Podcast
The State Of Belief
Hosted by Interfaith Alliance · EN
Every week, Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush hosts lively, funny and poignant conversations with inspiring religious and civic leaders; as well as artists and activists from across the country. Listeners get a potent mix of spiritual wisdom, political strategy, and hopeful commentary from national and local leaders who are rising up to meet this urgent moment in America. With the tagline: “Where Religion and Democracy Meet,” State of Belief is a celebration of our nation’s diversities and an invitation to join together to, in the words of the great James Baldwin, "achieve our country.”
30episodes
Episodes
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Lessons in Empathy From an Unlikely Rabbi: Angela Buchdahl
2d ago00:49:03Tap to summarizeWhat does it mean to be a stranger? Rabbi Angela Buchdahl’s journey of faith, identity, and belonging teaches us the value of embracing the strangers among us—and our inner strangers, as well. In our increasingly divided world, the struggle to find belonging often leads us to question our identities. A cantor as well as a rabbi, she brings the experience of coming to a strange land, and the joy of leading Central Synagogue in New York City, one of the largest Jewish congregations in North America, to the conversation—as well as to her memoir Heart of a Stranger: An Unlikely Rabbi’s Story of Faith, Identity, and Belonging. Rabbi Angela has been a trailblazer in the Jewish community since 1999, when she became the first East-Asian person to be invested as a cantor anywhere in the world. In 2001, she became the first East-Asian American to be ordained a rabbi in North America. She came to Central Synagogue in New York as senior cantor in 2006 and was appointed senior rabbi in 2014. Newsweek and The Daily Beast have included Rabbi Angela Buchdahl in their lists of America's "Most Influential Rabbis." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Vanita Gupta on Public Trust and the Role of Law in Our Democracy
1w ago00:49:28Tap to summarizeWhat hope is there for the rule of law when the Justice Department is deployed to settle political scores and privilege one religion over others? A lot, as it turns out—but the work of rebuilding our nation's voting and justice systems won't be fast, and it won't be easy, according to this week's guest, Vanita Gupta, a civil rights attorney and former Associate Attorney General of the United States. In conversation with host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, she emphasizes the fragility of our democracy due to eroding trust in institutions and urges moral courage among lawyers and citizens to defend justice and fairness. Vanita's insights on the power of faith communities in restoring trust and her call for cross-faith solidarity offer a hopeful path forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Dr. Matthew Taylor: Following Jesus in a World of Christian Antichrists
2w ago00:55:19Tap to summarizeA seismic shift is happening in America’s religious and political landscape—and we need to understand it now. Religion scholar and theologian Dr. Matthew D. Taylor unpacks how Christian nationalism, spiritual warfare, and authoritarian mythologies are reshaping democracy, fueling violence, and distorting faith. If you're wondering why faith is being weaponized to justify tyranny, or how religion fuels the dangerous myth of angels vs. demons in today’s politics, this episode reveals the startling truth behind the headlines. Drawing from his work as the author of The Violent Take It By Force and his upcoming book Defying Tyrants: Following Jesus in a World of Christian Antichrists, Matt argues that understanding and confronting these spiritualized political narratives is essential to protecting both democracy and the integrity of faith. Dr. Matthew D. Taylor is a visiting scholar at the Center on Faith and Justice at Georgetown University. His Substack is “Matthew D Taylor’s Reckonings." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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The Black Church and the Gutting of the Voting Rights Act with Rev. Thomas L. Bowen
3w ago00:47:52Tap to summarizeIn the same two weeks, the Trump Anti-Christian Bias Task Force filled 560 pages with reports of deliberate discrimination by the Biden administration (and pretty much everyone else), and the Supreme Court ruled that anti-minority bias is gone from our elections and the landmark Voting Rights Act is no longer needed. That’s exactly backwards, and we’ll get a chance to hear the expert opinion of Rev. Thomas L. Bowen, General Secretary of the Progressive National Baptist Convention—the denominational home of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Thomas was Senior Advisor for Faith Engagement in the Biden White House, so he had a front-row seat for how decisions of faith were actually handled. He’s also already organizing to reduce the damage to democracy that the high court’s anti-VRA decision is sure to cause. More about Rev. Thomas L. Bowen Rev. Bowen is General Secretary of the Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc. (PNBC). Headquartered in Northwest Washington, D.C. and boasting more than two and a half million members, the denomination is known as the spiritual home of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Rev. Bowen previously served as Senior Advisor for Faith Engagement in the Biden White House Office of Public Engagement. He also served as the African American Strategic Engagement Director, while holding dual positions as Director of the Mayor’s Office on Religious Affairs and the Mayor’s Office on African American Affairs in Washington, D.C. An ordained Baptist minister, Rev. Bowen has maintained his ties to the community and the local church, serving in various positions at the historic Shiloh Baptist Church since 2002. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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The Catholic Response to Trump's Attacks on the Church with Dr. Anthea Butler and Rev. James Martin, SJ
May 200:55:19Tap to summarizeHave you noticed how Pope Leo's calm, fearless stance is rattling those in power? He’s not just speaking to Catholics; he's challenging the very idea that religion should be silent in times of crisis, whether the topic is war or the treatment of immigrants. This week, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush welcomes two leading American Catholic voices: religion professor Dr. Anthea Butler and best-selling author Father Jim Martin, SJ. They've got deep insights on the ways race, religion, and political priorities inform the furious responses from the White House and other powerful figures—and efforts to deny the moral authority of the head of one of the world's largest religions. Dr. Anthea Butler is Geraldine R. Segal Professor of Social Thought and Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. She's the author of the book White Evangelical Racism: The Politics of Morality in America. Rev. Jim Martin is editor-at-large at the Jesuit America Magazine, consultor to the Vatican, and author of many books, including his latest—a memoir titled Work in Progress: Confessions of a Busboy, Dishwasher, Caddy, Usher, Factory Worker, Bank Teller, Corporate Tool, and Priest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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All Are Neighbors: How Love Won at Baylor University
Apr 2501:12:21Tap to summarizeIs the tide finally turning on the bigotry, fear-mongering and manufactured division in our society, including on college campuses? The success of a joyful gathering last week at traditionally Baptist Baylor University in Waco, Texas, suggests it might be. This week on The State of Belief, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush brings us with him to the Baylor campus, sharing his own words of welcome from the All Are Neighbors gathering, as well as powerful remarks from two student organizers, Rev. Susie Hayward, an unstoppable faith activist from Minnesota, Dr. Greg Garrett (whom TPUSA has included in its “professor watch list,”) and Human Rights Campaign President Kelly Robinson. We start things off with a conversation with Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward and a proud Baylor alum. In her words: “What these students showed is that there is a movement afoot, including in places like Waco, and maybe especially in places like Waco.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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If Hungary Can Do It...: Reversing Democracy’s Decline with Staffan Lindberg
Apr 1800:53:34Tap to summarizeWhat does democracy truly mean in 2026, and how can we ensure its survival? What hope can the recent election in Hungary offer for reversing the slide of democracy in the US and elsewhere? Host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush talks with Dr. Staffan I. Lindberg, founder of the Varieties of Democracy Institute, about V-Dem’s latest global report titled, Unraveling the Democratic Era? The report raises crucial questions about the future of democratic governance. It underscores the importance of understanding both the successes and failures of democratic systems, prompting a reevaluation of what democracy means in different contexts. Key takeaways include: - Democracy is Multifaceted: The state of democracy varies significantly across different nations, and understanding local contexts is crucial for promoting democratic values. - Engagement is Essential: Electoral participation and civic engagement are critical in challenging authoritarian regimes. - Concession Matters: Accepting electoral defeat is a vital component of maintaining democratic integrity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Democracy As a Theological Statement with Rebecca Solnit
Apr 400:54:37Tap to summarizeThis week, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush welcomes Rebecca Solnit—prolific writer, best-selling author, activist, and public intellectual. With 25 books to her credit—so far—Rebecca's latest is titled The Beginning Comes After the End: Notes on a World of Change. In our conversation, she emphasizes collective hope, continuous community action, and a reevaluation of stories and faiths to inspire resistance and societal transformation. Rebecca raises up the potential for joy, creativity, and community in activism and advocacy. We also explore the intersectionality of environmental, racial, gender, and spiritual activism, urging us to see these issues as part of a shared fabric of interconnected change—especially when it comes to the true theological underpinnings of our democracy (spoiler alert—it's got a lot more to do ith MLK than DJT.) Sign up for Rebecca Solnit’s newsletter at https://www.meditationsinanemergency.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Religion and Leadership in a Time of War: Lt. Gen. Charles Luckey (Ret.)
Mar 2800:55:25Tap to summarizeWhat does it mean to be in a war that nobody openly declares? What are the legal and moral boundaries of military force? And what does true courage look like today — especially for ordinary citizens who feel overwhelmed or unsure of how to respond? With the global impact of the war in Iran growing daily, this week on The State of Belief host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is joined by Retired Lt. Gen. Charles D. Luckey — former head of the US Army Reserve, former JAG officer, and veteran of three combat tours, including in Iraq. He’s also a seminary student at Wake Forest Theological Seminary — and all these identities intersect to provide unique insights and observations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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What We Know About Christian Nationalism with Robert P. Jones
Mar 2100:55:02Tap to summarizeHow deeply has Christian Nationalism penetrated American society? It’s clearly a driving force in our government, but what about ordinary people across the country? With an enormous sample size, the Public Religion Research Institute’s 2025 American Values Atlas offers unique – and surprising - insights. PRRI President Dr. Robert P. Jones is on The State of Belief with the details. Only 13% of the population identifies as White evangelical Protestants, but their outsized influence on U.S. politics is both startling and strategic. Robby reveals how this minority shapes policies and what it means for the future of our democracy. Don't miss this compelling episode that challenges common assumptions and offers insights into reclaiming a pluralistic society, the real impact of faith on politics, and how you can be part of the change. Dr. Robert P. Jones is president of the Public Religion Research Institute. Robby’s Substack is at https://www.redeemingdemocracy.net/, and his next book, Backslide: Reclaiming a Faith and a Nation After the Christian Turn Against Democracy, is coming in September 2026. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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