best of: Rob Reiner and ‘God and Country’ director Dan Partland on Christian nationalism
Respecting Religion
What is the cost of speaking out against Christian nationalism? In 2024, Rob Reiner came on the podcast to talk about a film he produced, called “God & Country.” In this episode from our archives, Amanda Tyler talks with Reiner and Dan Partland, the director of the film. “God & Country” discusses the dangers of Christian nationalism to the country, to the faith, and to pluralism. This program originally aired January 18, 2024 SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 02:22): Rob Reiner and Dan Partland on Christian nationalism Released in February 2024, “God & Country” is...
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Best of: But … is it Christian nationalism?
Respecting Religion
Is an American flag in a church sanctuary an example of Christian nationalism? What about faith-based advocacy? Helping voters get to the polls? Saying the Constitution is “divinely inspired”? In this conversation from 2024, Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman answer some common questions they hear about Christian nationalism, and they talk about the questions we all should be asking ourselves when evaluating the political ideology. This program originally aired March 21, 2024 SHOW NOTES: Segment 1 (starting at 01:25): What does it mean to determine the level of Christian nationalism? This...
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Best of: Dr. Walter Brueggemann on Christian nationalism
Respecting Religion
SHOW NOTES: Segment one (02:45): Conversation with Dr. Walter Brueggemann This , as episode 4 in our 10-part BJC Podcast series on the dangers of Christian nationalism. One of the most influential Bible interpreters of our time, Dr. Walter Brueggemann was the author of more than 100 books, including The Prophetic Imagination. He passed away June 5, 2025. to learn more about his work and his legacy. This was the fourth episode in our 10-part series on Christian nationalism in 2019. Other episodes are available or on the feed called “BJC Podcast” on , , and more. Amanda mentioned the...
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Best of: The myth of American ‘chosenness’ with Dr. Catherine Brekus
Respecting Religion
How does the myth of America being a “chosen” nation lead to the religious nationalism we see today? In a presentation first aired in 2023, Harvard Divinity School’s Dr. Catherine Brekus talks about how the myth is a complicated mixture of arrogance, exploitation, reform, racism and violence. She looks at the roots of this myth, how it has played out through our country’s history, and how the recent surge of white Christian nationalism reflects a deep uneasiness about the loss of Christian privilege in this country. This program originally aired on June 1, 2023, in season 4 of...
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Best of: A report, a prayer vigil, and a somber anniversary: Remembering the January 6 attack
Respecting Religion
As Amanda’s sabbatical begins, we are revisiting previous episodes of the podcast. This week marked the 5th anniversary of the January 6 attack on the Capitol. In today’s episode of Respecting Religion, hear a conversation two years after the attack. Amanda and Holly share their reactions to the report released by the January 6 Select Committee at the end of 2022, including the lack of any mention of Christian nationalism and why that matters. They also discuss the importance of Christian leaders providing an alternative witness in 2023 to the Christian nationalism exhibited during the...
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S7, Ep. 08: ‘A vibrant and free civil society is core to religious liberty in our country’
Respecting Religion
In our last show of 2025, Amanda and Holly talk about some of the news from the past week – including an expansion of the travel ban, devastating attacks around the world, and an appearance by Amanda before Congress to talk about the importance of protecting civil society. Plus, get an update on the podcast’s plans for spring 2026 as Amanda embarks on her first sabbatical. SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 00:33): Amanda’s most recent appearance before Congress You can hear Amanda’s opening testimony at 06:37 in this podcast. You can watch it online . Amanda and Holly...
info_outlineAfrican Americans’ knowledge traditions, religious practices, political cultures and ideas are rich resources that facilitate new concepts of religious freedom. On this episode of Respecting Religion, Dr. Sabrina E. Dent and Dr. Corey D. B. Walker join Amanda and Holly to discuss the book they co-edited, African Americans and Religious Freedom: New Perspectives for Congregations and Communities. It’s a collection of essays that provide novel interpretations of religious freedom informed by African American experiences, which are essential for a full public discourse about the topic. First released in the days before the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, the second edition includes a new preface addressing the need for religious freedom to undergo a deep interrogation in our perilous times.
SHOW NOTES
Segment 1 (starting at 00:38): Introducing the book and the conversations it inspires
Dr. Sabrina E. Dent is the director of the BJC Center for Faith, Justice and Reconciliation. Learn more about her on BJC’s website.
Dr. Corey D. B. Walker is the dean of the Wake Forest University School of Divinity, Wake Forest Professor of the Humanities, and director of the Program in African American Studies. Learn more about him on the Wake Forest University School of Divinity website.
The second edition of African Americans and Religious Freedom: New Perspectives for Congregations and Communities is now available, free to all.
Dr. Dent mentioned the religious freedom course with students from religious graduate schools at historically Black colleges and universities that began many of these conversations. Read about that in this 2019 article by Adelle Banks for Religion News Service: Black seminarians take first-time religious freedom course
Learn more and read the text of David Walker’s Appeal to the Coloured Citizens of the World on the website of the National Constitution Center.
The Columbia Law School Law, Rights & Religion Project released the Black Religious Liberty Curriculum in 2024. You can see the 12-part video series and access the curriculum on their website.
Segment 2 (starting at 18:51): Pushback and barriers to expanding the narrative
You can access a PDF or read a flip-through edition of the book African Americans and Religious Freedom. Visit our website for more details.
Segment 3 (starting 31:01): The launch event on February 28
You can watch a recording of the Feb. 28 event celebrating the re-release of the book on YouTube.
The Rev. William Lamar IV talked with NPR about the ruling that gave his church the copyright of the Proud Boys. You can listen to his conversation here.
Learn more about the BJC Center for Faith, Justice and Reconciliation on our website at BJConline.org/center
Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC’s generous donors. Your gift to BJC is tax-deductible, and you can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.