The State Of Belief

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is making national headlines once again, this time for being the impetus for College Board gutting its AP African American studies curriculum. The same people pushing to turn the United States into a Christian nation are working to erase the history of Black and Brown Americans, making it easier to spread white Christian nationalism. The fight against Christian nation...

This past Wednesday, Interfaith Alliance released the comprehensive new report Big Tech, Hate and Religious Freedom Online. As a part of that release, Interfaith Alliance hosted an expert panel discussion, moderated by State of Belief host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush. On this week’s show, you’ll hear the warnings and strategies the panelists. Zaki Barzinji is the program director for Aspen Digi...

At a time when the Religious Right and its elected allies misuse religion and attempt to force one set of beliefs on all, it is always worth considering how we can channel faith to contribute toward the greater good. On this week’s State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio show and podcast, we’ll be discussing how each of us can tap into that ethic and use it to impact meaningful change...

This Monday, Americans across the spectrum of backgrounds and beliefs will join together to celebrate the life and incalculable impact of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. If we are to honor his vision for the Beloved Community – and push back against those on the who have tried to repurpose his beliefs – we have a responsibility to lift up what he truly stood for. This week on State of Belief,...

Right now, people across faith and place are readjusting to everyday life after the holiday season. The dawn of a new year is always an opportunity to reflect, lean on our loved ones and our communities for strength and guidance, and consider what kind of change we want to see – and manifest – in the world. This week on State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio show and podcast, we will...

Each new calendar year seems to bring a fresh slate of challenges for this country. While some of us might look to the new year with trepidation, we can take comfort in the incredible victories our community achieved together in 2022. This week on State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio show and podcast, we will sit down with three inspiring guests to help us think about ways to chart...

The Supreme Court’s demolition of reproductive rights. The powerful faith-based mobilization behind the Respect for Marriage Act. The alarming rise of Christian nationalism on the campaign trail. To say 2022 has been a momentous year for religion and politics would be a huge understatement, and there’s no better time than these last days of the year to take stock and make sense of these developmen...

On December 13, President Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act into federal law, ensuring all Americans can marry who they love. For months, Interfaith Alliance has been working alongside partners to push the Respect for Marriage Act across the finish line before a new Congress takes over in January. Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, President of Interfaith Alliance and host of State of Belief,...

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The 24/7 news cycle can feel relentless. As technology continues to advance, we increasingly live in a time of information overload and constant multitasking. Especially at the end of a long year, it’s a good time to take a step back, reflect, and make the time to process the hectic world around us – and good books are still the best way to do that. This week on State of Belief, Interfaith Allianc...

Happy Thanksgiving! As challenging as this moment is for so many of us, the practice of active gratitude offers promise for both hope – and healing. On this special edition of State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio show and podcast, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush shares an extended conversation with Rabbi Joshua Stanton, Senior Fellow at Clal in New York City and Senior Rabbi at...

Across faiths, we’re united by a shared obligation to protect our neighbors. Over the past week, we saw two powerful demonstrations of that principle in action in our nation’s capital, as faith leaders across diverse backgrounds and beliefs gathered on Capitol Hill to combat Islamophobia and advance marriage equality. This week on State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio show and podcas...

It’s been a week of surprises since election day on Nov. 8th. While control of both houses of Congress still hang in the balance, conventional wisdom suggests Christian nationalism, election denial and conspiracy theories turned out to be far less effective than feared. The wisdom our guests bring to this week’s State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio show and podcast, however, is anyt...

From coast-to-coast in recent years, we’ve witnessed the reemergence of appalling efforts being made to disenfranchise members of marginalized communities at the ballot box. These actions are why the fight to preserve voting rights for all has been a central focus of the work of many religious social justice groups for years. This week on State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio show an...

Considering the stakes, this year’s midterm elections are far from normal. Recent polling suggests that Christian nationalism could be gaining traction on the right, but fortunately younger generations are resisting its encroachment into public life. Our vote remains powerful, but there is undoubtedly a clear and concerted effort underway by the Political Religious Right and their allies to distor...

Too often, we encounter stories about how faith is being used to divide us, rather than bring us together. But we all have the power to channel our beliefs into promoting dialogue, compromise, and peace. This week on State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio show and podcast, we’ll be discussing how people of faith can use religion to build bridges across lines of division in their own c...

After Roe v. Wade was overturned earlier this year, the states became the battleground in the struggle for both reproductive freedom and other critical civil rights. At the state level, for instance, rampant voter suppression targeting Black voters is eroding our democracy further. While national politics are important, state and local politics are often where communities feel the most impact. Thi...

There is no greater threat to American democracy today than Christian nationalism. Ahead of the midterms and looking beyond, Interfaith Alliance is working to sound the alarm on this dangerous ideology and equip members of our community with the tools to further a more inclusive vision of religious freedom. As Interfaith Alliance strengthens these efforts, drawing on three decades of work combatin...

On Wednesday, September 28th, Interfaith Alliance convened an urgent briefing on Capitol Hill on the subject of Christian Nationalism as a threat to the very fiber of our democracy. Hosted by US Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, it brought together a diverse panel of prominent experts to discuss this growing danger – and strategies for fighting back. This week on State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance’...