The Bewitching of the American Mind (Replay) - with Molly Worthen

74. Should America "Stop in the Name of God"? Reviewing Charlie Kirk's posthumous book on the Sabbath - Jonathon Cherne

Charlie Kirk's book on the Sabbath, released posthumously, has created quite a stir. We explore the push for a national shared day of rest and why it’s more complicated than it sounds. We get into the religious meaning of Sabbath, the history of blue laws, and what happens when the government gets involved in something that isn’t just about taking a break. Guest: Jonathan Cherne, author, attorney and "Of Counsel" to the Church State Council *** Show Notes Book Review | "Should American 'Stop in the Name of God?' | Liberty Magazine, March/April 2026 - https://www.libertymagazine.org//article/should-america-stop-in-the-name-of-god

73. The Kingdom Comes to Capitol Hill: Dominionism in modern American politics - with André Gagné

A straightforward look at dominionism—what people mean by it, how it shows up in our politics, and why it matters. We talk through how some Christians think about influence and power, what’s changing, and what it could mean for America's tradition of religious pluralism. Guest: André Gagné, Professor and Chair, Theological Studies at Concordia University Special Host: Stephen Allred, Church State Council **** Article | "Remaking the Kingdom: Why understanding dominionist theology is key to making sense of contemporary American politics" by André Gagné | Liberty Magazine March/April 2026 - https://www.libertymagazine.org/article/remaking-the-kingdom [https://www.libertymagazine.org/article/remaking-the-kingdom]

72. Politics, Prophecy, and Israel: How some Christians turn Jews and Israel into props for the end times - with Alexander Bolotnikov

How does some Christian end-times thinking turn Jews and Israel into props, skew how people read conflicts like Iran, and blur the line between geopolitics and theological agendas? And, more importantly, what does a more biblically grounded approach look like? Guest: Alexander Bolotnikov, biblical scholar and Director, Hebrew Bible Institute *** Show Notes Website | Hebrew Bible Institute - https://www.learnhbi.com/home

71. A Graphic Witness: Artist Matt Yocum on the Life and Martyrdom of Shahbaz Bhatti - with Knox Thames

In a country where blasphemy can carry a death sentence, Pakistani politician Shahbaz Bhatti understood the cost of defending religious minorities—and ultimately paid it. Fifteen years after his assassination, his story is being retold through a creative medium aimed at engaging a new generation in the fight for religious freedom. Show Notes Book | Matt Yocum, Jordan Holt, Blood and Water: The Life and Martyrdom of Shahbaz Bhatti (Ignatius Press: February 2026). Article | Knox Thames, "A Pakistani Martyr for Religious Freedom," The Dispatch (March 1, 2026).  Article | Forthcoming, Céleste Perrino, "A Candle in the Darkness: The Life of Shahbaz Bhatti," Liberty magazine (May-June 2026). Website | www.mattyocum.com   Website | www.knoxthames.com

Religious freedom's "use-by date"? (Replay) - with Jaziah Masters

Religious freedom in America may be headed toward the edge of a cliff. Why? Because survey after survey shows that younger generations of Americans neither understand nor value the crucial role religious freedom plays in our democracy. What's behind this worrying trend? And can anything be done to rehabilitate the reputation of religious freedom in the eyes of Gen-Zs and Millennials? Interview with Jaziah B. Masters, Research Fellow, Center for Faith, Justice and Reconciliation, Baptist Joint Committee. Note: This is a replay with our Oct 3, 2023 interview with Jaziah Masters. The video version of this episode can be found on Youtube: Show Notes Article |  "A Religious Freedom Wake-up Call" - by Jaziah Masters for Liberty magazine: https://www.libertymagazine.org/article/a-religious-freedom-wake-up-call [https://www.libertymagazine.org/article/a-religious-freedom-wake-up-call]