Respecting Religion

What's at stake for faith freedom for all in our world today? Join the conversation on religion and the law, including the most significant cases concerning religion and religious liberty at the U.S. Supreme Court and the continuing impact of Christian nationalism. As lawyers and people of faith, BJC Executive Director Amanda Tyler and General Counsel Holly Hollman think these topics deserve respectful conversation -- something that we don’t always hear in the public square or our social media feeds.

S6, Ep. 04: Election Day 2024: What happened and where do we go from here 11/21/2024

S6, Ep. 04: Election Day 2024: What happened and where do we go from here Now that Election Day 2024 is in the rearview mirror, what did we learn? Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman look at the results and what they might mean for our country and the protection of faith freedom for all. They discuss where we saw religion used on the campaign trail, what we might expect to see in the next four years under a second Trump administration, and ways all of us can make a significant difference in local communities. SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 00:37): Did Americans vote for authoritarianism when they voted for Trump? Holly mentioned being in Georgia after the elections for BJC’s Walter B. and Kay W. Shurden Lectures on Religious Liberty and Separation of Church and State. You can learn more about the presentations from Dr. John Compton during that event, focused on the politics of secularization, on our website at . Amanda mentioned her current book tour for How to End Christian Nationalism. Her last stop in 2024 will be in Richmond, Va., this weekend, but she will be back on the road in 2025. Visit for details and ways to order the book. Segment 2 (starting at 13:42): Where did we see religion and Christian nationalism in the closing days of the campaign and its aftermath? to watch remarks from President-elect Donald Trump on election night, and to watch Vice President Kamala Harris’ concession speech on election night, both via C-SPAN. For more on the January 6 attack on the Capitol, read the report itiled “,” created by BJC and the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Amanda sent an email to the BJC community after the election. You can read it on Baptist News Global: If you want to receive emails from BJC, you can sign up on our website: Amanda mentioned being in Austin, Texas, on Monday to testify against the troubling Bible-infused curriculum proposed for Texas public schools. For the latest, read this article by Troy Closson for The New York Times: . Amanada and Holly discussed the issues with this curriculum in episode 2 of season 6: . We want to hear from you! If you want to connect us with an organization doing good work in your community, contact , BJC’s community partnership manager, at . An organization does not need to be devoted to countering Christian nationalism, even if that might be the outcome of the work they are doing. If you are in North Texas and want to get involved in the North Texas Organizing Project, contact at . Segment 3 (starting 32:51): Good news about school voucher initiatives Don Byrd wrote an article for BJC’s website about the rejection of school vouchers in Kentucky, Nebraska, and Colorado: For more discussion on the problems with school vouchers, listen to and of season 5. Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC’s generous donors. You can support these conversations . /episode/index/show/respectingreligion/id/34078416

S6, Ep. 03: On the road with ‘How to End Christian Nationalism’ 11/07/2024

S6, Ep. 02: Oklahoma and Texas try to force Bible teaching in public schools 10/31/2024

S6, Ep. 02: Oklahoma and Texas try to force Bible teaching in public schools We continue to see bold attempts by people who espouse Christian nationalism to influence our youngest population, and news this summer out of Oklahoma and Texas show two troubling examples. In this episode, Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman talk about the edict from Ryan Walters in Oklahoma to mandate having the Bible in public schools – alongside our nation’s founding documents – and the new proposed curriculum in Texas that strangely uses religious beliefs as fact in lessons for students as young as kindergarten. Segment 1 (starting at 00:37): How does Christian nationalism impact public schools? BJC has several resources for issues at the intersection of religion in public schools. , including from BJC and classic resources that include and . Learn more about BJC’s Christians Against Christian Nationalism campaign at . Holly and Amanda discussed Christian nationalism in the public schools in . Segment 2 (starting at 05:39): Oklahoma created a Bible mandate … and you’ll never guess which Bible perfectly fit the requirements! (actually, you probably will guess immediately) Read the original edict from Ryan Walters , and read the guidance released later . Amanda and Holly read from this article by Jennifer Palmer, Paul Monies and Heather Warlickand for The Oklahoman: In October of this year, Oklahoma amended its requirement for Bibles in classrooms to no longer require the Bible to include U.S. historical documents. Read more in this article by Ken Miller for the Associated Press: Segment 3 (starting 21:32): Troubling Texas curriculum Amanda mentioned this article by By Linda Jacobson for The 74 which broke the story: Read more about the September day of action in Texas in this article from BJC’s Report from the Capital magazine: Amanda shares more about her experience with the curriculum in her column for the magazine: If you live in Texas, there is still time to contact your State Board of Education member about this troubling curriculum before their November vote. to find out who represents you, and scroll to the bottom of for tips on crafting your email. Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC’s generous donors. You can support these conversations . /episode/index/show/respectingreligion/id/33705547

S6, Ep. 01: The Supreme Court is back … and so are we 10/17/2024

S6, Ep. 01: The Supreme Court is back … and so are we To kick off season 6 of Respecting Religion, Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman take stock of the Supreme Court. There is no religion case on the docket – yet – for this term, but there are several cases that do impact religion. They review the most important things we saw out of last year’s term – from the “Trump docket” to the abortion cases – and they talk about how the Rahimi decision about a gun regulation illustrates the trouble with the Court’s new “history and tradition” test. Plus, this is the last episode before the release of Amanda’s book How to End Christian Nationalism, and they preview the upcoming book tour and how you can participate. Segment 1 (starting at 00:37): Back together after a tumultuous summer Amanda talked with Ava Kofman for her feature article in the New York Times Magazine: Amanda mentioned an article by Russell Gold for Texas Monthly, titled Segment 2 (starting at 08:02): The Supreme Court is back, but why are people still talking about the past term? Amanda and Holly mentioned the upcoming case of U.S. v. Skrmetti, which will examine gender-affirming care. They talked about previous cases involving the definition of “sex” in Episode 17 of season 1, titled “” Amanda and Holly discussed the intersection of religion and the law in the two abortion cases in Episode 28 of season 5, titled “.” Read Holly’s column in BJC’s fall magazine, which discusses the impact of the Rahimi case: Amanda and Holly discussed the Supreme Court’s obsession with history in the context of legislative prayer in the Greece v. Galloway decision in Episode 3 of season 5, titled “” Segment 3 (starting 37:37): Come see Amanda in a city near you! How to End Christian Nationalism is the new book by Amanda Tyler. It releases on October 22, and you can pre-order it now , your , or anywhere you buy books. Visit for more information on the book and on the book tour, which includes stops in California, Minnesota, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Virginia, Texas, and more. Learn more about BJC’s Christians Against Christian Nationalism campaign at . Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC’s generous donors. You can support these conversations . /episode/index/show/respectingreligion/id/33499357

S5, Ep. 30: Season finale 05/23/2024

S5, Ep. 30: Season finale As the weather heats up, so does the pace of Supreme Court decisions. On our season 5 finale of Respecting Religion, Amanda and Holly recap some recent decisions and discuss what we can expect in the next month. Religion is still at play in several cases, even if religious legal statutes aren’t the questions being considered. Plus, they look at some recent statements from Supreme Court justices during extracurricular activities and share what those reveal about the justices themselves and the work at the Court, including a rare – and surprising – statement one justice gave directly to the media. SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 00:51): Recent Supreme Court actions Amanda and Holly discussed the two Supreme Court cases dealing with abortion rights in episode 28 of this season: to read the Washington Post article tracking big cases this Supreme Court term. The case upholding the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is called Consumer Financial Protection Bureau v. Community Financial Services Association of America, Limited. Amanda and Holly mentioned two articles about it: Amy Howe’s piece for SCOTUSblog: Steve Vladeck’s piece for One First: The Louisiana voting map decision comes from the consolidated cases of Robinson v. Callais and Landry v. Callais. Read Amy Howe’s coverage for SCOTUSblog: Read Steve Vladeck’s piece for One First: Segment 2 (starting at 09:07): Justices on the stump: Shocking statements and unlikely pairings Amanda and Holly mentioned recent reporting on appearances by justices of the Supreme Court. The articles they referred to are: by Adam Liptak for The New York Times by Abbie VanSickle for The New York Times by Adam Liptak for The New York Times by Ann E. Marimow for The Washington Post According to reports discussed in this show, Justice Kavanaugh mentioned that the school prayer cases are settled law. School District of Abington Township v. Schempp (1963) and Engel v. Vitale (1962) are commonly called the “school prayer cases,” with the decisions in those cases finding government-sponsored religious exercises unconstitutional in public schools, providing protection for the religious liberty rights of all students. Learn more piece by Holly Hollman. Amanda and Holly discussed by Jodi Kantor that the American flag outside of Justice Samuel Alito’s home was flown upside down in the days before the inauguration of President Joe Biden. After we recorded this episode, new reporting revealed Justice Alito’s summer house displayed the “Appeal to Heaven” flag in 2023. Read more in this New York Times story by Jodi Kantor, Aric Toler, and Julie Tate: To watch the iCivics event featuring Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Justice Amy Coney Barrett, . Segment 3 (starting 26:58): A reading recommendation Amanda’s book is called How to End Christian Nationalism, and it will be released October 22 from Broadleaf Books. to pre-order the book. Learn more about the work of the Christians Against Christian Nationalism campaign by . Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC’s generous donors. You can support these conversations . /episode/index/show/respectingreligion/id/31433117

S5, Ep. 29: LGBTQ rights and religious freedom 05/16/2024

S5, Ep. 29: LGBTQ rights and religious freedom LGBTQ rights and religious freedom are often pitted against one another, but they are not mutually exclusive. This episode of Respecting Religion looks at the recent decision by the United Methodist Church to repeal its ban on LGBTQ clergy and same-sex weddings as well as the broader conversation. Holly Hollman is joined by guest co-host Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons, BJC Communications Director. He shares some of his personal story, then he and Holly reflect on work bridging differences between LGBTQ rights advocacy and religious groups that oppose LGBTQ protections. They highlight the Respect for Marriage Act as one hallmark of bipartisan consensus building that achieves civil rights protections and safeguards religious liberty. SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 1:23): The changing landscape of LGBTQ rights and religious freedom Learn more about Guthrie Graves-Fitzimmons . Find more resources on religious liberty and the LGBTQ community . For in-depth information about public opinion on LGBTQ rights among different religious groups, visit the Public Religion Research Institute’s website . Segment 2 (starting at 5:20): The United Methodist Church lifts ban on LGBTQ clergy Read coverage from Ruth Graham of The New York Times: : “Why United Methodists’ historic vote means so much to gay Christians like me.” Segment 3 (starting 16:33): Bridging differences Holly and Guthrie discussed the 2020 Brookings Institution report by E.J. Dionne Jr. and Melissa Rogers. Respecting Religion has devoted several episodes to the topics discussed in this episode. Listen to for more on the Respect for Marriage Act, for more on 303 Creative v. Elenis, and for more on Bostock v. Clayton County. Read more about BJC’s reaction to the Obergefell decision in 2015 in this column from Holly Hollman: . You can also access a with frequently asked questions about the decision. Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC’s generous donors. You can support these conversations . /episode/index/show/respectingreligion/id/31339647

S5, Ep. 28: Conscience protections in SCOTUS abortion cases 05/09/2024

S5, Ep. 28: Conscience protections in SCOTUS abortion cases How do religion and religious freedom arguments interact with cases about abortion access? The legal landscape here is beyond complex, and in this episode, Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman look at how conscience protections were discussed in two recent Supreme Court cases about abortion. There is a deepening religion and policy conversation in our country, and they discuss how that conversation is reflected in these oral arguments – from Church Amendments to the doctrine of preemption. SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 00:38): U.S. Food and Drug Administration v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine Amanda and Holly discussed state laws after the Dobbs decision two weeks ago – in episode 26 of season 5: Learn more about the Arizona legislature’s repeal of the 1864 law in this article by Stacey Barchenger and Ray Stern in the Arizona Republic: Learn more about the 6-week ban on abortions in Florida in this article by Stephanie Colombini for NPR: We played a series of clips from the oral arguments in U.S. Food and Drug Administration v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, which the Supreme Court heard on March 26, 2024. You can hear the audio . The clips we played featured: Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar (from 00:00:48 into the arguments) Justice Brett Kavanaugh and Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar (from 00:28:31 into the arguments) Justice Amy Coney Barrett and Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar (from 00:29:11 into the argument) Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and Attorney Erin Hawley (from 01:16:40 into the argument) Read an overview of conscience protections from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Segment 2 (starting at 19:26): Moyle v. United States Moyle v. United States is a consolidated case with Idaho v. United States. “EMTALA” stands for “Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act.” Read what the American Medical Association says about the case and EMTALA . We played a series of clips from the oral arguments in Moyle v. United States, which the Supreme Court heard on April 24, 2024. You can hear the audio . The clips we played featured: Justice Elena Kagan and Attorney Joshua Turner (from 00:06:09 into the argument) Attorney Joshua Turner and Justice Elena Kagan (from 00:08:02 into the argument) Justice Amy Coney Barrett and Attorney Joshua Turner (from 00:23:54 into the argument) Justice Amy Coney Barrett and Attorney Joshua Turner (from 00:48:43 into the argument) Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC’s generous donors. You can support these conversations . /episode/index/show/respectingreligion/id/31213037

S5, Ep. 27: 100 episodes and 100,000 downloads 05/02/2024

S5, Ep. 26: Archaic laws and new theories emerge from state abortion debates 04/25/2024

S5, Ep. 25: The crisis in teaching constitutional law 04/18/2024

S5, Ep. 24: Race, religion and citizenship 04/11/2024

S5, Ep. 24: Race, religion and citizenship Hear excerpts from a special event we organized at the University of Southern California on race, religion and citizenship in this episode of Respecting Religion. The Rev. Dr. Joseph Evans and the Rev. Dr. Christopher The brought their unique experiences and expertise to a conversation on religious and racial identity, moderated by the Rev. Dr. Najuma Smith-Pollard. Hear their insights about a theology of democracy, their experiences with racism, how to identify authoritarianism, and what lessons Scripture has for our current climate. Segment 1 (starting at 00:35): The event on race, religion and citizenship The and the were the speakers for this year’s edition of our annual Walter B. and Kay W. Shurden Lectures, titled “Whose country is it anyway?” held April 2 on the campus of the University of Southern California. Their conversation was moderated by the Rev. . Click on each name to read more about them and their impressive credentials. Listen to the entire program . The event was in partnership with USC’s Office of Religious & Spiritual Life, the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture, and Berkeley School of Theology. Learn more about BJC’s annual series at. Segment 2 (starting at 1:45): A theology of democracy, experiences of racism, and a new understanding of The New Colossus Rev. Dr. The mentioned “warmth of other suns,” giving credit to how Isabel Wilkerson uses the phrase. She is the author of the book . Rev. Dr. The mentioned “The New Colossus,” the poem by Emma Lazarus that is inscribed on a plaque in the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. You can read it . Segment 3 (starting at 12:29): Authoritarianism and lessons from Scripture Rev. Dr. Evans mentioned Walter Wink, a theologian who discussed how power structures resist our need for transformation. Learn more about him in . Segment 4 (starting at 18:27): Politics and access to power Dr. Catherine Brekus delivered the 2023 Walter B. and Kay W. Shurden Lecture, which focused on the myth of American “chosenness.” Hear it in of season 4, and listen to the panel that followed it on . Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC’s generous donors. You can support these conversations . /episode/index/show/respectingreligion/id/30786053

S5, Ep. 23: The Bible doesn’t need Trump’s endorsement 04/04/2024

S5, Ep. 22: Spring break and religious holidays 03/28/2024

S5, Ep. 21: But … is it Christian nationalism? 03/21/2024

S5, Ep. 20: Attending the State of the Union 03/14/2024

S5, Ep. 19: Still smarting over Obergefell, Justice Alito calls for a new case 03/07/2024

S5, Ep. 18: A chief justice or chief theologian for Alabama? 02/29/2024

S5, Ep. 17: The presidency and Christian nationalism 02/22/2024

S5, Ep. 17: The presidency and Christian nationalism Presidents have made broad appeals to our country without dividing along religious belief throughout American history. Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman look at presidential leadership and talk about how our country’s founding documents set up our system of government that does not create a “Christian nation” in any sort of legal sense – rather, it ensures freedom of religion and freedom from a state establishment of religion. They also talk about why people like to claim we are a “Christian nation” and the reasons that is a problematic statement. Segment 1 (starting at 00:38): Religious freedom at the founding Learn more about the celebration of the holiday known as Washington’s Birthday . Amanda and Holly mentioned this article by Peter Smith for the Associated Press: . He also wrote . Amanda mentioned a book she is writing that will come out later this year, which is titled . Watch Holly’s video answering the question “Is America a Christian nation?” . The Rev. Jennifer Hawks wrote this piece about Article VI for Baptist News Global: Amanda spoke with historian Steven Green in 2019 for this episode of our podcast series on the dangers of Christian nationalism: Michael Meyerson is the author of . You can read more about his 2014 lectures – given for the Walter B. and Kay W. Shurden Lectures on Religious Liberty and the Separation of Church and State – . The BJC Fellows Program is open to all young professionals interested in deepening their historical, legal and theological understanding of religious liberty. The deadline to apply for the 2024 class is March 1 – visit to learn more and apply. Segment 2 (starting at 24:21): Words from previous presidents to visit BJC’s website page with a few quotes from Founders, presidents, and Baptists about the relationship between church and state. The quotes include links or citations to the original source material. Segment 3 (starting at 33:20): What now? Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC’s generous donors. You can support these conversations . /episode/index/show/respectingreligion/id/30066918

S5, Ep. 16: The trouble with *religious* charter schools 02/15/2024

S5, Ep. 15: Black America’s changing religious landscape 02/08/2024

S5, Ep. 15: Black America’s changing religious landscape Much is said and assumed about the religious landscape of Black America, but it’s more diverse than the common narratives. Holly Hollman speaks with Dr. Sabrina E. Dent and Dr. Anthony Pinn about misconceptions and how they brought together Black Church leaders and Black nontheists for key conversations. Tune in for this open and honest conversation about how we can work across racial and religious lines to help all communities thrive. SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 00:35): Misconceptions about the religious landscape of Black America Dr. Anthony Pinn is the Agnes Cullen Arnold Professor of Humanities at Rice University, and he’s also the Founding Director of Rice’s . He is the author/editor of more than 35 books, and he is also director of research for the . Read Dr. Pinn’s full biography . Dr. Sabrina E. Dent is the director of the BJC Center for Faith, Justice and Reconciliation, which is the home of our project on Race and Religious Freedom. Learn more about the Center and . She is the editor and contributing author of the book . Read Dr. Dent’s full biography . “(Dis)belief: Reimagining the Religious Landscape of Black America” was the topic for the 2023 Religious Freedom Mobile Institute. in a piece by Jaziah Masters, Research Fellow for the BJC Center for Faith, Justice and Reconciliation. Segment 2 (starting at 20:13): The connections between religious freedom and racial justice BJC’s “Religious Freedom Has Been White Too Long: Voices of Black Scholars” was BJC’s 2021 lecture featuring Dr. Anthony Pinn, Dr. Nicole Myers Turner, Dr. Teresa L. Smallwood, and Dr. David Goatley. Watch the event and read a recap . James Baldwin wrote in , that the bulk of the country’s white population is beyond hope of moral rehabilitation. “They have been white, if I may so put it, too long.” Segment 3 (starting at 30:23): Key moments from the conference As mentioned, Dr. Dent and Dr. Pinn will be co-editors of a forthcoming book of essays from the participants in the conference. Keep up with BJC and the BJC Center for Faith, Justice and Reconciliation for the latest! Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC’s generous donors. You can support these conversations . /episode/index/show/respectingreligion/id/29858543

S5, Ep. 14: Faith in elections 02/01/2024

S5, Ep. 13: ‘God Made Trump,’ Biden campaigns at a church, and more news from the campaign trail 01/25/2024

S5, Ep. 13: ‘God Made Trump,’ Biden campaigns at a church, and more news from the campaign trail Now that the first votes have been cast in the presidential primaries, Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman look at some of the troubling statements and activities on the campaign trail concerning the role of religion and religious freedom – from both Democrats and Republicans. While candidates are – and should be – free to talk about the ways their faith inspires them, there are some red lines when it comes to politicking in houses of worship with tax-exempt resources or using political power as a way to impose religion on others. SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 00:38): What makes someone “religious” according to voters? Amanda and Holly mentioned the following articles: by By Dan Keating, Adrian Blanco and Clara Ence Morse for The Washington Post By Ruth Graham and Charles Homans for The New York Times by Samuel Benson for Deseret News by Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons for MSNBC.com. It includes a link to the “God Made Trump” campaign video Amanda and Holly discussed the “God Made a Fighter” video for the 2022 gubernatorial campaign of Ron DeSantis in episode 6 of season 4: . Amanda and Holly discussed the ReAwaken America tour in . Read more about Speaker Mike Johnson and Steve Bannon debating “God’s will” in this article by Mark Wingfield for Baptist News Global: Segment 2 (starting at 23:05): A war on Christians? Trump’s promises if he returns to office Holly mentioned this piece by Meryl Kornfield, Colby Itkowitz, Hannah Knowles and Marianne LeVine for The Washington Post: Read more about former President Donald Trump’s promises if he returns to office in this pice by Sarah Posner for MSNBC.com: Segment 3 (starting at 31:47): President Biden at Mother Emanuel Church Amanda mentioned this piece by Ken Macon for MSNBC.com on President Biden’s appearance at Mother Emanuel AME Church: BJC has a one-page explainer of how houses of worship and other religious nonprofits can how to use their prophetic voice in the political process while maintaining their 501(c)(3) tax status. , called “Advocates, not partisans.” Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC’s generous donors. You can support these conversations . /episode/index/show/respectingreligion/id/29646198

S5, Ep. 12: Rob Reiner and ‘God & Country’ director Dan Partland 01/18/2024

S5, Ep. 11: The first celebration of MLK Day 01/11/2024

S5, Ep. 10: The church-state legacy of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor 12/21/2023

S5, Ep. 10: The church-state legacy of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor Justice Sandra Day O’Connor showed a thoughtful approach toward religious liberty issues during her time on the bench, upholding both the Free Exercise Clause and the Establishment Clause. Paying tribute to her soon after her passing on December 1, Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman remember Justice O’Connor’s contributions and talk about her legacy, sharing personal reflections as well as wisdom from Justice O’Connor that holds true today. They also look at her controversial endorsement test and how the Supreme Court has shifted – both the law and in terms of public opinion – after her retirement. Amanda and Holly also take a moment to share what we learned about you, our listeners, from this year’s Spotify Wrapped. SHOW NOTES: Segment 1 (starting at 00:38): The life of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor Here are a few remembrances of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor: by Mark Walsh for SCOTUSblog on SCOTUSblog – The New York Times’ obituary by Linda Greenhouse Justice O’Connor’s of the Supreme Court exhibit on Justice O’Connor’s life Justice O’Connor’s funeral was a private event at the Washington National Cathedral, but it is available for the public to view . Segment 2 (starting at 15:41): Justice O’Connor on church-state cases by Don Byrd for BJC’s website Amanda and Holly mentioned the following cases: (1990) (1984) (2005) was the Ten Commandments case with Justice O’Connor’s famous concurrence. to learn more about the two Ten Commandments cases and decisions from a column Holly wrote in 2005. Segment 3 (starting at 26:49): The ongoing impact of Justice O’Connor Amanda and Holly mentioned that Justice O’Connor was one of the authors of the plurality opinion in (1992) Amanda and Holly discuss this article from Linda Greenhouse for The New York Times: Segment 4 (starting at 35:31): Who are your fellow listeners? See our Spotify Wrapped on Instagram . Our most popular podcast on Spotify in 2023 was Episode 22 of Season 4, discussing the . Our most shared one was Episode 23 of Season 4 on Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC’s generous donors. to support these conversations, and thank you for listening! /episode/index/show/respectingreligion/id/29184388

S5, Ep. 09: The trouble with school vouchers (part two) 12/14/2023

S5, Ep. 09: The trouble with school vouchers (part two) In part two of our conversation on school vouchers, Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman look at who really wants the troublesome programs, and why. They discuss how court decisions are chipping away at constitutional boundaries and dive into the policy debates and political fights over school vouchers that are pitting communities against each other. Plus, they share the origins of some of the language used in these conversations and why Texas – surprisingly – hasn’t passed a voucher program. SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 00:38): Analyzing Zelman and cases chipping away at constitutional boundaries Listen to part one of this conversion in . Holly and Amanda discuss the ruling in the 2002 case of Zelman v. Simmons-Harris. You can read the opinion and dissent . They mention a trilogy of cases that came later – click the case name for more information, including podcast episodes: (2017) (2020) (2022) Segment 2 (starting at 06:04): Policy debates and political fights Holly and Amanda mentioned the following articles: by Andrew Atterbury for Politico by Nancy MacLean for The Washington Post in 2021 by Deven Carlson for Brookings was the headline of the article by Robert T. Garrett on the front page of the Dallas Morning News “ By Brian Lopez and Patrick Svitek for The Texas Tribune Amanda and Holly discussed Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s push for school vouchers in . Learn more about Pastors for Texas Children and their work countering vouchers by . Segment 3: (starting at 24:00): Additional resources on vouchers Here are some additional resources from BJC on school vouchers: by Don Byrd (March 2023) byJennifer Hawks (February 2020) by Jennifer Hawks (March 2015) You can also access additional resources on religion and public schools on our website. Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC’s generous donors. You can support these conversations . /episode/index/show/respectingreligion/id/29078608

S5, Ep. 08: The trouble with school vouchers 12/07/2023

S5, Ep. 07: Barbara Jordan’s 1986 speech on church-state separation resonates today 11/30/2023

S5, Ep. 06: RFRA at 30 11/16/2023

S5, Ep. 06: RFRA at 30 Thirty years ago today, President Bill Clinton signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) into law. It was a monumental event in religious liberty law at the time, and it remains part of an even more complex legal landscape of religious exemptions today. Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman look at the standard set by RFRA and discuss how the law has been used in cases dealing with issues ranging from sacramental drug use to application of health insurance regulations. They discuss the non-controversial applications of RFRA, too, and the search for win-win solutions to complicated situations that arise in a religiously pluralistic society. SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 00:38): The need for and passage of RFRA Learn more about the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) on BJC’s website: Holly wrote a column on RFRA for Word&Way’s “A Public Witness” newsletter, and you can read it here: Read the text of the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act . Amanda mentioned these two “high water mark” cases in the period before 1990: Sherbert v. Verner (1963) and Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972). The 1990 Employment Division v. Smith is the case often known as the “peyote case.” We played audio from Justice Antonin Scalia reading the opinion of the Court from the bench, which you can listen to and read . Watch the signing ceremony for RFRA on November 16, 1993, on the YouTube channel of the William J. Clinton Presidential Library. Holly mentioned available on our website, produced for the 20th anniversary of RFRA. Segment 2 (starting at 14:16): Twists and turns of RFRA over 30 years Amanda mentioned the 1997 case that struck down RFRA as applied to the states: City of Boerne v. Flores. The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 (RLUIPA) has the same standard as RFRA, but it has not been the subject of so many controversies. Holly and Amanda mentioned three other RFRA cases: Gonzales v. O Centro Espírita Beneficente União do Vegetal in 2006 (also known as the “UDV” case), Tanzin v. Tanvir in 2020, and Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores in 2014. Holly wrote about the application of RFRA to corporations in light of the Hobby Lobby decision in 2014: J. Brent Walker, former executive director of BJC at the time, wrote about the Hobby Lobby decision in 2014: Segment 3 (starting at 32:28): The state of RFRA today Here are additional resources from BJC providing more context on the application of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act: Podcasts: (2020) (2020) (2021) Video: of former BJC General Counsel Oliver “Buzz” Thomas discussing the origins of RFRA Resources from BJC on cases: (2016) (2020) Additional reading: By J. Brent Walker, 2015 by Holly Hollman, 2014 by J. Brent Walker, 2014 by Holly Hollman, 2013 by J. Brent Walker, 2013 Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC’s generous donors. You can support these conversations . /episode/index/show/respectingreligion/id/28670973

S5, Ep. 05: An alarming push to put chaplains in public schools 11/09/2023

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