the president & religion in the south with Dr. Jared Phillips (ep 2, 34).

Religion in the South is more than tradition; it’s a force that has shaped politics, belonging, and identity across generations. In this episode, we return to Dr. Jared M. Phillips to ask for a historical view to try and understand where that power comes from, and how it takes root in the South and places like Northwest Arkansas?Throughout the season, we’ve heard guests reference the role of faith, from schools to city planning, from community resilience to systems of exclusion. And while no single episode can capture the full complexity of religion in the South, this conversation asks us to trace the beginnings. What is the origin story of evangelical influence in American politics? How did race, region, and religion become entangled in the modern South? And what can we learn about the Ozarks, and ourselves, by looking at one of the most significant turning points: the rise of President Jimmy Carter?Dr. Phillips helps us unpack how Carter’s 1976 election opened the door for Southern evangelicalism to enter the national political arena. But the story doesn’t end there. We explore how faith communities that once emphasized humility, justice, and community care found themselves swept into a movement intertwining spiritual conviction with political power.This episode doesn’t offer easy answers, but it does offer a starting point. A moment to pause and ask: how did we get here? How have religious identities shaped who belongs, and who doesn’t, in our politics, our policies, and our public life?https://www.theunderview.com/episodes/the-underview-the-president-religion-in-the-south-with-dr-jared-phillipsAbout the underview:The underview is an exploration of the development of our Communal Theology of Place viewed through the medium of bikes, land, and people to discover community wholeness.Send us a Voice Message at https://www.theunderview.com/Website: ⁠⁠theunderview.com⁠⁠Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠@underviewtheHost: @mikerusch