Telling Jefferson Lies
The series was active from January-April, 2024. I am periodically posting bonus episodes throughout the remainder of 2024. Please subscribe so you will be notified.
Telling Jefferson Lies chronicles how history can be hijacked for ideological and political purposes, as well as a much broader story about the surge of Christian nationalism and the misuse of history which often goes along with it. The series begins with an in-depth consideration of the methods of Christian nationalist story teller David Barton. Then I tell the story of how his book on Jefferson was pulled from publication in 2012 and the response of evangelicals to that rare event. From there, I broaden the scope to examine the varieties of Christian nationalism and the negative consequences of this way of thinking about church and state. The last segment examines the reasons why the separation of church and state is good history, good civics, and good religion.
For more information, go to http://www.gettingjeffersonright.com.
Telling Jefferson Lies
Losing Our Religion
In this segment, I argue that Christian nationalism is bad for religion in general and bad for Christianity in the specific case. This segment sets up the finale which argues that separation of church and state is a benefit to the United States and should be strengthened.
If you like experts and multiple voices, this is the segment for you. Here is the lineup:
Randall Balmer, John Phillips Chair in Religion, Dartmouth College
Paul Kemeny, Dean of Arts and Letters, Grove City College
Bob Smietana, Journalist, Religion News Service
Caleb Campbell, Pastor, Desert Springs Bible Church, Phoenix, AZ
George Marsden, Professor of history, emeritus, Notre Dame University
Mark Noll, Professor of history, emeritus, Notre Dame University
Katherine Stewart, Author, journalist
John Fea, Professor of history, Messiah University
Greg Thornbury, Author “Why Should The Devil Have All The Good Music?
Charles Haynes, senior fellow for religious liberty at the Freedom Forum
Jonathan Larsen, journalist
Greg Forster, theologian, Trinity International University
SHOW NOTES:
The closing song is Old Time Religion by the Tuskegee Institute Singers.
The Telling Jefferson Lies theme song is The World Awaits Us All by Roman Candle
Background music provided by Jonathan Swaim, Dustin Blatnik, Warren Throckmorton
For more information, go to gettingjeffersonright.com.