Episode 14: How Religion Shapes the Way Americans Listen - Listening Across Religious Divides

Religious faith is a uniquely powerful force for building community and forging human connections; yet conflicts over religion have ignited some of the most savage wars in human history. In this episode, host Matt Levinger speaks with Dr. Rollie Lal, a professor at the George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs and the founder of the Global Affairs and Religion Network (GARNET), about what happens when we listen across the boundaries of religion, security, and identity. Drawing on her work on extremism, terrorism, and transnational security, Dr. Lal explains how conversations with religious scholars have challenged assumptions within the security field and opened new ways of understanding the relationship between religion and conflict. The discussion explores why listening to religious communities matters when addressing extremism—and how making space for other perspectives can “create powerful possibilities for building a more peaceful world.”Host: Matthew Levinger – Host of the America’s Why Podcast & Nonresident Scholar at the George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs. Guest: Prof. Rollie Lal – Professor of International Affairs at the George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs and Co-chair of the Global Affairs and Religion Network (GARNET).Explore more of Prof. Rollie Lal’s work:https://elliott.gwu.edu/rollie-lalLearn more about the Global Affairs and Religion Network (GARNET):https://garnet.elliott.gwu.eduVisit our website to learn more about the America’s Why Project and join the conversation:americaswhyproject.comListen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon MusicThe views expressed in the podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent those held by the America’s Why Project team or the George Washington University.