Respecting Religion

Is an American flag in a church sanctuary an example of Christian nationalism? What about faith-based advocacy? Helping voters get to the polls? Saying the Constitution is "divinely inspired"? In this conversation from 2024, Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman answer some common questions they hear about Christian nationalism, and they talk about the questions we all should be asking ourselves when evaluating the political ideology.
This program originally aired March 21, 2024
SHOW NOTES:
Segment 1 (starting at 01:25): What does it mean to determine the level of Christian nationalism?
This podcast episode won the "Best in Class" award from the Religion Communicators Council in 2025. It was first released as episode 21 of season 5 on March 21, 2024.
Learn more about the Christians Against Christian Nationalism movement and how you can get involved at ChristiansAgainstChristianNationalism.org. 
 
Segment 2 (starting at 09:09): Answering some political questions about Christian nationalism 
Amanda mentioned this op-ed by David French in The New York Times: What is Christian Nationalism, Exactly? 
 
Visit this link to access the report on Christian nationalism and the January 6 insurrection from BJC and the Freedom From Religion Foundation. 
Amanda mentioned this article by Steven Monacelli for the Daily Dot: A new social network built on a vision of Christian supremacy in America gains traction with GOP politicians
Hear Amanda and Holly's reaction to President Trump's 2020 appearance at St. John's Church with a Bible in episode 15 of our first season: Protests, the president and the photo op with a Bible
 
Segment 3 (starting at 29:56): Answering some church-related questions about Christian nationalism 
Read about the 2024 survey results from PRRI on the support for Christian nationalism at this link that Amanda mentioned during the podcast. UPDATE for the re-release of this episdoe: PRRI's most recent report on the topic was released in February 2025, which is available at this link.  
To learn more about Patriot Churches, read this 2020 article in The Washington Post by Sarah Pulliam Bailey: Seeking power in Jesus' name: Trump sparks a rise of Patriot Churches
 
Segment 4 (starting at 39:40): History and civics questions about Christian nationalism
Amanda and Holly spoke about some lawmakers sharing the idea that the Constitution is "divinely inspired" in episode 10 of season 4: A report, a prayer vigil, and a somber anniversary: Two years after January 6. It was also re-released as a "best of" episode in January 2026.
Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.

SHOW NOTES:
Segment one (02:45): Conversation with Dr. Walter Brueggemann
This program originally aired August 21, 2019, as episode 4 in our 10-part BJC Podcast series on the dangers of Christian nationalism.
One of the most influential Bible interpreters of our time, Dr. Walter Brueggemann was the author of more than 100 books, including The Prophetic Imagination. He passed away June 5, 2025. Visit his official website to learn more about his work and his legacy.
This was the fourth episode in our 10-part series on Christian nationalism in 2019. Other episodes are available at this link or on the feed called "BJC Podcast" on Apple Podcasts (iTunes), SoundCloud, Spotify, and more.
Amanda mentioned the Easter Monday message she sent in 2025, which quoted Dr. Brueggemann from this episode. Sign up for our email list to get more emails by visiting this link.
To learn more about BJC's work countering Christian nationalism, visit ChristiansAgainstChristianNationalism.org or BJConline.org/ChristianNationalism.
Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.

How does the myth of America being a "chosen" nation lead to the religious nationalism we see today? In a presentation first aired in 2023, Harvard Divinity School's Dr. Catherine Brekus talks about how the myth is a complicated mixture of arrogance, exploitation, reform, racism and violence. She looks at the roots of this myth, how it has played out through our country's history, and how the recent surge of white Christian nationalism reflects a deep uneasiness about the loss of Christian privilege in this country.
This program originally aired on June 1, 2023, in season 4 of Respecting Religion.
 
SHOW NOTES
This episode was originally broadcast as episode 23 of season 4 in 2023. To hear the panel presentation that follows, check out episode 24 of season 4.
Segment one (01:39): Presentation from Dr. Catherine Brekus

Read more about Dr. Brekus on Harvard Divinity School's website.

This presentation was the 2023 Walter B. and Kay W. Shurden Lecture on Religious Liberty and Separation of Church and State, an annual lecture series sponsored by BJC. Dr. Brekus gave this presentation at Old North Church in Boston. 
Following her presentation, Dr. Brekus joined a panel discussion alongside The Rt. Rev. Carol Gallagher, Ph.D.; the Rev. Darrell Hamilton; and Dr. Michael Hober­man. It was moderated by the Rev. Dr. Jaimie Crumley. You can hear their conversation in episode 24.
You can watch the full presentation online at this link, including the panel discussion that followed the talk.

Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.

As Amanda's sabbatical begins, we are revisiting previous episodes of the podcast. This week marked the 5th anniversary of the January 6 attack on the Capitol. In today's episode of Respecting Religion, hear a conversation two years after the attack. Amanda and Holly share their reactions to the report released by the January 6 Select Committee at the end of 2022, including the lack of any mention of Christian nationalism and why that matters. They also discuss the importance of Christian leaders providing an alternative witness in 2023 to the Christian nationalism exhibited during the attack on the Capitol. And, they review how the insurrection still shapes our world and how it – surprisingly – doesn't shape Capitol tours.
This program originally aired on January 12, 2023, in season 4 of Respecting Religion.
 
SHOW NOTES
This episode was originally broadcast as episode 10 of season 4 in 2023. For another conversation about January 6 and Christian nationalism, check out S3, Ep. 12 from 2022.

Segment 1 (starting at 01:06): The Select Committee Report
Read the final report of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol.
We played a clip compiling three individuals' statements during the January 6 hearings claiming the Constitution was divinely inspired: Greg Jacob, Rusty Bowers, and Rep. Liz Cheney. See the video on Amanda's Twitter (now X) account.

The comprehensive BJC/Freedom From Religion Foundation report on Christian nationalism and the January 6, 2021 insurrection is available online.

Click here to read the letter organized by BJC and Christians from Christian Nationalism to the Select Committee, asking them to investigate how Christian nationalism motivated and intensified the attack.

Watch Amanda's testimony about Christian nationalism before a House subcommittee in December 2022 at this link. Amanda and Holly discuss it in more detail in episode 9 of season 10.
Amanda and Holly mentioned this article by Vera Bergengruen for TIME Magazine: Why a Group of Christians Is Fighting the Growing Threat of Christian Nationalism
Additional media coverage on the absence of Christian nationalism from the final report:
Despite ample evidence, Christian nationalism mostly absent from final Jan. 6 report by Jack Jenkins for Religion News Service
Christian nationalism conspicuously absent from January 6 report, featuring an interview with Amanda Tyler and MSNBC's Alicia Menendez on the Alex Wagner Tonight program
 
Segment 2 (starting at 21:01): Contrasting images on the 2nd anniversary of January 6
After this podcast was first released, BJC created a compilation of clips from the 2023 prayer vigil, which you can watch on BJC's YouTube channel. 
See BJC's photos of the prayer vigil in this Instagram post. There are also photos still online from Getty Images and Reuters at the vigil. 
Watch this short compilation of the two events on January 6, 2023, on the @EndChristianNationalism TikTok. 
You can follow the Christians Against Christian Nationalism campaign on Instagram and TikTok at the handle @EndChristianNationalism.
 
Segment 3 (starting at 29:29): Scrubbing the insurrection from Capitol tours
Amanda and Holly discussed this story from The Washington Post by Joe Heim: Official U.S. Capitol tour guides told to only mention Jan. 6 if asked
Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.

In our last show of 2025, Amanda and Holly talk about some of the news from the past week – including an expansion of the travel ban, devastating attacks around the world, and an appearance by Amanda before Congress to talk about the importance of protecting civil society. Plus, get an update on the podcast's plans for spring 2026 as Amanda embarks on her first sabbatical.
 
SHOW NOTES
Segment 1 (starting at 00:33): Amanda's most recent appearance before Congress
You can hear Amanda's opening testimony at 06:37 in this podcast.
You can watch it online at this link.
Amanda and Holly mentioned the open letter from more than 3,000 nonprofits – including BJC – rejecting presidential attacks on nonprofit organizations. You can read it online.
 
Segment 2 (starting at 19:42): A weekend of tragedy and a new travel ban
Rob Reiner came on our podcast in 2024 to discuss his documentary "God and Country," which takes a look at white Christian nationalism. It is available on several streaming services. 
Read about the expansion of the travel ban in this story from The Washington Post by David Nakamura: Trump expands travel ban to 39 countries after shooting of Guard members
 
Segment 3 (starting at 27:06): Amanda's upcoming sabbatical and podcast plans
Read Amanda's column about her upcoming sabbatical in the winter edition of BJC's magazine, Report from the Capital: A season of rest and freedom 
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