Telling Jefferson Lies: Debunking the Myth that America was Founded as a Christian Nation
Season Two is here! The first episode was posted on April 14.
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: Debunking the Myth that America was Founded as a Christian Nation
Money, Lies, and God: An Interview with Katherine Stewart
Today I feature an interview with Katherine Stewart, the author of the New York Time bestseller Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy. The segment is timely in that we discuss income disparities accentuated by the passage of the recent Trump budget. The dominance of Christian nationalism in the current administration isn't helping many of the foot soldiers who helped bring Trump to power.
Katherine discusses her new book and much more. Here is a sampling of topics:
- The uneasy coalitions in Christian nationalism and MAGA world
- The lifeblood of Christian nationalism: bad history
- Religious liberty means the freedom to do what Christian nationalists want to do
- Religion is a tool of autocratic leaders
- The threat of the New Right to American governance
- Power is what unites the religion of the New Right
- David Barton (Where's Waldo) is still active
- The rank and file are ultimately victims of the theology of power
CREDITS:
Music is provided by Earl's Taco Shack and Jonus Fair. Artwork is by Sarah Eshelman.