Protestants & Politics

Who are the nones and why are they growing? This group includes atheists, agnostics, and lots of those who may or may not be personally religious but don't affiliate with a particular religious group. As they grow in numbers, they're becoming an increasingly important part of the American political landscape. My guest is Ryan Burge, Assistant Professor of political science at Eastern Illinios University. An expert in religion and political behavior, Professor Burge has over 20 articles published in peer reviewed academic journals. We spoke about his new book, The Nones: Where They Came From, Who They Are, and Where They Are Going. The Nones: https://www.fortresspress.com/store/product/9781506465852/The-Nones [https://www.fortresspress.com/store/product/9781506465852/The-Nones] Ryan Burge website: http://ryanburge.net/ [http://ryanburge.net/] Music:https://www.purple-planet.com [https://www.purple-planet.com/]

What's going on with Southern Baptists these days? The most recent controversy is over a task force report on the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission and its president, Russell Moore, an outspoken critic of alliances between evangelicals and former President Donald Trump. Matthew Hawkins was Policy Director for the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission under Russell Moore and Moore's predecessor, Richard Land. He is now a Ph.D. student at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and cohosts a podcast called Crossing Faiths: A Christian & a Muslim Talk Religion & Politics. ERLC Study Task Force Report: https://3c9inr29cnbxopwsm4bdy491-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Final-Report-of-the-ERLC-Study-Task-Force.pdf [https://3c9inr29cnbxopwsm4bdy491-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Final-Report-of-the-ERLC-Study-Task-Force.pdf] Matthew Hawkins website: https://matthewthawkins.com/ [https://matthewthawkins.com/] Crossing Faiths podcast: https://www.crossingfaiths.com/ [https://www.crossingfaiths.com/] Music:https://www.purple-planet.com [https://www.purple-planet.com/]

On opposition to DACA, family separation, an almost complete shutdown of the refugee program, and a host of other immigration policies, many evangelical groups and leaders either opposed those policies or worked to alleviate the unjust effects of those policies. With the change in the presidency and Senate control, these evangelicals are hoping for less cruel, more just immigration policies and legislation. Matthew Soerens is U.S. Director of Church Mobilization at World Relief, a global humanitarian organization that aids refugees, and National Coordinator of the Evangelical Immigration Table, a coalition of evangelical groups that advocates for bipartisan and biblically based solutions to immigration reform. Welcoming the Stranger: https://worldrelief.org/welcoming-the-stranger/ [https://worldrelief.org/welcoming-the-stranger/] Evangelical Immigration Table: https://evangelicalimmigrationtable.com/ [https://evangelicalimmigrationtable.com/] Music:https://www.purple-planet.com [https://www.purple-planet.com/]

Critical Race Theory — how did these three words become so politically divisive? My guest is author, speaker and activist Lisa Sharon Harper, president and founder of Freedom Road.  Harper tweet thread: https://twitter.com/lisasharper/status/1335689358859509761 [https://twitter.com/lisasharper/status/1335689358859509761] Harper website: https://lisasharonharper.com/ [https://lisasharonharper.com/] Freedom Road: https://freedomroad.us/ [https://freedomroad.us/] Music:https://www.purple-planet.com [https://www.purple-planet.com/]

What is Christian Nationalism? How does it influence voting? My guest is Andrew L. Whitehead, Associate Professor of Sociology and Director of ARDA, the Association of Religion Data Archives, at the Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture at Indiana University. Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States: https://www.amazon.com/Taking-America-Back-God-Nationalism/dp/0190057882 Protestants & Politics Newsletter: https://protestantpolitics.substack.com/ Music:https://www.purple-planet.com [https://www.purple-planet.com/]