Respecting Religion

In a conversation broadcast live on May 27, Amanda and Holly provide updates on a day of big news in the religious liberty world. They first look at the surprising 4-4 deadlock from the U.S. Supreme Court in the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board, et al. v. Drummond case, which preserves a religious liberty principle by stopping the creation of the nation's first religious charter school. They also discuss the troubling school voucher proposal that was slipped into the budget reconciliation bill that the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed on May 22, offering tips on how you can help stop it as it goes to the Senate. Plus, they give an update on last week's court order stopping President Trump's dismantling of the Department of Education and share why that's good news for public education and religious freedom. Show notes: You can watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/i8S3xcBTs14?feature=shared Holly read the entire two sentence decision in the Drummond case, which is available on the Supreme Court's website. You can also read Holly's statement released the day of the Oklahoma v. Drummond decision on BJC's website.  The discussion of the budget reconciliation bill starts at 8:23. BJC has a website page with the latest on the bill and the actions you can take to stop it in the Senate. Visit BJConline.org/budgetbill2025 for more, including tips on finding a town hall to attend so you can connect with your lawmaker in person. Click here to directly contact your U.S. Senators about the voucher provision, using our simple form. Want to send us a video or an audio recording about why this budget bill would harm your community? Click here! On May 22 – the same day the House passed the budget bill and the Supreme Court released its Drummond decision – U.S. District Judge Myong Joun granted a preliminary injunction stopping the Trump administration from dismantling the Department of Education. The conversation about this begins at 15:04. Want to make sure you don't miss future live episodes of the podcast? Subscribe to our email list to be notified of future shows, and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Bluesky, X, or LinkedIn. 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.

The most consequential church-state case of this Supreme Court term involves whether the government could – or even must – fund religious charter schools. Amanda and Holly examine key moments in the oral arguments from Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board, et al. v. Drummond, playing clips from the courtroom and looking at how the justices may apply recent precedent to shape future law. As BJC noted in the brief we filed, if the government funds religious charter schools, it will drag our government deeper into questions it is unfit to answer on matters of doctrine and church composition. That's not government neutrality toward religion – that's religious preference repackaged as educational choice.   SHOW NOTESSegment 1 (starting at 01:53): Developments since our previous show Amanda and Holly talked about the Catholic Charities/Wisconsin case in episode 12: Back to SCOTUS: Regular business in disturbing times We released our episode with Melissa Rogers to coincide with the first 100 days of the Trump administration. It is episode 13 of season 6: Active citizenship: A conversation with Melissa Rogers about promoting religious freedom and the common good President Donald Trump issued a proclamation on the National Day of Prayer and he signed an executive order on the same day establishing the Religious Liberty Commission.  The American Bar Association has a website page dedicated to National Law Day You can click this link to read President Donald Trump's proclamation on “Loyalty Day and Law Day.” The Respecting Religion podcast won a 2025 “Best in Class” award from the Religion Communicators Council's DeRose-Hinkhouse Awards for our episode titled: “But … is it Christian nationalism?” from season 5.   Segment 2 (starting at 09:51): Oral arguments in Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board, et al. v. Drummond Holly mentioned this article from The Washington Post by Justin Jouvenal and Laura Meckler that provides an overview of the case: How religious public schools went from a long shot to the Supreme Court Holly and Amanda discussed these cases as they worked their way through the courts in episode 16 of season 5: The trouble with *religious* charter schools BJC filed an amicus brief in Oklahoma v. Drummond, along with other Christian organizations as well as Jewish, Muslim and interfaith groups. Click here to read our brief. We played four clips in this segment from the oral arguments in Oklahoma v. Drummond. You can visit the Supreme Court's website for a transcript of the arguments and an audio recording of the arguments.  Clip #1: Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson & Solicitor General John Sauer Clip #2: Chief Justice John Roberts  Clip #3: Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson  Clip #4: Justice Elena Kagan & Michael McGinley Amanda and Holly mentioned three decisions authored by Chief Justice John Roberts that developed a new way of understanding the Free Exercise Clause. They are:  Trinity Lutheran v. Comer (2017) Espinoza v. Montana Dept. of Revenue (2020) Carson v. Makin (2022) Holly's 2017 column on the Trinity Lutheran decision is titled “Decidedly narrow, deeply troubling.”   Segment 3 (starting 37:12): What do we expect? We played one clip from the oral argument in this segment: The opening statement of Greg Garre, who argued the case for the attorney general of Oklahoma. 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.

Melissa Rogers joins the podcast for a conversation about how each of us can take steps to promote religious freedom and the common good in the United States today. After leading the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships in the Obama and Biden administrations, she shares her inside perspective on government, where we are right now, and how people can truly make an impact. Our religious freedom protects everyone's right to bring their faith to the public square, and you won't want to miss this conversation about opportunities we have as Americans to engage government at all levels and express ourselves in the face of injustice.    SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 00:38): The genius of our constitutional protections for religious freedom Melissa Rogers served as the executive director of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships in the Obama and Biden administrations. You can click here to read her extensive biography. She is the author of Faith in American Public Life, published in 2019. She has been on two earlier BJC podcasts: Respecting Religion, S2, Ep. 06: What's next? The Biden administration and religious liberty (2020) The Dangers of Christian Nationalism series, episode 9: Religious freedom, church-state law and Christian nationalism (2019), alongside Rabbi David Saperstein. You also can watch a video of that podcast.  NOTE: On April 21, we released a special podcast episode recorded at the same time as this conversation, focusing on the case of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia and the rule of law. Click here to hear that portion of the conversation.    Segment 2 (starting at 10:09): Our current moment as a country Here are links with more information from this portion of the conversation:  Melissa discussed the work of the federal government to protect places of worship. Protecting Houses of Worship is a helpful resource on this topic from the CISA (the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency of the Department of Homeland Security).  She also mentioned the Biden-Harris administration's work on countering hate. One example is the United We Stand Summit in 2022: Taking Action to Prevent and Address Hate-Fueled Violence and Foster Unity. Click here to read more about the summit, or click here to watch the full summit proceedings. In addition, the Biden-Harris administration released the U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism in 2023, and the U.S. National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia and Anti-Arab Hate in 2024. Learn more about BJC's Christians Against Christian Nationalism campaign at ChristiansAgainstChristianNationalism.org.   Segment 3 (starting 16:52): Practical ways to take action  Here are a few resources and organizations to connect with if you are interested in responding to governmental actions, including by sharing information about their impact on you or your community:  DOGE cuts: Have you been impacted by DOGE cuts? Share your story with the Center for American Progress Article published by The Century Foundation: We Led Federal Agencies. Here Are 10 Ways That President Trump and Elon Musk's Attacks on Federal Workers Will Hurt You by Mark Zuckerman, Julie Su, Lauren McFerran, Gayle Goldin, Rachel West, Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, Ruth Friedman, Carole Johnson, Viviann Anguiano, Kayla Patrick and Loredana Valtierra Information on various lawsuits challenging governmental actions: Melissa mentioned the lawsuit challenging the recission of the “sensitive locations” guidance as a violation of religious freedom protections under the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). Read more about the lawsuit on our website, which is being led by Democracy Forward. Another lawsuit on sensitive locations is also being pursued by a group led by the Institute for Congressional Advocacy and Protection.  You can find more information about this and other pending lawsuits here: Updates from Democracy Forward  Just Security's litigation tracker  Legal actions of CREW (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington) Resource on how to protect democracy: Protecting Democracy's Faithful Fight Toolkit Interested in calling your congressional representatives about issues you care about? Here's how you can find their contact information:  Click here to find your representative in the U.S. House Click here to find your U.S. Senators 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.

On this special bonus episode of the Respecting Religion podcast, we are featuring a conversation that could not wait until our normal release date. In this still-developing story, Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia was mistakenly removed by the U.S. government from Maryland to El Salvador. His case and series of injustices are not just things that move all of us as people of faith, but there are also profound ramifications of this situation on due process, the rule of law and freedom for everyone living in our country. Our next full episode of Respecting Religion will feature a conversation with Melissa Rogers, a lawyer who served in two different presidential administrations leading the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships. While recording that episode, the conversation turned to this ongoing injustice, and we decided that part of our conversation couldn't wait until our normal release date.   SHOW NOTES Articles with additional information:  Timeline: Wrongful deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador (ABC News) Video: Jennifer Vasquez making her statement supporting her husband (ABC News) Article: Democrats Land in El Salvador, Seeking Release of Maryland Resident (New York Times)   Interested in calling your congressional representatives about this issue? Here's how you can find their contact information:  Click here to find your representative in the U.S. House Click here to find your U.S. Senators

There has been no shortage of news from all three branches of government in Washington, D.C., but one thing hasn't changed: the U.S. Supreme Court continues to be interested in religious liberty cases. On today's show, Amanda and Holly review the recent oral arguments in Catholic Charities Bureau v. Wisconsin, which focuses on a religious exemption in the state's unemployment compensation laws. There are big questions being asked in this case, such as where one draws the lines, how can “religion” be defined, and what is meant – exactly – by the term “proselytization.” Plus, Holly and Amanda take a moment to step back and talk about the current attacks we are seeing on the rule of law in our country.    SHOW NOTESSegment 1 (starting at 00:38): Current state of the courts and various attacks on the rule of law There are three church-state cases that the Supreme Court will hear this term: Catholic Charities Bureau v. Wisconsin Labor & Industry Review Commission (Oral arguments were March 31) Mahmoud v. Taylor (oral arguments will be April 22) Oklahoma Virtual Charter School Board v. Drummond (oral arguments will be April 30)   Segment 2 (starting at 08:00): Oral arguments in Catholic Charities Bureau v. Wisconsin Visit the website of the U.S. Supreme Court for a transcript and an audio recording of the oral arguments in Catholic Charities Bureau v. Wisconsin.  We played a clip from the oral arguments between Justice Neil Gorsuch and Colin Roth, who argued the case as the assistant attorney general for the state of Wisconsin. You can read the exchange beginning on page 81 of the oral argument transcript. Holly and Amanda mentioned the 2021 case of Fulton v. Philadelphia. Read more about that case on BJC's website.  Read Amy Howe's coverage of the Catholic Charities case for SCOTUSblog: Supreme Court likely to embrace expanded tax exemption for religious charities Read Adam Liptak's coverage for the New York Times: Supreme Court Leans Toward Catholic Charity in Tax Case   Segment 3 (starting 26:48): Decision thoughts and what's ahead Amanda mentioned the upcoming Oklahoma v. Drummond case. BJC filed a brief in that case, and you can read it on our website. 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.

African 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.

Actions and rumors of actions in Washington, D.C., are continuing to dominate the news cycle and keep people on edge. On this episode of Respecting Religion, Amanda and Holly discuss the devastation of dismantling the Department of Education and the problematic push for a nationwide school voucher program. They also look at the latest in the battle between faith communities and the Trump administration to protect sensitive locations from immigration raids, and they preview the three religious liberty cases on the Supreme Court's docket this term.   SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 00:38): Federal school vouchers, shutting down the Department of Education, and a potential new travel ban Holly mentioned this story on the school voucher proposals by Laura Meckler for The Washington Post: GOP voucher plan would divert billions in taxes to private schools If you want to contact your representatives in Washington about the trouble with school voucher programs, click here to use our convenient form to email them directly. Amanda mentioned this story from Inside Higher Education about potential plans to shut down the Department of Education: Draft Order Offers Hints to How Trump Wants to Shut Down the Department After we recorded this episode, the administration began gutting the Department of Education through layoffs instead of an executive order. Amanda released a statement calling it a “reckless move,” which you can read on our website.  We also sent out an alert about the issue to the members of BJC's email list, and it included a form they can use to contact their members of Congress about the problems with shutting down the Department of Education. Click here to use our convenient form to email your members directly about this issue. Sign up for BJC's email updates for immediate alerts when there are ways to take action: BJConline.org/subscribe The New York Times previews the possible new travel ban in this article: Trump Administration Prepares to Revive and Expand Travel Bans. BJC consistently called out the dangers of the travel ban during the first Trump administration, including the very first one on Jan. 27, 2017.    Segment 2 (starting at 16:26): Sensitive locations and calling on Congress to do their job  There are two current lawsuits challenging the administration's guidance on sensitive locations. In the lawsuit from Quaker congregations, a Sikh temple and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, the judge issued an injunction on February 24 that blocks immigration officials from entering their houses of worship to conduct immigration enforcement operations. Read about that order on Democracy Forward's website. Holly mentioned a new bill in Congress called Protecting Sensitive Locations Act. You are invited to join Faithful Witness Wednesdays throughout the month of March, as people of faith gather on the Capitol grounds to call on Congress to take action. Sign up for the March 19 or the Mach 26 events, which are organized by Sojourners and the Washington Interfaith Staff Community.  Amanda spoke at the March 5 Faithful Witness Wednesday – you can watch a recording on the SojoAction YouTube channel and see photos on BJC's Facebook page.     Segment 3 (starting 25:35): Three religious liberty cases headed to SCOTUS  Amanda and Holly mentioned the emergency order from the Supreme Court to re-start payments for aid work that had been completed. Read more in this story by Justin Jouvenal, Annie Gowen and Ann E. Marimow for The Washington Post: Supreme Court says judge can force Trump administration to pay foreign aid Amanda and Holly mentioned three religious liberty cases that the Supreme Court will hear this term:  Catholic Charities Bureau v. Wisconsin Labor & Industry Review Commission (March 31) The consolidated cases of Oklahoma Virtual Charter School Board v. Drummond and St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School v. Drummond (April 30) Mahmoud v. Taylor (April 22) 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.

In our second show of the second Trump administration, Amanda and Holly run through a list of recent events that point to a gross misunderstanding of what “religious freedom” means. They review the policy announcements made during the National Prayer Breakfast – including the creation of a task force to “eradicate anti-Christian bias” – and they look at how this administration's accusations and actions are limiting the religious freedom of several Christian groups who serve others. They also discuss the growing resistance, including court challenges and two opportunities for action to share your views with Congress and the Trump administration. In the final segment, Amanda and Holly share how BJC is celebrating Black History Month with a special invitation.    SHOW NOTESSegment 1 (starting at 00:38): The National Prayer Breakfast and an anti-Chrisitan bias task force Listen to Amanda and Holly's previous conversations on the National Prayer Breakfast in the following episodes: S1, Ep. 01 in 2020, beginning at 28:44 into that first episode of this podcast series. S4, Ep. 11 in 2023, exploring the many questions it raises and how it differs from the National Day of Prayer.  After the second event tied to the National Prayer Breakfast, President Trump released an executive order creating the White House Faith Office and announced his appointments to the office. On the same day, he released an executive order creating the Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias. Amanda posted her reaction to that action on Bluesky. In her testimony before Congress in 2018, Amanda spoke about the need to acknowledge and address violence and rhetoric directed against religious minorities in the U.S. and abroad.    Segment 2 (starting at 14:29): Executive order on education, lawsuits on immigration, and the rescinding of the sensitive locations memo President Trump released an executive order titled “Expanding Educational Freedom and Opportunity for Families” and BJC shared our concerns in a statement about how such an act would undermine religious freedom.  The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship joined the lawsuit filed by Quaker congregations challenging the removal of the “sensitive locations” guidance as a violation of religious freedom protections under the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). Read more about the lawsuit on our website. After we recorded this podcast, another lawsuit was filed by a number of religious denominations and organizations, including two supporting bodies of BJC: Fellowship Southwest and Convención Bautista Hispana de Texas. Read more from Baptist News Global.   Segment 3 (starting 24:10): Attacks on faith-based service providers and two opportunities for action For more on the comments from Elon Musk, Mike Flynn and Vice President JD Vance targeting religious groups, read this article by Michelle Boorstein for The Washington Post: Attacks on Catholics, Lutherans suggest new Trump approach on religion “Defunding and demonizing the government's faith-based partners will make its job harder” is the title of the op-ed published by Religion News Service, written by Amanda alongside Aaron Dorfman from A More Perfect Union: The Jewish Partnership for Democracy and Jennifer Walker Thomas from Mormon Women for Ethical Government.   TWO ACTION STEPS YOU CAN TAKE IN THIS TIME: Sign the letter calling on Congress and President Trump to provide necessary oversight to the Department of Government Efficiency, ensuring that the freedom for religious organizations to practice and honor their faith is not infringed upon by government action. It is organized by BJC, Mormon Women for Ethical Government, and A More Perfect Union: The Jewish Partnership for Democracy. Click here for the letter. Tell your member of Congress to oppose House Resolution 59, which could condemn a sermon by Bishop Mariann Budde as a “distorted message.” No one has to agree with her message to oppose this resolution, which wrongly indicates that the government should decide what is acceptable in matters of religion. We have a simple form you can use to send your own message. Click here for our form. We sent information about those two opportunities for action to people in our community who receive emails. If you would like to receive them, visit BJConline.org/subscribe to sign up for our email list! Amanda and Holly discussed the U.S. v. Skrmetti case in episode 6 of season 6.   Segment 4 (starting 31:39): Celebrating Black History Month Throughout Black History Month, BJC is sharing stories and insight on our Instagram and TikTok channels. Here are a few recent videos: Black history is American history Intersection of Black history and religious freedom Black artists INVITATION: You are invited to a special livestream event on Friday, February 28, which will re-launch the book African Americans and Religious Freedom: New Perspectives for Congregations and Communities. Click here to learn more about the book and sign up for the event! 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.

In this week's show, Amanda and Holly discuss the problems with government mandates to post the Ten Commandments in classrooms, focusing on a case out of Louisiana. BJC and other Christian groups filed a brief in that case to explain why, as Christians, we oppose the Louisiana law and how the government's decision to choose a religious text to display in a public school setting not only cheapens our faith but also puts the government in a role it is not called to play. Plus, Amanda and Holly talk through President Donald Trump's first week back in the White House, sharing where they saw concerning signs for religion and religious liberty.    SHOW NOTESSegment 1 (starting at 00:38): President Trump's first week back and backlash to a sermon  Amanda and Holly talked about ways to handle a constant influx of news and the dangers of “God saved me” rhetoric when others died in the episode after the 2024 election: S6, Ep. 04: Election Day: What happened and where do we go from here Amanda wrote a piece for Bloomberg Opinion about the backlash to Bishop Mariann Budde's sermon at the service of unity and what it teaches us about religious freedom: Trump's Response to Bishop's Sermon on Unity Is Un-American Learn more about the two new religious liberty cases to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court in this piece on our website: U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear cases involving religious school funding, parent rights to opt out of grade school curriculum Amanda and Holly discussed the issues with religious charter schools in 2024: S5, Ep. 16: The trouble with *religious* charter schools Read more about the lawsuit filed by a group of Quaker congregations opposing raids in churches on religious freedom grounds in this article by Bernie Pazanowski for Bloomberg Law: Quakers Sue to Block Trump's Immigration Raids in Churches   Segment 2 (starting at 14:21): Louisiana's mandate to post the Ten Commandments in classrooms Read the brief from BJC and other Chrisitan groups in Roake v. Brumley at this link. Learn more about the case in this post on our website: BJC urges federal appeals court to reject Louisiana law requiring public school classrooms to post the Ten Commandments Holly and Amanda discussed the Kennedy v. Bremerton decision and its abandonment of the Lemon test in this episode in 2022: S3, Ep. 21: Not solving a problem, but creating one: Dissecting the Kennedy v. Bremerton decision  Holly and Amanda discussed the Ten Commandments on two episodes in 2023 when a bill was being discussed in Texas: S4, Ep. 20: The Ten Commandments S4, Ep. 21: 613 Commandments: James Talarico on his defense of church-state separation as a Christian   Segment 3 (starting 29:53): Oral arguments and what's next Hear last week's oral arguments in this case at the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at this link. 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.

President Jimmy Carter introduced millions of people to what it means to be a Baptist. In this episode, Amanda and Holly reflect on what he meant to our country and to both of them, as fellow Baptists, as well as his impact on faith freedom for all. They share how he is a shining example of the diversity of Baptists in our country as well as what it looks like to live out one's faith freely and fully without forcing it on others.   SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 00:38): A look back at the life of Jimmy Carter and his funeral service The New York Times has an extensive obituary on President Jimmy Carter, which you can read online: Jimmy Carter, Peacemaking President Amid Crises, Is Dead at 100 You can watch a recording of President Carter's funeral on the YouTube channel of the Washington National Cathedral: In Celebration of and in Thanksgiving for the Life of President James Carter – 1.9.25 Holly mentioned an article from The Washington Post titled “One chance to get this right, a look behind the prep for Carter's funeral.” It is available online under the title “How do you create a funeral fit for a president? A look behind Carter's.” Holly mentioned speaking with Paul Baxley, the executive coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, who attended the service. CBF is the denominational home of President Carter's church, Maranatha Baptist Church.   Segment 2 (starting at 12:41): Carter as a Baptist: Commitment, divisions, and the New Baptist Covenant Amanda's piece honoring President Carter in TIME magazine is available online: Jimmy Carter's Commitment to Religious Liberty Should Guide Us All Amanda read comments from President Carter in 1979, saying he thought the government should “stay out of the prayer business.” You can read the archived article on the website of The New York Times: President Is Opposed To School‐Prayer Bill Amanda was quoted during a conversation on Jimmy Carter's faith between Jason DeRose and Ailsa Chang on NPR's All Things Considered, which also included a quote from the Rev. Dr. Martin Marty in 1976: Jimmy Carter's complicated relationship to the church For more on the history of the New Baptist Covenant, read this 2022 story by Mark Wingfield for Baptist News Global: New Baptist Covenant shifts gears to convene, connect and communicate Amanda mentioned this story in The Washington Post about First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, D.C., which is the church where both she and President Carter were once members: Jimmy Carter attended this D.C. church. Now, it honors his legacy.   Segment 3 (starting 24:26): Carter's legacy and example for where we are today Amanda read President Carter's comments from a 1977 press conference on the separation of church and state. You can read the transcript on the website of The New York Times: Transcript of the President's News Conference With U.S. and Polish Journalists You can see the never-before-released video of Amanda and BJC Executive Director Emeritus Brent Walker honoring Jimmy Carter at this link. 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.

A Supreme Court case on medical care for transgender youth could have major ramifications – not only for children who have gender dysphoria and their families but also for how other statutes are reviewed under the Equal Protection Clause. In this episode, Amanda and Holly examine the oral arguments in U.S. v. Skrmetti, breaking down key moments in the heated courtroom exchanges, examining the specific constitutional question in this case, and discussing the broader implications of the possible ruling. While the specific question in this case involves the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and not the Religion Clauses of the First Amendment, religion and religious arguments often loom large in cases that involve sexual orientation or gender identity.  SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 00:38): The stakes of Skrmetti and the specific question presented For more on the atmosphere surrounding the case, read this piece from Mark Walsh for SCOTUSblog: Inside the Supreme Court arguments on transgender care Visit the website of the National Archives for more information on the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.    Segment 2 (starting at 07:17): The heated oral arguments The U.S. Supreme Court heard U.S. v. Skrmetti on Dec. 4, 2024. The Supreme Court's website has links to listen to the oral arguments or read a transcript of the arguments. We played four clips from the courtroom: The opening argument of Elizabeth Prelogar, Solicitor General of the United States (from 00:00:10 in the oral argument) A question and statement from Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson (from 01:41:25 in the oral argument) The opening argument of Matthew Rice, Solicitor General for the state of Tennessee (from at 01:45:26 in the oral argument) An exchange between Matthew Rice and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson (from 02:10:17 in the oral argument) Holly mentioned the Bostock v. Clayton County decision from 2020, which interpreted Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Holly and Amanda discussed the decision in episode 17 of season 1, titled “A landmark case for LGTBQ rights: What's next for religious liberty?”   Segment 3 (starting 39:57): Thank you to our listeners  Our most-listened to episode in 2024 was episode 21 of season 5, titled “But … is it Christian nationalism?”  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.

Today's episode brings you a special presentation on the politics of secularization, featuring a presentation from Dr. John Compton and responses from Rev. Dr. David Gushee and Rev. Dr. Angela Parker. Given the week after the 2024 presidential election, the lecture and responses explore how rising secularism contributes to the growth of political extremism, how flagging participation in faith traditions correlates to diminishing civic engagement, and the importance of taking a holistic approach to the various issues undermining democracy and dividing progressive movements.   Segment 1 (starting at 00:37): Today's episode Dr. John Compton was the speaker for the 20th annual Walter B. and Kay W. Lectures on Religious Liberty and Separation of Church and State, presenting three lectures on the politics of secularization Nov. 13-14 on the campuses of Mercer University in Atlanta and Macon, Ga.  To watch each of the three presentations in their entirety, click on the titles below: Lecture 1: Democratic Values in a Secular Age Lecture 2: Secularization and the Rise of Political Extremism Lecture 3: Secularization and the Fracturing of the American Left (featured in this podcast, including responses from Rev. Dr. Parker and Rev. Dr. Gushee) You can also read a recap of the lecture series in BJC's winter 2024 magazine, Report from the Capital.   Segment 2 (starting at 03:18): Dr. John Compton A professor of political science and chair of the political science department at Chapman University in Orange, Calif., Dr. Compton's lectures focused on the theme of the politics of secularization. Read more about Dr. Compton on his faculty page.    Segment 3 (starting 36:13): Response from Rev. Dr. David Gushee Rev. Dr. David P. Gushee is Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics at Mercer University, Chair of Christian Social Ethics at Vrije Universiteit (“Free University”) Amsterdam, and Senior Research Fellow at the International Baptist Theological Study Centre. Learn more about him on his website or on his faculty page at Mercer University's McAfee School of Theology.   Segment 4 (starting 45:24): Response from Rev. Dr. Angela Parker Rev. Dr. Angela N. Parker is associate professor of New Testament and Greek at Mercer University's McAfee School of Theology. In her research, Dr. Parker merges Womanist thought and postcolonial theory while reading biblical texts. Read more about Dr. Parker on her faculty page.  Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.

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 BJConline.org/ShurdenLectures. 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 EndChristianNationalism.com 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?  Click this link to watch remarks from President-elect Donald Trump on election night, and click this link 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 “Christian Nationalism and the January 6, 2021, Insurrection,” 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: This is the time for our movement to meet the moment If you want to receive emails from BJC, you can sign up on our website: BJConline.org/subscribe 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: Texas Education Board Backs Curriculum With Lessons Drawn From Bible. Amanada and Holly discussed the issues with this curriculum in episode 2 of season 6: Oklahoma and Texas try to force Bible teaching in public schools.  We want to hear from you! If you want to connect us with an organization doing good work in your community, contact Joy Pettigrew, BJC's community partnership manager, at jpettigrew@BJConline.org. 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 Lisa Jacob at ljacob@BJConline.org.    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: Voters soundly reject school voucher initiatives in multiple states For more discussion on the problems with school vouchers, listen to episode 8 and episode 9 of season 5. Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.

Today's episode takes you on the road with Amanda Tyler as she travels the country with her book, titled “How to End Christian Nationalism.” You'll hear a conversation with Amanda and the Rev. Dr. Bill Leonard about the problems of Christian nationalism, held October 29 at Knollwood Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. “How to End Christian Nationalism” is a vital companion for countering the dangerous ideology, and you can order a copy wherever you get your books.  Our next podcast episode will be released November 21, and it will include Amanda's and Holly's reactions to the 2024 elections.   Segment 1 (starting at 00:37):  Today's show You can order Amanda's book wherever you get your books. Visit EndChristianNationalism.com for more information and a list of upcoming tour dates. The Rev. Dr. Bill Leonard is the founding dean at the Wake Forest University School of Divinity, who now holds the title of “professor of divinity emeritus.” He has written some 25 books, and his research focuses on Church History with particular attention to American religion, Baptist studies, and the Appalachian religion. Learn more about him at this link. Dr. Leonard was a guest on our 2019 podcast series about the dangers of Christian nationalism, featured on the episode addressing the misguided idea that America was founded as a “Christian nation.” Listen to that episode at this link.    Segment 2 (starting at 02:36): The conversation You can watch a video recording of this conversation on the YouTube page of Knollwood Baptist Church.  This event was a partnership between Knollwood Baptist Church, First Baptist on Fifth, and Ardmore Baptist Church, all churches located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.     Segment 3 (starting at 47:45): We'll see you in two weeks for our election episode! Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.

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. Click here to see a list, including a short overview from BJC and classic resources that include A Parent's Guide to Religion in the Public Schools and A Teacher's Guide to Religion in the Public Schools.   Learn more about BJC's Christians Against Christian Nationalism campaign at ChristiansAgainstChristianNationalism.org.  Holly and Amanda discussed Christian nationalism in the public schools in episode 14 of season 4.    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 at this link, and read the guidance released later at this link. Amanda and Holly read from this article by Jennifer Palmer, Paul Monies and Heather Warlickand for The Oklahoman: ‘Trump Bible' one of few that meet Walters' criteria for Oklahoma classrooms 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: Oklahoma amends request for Bibles that initially appeared to match only version backed by Trump   Segment 3 (starting 21:32): Troubling Texas curriculum Amanda mentioned this article by By Linda Jacobson  for The 74 which broke the story: Exclusive: Texas Seeks to Inject Bible Stories into Elementary School Reading Program Read more about the September day of action in Texas in this article from BJC's Report from the Capital magazine: Saying ‘no' to Bible-based curriculum in Texas Amanda shares more about her experience with the curriculum in her column for the magazine: Do something 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. Visit this link to find out who represents you, and scroll to the bottom of this page for tips on crafting your email.  Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.

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: How Two Billionaire Preachers Remade Texas Politics Amanda mentioned an article by Russell Gold for Texas Monthly, titled The Billionaire Bully Who Wants to Turn Texas Into a Christian Theocracy   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 “A landmark case for LGBTQ rights: What's next for religious liberty?” Amanda and Holly discussed the intersection of religion and the law in the two abortion cases in Episode 28 of season 5, titled “Conscience protections in SCOTUS abortion cases.” Read Holly's column in BJC's fall magazine, which discusses the impact of the Rahimi case: The Court at a crossroads 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 “SCOTUS is fixated on history. What's prayer got to do with it?”   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 from Amazon, your local bookstore, or anywhere you buy books.  Visit EndChristianNationalism.com 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 ChristiansAgainstChristianNationalism.org.  Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.

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: Conscience protections in SCOTUS abortion cases Click here 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: Supreme Court lets CFPB funding stand Steve Vladeck's piece for One First: How to describe *this* Court 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: Court allows Louisiana to move forward with two majority-Black districts Read Steve Vladeck's piece for One First: Louisiana's Congressional Map Comes Back to the Court   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: Justice Kavanaugh on the Presidency, the Court and Taylor Swift by Adam Liptak for The New York Times Justice Thomas Denounces ‘the Nastiness and the Lies' Faced by His Family by Abbie VanSickle for The New York Times Justice Alito Warns of Threats to Freedom of Speech and Religion by Adam Liptak for The New York Times The Supreme Court seems bitterly divided. Two justices say otherwise. 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 in this 2013 piece by Holly Hollman.  Amanda and Holly discussed this New York Times story 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: Another Provocative Flag Was Flown at Another Alito Home To watch the iCivics event featuring Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Justice Amy Coney Barrett, visit this C-SPAN link.   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. Click here for links to pre-order the book. Learn more about the work of the Christians Against Christian Nationalism campaign by visiting the website. Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.

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 in his BJC bio. Find more resources on religious liberty and the LGBTQ community on BJC's website.  For in-depth information about public opinion on LGBTQ rights among different religious groups, visit the Public Religion Research Institute's website at this link.     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: United Methodist Church Reverses Ban on Practicing Gay Clergy Read Guthrie's MSNBC column: “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 “A Time to Heal, A Time to Build,” by E.J. Dionne Jr. and Melissa Rogers.  Respecting Religion has devoted several episodes to the topics discussed in this episode. Listen to Season 4, Episode 7 for more on the Respect for Marriage Act, Season 4, Episode 26 for more on 303 Creative v. Elenis, and Season 1, Episode 17 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: Obergefell decision does not remove the separation of church and state. You can also access a 2-page resource with frequently asked questions about the decision. Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.

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: Archaic laws and new theories emerge from state abortion debates 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: Arizona abortion ban repeal signed by Gov. Katie Hobbs, but 1864 law will linger for months. What's next? Learn more about the 6-week ban on abortions in Florida in this article by Stephanie Colombini for NPR: Florida's 6-week abortion ban is now in effect, curbing access across the South 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 at this link. 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 at this link.   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 at this link.  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 at this link. 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 with a gift to BJC.

For the 100th episode of Respecting Religion, Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman answer listener questions, ranging from the law surrounding the tax-exempt status of religious institutions to their favorite Supreme Court justices. They also look at some of the big Supreme Court decisions and the shifts on the Court since this podcast began four years ago, sharing some of their favorite and most impactful episodes.   SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 00:38): How did we get to 100 episodes? The podcast series on the dangers of Christian nationalism ran in 2019, and it's available on the BJC Podcast feed, and you can see all of the episodes on this page of the Christians Against Christian Nationalism website.  Holly and Amanda mentioned some of their favorite episodes, including: S3, Ep. 21: The live show reacting to the Kennedy v. Bremerton decision S4, Ep. 22: Amanda's experience at the ReAwaken America tour S1, Ep. 15: Reacting to President Trump's photo-op with a Bible in 2020 You can see a list of every single episode at BJConline.org/RespectingReligion   Segment 2 (starting at 19:06): Questions on tax-exempt status, tough conversations, and more Holly mentioned the 1983 case of Bob Jones University v. United States. You can read the decision here. For more about the Respect for Marriage Act, check out episode 7 from season 4: Does the Respect for Marriage Act protect religious liberty? For more on the Johnson Amendment and the way it protects churches and other groups who are eligible for the 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, visit this page on our website. Amanda and Holly also discussed it a bit on episode 4 of season 2: Grading the Trump administration on religious freedom. Holly mentioned episode 6 from season 3: Challenging misinformation: How to have productive conversations with friends and family.   Segment 3 (starting at 34:07): Questions on podcast recommendations, favorite Supreme Court justices, and more The podcasts mentioned by Amanda and Holly were: Strict Scrutiny Prosecuting Donald Trump  The Ezra Klein Show Another Mother Runner Amicus Ten Percent Happier Amanda and Holly discussed being interns at BJC. The internship program is ongoing – learn more about the opportunities by visiting BJConline.org/internships Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.

The intersection of abortion and religion often grabs headlines, and this episode of Respecting Religion looks at recent developments in two states: Arizona and Indiana. Amanda and Holly discuss an Indiana case that involves free exercise arguments under state law to support abortion, and they examine the impact of Arizona's 1864 law that criminalizes abortion. Both situations are resulting from the tremendous change in the law after the Dobbs decision in 2022, leading to some unexpected situations.    SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 00:38): The Arizona situation Our next episode will be our 100th episode! It's your chance to ask Amanda and Holly anything – send in your questions by April 29 to RespectingReligion@BJConline.org. Amanda and Holly previously discussed the aftermath of the Dobbs decision in episode 4 of season 4, released in October 2022. The show was titled “A religious freedom right to an abortion?”  The New York Times has this helpful resource that shows the differences in the laws regarding abortion in states across the country.  Amanda and Holly mentioned this article for Vox written by Nicole Naera: The history of Arizona's Civil War-era abortion ban After we recorded this program, the Arizona House voted to repeal the 1864 law, and the Arizona Senate is expected to vote on it next week. Read more in this Washington Post article by Caroline Kitchener and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez.    Segment 2 (starting at 12:12): The Indiana litigation For a more in-depth discussion of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), check out episode 6 of season 5: RFRA at 30. Read the opinion from the Indiana Appeals Court and the concurrence at this link. Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.

Some troubling trends at the Supreme Court are starting to affect the legal profession and how students in law school approach the U.S. Constitution. As SCOTUS continues to upend decades of established precedent in church-state law, Amanda and Holly discuss what's changed since they were in law school and the rapid changes in church-state law itself. They look at the views of legitimacy of the Court, and Holly shares specifically what she sees in her work teaching church-state law at Georgetown University Law Center.    SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 01:15): Respect for the Supreme Court in law school Read “The Crisis in Teaching Constitutional Law,” an opinion piece by Jesse Wegman for The New York Times. Holly mentioned recent episodes of Respecting Religion that covered: Religious accommodation in the workplace (episode 26 of season 4 on Groff v. DeJoy) The funding of private religious schools with government funds (episode 20 of season 3 on Carson v. Makin) Prayer by a coach on the 50-yard-line (episode 21 of season 3 on Kennedy v. Bremerton) Amanda mentioned the book Deciding to Decide: Agenda Setting in the United States Supreme Court by H.W. Perry.    Segment 2 (starting at 10:51): Turning points, hypocrisy, and partisan muscle  Holy mentioned how SCOTUS uses history and tradition and the case of Greece v. Galloway, which we covered in episode 3 of season 5.   Segment 3 (starting at 21:26): The differences in the Souter/Stevens/O'Connor era and what it's like in the classroom today To read more about the Supreme Court religious liberty cases involving Jeohvah's Witnesses, check out this article by Jane G. Rainey published by the Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University.  Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.

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 Rev. Dr. Joseph Evans and the Rev. Dr. Christopher 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. Dr. Najuma Smith-Pollard. Click on each name to read more about them and their impressive credentials.  Listen to the entire program at this link.  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 BJConline.org/ShurdenLectures.   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 The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration. 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 here.   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 his obituary from The New York Times.   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 episode 23 of season 4, and listen to the panel that followed it on episode 24.  Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.

When former President Donald Trump announced during Holy Week that he was endorsing the “God Bless the USA” Bible, the reaction was swift. But, beyond the punchlines and the obvious concerns, Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman discuss why the video is concerning to our current political moment and the continued rise of Christian nationalism. Not all examples are this obvious – what does this mean to those important conversations? Segment 1 (starting at 00:38): Why is this a problem? The New York Times has more about the video and the marketing in this article by By Michael Gold and Maggie Haberman: Trump's Newest Venture? A $60 Bible. Segment 2 (starting at 08:11): Reacting to the video pitch  You can watch the video endorsing the Bible at this link on YouTube. Amanda and Holly talked about using the Bible as a prop and the idea of “divinely inspired” founding documents in episode 21 of this season, titled “But … is it Christian nationalism?”  Dr. Jemar Tisby shared about how he and other authors worked to stop an earlier version of this Bible in an article on his Substack: Three Years Ago We Stopped Harper Collins/Zondervan from Publishing the "God Bless the USA" Bible Segment 3 (starting at 26:44): Understanding how this is part of a larger political strategy Holly read from this piece by Michael C. Bender in The New York Times: The Church of Trump: How He's Infusing Christianity Into His Movement Amanda discussed her experience attending the ReAwaken America tour in episode 22 of season 4. Amanda read from this piece by David French in The New York Times: Trump is no Savior  Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.  

There are many religious holidays in the spring, but not all are given the same public acknowledgment – from government-sponsored events to time off from school and work. Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman discuss how Christian privilege shows up in how our country recognizes and accommodates certain holidays, as well as how holidays help us understand and celebrate the religious pluralism in our country.    SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 00:38): The March Madness of spring break and public school holidays Access “A Parent's Guide to Religion in Public Schools” published decades ago by the National PTA and the First Amendment Center with funding from the Freedom Forum at this link on BJC's website.    Segment 2 (starting at 15:05): Religious holidays and public officials/elected leaders Read about Dr. Anthea Butler's experience at the White House St. Patrick's Day celebration in this reflection on her Substack.    Segment 3 (starting at 24:00): Reflections on Christian privilege Amanda mentioned her forthcoming book, How to End Christian Nationalism. It releases October 22, and it is available for preorder at endchristiannationalism.com.  Read the story by Kevin Reynolds in the Salt Lake Tribune discussing Muslim players fasting during March Madness, which coincides with Ramadan: BYU doesn't have to play on Sundays. So should the NCAA better accommodate Muslim athletes during Ramadan? Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.

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”? Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman answer some common questions they hear about Christian nationalism, and they talk about the questions we should be asking ourselves.     SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 00:38): What does it mean to determine the level of Christian nationalism? Learn more about the Christians Against Christian Nationalism campaign, including the statement of principles, at ChristiansAgainstChristianNationalism.org. If you are a Christian who agrees with the statement, we encourage you to sign your name!   Segment 2 (starting at 08:23): Answering some political questions about Christian nationalism  Amanda mentioned this recent op-ed by David French in The New York Times: What is Christian Nationalism, Exactly?  Visit this link to access the report on Christian nationalism and the January 6 insurrection from BJC and the Freedom From Religion Foundation.  Amanda mentioned this article by Steven Monacelli for the Daily Dot: A new social network built on a vision of Christian supremacy in America gains traction with GOP politicians Hear Amanda and Holly's reaction to President Trump's 2020 appearance at St. John's Church with a Bible in episode 15 of our first season: Protests, the president and the photo op with a Bible   Segment 3 (starting at 29:09): Answering some church-related questions about Christian nationalism  Read about the new survey results from PRRI on the support for Christian nationalism at this link. To learn more about Patriot Churches, read this 2020 article in The Washington Post by Sarah Pulliam Bailey: Seeking power in Jesus' name: Trump sparks a rise of Patriot Churches   Segment 4 (starting at 38:54): History and civics questions about Christian nationalism Amanda and Holly spoke about some lawmakers sharing the idea that the Constitution is “divinely inspired” in episode 10 of season 4: A report, a prayer vigil, and a somber anniversary: Two years after January 6 Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.

Get a first-hand account of attending the State of the Union address on this episode. Amanda Tyler talks with Holly Hollman about her experience, providing a new way to think about who represents our country in the room during the president's address. She shares about her invitation and various discussions with members of Congress about Christian nationalism. Plus, if you've ever wondered what it's like to serve your country by working at a polling place on Election Day, hear about Amanda's experience in Texas and how you can do the same, helping to ensure free and fair elections for our representatives in D.C.   SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 00:38): The cost of speaking out against Christian nationalism Amanda mentioned this article by Jack Jenkins for Religion News Service: Freethought Caucus' Huffman invites Christian nationalism critic to State of the Union Read the report published by BJC and the Freedom From Religion Foundation on Christian nationalism and the January 6, insurrection. Click here to watch Rep. Jared Huffman's floor speech on the dangers of Christian nationalism, which mentions the joint report.  Hear Amanda's conversation with Rob Reiner and Dan Partland on their film “God & Country” in episode 12 of this season of Respecting Religion   Segment 2 (starting at 08:44): Attending the State of the Union address Amanda and Rep. Jared Huffman filmed a video together before they went to the State of the Union address. You can watch it on Instagram.  Amanda and Holly discussed the Alabama ruling impacting IVF treatments in the state on episode 18 of this season of Respecting Religion.   Segment 3 (starting at 30:23): Serving as an election worker Holly spoke with Chris Crawford of Protect Democracy about ways people of faith can be involved in free and fair elections on episode 14 of this season of Respecting Religion. Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.

The Supreme Court declines to hear thousands of cases a year, but one recent denial included a troubling statement from Justice Samuel Alito. Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman look at a case out of Missouri about potential jurors being struck from the jury pool because of their anti-LGBTQ beliefs, and they break down Justice Alito's 5-page statement that seems to be asking for another case with the same issue at stake. What could this mean for the future, and why is Justice Alito still hung up on the Obergefell v. Hodges decision from 2015?    SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 00:38): What happened in this case? Holly mentioned this resource from The Washington Post that shows an update on cases as the term progresses: The Supreme Court Trump-Colorado ruling, and big 2024 decisions to come Amanda and Holly discussed Donald Trump's plan to create a task force fighting anti-Christian bias in episode 13 of this current season ‘God Made Trump,' Biden campaigns at a church, and more news from the campaign trail Amanda read from this article in The New York Times by Abbie VanSickle describing the factual background of the lawsuit: Justice Alito Renews Criticism of Landmark Ruling on Same-Sex Marriage   Segment 2 (starting at 14:33): Why did Justice Alito write this statement? You can read Justice Alito's statement on the denial of cert on page 25 of this PDF document of the order list from the Supreme Court on Feb. 20, 2024. Amanda mentioned three cases invoked by Justice Alito: Trinity Lutheran v. Comer (2017) Church of Lukumi Babalu Aye, Inc. v. City of Hialeah (1993) Carson v. Makin (2022) Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.

An alarming ruling from the Alabama Supreme Court is leading to the shutdown of in vitro fertilization clinics, and the concurrence's use of Scripture and Christian theology is causing additional concerns. Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman look at this troubling ruling, the various religious views on life, and why it's an issue for a justice to cite the Bible in an opinion.  SHOW NOTES: Segment 1 (starting at 00:38): What is the Alabama case about? The Alabama Supreme Court case is called LePage v. Center for Reproductive Medicine. You can read the decision and the concurrence here. For additional information on the case, listen to the NPR interview with law professor Mary Ziegler in this story: How Alabama's ruling that frozen embryos are ‘children' could impact IVF Amanda and  Holly discussed the Dobbs decision in episode 4 of season 4.   Segment 2 (starting at 13:18): The decision and even more-troubling concurrence Listen to the “On the Media”  interview with Matthew D. Taylor: Christian Nationalism is Reshaping Fertility Rights, and Books Dominate at the Oscars Amanda talked about her experience at the ReAwaken America tour in episode 22 of season 4 of Respecting Religion.   Segment 3 (starting at 31:15): Additional reactions to the opinion Read the entire piece by Noah Feldman for Bloomberg at this link: Embryos Are Now Children in Alabama. Blame the Supreme Court. Amanda and Holly discussed the Kennedy v. Bremerton decision in episode 21 of season 3. Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.

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 from the National Archives.  Amanda and Holly mentioned this article by Peter Smith for the Associated Press: Many believe the founders wanted a Christian America. Some want the government to declare one now. He also wrote this piece with some frequently asked questions. Amanda mentioned a book she is writing that will come out later this year, which is titled How to End Christian Nationalism. Watch Holly's video answering the question “Is America a Christian nation?” at this link. The Rev. Jennifer Hawks wrote this piece about Article VI for Baptist News Global: How the Constitution's original religious freedom guarantee almost didn't happen Amanda spoke with historian Steven Green in 2019 for this episode of our podcast series on the dangers of Christian nationalism: We were founded as a Christian nation? Michael Meyerson is the author of Endowed by our Creator: The Birth of Religious Freedom in America. 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 – in this recap.  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 BJConline.org/Fellows to learn more and apply.      Segment 2 (starting at 24:21): Words from previous presidents Click here 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 with a gift to BJC.

There is a novel – and concerning – development in public education and the relationship between the institutions of church and state: Oklahoma and Guam have proposed religious charter schools. Litigation has already started. But, what is a religious charter school, and why is the idea such a problem? Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman say they are illegal and that they challenge some basic assumptions.  Segment 1 (starting at 00:38): What are religious charter schools, and what's the problem? Holly and Amanda discussed the trouble with school vouchers in episode 8 and episode 9 of this season.  In an order on his way out the door, former Oklahoma Attorney General John O'Connor issued an opinion that said religious charter schools were ok, but then new Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond reversed that guidance. Read Don Byrd's article for BJC's website about the Oklahoma and Guam charter schools: Guam joins Oklahoma in approving government-funded religious charter schools after legislature overrides governor's veto Segment 2 (starting at 12:39): The lawsuits in Oklahoma trying to stop this action You can download the petition for the lawsuit by Oklahoma Attorney General Genter Drummond in the Oklahoma Supreme Court at this link on the website of the Oklahoma State Courts Network. The lawsuit brought by the ACLU, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and others is called OKPLAC, Inc. v. Statewide Virtual Charter School Board. Read the Complaint and learn more on the websites of the ACLU and of Americans United. OKPLAC is the “Oklahoma Parent Legislative Advocacy Coalition.” Segment 3 (starting at 18:43): State and constitutional questions about charter schools Visit this resource from the U.S. Department of Education to learn more about charter schools. The trinity of recent Supreme Court cases mentioned were: Trinity Lutheran v. Comer (2017) Espinoza v. Montana Dept. of Revenue (2020) Carson v. Makin (2022) Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.  

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 Center for Engaged Research and Collaborative Learning. He is the author/editor of more than 35 books, and he is also director of research for the Institute for Humanist Studies. Read Dr. Pinn's full biography here. 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 on our website and in this video. She is the editor and contributing author of the book African Americans and Religious Freedom: New Perspectives for Congregations and Communities. Read Dr. Dent's full biography here. “(Dis)belief: Reimagining the Religious Landscape of Black America” was the topic for the 2023 Religious Freedom Mobile Institute. Click here to read about it 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 at this link and read a recap on our website. James Baldwin wrote in The New York Times on Feb. 2, 1969, 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 with a gift to BJC.

What is the role of churches and other houses of worship in protecting democracy? This topic usually comes up because of bad actors that overstep into partisanship, but today's show looks at how faith communities can help our elections run smoothly. Holly Hollman speaks with Chris Crawford of Protect Democracy – a nonprofit, cross-ideological organization that has a new playbook to help faith communities ensure “all eligible voters can access a ballot and every valid vote is counted.” Learn more about how people of faith can love their neighbors and take active roles in protecting our system of government.   SHOW NOTES: Segment 1 (starting at 00:45): Working across differences without papering over them Read more about Chris Crawford at this link. Protect Democracy and Interfaith America partnered to help faith communities to serve their communities during the 2024 election. Click here to access the Faith in Elections Playbook, and learn more about Protect Democracy at this link. Protect Democracy's guide for recognizing authoritarianism is available at this link.   Segment 2 (starting at 11:49): The Faith in Elections Playbook  Chris Crawford mentioned A More Perfect Union: The Jewish Partnership for Democracy. Learn more about their work on their website. Chris Crawford mentioned PowerThePolls.org as a resource to learn more about being a poll worker.   Segment 3 (starting at 31:03): Religious freedom and protecting our democracy Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.  

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: Trump's biggest Iowa gains are in evangelical areas, smallest wins in cities by By Dan Keating, Adrian Blanco and Clara Ence Morse for The Washington Post Trump Is connecting with a different type of evangelical voter By Ruth Graham and Charles Homans for The New York Times Most Republicans think Donald Trump is a person of faith. We asked why by Samuel Benson for Deseret News There's a seed of truth in the 'God Made Trump' ad. But his acolytes don't see it. 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: Evaluating Christian nationalism as a campaign strategy. Amanda and Holly discussed the ReAwaken America tour in episode 22 of season 4. Read more about Speaker Mike Johnson and Steve Bannon debating “God's will” in this article by Mark Wingfield for Baptist News Global: Mike Johnson and Steve Bannon spar over whether it is ‘God's will' that Joe Biden is president 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: Ordained by God: Trump's legal problems galvanize Iowa evangelicals Read more about former President Donald Trump's promises if he returns to office in this pice by Sarah Posner for MSNBC.com: Trump just promised an authoritarian ‘task force' to impose Christian ideology 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: It's protesters, not politicians, who keep the history of Mother Emanuel AME alive 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. Click here to access the PDF, called “Advocates, not partisans.” Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.  

What is the cost of speaking out against Christian nationalism? In this episode, Amanda Tyler talks with Rob Reiner and Dan Partland, two people behind a new film that discusses the dangers of Christian nationalism to the country, to the faith, and to pluralism. They share candidly about what they learned while making “God & Country,” the cost for Christians who are speaking out against the political ideology, and what new conversations they are hoping to create with this film.   SHOW NOTESSegment 1 (starting at 00:35): Rob Reiner and Dan Partland on Christian nationalism “God & Country” will be in theaters on February 16. Learn more at GodAndCountryTheMovie.com. The phrase “separation of church and state” is not in the U.S. Constitution, but the concept is laid out several times, including Article VI's prohibition on any religious test for office, the First Amendment's prohibition of a government establishment of religion, and the First Amendment's guarantee of the free exercise of religion. Read more in Brent Walker's “Top 5 Myths of the Separation of Church and State.” Learn more about the Christians Against Christian Nationalism campaign – a project BJC began in 2019 – by visiting ChristiansAgainstChristianNationalism.org.   Segment 2 (starting at 20:58): Post-screening Q&A with Partland and Reiner BJC and the Freedom From Religion Foundation released a comprehensive report on the role of Christian nationalism in the January 6 attack on the Capitol. You can access it here. Dan Partland mentioned The Power Worshippers, a book by Katherine Stewart on the rise of religious nationalism. It serves as a basis for the movie.    Segment 3 (starting at 41:18): Closing Michelle Boorstein covered the screening for The Washington Post in this article: ‘God & Country' film spotlights Christian nationalism's threat to democracy Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we look back at the history of the holiday and the international context at the time of its first official celebration. On today's podcast, hear from Coretta Scott King, speaking just months after the country's first commemoration of the holiday in 1986. After Dr. King's assassination in 1968, she led the charge to establish her husband's birthday as a national holiday. In this presentation, Mrs. King talks about the first celebration, plans for future celebrations, and some of her work promoting peace and freedom around the world.    Segment 1 (starting at 00:36): The first and second celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day Mrs. Coretta Scott King's speech is from BJC's 20th National Religious Liberty Conference, held in October 1986.  Read the biography of Coretta Scott King on the website of the King Center at this link.  The theme for the 2024 King Holiday Observance is ‘Shifting the Cultural Climate through the Study and Practice of Kingian Nonviolence.' Visit the website of the King Center to learn more, including a list of different ways you can honor the day.  The Progressive National Baptist Convention was the denominational home of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Read more about their history at this link on their website.  “The King Center” is the name commonly used for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, which was established by Mrs. King in 1968.   Segment 2 (starting at 06:18): International work for nonviolence   Segment 3 (starting at 18:09): Hopes and plans for future celebrations   Segment 4 (starting at 23:26): Closing Click here to listen to a presentation from former Rep. Barbara Jordan during this same 1986 event, which we presented in episode 7 of this season. Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.

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: Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, lauded as “a human being, extraordinary,” lies in repose at the court by Mark Walsh for SCOTUSblog Click here for the entire “In Memoriam” section on SCOTUSblog Sandra Day O'Connor, First Woman on the Supreme Court, Is Dead at 93 – The New York Times' obituary by Linda Greenhouse Justice O'Connor's official Supreme Court bio Click here to see the online version 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 on the Cathedral's YouTube page.    Segment 2 (starting at 15:41): Justice O'Connor on church-state cases Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor leaves legacy of civic-minded church-state jurisprudence by Don Byrd for BJC's website Amanda and Holly mentioned the following cases: Board of Education v. Mergens (1990) Lynch v. Donnelly (1984) McCreary County, Ky., v. ACLU (2005) was the Ten Commandments case with Justice O'Connor's famous concurrence. Click here 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 Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992) Amanda and Holly discuss this article from Linda Greenhouse for The New York Times: “What Sandra Day O'Connor got wrong”   Segment 4 (starting at 35:31): Who are your fellow listeners? See our Spotify Wrapped on Instagram at this link. Our most popular podcast on Spotify in 2023 was Episode 22 of Season 4, discussing the ReAwaken America tour. Our most shared one was Episode 23 of Season 4 on the myth of American “chosenness.”  Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. Use this special link to support these conversations, and thank you for listening! 

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 episode 8 of season 5. Holly and Amanda discuss the ruling in the 2002 case of Zelman v. Simmons-Harris. You can read the opinion and dissent here. They mention a trilogy of cases that came later – click the case name for more information, including podcast episodes: Trinity Lutheran v. Comer (2017) Espinoza v. Montana Dept. of Revenue (2020) Carson v. Makin (2022)   Segment 2 (starting at 06:04): Policy debates and political fights  Holly and Amanda mentioned the following articles: GOP states are embracing vouchers. Wealthy parents are benefitting. by Andrew Atterbury for Politico ‘School choice' developed as a way to protect segregation and abolish public schools by Nancy MacLean for The Washington Post in 2021 Rural resistance to statewide school vouchers by Deven Carlson for Brookings Are school vouchers inevitable? was the headline of the article by Robert T. Garrett on the front page of the Dallas Morning News “Our public school system is our town”: Why this rural Republican is voting against school vouchers By Brian Lopez and Patrick Svitek for The Texas Tribune Amanda and Holly discussed Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's push for school vouchers in episode 1 of this season. Learn more about Pastors for Texas Children and their work countering vouchers by visiting their website.   Segment 3: (starting at 24:00): Additional resources on vouchers  Here are some additional resources from BJC on school vouchers: U.S. House rejects nationwide school voucher amendment 311-113, while states continue to enact voucher programs by Don Byrd (March 2023) Voucher-funded religious education: A threat to religious liberty byJennifer Hawks (February 2020) School vouchers threaten religious autonomy by Jennifer Hawks (March 2015) You can also access additional resources on religion and public schools at this link on our website. Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.

School voucher programs across the country seek to divert taxpayer money to religious schools, which raises significant concerns for religious freedom advocates. In part one of this two-part episode, Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman explore the problematic issue of school vouchers. They talk about the various iterations of vouchers and the many issues they can create, including their coercive nature. Plus, they look at the first time the Supreme Court upheld a voucher program and what that ruling actually says.    SHOW NOTES: Segment 1 (starting at 00:38): What is the problem with the government funding of religion? Amanda and Holly talked about the Texas chaplain bill in episode 5: An alarming push to put chaplains in public schools Segment 2 (starting at 12:33): What are school vouchers?  Segment 3: (starting at 19:37): Exploring Zelman and the chain of causation Holly and Amanda review the ruling in the 2002 case of Zelman v. Simmons-Harris. You can read the opinion and dissent here. Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.

American trailblazer Barbara Jordan delivered a powerful speech on the role of churches in shaping public policy at a BJC event in 1986. We're bringing you this special presentation because her words resonate for our political climate today. Congresswoman Jordan notes that the institutional separation of church and state must be maintained, but that doesn't mean the two can't interact. She gives a strong case for Christian citizenship and being active in the policy realm. Plus, her wide-ranging Q&A covers nuclear conflicts, the “wall of separation” metaphor, and more.    SHOW NOTESSegment 1 (starting at 00:34): Barbara Jordan's 1986 speech on the church and public policy Barbara Jordan's speech is from BJC's 20th National Religious Liberty Conference, held in October 1986.  Learn more about Barbara Jordan from the following sources: Biography from the Barbara Jordan Center Biography from the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture Article about Barabara Jordan written by William Broyles and published by Texas Monthly (1976)  Barbara Jordan's obituary in The New York Times, written by Francis X. Clines (1996) During her speech, Congresswoman Jordan mentions the letter from Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptists (1802). You can read it on the website of the Library of Congress.     Segment 2 (starting at 23:26): Q&A on nuclear conflict, the “wall of separation,”  advocacy, and more The audience members who asked questions did not have microphones, so we just shared the host's repetition of questions in this segment. In two instances, Barbara Jordan repeated the question herself (at 32:22 and 33:58).   Segment 3 (starting at 40:29): Wrapping up today's show Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.

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: BJConline.org/RFRA Holly wrote a column on RFRA for Word&Way's “A Public Witness” newsletter, and you can read it here: Revisiting RFRA 30 years later Read the text of the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act at this link. 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 at this link. Watch the signing ceremony for RFRA on November 16, 1993, at this link on the YouTube channel of the William J. Clinton Presidential Library. Holly mentioned this printed resource 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: Examining RFRA in light of Hobby Lobby J. Brent Walker, former executive director of BJC at the time, wrote about the Hobby Lobby decision in 2014: Exploring Hobby Lobby's narrow victory   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: S1, Ep. 06: Stay-at-home orders, religious freedom and RFRA (2020) S1, Ep. 12: Not a charm: Contraceptive mandate returns to the Supreme Court for the third time (2020) S3, Ep. 03: What's going on with religious exemptions to COVID-19 vaccine mandates? (2021) Video: Watch this video of former BJC General Counsel Oliver “Buzz” Thomas discussing the origins of RFRA Resources from BJC on cases: Zubik v. Burwell (2016) Tanzin v. Tanvir (2020) Additional reading: Do states need religious freedom legislation? By J. Brent Walker, 2015 Contraceptive mandate oral arguments shed light on underreported issues by Holly Hollman, 2014 RFRA's constitutionality called into question by J. Brent Walker, 2014 RFRA at 20: A retrospective by Holly Hollman, 2013 Remembering the origins of RFRA by J. Brent Walker, 2013 Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC. 

A new Texas law allows public schools to replace counselors with chaplains. In this wee's episode, discover why Texas chaplains are voicing their opposition. Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman discuss SB 763 and their concerns about government-sponsored proselytization in public schools. They discuss the group behind this law and how Texans are resisting its implementation in their local communities. School districts have until March 1, 2024 to vote on creating chaplain programs. The only qualification to serve as a “chaplain” is to pass a criminal background check.   SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 1:55): The group behind the push for this law The Texas Tribune's Robert Downen and Brian Lopez looked into Rocky Malloy's troubling work: Key supporter of Texas school chaplain bill has pushed for evangelism in schools   Segment 2 (starting at 7:07): Texas chaplains respond to this law You can read the letter from chaplains opposing chaplains in public schools at this link. Read a story about Texans opposing the school chaplain law in the Dallas Morning News, an op-ed from two Texas clergy in the Austin American-Statesman, or the transcript of a radio segment that aired on National Public Radio.    Segment 3 (starting at 20:10): What can you do? Find more information about how to get involved on the BJC website.  If you're a chaplain living in or educated in Texas, add your name to the letter from Texas chaplains here.  The petition for Texans of faith opposing law can be accessed here. The petition for people of faith across the country opposing any attempt to bring public school chaplains to their state can be found here. Advocates who want information about how to make a difference in their Texas school district can fill out this form.  A short video about the law and how-tos on advocacy to school boards is available on our YouTube channel.  Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC. 

Get an inside look at the U.S. House of Representatives and the challenges of Christian nationalism in this week's episode. Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman take you behind-the-scenes of Amanda's testimony to Congress, held on the same day lawmakers elected Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., to be Speaker of the House. They share key moments from the hearing on religious freedom around the world, including a powerful moment with Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla. Plus, they discuss troubling statements from Speaker Johnson, his embrace of Christian nationalism, and how he might navigate his new role.    Segment 1 (starting at 00:38): Returning to testify before Congress Read Amanda's written testimony at this link. Watch a portion of Amanda's opening statement at this link, and watch the entire hearing on the YouTube channel of the U.S. House Oversight's Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs. Learn more about the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom here. It is also known by its initials USCIRF, pronounced “You-Surf” in conversation. The United Nations has a website page devoted to the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which will be Dec 10, 2023. Read more about BJC's advocacy fighting the travel ban here.    Segment 2 (starting at 17:34): Questions from Congress and an exchange with Rep. Maxwell Frost You can watch the exchange with Amanda and Rep. Frost at this link.   Segment 3 (starting at 30:08): Speaker Mike Johnson and Christian nationalism  Amanda is quoted in this article by Nick Mordowanec for Newsweek: Mike Johnson Uses Bible to Justify ‘Aggression,' Urges Christians to Fight Amanda is quoted in this article by Peter Smith for the Associated Press: Christian conservatives cheer one of their own as Mike Johnson assumes Congress' most powerful seat Brian Kaylor and Jeremy Fuzy of Word&Way wrote this piece on Speaker Mike Johnson for the “A Public Witness” newsletter: Christian nationalism in the Speaker's chair Dr. Kristin Du Mez did a Q&A with Politico's Katelyn Fossett about Speaker Johnson: ‘He Seems to Be Saying His Commitment Is to Minority Rule' Dr. Andrew Whitehead and Dr. Samuel Perry wrote this piece for TIME magazine: The Christian Nationalism of Speaker Mike Johnson Amanda mentioned Dr. Walter B. “Buddy” Shurden's writings on Baptist history. Click here to read a copy of his “How We Got That Way” presentation on Baptists and religious liberty.   Holly mentioned this piece in The New Yorker by David Kirpatrick on ADF: The next targets for the group that overturned Roe Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC. 

Has the Supreme Court abandoned the Establishment Clause test for some sort of “history” test when applying the law? Today, we're looking at a 2014 Supreme Court case that continues to have major implications on Supreme Court decisions: Greece v. Galloway. Amanda and Holly review this sharply divided decision on legislative prayer, explore the differences in the prayer practice of Congress and the practice in local town meetings, and look at the ongoing impact of this decision, including how it was used in the Kennedy v. Bremerton ruling in 2022.    SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 00:51): What's the difference between legislative prayer and prayer at local town meetings?  Amanda and Holly discuss the decision in Kennedy v. Bremerton on episode 21 of season 3. Learn more about Greece v. Galloway on our page dedicated to the case, available at this link. It includes a link to our friend-of-the-court brief and other resources. BJC's Nan Futrell Liles wrote about the constitutional anomaly in the 1983 case of Marsh v. Chambers in this column from 2013: A legal look at local government prayer   Segment 2 (starting at 20:56): The decision and the dissent in Greece v. Galloway Read Justice Anthony Kennedy's decision in Greece v. Galloway and Justice Elena Kagan's dissent at this link.   Segment 3 (starting at 30:41): The problems with this new ‘history' test Read the Kennedy v. Bremerton opinion and dissent at this link. Amanda and Holly mentioned two recent disputes about prayer in local government meetings. Here are news articles covering them: Alabama: Anti-LGBTQ comments in Mobile raise questions about prayer before public meetings by John Sharp for AL.com Connecticut: Enfield school board meetings no longer begin with prayer following complaint by Susan Danseyar and Eric Bedner for CT Insider. Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC. 

What happens when you talk about Christian nationalism with the president of the Southern Baptist Convention, a historian who wrote a book on white evangelical racism, and the lead organizer of Christians Against Christian Nationalism? Find out as we bring you portions of a panel conversation recorded in September during the Texas Tribune Festival. The Rev. Dr. Bart Barber, Dr. Anthea Butler, and Amanda Tyler talk about Christian nationalism's connection to the January 6 attack, Baptist history, American history, Christian citizenship, and much more. You might hear surprising areas of agreement in this honest, in-depth, and animated conversation. Segment 1 (starting at 02:35): Introduction to today's show We are playing excerpts from a conversation from the Texas Tribune Festival, recorded on September 22, 2023.  The participants are: Amanda Tyler, executive director of BJC, lead organizer of Christians Against Christian Nationalism, and co-host of Respecting Religion Rev. Dr. Bart Barber, president of the Southern Baptist Convention and pastor of First Baptist Church of Farmersville, Texas Dr. Anthea Butler, the Geraldine R. Segal Professor in American Social Thought and chair of the Religious Studies Department at the University of Pennsylvania. She is the author of White Evangelical Racism: The Politics of Morality in America Moderator Robert Downen, Texas Tribune reporter covering democracy and threats to it; previously, he covered religion at the Houston Chronicle Amanda shared a video clip of the conversation on her X account, which you can view here. The Bloudy Tenet of Persecution was written by Roger Williams in 1644.   Segment 2 (starting at 11:59): The overlaps of Christian nationalism Read more about the push in Texas to install public school “chaplains” at this link: BJConline.org/publicschoolchaplains     Segment 3 (starting at 19:24): The draw of Christian nationalism and Christian involvement in politics Dr. Butler's book is White Evangelical Racism: The Politics of Morality in America. You can read the Southern Baptist Convention's statement of faith at this link. Article XVII is about religious liberty.   Segment 4 (starting at 31:23): Christian nationalism in churches and in politics Read the Christians Against Christian Nationalism statement and learn more about the campaign at this link.   Segment 5 (starting at 37:21): Christian nationalism and the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol Read the report on Christian Nationalism and the January 6, 2021, Insurrection at this link. It was produced by BJC and the Freedom From Religion Foundation, and features contributions from Amanda Tyler and Dr. Anthea Butler, along with many others. Read the letter submitted to the January 6 Select Committee from Christian leaders at this link. Watch Rep. Jared Huffman's floor speech about Christian nationalism here. Watch Amanda Tyler's testimony to Congress on Christian nationalism here. She discusses it in episode 9 of season 4 of Respecting Religion.   Segment 6 (starting at 43:51): Differences in Christian nationalism and faith-based advocacy Read the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” at this link. Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC. 

Is the Supreme Court immune from public pressure? What is the role of the government when it comes to nondiscrimination laws, gender identity, and posting Scripture? As we begin season 5 of Respecting Religion, Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman take live questions from an audience on these topics and more. Hear their updates from the summer as they share what we can expect from this new Supreme Court term, as well as how decisions are impacting our country at all levels.    SHOW NOTES: Segment 1 (starting at 1:18): Welcome back for season 5 Amanda spoke about the role of religious nationalism in the Israel-Gaza War this week at a church in Pennsylvania during a previously-scheduled talk on Christian nationalism. “I believe God weeps at the sight of God's children killing one another, and God yearns for peace,” she said. You can watch her remarks here.  Amanda and Holly discussed the decisions in Groff v. DeJoy and 303 Creative v. Elenis in our season 4 finale. Read Holly's column on Groff: The Supreme Court got something right on religion Read more reactions to the Supreme Court's decision striking down race-conscious college admissions in this article from BJC's fall magazine, including the statement from the BJC Center for Faith, Justice and Reconciliation. Holly talked about the new Supreme Court term in this article by Pamela Manson for UPI: Religious liberty cases could land on Supreme Court docket this term Amanda mentioned this op-ed she wrote for CNN: New Texas law deprives families of religious liberty rights Read more about Amanda's move to Texas in her recent column: Faith freedom across the country Segment 2 (starting at 12:00): Questions from our audience The first question referred to remarks Justice Samuel Alito made about supposed hostility to religion in a 2022 speech, which you can watch here. This episode was recorded during Banned Books Week, which took place from October 1-7. Learn more on the website of the American Library Association. Learn more about the troubling law in Texas requiring school boards to vote on creating a “chaplain” program and how you can take action on our website at BJConline.org/publicschoolchaplains Amanda mentioned this statement from the current and former leaders of Texas Baptists denouncing “School Choice Sunday.” Read more in this article by Ken Camp for the Baptist Standard: BGCT leaders call Gov. Abbott's appeal ‘out of bounds' Amanda and Holly had an in-depth discussion on the Respect for Marriage Act in episode 7 of season 4. Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC. 

Season 5 of the Respecting Religion podcast launches in October 2023! Tune in as BJC's Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman discuss the Supreme Court, the continued rise of Christian nationalism, and a multitude of current issues impacting faith freedom for all. Here's a look at a few of the topics covered in season 4, including the ReAwaken America tour, federal regulations about religious expression in school, the National Prayer Breakfast, and various ways the two religion clauses of the First Amendment impact our life and protect the institutional separation of church and state. You can watch this trailer on YouTube at this link: https://youtu.be/MwnSSS6rGfs?feature=shared You can find all episodes of Respecting Religion -- including transcripts -- at RespectingReligion.org or BJConline.org/respectingreligion.

The Supreme Court waited until the last two days of its term to release two decisions with religious liberty implications. On this season 4 finale of the Respecting Religion podcast, Amanda and Holly look at the unanimous clarifying decision in Groff v. DeJoy and the deeply regressive decision in 303 Creative v. Elenis. They discuss the implications of both of these decisions, noting the conspicuous lack of snark in Justice Samuel Alito's Groff decision and Justice Neil Gorsuch's defensive attempt to make his big decision seem not all that remarkable. SHOW NOTES: Segment 1 (starting at 00:38): The clarifying decision in Groff v. DeJoy This season, Amanda and Holly previewed the Groff v. DeJoy case in episode 17 and reviewed the oral arguments in episode 19.  Holly released this statement after the decision on June 29, which was mentioned in this article from SCOTUSblog: Justices rule in favor of evangelical postal worker. Read the decision by Justice Samuel Alito and concurrence by Justice Sonia Sotomayor at this link. For more resources, visit BJC's page on the case: BJConline.org/Groff.   Segment 2 (starting at 13:08): The problems with the 303 Creative v. Elenis decision Amanda and Holly discussed the oral arguments for 303 Creative v. Elenis in episode 8 – an episode we titled “hypotheticals, reeducation, and a preemptive claim.” Read the opinion by Justice Neil Gorsuch and the dissent by Justice Sonia Sotomayor at this link.   Segment 3 (starting at 38:55): Saying farewell to season four Thank you to our listeners and to everyone who contributes to this program. Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.  Visit our website for transcripts of episodes throughout season four: https://bjconline.org/respectingreligion/

It happens in pretty much every administration, but what do you know about federal guidelines on religion in public schools? Holly and Amanda discuss the new release from the Biden administration outlining the different rights of students and teachers, and they share how some are misinterpreting the Kennedy v. Bremerton decision to open the door to more government-sponsored religious exercises. They also look at what we saw happen at the end of the Texas Legislature's session in relation to bills that would impact religious freedom, and they review this week's alarming news that an Oklahoma board voted to fund a religious public charter school.    SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 00:47): What should we pay attention to in the new guidance on religion in public schools? Amanda and Holly discussed the Kennedy v. Bremerton decision in our season finale last year (season 3, ep. 21). You can read BJC's brief and see additional resources at BJConline.org/Bremerton. You can read Holly's column on the new federal guidelines in our summer magazine: Good news on the religious freedom frontlines Read the new guidelines on prayer and religious expression in public schools on the Department of Education's website. You can watch remarks from Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona on YouTube. Amanda and Holly discussed this piece by Linda Wertheimer published by The New Republic: Inside the Christian legal campaign to return prayer to public schools. You can also read it online via The Hechinger Report.   Segment 2 (starting at 20:43): Texas update Amanda and Holly discussed the proposed Ten Commandments legislation in Texas on episode 20 and episode 21 of this season. Holly and Amanda mentioned this piece by Robert Downen for TheTexas Tribune: Unlicensed religious chaplains may counsel students in Texas' public schools after lawmakers OK proposal They also mentioned this piece by Jack Jenkins for Religion News Service: Meet the activists who spearheaded the Texas chaplains bill   Segment 3 (starting at 26:53): New news out of Oklahoma Amanda Tweeted her response – and the response of Oklahoma's attorney general – after the approval of the first-ever religious charter school. Holly mentioned this piece by Sarah Mervosh for The New York Times: Oklahoma Approves First Religious Charter School in the U.S. Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC. 

What does the myth of American “chosenness” mean for different communities and the rise of Christian nationalism? Episcopal Bishop and Cherokee nation member Carol Gallagher, Baptist minister Rev. Darrell Hamilton, and Dr. Michael Hober­man, a scholar of early American Jewish literature and culture, engage in a conversation moderated by the Rev. Dr. Jaimie Crumley, a minister and professor of gender studies and ethnic studies. Dr. Catherine Brekus of Harvard Divinity School joins them, too, as they react to her lecture about how the myth of “chosenness” leads to much of the religious nationalism in our country today, including how scriptures were used to justify colonialism. SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 00:40): Context for this panel Hear Dr. Catherine Brekus' presentation in episode 23, or watch it online. Meet our panelists: The Rt. Rev. Carol Gallagher, Ph.D. serves as the assistant bishop in the Episcopal Church's Diocese of Massachusetts. An enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation, Bishop Gallagher previously served the diocese as a regional canon. Before that, starting in 2014, she served as assistant bishop in the Diocese of Montana, developing relationships with Native leaders and congregations there; educating and training clergy and lay leaders on issues of race, gender and inclusion; and leading the Task Force on Native Issues. Dr. Michael Hober­man teach­es Amer­i­can lit­er­a­ture at Fitch­burg State Uni­ver­si­ty. He is a grad­u­ate of Reed Col­lege and earned his Ph.D. from the Uni­ver­si­ty of Mass­a­chu­setts Amherst. His pre­vi­ous books include A Hundred Acres of America: The Geography of Jewish American Literary History and New Israel/New England: Jews and Puritans in Early America. The Rev. Darrell Hamilton is an ordained Baptist minister and graduate from Wake Forest School of Divinity, where he earned his Master of Divinity in 2017. He earned his degree in Political Science from the University of Central Oklahoma in 2012. Currently, the Rev. Hamilton serves at the First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain as Administrative Pastor and as Protestant Chaplain at Babson College. The Rev. Hamilton was a BJC intern in spring 2016. The Rev. Dr. Jaimie Crumley (moderator) is an Assistant Professor of Gender Studies and Ethnic Studies at the University of Utah. During the 2022-2023 academic year, she is the Research Fellow at Old North Illuminated in Boston. Old North Illuminated is the secular 501(c)(3) that preserves the Old North Church and interprets its history. Her research, teaching, and writing consider the themes of historical memory, race, religion, gender, and abolition. Jaimie is an ordained minister whose ordination is recognized by the American Baptist Churches USA. The Rev. Dr. Crumley is a member of the BJC Board of Directors and of the 2016 class of BJC Fellows. This presentation was the 2023 Walter B. and Kay W. Shurden Lecture on Religious Liberty and Separation of Church and State, an annual lecture series sponsored by BJC. It took place at Old North Church in Boston.    Segment 2 (starting at 1:39): The panel conversation You can also watch the panel at this link. During the conversation, Dr. Crumley mentioned this piece by Dr. Brekus on American “chosenness.” Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC. 

How does the myth of America being a “chosen” nation lead to the religious nationalism we see today? 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 the ways that the recent surge of white Christian nationalism reflects a deep uneasiness about the loss of Christian privilege in this country.   SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 00:47): Meet Dr. Catherine Brekus Dr. Catherine Brekus is Charles Warren Professor of the History of Religion in America at Harvard Divinity School, Chair of the Committee on the Study of Religion in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and an associate member of the Program in American Studies and the Department of History. Her research focuses on the relationship between religion and American culture, with particular emphasis on the history of women, gender, Christianity, and the evangelical movement. Currently, she is writing a book about the relationship between American nationalism and Christianity and co-authoring a biography of Sarah Edwards (1710-1758) with Harry Stout and Ken Minkema. Read more about her on Harvard Divinity School's website.  This presentation was the 2023 Walter B. and Kay W. Shurden Lecture on Religious Liberty and Separation of Church and State, an annual lecture series sponsored by BJC. Dr. Brekus gave this presentation at Old North Church in Boston.    Segment 2 (starting at 2:30): The myth of American ‘chosenness'  You can watch the presentation online at this link. Dr. Brekus' presentation was followed by a panel discussion that included Dr. Brekus; The Rt. Rev. Carol Gallagher, PhD; the Rev. Darrell Hamilton; and Dr. Michael Hober­man. It was moderated by the Rev. Dr. Jaimie Crumley. Our next episode will bring you their conversation. Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.