Podcast appearances and mentions of john fea

Both David and Bob are history buffs. But studying history is not as simple as watching a documentary, a biopic, or reading a bestselling narrative history. We need to be aware of how historians actually do their craft, and use those same tools as we watch and read. Some use history to advance their political agendas, while others just echo ideas that are not substantiated by historical scholarship. Armchair historians can often get it very wrong. How should Christians study history? Christians are a people of the Truth, so how do we know what is legitimate history? How do we reintegrate our faith with our understanding of the past?Our guest is Dr. John Fea, Distinguished Professor of American History at Messiah University in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. He has recently released the second edition of his book, Why Study History?: Reflecting on the Importance of the Past (Baker Academic, 2024). In this book, he talks about what historians do, what bad history looks like, and how studying history can be a form of spiritual formation.Scroll down to learn more about Dr. John Fea. Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite app!Thanks for listening!Please share this podcast with your friends. Your hosts are Dr. Bob Robinson and David Loughney.Go to re-integrate.org for further resources on reintegrating all of life with God's mission. John Fea, Ph.D.John Fea's essays and reviews on the history of American culture have appeared in numerous journals and magazines. John speaks regularly at universities, academic conferences, churches, school and teacher groups, civic groups, and historical societies and has appeared on NBC News, CNN, C-SPAN, National Public Radio, and dozens of radio programs nationwide.John writes about American history, religion, politics, and academic life at his blog housed in the online magazine Current.John Fea has authored several other books, including Was America Founded as a Christian Nation? (Westminster/John Knox Press, 2011), and Believe Me: The Evangelical Road to Donald Trump (Eerdmans, June 2018). John was on two previous episodes of the Reintegrate Podcast, discussing these two books: here and here. Get full access to Bob Robinson's Substack at bobrobinsonre.substack.com/subscribe

In April 2012, Thomas Nelson published The Jefferson Lies, a book about Thomas Jefferson written by David Barton. By August of the same year, the publisher had removed the book from publication. What happened?This series tells that story and so much more. Just over a decade later, the Speaker of the House of Representatives declared his thanks to the same David Barton for his work in history. This series explores how historical revisionism persists even when it can be demonstrated that the facts are not there. First, I provide some context for the current characters. In this initial installment, I go back and pick up the origin story of David Barton and his entrance into Christian nation storytelling. Although he has no academic preparation as a historian, that fact hasn't dissuaded evangelicals from flocking to hear him. As is sometimes the case, evangelicals use religious similarity as a misleading signal of expertise. This sets up the story of how The Jefferson Lies was pulled from publication and the role of Getting Jefferson Right in that event. More broadly, the expert historians and scholars I have interviewed will help us understand the pitfalls of Christian nationalism and the revisionist history which sustains it. Ultimately in the series, I want to explore the remarkable American story of religious pluralism and freedom of conscience. In this episode, Julie Ingersoll, John Fea, Rob Boston,  and Gregg Frazer provide insightful commentary.  Show Notes:Danbury Baptists and the wall of separation (links)The letter from the Danbury Baptist Association to Thomas JeffersonJefferson's letter to the Danbury BaptistsTrends in violent crime (links)American Homicide by Randolph RothLong-term Historical Trends in Violent Crime by Manuel EisnerA crime puzzle: Violent crime declines in America by Claude FischerThe Bible in Schools and Violent Crime by Warren Throckmorton Theme song: The World Awaits Us All - Roman CandleClosing song: The Fight From Me - Greg ThornburyBackground music: Jonathan Swaim, Roman Candle, Warren ThrockmortonI want to thank Mike Cosper for wisdom and advice. I want to thank Greg Thornbury, Roman Candle, and Jonathan Swaim for sharing their advice and talents. 

The chaos of 2023 Congressional politics in perspective of history - that's the subject of my conversation with Dr. David Schultz in this episode, during which I ask him the following questions: What stood out for him in the political chaos of 2023? What period of American history resembles our current moment? Whatever happened to decorum and statesmanship in Congress? What does he mean by the hyper-masculine nature of Trumpism? How does Taylor Swift's music relate to current politics? What is Politainment? What do Europeans think of America's politics now? Because Dr. Schultz has correctly projected every US presidential election for more than two decades, I ask him: who is going to win? Dr. Schultz is a Distinguished University Professor in the Departments of Political Science, Environmental Studies, and Legal Studies at Hamline University. He is also an adjunct professor of Law at the University of Minnesota and at the University of St. Thomas. He is a four-time Fulbright scholar who has taught extensively in Europe and Asia, and the winner of the Leslie A. Whittington National Award for excellence in public affairs teaching. Dr. Schultz is the author of more than 200 articles and 45 books on various aspects of American politics, election law, and the media and politics. In this episode, we talk about one of his books: Trumpism: American Politics In The Age of Politainment. Also, listen to Dr. Schultz explain America's polarized politics and its impact on US elections:  https://bit.ly/HbN-S2E39s I hope you enjoy these episodes. Adel, host & producer ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠History Behind News⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ podcast & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Unravelling the Middle East: This new special series - an in-depth history and analysis of the Middle East - will launch in late January. Get Unravelling the Middle East ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Castbox⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠iHeart Radio⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Amazon Music⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Radio Public⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SUPPORT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here⁠ and join⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our other supporters in the news peeler community. Thank you.

The Atlantic staff writer Tim Alberta examined the evangelical movement in America and its intersection with political issues. He was interviewed by Messiah University history professor and author John Fea. Make your donation at: c-span.org/donate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Atlantic staff writer Tim Alberta examined the evangelical movement in America and its intersection with political issues. He was interviewed by Messiah University history professor and author John Fea. Make your donation at: c-span.org/donate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Fea is taking on the history of Christianity and American politics in the 21st century. In three volumes. In this (single) episode, we talk about this tremendous task that John is undertaking and also get his thoughts on why the political Christian right came to feel disappointed in the Bush administration, why they later rallied around Donald Trump, and what this might mean for American politics moving forward. Dr. John Fea is Professor of History at Messiah University & author of multiple books including Was America Founded as a Christian Nation?: A Historical Introduction (Westminster John Knox Press, 2011). He posts regularly on American history, religion, politics, and academic life at his blog, The Way of Improvement Leads Home and hosts the podcast of the same name on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all podcast players. You can also hear him discuss his book Was America Founded as a Christian Nation in episode #222 and Why the 1776 Report Still Matters in episode #188.   This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.

On February 2, we'll see the 71st installment of an event that always raises eyebrows and makes news. The National Prayer Breakfast has been around since 1953, but what is it? Does it promote religious freedom, or is it yet another example of Christian nationalism? Amanda and Holly explore the legitimate questions it raises about faith in public life and the relationship between the institutions of government and religion. They also share their thoughts on what we should do about the National Prayer Breakfast and the key differences between it and the National Day of Prayer.   SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 00:47): Exploring the National Prayer Breakfast from various angles  You can email Amanda and Holly at RespectingReligion@BJConline.org Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC. Use that link so we know your gift supports the podcast! Listen to Amanda and Holly's conversation on the National Prayer Breakfast during the very first episode of Respecting Religion in February 2020 at this link. Their discussion of the event begins at 28:44 into the episode. Amanda and Holly mentioned this op-ed in The Washington Post by Albert Brooks, who was the keynote speaker at the 2020 National Prayer Breakfast: Trump and I disagreed at the National Prayer Breakfast. But we listened to each other Throughout its history, the National Prayer Breakfast has been hosted by The Fellowship Foundation, also known as “The Family.” You can visit their website at this link.  As mentioned, this year a newly-created nonprofit will be the official host of the National Prayer Breakfast. “The Family” will host a large event at the same time that includes a livestream. Read more in this Religion News Service article by Adelle Banks and Jack Jenkins: National Prayer Breakfast breaks from ‘The Family' with new organization Amanda and Holly mentioned this 2022 article by Jack Jenkins for Religion News Service: Sen. Chris Coons: This year's National Prayer Breakfast is a ‘reset'   Segment 2 (starting at 25:21): History, controversies, and the proper relationship between religion and government Amanda and Holly discussed the Johnson Amendment in season 2, episode 4: Grading the Trump administration on religious freedom (starting around 09:50 in that episode). You can also read more about BJC's work defending the protections of the Johnson Amendment  Journalist Jeff Sharlet wrote a book titled “The Family” in 2009 about the Fellowship Foundation, including the National Prayer Breakfast. In August 2019, Netflix released a 5-episode series called “The Family.” You can read John Fea's review of the Netflix series that ran in The Washington Post.    Segment 3 (starting at 32:12): What's the difference between the National Prayer Breakfast and the National Day of Prayer? Amanda quoted Brent Walker and quoted Holly from this BJC press release in 2011 about the National Day of Prayer.  Amanda tweeted about attending the White House's naturalization ceremony, held on Religious Freedom Day. See her tweets about attending here, including a clip from Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff's speech.  Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC. 

“Congress shall pass no law respecting an establishment of religion.” The establishment clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution is cited as the basis for the separation between church and state. However a growing Christian Nationalist movement in politics believes America was founded as a Christian Nation and should return to it Christian roots. Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert of Colorado, said at a religious service Sunday: “The church is supposed to direct the government. The government is not supposed to direct the church. That is not how our Founding Fathers intended it.” She added: “I'm tired of this separation of church and state junk that's not in the Constitution. It was in a stinking letter, and it means nothing like what they say it does.” Is that an example of Christian Nationalism? John Fea, Distinguished Professor of American History at Messiah University appears on Wednesday's Smart Talk to discuss Christian Nationalism in politics. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, our 100th, host John Fea delivers his 2022 Conference on Faith and History presidential address. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today, we are covering two topics almost guaranteed to make that Thanksgiving dinner more awkward than it already was: religion and politics, or more specifically for this episode: Church and State.If we're going to talk about a bully pulpit, then we've got to talk about the pulpit part of this equation. But we're also going there because the question of the relationship between church and state is as old as the country.Thus, we begin this episode by examining George Washington and Thomas Jefferson's major speeches, public proclamations, and even reading some of the president's mail. From these founding presidents, we get a strong sense of where this church and state conversation started. We then fast forward to the Cold War and the War on Terror, to consider how these conflicts caused Americans to ask familiar questions:What is the relationship supposed to be between church and state? What is the difference between religious toleration and religious freedom? What role, if any, does the president play in shaping these ideas? We are pleased to welcome Dr. John Fea to discuss the founding era with us. Dr. Fea is professor of American history at Messiah University. To learn about more recent religious history, we turned to Dr. Lauren Turek, Associate Professor of History at Trinity University.

Bob speaks with Messiah College's John Fea about Christianity in Early America and the ways that the founders viewed the relationship between faith and politics. Fea outlines the “5 Cs” of history, the importance of approaching history with an open mind, and explains why he thinks the title of his book Was America Founded as a Christian Nation? may not be the question in approaching Christianity's role in the establishment of the United States. John Fea is Professor of American History and Chair of the Department of History at Messiah College and host of the podcast The Way of Improvement Leads Home. He is the author or editor of four books, including Was America Founded as a Christian Nation: A Historical Introduction (Westminster/ John Knox Press, 2011) & Why Study History?: Reflecting on the Importance of the Past (Baker Academic, 2013) and his essays and reviews have appeared in a variety of scholarly and popular venues. This episode originally aired in February 2018 as part of RTN Theology #2. We are releasing it as RTN #222 because it's an important conversation that we think should be featured on both feeds. A full list of RTN Theology episodes are available anywhere you're listening to The Road to Now.

Messiah College professor John Fea teaches a class on the 18th-century enlightenment movement, which included natural rights, reason, and self-improvement principles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Truth Over Tribe, host Keith Simon and guest John Fea discuss whether or not America was founded as a Christian nation. John is a professor of American History at Messiah College and author of multiple books, including "The Way of Improvement Leads Home: Philip Vickers Fithian and the Rural Enlightenment in America." Diving further into American history, Keith and John discuss Christian nationalism and dissect the phrase "Make America Great Again." Was there a time when America was better than it is today? Lastly, we take a look at how the meaning of evangelicalism has evolved over the years. Listen now!

John Fea, professor of American history at Messiah University and executive editor of Current, talks with Word&Way President Brian Kaylor about contemporary politics and how history informs our understanding of it. He also discusses his books Was America Founded as a Christian Nation? and Believe Me: The Evangelical Road to Donald Trump. Also mentioned is a CBS News documentary that both Kaylor and Fea were in earlier this year. Note: Don't forget to check out our subscriber e-newsletter A Public Witness that helps you make sense of faith, culture, and politics.

Joe & Eric are joined by special guest, Dr. John Fea of Messiah University. Dr. Fea is a Distinguished Professor of History, an author, podcaster, blogger, and frequent contributor with publications like the New York Times, Washington Post, and others.

Over the last century, we've baked politics, masculinity, and religion together. In this episode, Keith interviews https://kristindumez.com/ (Dr. Kristin Kobes Du Mez) about her book https://kristindumez.com/books/jesus-and-john-wayne/ (Jesus and John Wayne). She explores how evangelical concepts of masculinity and political playbook merged together to bring about the rise of Donald Trump. If you like this episode, make sure not to miss https://www.thecrossingchurch.com/podcasts/is-it-okay-for-christians-to-be-nationalists/ (Is It Okay for Christians to be Nationalists?) Like this content? Make sure to leave us a rating and share it with others, so others can find it too. To learn more, visit our https://www.thecrossingchurch.com/ (website) and follow us on https://www.facebook.com/TenMinuteBibleTalks (Facebook), https://www.instagram.com/thecrossingcomo/ (Instagram), and https://twitter.com/tmbtpodcast (Twitter) @TheCrossingCOMO and @TenMinuteBibleTalks. Outline 0:15 - Follow our new https://twitter.com/tmbtpodcast (Twitter) account @tmbtpodcast 0:35 - Special guest https://kristindumez.com/ (Dr. Kristin Kobes Du Mez): author of https://kristindumez.com/books/jesus-and-john-wayne/ (Jesus and John Wayne) 4:00 - John Elredge's https://wildatheart.org/ (Wild at Heart) 6:25 - Rise of evangelical masculinity 10:10 - Shift in national values and movements 1950s - 1960s 13:00 - Modern political realignment of 1960s and 1970s 13:30 - Jimmy Carter vs. Ronald Reagan 17:15 - The connection between Jesus and John Wayne 19:30 - Defining "evangelical" 27:45 - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52509088-taking-america-back-for-god (Taking Back America for God) by Andrew Whitehead and Samuel Perry 31:40 - Book recommendations 32:45 - Upcoming book: Live, Laugh, Love 33:45 - Follow Kristin Kobe Du Mez on https://twitter.com/kkdumez (Twitter) and https://www.facebook.com/kkdumez/ (Facebook) 34:30 - Subscribe. Rate. Share. Social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TenMinuteBibleTalks (https://www.facebook.com/TenMinuteBibleTalks) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecrossingcomo/ (https://www.instagram.com/thecrossingcomo/) Twitter: https://twitter.com/tmbtpodcast (https://twitter.com/tmbtpodcast) References Dr. Kristin Kobe Du Mez: https://kristindumez.com/ (https://kristindumez.com/) Jesus and John Wayne: https://kristindumez.com/books/jesus-and-john-wayne/ (https://kristindumez.com/books/jesus-and-john-wayne/) Wild at Heart: https://wildatheart.org/ (https://wildatheart.org/) Taking Back America for God: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52509088-taking-america-back-for-god (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52509088-taking-america-back-for-god) The Myth of Christian America by Greg Boyd: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/77832.The_Myth_of_a_Christian_Nation (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/77832.The_Myth_of_a_Christian_Nation) Believe Me by John Fea: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/36430425 (https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/36430425) A Church Called Tov by Scot McKnight and Laura Barringer: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/51979066-a-church-called-tov (https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/51979066-a-church-called-tov) After Evangelicalism by David Gushee: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52674977-after-evangelicalism (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52674977-after-evangelicalism) Kristine Kobe Du Mez on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kkdumez/ (https://www.facebook.com/kkdumez/) Kristin Kobe Du Mez on Twitter: https://twitter.com/kkdumez (https://twitter.com/kkdumez)  Related Is It Okay for Christians to be Nationalists?: https://www.thecrossingchurch.com/podcasts/is-it-okay-for-christians-to-be-nationalists/ (https://www.thecrossingchurch.com/podcasts/is-it-okay-for-christians-to-be-nationalists/) 4 Signs You've Turning Politics Into an Idol: https://www.thecrossingchurch.com/podcasts/4-signs-youve-turned-politics-into-an-idol/... Support this podcast

One of Joe Biden's first acts as President of the United States was to sign an executive order that disbanded his predecessor's advisory committee to promote “patriotic education.” This came just two days after the so-called 1776 Commission had published its report, leading many critics to see the report as old news. In reality though, the 1776 report is indicative of social and political forces that transcend Trump's time in office. In this episode Bob and Ben talk with historian John Fea about the content of the report, how it relates to the New York Times 1619 Project, and the many problems that come from setting out to write a “patriotic history.” John Fea is a Professor of History at Messiah University and author of the blog/host of the podcast, The Way of Improvement Leads Home. You can follow him on twitter at @JohnFea1. Hear Bob Crawford's first conversation w/ John Fea in RTN Theology #2: Was America Founded as a Christian Nation? This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher. The Road to Now is part of the Osiris Podcast Network.

Join me as I sit down with author Brian Zhand and filmmakers David and Kathi Peters about their upcoming documentary, Postcards from Babylon. Postcards From Babylon is a documentary featuring author and pastor Brian Zahnd as he investigates possibly the most important question for the church in North America today, a church often characterized by Christian Nationalism: How does the church stay faithful to the beautiful way of Jesus while situated in one of the most divisive political climates in our nation’s history? The film, based on his popular book of the same name, begins with Brian some 350 miles into his 500-mile pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago in Spain. He walks “the Camino” in spiritual pilgrimage as preparation for the mental mayhem of the 2020 US election cycle. It’s against the backdrop of the elections that Brian exposes how the church in America has succumbed to the seduction of empire and has entangled Christianity with the Red, White, and Blue.  Prioritizing American Nationalism and partisan political agendas have “Trumped” the way of Jesus.​ The parallel between the modern-day United States of America and Biblical Babylon is one that is rarely drawn. Brian exposes the viewer to the culture war antics of evangelicals who rely on fear and scapegoating rather than the disarming qualities of humility, grace, and inclusion.  Evangelical alliance with American politics is distorting the core message of the cross and damaging the witness of Christ both nationally and internationally. The film’s crew journeys to places around the United States of America leading them deep into the heart of the story. John Fea, a history professor at Messiah College, gives his perspective on the history of Christians in America and explains the deep divide in America as Christians take sides in partisan politics. Jon Huckins, director of The Global Immersion Project, takes a team of people to the San Diego/ Tijuana, Mexico border for a three-day immersion experience.  Jon shows how immigration policies are creating harsh and dangerous situations for refugees seeking asylum. Brian Zahnd sits with Walter Brueggemann as Walter shares concerns for how the evangelical church has been tainted by its proximity to political power. Mark Galli (former editor of Christianity today) and Napp Nazworth engage in a panel discussion with students at Eastern University on the troubling issues related to journalism and the pursuit of truth for people of faith. Pete Wehner from the Ethics and Public Policy Center makes his way through the streets of Washington DC pondering the effect of the current state of politics on the emerging generation. Worship Pastor Daniel Deitrich sings his original song Hymn to the 81%, a heartfelt cry to his white evangelical friends to “come home” to the way of love and justice. ​Postcards from Babylon premieres online with an exclusive pre-release online ticketed showing streaming live January 21st at 7:00 p.m local time. YOU CAN BUY TICKETS HERE: LIVE.POSTCARDSDOC.COM To find out more information about the film: For more on Brian Zhand and his work: BrianZahnd.com For more on David and Kathi Peters: www.GlobalStoryFilms.com COME ALONG FOR THE RIDE AS WE SKEWER THROUGH LIFE, CULTURE, AND SPIRITUALITY IN THE FACE OF A CHANGING WORLD.

We’re starting the new year with a look back. John Fea, history professor from Messiah College, author of “Believe Me: The Evangelical Road to Donald Trump,” and the official historian of the Holy Post podcast, says 2020 was a year that “unveiled” the truth about American evangelicalism. He also explores how different court evangelicals have responded to Trump’s loss, and what may happen next. Fea also looks at Phil’s recent video about the history of evangelicalism, and how the Second Great Awakening shaped so much of what we’re seeing today. Also this week—Skye goes skiing and Phil replaces Plinky Pete.

This special bonus episode is a chat with Dr John Fea, professor of American history at Messiah College in Pennsylvania--and although he's an evangelical, he is a prominent voice who has been speaking out for years about what he terms the "court evangelicals" surrounding Donald Trump.  Dr Fea is also the author of multiple books and articles, but I wanted to focus on two works: first, his 2011 book Was America Founded as a Christian Nation: A Historical Perspective, and his more recent work, Believe Me: The Evangelical Road to Donald Trump (2018). Dr Fea and I dissect not only the myths of Christian nationalism, but discuss the role that dominion theology and power politics have shaped the Christian Right and evangelical support for Donald Trump. Help Support Independent Media Like MindShift Podcast on Patreon! Contact Information The Way of Improvement Leads Home Blog Follow Dr John Fea on Twitter @JohnFea1 Follow me on Twitter @MindShift2018

(00:00-09:00): Ronald Sider and Richard Mouw write “We are pro-life evangelicals for Biden” in Christian Post. They provide perspective and evidence that Joe Biden’s administration is more pro-life overall than Trump’s (09:00-37:49): We were joined this hour by Author and U.S. Director of Church Mobilization and Advocacy for World Relief and as the National Coordinator for the Evangelical Immigration Table, Matt Soerens. Already with a loaded resume, Matt advocates for both action with understanding and compassion for refugees. World Relief joined with our parent organization, the National Association of Evangelicals, to publish a statement this (by 10/14, next) week in the Washington Post called A Call to Civic Responsibility For the Health of the Nation. In a contentious and polarizing electoral season when we think many outside and even inside of American evangelicalism have a rather narrow view of what it means for evangelical Christians to engage politically, the goal of this statement is to call evangelicals of all political affiliations – Democrats, Republicans, and Independents – to ground our engagement in our commitment to the authority of the Bible. (37:49-46:54): John Fea writes in The Way of Improvement “What James Dobson Said in 1998 About Moral Character and the Presidency”. PLUS, Brian refers to remarks from John MacArthur back in 2016 about how "Morality doesn't define us anymore". (46:54-56:22): We were joined by Senior Vice President, National Program Development at Salem Media Group, Chris Gould. This year, due to the pandemic and our inability in many cities to host gatherings in person, Salem Media Group is showing our appreciation the entire month of October by bringing ministry leaders and pastors a virtual program. Each Thursday, beginning October 1st, we will release a new virtual program featuring national speakers, music artists, and local pastors and ministry leaders encouraging one another to continue to fight the good fight during these frustrating and uncertain times. To register, please click here now. (56:22-1:05:07): Irwin Ince writes “The Call—and Cost—of Beautiful Church Community” in The Gospel Coalition. Brian discusses this and how important it is to have diverse and welcoming community as a Christian. (1:05:07-1:13:48): Luke Holmes writes “4 Ways Social Media Can Be Leveraged For Discipleship” in LifeWay.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Fea is a Distinguished Professor of American History at Messiah University. He is a recognized expert on the historical influence of evangelicalism in American culture and an award-winning author. His book Was America Founded as a Christian Nation? (2011) won the Foreword Reviews/INDIEFAB Book of the Year in religion. Fea is a featured Geneva Visiting Artist and Lecture Series (GVALS) for Constitution Day

John Fea is a Distinguished Professor of American History at Messiah University. He is a recognized expert on the historical influence of evangelicalism in American culture and an award-winning author. His book Was America Founded as a Christian Nation? (2011) won the Foreword Reviews/INDIEFAB Book of the Year in religion. Fea is a featured speaker for Geneva's Artist and Lecture Series (GVALS) for Constitution Day.

In this podcast, we continue our discussion with Dr. John Fea. Professor of American History at Messiah University. He provides a historical framework for understanding the rise of the Religious Right and the political environment that led to evangelicals embracing Donald Trump in the 2016 election. We discuss the political playbook of the Religious Right that has limited the strategy to overturning Roe v Wade with Supreme Court justices. This framework for political engagement doesn’t ask wider questions like, What can we do to reduce abortions to the point that women no longer see a need to have one? or How can Christians best live and witness for Jesus in a pluralistic society? Dr. John Fea received his Ph.D. in American History from Stony Brook University. He is a sought-after writer and speaker and has written for several publications, including The Atlantic, Christianity Today, The Washington Post, USA Today, Fox News, Vox, Religion News Service, and several other publications. He has appeared on NBC News, CNN, C-SPAN, MSNBC, NPR, and dozens of radio programs across the country. Dr. Fea has a popular daily blog called “The Way of Improvement Leads Home” which offers reflections on the intersection of American history, religion, politics, and academic life. https://thewayofimprovement.com/ He also hosts a podcast with the same name. https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/the-way-of-improvement-leads-home?selected=ADL6403914481 His books include the book he named his blog and podcast after, The Way of Improvement Leads Home: Philip Vickers Fithian and the Rural Enlightenment in Early America. He has also written a college textbook Why Study History?: Reflecting on the Importance of the Past and the history book we discussed on the previous episode, Was America Founded as a Christian Nation? In this podcast, we discuss some of the ideas he shares in his latest book, Believe Me: The Evangelical Road to Donald Trump, of which Publishers Weekly wrote, “Clear, concise, and convincing… Fea uses his training as a historian to trace a chronology of the evangelical attraction to political power…and offers an alternative way (relying on hope and humility) for evangelical leaders to think about their relation to power.” https://believe-me-book.com/ Please consider purchasing these books from our friends Beth and Byron Borger, independent bookstore owners of Hearts and Minds Bookstore. https://www.heartsandmindsbooks.com/booknotes/ Thanks for listening! Go to https://www.re-integrate.org/ for years’ worth of articles on reintegrating your callings with God’s mission, resources for further learning, links to the Reintegrate YouTube channel, and more. On Reintegrate’s podcast page, you’ll find ways to email us or call us to comment on this podcast. https://www.re-integrate.org/reintegrate-podcast/ If you like this podcast, please subscribe and write a quick review at Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app to encourage others to listen too!

The idea that America was founded to be a Christian nation is a presumption that many evangelical Christians have. It is no wonder, since so many conservative preachers and teachers perpetuate the myth, including Robert Jeffress, Eric Metaxas, and David Barton. Dr. John Fea, Distinguished Professor of American History at Messiah University, wrote a detailed history book on the subject and provides insight and analysis on what the founders actually believed and what they were attempting to do in the founding of the United States. He says that Christians should be seeking the truth about history, and not allow those with political agendas to use the past for their purposes. If we are going to have a positive influence in our country, it should not be based on a foundational myth. Dr. John Fea received his Ph.D. in American History from Stony Brook University and before that his Master of Arts in Church History and Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He is a sought-after writer and speaker and has written for several publications, including The Atlantic, Christianity Today, The Washington Post, USA Today, Fox News, Vox, Religion News Service, and several other publications. He has appeared on NBC News, CNN, C-SPAN, MSNBC, NPR, and dozens of radio programs across the country. Dr. Fea has a very popular daily blog called “The Way of Improvement Leads Home” which offers reflections at the intersection of American history, religion, politics, and academic life. https://thewayofimprovement.com/ He also hosts a podcast with the same name. https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/the-way-of-improvement-leads-home?selected=ADL6403914481 His books include the book he named his blog and podcast after, The Way of Improvement Leads Home: Philip Vickers Fithian and the Rural Enlightenment in Early America. He has also written a college textbook Why Study History?: Reflecting on the Importance of the Past. The book we discuss in this podcast is Was America Founded as a Christian Nation?, written in 2011 and revised in 2016 (WJK). https://www.wjkbooks.com/Products/066426249X/was-america-founded-as-a-christian-nation-revised-edition.aspx Please consider purchasing these books from our friends Beth and Byron Borger, independent bookstore owners of Hearts and Minds Bookstore. https://www.heartsandmindsbooks.com/booknotes/ Thanks for listening! Go to https://www.re-integrate.org/ for years’ worth of articles on reintegrating your callings with God’s mission, resources for further learning, links to the Reintegrate YouTube channel, and more. On Reintegrate’s podcast page, you’ll find ways to email us or call us to comment on this podcast. https://www.re-integrate.org/reintegrate-podcast/ If you like this podcast, please subscribe and write a quick review at Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app to encourage others to listen too!

Brad Raley sits down with Dr. Gary Poe, chair of the history department at Palm Beach Atlantic University, to talk about the influence of the early church on today's Christian faith and the role of Christianity in American politics. Books, authors discussed on the show: John Fea, "https://www.amazon.com/Believe-Me-Evangelical-Donald-Trump/dp/0802876412 (Believe me: The Evangelical Road to Donald Trump)" https://johnpavlovitz.com/ (John Pavolovitz), Wake Forest, N.C., pastor/author, Twitter: @johnpavlovitz Beth Moore: https://www.tyndale.com/sites/chasingvines/ (Chasing Vines), Twitter: @BethMooreLPM Also follow Laurie and Brad on social media: @laurievolkmann @streaksfriend

The grip conservative evangelicalism has on American social and political life is hard to overestimate. Committed Christian and author Jemar Tisby was joined by historians of religion John Fea and Molly Worthen to help answer the question: what exactly is the relationship between conservative evangelicalism and America today? *Originally broadcast on December 4, 2019.

John Fea is a historian at Messiah College, and a self-identifying evangelical Christian who recently wrote the book, “Believe Me: The Evangelical Road to Donald Trump”.

In this new episode of Schenck Talks Bonhoeffer, Rev. Rob Schenck talks to Dr. John Fea regarding his book, “Believe Me: The Evangelical Road to Trump.” As an evangelical, Dr. Fea tells why it is important to learn from history, and to see why the path that American evangelicals have taken is a dangerous road -- both for the witness of the Gospel and for the trajectory of the role of faith in public life.

In the second installment of RTN Theology, Bob speaks with Messiah College’s John Fea about Christianity in Early America and the ways that the founders viewed the relationship between faith and politics. Fea outlines the “5 Cs” of history, the importance of approaching history with an open mind, and explains why he thinks the title of his book Was America Founded as a Christian Nation? may not be the question in approaching Christianity’s role in the establishment of the United States. Ian Skotte also contributes his thoughts on Christian relics and why he sees authenticity as less important than faith in people’s relationship to material objects. John Fea is Professor of American History and Chair of the Department of History at Messiah College and host of the podcast The Way of Improvement Leads Home. He is the author or editor of four books, including Was America Founded as a Christian Nation: A Historical Introduction (Westminster/ John Knox Press, 2011) & Why Study History?: Reflecting on the Importance of the Past (Baker Academic, 2013) and his essays and reviews have appeared in a variety of scholarly and popular venues. The Road to Now is part of the Osiris Podcast Network. For more on our podcast and this episode, visit our website: www.TheRoadToNow.com.

If you know anything about John Fea, it's that when it comes to rock and roll, his tastes begin and end with the Boss. So when he heard that a new Springsteen exhibit was opening in his hometown of Freehold, New Jersey, John couldn't help but give himself a Christmas present and dedicate an episode to the exhibit. He is joined by the museum's curator and Monmouth University historian, Melissa Ziobro. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Americans are undoubtedly familiar with the harrowing journey made by freedom seekers escaping enslavement that we have termed the "Underground Railroad." Sadly, historians are only now becoming equally aware of a "Reverse Underground Railroad," in which free black people from the North were kidnapped and sold into slavery in the Deep South. Historian Richard Bell tells the story of one such kidnapping in his new book Stolen, and joins John Fea to talk about it on this week's podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Military history is changing. While Father's Day gifts still tend to focus on troop movements and great generals, military historians in the academy are instead turning to subjects like the lives of veterans, the effects of war on the home front, and minorities in the military. One such military historian is John Fea's newest colleague at Messiah College, Dr. Sarah Myers (@DrSarahMyers), who researches the Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASP. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who knew that evangelical Christianity and the emergence of the American oil industry were so intimately linked? In this episode, host John Fea explores what it means to be an evangelical and whether scholarly debates over the term help us to better understand the role played by evangelicals throughout American history. He is joined by Notre Dame historian Darren Dochuk, who discusses his new book, Anointed with Oil: How Christianity and Crude Made Modern America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How Baptists viewed the American Revolution before, during, and after the war. Recommended reading on the topics discussed in this episode: Baptists in America: A History by Thomas Kidd and Barry Hankins Was America Founded as a Christian Nation? by John Fea

Ben Howe examines whether evangelicals are choosing political power over Christian values. He's interviewed by author and history professor John Fea. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Buckle your seatbelts. While promoting his new VeggieTales show, Phil was asked about LGBTs in kids’ media. Now everyone from Ben Shapiro to The Advocate is responding. Phil’s off the cuff remarks have made him a hero to some and a villain to others. This week he explains why he’s neither, and how both sides of the culture war twist things to fit their biases. Then Skye interviews official Holy Post historian, John Fea, about the new Netflix documentary series “The Family.” Is there really a secret society of evangelicals inflitrating world governments? Fea offers both history and perspective on the shadowy group behind the National Prayer Breakfast and explains what the Netflix show gets right and wrong about Christians in politics.

David Dault speaks to historian John Fea in a live interview at Chicago's Seminary Co-op Bookstore Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a number of recent commencement speeches at Christian colleges, Vice President Mike Pence has been warning graduates about the hostility of our culture toward Christians. Historian John Fea is back to talk about what Pence gets right, and what he gets wrong, about the persecution of evangelicals in the U.S. Plus, Fea shares his theory about why regular church attendees are the most likely to still support Trump. Also this week, an evangelical activist is guilty of “astroturfing” Muslims. Airports try to ban Chick-Fil-A and Hollywood studios boycott states passing abortion restrictions. And is conservative politics killing white churches?

Sadly, the Church, both in America and abroad, has a long history of supporting the institution of slavery. So what can a single congregation do to reconcile their past with a contemporary commitment to social justice? In today's episode, host John Fea and producer Drew Dyrli Hermeling discuss truth and reconciliation within the Church. They are joined by public historian Chris Graham, who serves as the chair of the History and Reconciliation Initiative at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Richmond, Virginia. Sponsored by the Lyndhurst Group (lyndhurstgroup.org) and Jennings College Consulting (drj4college.com). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Despite often being cast as the religion of immigrants, Catholicism has a long history here in the United States. Unfortunately, so does anti-Catholicism. In this episode, host John Fea and producer Drew Dyrli Hermeling discuss American Catholicism. John looks at the roots and utility of political anti-Catholicism. They are joined by historian Catherine O'Donnell who discusses her new biography, Elizabeth Seton: American Saint. Sponsored by the Lyndhurst Group (lyndhurstgroup.org) and Jennings College Consulting (drj4college.com). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the election of Donald Trump, the term populism has returned to the political lexicon. However, while many people may use the term, fewer people truly understand its meaning and history. On today's episode, we try to unpack the idea of populism in the American context. John Fea discusses the history of his favorite populist, William Jennings Bryan. They are joined by the foremost historian on the subject, Michael Kazin. Sponsored by the Lyndhurst Group (lyndhurstgroup.org) and Jennings College Consulting (drj4college.com). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David Dault speaks to historian John Fea in a live interview at Chicago's Seminary Co-op Bookstore Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Fea is a professor of American History at Pennsylvania’s Messiah College and the author of this summer’s ‘Believe Me: the Evangelical Road to Trump’, a discerning, critical take on current American politics. On this episode, he joins host Andre Goulet to explore how the embrace of Donald Trump is the logical outcome of a long-standing evangelical approach to public life defined by the politics of fear, the pursuit of worldly power, and a nostalgic longing for an American past. This conversation was recorded on August 17th, 2018.

My guest is John Fea. John is professor of American history at Messiah College in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. His previous books include Was America Founded as a Christian Nation? A Historical Introduction (https://www.amazon.com/America-Founded-Christian-Nation-Revised/dp/066426249X/ref=pd_sim_14_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=066426249X&pd_rd_r=4025d6f0-99d7-11e8-8a63-ad2dc5335592&pd_rd_w=Zrrxa&pd_rd_wg=pMeE8&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=a180fdfb-b54e-4904-85ba-d852197d6c09&pf_rd_r=TWAGW7WV73T1X93HBB2H&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=TWAGW7WV73T1X93HBB2H), and he blogs regularly at The Way of Improvement Leads Home (https://thewayofimprovement.com). His newest book Believe Me: The Evangelical Road To Donald Trump (https://www.amazon.com/Believe-Me-Evangelical-Donald-Trump/dp/0802876412) argues that the embrace of Donald Trump is the logical outcome of a long-standing evangelical approach to public life defined by the politics of fear, the pursuit of worldly power, and a nostalgic longing for an American past. As insightful as it is timely, Fea’s Believe Me challenges Christians to replace fear with hope, the pursuit of power with humility, and nostalgia with history. Special Guest: John Fea.

Some think Donald Trump’s record-breaking support among white evangelicals is abnormal, but not historian John Fea. He unpacks 200 years of American church history to show why so many evangelicals favored Trump over other conservative, Christian candidates. Plus, Phil, Christian, and Skye deconstruct Chris Pratt’s brilliant mini-sermon at the MTV Awards, and wonder why Christians in Nevada are supporting “America’s #1 Pimp” for the state legislature. It’s politics, Pratt, and pimps on the Holy Post!

A historian’s discerning, critical take on current American politics “Believe me” may be the most commonly used phrase in Donald Trump’s lexicon. Whether about building a wall or protecting a Christian heritage, the refrain has been constant. And to the surprise of many, a good 80 percent of white evangelicals have believed Trump—at least enough to help propel him into the White House. Historian John Fea is not surprised, however—and in these pages he explains how we have arrived at this unprecedented moment in American politics. An evangelical Christian himself, Fea argues that the embrace of Donald Trump is the logical outcome of a long-standing evangelical approach to public life defined by the politics of fear, the pursuit of worldly power, and a nostalgic longing for an American past. As insightful as it is timely, Fea’s Believe Me challenges Christians to replace fear with hope, the pursuit of power with humility, and nostalgia with history.

I try to read widely and the last four books have challenged my thinking. They are also refreshing in so many ways. In my own life, they invite conversations. I talk about John Fea's new book, Jonathan Haidt's work, Bryan Stevenson's book that is changing my life, and Hans Urs von Balthasar and his terrific little book on God's work in this world.

Adri and Erin discuss fear and what it shapes the politics of our world and the Wizarding World in in chapter 7, “The Boggart of the Wardrobe,” of Harry Potter and the Prisoner with Azkaban by J.K. Rowling. They talk about an op-ed published in The Atlantic, called “Evangelical Fear Elected Trump” by John Fea: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/06/a-history-of-evangelical-fear/563558/ Find us online: www.acciopolitics.com Twitter: @acciopolitics Instagram: @acciopolitics Facebook: www.facebook.com/acciopolitics Leave us a voicemail: 915-996-1699 Our theme and transition music was written and recorded by the very talented Kayla Sluka. In addition to being an amazing composer, she is a fantastic photographer. You can find her at www.treasuredroots.com. Contact us: info@acciopolitics.com

On June 28, John Fea will release his new book, Believe Me: The Evangelical Road to Donald Trump with Eerdman's. As a bonus episode, producer Drew Dyrli Hermeling sat down with Fea to discuss the deep history that led 81% of white evangelicals to vote for Trump in the 2016 election.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On May 21, 2018, the Office of the Provost at Messiah College surprised the faculty at their annual Educator's Day with a live recording of our podcast. Under the theme "Flourishing in a Digital World," the goal was to highlight the ways in which Messiah faculty have been using digital tools within their own scholarship. In that spirit, we interviewed history professor and lead architect of the Digital Harrisburg project, David Pettegrew; English professor and director of the Center for Public Humanities, Jean Corey; and  film and digital media professor, Nathan Skulstad. The episode also features an interview of our regular host, John Fea, conducted by the director of the Agape Center, Ashley Sheaffer. Finally, special thanks also go out to the director of the Ernest L. Boyer Center, Cynthia Wells for organizing and co-producing the event.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anyone who has been paying attention to higher ed and the humanities knows that job prospects for recently minted Ph.Ds are abysmal. So why do people keep choosing to engage in such a difficult process that by many measures is unlikely to pay off? John Fea adds his thoughts to this question and they are joined by Erin Bartram, the author of the viral blog post, "The Sublimated Grief of the Left Behind." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As we wrap up the Winter Olympic season, host John Fea and producer Drew Dyrli Hermeling return to a favorite subject, the power of sport. In this episode, John discusses the social good to be found in the history of athletic competition. They are joined by Emmy-winner Amy Bass, the author of the new book One Goal: A Coach, a Team, and the Game That Brought a Divided Town Together, which explores the power of a high school soccer team made up of predominately Somali refugees as they quest for a Maine state championship. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

RTN Theology now is now on its own podcast feed! Subscribe anywhere you get The Road to Now for RTN Theology episodes 12-19 and more! In the second installment of RTN Theology, Bob speaks with Messiah College's John Fea about Christianity in Early America and the ways that the founders viewed the relationship between faith and politics. Fea outlines the “5 Cs” of history, the importance of approaching history with an open mind, and explains why he thinks the title of his book Was America Founded as a Christian Nation? may not be the question in approaching Christianity's role in the establishment of the United States. Ian Skotte also contributes his thoughts on Christian relics and why he sees authenticity as less important than faith in people's relationship to material objects. John Fea is Professor of American History and Chair of the Department of History at Messiah College and host of the podcast The Way of Improvement Leads Home. He is the author or editor of four books, including Was America Founded as a Christian Nation: A Historical Introduction (Westminster/ John Knox Press, 2011) & Why Study History?: Reflecting on the Importance of the Past (Baker Academic, 2013) and his essays and reviews have appeared in a variety of scholarly and popular venues. The Road to Now is part of the Osiris Podcast Network. For more on our podcast and this episode, visit our website: www.TheRoadToNow.com.

The practice of historical thinking requires training. In this episode, host John Fea and producer Drew Dyrli Hermeling discuss this crucial habit of the mind, especially within a political climate where historical claims run rampant regardless of whether there is evidence to back them up or not. They are joined by high school teacher Mike Milway, who teaches at the prestigious and socio-economically diverse Boston Trinity Academy in Boston, Massachusetts, as well as three of Dr. Milway's students, to discuss how they cultivate historical thinking in their classrooms.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Many voices in American politics have been sounding the alarm about the influence of the Koch brothers as a threat to voting rights, the direction of American conservatism, and the very sanctity of American democracy. But like all things, the Koch brothers have a history. In this episode, host John Fea and producer Drew Dyrli Hermeling discuss the rise and influence of American libertarianism within the conservative movement. They are joined by Nancy MacLean who discusses her book, Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right's Stealth Plan for America, which was just nominated for the National Book Award. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Otis Redding. Booker T and the M.G.s. Eddie Floyd. Isaac Hayes. The Staples Sisters. What do all of these classic soul and R&B artists have in common? Stax Records. As he toured the history of the Civil Rights Movement this summer, host John Fea included a stop at the Stax Museum (@StaxMemphis) in Memphis, Tennessee. Eager to relive the experience and share such attractions as a floor-to-ceiling record room and Isaac Hayes's gold-plated Cadillac, Fea and producer Drew Dyrli Hermeling are joined by the museum's executive director, Jeff Kollath. They discuss the importance of that “Memphis Sound” for the city as well as creating a “usable past” with popular music history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Here at The Way of Improvement Leads Home, we have traveled to both Mount Vernon and Monticello in our explorations of presidential history. Today, we explore a much more recent addition to the world of presidential real estate, Mar-a-Lago. While host John Fea explores the history of presidential vacations, guest Julian Chambliss (@JulianChambliss), historian and author of the Boston Review article “Draining the Swamp,” dives deeper into Mar-a-Lago as a lens for understanding Florida's unique history, the disproportionate effects of climate change, and the origin of Trump's unique and at times inscrutable blend of everyman populism and billionaire branding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I own many Bibles, but curiously, I didn’t purchase any of them. They were all given to me, almost all by Protestant Christians. And, considering the history of Protestant Christianity, that impulse to freely offer “God’s word” makes a lot of sense. John Fea takes up the institutionalized giving of Bibles in a primarily American context in his new book, The Bible Cause: A History of the American Bible Society (Oxford University Press, 2016). Through a meticulously researched and carefully constructed chronological narrative of the American Bible Society, Fea expertly touches upon themes of foreign relations, gender, race, technology, and the changing American religious landscape from just after the Revolution to today. This fascinating work would therefore be of interest to general readers and to experts in the field, and is particularly noteworthy as it explores Christianity outside of traditional denominational lines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I own many Bibles, but curiously, I didn’t purchase any of them. They were all given to me, almost all by Protestant Christians. And, considering the history of Protestant Christianity, that impulse to freely offer “God’s word” makes a lot of sense. John Fea takes up the institutionalized giving of Bibles in a primarily American context in his new book, The Bible Cause: A History of the American Bible Society (Oxford University Press, 2016). Through a meticulously researched and carefully constructed chronological narrative of the American Bible Society, Fea expertly touches upon themes of foreign relations, gender, race, technology, and the changing American religious landscape from just after the Revolution to today. This fascinating work would therefore be of interest to general readers and to experts in the field, and is particularly noteworthy as it explores Christianity outside of traditional denominational lines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I own many Bibles, but curiously, I didn’t purchase any of them. They were all given to me, almost all by Protestant Christians. And, considering the history of Protestant Christianity, that impulse to freely offer “God’s word” makes a lot of sense. John Fea takes up the institutionalized giving of Bibles in a primarily American context in his new book, The Bible Cause: A History of the American Bible Society (Oxford University Press, 2016). Through a meticulously researched and carefully constructed chronological narrative of the American Bible Society, Fea expertly touches upon themes of foreign relations, gender, race, technology, and the changing American religious landscape from just after the Revolution to today. This fascinating work would therefore be of interest to general readers and to experts in the field, and is particularly noteworthy as it explores Christianity outside of traditional denominational lines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I own many Bibles, but curiously, I didn’t purchase any of them. They were all given to me, almost all by Protestant Christians. And, considering the history of Protestant Christianity, that impulse to freely offer “God’s word” makes a lot of sense. John Fea takes up the institutionalized giving of Bibles in a primarily American context in his new book, The Bible Cause: A History of the American Bible Society (Oxford University Press, 2016). Through a meticulously researched and carefully constructed chronological narrative of the American Bible Society, Fea expertly touches upon themes of foreign relations, gender, race, technology, and the changing American religious landscape from just after the Revolution to today. This fascinating work would therefore be of interest to general readers and to experts in the field, and is particularly noteworthy as it explores Christianity outside of traditional denominational lines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I own many Bibles, but curiously, I didn’t purchase any of them. They were all given to me, almost all by Protestant Christians. And, considering the history of Protestant Christianity, that impulse to freely offer “God’s word” makes a lot of sense. John Fea takes up the institutionalized giving of Bibles in a primarily American context in his new book, The Bible Cause: A History of the American Bible Society (Oxford University Press, 2016). Through a meticulously researched and carefully constructed chronological narrative of the American Bible Society, Fea expertly touches upon themes of foreign relations, gender, race, technology, and the changing American religious landscape from just after the Revolution to today. This fascinating work would therefore be of interest to general readers and to experts in the field, and is particularly noteworthy as it explores Christianity outside of traditional denominational lines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I own many Bibles, but curiously, I didn't purchase any of them. They were all given to me, almost all by Protestant Christians. And, considering the history of Protestant Christianity, that impulse to freely offer “God's word” makes a lot of sense. John Fea takes up the institutionalized giving of Bibles in a primarily American context in his new book, The Bible Cause: A History of the American Bible Society (Oxford University Press, 2016). Through a meticulously researched and carefully constructed chronological narrative of the American Bible Society, Fea expertly touches upon themes of foreign relations, gender, race, technology, and the changing American religious landscape from just after the Revolution to today. This fascinating work would therefore be of interest to general readers and to experts in the field, and is particularly noteworthy as it explores Christianity outside of traditional denominational lines.

I own many Bibles, but curiously, I didn’t purchase any of them. They were all given to me, almost all by Protestant Christians. And, considering the history of Protestant Christianity, that impulse to freely offer “God’s word” makes a lot of sense. John Fea takes up the institutionalized giving of Bibles in a primarily American context in his new book, The Bible Cause: A History of the American Bible Society (Oxford University Press, 2016). Through a meticulously researched and carefully constructed chronological narrative of the American Bible Society, Fea expertly touches upon themes of foreign relations, gender, race, technology, and the changing American religious landscape from just after the Revolution to today. This fascinating work would therefore be of interest to general readers and to experts in the field, and is particularly noteworthy as it explores Christianity outside of traditional denominational lines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our opening episode of Season 4, host John Fea and producer Drew Dyrli Hermeling catch up on some of the important historical work that still needs to be done in the wake of the violence in Charlottesville. John shares his thoughts on “Make American Great Again” as a historical statement. They are joined by historian Kelly J. Baker (@kelly_j_baker) who discusses the connections between her work Gospel According to the Klan: The KKK's Appeal to Protestant America, 1915-1930and the emergence of an increasingly vocal white supremacy movement in America today.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

To close out Season 3, host John Fea and producer Drew Dyrli Hermeling turn to a fellow podcaster and early American scholar, Liz Covart (@lizcovart), the host of the wildly successful Ben Franklin's World. They discuss how podcasting has emerged as a new form of scholarship, with John offering additional comments on the increased importance of this kind of public historical thinking within our particular political moment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's that time of year again—Opening Day. Once again, host John Fea and producer Drew Dyrli Hermeling make their way to the ballpark and get ready to discuss Americas'* pastime. This time around, they tackle race and ethnicity in baseball while also discussing this year's prospects for their favorite teams. They are joined by University of Illinois historian and La Vida Baseball(@lavidabaseball) editor-in-chief Adrian Burgos, Jr. (@adburgosjr). *No, that is not a typo. For an explanation, listen to the episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

America has long been a home to prophets. Tenskwatawa, Joseph Smith, Anne Hutchinson, and Martin Luther King, Jr. have all spoken truth to power. In today's episode, John Fea and Drew Dyrli Hermeling discuss America's prophetic tradition. They are joined by documentary filmmaker Martin Doblmeier whose film, An American Conscience: The Reinhold Niebuhr Story, documents the life and theology of one of America's most outspoken and revered prophets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Of all the places for a couple of American historians, why are John Fea and Drew Dyrli Hermeling going to 1930s Czechoslovakia? In this episode, the team tries their hands at some comparative history while John discusses the internationalization of the study of the American past. They are joined by Bruce Berglund, who explores the search for meaning in one of Europe's most secular societies with an added dose of international sports history for good measure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Danny and Jay sit down with the prominent historian John Fea for a discussion about History, Ethics, Trump, Evangelicals, and Bruce Springsteen. Listen to one of Christianity's most prominent scholars share his thoughts on our troubled moment.

Perusing the shelves of your local bookstore, it'd be easy to assume that historians love biographies. However, historians have long wrestled with the problems of hero worship that are so often present within biographical literature. Join host John Fea and producer Drew Dyrli Hermeling as they discuss this genre of historical writing. They are joined by historian Ann Little, who discusses her latest work on the eighteenth-century life of Esther Wheelwright. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last week, theologian and ethicist Wayne Grudem offered his endorsement of GOP candidate Donald Trump. In “Why Voting for Donald Trump Is a Morally Good Choice,” Grudem conceded that Trump had been far from perfect: He is egotistical, bombastic, and brash. He often lacks nuance in his statements. Sometimes he blurts out mistaken ideas (such as bombing the families of terrorists) that he later must abandon. He insults people. He can be vindictive when people attack him. He has been slow to disown and rebuke the wrongful words and actions of some angry fringe supporters. He has been married three times and claims to have been unfaithful in his marriages. These are certainly flaws, but I don’t think they are disqualifying flaws in this election. Grudem concedes that while Trump’s character is problematic, he concludes that the billionaire is “a good candidate with flaws” because “most of the policies he supports are those that will do the most good for the nation.” Trump isn’t the only candidate whose reputation has taken a hit because of moral transgressions. Hillary Clinton has also been rebuffed for her character, most recently for using her own personal email server, rather than the State Department’s, when sending classified emails as Secretary of State (ultimately resulting in both FBI and State Department investigations). Our views on the role of government—whether it’s there primarily to protect people or “keep the peace,” plays a significant role in the priority we give character when judging candidates, says Messiah College historian John Fea. “If you believe that government has the responsibility to promote the common good and general welfare and moral good of the society and it’s ordained by God to do that, then for me, I would probably want someone with character and is interested in those questions at least,” he said. Fea joined Morgan Lee and guest host Amy Jackson to discuss how Americans have historically voted on character in previous elections, how the mass media has changed the country’s understanding of a candidate’s moral failures, and when, if ever, the ends justify the means.

Dr. John Fea is Professor of American History and Chair of the History Department at Messiah College and was a fellow at the Washington Library during the 2015-16 academic year. He is the author or editor of four books, one of which - Was America Founded as a Christian Nation? - was a finalist for the George Washington book prize. Fea also blogs daily about his work at www.thewayofimprovement.com. In this episode he discusses the research he conducted while at the Library concerning religion during the colonial and Revolutionary eras. 

Dr. John Fea is Professor of American History and Chair of the History Department at Messiah College and was a fellow at the Washington Library during the 2015-16 academic year. He is the author or editor of four books, one of which - Was America Founded as a Christian Nation? - was a finalist for the George Washington book prize. Fea also blogs daily about his work at www.thewayofimprovement.com. In this episode he discusses the research he conducted while at the Library concerning religion during the colonial and Revolutionary eras. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mountvernon/message

In Episode 8 of The Way of Improvement Leads Home podcast John Fea and Drew Dyrli Hermeling talk about the complex life and legacy of Thomas Jefferson. Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Annette Gordon-Reed and Jefferson scholar Peter Onuf talk with John about their new book, The Most Blessed of Patriarchs: Thomas Jefferson and the Empire of the Imagination. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week at In The Past Lane, in honor (if that's the right word) of Tax Day, we take a close look at the history of the fraught relationship between Americans and their taxes. This episode features three segments: 1) an interview with historian William Hogeland about his terrific book on one of the biggest tax revolts in US history, the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794. 2) the story of a one-man, one-day tax revolt by Henry David Thoreau that -- eventually -- exerted a tremendous influence on social justice struggles around the world, including women's suffrage and civil rights for African Americans in the US. 3) a fun grab bag of things related to the history of taxes in US history, including - wait for it - a reason to be thankful for taxes ... seriously ... Episode 009 notes and credits Further reading about the history of taxes and tax revolts Charles Adams, Those Dirty Rotten Taxes: The Tax Revolts That Built America (1998). William Hogeland, The Whiskey Rebellion: George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and the Frontier Rebels Who Challenged America’s Newfound Sovereignty (2010) Thomas P. Slaughter, The Whiskey Rebellion: Frontier Epilogue to the American Revolution (1986) Henry David Thoreau, Walden, Civil Disobedience, and Other Writings, William Rossi, Ed. (2008) Some History Podcasts to Check Out Ben Frankin’s World with Liz Covart http://www.benfranklinsworld.com/ Past Present with Nicole Hemmer, Natalia Petrzela, and Neil Young http://www.pastpresentpodcast.com/ Slate’s History of Slavery with Rebecca Onion http://www.slate.com/articles/slate_plus/history_of_slavery.html The Way of Improvement Leads Home with John Fea http://www.philipvickersfithian.com/ BackStory with the American History Guys http://backstoryradio.org/ Music for This Episode: Jay Graham, ITPL Intro (courtesy, JayGMusic.com) Kevin McCleod, “Impact Moderato” (Free Music Archive) The Womb, “I Hope That It Hurts” (Free Music Archive) Lee Rosevere, “Going Home” (Free Music Archive) Andy Cohen, “Trophy Endorphins” (Free Music Archive) The Bell, “I Am History” (Free Music Archive) The Bell, “On The Street” (Free Music Archive) Jason Shaw, “Acoustic Meditation” (Free Music Archive)

We welcome Dr. John Fea to discuss his book Was America Founded as a Christian Nation? A Historical Introduction. Dr. Fea is Associate Professor of American History and Chair of the History Department at Messiah College. He is the author or editor of three books, including The Way of Improvement Leads Home: Philip Vickers Fithian and the Rural Enlightenment in Early America, and his essays and reviews have appeared in a variety of scholarly and popular venues. He blogs daily at The Way of Improvement Leads Home. Dr. Fea earned hi Ph.D. in American History from Stony Brook University, his M.A. in Church History from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and his M.Div., Divinity, from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.