Faithful Politics

• How Evangelicals Betrayed Jesus for Power – A Conversation with Amy Hawk

  Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: [email protected] this episode, Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram speak with Amy Hawk, author of The Judas Effect: How Evangelicals Betray Jesus for Power. Once a hyper-patriotic evangelical leader, Amy shares her journey of disillusionment during the 2016 election when Donald Trump became the Republican nominee. She opens up about her father’s legacy as a Vietnam War hero, her evolving faith journey, and the painful decision to step away from the white evangelical church. Hawk discusses how Trumpism has infiltrated the evangelical community, drawing parallels between Judas’ betrayal and how evangelical leaders have sacrificed integrity for political power. Amy also details how her faith was renewed through studying the life of Jesus and the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., ultimately leading her to a spiritual community outside traditional evangelical circles.Guest Bio:Amy Hawk is the author of The Judas Effect: How Evangelicals Betray Jesus for Power. Once a devoted evangelical leader, Amy experienced a profound faith crisis during the 2016 election when she witnessed the rise of Trumpism within the evangelical church. Now, she speaks out against the manipulation of Christianity for political gain and offers daily Bible teachings on her YouTube channel and social media.Resources & Links:The Judas Effect: How Evangelicals Betray Jesus for Power by Amy Hawk – Purchase Link on her website for signed copies: https://www.amyhawk.com Support the show🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest?👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com 📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests:faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore ❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going:donorbox.org/faithful-politics-podcast 📩 Reach out to us: Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: [email protected] Political Host, Will Wright: [email protected] 📱 Follow & connect with us: Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitik Instagram: faithful_politics Facebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcast LinkedIn: faithfulpolitics 📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content:faithfulpolitics.substack.com 📅 RSVP for upcoming live events:Chec...

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• Religious Liberty, Natural Theology, and America’s Founding with Dr. Owen Anderson

  Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: [email protected] an era of rising polarization, what does religious liberty really mean—and why does it matter today? Dr. Owen Anderson, professor of philosophy and religious studies at Arizona State University, joins Will and Josh to unpack the philosophical roots of religious freedom, natural theology, and the moral principles that shaped the American founding. Together, they explore tough questions: How do we define religious liberty in a pluralistic society? Are the ideals in the Declaration of Independence grounded in Protestant theology? What does it mean to protect religious freedom without weaponizing faith for political gain? The conversation also touches on hot-button issues like Christian nationalism, DEI programs, transgender rights, and the complex relationship between church and state. Whether you're curious about the faith of the Founders or wrestling with modern debates about freedom of conscience, this episode offers thoughtful insight into the intersection of faith, philosophy, and democracy.Guest Bio:Dr. Owen Anderson is a professor of philosophy and religious studies at Arizona State University and the pastor of Christ the King Church in Phoenix. His work focuses on natural theology, constitutional principles, and moral philosophy, with a particular interest in how religious liberty and moral truth shape democratic societies. He is the author of several books, including Reason, Faith and Faithfulness, The Declaration of God, and a philosophical commentary on the Book of Job.Resources & Links:Dr. Owen Anderson’s Website: https://drowenanderson.comThe Declaration of God by Owen Anderson: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9781107459045 Support the show🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest?👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com 📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests:faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore ❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going:donorbox.org/faithful-politics-podcast 📩 Reach out to us: Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: [email protected] Political Host, Will Wright: [email protected] 📱 Follow & connect with us: Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitik Instagram: faithful_politics Facebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcast LinkedIn: faithfulpolitics 📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content:faithfulpolitics.substack.com 📅 RSVP for upcoming live events:Chec...

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• How Bias Shapes Our Faith and Politics with Psychologist Erin Devers

  Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: [email protected] is it so hard to admit when we’re wrong—even when the evidence is right in front of us? Cognitive bias isn’t just a problem for “other people”—it affects all of us, shaping how we think, vote, and even practice our faith. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Erin Devers, social psychologist and professor, to talk about her new book The Unbiased Self (InterVarsity Press), where she draws on decades of research in psychology, neuroscience, and theology. Together, we explore why biases are baked into the way we process information, how these mental shortcuts affect our politics and faith, and what it actually takes to move toward greater humility and intellectual honesty. We also discuss the “bias blind spot,” confirmation bias, belief perseverance, and the surprising power of dialogue—even across deep disagreements.Guest Bio:Dr. Erin Elizabeth Devers is a social psychologist and professor whose work focuses on cognitive and emotional processes underlying human behavior, particularly around self-perception, social bias, and faith. She has taught social psychology since 2007 and is known for blending psychological science with spiritual insight. She is the author of The Unbiased Self, published by InterVarsity Press.Resources & Links:The Unbiased Self by Erin Devers (InterVarsity Press): https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9781514009765Indiana Wesleyan University Faculty Page: https://www.indwes.edu/  Support the show🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest?👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com 📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests:faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore ❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going:donorbox.org/faithful-politics-podcast 📩 Reach out to us: Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: [email protected] Political Host, Will Wright: [email protected] 📱 Follow & connect with us: Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitik Instagram: faithful_politics Facebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcast LinkedIn: faithfulpolitics 📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content:faithfulpolitics.substack.com 📅 RSVP for upcoming live events:Chec...

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• Climbing the Seven Mountains: How Dominion Theology Is Reshaping America with Dr. Matthew Boedy

  Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: [email protected] Seven Mountain Mandate—a concept calling for Christian dominance over key spheres of American life like government, education, media, and family—has quietly gained traction in right-wing political and religious circles. But what does this strategy really entail, and why should it concern us today?In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Matthew Boedy, professor of rhetoric and composition at the University of North Georgia, to unpack the origins, theology, and political aspirations behind the Seven Mountain Mandate. Drawing connections between this fringe theology and mainstream conservative figures like Charlie Kirk and Turning Point USA, Boedy explains how the language of spiritual warfare has morphed into a battle plan for cultural and political takeover.We explore how this movement intersects with Christian nationalism, its ties to authoritarianism, and the implications for LGBTQ rights, religious minorities, and American democracy itself. Whether you’ve heard of the Seven Mountain Mandate or not, this conversation sheds light on a growing influence shaping faith and politics in America.Guest Bio:Dr. Matthew Boedy is a professor of rhetoric and composition at the University of North Georgia and a leading voice analyzing the intersection of religion, politics, and extremism in the United States. He is the author of The Seven Mountains Mandate: Exposing the Dangerous Plan to Christianize America and Destroy Democracy, where he traces the history and influence of dominion theology across modern conservative movements.Resources & Links:📖 The Seven Mountains Mandate: Exposing the Dangerous Plan to Christianize America and Destroy Democracy by Matthew Boedy — Available from Westminster John Knox Press (40% off code: 7MCAST): https://www.wjkbooks.com/Products/0664269214/the-seven-mountains-mandate.aspxFollow Matthew Boedy on X (Twitter): @MatthewBoedy Support the show🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest?👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com 📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests:faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore ❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going:donorbox.org/faithful-politics-podcast 📩 Reach out to us: Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: [email protected] Political Host, Will Wright: [email protected] 📱 Follow & connect with us: Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitik Instagram: faithful_politics Facebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcast LinkedIn: faithfulpolitics 📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content:faithfulpolitics.substack.com 📅 RSVP for upcoming live events:Chec...

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• Trump’s Legal Assault on the Rule of Law with Constitutional Scholar Eric Berger

  Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: [email protected] join us on May 2nd for our Beyond the Echo Chamber event: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1320567174969?aff=oddtdtcreatorAs Donald Trump ramps up executive actions targeting law firms, student protestors, and immigrant communities, constitutional experts are sounding the alarm. Are we witnessing a slow erosion of the rule of law—or a full-blown constitutional crisis? In this episode of Faithful Politics, political host Will Wright and faithful host Pastor Josh Burtram sit down with Professor Eric Berger, a constitutional law scholar at the University of Nebraska College of Law, to unpack the legal and constitutional stakes of Trump’s latest moves.Berger, who signed on to an amicus brief alongside hundreds of law professors opposing Trump’s executive orders against disfavored law firms, explains how these actions violate First Amendment protections and threaten access to the courts. The conversation dives into the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the legal rights of non-citizens under due process, and the broader implications of ignoring judicial orders. Berger also addresses the deportation of graduate students for political speech and how these developments echo authoritarian strategies seen around the world.BRIEF OF AMICI CURIAE 676 LAW PROFESSORS IN SUPPORT OF PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND FOR DECLARATORY AND PERMANENT INJUNCTIVE RELIEFGuest Bio:Eric Berger is a professor of constitutional law at the University of Nebraska College of Law, specializing in the U.S. Supreme Court, executive power, and judicial interpretation. His scholarship focuses on constitutional structure and procedural fairness, and his work has appeared in leading law reviews and media outlets. Berger has also contributed to The Great Courses series, making complex legal issues access Support the show🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest?👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com 📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests:faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore ❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going:donorbox.org/faithful-politics-podcast 📩 Reach out to us: Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: [email protected] Political Host, Will Wright: [email protected] 📱 Follow & connect with us: Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitik Instagram: faithful_politics Facebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcast LinkedIn: faithfulpolitics 📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content:faithfulpolitics.substack.com 📅 RSVP for upcoming live events:Chec...

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