Religion Matters

We often describe our world as “post-colonial”; a world where empire is behind us, and what remains are its lingering effects. But what if that’s not quite true? In this episode of Religion Matters, we explore the idea that post-colonialism may be less a reality and more a myth. Drawing on recent global events (including U.S. military action in Venezuela, escalation in Iran, and renewed rhetoric a...

In this episode of Religion Matters , we explore the complex and deeply human intersections of religion and immigration in the United States. How has immigration shaped American religious communities — and how are those communities being reshaped in return? We examine the impact of immigration enforcement and ICE policies on congregations across the country, including the erosion of sanctuary prot...

Christmas is more than a Christian holiday; it’s a global response to darkness, uncertainty, and the need for hope. In this episode of Religion Matters, we explore Christmas alongside Roman Saturnalia, Yule fires, saints and monsters, La Posada, global South celebrations, Kwanzaa, and Asian traditions of light and home. A journey through ritual, food, and meaning that asks what humans do when wint...

Kirk Sandvig explores global traditions that connect the living and the dead through ritual, memory, and, yes, food. From Celtic Samhain and soul cakes to Día de los Muertos, Buddhist ghost festivals, Japanese Obon, and Korean Young San Jae, we dive into how different cultures honor their ancestors through multisensory practices. Drawing on stories, scholarship, and the theology of Alfred North Wh...

In this episode, we discuss the domestic and international implications of President Trumps first 75 days of his second term of office. Since his return we have see the reimplementation of the Muslim ban in America, the reestablishment of the White House Faith Office, the creation of the Task Force to Combat Anti-Christian Bias, as well as sweeping anti DEI initiatives that impact domestic and int...

In this episode, we get into the rhetoric and ideology used in the 2024 election. We discuss former president Trump's comparison  to a controversial messiah figure similar to Cyrus, the calling for Christian/White Nationalism, the American people's frustration with current and former power systems, as well as the roles religion, gender, ethnicity, and identity have played and will play in politica...

Rev. Dr. Carver Pace helps us navigate the positives and negatives of maintaining online spaces for religious institutions. Since the Pandemic, religious institutions have been forced into the deep waters of not only increasing their online presence through virtual services, online giving, and digital prayer requests, but also hold responsibility to ensure this information stays safe and secure. T...

In this episode we get into the connections between religion and the olympic games. Issues of nationalism, identity, belonging, migration, environmental sustainability, and physical/spiritual transcendence are all discussed. We welcome in our new co-host, Briana Wong, from Phillips Theological Seminary. Thanks for joining us!!  Janice McLean-Farrell is the Dirck Romeyn Associate Professor of Metro...

This episode features a series of interviews from community members in Southern California who deal with death regularly. Rev. Greg Coppock, pastor at Sunrise Christian Fellowship in Fallbrook, CA and former San Diego Sheriff Chaplain; Dr. Lillian Harvey Banchik, retired trauma surgeon; Rev. Cate Luehr, Children's Hospital Los Angeles Chaplain and ELCA pastor; Dr. Nilesh Vora, Oncologist, Hematolo...

This episode features a series of interviews from community members in Southern California who deal with death regularly. Rev. Greg Coppock, pastor at Sunrise Christian Fellowship in Fallbrook, CA and former San Diego Sheriff Chaplain; Dr. Lillian Harvey Banchik, retired trauma surgeon; Rev. Cate Luehr, Children's Hospital Los Angeles Chaplain and ELCA pastor; Dr. Nilesh Vora, Oncologist, Hematolo...

Gail Stearns shares her book Liberating Mindfulness: From Billion-Dollar Industry to Engages Spirituality. We discuss how mindfulness can break free from an individualized self-help discipline and lead into ways of bringing awareness and action into social justice issues. You can find her book through Orbis Books - https://orbisbooks.com/products/liberating-mindfulness-from-billion-dollar-industry...

Sal Gutierrez IV, from Chapman University, presents his student project for the class "Studying Religion". His project looks at the importance of the Islamic Golden Age and its lasting impact on the world today.  Music by Kirk, Aiden and Caleb Sandvig.   Edited by Kirk Sandvig Published by Hidden Wave Productions

Sophia Lieberman, from Chapman University, presents her student project on the ways Jewish women preserve modern Jewish culture and traditions through the use of folklore and magic.  Here is the link to the video of her project https://youtu.be/bqIri5_dX-E Music by Kirk, Aiden and Caleb Sandvig.   Edited by Kirk Sandvig Published by Hidden Wave Productions

Adamari Cardenas, Juan Jose Ocampo Florez, Madison Gossett, and Tiffany Hungerford from San Diego State University present their final project for 'Nature, Spirituality, and Ecology'. They discuss the ways colonialism have impacted the spiritual ecological frameworks for those living in Latin America and in India. Music by Kirk, Aiden and Caleb Sandvig.   Edited by Kirk Sandvig Published by H...

After watching the Netflix docuseries surrounding Meghan and Harry and the Royal family, the podcast examines many of the issues surrounding notion of identity, racism, and inclusivity within Great Britain and the United States. This podcast was hosted by Kirk Sandvig, from Chapman University and San Diego State University; Janice McLean-Farrell from New Brunswick Theological Seminary; and Anderso...

In this episode we discuss the role caste plays both in South Asia as well as in diasporic communities in the West. Some suggest that caste does not exist outside India, while others insist it does and protections against caste basted discrimination are necessary. These protections bring up additional concerns regarding Western stereotypes of South Asian caste in the West, and the fear of increase...

This episode is our inaugural student project edition of our podcast, featuring Chapman University student Amea Wadsworth. Her project "Under the Guise of Liberation; The Strategic Victimization of Muslim Women" explores the notions of Islamic Feminism and Western narratives of women in South West Asia and North Africa (SWANA). This is followed up with a conversation with her about her project, an...

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Ting Guo about her exploration of the themes surrounding religion, secularism and love as forms of political discourse in modern China, but also in other parts of the world. We break down how secularism is understood in the "West" as well as in the "majority world", and its implication for how we understand the expressions religion, culture and tradition.   Books...

In this episode we discuss with Jim Walters: The story of the London School of Economics Faith Centre; How it came to be, and what it's trying to accomplish by discussing plural spaces, climate change and interfaith relations, women of faith and peacemaking; the need for better interface between theology and the social sciences to understand international relations and other political sciences; an...

We discuss Jared Opoien's Ph. D. dissertation: "Life and Death in the Field: Farmer Suicide and the Necessity to Feed", which deals with the the philosophical complications behind viewing farmer suicide as an "epidemic", climate change disparity and the farmer protests in Delhi, and infrastructural similarities between farming economy in the U.S. and India. Dr. Jared Opoien teaches Columbia Colleg...

This episode discusses the issues surrounding debt and free-market spirituality in Colombia. We talk about issues surrounding microfinance, necropolitics/necrofinance, prosperity, and practical theology in the context of Colombian Christians. Copies of Rebecca's book can be ordered here: https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520380028/card-carrying-christians Dr. Rebecca Bartel-Nunez is an Associate Pr...

In this episode we discuss: the brain science behind political/ideological extremism and its connection to dogmatic religious beliefs – specifically looking how QAnon can be contextualized as an “alt religion”; why do so many White Evangelical Christians believe in QAnon and other conspiracy beliefs?; how the Jan 6th insurrection is an expression of America’s repressed trauma over belonging and id...

Janice McLean-Farrell teaches at New Brunswick Theological Seminary,  and is the Dirck Romeyn Assistant Professor of Metro-Urban Ministry & Assistant Dean of Doctoral Studies. Anderson Jeremiah is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Politics, Philosophy and Religion at Lancaster University  and Deputy Director of the Richardson Institute of Peace Studies. Kirk Sandvig teaches Religious Studies...