BJC Podcast

BJC
BJC Podcast Podcast

BJC goes behind the headlines to tackle today’s serious threats to religious liberty. We bring you conversations about the importance of standing up for religious liberty for all people, threats to our First Amendment right, and our work in the courts and with Congress. Learn with us and make a difference in your community.

  1. 17/12/2021

    Is religion really just like soccer or book club? Responding to the oral arguments in Carson v. Makin

    You're listening to this podcast on the old feed! Join us on the feed called "Respecting Religion" for the latest episodes. It’s a frustrating day at the Supreme Court when several justices seem not to care about the reasons religion gets special treatment in our constitutional system. Amanda and Holly share audio clips and their reaction to the oral arguments in Carson v. Makin, including spotting some faux outrage from the justices and how six justices seem poised to chart a new and troublesome direction in church-state law. They talk about obvious differences between determining protecting free exercise of religion and requiring taxpayer funding of religious education. In segment three, Amanda and Holly share how they are welcoming the holidays.   SHOW NOTES: Segment one: Why should religion be treated differently? (starting at 00:55): Amanda and Holly previewed the oral arguments in Carson v. Makin in episode 5: What’s the problem with the government funding religious education?  Amanda shared her first impressions of the oral arguments on Twitter. You can read her thread here. You can follow her on Twitter @AmandaTylerBJC.  We played the following clips from the oral arguments, available at this link. *Michael Bindas, attorney for the challenge to Maine’s program: 1:31-2:09 *Justice Brett Kavanaugh and Deputy Solicitor General Malcolm Stewart, arguing on behalf of the Biden administration 1:31:36-1:32:46   Segment two: Is this a choice program? Is there discrimination between different religions? (starting at 14:40) We played the following clips from the oral arguments, available at this link: *Christopher Taub, attorney defending Maine’s program: 42:54-44:14 *Justice Elena Kagan: 29:15-30:04, and then 30:30-31:17   Segment three: The advent of the holiday season (starting at 29:08) Amanda and Holly talked about this New York Times piece by Tish Harrison Warren: I’m not ready for Christmas. I need to take a minute.  Amanda wrote a devotional for Word & Way’s Unsettling Advent series. You can read her devotional here, and read the entire series here. Subscribe to get future editions sent to your inbox.    Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC’s generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.

    36 min
  2. 13/12/2021

    Challenging misinformation: How to have productive conversations with friends and family

    What do you do when you’re around the dinner table or visiting family over the holidays and hear someone share misinformation? How do you have productive conversations and truthful exchanges that bring people together? From fake narratives that drive violence to the mundane myths that build a false foundation, Amanda and Holly talk about common misconceptions they hear, what they see when talking about the dangers of Christian nationalism, and how you can find areas of agreement with others. They share some specific ways they would handle difficult statements in one-on-one conversations. In segment three, Holly and Amanda talk about the pros and cons of online worship from their own experience. **You are listening to this podcast on the old feed. Search for "Respecting Religion" to find this podcast on its current feed.**   Segment one: Why is misinformation such a problem in Christian communities? (starting at 00:49): Amanda and Holly discuss this May webinar from the Council on Foreign Relations: Disinformation and Faith Communities, which featured Joan Donovan from the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy, along with Ed Stetzer of Wheaton College’s Billy Graham Center.  They also mention a piece Stetzer wrote for USA Today in September 2020: “Evangelicals need to address the QAnoners in our midst” Amanda wrote this column for Baptist News Global about Michael Flynn’s troubling comments: If you’re paying attention to Christian nationalism, you won’t be shocked by Michael Flynn’s call for ‘one religion under God’     Segment two: Handling difficult conversations with others (starting at 14:28) Learn more about the Christian Against Christian Nationalism campaign at christiansagainstchristiannationalism.org. Amanda referenced this summer’s webinar: White Christian Nationalism: How Racism Undergirds Christian Nationalism Amanda read this Tweet from author Kaitlyn Schiess: The problem with the “confront your family about politics on Thanksgiving” thing isn’t that we can’t influence our families or shouldn’t have those conversations, it’s thinking one tense dinner will do it.  Long, compassionate faithfulness > “bold” one-time confrontation.   Here are some resources to help combat misinformation from the Christians Against Christian Nationalism website: Frequently asked questions Small group curriculum: Responding to Christian Nationalism Webinars, including “Confronting Christian Nationalism in Your Congregation” are at this link Statement of Christians Against Christian Nationalism     Segment three (starting at 28:41): Online and in-person worship services Amanda and Holly talked about this NPR story by Deena Prichep: Worshipers found religious homes near and far thanks to virtual services   Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC’s generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.

    38 min
  3. 22/11/2021

    Searching for sincerity and standards: SCOTUS on religious rites in the execution chamber

    You're listening to this show on the old feed -- subscribe to "Respecting Religion" on its permanent feed so you don't miss any episodes! This was released November 18, 2021. Description: The Supreme Court brought the execution chamber into the courtroom as it heard arguments about the activities clergy can perform at the moment of death. Amanda and Holly share clips from the arguments in Ramirez v. Collier and discuss issues raised by the justices. From questions about sincerity of religious belief to the key laws that protect the religious exercise of prisoners, hear what the justices focused on and learn about the arguments made by both sides. In segment three, Amanda and Holly discuss the roles of pastors in cases like this and how churches connect with prisoners.    Show notes: Segment one (starting at 00:43): Amanda and Holly previewed the Ramirez v. Collier case in episode two this season — you can listen to that on your feed and access show notes at this link. This Texas Tribune article by Jolie McCullough provides a helpful overview of the case: U.S. Supreme Court weighs religion’s place in the Texas death chamber. During the conversation, Amanda and Holly played clips from the oral arguments. You can listen to the entire argument at this CSPAN link. The clips played in this segment were: Justice Samuel Alito, starting at 16:52 in the oral argument. Chief Justice John Roberts, starting at 47:20 in the oral argument. To learn more about the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (“RLUIPA”), visit BJConline.org/RLUIPA.     Segment two (starting at 19:11) Read the brief BJC joined in the Ramirez v. Collier case at this link. The clips from oral arguments played in this segment were: Justice Brett Kavanaugh, starting at 9:23 in the oral argument.  Justice Amy Coney Barrett, starting at 1:05:31 in the oral argument.  Justice Elena Kagan, starting at 1:26:32 in the oral argument.    Segment three (starting at 34:48) Amanda and Holly talked about this article by Robert Barnes in the Washington Post that shares background on the pastor at the center of the case: Supreme Court considers a minister’s role at the time an inmate is put to death   Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC’s generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.

    39 min

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BJC goes behind the headlines to tackle today’s serious threats to religious liberty. We bring you conversations about the importance of standing up for religious liberty for all people, threats to our First Amendment right, and our work in the courts and with Congress. Learn with us and make a difference in your community.

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