Fractured Faith: A Mosaic of Belief

Two Flags in My Heart: A Cherokee Reflection on America's 250th Birthday

As America commemorates the 250th anniversary of its founding, Joshua Hopping explores one of the most personal and emotionally complex holidays of the year. As both an American patriot and a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, Joshua reflects on what it means to celebrate a nation whose birth represents both liberty and loss. Through his own family history—one ancestor who fought for American independence and another who likely fought alongside the British in defense of Cherokee sovereignty—he examines the American Revolution from two very different perspectives. In this episode of Fractured Faith, Joshua explores the often-overlooked role of Native nations during the Revolutionary era, the struggle over western lands that helped shape the nation's founding, the Declaration of Independence's infamous reference to "merciless Indian Savages," and the long road to freedom experienced by Native Americans and African Americans long after 1776. Rather than rejecting America's founding ideals, Joshua asks a more difficult question: Freedom for whom? He wrestles with the tension of loving his country while acknowledging that the promises of liberty were not extended equally to all people. The result is an honest conversation about patriotism, historical memory, justice, and hope—one that seeks neither to condemn nor to romanticize America's past, but to tell the truth about it. Whether you approach the Fourth of July with celebration, sorrow, or a mixture of both, this episode invites listeners to consider how history, faith, and identity shape our understanding of freedom—and why telling the whole story matters. Additional Resources The following books, articles, and historical resources provide additional context for many of the topics discussed in this episode: - First America podcast [https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/first-americ] by Rebecca Nagle - A People's History of the United States [https://amzn.to/4glP5i8] by Howard Zin (affiliate link) - How to Hide an Empire [https://amzn.to/4vQSESm]by Daniel Immerwahr (affiliate link) - An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States [https://amzn.to/3T0CvuO] by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz (affiliate link)

Being a Good Ancestor: Reflections from the NAIITS Symposium

What happens when Indigenous identity, Christian faith, and theological education meet in the same space? In this episode of Fractured Faith, Joshua Hopping reflects on his experience attending the recent NAIITS Symposium and shares some thoughts on the people, conversations, and ideas that made a lasting impression on him. He also introduces listeners to NAIITS and discusses his opportunity to assist with their Indigenous Spirituality and Formation course following the symposium. This episode offers a personal reflection on learning, community, and the ongoing work of reimagining faith through Indigenous perspectives.

The Mystery of Jesus: How the Early Church Wrestled with the Unexplainable

In the years after Jesus’ resurrection, his followers weren’t building a system—they were trying to make sense of something that had happened to them. Faithful Jews began proclaiming that Jesus was Lord, yet they refused to abandon the God of Israel. That tension sparked one of the most profound theological struggles in history. This episode traces how the early church wrestled with the question: Who was Jesus? From Marcion’s rejection of the Old Testament to debates about whether Jesus was truly God, truly human, or somehow both, each answer tried to resolve a mystery that refused to be simplified. Rather than grasping for power, the early church councils were working to protect that mystery—to hold together what experience had revealed: that in Jesus, God had truly come near without ceasing to be God, and humanity had truly been taken up without being erased. We also explore why these ancient “heresies” are not just historical—they are still with us today, often in ways we don’t even recognize. Photo by Jr Korpa [https://unsplash.com/@jrkorpa?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText] on Unsplash. [https://unsplash.com/photos/a-blurry-photo-of-a-bunch-of-smoke-bWBDZ1uViqI?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText]

Christian Nationalism Explained - Faith, Power, and Politics

In this episode of Fractured Faith, Joshua Hopping—Cherokee lay theologian and author—examines the history, theology, and modern impact of Christian nationalism, defined as the belief that the United States is fundamentally a Christian nation. Drawing on historical scholarship and contemporary analysis, Hopping explores how this ideology has intersected with race, Manifest Destiny, slavery, demographic fears, and current culture wars. Speaking from both a Christian and Cherokee perspective, he argues that Christian nationalism differs from the teachings of Jesus and raises concerns about religious freedom, pluralism, and Indigenous spiritual sovereignty. Sources: https://www.freedomforum.org/what-is-christian-nationalism/ https://kettering.org/five-elements-of-christian-nationalism/ https://jemartisby.substack.com/p/a-virtual-roundtable-on-the-threat

Is Christianity inherently colonial in nature?

In this episode of Fractured Faith, Joshua Hopping — Cherokee author and lay-theologian — examines the question: Is Christianity inherently colonial in nature? With nuance and candor, he explores what is meant by both “Christianity” and “colonialism,” tracing the faith from Genesis through Jesus and Paul while acknowledging its historical entanglement with empire. Offering a “no, yes, maybe” response, Hopping considers the biblical mandate to proclaim Christ, the painful reality of Christianity being used to dominate Indigenous peoples, and the scriptural witness that portrays God at work among all nations (Amos 9:7). He also reflects on how European-American Christianity often developed alongside imperial power and argues that decolonizing the faith is not about abandoning Christ, but disentangling the gospel from empire. Drawing on Trinitarian theology, early church voices, and marginalized theologians, he invites listeners to imagine a shift from control to communion — and to consider what it would mean for Christianity to look more like Jesus himself.