August 20, 2022 – The Intricacies of Faith in America

08/20/22 • 63 min

State of Belief - Religion and radio done differently.

Religion and politics often collide in unpredictable ways, and the common view that these issues are black and white could not be further from the truth. Behind every headline is a story that sheds light on the diversity, contradictions, and complexities of faith in America today. This week on State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio show and podcast, we’ll dive into the forces shaping religion in public life at the macro and micro level.

When the Religious Right wages the culture war in public, the narrative often overlooks the very real impact these attacks have on vulnerable people across the nation. For families – even conservative families – these issues are deeply personal and painful. Hillary Whittington, an advocate for supporting transgender children in a faithful Christian context – will join Rabbi Jack Moline, filling in for State of Belief host Rev. Welton Gaddy, to discuss their family’s story as shared in the book, Raising Ryland: Our Story of Parenting a Transgender Child with No Strings Attached.

As we mark five years since the deadly neo-Nazi march in Charlottesville, we continue to see antisemitism rearing its ugly head in America. But increasingly – and alarmingly – white nationalists are collaborating across borders. Megan Black from the Western States Center, an organization at the forefront of combating hate and bigotry, will sit down with Jack to discuss the international nature of antisemitic and white nationalist movements.

Listeners of State of Belief have undoubtedly felt Welton’s absence on the airwaves over the past weeks, and the outpouring of concern from many of you has been touching. This week, we’re so glad to have Welton back on the show alongside Jack to provide an update.

State of Belief is made possible in great part by the generous support of our listeners. Please consider making a donation to help keep us on the air at this critical time. Details can be found at our donations page here.

The post August 20, 2022 – The Intricacies of Faith in America first appeared on State of Belief.

The post August 20, 2022 – The Intricacies of Faith in America first appeared on State of Belief.

Previous Episode

August 13, 2022 – Combating Hate and Fighting for Equality

The intersection of faith and politics in America today is defined by contradictions and misconceptions. Even as fringe voices are using their outsized influence to impose their beliefs on all, the vast majority of faithful Americans are demonstrating that equality and solidarity are complementary with religious freedom. This week on State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio show and podcast, we’ll discuss the vital role of faith voices in combating religious extremism.

The widespread backlash to Florida’s discriminatory “Don’t Say Gay Bill” has been extraordinary both within in the state and nationwide. But with the start of a new school year just around the corner, the need to protect students and educators from these classroom restrictions is more urgent than ever. Kell Olson, an attorney with Lambda Legal, will sit down with Rabbi Jack Moline, filling in for State of Belief host Rev. Welton Gaddy, to discuss the coalition of groups suing to stop this harmful legislation.

Even as the Religious Right tries to turn back the clock and pass discriminatory laws, we’ve seen a surge of support among faithful Americans for upholding dignity and equality for LGBTQ+ people. Within faith communities, too, a new generation of queer leaders are stepping up to guide their LGBTQ+ siblings on their faith journeys. Father Shannon Kearns, the co-founder of QueerTheology.com, will join jack to discuss his new book, In the Margins: A Transgender Man’s Journey with Scripture.

The drift of young Americans away from organized religion has been well-documented for years. If you take a closer look, though, millennials aren’t turning their back on spirituality altogether, but instead finding new and understudied places to seek community and inspiration. Dr. Sarah Wilkins LaFlamme, a Canadian scholar of religion and technology, will join Jack to discuss some popular misconceptions about young people and faith. She’s the author of Religion, Spirituality and Secularity Among Millennials.

The post August 13, 2022 – Combating Hate and Fighting for Equality first appeared on State of Belief.

Next Episode

August 27, 2022 – The Power of the Written Word

At home and abroad, Christian nationalism threatens our democracy and the promise of true religious freedom for people of all faiths and none. Few understand this movement better than those who research and write about these topics every single day. This week on State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio show and podcast, we’ll hear from prolific authors, reporters, and publishers on how the written word can uncover and disempower this dangerous movement.

In May, the Conservative Political Action Conference took place overseas – in autocrat Viktor Orban’s Hungary, where the strongman is busily dismantling the nation’s hard-won democracy with Christianist, nationalistic, racist and homophobic rhetoric. American conservatives loved it – and the proof is in Orban’s appearance as keynote speaker at this month’s Texas CPAC gathering. Investigative journalist Sarah Posner will join Rabbi Jack Moline, President Emeritus of Interfaith Alliance, to discuss the implications.

From the January 6th insurrection to the rise of Christian nationalism, you don’t need to look far to see the corrosive impact of the Religious Right’s efforts to undermine religious freedom. But to better understand the various factors enabling this movement, it’s always helpful to hear from the folks who cover these issues for a living. Bob Smietana, the former editor-in-chief at Religion News Service, will sit down with Jack to discuss his new book, Reorganized Religion: The Reshaping of the American Church and Why it Matters.

In the past few years, we’ve seen some Christian publishers reject manuscripts from popular writers for not being harsh enough on LGBTQ+ people, or not leaning in enough to the rightwing culture wars. More than one of those books, however, have found a home at Chalice Press, which is now launching a new division, Chalice Stories. Rebeca Seitz, manager of this new division, will join Jack to discuss how they are changing the face of Christian publishing.

The post August 27, 2022 – The Power of the Written Word first appeared on State of Belief.