Episodios

  • One Year Since 10/7: Bringing Communities Together in Solidarity and Dialogue

    One Year Since 10/7: Bringing Communities Together in Solidarity and Dialogue
    Oct 5 2024
    October 7th marks the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza – a war that is still raging and even spreading, costing tens of thousands of lives and untold suffering and trauma for so many in the region. This week, The State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance's weekly radio program and podcast, focuses on marking this solemn occasion, and exploring the impact that it’s had on interfaith relations between diverse communities here in the US. The episode shares extended excerpts from a powerful recent panel discussion moderated by host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, featuring expert guests from the Muslim, Jewish and Christian communities – Dr. Najeeba Syeed, Rabba Rori Picker Neiss, and Rev. Fred Davie. Alongside that panel, Paul is also joined this week by Rabbi Jill Jacobs, CEO of T’ruah, a heartfelt conversation on the emotional and spiritual weight of the Jewish High Holy Days as they intersect with the ongoing violence in the Middle East. These conversations delve into the complexities and conflicts faced by religious communities, offering strategies for fostering collaboration, empathy, and understanding in a divided society. They reflect on how global conflicts can have intense local impacts here in the US, underscoring the need for dedicated relationship-building to create a more inclusive future. Discussing the ongoing conflict in Israel/Palestine, Rabbi Jill Jacobs reflected, “Most people want to live their lives in peace. And various leaders are deciding to continue to escalate.” She added, “We’re sitting in this liminal moment where we see that things could get much worse, or God willing and the leaders willing, they could get better.” During the panel, Dr. Syeed emphasized the importance of facing challenges head-on: "We can't afford to disengage from the pain. We must show up, even in discomfort, and be ready to have the hard conversations that can lead to healing." Rabba Picker Neiss stressed the need for dialogue: “We need to ask questions and then we need to listen to the answers. We need to hold space, and we need to recognize that offering someone space doesn't mean giving up any of our own power.” Rev. Fred Davie offered a hopeful perspective, expressing that their collective efforts “serve as a bit of leaven, a bit of yeast, for this larger effort to build a kind of world…that we’d all like to see.” Rev. Fred Davie is the Senior Strategic Advisor to the President at Union Theological Seminary, where he previously served as Executive Vice President for a decade. In his current role, he advises on public programming, racial justice, and social justice initiatives. Rabbi Jill Jacobs is the CEO of T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, leading over 2,300 rabbis and cantors in advocating for human rights in North America, Israel, and the occupied Palestinian territories. Rabba Rori Picker Neiss is the Senior Vice President for Community Relations at the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA). Previously, she was the Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis and a member of the clergy at Bais Abraham Congregation. Dr. Najeeba Syeed is an Associate Professor of Muslim and Interreligious Studies at the Chicago Theological Seminary. She is a recognized leader in peacebuilding, having twice received the Jon Anson Ford Award for reducing violence and being named Southern California Mediation Association’s “Peacemaker of the Year” in 2007.
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    53 m
  • Strong Women Speaking Truth to Power: Kristin Du Mez and Mary J. Novak

    Strong Women Speaking Truth to Power: Kristin Du Mez and Mary J. Novak
    Sep 28 2024
    Mary J. Novak and Kristin Du Mez are two incredible women whose work at the intersection of activism and faith is driving critical change in our society. This week, they join host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush on The State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance's weekly radio program and podcast, to explore how faith can be used as a tool for tremendous social progress, or for abuse – and how people can work together to help foster inclusive communities and challenge the forces of oppression. Kristin's new film, For Our Daughters, explores the troubling culture of submission and sexual abuse within the evangelical church, and its connection to the Christian nationalist agenda aimed at undermining women's rights in the upcoming 2024 election. “I thought it was really important to put their stories, in all of their power, in front of the country. In front of Christian women in particular, in front of Christians, and just hear them and grapple with: how could this be allowed to happen? How could, even after these wrongs were exposed…How could this persist? And then, what are we doing as Christians, as church members, and as voters to perpetuate these systems that foster abuse?” - Kristin Kobes Du Mez, New York Times bestselling author and Professor of History and Gender Studies at Calvin University. She holds a PhD from the University of Notre Dame and her research focuses on the intersection of gender, religion, and politics. She has contributed to The New York Times, The Washington Post, and NBC News and has been featured on NPR, CBS, and the BBC. Her latest works include her book, Jesus and John Wayne and groundbreaking documentary, For Our Daughters: Stories of Abuse, Betrayal, and Resistance in the Evangelical Church. “People of all backgrounds and religious and cultural persuasions are working together to help build the common good through policy and politics…because we can all come together. And when we collaborate, we have the power to decide the future we will inhabit.” - Mary J. Novak, Executive Director of NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, the first lay leader and the sixth woman to hold this role. With a background in organizing, activism, law, education, chaplaincy, and restorative justice, she introduced a shared leadership model to advance NETWORK's mission. Under her guidance, the organization is building stronger partnerships for the common good and positioning itself for future growth in pursuing justice. NETWORK organizes the incredible Nuns on the Bus & Friends Tour, traveling across the country starting September 29th to directly advocate for and pursue social justice through the lens of Catholic social teaching.
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    1 h y 13 m
  • Interfaith Action at the State Level: Florida, North Dakota, Pennsylvania

    Interfaith Action at the State Level: Florida, North Dakota, Pennsylvania
    Sep 21 2024
    In states and communities across the country, people of diverse religious and secular beliefs are coming together to fight for freedom of conscience for all. Many are doing it under the banner of Interfaith Alliance, organizing local affiliates to address pressing challenges to our constitutional liberties and pluralistic values. Rev. Dr. Sharon Harris Ewing, Rev. Anne Flynn, and Ross Keys are prime examples of how grassroots activism is shaping the future of religious freedom and equality. Their work leading Interfaith Alliance affiliates across the nation highlights the growing importance of combating discriminatory policies, fighting religious indoctrination, and fostering inclusive communities nationwide. For this week's episode of The State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio show and podcast, all three join Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to discuss the critical role interfaith collaboration plays in addressing societal challenges. Together, they explore how political activism, local faith leaders, and grassroots movements shape communities in Southwest Florida, Pennsylvania, and North Dakota, all within the broader context of America’s evolving cultural and spiritual landscape. Together, they represent the strength and diversity of interfaith efforts around the country. "Understand the ramifications of the issues that you're facing. Understand that your vote counts. And, yes, you can be frustrated. And, yes, you don't have to like everybody or everything that someone else does, but you have to be informed, make a decision, and commit.” - Rev. Anne Flynn, a deacon in the Episcopal Church and a leader of Interfaith Alliance of Pennsylvania. “When folks come together, work together, communicate, and share messaging, you can have success even in places where it can get pretty dark at times.” - Ross Keys, a seasoned activist and organizer who currently leads Interfaith Alliance of North Dakota. “In this very conservative environment where I live, there is so much enthusiasm for our work. Our numbers keep growing. This is a huge beacon of hope among all the Christian nationalist and other views that are out there–that people are responding to our message.” - Rev. Dr. Sharon Harris Ewing, board president of Interfaith Alliance of Southwest Florida. She brings her rich experience as both an ordained minister and a longtime educator.
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    59 m
  • Demographics, Democracy, and Destiny: Dr. Robert P. Jones

    Demographics, Democracy, and Destiny: Dr. Robert P. Jones
    Sep 14 2024
    As American society evolves, Dr. Robert P. Jones explores how rigid, traditional norms are losing their influence, leading to a growing need for greater religious and racial diversity and inclusion. His latest book, The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy and the Path to a Shared American Future, analyzes the historical and ongoing legacy of White supremacy, offering a comprehensive exploration of how colonialism, genocide, and racial violence are deeply woven into the fabric of America's history. For this week's episode of The State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio show and podcast, Robby joins host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to explore how political and religious landscapes are continuously altered by the growing cultural diversity within American society, driven by the rise of interfaith and interracial families, and the many who identify as religiously unaffiliated. “We had Barack Obama and Kamala Harris, who are mixed-race candidates. And that's also a reality in most of America. And I think this kind of blending of racial and religious identities…this is the way that most Americans are actually navigating their lives. It doesn't look like the hierarchical, patriarchal, homogeneous, white picket fence… neighborhood where all the people look like them, and all the people their kids go to school with look like them. That's not the reality that most Americans are living with today, whatever mythology is out there. So I think that we're just seeing it come in more public, symbolic ways that we're seeing at the top of these tickets, even on the Republican side.” - Dr. Robert P. Jones, president and founder of the Public Religion Research Institute and a prominent author whose recent book, The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy and the Path to a Shared American Future, became a New York Times bestseller and has just been released in paperback with a new and compelling afterword. His previous works include White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity, which won a 2021 American Book Award, and The End of White Christian America, which was honored with the 2019 Grawemeyer Award in Religion. Robby's writing is regularly found in The Atlantic, TIME, and Religion News Service and is frequently featured in major media outlets, including CNN, MSNBC, NPR, and The New York Times. Robby also writes a weekly newsletter focused on confronting and healing from the legacy of White supremacy in American Christianity, found at www.whitetoolong.net.
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    59 m
  • Faith, Power, and Victimhood: the evolution of Christian Nationalism

    Faith, Power, and Victimhood: the evolution of Christian Nationalism
    Sep 7 2024
    As Christian nationalism and the far right’s influence on American politics grow, historian Randall Balmer offers a critical examination of evangelicalism and the surprising shifts within its ranks. In his book Bad Faith: Race and the Rise of the Religious Right, he reveals how far-right religious lobbying in the 1970s, fueled by efforts to defend racial segregation, evolved into the dangerous political force threatening democracy and religious freedoms today. For this week's episode of The State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio show and podcast, Randall joins host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to explore the evolution of evangelicalism, particularly how early evangelicals championed social reform, contrasting with the modern political alignment of those influenced by the far right. “I think religion certainly contributes to democracy. And some people have misinterpreted what I said, including my Dogged defense of the First Amendment, which I believe is America's best idea. But people have misinterpreted me to say that voices of faith should not be part of our political discourse. And I couldn't disagree more strongly. I think people have every right to bring their religious or faith commitments into the arena of public discourse, and I think public discourse will be impoverished without those voices… I have every right to express my religiously informed convictions in the arena of public discourse. But I also have an obligation to listen to others, as well.” - Dr. Randall Balmer, prize-winning historian and Emmy Award nominee. He holds the John Phillips Chair in Religion at Dartmouth College, the institution's oldest endowed professorship. Randall's latest book is Saving Faith: How American Christianity Can Reclaim Its Prophetic Voice.
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    1 h
  • The Past Isn't Even Past: The Trial That Riveted A Nation With Brenda Wineapple

    The Past Isn't Even Past: The Trial That Riveted A Nation With Brenda Wineapple
    Aug 31 2024
    As book bans and religious censorship again become increasingly prevalent, America is witnessing an alarming repetition of patterns from our history. Brenda Wineapple's most recent book, Keeping the Faith: God, Democracy, and the Trial That Riveted a Nation, is a compelling account of censorship and successful far-right religious lobbying during the 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial that continues to influence America today. For this week's episode of The State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio show and podcast, Brenda joins host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to discuss the resurgent threat of censorship and extreme religious influence in America. Over a century after the 1925 trial, her book – recently featured on the front page of the NY Times Book Review – recounts a fascinating story mirrored by recent attempts to mandate Christian curriculum and indoctrination in public schools. "We know that books are being banned in libraries, and in schools themselves, by school boards that take upon themselves the idea of what children should read and they legislate that. There's also censorship more widely about what people can do in their private lives: who they can love, for example; whether or not women have rights to their own bodies. This is the kind of legislation and these are the kinds of issues that are still with us. And sometimes, they form in different ways. I'm not sure a woman's right to choose was on the boards at that particular time. Women had only just gotten the right to vote. But in point of fact, women were very much part of what was going on. Because suddenly in 1925, as now, the world seemed to be changing, and the question of who decides what the direction of the country should be was really what's at stake.” - Brenda Wineapple, distinguished author of seven books who is widely celebrated as a literary artist. The New York Times named her book The Impeachers: The Trial of Andrew Johnson one of the ten best nonfiction works of 2019, while Ecstatic Nation: Confidence, Crisis, and Compromise, 1848 to 1877 was recognized as a best book of the year by The New York Times and other publications in 2013. Brenda's literary works have been honored with numerous awards, including the Literature Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, a Pushcart Prize, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and an American Council of Learned Societies Fellowship. She has also received three National Endowment Fellowships, including its Public Scholarship Award. To expand our reach, The State of Belief is now being distributed via the Religion News Service family of podcasts. Be sure to subscribe to The State of Belief today at https://www.stateofbelief.com/subscribe.
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    58 m
  • Changemakers at the DNC

    Changemakers at the DNC
    Aug 24 2024
    Throughout the week of the Democratic National Convention, Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush and the Interfaith Alliance team were all over Chicago for events, discussions and meet-ups, representing the views of a powerful movement of people of diverse faiths and beliefs across the country. On this week’s State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance's weekly radio program and podcast, we’re excited to share audio from a wide range of conversations and speakers that Paul met up with in Chicago. In the first portion of the program, you'll hear Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, the venerable academic, author and minister who spoke alongside Paul at a panel discussion about the boundaries between religion and government. Next up, it's Paul’s conversations with two dynamic Members of Congress – Civil rights attorney Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas, and Rep. Becca Balint of Vermont, the first openly LGBTQ person and the first woman to represent her state in the House of Representatives. Journalist and writer Katherine Stewart, author of the essential book The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism, spoke with Paul about the strategies Christian nationalists are poised to deploy in the 2024 election season. In the final portion of this special episode, you'll hear exclusive excerpts from “Promise 2025” – a meet-up of faith leaders attending the DNC, organized in-part by Interfaith Alliance and reported on in USA Today. At the event, leaders from across the religious spectrum joined together to claim religious diversity as an asset to the future of our democracy, and to discuss ways to organize the faith and interfaith community to support fair elections and the peaceful transfer of power. The excerpts include some thoughts from Paul, as well as Rev. Frederick Davie, Union Theological Seminary; Rev. Jen Butler, Faith Forward; Rabbi Jason Kimelman-Block, Bend the Arc; and Rev. Doug Pagitt, Vote Common Good.
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    54 m
  • Passion & Policy: Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons

    Passion & Policy: Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons
    Aug 17 2024
    Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons, one of the country’s top advocates and experts working at the intersection of religion, politics and policy, has just this week joined Interfaith Alliance as the organization’s new Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy. To start off his tenure, he joined host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush on The State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance's weekly radio program and podcast, to discuss the threat of the Christian nationalist right’s vision for America’s future – and how so many Christians and other Americans of diverse faiths and beliefs are collaborating to advance a compelling, competing vision of true religious freedom and mutual respect. “If authoritarianism comes to the United States, it will be done in the name of Christianity and restoring God to the public and putting God back in our schools. And it will be a Christian theocracy that is advanced. And you see that in Project 2025. A year ago, I was the first person to go through this 900-page document and identify the different theocratic elements of it. They talk about how they are going to put forth a religious definition of marriage… They talk about portraying the left as trying to advance a religion that would attack Christianity. And so throughout Project 2025, you see explicit and implicit appeals to Christian nationalism.” - Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons, who joins Interfaith Alliance with more than a decade of experience working with faith communities on some of the most important social justice issues of our time: religious freedom, democracy, LGBTQ rights, reproductive freedom, immigration, anti-Muslim bigotry, and more. He most recently worked at the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, with an emphasis on its Christians Against Christian Nationalism campaign. Prior to BJC, he held positions at the Center for American Progress, ReThink Media, and the National Immigration Forum. An ordained Baptist deacon, he is the author of Just Faith: Reclaiming Progressive Christianity (Broadleaf Books, 2020). In 2019, the Center for American Progress (CAP) named him one of its annual list of Faith Leaders to Watch.
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    52 m