Being Secular During Religious Holidays and the Real Origins of the Religious Right

What if the Christmas tree had more to do with paganism than Christianity? What if your favorite holiday celebrations were more inclusive, less religious, and yet equally festive? We explore secular alternatives like Human Light and Festivus, and address the 'Happy Holidays' vs 'Merry Christmas' debate in an attempt to foster inclusivity and respect for everyone's beliefs during this festive season. Strap in as we journey back to the rise of the religious right in the 70s and 80s, a movement not birthed out of conflicts over sex education or abortion, but a court ruling disallowing tax exemptions for religious schools endorsing racial discrimination. We analyze the political activism of Jerry Falwell and Ralph Reed, and their influence on the 2016 and 2020 elections. Ronald Reagan's role in the movement and he led to Donald Trump. We round off the episode by spotlighting the issue of conservative religious groups violating tax laws and the IRS's backlog of untouched cases due to political influence. Beware that you aren't indirectly supporting discrimination or a conservative agenda. Show Notes Subscribe to our free newsletter Check out our Merchandise 00:45 Being Secular During Religious Holidays15:07 The Real Origins of the Religious Right