437: Whose Life is Worth Protecting? Politics & Religion Weight in 2026

Send us a Positive Review!Series Title: Religion IS Political [Part V of VII]In this episode exploring the intersection of religion and politics, Val & Nathan explore several specific areas where politics and religion are addressing the exact same fundamental questions around human dignity & worth; justice & injustice; and the appropriate use of power.  They then compare how these fundamental issues are confronted in real time on a world stage as Politician Donald Trump and Religious Leader Pope Leo XIV prove powerfully that politics and religion cannot be dissociated but must dialogue in order to find common ground in questions of human value, safety, and basic dignity.  They also each demonstrate (through their respective approaches and value systems) two very different levels of human moral & consciousness development.  Timestamps:00:00 Welcome and Setup 00:33 Religion Meets Politics 02:33 Same Core Questions06:21 Human Dignity and Rights 11:22 Consciousness Development and Political Behavior 13:35 When Laws Protect the Wrong Values14:40 Christian Nationalism and the LDS Church's Silence 20:42 LDS Shadow History and the Epstein Files 22:52 Justice and Accountability 26:07 Power Morality and Resistance 28:18 Rosa Parks and Inner Authority 30:03 Early Faith vs Transformation 33:08 Follow the Leader vs Follow the Divine Within 33:21 Elder Gilbert, ICE Raids, and LDS Silence 35:07 Legitimacy as the Highest Value in Mormonism 41:45 Pope Leo vs Trump 51:33 Episode Wrap and Next StepsSupport the showSupport the showListen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODESFriday Episodes Annual Access $89Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10Valerie’s Support & Processing GroupsGift a ScholarshipDownload Free ResourcesVisit our Website