S6, Ep. 16: What’s going on with the Supreme Court, a new travel ban, and the military in L.A.?
Release Date: 06/12/2025
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_outlineWith decisions from the Supreme Court, a new travel ban, and a federally militarized presence in Los Angeles, there are many activities in our world that deserve attention. Amanda and Holly discuss several current events in this episode, including the revival of one of the ugliest policies of the first Trump administration. Plus, they review the unanimous decision in a Supreme Court case about religious exemptions to employment law and discuss the Court’s decision not to hear a case involving the protection of sacred land.
SHOW NOTES
Segment 1 (starting at 00:37): Recent and still-developing news
Holly and Amanda discussed changes in policy about sensitive locations in S6, Episode 10.
We discussed the case of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia in a special episode released April 21 with Melissa Rogers.
We discussed the harmful school voucher provision in the “big beautiful bill” during their live episode, released May 27. Hear the episode at this link or in your podcast feed, or watch it on YouTube.
Join BJC for a webinar on the problems with the budget reconciliation bill on Monday, June 16, at 2:30 p.m. Click here to register for the event, which is hosted by BJC, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, and Bread for the World.
Read more about the fallout from Rep. Mary Miller referring to a Sikh prayer leader as a “Muslim” and erroneously claiming our country was founded as a “Christian nation” in this article by Andrew Solender for Axios: Rep. Mary Miller faces bipartisan fury over “ignorant” Sikh comment
In memory of Dr. Walter Brueggemann, listen to his 2019 conversation with Amanda on our podcast series exploring the dangers of Christian nationalism: Theological view of Christian nationalism with Walter Brueggemann
Segment 2 (starting at 13:17): The new travel ban
After President Trump issued his new travel ban on June 4, Amanda released a statement you can read on BJC’s website: BJC condemns new travel ban as ‘state-sanctioned discrimination’
Visit BJC’s website to read more about the case of Trump v. Hawaii and the history of the travel ban.
Support the NO BAN Act: Click here to use BJC’s form to contact your members of Congress about the legislation.
Segment 3 (starting 20:09): The decision in Catholic Charities Bureau v. Wisconsin Labor & Industry Review Commission
Supreme Court decisions we are waiting for include:
- Mahmoud v. Taylor (Hear a discussion of oral arguments in S6, Ep. 15)
- U.S. v. Skrmetti (Hear a discussion of oral arguments in S6, Ep. 06)
The case Apache Stronghold v. U.S. involves the sacred land of Chí’chil Biłdagoteel — loosely translated in English as “Oak Flat.” Read more about the denial of cert on BJC’s website: U.S. Supreme Court declines Oak Flat petition, allows for federal transfer of sacred land to mining company. Amanda and Holly talked about this issue on a podcast back in 2022: S3, Ep. 17: Religious freedom and our Indigenous neighbors: Save Oak Flat.
Amanda and Holly talked about the oral arguments in Catholic Charities Bureau v. Wisconsin in Ep. 12: Back to SCOTUS: Regular business in disturbing times
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