Protestants & Politics

Who are the nones and why are they growing? This group includes atheists, agnostics, and lots of those who may or may not be personally religious but don't affiliate with a particular religious group. As they grow in numbers, they're becoming an increasingly important part of the American political landscape.    My guest is Ryan Burge, Assistant Professor of political science at Eastern Illinios University. An expert in religion and political behavior, Professor Burge has over 20 articles published in peer reviewed academic journals. We spoke about his new book, The Nones: Where They Came From, Who They Are, and Where They Are Going.   The Nones: https://www.fortresspress.com/store/product/9781506465852/The-Nones    Ryan Burge website: http://ryanburge.net/   Music: https://www.purple-planet.com 

What's going on with Southern Baptists these days? The most recent controversy is over a task force report on the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission and its president, Russell Moore, an outspoken critic of alliances between evangelicals and former President Donald Trump.  Matthew Hawkins was Policy Director for the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission under Russell Moore and Moore's predecessor, Richard Land. He is now a Ph.D. student at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and cohosts a podcast called Crossing Faiths: A Christian & a Muslim Talk Religion & Politics.    ERLC Study Task Force Report: https://3c9inr29cnbxopwsm4bdy491-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Final-Report-of-the-ERLC-Study-Task-Force.pdf    Matthew Hawkins website: https://matthewthawkins.com/    Crossing Faiths podcast: https://www.crossingfaiths.com/    Music: https://www.purple-planet.com 

On opposition to DACA, family separation, an almost complete shutdown of the refugee program, and a host of other immigration policies, many evangelical groups and leaders either opposed those policies or worked to alleviate the unjust effects of those policies. With the change in the presidency and Senate control, these evangelicals are hoping for less cruel, more just immigration policies and legislation.   Matthew Soerens is U.S. Director of Church Mobilization at World Relief, a global humanitarian organization that aids refugees, and National Coordinator of the Evangelical Immigration Table, a coalition of evangelical groups that advocates for bipartisan and biblically based solutions to immigration reform.   Welcoming the Stranger: https://worldrelief.org/welcoming-the-stranger/    Evangelical Immigration Table: https://evangelicalimmigrationtable.com/    Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

Critical Race Theory — how did these three words become so politically divisive? My guest is author, speaker and activist Lisa Sharon Harper, president and founder of Freedom Road.  Harper tweet thread: https://twitter.com/lisasharper/status/1335689358859509761 Harper website: https://lisasharonharper.com/ Freedom Road: https://freedomroad.us/   Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

What is Christian Nationalism? How does it influence voting? My guest is Andrew L. Whitehead, Associate Professor of Sociology and Director of ARDA, the Association of Religion Data Archives, at the Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture at Indiana University.   Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States: https://www.amazon.com/Taking-America-Back-God-Nationalism/dp/0190057882 Protestants & Politics Newsletter: https://protestantpolitics.substack.com/   Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

How should Christians respond to the misogynist in the White House? Why do some Christians defend President Donald Trump's objectification of women? My guest is best-selling author and women's ministry leader Vicki Courtney.   Vicki Courtney's website: https://vickicourtney.com/ Convention on Founding Principles speech: https://youtu.be/KzMijDLxbjQ The Spiritual Danger of Donald Trump: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1725271788 Newsletter: https://www.nappnazworth.com/newsletter   Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

Does pro-slavery theology still influence evangelicals today? My guest to talk about this issue is preacher, speaker and writer Diana Butler Bass. The tweet thread that inspired this episode. Bass' website: dianabutlerbass.com Bass' newsletter: dianabutlerbass.substack.com   My Newsletter: nappnazworth.com/newsletter   Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

Who is former Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr's interim replacement Jerry Prevo? And what does he have to do with evangelicals and oil? My guest is KL Marshall to talk about her new book, Faith and Oil: How the Alaska Pipeline Shaped America's Religious Right.    Newsletter: https://www.nappnazworth.com/newsletter   Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

Professor Kristin Kobes Du Mez talks about her book Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation.    For more information about Kristin Du Mez, go to her website, KristinDuMez.com.   Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

Carmen LaBerge gives me some tips on interviewing guests and we talk about future topics for the podcast.    For more info, go to ReconnectWithCarmen.com.   Music: https://www.purple-planet.com