Heavenly Homeland: Myth of a Christian Nation

"Heavenly Homeland: The Myth of a Christian Nation" is the inaugural episode of a five-part audio documentary series produced by the Faithful Politics Podcast. Hosted by Will Wright, the episode embarks on an exploration of Christian Nationalism in America, a topic that stitches together the fabric of faith and politics across the nation's history. The documentary features insights from notable experts including Brian Kaylor, Robert Jones, Katherine Carte, Kristin DuMez, and Tremper Longman, each bringing their unique perspective to the complex relationship between Christianity and American identity. Brian Kaylor, a journalist and President & Editor-in-Chief at Word&Way, opens the discussion by shedding light on the intersection of faith and politics, underlining the importance of understanding Christian Nationalism. Robert Jones, President of the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI), follows with a discussion on the findings of a study on Christian Nationalism's impact on American democracy and culture, highlighting how this ideology intertwines Christian beliefs with national identity. Kate Carté, author of Religion and the American Revolution: An Imperial History and an Associate Professor of History, delves into the historical origins and the contentious claim that America was founded as a Christian nation—a view amplified in the 20th century amid societal transitions. Kristin Kobes Du Mez Professor of History and author of the New York Times Bestseller "Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation" continues the conversation by examining the rise of the Christian right and its influence in shaping American culture and policy in line with Christian values. Tremper Longman III, an Emeritus Professor of Biblical Studies, and author of "The Bible and the Ballot" addresses the role of biblical hermeneutics in Christian Nationalism, illustrating how interpretations of the Bible can be manipulated to support nationalist ideologies. The episode concludes with touches on the diversity of evangelicalism and the inclusive perspectives of marginalized groups within the evangelical community, as discussed by Visiting Assistant Professor of Theological Studies Director Isaac Sharp, Mdiv, Ph.D.. He's also the author of the book  "The Other Evangelicals: A Story of Liberal, Black, Progressive, Feminist, and Gay Christians—and the Movement That Pushed Them Out". Listen to the full episodes of each of the guests: "We Are Not A Christian Nation" w/Brian Kaylor, President of Word & Way "Religion, White Supremacy, and the American Future" w/Robert P. Jones, President of PRRI "Religion and the American Revolution" w/Kate Carté, Ph.D. "Jesus & John Wayne" w/author Kristin "The Other Evangelicals" w/ Isaac B. Sharp M.Div, Ph.D. Please Help Support the showhttps://donorbox.org/faithful-politics-podcastTo learn more about the show, contact our hosts, or recommend future guests, click on the links below: Website: https://www.faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/ Faithful Host: [email protected] Political Host: [email protected] Twitter: @FaithfulPolitik Instagram: faithful_politics Facebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcast LinkedIn: faithfulpolitics Subscribe to our Substack: https://faithfulpolitics.substack.com/