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Today in America, many Christians feel disillusioned as they watch the faith they hold dear being used to further a worldly political agenda. It is as if our religion has been taken hostage: forcibly wedded to a particular political ideology or economic system, or stripped down to a couple of hot-button issues, like abortion and same-sex marriage, as though to oppose these alone were the sum of our faith. Ironically, in our efforts to “take back America,” we have ourselves been taken captive by the prevailing culture and politics of imperialism, greed, racism, and xenophobia that surround us. And so the struggle for the soul of a nation has also become a struggle for the soul of the church. How can we regain a political voice that is neither power-hungry nor passive, neither conservative nor liberal, but simply Christ-like in its concern for justice and the poor?



Host S. J. Munson

is a retired pastor, as well as a writer and Bible teacher. He received a B.A. in English from Princeton University, along with a prize for fiction. His call to full-time ministry came while he was working in Hollywood as a screenwriter. He went on to receive an M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary, with a concentration in New Testament Greek. His novel The Treasure of Israel (2011) tracks the fate of the ancient treasure of the Jerusalem Temple as well as the Evangelical response to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. His most recent book, Christ Held Hostage: The Hijacking of American Christianity (2013), describes how the church can move beyond partisan politics and narrow “hot-button” Christianity to a broader, more Christ-like agenda that seeks a more just society for all.

Contact Pastor Munson: MajoringintheMajors@gmail.com
 

~ Books by Pastor SJ Munson ~

The Treasure of Israel

What ever happened to the treasure of the Jerusalem temple looted by the Romans in AD 70? Its fate is shrouded in mystery, danger, and death.... Former art historian Michael Grammaticus, Jr. has inherited an ancient and dangerous secret--and it seems he is the last to know! When his parents are killed under suspicious circumstances, he travels to Rome to investigate, and the clues lead him to a fascinating world of ancient art, medieval manuscripts, and a dangerous mix of religion and international politics. Descended from an endless line of Greek scholars, he can't resist being drawn into their cryptic world, and soon the same relentless forces that destroyed his father begin to hound Michael as well. He discovers not only that his father had been an outspoken advocate for Palestinian Christians, but also that one of his ancestors was the bearer of a secret that continues to haunt his family-- a riddle regarding the whereabouts of the coveted treasure of the Jerusalem temple. This journey of discovery also becomes one of faith, as the cynical and disillusioned Michael undergoes a harrowing tribulation that leads him not only to the reasons for his father's death, but also to something far greater than the temple treasure itself. A delight for lovers of fiction, art and ancient history-- and for anyone who ever wondered what really happened to that treasure! Click Title For Book

 

Christ Held Hostage:

The Hijacking of American Christianity

Today in America, many Christians feel disillusioned as they watch the faith they hold dear being used to further a worldly political agenda. It is as if our religion has been taken hostage: forcibly wedded to a particular political ideology or economic system, or stripped down to a couple of hot-button issues, like abortion and same-sex marriage, as though to oppose these were the sum of our faith. Ironically, in our efforts to “take back America,” we have ourselves been taken captive by the prevailing culture and politics of imperialism, greed, racism, and xenophobia that surround us. And so the struggle for the soul of a nation has also become a struggle for the soul of the church. How can we regain a political voice that is neither power-hungry nor passive, neither conservative nor liberal, but simply Christ-like in its concern for justice and the poor?  Evangelical pastor and author S. J. Munson explores these issues from the perspective of both the Bible and history. What these have to say will both surprise and challenge us.  Each chapter includes questions for group discussion or personal reflection, and a prayer. A great book for small groups or individual study! Click Title For Book


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October 9, 2024 Show

The Test of Riches

Greed, the inordinate desire to acquire money or possessions, is the greatest tragedy that can befall a nation. What does Jesus have to say about greed and what is his solution for preventing it? What does he mean by "storing up treasure in heaven"? How is wealth both a blessing and a test?

 

 

September 11, 2024 Show

How to initiate respectful conversations with persuadable Trump voters.

Concerned about the upcoming election and what it means for our democracy? Wish you had the tools to share your concerns with family, neighbors, and friends? Our guest is Michael Gallagher, who has developed a free 90-min course to train concerned citizens to have respectful conversations with "persuadable Trump voters." For Michael it's not about winning a debate but rather, winning the right to be heard through respectful dialogue and good listening. Check it out: https://doodle.com/meeting/participate/id/dBQRynWb  Next live trainings are 9/15, and 9/17 at 4pm ET.

Michael Gallagher is a businessman and investor working to improve American civic life and strengthen democracy. In the lead up to the November 5th elections, Michael has developed a training program to help people initiate conversations with what he calls "Persuadable Trump Voters." In the course of 90 minutes, participants learn to first seek permission for the conversation, and then use a variety of respectful techniques to ask questions, show curiosity, share personal concerns, and avoid "what-about-ism". When not working on training people, Michael's long term passion project is to work with others to make citizen assemblies part of how American cities and counties do democracy and to restore trust in politics. He divides his time between Hong Kong and Northern California.

 

 

August 14, 2024 Show

A Long Repentance: Plantation Capitalism vs. Jesus' Jubilee Economy

How did colonial capitalism influence how Christianity developed in the U.S.? How does it still affect how we live our lives today?

And how does it differ from the kind of economy Jesus envisioned? Tune-in for a great discussion with guest Mako Nagasawa.

Mako Nagasawa is the founder and director of the Anastasis Center in Boston, MA, which offers online courses and guides for group and self study on Jesus' restorative justice and healing atonement. He is also the author of Abortion Policy and Christian Social Ethics in the United States (2021). and Christmas with Ireneus: How Jesus's Incarnation Honors Creation, the Human Body and Human Story (2023). For more information, check out their website: anastasiscenter.org

 

 

July 10, 2024 Show

Can You Be a Christian Nationalist and a Christian?

Christian Nationalism has been frequently in the news in recent years. What is it and why is it so dangerous for our democracy and for the church? Is it Christianity or is it a cult? Pastor S J Munson discusses these and other questions.

And be sure to check out the free online courses offered this summer by the Anastasis Center in Boston MA.

www.anastasiscenter.org

 

June 12, 2024 Show

The Story of Joseph: from Servant to Servant-Savior

The story of the patriarch Joseph is an example of what God can do with one life that is yielded to him, as well as how the Almighty molds the character of his servants through trial and suffering, trauma and waiting, humiliations and reversals. Listen as Pastor SJ talks about the lessons we can glean from Joseph's life, and how God took a spoiled, bratty teenager and transformed him into a servant-savior.

 

May 8, 2024 Show

The Only Way Up is Down

The world tells us that true greatness lies in wealth, position, and power. But the Son of God came to show us the truth: that real greatness lies in servant hood. To be something great, you must be willing to become nothing, and a true leader is one who serves. How much of a servant are you? You can easily tell by how you react when you're treated like one. Tragically, many Christians in this country long to be top-of-the-heap, to hold the positions of power so that America will be forced to be righteous-- so they think. Oh, if they would lonely listen and learn from the Master!
 

 

April 10, 2024 Show

Give Us Barabbas!

In honor of Good Friday and Easter, which we recently celebrated, host SJ Munson reads an original short story, which gives us a front-row seat to the Passion Narrative, particularly tracking a man named Barabbas, a notorious terrorist who somehow finds his destiny inextricably linked to that of another man they called Jesus of Nazareth.


 

March 13, 2024 Show

How to Interpret the Bible Responsibly

Many people open the Bible and immediately get confused. What is it talking about? Who is talking here and why? Is this one book or 66 books under one cover? Should I take this passage literally? Others try to apply it straight away and get bogged down because they've skipped a very important first step. Believe it or not, the Bible was intended to make sense. Join us as we talk about some very simple and logical steps for how to interpret the Bible responsibly.

 

 

February 14, 2024 Show

God's Kingdom Economy: Learning to Give Generously


Have you ever wondered why it seems God gives some people great wealth and others virtually nothing? Why is it that so often the more people have, the more selfish they are? What does the Bible say about the unequal distribution of wealth? What is the New Testament's standard for giving? Tithing? Beyond tithing? In this broadcast we'll talk about these and other questions and find out what it means to be generous. (No, this is not an appeal for donations! There will be no such appeal on this or any of my broadcasts.)

 

 

January 10, 2024 Show

The Co-opting of Christ: All This and Heaven, Too?


When Jesus informed the 12 Disciples that he would soon suffer crucifixion, Peter reacted with horror, "No, Lord, this will never happen to you!" Peter could not comprehend that Christ's glory would be revealed through suffering and death. Like the others, he was counting on reigning with Jesus in the here and now. But as Martin Luther explains, God's promises are so often hidden under their opposite. The church today often promotes the gospel as a self-improvement course, as a means to prosperity, better health, "Have a better---," "Be a better---," rather than an invitation to come and die, that we might live. After 2000 years the Cross is still an offense, a scandal, an object of loathing to our fleshly nature, which wants to possess the world and Jesus, too,

 

 

December 13, 2023 Show

Loving Our Enemies


Although we always ask our closest loved-ones what they want for Christmas, ironically, it's the Birthday-Boy himself who often goes without. What do you get the Son of God, who has everything, for Christmas? Well, the answer may surprise us. For each of us, this may mean something different, but could it have something to do with forgiving our enemies, a message which is at the very heart of Christ's gospel?

 

 

November 8, 2023 Show

Part 2: Hastening Armageddon? What's Behind the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict?


Last month the world witnessed a new explosion of hostilities between Hamas and Israel. The unconscionable violence and inhumanity on both sides makes one's blood run cold. In a press conference shortly after the barbarous Hamas attacks, one reporter dared to assume that there were still two sides in this conflict. The President's press secretary, however, emphatically declared, "There is only one side" in this conflict, that of Israel. Such ignorance and cruel disregard for the suffering of an entire people group, the Palestinians, will surely lead to no good and almost insure the conflict will never be resolved. Hamas, after all, owes its very existence and legitimacy to Israel, since Hamas' embracing of terrorism gives the Israeli government exactly what it wants: a way to justify its continued occupation and its ethnic cleansing of Palestinian land, which we've seen unfold again before our very eyes.  Last month we broadcast Part1 of a 2-part series on the conflict and the role of American Evangelicals in helping to perpetuate it. Tonight we offer the conclusion.

 

 

October 11, 2023 Show

Hastening Armageddon?  What's Behind the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict?


This past week Hamas began lobbing missiles into Israel, and Israel in turn began air-strikes against Hamas targets, with neither side having any regard for the safety of civilians, even their own. Apparently, Hamas' missiles took Israeli intelligence completely by surprise. US media are calling the attack "unprovoked." Certainly, such a level of violence and the taking of civilian hostages should be universally condemned. However, to call these attacks unprovoked is irresponsible, ignoring over 50 years of Israeli oppression and apartheid in the Occupied Territories.  This is the first of a 2-part series in which we will try to present a balanced biblical view of what is happening and why, looking at the history of the region as well as the role American Evangelicals have played in perpetuating the madness. What would it look like if the US were really a "friend of Israel" instead of just a partner in crime?

 

 

September 13, 2023 Show

Reducing the Threat of Islamic Terrorism Worldwide: A Christian Perspective

As we mark the 22nd anniversary of the 9-11 attacks, we look at the growth of Islamic terrorism and ask the question "why?" Where does it come from and what does it have to do with Western colonialism? Since we claim to be a "Christian nation," what would it look like if the U.S. took a more decidedly Christian approach to combat terrorism?

 

 

August 9, 2023 Show

Vested Interest

What would you do if you knew that one of the products you buy regularly is produced using unfair labor practices, such as sweatshop labor or even slavery? Do you have investments or retirement accounts? Do you know how these monies are invested? Do you know where the clothing you buy comes from and how it is produced? What would happen if we considered that every purchase we make, from T-shirts to 401(k)s, makes a statement regarding how we care about people.

The following websites can help you get started on your way to ethical purchasing:
https://www.greenamerica.org/
http://www.ussif.org/
https://faastinternational.org/

 

 

July 12, 2023 Show

Thermostat Christianity


In his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" (1963), the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote, There was a time when the church was very powerful—in the time when the early Christians rejoiced at being deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed. In those days the church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society.

The white evangelical church in America is generous; we're good at giving things to the poor. We have food ministries, we send missionaries overseas to dig wells and build schools. We forget, however, that in addition to giving to the poor, God also requires us to speak up on behalf of the poor and to work to undo systemic injustices. Why does the church seem to be more of a lapdog for the status quo instead of a champion of justice? What would happen if the church today really began speaking out against injustice and working to create a just society for all?

 

 

 

June 14, 2023 Show

Did Jesus Rage against the Machine?


Is it ever justifiable from a biblical perspective to rebel against authority. Should Christians ever engage in violence or take up arms against their own government? Did Jesus ever "rage against the machine"? These are all valid questions and very pertinent today now that both our Constitution and our democracy are under threat and many Christians are being weaponized by propaganda to promote fascist goals. What does the Bible have to say about this, and, more particularly, from a New Testament standpoint, what does Jesus say?

 

 

May 10, 2023 Show

Parenting and Climate Change: Being a Good Parent in a Changing World

Dr. Elizabeth Cripps, PhD.


Many climate deniers consider global warming or climate change to be merely an issue that affects polar bears and penguins. However, with alarming extinction rates, catastrophic fires, floods and hurricanes, it is already clear that our children and grandchildren will be living in a world substantially different from what we are used to, a world that will challenge or even threaten the very existence of our species. Will our children be able to survive in such a world? What does it mean to be a "good parent," especially as we face so many threats, such as global warming, institutionalized injustice, and war? What kind of future are we building for our children?

Dr. Elizabeth Cripps, PhD, is a writer, philosopher, mother and activist, and senior lecturer in political theory at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. She is the author of popular philosophy books such as What Climate Justice Means & Why We Should Care, and her most recent book Parenting on Earth: A Philosopher's Guide to Doing Right by Your Kids and Everyone Else.

 

 

April 12, 2023 Show

The Last Straw
Anger and Christianity may seem to have little in common, and yet there are times when I believe we are meant to get angry, especially at the injustices around us. Have you ever experienced a "last straw" moment? Many of the heroes in the Bible did. Where did they draw the line?

 

March 8, 2023 Show

Kristen A. Jenson

How to Keep Our Kids Safe from Internet Porn

As with so many areas of digital media, new technology continues to develop faster than our society’s ability to cope with it. This is certainly true with the area of internet pornography. It is estimated that the average person is bombarded with at least ten thousand digital images every day, many of them inappropriate, making our children extremely vulnerable-- and often purposely targeted by the porn industry.

Kristen A. Jenson is the author of the #1 bestselling Good Pictures Bad Pictures series of read-aloud books for parents and children, which has been translated into ten languages. She is executive producer of the Brain Defense: Digital Safety® curriculum, CEO of Glen Cove Press LLC, and founder of the website www.DefendYoungMinds.com . Check out her websites:

Website/Books: www.defendyoungminds.com/books
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DefendYM/
Instagram: @defendyoungminds
Twitter: @defendYM

 

 

February 8, 2023 Show

Dr. Chawkat Moucarry

Islam on Trial

With increasing globalization Islam has become a "religion in crisis," confronting the extremes of Islamism and secularization. Faced with an often forced encounter with the West, economically, culturally, and religiously, Islam now faces fundamental questions about its very nature as a religion and its future relationship with the West.

Dr. Chawkat Moucarry was born in Aleppo, Syria to a Roman Catholic home, and later moved to France, where he received his MA in Christian Theology and a PhD in Islamic Studies from Sorbonne University in Paris. He has written several books about Islam and the interface between Islam and Christianity. His most recent book is Islam on Trial: Globalization, Islamism, and Christianity.

 

 

January 11, 2023 Show

The Earth Is the Lord's

"Creation Care," is something we all should take seriously, especially if we claim to cherish God's Word. Pastor Rick Warren says that caring for the earth should be a "no brainer" for Christians. So why do so many Christians find themselves on the opposite side of the environmentalism debate? What are some practical things we all can do to start caring for the earth.
 

 

December 14, 2022 Show

Born to Shop?

There's nothing like the Christmas season to make us ponder our materialism as a culture. Along with messages of "Peace on earth," we hear the relentless drumbeat of Madison Avenue: "Buy, buy, buy!" "More, more, more!" or "Buy this and you'll be cool." Was it always this way? Does it have to be this way? In the spirit of this season, the apostle John offers us an alternative, an antidote to the consumption-crazed culture we live in.
 

 

November 9, 2022 Show

The Tyranny of the Righteous:
Why does the Religious Right always seek political power? Historically, what inevitably happens when they get that power? Is the U.S.--or has it ever been-- a "Christian nation"? What would that mean? What would happen if Christians really followed the example of our Master?

 

 

October 12, 2022 Show

Jonny Rashid

Does Jesus Takes Sides?

In today’s politically divided church we often hear pastors preaching unity and mutual acceptance and affirmation, as if harmony within the church is the most important thing, more important even than truth and faithfulness to the demands of the gospel. What does it mean that Jesus takes the side of the poor and oppressed? And what are the ramifications for us as Christians?

Jonny Rashid is a graduate of Temple Univ and Palmer Theological Seminary and for 12 years has served as pastor for Circle of Hope, an Anabaptist cell church, in Philadelphia, PA. He is the son of parents who emigrated from Egypt as well as an abolitionist and a housing activist. He blogs at jonnyrashid.com, and hosts the popular Circle of Hope's Resist and Restore podcast. He is the author of a new book JesusTakes a Side: Embracing the Political Demands of the Gospel.

 

 

September 14, 2022 Show

Bev Sellars

They Called Me Number One: The Horrors of Native American Residential Schools

In recent years stories have arisen in the US and Canadian media describing generations of horrendous physical, verbal and sexual abuse suffered by First Nations or Native American children in church-run government-sanctioned residential schools. Often white Americans or Canadians get the impression that these are old stories just come to light, when actually they are deep traumas endured by generations of Native Americans. Although it was news to us, it was never news to them. But it has left us wondering how this could have happened and how did the church come to have such a prominent role in such a historical nightmare. Stories have created such a public outcry that Pope Francis earlier this year visited Canada to issue an apology of sorts for the church's failure to protect these children. Bev Sellars is a former Chief of the Xatsu'll (Soda Creek) First Nation in Williams Lake, British Columbia. She holds a degree in history from the University of Victoria and a law degree from the University of British Columbia. She has been an outspoken activist on behalf of her own and other First Nations and has served as an advisor to the British Columbia Treaty Commission. She is also the celebrated author of the best-selling book /They Called Me Number One /(2013)/, /a memoir of her childhood years spent at a Canadian Indian residential school.

 

 

August 10, 2022 Show

Rev. Dr. John Dickson

Wrestling with Good and Evil: an Honest History of the Church
It's no secret that the Christian Church has had a checkered past: from the Crusades to the Inquisition, its complicity with Colonialism and even slavery, racism and sexual abuse, Christianity often gets a bad rap-- and rightly so. But have there been brighter moments when the Church has seemed to grasp what it was established to do? John Dickson, author of Bullies and Saints (2021), helps us take an honest and balanced look at Church history, all in an effort to understand what Christianity has been and what it was meant to be.

The Rev. Dr. John Dickson is a well-known Australian author, scholar, and speaker, whose work focuses on the intersection of ancient and medieval history, religion, ministry, and media. He has published more than 20 books and three television documentaries and was Senior Minister of St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Roseville, from 2010–2019 and founding director of the Centre for Public Christianity from 2007–2018. His academic appointments include Distinguished Fellow and Senior Lecturer in Public Christianity at Ridley College (Melbourne), Lecturer and Research Associate in the Department of Hebrew, Biblical and Jewish Studies at the University of Sydney, Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Ancient History at Macquarie University (Sydney), and Visiting Academic in the Faculty of Classics at the University of Oxford. He is also the founder and continuing director of Undeceptions, an organization that seeks to promote truth and deep Christian thought in skeptical times. The Undeceptions podcast is Australia’s most-downloaded religion podcast and enjoys a growing international audience.

 

 

July 13, 2022 Show

Mako Nagasawa

Abortion Policy and Christian Ethics:

The topic of abortion has been tearing our country apart for decades. Recently, the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade has brought the abortion debate to the level of crisis. But does conservative Christianity honestly represent what the Bible says (or doesn't say) about the issue? What did the Early Church Fathers say about abortion? Are there other socio-economic factors we are overlooking? What does is really mean to be pro-life?

Mako Nagasawa is Director of the Anastasis Center for Christian Education and Ministry in Boston, MA. His team authors curriculum and teaches how early Christian restorative justice and healing atonement are relevant for today's racial and political issues. His book Abortion Policy and Christian Social Ethics in the United States (2021) is an honest and compassionate look at the abortion debate through the lens of Scripture, science, politics, law, and both Christian and secular history.

 

 

June 8, 2022 Show

Special Guest: Desmond Meade

Discrimination and Disenfranchisement: the plight of returning citizens

From employment and housing to voting rights and fines, returning citizens (formerly convicted persons) in the U.S. face discrimination and numerous roadblocks in their efforts to reintegrate into society. Their plight has received more attention in recent years with the growing efforts in many States to restrict voting rights. 

 

Desmond Meade is a formerly homeless returning citizen who overcame many such obstacles to eventually become Executive Director of the Florida Right Restoration Coalition and lead a successful campaign to re-enfranchise 1.4 million returning citizens in Florida. His efforts led to his being named one of Time Magazine's 100 most influential people in the world, as well as a McArthur Genius Fellow. Find out more at Floridarrc.com.

 

 

May 11, 2022 Show

The Flag and the Cross

It’s been well over a year since the Jan 6 uprising at the US Capitol, and our nation is still struggling to understand how this could have happened and who was responsible. It is a national wound that has not been healed. Here to talk about White Christian Nationalism, which was at the center of the insurrection, is Philip S. Gorski, Phd, Professor of Sociology at Yale University, a comparative and historical sociologist who writes on religion and politics in early modern and modern Europe and North America. His work has been featured and discussed in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, NPR and other national media outlets. He is the author of American Babylon: Christianity and Democracy Before and After Trump (2020), American Covenant: A History of Civil Religion from the Puritans to the Present (2017), and, most recently, he is coauthor with Samuel Perry of The Flag and the Cross: White Christian Nationalism and the Threat to American Democracy (2022).

 

 

April 13, 2022 Show

The Church Goes to War

As the war in Ukraine rages on, one might ask, where is the church? 75% of Americans condemn the Russian invasion, but lest we forget, the U.S. has been guilty of similar imperialistic incursions. What should be the Christian's attitude toward war? How should prayer, protest, and even active resistance play a role in our response?

 

 

March 9, 2022 Show

Dr. Paul D'Anieri, PhD

Russia and Ukraine: An Uncivil War

Two weeks ago Russia shocked the world by invading neighboring Ukraine. The invasion has been particularly alarming because of its ferocity and the possibility of its spilling over into a wider East-West conflict. Here to talk about the invasion and the background behind it is Dr. Paul D'Anieri, PhD, Professor of Political Science and Public Policy at the University of California, Riverside. He is the author of several books on Russian-Ukrainian relations, including The Sources of Russia’s Great Power Politics: Ukraine and the Challenge to the European Order, (2018; with Taras Kuzio); Orange Revolution and Aftermath: Mobilization, Apathy, and the State in Ukraine (2010); Understanding Ukrainian Politics: Power, Politics and Institutional Design (2007) and Economic Interdependence in Ukrainian-Russian Relations (1999). His book Ukraine and Russia: From Civilized Divorce to Uncivil War (Cambridge University Press, 2019) traces the roots of conflict to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

 

 

February 9, 2022 Show

Dr. Thomas Gabor

Gun Violence in America: Is There a Solution?

Here in the U.S. there are over 40,000 gun-related deaths each year and one mass shooting every day. The number of children killed by firearms exceeds the annual deaths of both military personnel and police officers. No one needs to tell us that we have a gun problem in America. It's something that is now always in the back of our minds; tragically, it has become life as usual. But how did we get here and how do we find a way out? Are there any solutions?  Dr. Thomas Gabor was Professor of Criminology for 30 years at the University of Ottawa. He is the author of over 200 books and articles, including Confronting Gun Violence in America (2016), Enough!: Solving America's Gun-Violence Crisis (2019), and Carnage: Preventing Mass Shootings in America (2021). He has served as a consultant on gun violence and policy with such governmental bodies as the United Nations and Canada's Parliament and Department of Justice.

 

 

January 12, 2022 Show

Dr. Stephen Marche

The Next Civil War?

Last week our nation marked the one-year anniversary of the January 6 attack on the Capitol. Some say the attack has little political or historical significance. Others believe that it just may have been the opening salvo of America's Second Civil War.  Dr. Stephen Marche is a Canadian novelist, essayist, and cultural commentator. He is the author of The Hunger of the Wolf (2015) and How Shakespeare Changed Everything (2011). He currently writes A Thousand Words about Our Culture, a monthly column for Esquire magazine, in addition to opinion pieces for The Atlantic Monthly, New York Times Magazine, and Salon. His latest book is The Next Civil War: Dispatches from the American Future (Simon & Schuster, 2022).

 

 

December 8, 2021 Show

Just Plain Decent Folk: How the Church Turns a Blind Eye to Racism and Poverty

As Christians American Evangelicals give a lot to the poor but often neglect to speak on behalf of the poor and disenfranchised. We may spend time and energy giving gifts to the needy, establishing ministries that help the less fortunate, but then we go into the voting booth and help to elect leaders who advance policies that perpetuate poverty and injustice around the world. Why in church do we teach our children to sing, "Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight...," yet we support politicians who are avowedly racist and do the dirty work to keep us "plain decent folk" in power? In this broadcast Pastor S J Munson addresses the need for white Christians to learn to share power and wealth and to help build a society in which each member is valued and cared for.



 

November 10, 2021 Show

Special Guest: Dr. Randall Balmer

The Racist Roots of the Religious Right

There's an accepted mythology surrounding the founding of the Religious Right: it paints conservative evangelicals rising with righteous indignation around the issue of legal abortion following the Roe v. Wade decision (1973) and becoming a powerful political movement. Actually, the roots of the Religious Right lie not in the advancement of biblical values but in their opposition to court-ordered desegregation. Our guest is the Rev. Dr. Randall Balmer, professor of religion at Dartmouth College and the author of Bad Faith: Race and the Rise of the Religious Right. Dr. Balmer also taught religious history at Columbia university for 27 years. He is the author of many books, including God in the White House, The Making of Evangelicalism, and Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory, which was made into an award-winning PBS documentary. 

 

 

October 13, 2021 Show

Loosing the Chains of Injustice
In Isaiah 58 the Lord challenges his people to address issues of injustice in their nation. What does God require of us and how can we build a just society? Is America an empire? Has imperial hubris blinded us to the suffering of others? How can we as Christians stop abetting the spirit of empire and start challenging it? In this broadcast Rev. S J Munson addresses the biblical call to live radical, counter-cultural lives that speak truth to power and champion the downtrodden.
 

 

September 8, 2021 Show

Living Outside the Camp: Christians and Political Parties
Should Christians be involved in politics? What about political parties? What do the so-called "culture wars" really demand of us as believers? What does it really mean to be "pro-life"? In this personal journey host S J Munson discusses the destructive nature of partisanship, both for this country and the church, and how Christians can adopt a less partisan and more biblical political agenda.

 

 

August 11, 2021 Show

Alison Weir

If Americans Knew: Fact-checking US Media Coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Journalist Alison Weir is executive director of If Americans Knew – a nonpartisan think-tank that focuses on the US connection to Israel-Palestine – and President of the National Interest – founded by former US Congress members and diplomats to advocate for US Middle East policies that serve the US national interest. https://ifamericansknew.org/

Ms. Weir has spoken on over a hundred campuses throughout the US, including Harvard, Stanford, Berkeley, UCLA, Yale, Northwestern, Purdue, Vassar, and numerous others. She has also given presentations internationally, including lectures in England, Wales, Iran, China, Qatar, Palestine, and Iraq.

She has written numerous articles; her book on the early years of the pro-Israel lobby in the United States (Against Our Better Judgment, 2014) has sold over 50,000 copies.

 

 

July 14, 2021 Show

Dedrick Asante-Muhammed

Building a More Just Economy: Systemic Racism and Economic Inequality

Since the COVID pandemic, issues of economic inequality in the U.S. have received increasing attention in the media, along with our current national debates on race and systemic racism. Here to talk about those issues and how we can build a more just economy for all is Mr. Dedrick Asante-Muhammed of the National Community Reinvestment Coalition.

Dedrick Asante-Muhammed joined the National Reinvestment Coalition in January 2019 as the Chief of Race, Wealth, and Community. Currently, he serves as Chief of Membership, Policy, and Equity. During his tenure he has overseen such areas as Fair Housing, Fair Lending, the Women's Business Center of DC, the National Training Academy, the Housing Council Network, and has started the Department of Racial Equity.

Mr. Asante-Muhammed comes to the NCRC from Prosperity Now, where he was Senior Fellow and Founder of the Racial Wealth Divide Initiative. Before Prosperity Now he worked for the NAACP, where he was Senior Director of the Economic Department and Executive Director of the Financial Freedom Center. He has also worked for the Reverend Al Sharpton's National Action Network and the Institute for Policy Studies.

To read more about Mr. Asante-Muhammed, check out his blog at
https://bridgingtheracialwealthdivide.wordpress.com/

 

 

May 12, 2021 Show

Conspiracy Theories and the New Assault on Democracy:

From the earliest days of our Republic, America has always been a home for conspiracy theorists. More recently, however, a new batch of conspiracies has permeated our society at every level and now threatens to pull down democracy itself! What is different about these conspiracies that makes them so menacing and can we as a nation combat them? Our guests are Dr. Russell Muirhead, PhD and Dr. Nancy Rosenblum, PhD, authors of A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy (Princeton). 

Russell Muirhead is the Robert Clements Professor of Democracy and Politics at Dartmouth College and the author of The Promise of Party in a Polarized Age (Harvard), among other books. Nancy L. Rosenblum is the Senator Joseph Clark Research Professor of Ethics in Politics and Government emerita at Harvard University. Her books include Good Neighbors: The Democracy of Everyday Life in America (Princeton).

 

 

April 14, 2021 Show

White Supremacy and the Church:

Since the 2016 election millions of people in and outside the church have been confused and/or appalled by what they see as a growing and unholy union between American Christianity and white supremacy. This relationship is nothing new, of course; we are simply getting a closer look at it. To help us understand the historical roots of this phenomenon is our guest Dr. Robert P. Jones.

Robert P. Jones is the CEO and founder of Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) and the author of White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity. Jones writes regularly on politics, culture, and religion for The Atlantic online, NBC Think, and other outlets. He is frequently featured in major national media, such as CNN, MSNBC, NPR, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and others. He holds a Ph.D. in religion from Emory University and a M.Div. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of The End of White Christian America, which won the 2019 Grawemeyer Award in Religion    

 

 

 

March 10, 2021 Show

How to Become Anti-Racist

The terms anti-racism and anti-racist have recently entered out national discussion, with many books on the subject on the national best-seller lists. What does it mean to be anti-racist and what are some practical steps white people can take to start disentangling themselves from the web of a racist system that does so much harm to people of color?

Kate Slater, Ph.D. is the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs at Brandeis University's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, as well as the co-creator of the 2021Anti-Racist Roadmap. Previously, she worked at the Institute for Recruitment of Teachers, a nonprofit that promotes social justice and diversity in the American educational system. Dr. Slater received her doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy at the University of New Hampshire, and her research focuses on the experiences of underrepresented minoritized students at predominantly white institutions. Dr. Slater is a frequent contributor for NBC Today, where she writes about racial and social justice issues. Additionally, she conducts anti-racism seminars and training for both K-12 and higher education institutions, as well as private organizations. To download the Anti-Racist Roadmap (and learn more about Dr. Slater's work), check out her website: https://kateaslater.com/

 

 

February 10, 2021 Show

Dr. Kristin DuMez,  Author of Jesus and John Wayne

Christian Nationalism Part 3


This month we continue our 3-part series on Christian Nationalism. Join us as we talk with author-historian Dr. Kristin DuMez, author of Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation.

Kristin Kobes Du Mez is Professor of History and Gender Studies at Calvin University. She holds a PhD from the University of Notre Dame and her research focuses on the intersection of gender, religion, and politics. She has written for the Washington Post, NBC News, Religion News Service, Christianity Today, and The Christian Century, and has been interviewed on NPR, CTV, the BBC, and by CNN, the New York Times, the Economist, and the AP, among other outlets. Her most recent book is Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation.

 

 

January 13, 2021 Show 

Andrew Whitehead

Christian Nationalism, Part 2:
As we learned last month, adherence to Christian Nationalism is the biggest factor in determining how people voted in the last two presidential elections. On last month's broadcast, we began our exploration of the topic from a legal and constitutional perspective. This month we'll continue our discussion with the help of sociologist Andrew Whitehead. Why does Christian nationalism seem to lead people into endorsing policies that are opposed to New Testament teachings? How is Christian nationalism different from biblical or historic Christianity? What percentage of Americans subscribe to Christian nationalism? Is it really more about political power than religion?

Andrew L. Whitehead is an Associate Professor of Sociology and Director of the Association of Religion Data Archives (theARDA.com) at the Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture at Indiana University- Perdue University Indianapolis. Whitehead’s research focuses on how religion both shapes and is shaped by contemporary American culture. He is the author of Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States (Oxford University Press, 2020) and over three dozen peer-reviewed journal articles. In 2019 his co-authored article “Make America Christian Again: Christian Nationalism and Voting for Donald Trump in the 2016 Presidential Election” (Sociology of Religion, 2018) won the Distinguished Article Award for both the Association for the Sociology of Religion and the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion. Whitehead’s research has been featured across several national outlets including The New Yorker, The Washington Post, CNN Today, Salon, and The Guardian and he is routinely contacted for perspective on religion and politics from national and international news media. Along with his work on Christian nationalism, Whitehead’s current research focus also explores childhood disability and religion.
 

 

 

December 9, 2020 Show

ANDREW L. SEIDEL

America's Founding Myth:  

Many Americans like to refer to this country as a "Christian nation." They look back to its founding, which they claim was steeped in Christianity and the Bible. America's mythic past has served as a justification for everything from war and imperialism to intolerance and racism. Are we really a Christian nation? And is this concept even American, even Christian?  ANDREW L. SEIDEL is a constitutional and civil rights attorney, author, and activist. He has a B.S. in neuroscience and a few law degrees, each with academic honors and awards. Publisher's Weekly called his first book, The Founding Myth: Why Christian Nationalism is un-American, a “furious debut,” in which Seidel delivers a “fervent takedown” of the claim that America is a Christian nation. Seidel made national news when a Tennessee preacher burned The Founding Myth and posted the video online. As a lawyer at the Freedom from Religion Foundation, Andrew defends that founding American value: the separation of state and church. His next book, Weaponizing Religious Freedom, will hit shelves in 2022. You can find him on social media @AndrewLSeidel.

 

 

November 11, 2020 Show

Special Guest: Steven Hassan 

The Cult of Trump?
 

Many pundits predicted the 2020 election would be a rout, a thorough repudiation of Trumpism. Instead, it was a real squeaker. How did this happen? What kind of hold does this President have over his followers and why is he so effective at eliciting such loyalty? Our guest Steven Hassan, an expert on cult mind control, has some answers. Steven Hassan M.A., M.Ed, LMHC, NCC is a world renowned expert on undue influence and cults, a mental health professional, speaker, consultant, author, and educator. He has been helping people leave destructive cults since 1976 after he was deprogrammed from Sun Myung Moon’s Unification Church. He is the founding director of the Freedom of Mind Resource Center. He has authored four books including Combating Cult Mind Control, Freedom of Mind, and The Cult of Trump, a peer-reviewed journal article, other articles, text-book chapters, and weekly blogs. He has developed assessment, intervention, and recovery approaches, and co-developed a curriculum. He frequently speaks to advocacy groups, legal and mental health professional organizations, psychiatry training programs, think tanks, and government entities combating destructive cults, human trafficking, and extremism. He provides intervention, recovery, and expert consulting services. His work has translations in 10 languages. He is frequently interviewed and cited.   Freedom of Mind Resource Center  https://freedomofmind.com/

 

 

October 14, 2020 Show  

Special Guest: Chawkat Moucarry

Islam and Western Society


With the rise of right-wing nationalism in the West, many are asking if Islam is compatible with Western democracy and secularism. How do you explain the violence of certain Muslim groups? Are Muslims actually a threat to Western civilization? If not, how can we build bridges instead of walls, learning to live together and work together to build a better society?

Joining us again is Dr. Chawkat Moucarry, an Arab Christian, professor of Islamic Studies, author and lecturer on Arab-Christian dialogue.

 

 

September 9, 2020 Show

Special Guest: Chawkat Moucarry

Arabs and Christians in Dialogue:


With the rise of right-wing nationalism in the USA and worldwide, immigration has been in the spotlight and immigrants in the crosshairs. What does the Bible say about how we are to treat the stranger among us? Also, is it possible for Muslims and Christians to have dialogue and come to a place of mutual respect? As Christians how should we view the Israeli-Palestinian crisis? Joining us this month is Arab Christian professor and author Chawkat Moucarry.

Chawkat Moucarry was born in Aleppo (Syria) to a Roman Catholic home. At the age of eighteen he went to France to study. He has an MA in Christian theology and a PhD in Islamic Studies from the Sorbonne University (Paris). He is fluent in Arabic (mother tongue), French and English.

For twelve years, Chawkat worked for IFES (International Fellowship of Evangelical Students) with Arab and Muslim students. In 1994 he moved to England where he taught Islamic and Middle-Eastern Studies at All Nations Christian College. From 2006-2016 he served with World Vision International as director of inter-faith relations.

Chawkat is the author of several articles and books including The Prophet & the Messiah. An Arab Christian’s Perspective on Islam & Christianity (IVP, 2001), The Search for Forgiveness. Pardon and Punishment in Islam and Christianity (IVP, 2004) and Two Prayers for Today. The Lord’s Prayer and The Fatiha (CSS Books: Tiruvalla, 2007).

Chawkat is married with four grown-up children. In 2017 he went back to Paris where he is involved in various activities pertaining to Christian-Muslim relationships.

 

 

August 12, 2020 Show

Special Guest: Dean S. Seneca, MPH, MCURP

       COVID-19 and Native American Populations: A Follow-Up Interview

Last May, conditions on the Navajo Reservation were making national news. Americans were shocked to learn that lack of health care and infrastructure problems, such as inadequate or overcrowded housing and lack of running water, were sending COVID-19 infection rates soaring. My guest that month was Dean Seneca, who graciously agreed to do a follow-up interview this summer so that we can check in to see how things are going.  Dean S. Seneca, MPH MCURP, is a member of the Seneca Nation and an expert in public health policy and epidemiology. He formerly served in the Center for Disease Control's Office for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support. He is currently CEO of Seneca Scientific Solutions, a public health and urban and regional planning LLC.

During the interview Dean mentions the urgent importance of contact-tracing in controlling pandemics. If you would like Dean to contact you regarding training your community to create a contact-tracing task force, feel free to call or text him at 716.222.1974 or message him at his website:  https://www.senecascientificsolutions.com/

You can also donate to the following organizations currently addressing infrastructure problems among Navajo & Hopi communities:

Navajo Water Project: https://www.navajowaterproject.org/
 

In addition to writing your US Senator or Representative, if you are interested in gathering signatures for a petition to move Congress to seriously address the deplorable infrastructure problems on the Navajo and other Native American reservations, you can send your completed petitions to: 

 

 

July 8, 2020 Show

Special Guest: Andrew Comiskey

Healing Sexual Brokenness
Homosexuality is one of many issues that frequently divides the church. Typically, the church has responded to the homosexual with one of two extremes: condemnation or affirmation of the homosexual lifestyle. But is there a more balanced and biblical approach that welcomes the sexually broken while also offering God's hope and healing?  Andrew Comiskey (M.Div.) has worked extensively with the healing of the sexually and relationally broken. He is the Founding Director of Desert Stream/Living Waters Ministries, a multifaceted outreach to the broken. Andrew’s ministry grows both out of his own commitment to overcome homosexuality and his experience as a husband to Annette, father of four children and grandfather to five grandkids. He is author of Pursuing Sexual Wholeness (Creation House), Strength in Weakness (InterVarsity Press), Naked Surrender: Coming Home To Our True Sexuality (InterVarsity Press) and the Living Waters healing program. Andrew seeks to equip the Church to be whole and holy, a bride ready to receive Jesus. Andrew serves at St. Thomas More Parish in Kansas City, Missouri. After over four decades of ministry, Andrew still loves receiving and extending mercy to sexual sinners like himself. Check out his website at https://www.desertstream.org/

 

 

June 10, 2020 Show

Elaine Howard Ecklund, PhD.

Faith and Science? Do they need each other?
Historically, American Christianity has often had an antagonistic relationship with science. Even today, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we see examples of this in the reaction of various religious communities to scientific data. As Christians can we trust science? Is it really a threat? Or has the faith v. science divide created a false dichotomy? Can both peacefully coexist, and even live in harmony? Our guest is sociologist and author Dr. Elaine Howard Eckland, who has committed years of research to these questions. Her new book Why Science and Faith Need Each Other (Brazos Press, 2020) is fast becoming an essential resource for both churches and academia. Join us as we explore why science and faith always seem to be at loggerheads but why they really do need each other.

Elaine Howard Ecklund (PhD, Cornell University) is professor of sociology at Rice University in Houston, Texas, where she holds the Herbert S. Autrey Chair in Social Sciences. Ecklund has written six books, including Science vs. Religion: What Scientists Really Think and Why Science and Faith Need Each Other: Eight Shared Values That Move Us beyond Fear. In 2010, Science vs. Religion was named a “Book of the Week” by Times Higher Education and the “Book of the Year” on religion by HuffPost. She has also authored numerous research articles, and her research is frequently cited by US and international media. In 2018, she gave the Gifford Lecture at the University of Edinburgh and from 2018–19 served as president of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion. Ecklund is passionate about using research on religion to build common ground for the common good and, to that end, she founded the Religion and Public Life Program at Rice University in 2010. She speaks regularly at churches about the intersection of science and spirituality.

 

 

May 13, 2020 Show

Special Guest: Dean S. Seneca, MPH, MCURP

U.S. Native American Populations and COVID-19



Among the hardest hit by the pandemic is the Navajo country of the American Southwest, where limited healthcare and weak infrastructure has brought infection rates to the highest outside of New York and New Jersey. Here to talk about this is Dean Seneca, a citizen of the Seneca Nation and former health officer with the CDC.

Dean S. Seneca, MPH, MCURP, serves as the CEO of Seneca Scientific Solutions+, a Public Health and Urban and Regional Planning LLC https://www.senecascientificsolutions.com. In this position, he provides capacity building assistance for Tribal Nations in economic and community development that embraces the concepts of “healthy places for healthy people.” Services provided include strategic planning, economic development, public health policy, program science, epidemiology, grant writing, architectural site planning and building design, performance programming, health research, data management, and program evaluation. Areas of health expertise include chronic and infectious diseases, emergency preparedness and response, environmental health, toxicology and maternal/child health. Mr. Seneca is considered a subject matter expert in America Indian/Alaska Native Health disparities. Previously, Mr. Seneca served as a Senior Health Scientist in the Partnership Support Unit within the Office for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. His main responsibilities were to build CDC’s national public health partners ability to provide greater capacity building assistance to state, tribal, local, and territorial health departments. Mr. Seneca has over 20 years of experience in the field of infectious disease outbreaks having been a first responder to Anthrax, H1N1, Ebola, Zika and now Covid19. Before arriving to CDC, he held the position of Tribal Planning Director for the Seneca Nation of Indians. He received both of his master’s degree(s) from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

 

 

April 8, 2020 Show

Special Guest: Robert Kolb

Martin Luther and Today's Pandemic

On this month's show we interview one of the foremost Lutheran scholars of our day, Robert Kolb. Listen in as we explore what the great 16th-century reformer Martin Luther has to say about pandemics and self-isolation, as well as other contemporary topics.

Robert Kolb graduated from Concordia Seminary (Master of Divinity 1967, Master of Sacred Theology, 1968) and the University of Wisconsin (Ph.D. 1973). After serving as director of the Center for Reformation in Saint Louis (1973-1977), he assumed a professorship in religion and in history at Concordia College, Saint Paul, Minnesota (1977-1993) before returning to head the Institute for Mission Studies at Concordia Seminary, Saint Louis, and teach systematic theology there (1993- 2009). From 1994 to 2006 he spent three months each year teaching abroad, chiefly in post-Soviet countries. Former associate editor and co-editor of The Sixteenth Century (1973-1997), he has continued to publish in the field of Reformation studies since his retirement. Recent books include Luther’s Treatise On Christian Freedom and Its Legacy (2019); Luther’s Wittenberg World: The Reformer’s Family, Friends, Followers, and Foes (2018); with Carl R. Trueman, Between Wittenberg and Geneva: Lutheran and Reformed Theology in Conversation (2017); Martin Luther and the Enduring Word of God: The Wittenberg School and its Scripture-Centered Proclamation (2016); Luther and the Stories of God: Biblical Narratives as a Foundation for Christian Living (2012); and with Charles P. Arand and James A. Nestingen, The Lutheran Confessions, History and Theology of the Book of Concord (Minneapolis: Fortress, 2012). With Timothy Wengert, he edited The Book of Concord, the Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (2000), and with Irene Dingel and Lubomir Batka, he edited The Oxford Handbook of Martin Luther’s Theology (2014).

 

 

March 11, 2020 Show

Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz is a historian, writer, and professor emeritus in Ethic Studies at California State University. She is author or editor of 15 books, including Roots of Resistance: A History of Land Tenure in New Mexico and the literary memoir trilogy: Red Dirt: Growing Up Okie; Outlaw Woman: A Memoir of the War Years, 1960-1975; and Blood on the Border: A Memoir of the Contra War, and her award winning 2014 book, An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States. Her most recent book is Loaded: A Disarming History of the Second Amendment. Forthcoming is a book on the US claim to be “a nation of immigrants

www.reddirtsite.com
http://www.beacon.org/An-Indigenous-Peoples-History-of-the-United-States-P1041.aspx

 

 

February 12, 2020 Show

John Wurzelmann

John Wurzelmann is a retired physician living in Chapel Hill.  As a member of the Holocaust Speaker's Bureau, he relates the story of his father, a teenage Polish Jew who escaped from a slave labor camp, and fought with the resistance in southern Poland. Eventually, upon returning home,  he learned that his entire family had been murdered. Dr. Wurzelmann hopes to provide some context for this tragedy, and invites the listener to consider the causes and consequences of bigotry.

 

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

 

January 8, 2020 Show

Half a Gospel?

Over a century and a half ago, the church in America began to divide in its efforts to grapple with the stresses caused by Modernism. Even today the rift is still not healed, with conservatives tending to focus inward, emphasizing personal holiness and the inerrancy of Scripture, and liberals focusing outward, emphasizing a social gospel that seeks to transform society. Searching for a church, the seeker is often forced to choose between evangelism or social concern, a highly personal kind of faith almost devoid of social conscience or social concern that frequently lacks Holy Spirit power. These are false dichotomies that should not exist. Why can't we have it all? Why do we have to be "either/or" Christians instead of "both/and"? On this broadcast we'll look at the history of this division and look for solutions to help bridge the gap.
 

 

December 11, 2019 Show

Special Guest: Dr. Joe Feagin

Systemic Racism and the Case for Reparations 

Our guest: Dr. Joe Feagin, the Distinguished Professor in sociology at Texas A & M University, has done much internationally recognized research on U.S. racism, sexism, and urban political economy issues. He has written 73 scholarly books and 200-plus scholarly articles in his social science areas. His books include Systemic Racism (Routledge 2006); Liberation Sociology (3rd ed., Paradigm 2014); White Party, White Government (Routledge 2012); The White Racial Frame (2nd ed., Routledge 2013); Latinos Facing Racism (Routledge 2014); How Blacks Built America (Routledge 2015); Elite White Men Ruling (Routledge, 2017); Racist America (4th ed., Routledge 2018); and Rethinking Diversity Frameworks in Higher Education (2020). He is the recipient of a 2012 Soka Gakkai International-USA Social Justice Award, the 2013 American Association for Affirmative Action’s Arthur Fletcher Lifetime Achievement Award, and three major American Sociological Association awards: W. E. B. Du Bois Career of Distinguished Scholarship Award, the Cox-Johnson-Frazier Award (for research in the African American scholarly tradition), and the Public Understanding of Sociology Award. He was the 1999-2000 president of the American Sociological Association.

 

November 13, 2019 Show

How to Make Your Church More Racially Diverse

In 1963 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. remarked that 11:00 Sunday mornings was "the most segregated hour in the nation." After almost 60 years one wonders why the church seems to have made so little progress in confronting the legacy of racism. Today, 90% of white Christians still worship in all-white churches, and 90% of blacks still worship is all-black churches, and the most shocking thing is that we seem to be okay with the arrangement!

For this broadcast, I am joined by Dr. Joye Smith-Munson, author and educator, as we discuss some practical things churches can do to confront racism and make themselves more racially and ethnically diverse

 

October 9, 2019 Show

Occitan: One language's fight to be heard

Special Guest: Dr. Philippe Martel


The United Nations has declared 2019 to be the year of indigenous languages, to call attention to the thousands of languages across the globe that are currently threatened with extinction. Tragically, the world loses one language every two weeks. When we think of languages in danger, however, we don't often think of a country like France. Yet linguistically speaking, France has a very rich and diverse history, with as many as 50 regional languages still spoken today. There, perhaps the language with the largest number of speakers, outside of French, is Occitan (formerly known as Languedoc or Provençal), which, despite centuries of suppression, is currently experiencing a resurgence, particularly among younger people.

Our guest Dr. Philippe Martel is a retired professor of Occitan studies at the University of Montpellier in the south of France. His specialties are the history of southern France and the attitude of the French school system toward regional languages. His most recent publication is Histoire de l'Occitanie, Embanner (2019).

 

September 11, 2019 Show

Losing One's Faith?: The Stage Theory of Spiritual Development

 
Young Christian adults going away to college for the first time sometimes return home claiming they "no longer believe," much to the consternation of their parents. Meanwhile, in the news recently, a few high-profile Christian leaders have shocked their communities by reporting they have "lost their faith." Many Christians scratch their heads wondering how these things can happen, while others blame the devil or our "liberal society" or even condemn the struggling believers as "traitors." But can questioning one's faith actually be a positive or normal thing? What is Stage Theory of Spiritual Development and how can it help us to understand and support people going through these traumatic upheavals of faith? Joining us this week to discuss this topic will be Dr. Joye Smith-Munson, Ed.D., author and educator (and in the interest of full disclosure, wife of host S J Munson).

 

August 14, 2019 Show

The Rev. Mitchell C. Hescox

serves as President/C.E.O. of The Evangelical Environmental Network and speaks nationally on creation care, especially on the environmental life threatening impacts on the poor and defenseless. Rev. Hescox co-authored Creation Care: The Evangelical’s Guide to Climate Change and a Healthy Environment with Paul Douglas, published numerous articles and contributed to Sacred Acts: How Churches are working together to Protect Earth’s Climate by New Society Publishers. He has testified before Congress, appeared on CNN, NPR, PRI and numerous radio programs both Christian and secular. Named one of the ten Environmental Religious Saints in the Huffington Post, Mitch lead the 300 mile Creation Care Walk from West Virginia to Washington, DC and the 80 mile Gulf Coast Prayer Walk during the Deep Water Horizon Oil Spill. Mitch led EEN to successful championing of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards and guided the EEN team to inspire comments for various rules and regulations. He serves on the National Association of Evangelicals Board of Directors.

For more information, check out www.creationcare.org .

 

July 10, 2019 Show

Levi Rickert

Levi Rickert is an American Indian journalist. A tribal citizen of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, Rickert founded Native News Online, a daily American Indian news publication where he serves as publisher and editor. Since its founding, Native News Online has grown into one of the most popular American Indian media websites in the U.S. As a journalist he has covered important events that impact Indian Country, including White House tribal nations conferences, Congressional hearings, missing and murdered Indigenous women, and the Standing Rock resistance to the Dakota Access pipeline. His passion is to help improve the lives of Indigenous peoples. Rickert is the author of several published essays. His most recent, “Indian Pride” appears inVoice on the Water: Great Lakes Native America Now, (Northern Michigan University Press). He also co-produced Our Fires Still Burn: The Native American Experience, a documentary film shown on PBS.

www.nativenewsonline.netwww.artistfirst.com

 

Mallory Black 


Mallory Black, who is Diné (Navajo), is Communications Director of the StrongHearts Native Helpline, a free and confidential helpline for American Indians and Alaska Natives affected by domestic violence or dating violence. StrongHearts offers peer-to-peer support, crisis intervention, assistance with personalized safety planning, domestic violence information and education, and referrals to local, culturally appropriate resources. Their mission is to restore power to Native Americans impacted by domestic and dating violence by weaving together a braid of safety, sovereignty, and support.

Mallory is an award-winning freelance writer, having produced stories exploring Native American community health, culture and the environment that were published by the Native Health News Alliance, Native Peoples Magazine and the American Heart Association’s Voices for Healthy Kids Initiative.

www.strongheartshelpline.org

 

June 12, 2019 Show

Special Guest: Jared A. Brock


Jared Brock is the author of A Year of Living Prayerfully, Bearded Gospel Men, and The Road to Dawn. He's also the director of Over 18, Red Light Green Light, and Redeeming Uncle Tom: The Story of Josiah Henson. Jared has been interviewed on TODAY.com, CBS, 100 Huntley Street, and The 700 Club, and his writing has appeared in Esquire, Huffington Post, Smithsonian, Writer’s Digest, and TIME. He first kissed his wife, Michelle, in the seventh grade and together they've traveled to over 30 countries and have spoken in more than 100 cities around North America. Jared has a particular fondness for beards, burritos, and kombucha.
 

https://josiahhenson.com/
 

 

 

May 8, 2019 Show

Special Guest: Zohra Sarwari

Zohra Sarwari is an author of 15 books, author of 3 Homeschooling Curriculum's, international speaker, entrepreneur, publisher, and a homeschool teacher to her kids. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, a Master's Degree in Business Administration, and she is currently taking classes towards a Master's Degree Islamic Studies. Her passion is teaching Muslims to become the best they can be, while teaching Non-Muslims about the true Islam. She spends her time teaching her kids, taking classes, speaking, and coaching.

www.MuslimWomanSpeaker.com


 

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