Multifaith Matters

The COVID-19 pandemic brought lots of surprises, including the political and religious conflicts connected to it. In this podcast we explore one facet of this as Emily Kubin and Frank J. Kachanoff discuss their research published in the paper "Threat Rejection Fuels Political Dehumanization" published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science. Part of their abstract for the paper...

Andrew DeCort is a lecturer on religious and political ethics and Ethiopian studies. He's the author of Bonhoeffer's New Beginning: Ethics After Devastation, he founded the Institute for Faith and Flourishing, and co-directs the Neighbor-Love Movement. His forthcoming book is titled Why Pray?: Seven Practices of Flourishing on the Edge of Faith. In this podcast we discuss his article "Christian Na...

The great book From Bubble to Bridge: Educating Christians for a Multifaith World by Marion H. Larson and Sara L. H. Shady (IVP Academic, 2017) is the focus of a conversation between Charles Randall Paul , founder and president of the Foundation for Religious Diplomacy, and John W. Morehead, Director of FRD's Evangelical chapter. From Bubble to Bridge: https://www.amazon.com/Bubble-Bridge-Educatin...

Why are we so polarized about gay marriage, immigration, gun rights, abortion, not to mention religious beliefs? Kurt Gray helps shed light on this through his use of interdisciplinary methods to study our deepest beliefs and how to bridge moral divides. Dr. Gray is an Associate Professor in Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of North Caroline at Chapel Hill, where he directs the Deepes...

Phil Wyman is a longtime friend, colleague, and great example for the Christian walk alongside all kinds of people often ignored or marginalized by the church. In this conversation we discuss the background and elements of his journey encapsulated in his new book Love Big or Go Home. Phil also provides an update on his upcoming move to Wales and how folks can play a part. Phil's website: https://b...

Ethan Stark is a Heathen involved in interfaith work and combating extremism, and is involved with The Troth and Heathens Against Hate. In this podcast we discuss how he came to embrace Heathenism, some of the unique aspects of Heathenism, aspects of his interfaith work, and his thoughts on confronting hate and prejudice. Learn more about Ethan's work at Hallowed Renewal: https://www.hallowedrenew...

Daniel S. Wise is an independent scholar whose research focuses on paranormal belief and other aspects of the evolving contemporary American religious landscape. He has a PhD in Religious Studies from the University of Virginia with a dissertation on ghost hunting as a form of late modern enchantment. In this conversation we discuss aspects of Daniel's dissertation, some of his recent writing for...

The Russian invasion of Ukraine is a great tragedy with many facets. One of the more significant elements is the role of Orthodoxy, Eastern Christianity often unknown by those in Western Christianity like Catholicism and Protestantism. In this episode we discuss Orthodoxy and how it is intertwined with the complexities of the invasion of Ukraine. Our guests are Paul L Gavrilyuk and Cyril Hovorun ....

The way most people think about religion and politics is only loosely linked to empirical reality argues Ryan Burge in his new book, 20 Myths about Religion and Politics in America . He explores the data and challenges common myths frequently circulated in social media. Burge is an assistant professor of political science and graduate coordinator at Eastern Illinois University. He teaches in a var...

In this episode, we take another look at topics in the book The Bible With and Without Jesus: How Jews and Christians Read the Same Stories Differently, as well as how the Bible has at times been weaponized by Christians against Jews. Our guests are Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Zvi Brettler. Levine is with Hartford Seminary as the Rabbi Stanley M. Kessler Distinguished Professor of New Testament and J...

In an article at Religion Dispatches , Kalpana Jain argued that Jainism is a religion that even Indians know very little about. In this episode she provides an introduction to this religious tradition. Kalpana Jain is a long-time investigative journalist who worked at The Times of India for many years. She reported on India's ailing public health system and many other social justice issues. Her re...

Evangelicals and other Christians often express concern and fear over "the occult," and the analysis can be very superficial. In this podcast noted scholar of new religions, Massimo Introvigne, provides an overview of the Western Esoteric tradition. Introvigne is an Italian sociologist of religions. He is the founder and managing director of the Center for Studies on New Religions ( CESNUR ), an i...

The Satanic Temple has gathered a lot of media attention and Christian protest for various activities which provide an opportunity for Christians to reflect on the meaning of religious freedom, including that for religious minorities and those who make them feel uncomfortable. In this podcast I talk to Lucien Greaves, the co-founder and spokesperson for The Satanic Temple, about their After School...

In this episode we have a conversation with the Reverend Mark Townsend to learn about his spiritual journey, and our differing understandings and approaches to understanding the meaning of Jesus, the Cosmic Christ, and multifaith engagement. A former clergyman in the Church of England, Mark now leads his own inclusive and ecumenical ministry that nourishes a strong appreciation for the diversity o...

The book Crossing Thresholds explores liminality, the crossing of thresholds, and says that "liminal reality can offer people of faith and especially those in leadership positions a hermeneutical key and a pastoral method." But what is this liminal reality, how can it be both dangerous and a place for positive transformation, how does it relate  to the bounded set of church structures, and how can...

Christians have been quick to raise concerns about violence in the Qur'an in the Muslim context, but often ignore or gloss over violence in the biblical text. One of the greatest examples of violence in the Bible is the divine command for the wholesale destruction of the Canaanites. In this episode of the podcast our guest is Randal Rauser , who discusses his book Jesus Loves Canaanites: Biblical...

How should the church engage the challenges of our present moment in the West? What is the place of narrative, history, and missiology? This episode explores these question as Andrew Perriman and Michael Cooper discuss the frameworks of narrative-historical and missiological perspectives.  Dr. Andrew Perriman presents his work at the P.OST website. He has lived in various parts of the world over t...

Dr. Joshua Packard, Executive Director of Springtide Research Institute , is our guest. We begin with a little discussion of The Dones, those done with church but not their faith. Then we turn our attention to discussion of Generation Z and their spiritual quest. How is it different from previous generations? What cultural and social forces are at work? What is the "unbundled spirituality" they pu...

David Livingstone Smith returns for a further conversation on dehumanization in light of his new book Making Monsters: The Uncanny Power of Dehumanization. How do some people come to believe that their enemies are monsters, and therefore easy to kill? In this podcast David defines dehumanization, shares historical examples, how theology and ideology can literally demonize "the other," and we discu...

We can count on it every October. Not only will trick or treaters be at our door, many Christians will share their concerns about the alleged evils of Halloween, and with it, sometimes literally demonize Pagans and Satanists. David Dashifen Kees , a Pagan, and Stephen Bradford Long , a Satanist, share their thoughts on Christian responses to Halloween. Along the way we reflect on things associated...

A recent academic conference sparked controversy as it seemingly presented Hinduphobia rather than addressing Hindutva as its stated aim. In this episode Suhag Shukla helps us sort this out. Shukla is Executive Director and co-founder of the Hindu American Foundation. She holds a BA in Religion and JD from the University of Florida. Ms. Shukla has helped steer the Foundation to being recognized as...

In this episode we speak with award-winning author Lilith Starr about modern nontheistic Satanism and personal Satanic practice. Her first book, The Happy Satanist: Finding Self-Empowerment, is part of The Satanic Temple's Recommended Reading list and has been featured by Satanic book clubs around the globe. Her second book, and the focus of this conversation, is Compassionate Satanism: An Introdu...

This month is the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The nation continues to wrestle with the traumatic effects these many years later. In this podcast we unpack the psychology with Tom Pyszczynski, co-author with Sheldon Solomon and Jeff Greenberg of In the Wake of 9/11: The Psychology of Terror . In this book the authors analyze reactions to the attacks through the lens of terror management t...

In this episode we explore an overview of the work of Joseph Laycock. Laycock is an assistant professor of religious studies at Texas State University. He has written several books on new religious movements and American religious history. He is also a co-editor for the journal Nova Religio. Books we discuss in this podcast include Vampires Today: The Truth About Modern Vampires , Dangerous Games:...

After Trump, QAnon, and the January 6 insurrection at the nation's capitol, a lot of analysis and commentary has ensued on how to understand them. Some have suggested they are cults and the followers brainwashed. In an article at Religion Dispatches , noted scholar of new religions and millennialism, Catherine Wessinger, took exception to such approaches. In this podcast we unpack her essay and di...