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PODCAST

The State Of Belief

Interfaith Alliance

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

religion & spirituality news commentary

All Episodes

54:24

Everybody Can Do Something: Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum

The State Of Belief ·

2025/05/24

June, traditionally Pride Month, is almost here, and this year, Pride will test the courage of our nation. It has been a challenging time for the LGBTQ+ community - with attempts to erase trans people, roll back civil rights for the wider LGBTQ community, ban Pride flags, and in 10 states there are bills to take back the right to marry... as well as pressure for corporations and faith groups to distance themselves from Pride celebrations.In a powerful response, Interfaith Alliance is bringing

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58:14

Lt. Gen. Charles D. Luckey on the Role of the...

The State Of Belief ·

2025/05/17

This week on the show, we're honored to welcome Lt. Gen. Charles D. Luckey (Retired), former Chief of the United States Army Reserve, joining host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush. He’s a combat veteran, he’s an attorney, and he’s a pastor’s son – so he's able to cover a wide range of topics with depth and wisdom. Having sworn an oath to the Constitution, Lt. Gen. Luckey has some really great insights into the responsibilities of citizenship, the urgent need to preserve democracy, and the important

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72:51

Book Bans vs. the Right to Read: Kelly Jensen and...

The State Of Belief ·

2025/05/10

This week on The State of Belief, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush welcomes Kelly Jensen. She’s a passionate advocate for intellectual freedom, democracy, and the right to read. As an editor at Book Riot and a former librarian, Kelly has been at the forefront of the fight against book bans and censorship. The urgent conversation covers the growing wave of censorship, the role of religious extremism in book-banning efforts, and what we can do to safeguard free expression and democratic

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56:56

Faith is Standing Strong: Rev. Dr. Shannon Fleck

The State Of Belief ·

2025/05/03

On Wednesday, April 30th, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush was with Faithful America Executive Director Rev. Dr. Shannon Fleck in front of the Supreme Court building, saying “No!” to tax dollars being funneled to private religious schools. That’s the issue that was before the justices as they heard arguments in St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School v. Drummond. This week, The State of Belief starts with an urgent message Shannon and I recorded that morning at the Court. After that,

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56:47

Amy Spitalnick on How Jewish Safety and Inclusive...

The State Of Belief ·

2025/04/26

This week, Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA), is back on The State of Belief. In this episode, Amy and host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush dig into the immediacy of antisemitism, democracy, and how our communities are connected. Among the important topics they cover: Why Jewish safety and democracy are intertwined How genuine concerns about antisemitism are being hijacked to undermine civil liberties and democratic institutions How to respond during this

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40:14

Remembering Pope Francis: Father James Martin...

The State Of Belief ·

2025/04/21

Pope Francis, who led the Roman Catholic Church worldwide since 2013, has passed away at the age of 88. A tireless champion of the central social justice teachings of Jesus, Pope Francis followed his personal mantra, “don’t forget the poor,” Pope Francis – previously Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina - brought profound change to the Church in tumultuous and challenging times. He was the first non-European pope since the 8th Century AD.On this special episode of

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41:53

Easter and Passover Courage in the Fight for Democracy

The State Of Belief ·

2025/04/19

This week on The State of Belief, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush directly takes on the critical issues facing our democracy as we reach the end of the first 90 days of the Trump-Vance-Musk administration. With the backdrop of the sacred days in both the Christian and Jewish traditions, Paul enumerates some of the anti-democratic actions the administration has taken against individuals and communities.That includes urgent warning signs such as the deportation of Kilmar Abrego-Garcia, and the

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51:50

Michael Eric Dyson: How We Love Is To Tell the Truth

The State Of Belief ·

2025/04/12

This week on The State of Belief, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, a distinguished professor at Vanderbilt University and a passionate advocate for social justice. They dive into the current political climate in America, addressing the rising tide of anti-democratic movements and the resurgence of fascist ideologies. Dr. Dyson emphasizes that these challenges, though significant, are not new, especially for Black Americans

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68:07

National Call to Action for Faith Communities

The State Of Belief ·

2025/04/04

On this special early-release edition of The State of Belief, you’ll hear host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush moderate an incredible group of faith leaders, progressive organizers, and activists who came together for a National Call to Action for Faith Communities on April 2, 2025. This episode is a must-listen as we explore the urgent issues facing our democracy and the vital role that diverse faith communities can play in this moment of crisis.In this episode, we discuss the alarming state of our

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61:44

Faith and LGBTQ+ Rights in the Face of Adversity

The State Of Belief ·

2025/03/29

This week, you'll hear a powerful panel discussion hosted by Rev. Paul Raushenbush and featuring four leading LGBTQ+ and faith activists: Chase Strangio (ACLU), Tahil Sharma (LGBTQ Task Force), Jon Cohen (Keshet), and Ross Keys (Interfaith Alliance of North Dakota). They discuss the intersection of faith and LGBTQ+ rights, the critical threats facing the trans community, and the importance of self-care in activism. Together, they advocate for collective action and highlight the role that faith

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58:57

The Rule of Law and the Chaos of MAGA: Jay Michaelson

The State Of Belief ·

2025/03/22

This week, Rabbi Dr. Jay Michaelson joins Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush for a deep dive into the state of U.S. politics, the role of the rule of law in preserving democracy, and political attacks against institutions of higher education. Together, they explore how faith can play a role in resistance and activism, reflecting on the deep divisions within American society and the responsibility of institutions to defend core values in times of crisis.Jay speaks about the weaponization of accusations

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48:28

Navigating the Narrow Bridge: Congressman Eric...

The State Of Belief ·

2025/03/15

This week, Representative Eric Swalwell joins host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to discuss the ongoing challenges facing American democracy, lessons not learned in the January 6th Capitol riot, and the critical role of faith communities in this time of division. Together, they explore the importance of political engagement, especially in the face of significant threats to fundamental democratic norms and vital public services.Reflecting on his experience during the January 6th attack,

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49:46

Jeff Sharlet: The Slow Civil War Is Speeding Up

The State Of Belief ·

2025/03/08

In difficult times, the work of truth-telling can seem like obsessing on the negative. But the most important truths are very often uncomfortable and even frightening. This week, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush welcomes writer Jeff Sharlet, author of The Undertow: Scenes From A Slow Civil War, back to The State of Belief.As Jeff sees America’s slow civil war speeding up, he and Paul revisit his reluctance to initially use the term 'fascism' and now emphasizes the growing movement's influence,

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67:01

One Month of Trump's Attacks on Faith: Policymakers,...

The State Of Belief ·

2025/03/01

This week, Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is joined by a panel of faith leaders, legal experts, and policymakers to discuss the urgent threats facing democracy and religious freedom under the Trump administration.Together, they explore how faith communities can take action against executive overreach, attacks on religious institutions, and efforts to dismantle critical government programs. Here's the complete list of speakers: Jamie Raskin – United States Congressman, MD-08 Skye Perryman –

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58:28

Unfiltered: The Gen Z Revolution with Olivia Julianna

The State Of Belief ·

2025/02/22

This week, Gen Z activist Olivia Julianna joins Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to discuss the importance of political engagement and the pursuit of social justice at an incredibly difficult moment in our history. Together, they explore how a rising generation of young leaders is doing critical work to address systemic injustice and inequality – and the influential role that faith and faith communities can play in fueling that activism and change. Olivia, known for her work in reproductive rights

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56:10

Black History Month In the Time of Trump: Rev. Jacqui...

The State Of Belief ·

2025/02/15

This week, activist and theologian Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis joins host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to discuss the celebration and reflection of Black history, and the intersection of faith and activism. Together, they explore the ongoing fight for racial equality, the powerful influence of Black history on contemporary social justice movements, and the role of spiritual and community leaders in challenging systemic injustice.Rev. Jacqui, renowned for her deep faith-based commitment to social

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52:22

Money, Lies, and God: Katherine Stewart Inside the...

The State Of Belief ·

2025/02/08

This week, author and journalist Katherine Stewart joins host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to discuss the rise of Christian Nationalism, Trump’s authoritarian tendencies, and the weaponization of faith for political gain. Together, they dive into the current political climate, the deep divisions within American society, and how knowledge and organizing are key to defending democracy.Katherine’s latest book, out on February 10th, Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American

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55:42

Can Religion Save Democracy? Maggie Siddiqi on...

The State Of Belief ·

2025/02/02

This week, Maggie Siddiqi, new senior fellow at Interfaith Alliance, is with host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush discussing Donald Trump’s efforts to dismantle the Department of Education, Bishop Budde’s model of faithful resistance, and the importance of coalition-building to stand up for democracy and religious freedom.Maggie joins Interfaith Alliance following a distinguished tenure with the Biden administration at the Department of Education, directing the Center for Faith-based and

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51:24

Skye Perryman: There's No Way Out of This But Through

The State Of Belief ·

2025/01/25

This week, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush reflects on the courage of Episcopal Bishop Rt. Rev. Mariann Budde, who spoke faithfully on behalf of the victims of the incoming administration’s policies at the inagural prayer service, attended by the president and vice president. Then Paul is joined by Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward, to discuss the ongoing challenges to American democracy, particularly the weaponization of government, the politicization of civil servants, and

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54:06

King's Non-Violence Trumps Christian Nationalism

The State Of Belief ·

2025/01/18

This week, we focus on the confluence of the inauguration of Donald Trump on the day we observe Martin Luther King Day, January 20th. Host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush brings attention to the dichotomy of these two pivotal events, reflecting on the contrasting paths that America finds itself on—one leading towards justice, equality, and liberation, as exemplified by Dr. King, and the other toward Christian Nationalism, which advocates for privilege, power, and exclusion. He also offers some

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161 results

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