"American Idolatry: How Christian Nationalism Betrays the Gospel and Threatens the Church" w/Andrew Whitehead, Ph.D.

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: [email protected] this episode, we're honored to have Dr. Andrew Whitehead, a leading sociologist and esteemed author, join us for an enlightening discussion about his newest book American Idolatry: How Christian Nationalism Betrays the Gospel and Threatens the Church. Dr. Whitehead kicks things off by sharing his dual journey—both as a scholar and a keen observer of American society. He discusses his unique interest in understanding how religion plays a crucial role in shaping America’s sociopolitical landscape.As the conversation continues, Dr. Whitehead gives his scholarly understanding on the intricate relationship between American culture and religion. He discusses his research on the impact of religious beliefs on individual behaviors and public opinion, providing an academic backdrop to everyday experiences and current events. The episode delves into some of the critical questions that have been the focus of Dr. Whitehead's work, such as the implications of religious affiliations on voting patterns, social justice, and more. His insights add an academic layer to the discussions, making this episode a must-listen for anyone interested in the complex relationship between faith and politics.Will and Josh examine how Dr. Whitehead's observations resonate with contemporary events and how they can be applied in a broader context. Whether you’re coming from a background in politics, religion, or just curious about the world around you, this episode offers a nuanced view that will leave you wanting to hear more. And you can if you read Dr. Whitehead's fantastic books: American Idolatry: How Christian Nationalism Betrays the Gospel and Threatens the Church: https://a.co/d/fNIKmBm Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States: https://a.co/d/0J5yMtAGuest Bio:Andrew Whitehead is an Associate Professor of Sociology at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). He has been interviewed on NBC News, NPR, and the BBC. He has also written for the Washington Post, Time, NBC News, and the Religion News Service, where he examines Christian nationalism, religion and American culture, and childhood disability and religion.His work has won several awards including the 2021 Distinguished Book Award from the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion for his book Taking America Back for God. He has also won distinguished article awards from the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion and the Association for the Sociology of Religion. In 2017, he was awarded an Excellence in Research award from the College of Behavioral, Social, and Health Sciences at Clemson University.Andrew Whitehead is also a Project Director at the Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture at IUPUI, and a co-Director of the Association of Religion Data Archives (theARDA.com), the world's largest online religion data archive. Support Sarah Stankorb’s work and preorder Damned If She Does: Why Women Quit Church and What It Means for the Future of Religion, Releases September 15, 2026.  Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9798889837091Website: https://www.sarahstankorb.com/Support the showKeep the conversation going.Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, suggest a future guest, or connect with us directly?Visit our website:faithfulpoliticspodcast.comBrowse our bookstore, featuring books from many of our guests:faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstoreSupport the show and help us keep these conversations going:patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPoliticsSubscribe for behind-the-scenes content, reflections, and updates:faithfulpolitics.substack.comContact the hosts:Josh Burtram, Faithful Host: [email protected] Wright, Political Host: [email protected] Faithful Politics:Instagram: faithful_politicsFacebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcast