Church & State 250: Christian Supremacy and the Fight for American Power

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: [email protected] happens when Christians begin to believe they are entitled to rule over everyone else? Matthew D. Taylor, a scholar of religion and politics and visiting scholar at Georgetown University’s Center on Faith and Justice, joins Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram to explain how Christian nationalism fits inside a much older story of Christian supremacy, empire, and political power. Taylor traces the pattern back to Constantine, Christendom, and the long history of Christians using Jesus to justify conquest, coercion, and rule. He then brings the story into the present through MAGA Christianity, the New Apostolic Reformation, the Seven Mountain Mandate, prophecy around Donald Trump, Paula White-Cain, Lance Wallnau, spiritual warfare, and January 6. The conversation helps listeners understand why Christian nationalism is not one movement, but a spectrum of beliefs and networks competing for power. It is also a warning about what America’s 250th means if Christians try to restore the divine right of kings.Guest BioMatthew D. Taylor, PhD, is a scholar of religion and politics and a visiting scholar at Georgetown University’s Center on Faith and Justice. His work focuses on Christian nationalism, religious extremism, Christian supremacy, American Islam, and the role of religious pluralism in defending democracy. He is the author of Scripture People, The Violent Take It by Force, and the forthcoming Defying Tyrants: Following Jesus in a World of Christian Antichrists. He also created Charismatic Revival Fury, an audio documentary series on the New Apostolic Reformation and the Christian leaders and ideas that helped fuel January 6. His research connects directly to this episode’s focus on Christian imperialism, MAGA Christianity, prophecy, spiritual warfare, and the fight over America’s democratic future.Book MentionedThe Violent Take It by Force: The Christian Movement That Is Threatening Our Democracy by Matthew D. TaylorBookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9781506497785Defying Tyrants: Following Jesus in a World of Christian Antichrists by Matthew D. TaylorBookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9798341900370Relevant Links & ResourcesMatthew D. Taylor Official WebsiteURL: https://www.drmatthewdtaylor.com/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