On the Media: "God Bless" – A Comprehensive Summary

Release Date: October 2, 2020
Host/Author: WNYC Studios
Description: The Peabody Award-winning On the Media podcast delves into the intricate relationship between media and society. In the episode titled "God Bless," hosts Brooke Gladstone and Bob Garfield, alongside guests, scrutinize Christianity's role in U.S. politics, explore the dichotomy between the religious right and left, debunk myths surrounding Christian martyrdom, and examine the pervasive image of a white Jesus in American culture.

1. Christianity in U.S. Politics: The Religious Right and Christian Nationalism

Timestamp: [00:00] – [07:54]

The episode opens with an exploration of Christianity's influence on American politics, emphasizing the distinction between evangelicals and Christian nationalists.

Key Points:

• Religious Right's Influence: Evangelicals seek the power and privileges associated with Christian nationalism. Sociologist Andrew Whitehead highlights that Christian nationalism is not solely about religious devotion but intertwines with ideologies like nativism, white supremacy, and authoritarianism.

  Andrew Whitehead [05:25]: "Christian nationalism is a collection of myths and narratives... it includes symbols and value systems... assumptions about nativism, white supremacy, patriarchy, authoritarianism, and militarism."

• Misconceptions About Evangelicals: While often portrayed as a monolithic group, approximately a quarter of white evangelicals resist Christian nationalism, indicating internal diversity. The movement's cohesion lies more in shared national and racial identities than in uniform religious beliefs.

  Andrew Whitehead [06:35]: "They want the power and the privilege that comes with Christian nationalism for them in the public sphere."

• Political Rhetoric: President Trump leverages Christian nationalist sentiments to consolidate his base, portraying opposition as anti-Christian.

  Bob Garfield [06:58]: "To Trump, anyone who isn't Christian nationalist is anti-Christian or anti-religious."

2. Debunking the Myth of Christian Martyrdom

Timestamp: [10:08] – [19:33]

The conversation shifts to the historical narrative of Christian persecution, challenging commonly held beliefs about early Christians.

Key Points:

• Historical Accuracy: Mary Harris and Candida Moss argue that the romanticized image of early Christians hiding in catacombs is a myth, perpetuated since the 18th and 19th centuries for tourism and narrative purposes.

  Mary Harris [11:12]: "No, Christians never cowered in the catacombs. That's actually a tourist myth."

• Origin of Martyr Stories: The stories of apostles like Peter being martyred are traced back to later church historians like Eusebius, suggesting motives other than pure religious persecution.

  Mary Harris [12:31]: "This story comes from the 4th-century Church historian Eusebius."

• Political Utilization of Martyrdom: The myth has been co-opted to foster a sense of victimhood among contemporary Christians, distracting from historical realities and undermining genuine instances of persecution elsewhere.

  Mary Harris [15:57]: "Conservative evangelicals... feel that they are under attack by the forces of secularism, feminism, relativism."

3. The Dominant Image of a White Jesus in American Culture

Timestamp: [32:25] – [52:16]

A significant portion of the episode examines how the image of Jesus as a white, blue-eyed man became entrenched in American society and its implications.

Key Points:

• Origins of the White Jesus Image: The pervasive image largely stems from Warner Salman's 1940 portrait, "Head of Christ," which has been reproduced over 500 million times. This portrayal mirrors Hollywood's idealized actors, reinforcing a specific racial image.

  William Barber [42:21]: "Salomon made Jesus a movie star."

• Historical Misrepresentation: Early Christian depictions were more racially ambiguous or representative of the region's demographics. The shift to a white Jesus coincided with white supremacist movements, providing moral cover for oppressive agendas.

  William Barber [43:12]: "The Ku Klux Klan... presented Jesus as white... followers of Jesus as white supremacists."

• Psychological Impact: Studies indicate that exposure to white Jesus images reinforces implicit biases associating whiteness with superiority.

  Simon Howard [47:24]: "Exposure to white Jesus pictures actually intensifies the view that white people are better than black people."

• Calls for Representation: Critics advocate for diverse representations of Jesus to dismantle racial biases entrenched through religious imagery.

  Simon Howard [48:13]: "If you don't want to get rid of the white one, put a black one up there next to the white one."

4. The Hidden Power of the Religious Left

Timestamp: [19:52] – [32:25]

The episode also sheds light on the often-overlooked influence of the religious left in shaping progressive politics.

Key Points:

• Historical Context: Drawing parallels to the early 20th-century Social Gospel movement, the contemporary religious left seeks to address systemic injustices, contrasting with the religious right's focus on traditional values.

  Jack Jenkins [22:02]: "Pastors behind the Social Gospel viewed the predation of the Industrial Revolution as a new kind of sin."

• Influential Figures and Movements: Reverend William Barber and the Moral Mondays movement exemplify the religious left's capacity to mobilize communities and influence significant political outcomes, such as the unseating of the North Carolina governor in 2016.

  Candida Moss [26:35]: "The Moral Mondays movement led by William Barber as the chief reason for unseating the governor."

• Challenges in Media Representation: The religious left's diversity—comprising various faiths and ideologies—makes it harder for journalists to represent accurately compared to the more uniformly portrayed religious right.

  Candida Moss [29:58]: "They cast the left as something that is inadequately religious... covering a wide variety of faith groups..."

• Impact on Legislation and Social Movements: The religious left has been pivotal in advocating for policies like the Affordable Care Act, leveraging coalition-building across different faith and secular groups.

  Candida Moss [24:04]: "Barack Obama attributed the passage of the Affordable Care Act to the influence of Catholic nuns and progressive religious people."

5. Concluding Insights: The Intersection of Religion, Race, and Politics

Timestamp: [52:16] – [53:07]

The episode wraps up by reinforcing the profound impact of religious narratives and imagery on societal structures and individual beliefs.

Key Points:

• Enduring Legacy of White Supremacy: The entrenched image of white Jesus continues to influence racial perceptions and societal norms, perpetuating systemic biases.

• Call for Critical Engagement: There is a pressing need for both media and religious communities to critically examine and diversify religious representations to foster inclusivity and dismantle implicit biases.

• Ongoing Relevance: As America grapples with its legacy of white supremacy and seeks to redefine its cultural and religious landscapes, the discussions in this episode underscore the critical role of media and informed journalism in shaping and challenging prevailing narratives.

Notable Quotes with Attribution and Timestamps:

• Andrew Whitehead [05:25]: "Christian nationalism is a collection of myths and narratives... it includes symbols and value systems... assumptions about nativism, white supremacy, patriarchy, authoritarianism, and militarism."

• Mary Harris [11:12]: "No, Christians never cowered in the catacombs. That's actually a tourist myth."

• William Barber [42:21]: "Salomon made Jesus a movie star."

• Simon Howard [47:24]: "Exposure to white Jesus pictures actually intensifies the view that white people are better than black people."

• Candida Moss [24:04]: "Barack Obama attributed the passage of the Affordable Care Act to the influence of Catholic nuns and progressive religious people."

Conclusion

The "God Bless" episode of On the Media meticulously dissects the complex interplay between Christianity, media representations, and political ideologies in the United States. By challenging historical myths, scrutinizing contemporary political movements, and highlighting the pervasive influence of racialized religious imagery, the podcast offers listeners a nuanced understanding of how religion shapes and is shaped by societal forces.