American Unexceptionalism: Global Lessons on Fighting Religious Nationalism

011: Faith in the Streets: What Minneapolis Is Teaching America About Resisting Authoritarianism

When the history of this moment is written, Minneapolis may take its place alongside Selma, Stonewall, and Harper’s Ferry—a name synonymous with resistance. In this episode, Matthew Taylor and Susie Hayward return to American Unexceptionalism to reflect on what has unfolded in the Twin Cities over the past two months: mass ICE deployments, escalating authoritarian tactics, and a powerful, community-rooted response. Drawing from the streets of Minneapolis and St. Paul, they explore what frontline resistance looks like in real time, how religious leaders have stepped into both pastoral and prophetic roles, and why this moment feels like the full activation of both Trump-era authoritarian impulses and an American resistance movement finding its footing. This conversation serves as a postlude—and a reckoning—with the themes of American Unexceptionalism. Lessons once drawn from Sri Lanka, South Korea, Brazil, and beyond are now being lived out at home, faster and more intensely than expected. Taylor and Hayward unpack why Minneapolis became the flashpoint, how multifaith and multigenerational organizing has changed the terrain, and what these experiences can teach communities across the country preparing for what may come next. The message is urgent and clear: what’s happening in Minneapolis is coming for the rest of America—and the time to learn, organize, and build the relationships needed to defend democracy is now. Dr. Matthew D. Taylor is a visiting scholar at the center on Faith and Justice at Georgetown University. His book, The Violent Take It by Force: The Christian Movement that is Threatening Our Democracy [https://icjs.org/the-violent-take-it-by-force/] (Broadleaf, 2024), tracks how a loose network of charismatic Christian leaders called the New Apostolic Reformation was a major instigating force for the January 6th Insurrection and is currently reshaping the culture of the religious right in the U.S. Taylor is also the creator of the audio docuseries Charismatic Revival Fury: The New Apostolic Reformation. [https://redcircle.com/shows/40ace99d-7388-4a73-becb-c7f20c0e51e1] Rev. Susan Hayward: was until recently the lead on the US Institute of Peace’s efforts to understand religious dimensions of conflict and advance efforts engaging religious actors and organizations in peacebuilding. She has conducted political asylum and refugee work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Advocates for Human Rights. Rev. Hayward studied Buddhism in Nepal and is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. www.axismundi.us Executive Producer: Dr. Bradley Onishi Producer: Andrew Gill Original Music and Mixing: Scott Okamoto Production Assistance: Kari Onishi Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands] Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy [https://redcircle.com/privacy]

010: Ten Lessons from the Global Playbook for Defending Democracy

Resisting Authoritarianism: Lessons from Global Movements In this final episode of 'American Un Exceptionalism,' hosts Matthew Taylor and Susie Hayward reflect on the lessons learned from their exploration of global resistance to religious nationalism and authoritarianism. They discuss the Trump administration's preparations for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and its potential implications. The episode outlines a playbook for building a resilient, agile, and nonviolent resistance movement against MAGA Christian authoritarianism. Key strategies include building broad coalitions, leveraging youth and culture, using non-cooperation tactics, and employing religious symbols and language. Throughout, the hosts emphasize the importance of learning from international examples and taking care of one's mental and spiritual well-being to sustain the struggle for democracy. 00:00 Introduction to the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence 00:53 The Irony of the Declaration of Independence 02:44 Trump Administration's Control Over the Narrative 03:19 Historical Parallels with Roman Empire 04:46 Welcome to American Un Exceptionalism 05:30 Reflecting on Lessons from Global Resistance 06:05 Review of Global Case Studies 08:55 Warnings from Global Authoritarianism 18:56 The Democratic Resistance Playbook 29:03 The Power of Humor in Resistance 29:50 Women Leading the Movement 31:30 Non-Cooperation Tactics 36:04 Global Democratic Resistance 39:32 Religious Resistance Strategies 43:49 Clerics and Religious Institutions in Resistance 49:08 Creative Christian Modes of Resistance 53:57 Soul Care for Sustained Resistance 56:09 Conclusion and Call to Action Dr. Matthew D. Taylor is the senior Christian scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies in Baltimore, where he specializes in American Christianity, American Islam, Christian extremism, and religious politics. His book, The Violent Take It by Force: The Christian Movement that is Threatening Our Democracy [https://icjs.org/the-violent-take-it-by-force/] (Broadleaf, 2024), tracks how a loose network of charismatic Christian leaders called the New Apostolic Reformation was a major instigating force for the January 6th Insurrection and is currently reshaping the culture of the religious right in the U.S. Taylor is also the creator of the audio docuseries Charismatic Revival Fury: The New Apostolic Reformation. [https://redcircle.com/shows/40ace99d-7388-4a73-becb-c7f20c0e51e1] Rev. Susan Hayward: was until recently the lead on the US Institute of Peace’s efforts to understand religious dimensions of conflict and advance efforts engaging religious actors and organizations in peacebuilding. She has conducted political asylum and refugee work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Advocates for Human Rights. Rev. Hayward studied Buddhism in Nepal and is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. www.axismundi.us Executive Producer: Dr. Bradley Onishi Producer: Andrew Gill Original Music and Mixing: Scott Okamoto Production Assistance: Kari Onishi Funded through generous contributions from ICJS, Princeton Theological Seminary, and the ICRD. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands] Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy [https://redcircle.com/privacy]

009: Russia’s Punk Prayer: Pussy Riot, Orthodox Power, and Authoritarian Faith

In 2012, members of the feminist performance art collective Pussy Riot staged what they called a “punk prayer” in Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior—an act so transgressive it landed two of them in a penal colony. Wearing bright dresses and balaclavas, they occupied the altar, a space barred to women in Orthodox Christianity, and sang an appeal to the Virgin Mary to “chase Putin out.” The performance was a direct indictment of the Russian Orthodox Church’s collusion with Vladimir Putin, its support for repression, its anti-feminist theology, and its role in laws targeting LGBTQ people. At a moment when protests, elections, and petitions had become meaningless under authoritarian rule, Pussy Riot turned to Mary—the revolutionary figure who once sang of the mighty being cast down—as a last appeal to a power greater than the state. This episode of American UnExceptionalism uses Pussy Riot’s prayer as an entry point into a broader conversation about Orthodoxy, authoritarianism, and resistance in Russia and Ukraine. Hosts Matthew Taylor and Susie Hayward are joined by scholars Sarah Riccardi-Schwartz and Regina Elsner to explore how the Russian Orthodox Church became entangled with imperial power, how religion is mobilized to sanctify war and repression, and how these dynamics echo within far-right and MAGA movements in the United States. Distinguishing between church institutions and living religious communities, the episode asks what Americans can learn from those resisting religious nationalism abroad—and why acts of feminist, prophetic defiance still matter when democracy itself is under siege. Additional Resources: * Riccardi-Swartz, Sarah. Between Heaven and Russia: Religious Conversion and Political Apostasy in Appalachia [https://fordhampress.com/between-heaven-and-russia-hb-9780823299492.html]. Fordham University Press, 2022. Dr. Sarah Riccardi-Swartz [https://www.riccardiswartz.com/] is an assistant professor of religion and anthropology at Northeastern University, where she is also an affiliate faculty member in the women's, gender, and sexuality studies program. Before joining Northeastern University she was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Recovering Truth: Religion, Journalism, and Democracy in a Post-Truth Era [https://csrc.asu.edu/recoveringtruth] project at the Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict (Arizona State University). She has a Ph.D. in Sociocultural Anthropology from New York University. Dr. Regina Elsner [https://konkoop.de/team-member/dr-regina-elsner/] is a theologian and, since April 2023, has the Chair for Eastern Churches, Ecumenical Studies and Peace Research at the Universität of Münster. From 1998 to 2005, Regina Elsner studied Catholic Theology in Berlin and Münster. Afterwards, she worked until 2010 as a project coordinator for Caritas Russia in St. Petersburg. From 2010 to 2013, she was a research associate at the Ecumenical Institute of the University of Münster, within the research stream ‘Institutions and Institutional Change in Post-Socialism’. In this context, she focused on the historical and theological aspects of the Russian Orthodox Church’s confrontation with modernity, completing her PhD on this topic in 2016. Dr. Matthew D. Taylor is the senior Christian scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies in Baltimore, where he specializes in American Christianity, American Islam, Christian extremism, and religious politics. His book, The Violent Take It by Force: The Christian Movement that is Threatening Our Democracy [https://icjs.org/the-violent-take-it-by-force/] (Broadleaf, 2024), tracks how a loose network of charismatic Christian leaders called the New Apostolic Reformation was a major instigating force for the January 6th Insurrection and is currently reshaping the culture of the religious right in the U.S. Taylor is also the creator of the audio docuseries Charismatic Revival Fury: The New Apostolic Reformation. [https://redcircle.com/shows/40ace99d-7388-4a73-becb-c7f20c0e51e1] Rev. Susan Hayward: was until recently the lead on the US Institute of Peace’s efforts to understand religious dimensions of conflict and advance efforts engaging religious actors and organizations in peacebuilding. She has conducted political asylum and refugee work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Advocates for Human Rights. Rev. Hayward studied Buddhism in Nepal and is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. www.axismundi.us Executive Producer: Dr. Bradley Onishi Producer: Andrew Gill Original Music and Mixing: Scott Okamoto Production Assistance: Kari Onishi Funded through generous contributions from ICJS, Princeton Theological Seminary, and the ICRD. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands] Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy [https://redcircle.com/privacy]

008: Poland and Europe: Sacred Symbols, Righteous Resistance, Secular Movements

In this episode of American UnExceptionalism, we travel to Poland to explore how faith, nationalism, and LGBTQ+ resistance collide in one of Europe’s most religious countries. The story begins in 2019, when Polish activist Elżbieta Podleśna was arrested after distributing images of the Black Madonna of Częstochowa with a rainbow halo—a provocative act meant to challenge the growing scapegoating of LGBTQ+ communities by nationalist politicians. What followed was not just a legal battle, but a global moment of religious protest and solidarity, including support from the U.S. Episcopal Church. Hosts Matthew Taylor and Susie Hayward speak with Joel Day (University of Notre Dame) and Gionathan Lo Mascolo (Faith in Democracy) to unpack the deep roots of Polish Catholic identity and how it has shaped modern politics. From the Black Madonna’s central role in Polish national mythology, to the rise of far-right Catholic movements, this episode traces how religious symbols have been mobilized to consolidate power, restrict minority rights, and inspire similar movements in the United States. The conversation explores Poland as a real-world case study of what happens when religious nationalism gains political power: book bans, the removal of sex and gender education from schools, so-called “LGBT-free zones,” and the use of cultural fear narratives to prepare the ground for future crackdowns. At the same time, the episode highlights resistance movements, protests, and the global networks of solidarity pushing back. The lessons are clear: the fight for pluralism and democracy is deeply interconnected across borders, and the future of U.S. politics is tied to struggles already playing out across Europe. * 00:00 Controversial Image Sparks Outrage in Poland * 00:58 The Iconic Black Madonna of Poland * 02:58 Introduction to American Un Exceptionalism * 05:57 Historical Context of Poland's Catholic Identity * 08:27 The Black Madonna's Role in Polish History * 11:15 Poland's Political Landscape and Far-Right Influence * 25:04 All Polish Youth Movement and US Connections * 27:47 Religious Counter-Movements in Poland * 33:17 Far-Right Politics Across Europe * 35:09 Hungary's Influence on US Christian Right * 42:48 Russia's Influence on Europe's Far Right * 50:00 International Solidarity and Practical Advice * 50:48 No Compromise with the Far Right * 51:41 Localism and Bridging Ideologies * 54:01 Reflections and Closing Thoughts Additional Resources: * “Geneviève Zubrzycki (2025) Catholicism, National Mythology and Nationalism in Poland,” in Jeff Haynes (ed) Routledge Handbook on Nationalism. * Joel Day. (2025). Christian Nationalism as a Social Practice: Prayer, Violence, and the Politics of Public Ritual. Terrorism and Political Violence, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/09546553.2025.2555222 [https://doi.org/10.1080/09546553.2025.2555222] * Duffin, Michael. 2022. “Poland’s Evolving Violent Far-Right Landscape.” CTC Sentinel 15 (9). * Żuk, Piotr, and Paweł Żuk. 2020. “‘Murderers of the Unborn’ and ‘sexual Degenerates’: Analysis of the ‘anti-Gender’ Discourse of the Catholic Church and the Nationalist Right in Poland.” Critical Discourse Studies 17 (5): 566–88. * Żuk, Piotr, and Paweł Żuk. 2022. “The Independence Day as a Nationalist Ritual: Framework of the March of Independence in Poland.” Ethnography 23 (1): 14–37. Joel Day [https://strategicframework.nd.edu/people/joel-day/]: Managing Director of the Notre Dame Democracy Initiative. He is a scholar-practitioner who brings over 20 years of leadership experience in government, nonprofits, and political campaigns. In 2020, he was appointed Senior Advisor for COVID-19 Response and Recovery, helping stand up the nation’s largest emergency homeless shelter, coordinating regional public health policy, and managing continuity of operations for a workforce of 11,000. Day has also served as staff or advisor for numerous U.S. presidential, senatorial, and congressional campaigns, and as COO/CFO for an anti-trafficking nonprofit. Day most recently held the position of Senior Fellow and Director of Research at Princeton University's Bridging Divides Initiative, where he worked to count and counter events of political violence in the U.S. Gionathan Lo Mascolo [https://faithdemocracy.org/our-team/]: Deputy Director of Faith in Democracy Inc. Lo Mascolo has worked for over a decade at the intersection of religion, politics, and extremism, supporting faith-based and secular NGOs, multilateral institutions, and progressive parties in Europe and beyond. As a Senior Project Manager, his work has focused on advocacy and on preventing and countering radicalization and violent extremism. Earlier, he worked as a journalist covering the Arab Spring and the Syrian War. He studied Intercultural Theology and Migration (BA, FIT Hermannsburg) and Terrorism, Security, and Society (MA, King’s College London). He is the editor of The Christian Right in Europe (2023), the first volume to analyze religiously motivated far-right networks across the continent. Dr. Matthew D. Taylor is the senior Christian scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies in Baltimore, where he specializes in American Christianity, American Islam, Christian extremism, and religious politics. His book, The Violent Take It by Force: The Christian Movement that is Threatening Our Democracy [https://icjs.org/the-violent-take-it-by-force/] (Broadleaf, 2024), tracks how a loose network of charismatic Christian leaders called the New Apostolic Reformation was a major instigating force for the January 6th Insurrection and is currently reshaping the culture of the religious right in the U.S. Taylor is also the creator of the audio docuseries Charismatic Revival Fury: The New Apostolic Reformation. [https://redcircle.com/shows/40ace99d-7388-4a73-becb-c7f20c0e51e1] Rev. Susan Hayward: was until recently the lead on the US Institute of Peace’s efforts to understand religious dimensions of conflict and advance efforts engaging religious actors and organizations in peacebuilding. She has conducted political asylum and refugee work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Advocates for Human Rights. Rev. Hayward studied Buddhism in Nepal and is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. www.axismundi.us Executive Producer: Dr. Bradley Onishi Producer: Andrew Gill Original Music and Mixing: Scott Okamoto Production Assistance: Kari Onishi Funded through generous contributions from ICJS, Princeton Theological Seminary, and the ICRD. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands] Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy [https://redcircle.com/privacy]

007: Turkey's Political Tension: Secularism, Islam, and Nationalism

In this compelling episode, we sit down with a Dr. S. Ayse Kadayifci-Orellana whose deep personal and scholarly ties to Turkey illuminate one of the most significant political transformations of the last century. Together, we trace Turkey’s journey from the final years of the Ottoman Empire to the creation of a modern, secular republic—and then to the rise of a powerful religious-nationalist project under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The conversation begins with a historical grounding in the Ottoman Empire’s governance, its relationship to Islam, and the profound rupture brought by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s reforms. We explore the architecture of Turkish secularism, how it was enforced, and why it became both a source of national pride and cultural tension. From there, the guest unpacks the emergence of political Islam in the late 20th century, the AKP’s ascent, and Erdoğan’s evolution from reformist mayor to dominant executive. We examine how religion gradually moved from the margins into the center of statecraft, reshaping institutions, education, media, and public life. A major focus is the 2016 coup attempt—its shockwaves, contested narratives, and how it became the pivotal moment that cemented Erdoğan’s near-total control. The episode also highlights the diversity and resilience of Turkish civil society. Women’s movements, humor-driven protest cultures, and grassroots organizing offer alternative visions of democracy and resistance amid growing authoritarianism. Finally, we draw resonant parallels between Turkey’s trajectory and political shifts inside the United States, identifying global patterns of illiberalism, democratic backsliding, and creative forms of opposition. A rich, textured, and timely discussion for anyone seeking to understand the intersections of history, religion, nationalism, and democratic struggle. Episode Timeline 00:00 — Introduction and Guest Background 01:03 — Historical Context of Turkey 03:51 — Ottoman Empire and Islamic Influence 09:25 — Modernization and Secularism in Turkey 25:25 — Rise of Turkish Religious Nationalism 30:22 — Erdoğan’s Political Journey 44:43 — 2016 Coup Attempt and Aftermath 46:11 — Erdoğan’s Response to the Coup 47:27 — The Impact of the Coup on Turkish Democracy 48:43 — The Role of Religion in the Coup 52:54 — Resistance Movements in Turkey 58:45 — The Role of Humor in Protests 01:00:55 — Women’s Rights and Gender Equality in Turkey 01:18:12 — Comparing Turkey and the U.S.: Lessons in Democracy 01:20:52 — Closing Thoughts and Reflections Additional Reources: Kadayifci, Ayse. [https://aysekadayifci9.wixsite.com/aysekadayifci] “Muslim Women’s Peace Initiatives” in Women, Religion and Peacebuilding: Illuminating the Unseen Susan Hayward and Katherine Marshall eds. USIP press (2015) Dr. S. Ayse Kadayifci-Orellana [https://aysekadayifci9.wixsite.com/aysekadayifci] is Associate Professor at Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and Gender Peace and Security Advisor at Georgetown Institute of Women, Peace and Security. Before coming to Georgetown University she served as a consultant for the Religion and Peacebuilding Program at United States Institute of Peace. Her research focuses on Muslim women’s peacebuilding initiatives, mediation and peace building, religion and conflict resolution, interfaith dialogue, Islamic approaches to war and peace, and Islam and nonviolence. Dr. Matthew D. Taylor is the senior Christian scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies in Baltimore, where he specializes in American Christianity, American Islam, Christian extremism, and religious politics. His book, The Violent Take It by Force: The Christian Movement that is Threatening Our Democracy [https://icjs.org/the-violent-take-it-by-force/] (Broadleaf, 2024), tracks how a loose network of charismatic Christian leaders called the New Apostolic Reformation was a major instigating force for the January 6th Insurrection and is currently reshaping the culture of the religious right in the U.S. Taylor is also the creator of the audio docuseries Charismatic Revival Fury: The New Apostolic Reformation. [https://redcircle.com/shows/40ace99d-7388-4a73-becb-c7f20c0e51e1] Rev. Susan Hayward: was until recently the lead on the US Institute of Peace’s efforts to understand religious dimensions of conflict and advance efforts engaging religious actors and organizations in peacebuilding. She has conducted political asylum and refugee work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Advocates for Human Rights. Rev. Hayward studied Buddhism in Nepal and is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. www.axismundi.us Executive Producer: Dr. Bradley Onishi Producer: Andrew Gill Original Music and Mixing: Scott Okamoto Production Assistance: Kari Onishi Funded through generous contributions from ICJS, Princeton Theological Seminary, and the ICRD. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands] Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy [https://redcircle.com/privacy]