Why the Parties Switched Sides — and How Religion Made It Possible episode artwork

EPISODE · Nov 4, 2025 · 10 MIN

Why the Parties Switched Sides — and How Religion Made It Possible

from Atheistville with Mike Smithgall · host Atheistville Media

The Republican Party once led the fight against slavery. Today, it’s home to America’s Christian nationalist movement. What happened?In this episode, Mike breaks down how religion shaped every stage of the political party realignment, from Lincoln’s abolitionist Republicans to the rise of the evangelical right. Religion didn’t cause the switch, but it provided the moral vocabulary for both oppression and liberation.Religion in American Politics: A Short HistoryVisit us at www.Atheistville.com  for more content from Mike Smithgall and the Atheistville team 📺 Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@atheistville 💬 Want to be a guest or submit a question? Drop us a note at CONTACTCheck us out at: https://atheistville.buzzsprout.com  🔥 New episodes weekly from Atheistville — Mike Drop with Mike Smithgall, Ask an Atheist, and The Unholy Roundtable, Breakfast With a Heathen © 2025-2026 Atheistville Media 

The Republican Party once led the fight against slavery. Today, it’s home to America’s Christian nationalist movement. What happened? In this episode, Mike breaks down how religion shaped every stage of the political party realignment, from Lincoln’s abolitionist Republicans to the rise of the evangelical right. Religion didn’t cause the switch, but it provided the moral vocabulary for both oppression and liberation. Religion in American Politics: A Short HistoryVisit us at www.Atheistville...

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Why the Parties Switched Sides — and How Religion Made It Possible

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This episode was published on November 4, 2025.

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The Republican Party once led the fight against slavery. Today, it’s home to America’s Christian nationalist movement. What happened?In this episode, Mike breaks down how religion shaped every stage of the political party realignment, from Lincoln’s...

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