"Defending Democracy from Its Christian Enemies" w/Dr. David P. Gushee

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: [email protected] this episode, Josh Bertram is joined by Dr. David Gushee, a distinguished Christian ethicist and author, to discuss his upcoming book, "Defending a Democracy from Its Christian Enemies." They explore the concept of democracy, threats to its stability, and the rise of authoritarian reactionary Christianity. Dr. Gushee shares insights from his research on seven countries, including the United States, France, Germany, Russia, Poland, Hungary, and Brazil, highlighting the influence of this phenomenon. The conversation delves into the role of the Pentecostal tradition and its susceptibility to charismatic leaders. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on the challenges democracy faces and the resources within Christian ethics to address them.Continuing the conversation, Josh and Dr. Gushee explore the concept of Christian nationalism and its implications. They discuss the desire for a Christian-dominated politics and culture, with a focus on white conservative Christians. The conversation touches on the policy goals of rolling back cultural liberalization, including issues such as abortion rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and gender equality. They also examine the appeal of charismatic leaders like Donald Trump and the parallels to biblical figures like Cyrus. Dr. Gushee highlights the humane policies of Cyrus and contrasts them with the actions of contemporary leaders. Join them as they navigate the complex intersection of faith, politics, and democracy.Order the book: https://a.co/d/dYPydNiDr. David P. Gushee (PhD, Union Theological Seminary, New York) is an ethicist, pastor, author, and advocate. He is the Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics at Mercer University, and Chair of Christian Social Ethics at Vrije Universiteit (“Free University”) Amsterdam, and Senior Research Fellow, International Baptist Theological Study Centre. 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