Fighting for Freedom in Florida and Beyond

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is making national headlines once again, this time for being the impetus for College Board gutting its AP African American studies curriculum. The same people pushing to turn the United States into a Christian nation are working to erase the history of Black and Brown Americans, making it easier to spread white Christian nationalism.

The fight against Christian nationalism is not just a fight for religious freedom. It’s also a fight for a democracy that includes all of us, not just a privileged few. This week on State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio show and podcast, we will explore how religion can be used as a force for good, and a counter to the Christian right.

More and more, the idea that the American political realm is a place of “spiritual warfare” is making its way into the mainstream. We’re seeing this take hold in Florida especially–Governor DeSantis’s recent ad claiming he was sent by God is just one example. Katherine Stewart, author of The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism, will join Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, host of State of Belief, to discuss how Christian nationalism is taking hold in the state, and what we can do about it.

We talk a lot about the dangers of weaponized religion on this show. But organized religion can be–and already is–a tremendous source of strength for many, and a vehicle for justice. Dr. Diana Butler Bass will speak with Paul this week about how those united for justice can tap into faith and religious communities to spark social change.

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