The expected and the unexpected came up during Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation hearings to be a Supreme Court justice. Amanda and Holly review key exchanges, including questions about her personal religious belief and religious liberty. Plus, they review the jaw-dropping news about texts from Virginia Thomas – wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas – on January 6 that showcase the prominence of Christian nationalism in the events and conversations that culminated in the attack on the Capitol.
Issues surrounding the intersection of religious freedom and public health dominated the religious liberty news in 2021, and it was impossible to miss the display of Christian nationalism at the Capitol insurrection on January 6. Here’s a look at 10 of the biggest religious liberty developments of 2021.
What do you do when you’re around the dinner table or visiting family over the holidays and hear someone share misinformation? How do you have productive conversations and truthful exchanges that bring people together? From fake narratives that drive violence to the mundane myths that build a false foundation, Amanda and Holly talk about common misconceptions they hear, what they see when talking about the dangers of Christian nationalism, and how you can find areas of agreement with others.
BJC staff members lead “Responding to Christian Nationalism: Hosting Difficult Conversations in Your Congregation”
Amanda Tyler will speaks on Christian Nationalism in this webinar hosted on April 20.
BJC Executive Director Amanda Tyler speaks at Chicago Theological Seminary in their Wednesday Reflections on Christian Nationalism.
Race and religion are topics at the forefront of the U.S. Senate race in Georgia between Sen. Kelly Loeffler and the Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock. On this bonus episode of Respecting Religion, we bring you a conversation between BJC Director of Education Charles Watson Jr. and Executive Director Amanda Tyler about what happens when ministers become candidates. In this dialogue broadcast live on December 2, they go beyond partisan politics and dive into the sensitive topics, discussing the implications of using sermons in attack ads, the power structure of whiteness, Christian nationalism, liberation theology, double standards and how you can’t ignore the racial components at play right now.Plus, they ask a serious question: How do the attacks against the Rev. Warnock compare to similar attacks on the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during his time?
How did Christian nationalism show up on the campaign trail and at the ballot box? What is the possibility for religion to be a positive and unifying force for our politically divided country? How did President-elect Joe Biden talk about religion in his acceptance speech? Amanda and Holly look at religion and politics this election season — the good, the bad and the confusing.
BJC Executive Director Amanda Tyler is speaking on a panel about religious freedom and Christian nationalism at the first-ever Americans United 2020 National Advocacy Summit.
After President Trump publicly addressed the unrest following the killing of George Floyd, peaceful protesters were violently dispersed and the president posed for a photo holding a Bible in front of a church. This week, Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman talk about the photo op and what it means in terms of religious liberty and Christian nationalism. They also review the most recent legal developments related to houses of worship and the coronavirus, including a late-night Supreme Court order and an unexplained change on the CDC’s guidance for houses of worship. In the third segment, Amanda and Holly answer listener questions and share important books for self-reflection and action to take a stand against systemic racial injustice.
The rhetoric surrounding the new guidance, which sounded a false alarm about the status of prayer in public school, echoing the claims of Christian nationalism, was far more troubling than the guidance itself.
Don Byrd takes a look at the top nine religious liberty stories of 2019 — from Christian nationalism to Supreme Court decisions.
