The State Of Belief Podcast Por Interfaith Alliance arte de portada

The State Of Belief

The State Of Belief

De: Interfaith Alliance
Escúchala gratis

Every week, Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush hosts lively, funny and poignant conversations with inspiring religious and civic leaders; as well as artists and activists from across the country. Listeners get a potent mix of spiritual wisdom, political strategy, and hopeful commentary from national and local leaders who are rising up to meet this urgent moment in America. With the tagline: “Where Religion and Democracy Meet,” State of Belief is a celebration of our nation’s diversities and an invitation to join together to, in the words of the great James Baldwin, "achieve our country.”© 2023 Espiritualidad Política y Gobierno
Episodios
  • What We Know About Christian Nationalism with Robert P. Jones

    What We Know About Christian Nationalism with Robert P. Jones
    Mar 21 2026
    How deeply has Christian Nationalism penetrated American society? It’s clearly a driving force in our government, but what about ordinary people across the country? With an enormous sample size, the Public Religion Research Institute’s 2025 American Values Atlas offers unique – and surprising - insights. PRRI President Dr. Robert P. Jones is on The State of Belief with the details. Only 13% of the population identifies as White evangelical Protestants, but their outsized influence on U.S. politics is both startling and strategic. Robby reveals how this minority shapes policies and what it means for the future of our democracy. Don't miss this compelling episode that challenges common assumptions and offers insights into reclaiming a pluralistic society, the real impact of faith on politics, and how you can be part of the change. Dr. Robert P. Jones is president of the Public Religion Research Institute. Robby’s Substack is at https://www.redeemingdemocracy.net/, and his next book, Backslide: Reclaiming a Faith and a Nation After the Christian Turn Against Democracy, is coming in September 2026. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Más Menos
    55 m
  • History as Fuel: Reza Aslan on the latest Iran War

    History as Fuel: Reza Aslan on the latest Iran War
    Mar 14 2026
    We’ve been looking at the war on Iran through the wrong lens, according to Iranian-American religion scholar Reza Aslan. It’s tempting to think that economic sanctions or military strikes will change Iran’s course overnight. But Reza’s words on The State of Belief challenge that assumption, revealing a deeper truth about history, identity, and the illusions we cling to. Reza shares a striking story from his book on Howard Baskerville, the American missionary who fought alongside Iranians in 1907, to the century-long struggle for freedom that defines Iran’s modern history. More than just a series of revolutions, these events are part of an enduring quest for dignity and sovereignty—a fight that has repeatedly been undermined by foreign interference and internal repression. Most surprising is how he dismantles the myth that religion uniquely dictates Iran’s actions. “Religion is just one part of identity,” he explains. “It’s used by regimes for control, but it doesn't inherently define the country’s trajectory.” That shift in perspective is illuminating. It reminds us that Iran’s complex history of democracy protests—dating back to 1905—has always been about Iranians asserting their right to shape their future. Yet, external powers have consistently interfered, from Britain in 1905 to the CIA-backed coup of 1953, and now, the current military escalation. Reza sounds a warning for those celebrating the fall of the Supreme Leader: external attacks are a most effective way to rally internal support, invoking the surge in support for George W. Bush in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 as one relatable example. He challenges us to let go of simplistic hopes that bombs or sanctions will transform Iran overnight. Real change, Reza suggests, comes from within—and it will take generations, because history is not so much context as it is fuel for ongoing resistance and conflict. MORE ABOUT REZA ASLAN: Reza Aslan is a scholar of religion, a best-selling author, a college professor, and a public intellectual who has a gift for making complex religious history accessible to broad audiences. Reza's books include Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth, and Beyond Fundamentalism: Confronting Religious Extremism in the Age of Globalism. He has hosted television programs exploring religion and culture, such as Believer with Reza Aslan. Born in Iran, living in Los Angeles, Reza brings a depth of understanding to the current situation that is important to explore. The nuance he brings is expressed in a moving New York Times essay titled, The Mistake That Iranians Make About America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Más Menos
    53 m
  • The Downward Arc of Donald Trump, With Ruth Ben-Ghiat

    The Downward Arc of Donald Trump, With Ruth Ben-Ghiat
    Mar 7 2026
    Virility and victimhood – how do these seemingly opposite characteristics prop up strongman leaders throughout recent history? Expert and best-selling author Dr. Ruth Ben-Ghiat connects the dots in a conversation full of wisdom and, ultimately, hope that the current attempt at authoritarian rule in the United States is on the decline. The author of Strongmen: from Mussolini to Today, Ruth makes clear that war is often a cold-blooded tool of authoritarians – particularly if they see other means of consolidating power no longer work. Religious and spiritual language is also a near-universal tool in the strongman’s arsenal, making American Christian Nationalism just more of the same for anyone looking closely at the history of authoritarianism in the past century or so. Inevitability is a cornerstone of the image projected by strongman propaganda. As Ruth points out in her book, The authoritarian playbook has no chapter on failure. And so self-delusion is an important part of keeping an authoritarian takeover in motion: nobody can stop this. In fact, most people are enthusiastically supportive of anything we do (regardless of what the polls say – sound familiar?) So what hope is there for effective opposition? Ruth emphasizes that nonviolence is essential, and that collective action is required to break the hold most strongmen have over their followers and foes alike. With concrete historical examples and accessible explanations of what’s really happening today, she doesn’t shy away from making clear how high the stakes are – but also how real the possibility of shepherding our intact democracy through this crisis is. More About Ruth Ben-Ghiat Dr. Ruth Ben-Ghiat is a historian and professor at New York University who specializes in fascism, authoritarianism, propaganda, and democracy protection. Her writing explores how strongman leaders use culture, media, and corruption to consolidate power, in books include Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present. Dr. Ben-Ghiat is a frequent public commentator on threats to democracy in the United States and globally, and shares her insights on her Substack, @lucid. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
    Más Menos
    40 m
Todavía no hay opiniones