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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

53:07

Democracy As a Theological Statement with Rebecca Solnit

The State Of Belief ·

2026/04/04

This 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

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55:25

Religion and Leadership in a Time of War: Lt. Gen....

The State Of Belief ·

2026/03/28

What 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

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55:02

What We Know About Christian Nationalism with Robert...

The State Of Belief ·

2026/03/21

How 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

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52:38

History as Fuel: Reza Aslan on the latest Iran War

The State Of Belief ·

2026/03/14

We’ve been looking at the war on Iran through the wrong lens, according to Iranian-American religion scholar Reza Aslan. It’s tempting to think that economic sanctions or military strikes will change Iran’s course overnight. But Reza’s words on The State of Belief challenge that assumption, revealing a deeper truth about history, identity, and the illusions we cling to.Reza shares a striking story from his book on Howard Baskerville, the American missionary who fought alongside Iranians in 1907,

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40:18

The Downward Arc of Donald Trump, With Ruth Ben-Ghiat

The State Of Belief ·

2026/03/07

Virility and victimhood – how do these seemingly opposite characteristics prop up strongman leaders throughout recent history? Expert and best-selling author Dr. Ruth Ben-Ghiat connects the dots in a conversation full of wisdom and, ultimately, hope that the current attempt at authoritarian rule in the United States is on the decline.The author of Strongmen: from Mussolini to Today, Ruth makes clear that war is often a cold-blooded tool of authoritarians – particularly if they see other means of

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52:47

The Epstein Files as a Mirror, With Rabbi Jay Michaelson

The State Of Belief ·

2026/02/28

As exhausted as many of us are by the ever more sordid revelations in the Epstein scandal, author and journalist Rabbi Jay Michaelson says its importance is only growing. Joining host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush on this edition of The State of Belief, Jay argues that the way the scandal is being handled is nothing short of a moral referendum, “not just on Donald Trump and on the administration, but, really, on our society as a whole.”Jay also sounds the alarm about developments in anti-Jewish

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53:09

Rev. James Martin On His Journey to Becoming a...

The State Of Belief ·

2026/02/21

Father Jim Martin’s new memoir, Work in Progress: Confessions of a Bus Boy, Dishwasher, Caddy, Usher, Factory Worker, Bank Teller, Corporate Tool, and Priest, includes plenty of funny stories that are also deeply human, full of honesty and hope. Jim’s always a wonderful guest, and this week he joins host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to walk us through some of the memorable moments in this book.The book opens with stories of summer jobs ranging from dishwasher to factory worker, all while weaving

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58:26

Faith in Action: Bishop Dwayne Royster's Call to Justice

The State Of Belief ·

2026/02/14

In a time of mounting division and injustice, faith isn’t just a personal refuge—it’s a call to step up and speak out. This week, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is joined by Bishop Dwayne Royster, Executive Director of Faith in Action.Talk about action—Bishop Dwayne and partners organized a massive, diverse, faith-inspired gathering in Washington, D.C. just days after a series of ICE-related deaths. 450 clergy mobilized in 72 hours, with multiple faith traditions coming together to oppose

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53:25

The Light We Give: Simran Jeet Singh on Courage and...

The State Of Belief ·

2026/02/07

What does courage look like on the ground? For many faith leaders and everyday citizens, it involves showing up despite risks, discomfort, or opposition. Dr. Simran Jeet Singh, scholar and activist, describes courage rooted in love and fearlessness—values encoded in Sikh teachings like nirpo (fearlessness) and nirvad (without hatred).Simran reflects that true bravery is not about bravado or self-assertion but about steadfastly choosing love over hatred, even when faced with hate or violence. For

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59:29

Jewish-Muslim Solidarity: Moral Witness in Pressing...

The State Of Belief ·

2026/01/31

It’s not a zero-sum game. This week on The State of Belief, interfaith organizer Maggie Siddiqi makes clear that coming together to counter antisemitism and Islamophobia is an essential part of the effort to protect American democracy. And doing that requires countering the narrative that somehow supporting one of these communities is harming the other.Maggie and host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush discuss some of the concrete ways these communities are, in fact, coming together, but also the very

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45:04

We The People v Trump with Democracy Forward's Skye...

The State Of Belief ·

2026/01/24

On this edition of The State of Belief, Democracy Forward President and CEO (and one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World 2025) Skye Perryman is back to talk about the first year of this presidency. Democracy Forward has filed hundreds of court challenges to the administration’s unconstitutional power grab and has been remarkably successful in winning most of them. She stresses that not even the conservative Supreme Court has always sided with this administration and that

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57:59

Courage in Community: Minnesota Faith Leaders Respond...

The State Of Belief ·

2026/01/17

In this episode of The State of Belief, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush engages with four distinguished religious leaders and activists from Minnesota: Rev. Susie Hayward, Rev. Dr. Jia Starr Brown, Rev. Dr. Rebecca Voelkel, and Rev. Jim Bear Jacobs.The discussion centers on the current authoritarian crisis engulfing their community, driven by ICE raids and systemic injustice. Each leader shares their insights on the role of faith in activism, the importance of community, and their personal

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51:45

Dancing with the Divine: Exploring Religious Freedom...

The State Of Belief ·

2026/01/10

In the latest episode of The State of Belief, we dive into the vital theme of religious freedom as portrayed in the new film, The Testament of Ann Lee. Joining host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush for this enlightening discussion are Interfaith Alliance colleagues and film fans Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons and Alyssa Klein.Here are three key takeaways from the conversation that will resonate with many:The Intersection of Faith and Feminism: One of the most compelling aspects of The Testament of Ann

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55:55

What Happened? Top Religion News Stories of 2025 with...

The State Of Belief ·

2026/01/03

Happy New Year! In this episode of The State of Belief, Religion News Service reporters Adelle Banks and Jack Jenkins join host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to reflect on a remarkable year at the intersection of religion and public life. Adelle, a veteran journalist covering religion, race, and African-American faith communities, and Jack, a national reporter focused on religion and politics, share insights from their extensive reporting and collaboration at RNS.Our conversation highlights how

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64:48

Religion, LGBT Rights, and the Law with Mary Bonauto...

The State Of Belief ·

2025/12/27

The latest episode of The State of Belief features two incredible guests: attorneys Mary Bonauto, a trailblazer in the fight for marriage equality who serves as Senior Director of Civil Rights and Legal Strategies at GLADLaw, and Ben Marcus, Senior Constitutional Law Fellow at GLADLaw. Together, they share invaluable insights on the current landscape of LGBTQ+ rights, particularly in the wake of recent legal challenges.Here are just three of the themes that stood out: The Resilience of

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50:07

Interfaith Responses to ICE with Najeeba Syeed

The State Of Belief ·

2025/12/20

This week on The State of Belief: incredible insights from the remarkable Dr. Najeeba Syeed. As a celebrated peacemaker, educator, and scholar in interfaith studies and conflict resolution, Najeeba brings a wealth of knowledge and compassion to the conversation. Here are some key takeaways that you'll find both intriguing and inspiring.Minneapolis is home to the largest Somali community outside of Mogadishu. It’s centered on the Cedar-Riverside Community, which has long been a welcoming place for

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61:31

The War Gospel According to Pete Hegseth: Rev. Brian...

The State Of Belief ·

2025/12/13

On the latest episode of The State of Belief, you’ll hear the insightful Rev. Dr. Brian Kaylor, President and Editor-in-Chief of Word & Way. Brian and host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush use the lens of his new book, The Bible According to Christian Nationalists: Exploring Scripture for Political Power, to focus on how scripture is being increasingly manipulated to justify distinctly non-biblical politics and policies – particularly at the Pentagon.Of the themes that emerged in the conversation,

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50:18

Room in the Inn: A Call for Immigrant Solidarity with...

The State Of Belief ·

2025/12/05

This week, The National Latino Evangelical Coalition launched the AdventWelcome Campaign, which says: there's room in the inn. That in Advent, we should have space for immigrants, for foreigners, for refugees fleeing political persecution and fleeing places that are very difficult. That’s why we’re releasing this week’s episode of The State of Belief early – because it’s a chance to hear NaLEC President and Founder Rev. Dr. Gabriel Salguero’s powerful words about the season and the pressing social

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65:29

Fully Herself: Rev. Winnie Varghese Assumes the...

The State Of Belief ·

2025/11/29

This week on The State of Belief, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is joined by the Very Rev. Winnie Varghese, the first female dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. As a queer Episcopal priest born to Indian immigrants, she brings a unique perspective to the challenges and opportunities facing faith communities today.In this episode, we dive deep into her journey, the significance of her role, and the current state of faith in America. Here are three key takeaways that

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58:42

The Power of Faithful Non-Violent Resistance with...

The State Of Belief ·

2025/11/22

This week on The State of Belief, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is joined by Dr. Maria J. Stephan, co-lead and chief organizer at the Horizons Project. In the conversation, we get her expert take on the pressing issues of authoritarianism, democracy, and the vital role of faith in social movements. A key component of that is faithful, nonviolent resistance, which Maria has observed and supported in different parts of the world.The ground covered includes: The Subtle Erosion of Democracy:

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