The State Of Belief Podcast Por Interfaith Alliance arte de portada

The State Of Belief

The State Of Belief

De: Interfaith Alliance
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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
  • Separating Church from Hate: A Conversation With John Fugelsang

    Separating Church from Hate: A Conversation With John Fugelsang
    Aug 9 2025
    This week on The State of Belief, truth through comedy. Host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush welcomes comedic genius John Fugelsang, author of the new book Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person's Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock-Fleecing Frauds coming September 9th. Together, they delve into the tension between progressive values and mainstream Christianity, or as John puts it, being “too Christian for the liberals and way too liberal for the Christians.” As they explore this topic, John summarizes the teachings of Jesus: “Welcome the stranger, man. I mean, that's about it.” The child of a former Catholic priest and former Catholic nun, John aims his sharp wit and brilliant mind at a topic he is deeply passionate about: using Scripture to challenge the all-too-often unchallenged claims to godliness by Christian Nationalists and fundamentalist Christians. "I was raised in a Christianity that was about service, that was about love, that was about forgiveness, that guided us to the margins. What are you doing for the least among us? Are you welcoming the stranger? Are you caring for the poor? Are you trying to help those who are hated and despised on the lowest rungs? Because that was Jesus's whole ministry. You reach out to the marginalized.” “And, of course, as you know, the nice Christians don't get the airtime. You don't see the Christians on cable news talking about how war is bad or how homophobia is bad. You see the other kind - because villains make for better TV than nice people.” - Actor, author, comedian, commentator John Fugelsang. You can preorder his book that comes out September 9th, Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person's Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock-Fleecing Frauds Check out his daily show Tell Me Everything with John Fugelsang on Sirius/XM Subscribe to his Substack to get political commentary right to your inbox. Keep up with his almost-daily podcast, the Sanity-Cast, which covers politics, religion, and pop culture. Also in this episode: an excerpt of Texas State Rep. James Talarico's definition of Christian Nationalism from a public conversation last week with Interfaith Alliance Vice President of Programs and Strategy Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons, who's also a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress. The event was co-sponsored by the Center for American Progress Action Fund and Interfaith Alliance. The full recording is available here. Please share this episode with one person who would enjoy hearing this conversation, and thank you for listening!
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    52 m
  • From Sanctuary to Courtroom: Immigration and Religious Liberty with Legal expert Elizabeth Reiner Platt

    From Sanctuary to Courtroom: Immigration and Religious Liberty with Legal expert Elizabeth Reiner Platt
    Aug 2 2025
    This week, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush had the pleasure of interviewing Elizabeth Reiner Platt, the brilliant mind leading the Law, Rights, and Religion Project. They dive deep into her newly published report, Religious Liberty and Immigration: Legal Analysis of Past and Future Claims. Despite the administration's rhetoric about protecting religious liberty, their actual immigration policies have been directly attacking faith communities. Paul and Liz discuss the revocation of the “sensitive locations” policy, which previously protected places like houses of worship from ICE enforcement actions. This has had a direct impact on people of faith feeling safe to practice their religion in community. Faith leaders like Bishop Marion Budde have been targeted for their modest pleas consistent with gospel teachings. This administration has even gone after Catholic bishops for simply caring for refugees and immigrants. Faith communities have long been central to immigration justice movements, from the sanctuary movement of the 1980s to organizations like HIAS, which started by helping persecuted Jews during the 1880's and now supports refugees of all faiths. They explore the question of whether religious freedom is being applied equally to all faiths or just a narrow slice of the Christian right. This is a crucial point in understanding the broader implications of religious liberty claims. There’s been an increase in litigation tactics relying on the expansive interpretation of religious liberty created under the Roberts Court. Paul and Liz discuss cases like Masterpiece Cakeshop and how these precedents intersect with immigration contexts. Elizabeth Reiner Platt has been leading the Law, Rights & Religion Project since 2015. Her publications have included the report, “Whose Faith Matters? The Fight for Religious Liberty Beyond the Christian Right”, which is just incredibly relevant today. Liz is a legally trained scholar and advocate who leads efforts to reframe religious liberty in the U.S., especially in relation to gender justice, reproductive rights, and racial equity. Just last month, the Law, Rights & Religion Project moved from Columbia Law School to Union Theological Seminary in New York, and this week it published Liz’s latest comprehensive report, titled Religious Liberty & Immigration: Legal Analysis of Past and Future Claims. If you enjoy the episode, please consider sharing it with your friends and family. Your support helps us continue these important conversations!
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    54 m
  • Faith, followers, and the files: Jay Michaelson and the Epstein Cover-up

    Faith, followers, and the files: Jay Michaelson and the Epstein Cover-up
    Jul 26 2025
    We are back from a brief summer break, and are ready to hit the ground running! This week on The State of Belief, the political, ethical, religious and legal aspects of the sordid case of the Jefferey Epstein files. Whether or not there are incriminating documents, the relative silence from most faith-oriented leaders raises questions. Host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is joined by author and attorney Rabbi Dr. Jay Michaelson. A visiting professor at Harvard Law School and a field scholar at the Emory Center for Psychedelics and Spirituality, Jay brings a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective to our discussion. Paul and Jay dive deep into the ongoing saga surrounding the Epstein files and the implications for the current administration. They explore the ambivalence many progressives feel about discussing this topic, especially when there are so many pressing issues at hand. However, Jay argues that understanding the Epstein case is crucial, not just for its political ramifications but also for the fundamental issues of trust and transparency that it raises. You'll hear about the legal maneuvers surrounding the Epstein case, including the recent attempts to unseal grand jury transcripts and what that could mean for accountability. Jay provides clarity on the complex legal landscape and the potential consequences for those involved, including Donald Trump. Paul and Jay also reflect on the broader implications for democracy and the role of higher education. Jay shares his thoughts on how the current administration is reshaping the federal government and the challenges we face as a society. Rabbi Dr. Jay Michaelson is the author of ten books and a journalist whose work appears on CNN, in Rolling Stone, and in his weekly Substack newsletter, Both/And with Jay Michaelson. For twenty years, Jay's work has focused on the intersections of politics and religion. If you enjoy the episode, please consider sharing it with your friends and family. Your support helps us continue these important conversations!
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    55 m
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