BJC Podcast

BJC

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. 01/31/2025

    S6, Ep. 08: Ten Commandments and Trump's first week

    Special Presentation: We're bringing you the latest episode of the Respecting Religion podcast on the BJC Podcast feed. Join us on the Respecting Religion podcast feed for more episodes! In this week's episode of the Respecting Religion podcast, Amanda and Holly discuss the problems with government mandates to post the Ten Commandments in classrooms, focusing on a case out of Louisiana. BJC and other Christian groups filed a brief in that case to explain why, as Christians, we oppose the Louisiana law and how the government's decision to choose a religious text to display in a public school setting not only cheapens our faith but also puts the government in a role it is not called to play. Plus, Amanda and Holly talk through  President Donald Trump's first week back in the White House, sharing where they saw concerning signs for religion and religious liberty.  First released January 30, 2025 SHOW NOTES Segment 1 (starting at 01:53): President Trump's first week back and backlash to a sermon  Amanda and Holly talked about ways to handle a constant influx of news and the dangers of "God saved me" rhetoric when others died in the episode after the 2024 election: S6, Ep. 04: Election Day: What happened and where do we go from here Amanda wrote a piece for Bloomberg Opinion about the backlash to Bishop Mariann Budde's sermon at the service of unity and what it teaches us about religious freedom: Trump's Response to Bishop's Sermon on Unity Is Un-American Learn more about the two new religious liberty cases to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court in this piece on our website: U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear cases involving religious school funding, parent rights to opt out of grade school curriculum Amanda and Holly discussed the issues with religious charter schools in 2024: S5, Ep. 16: The trouble with *religious* charter schools Read more about the lawsuit filed by a group of Quaker congregations opposing raids in churches on religious freedom grounds in this article by Bernie Pazanowski for Bloomberg Law: Quakers Sue to Block Trump's Immigration Raids in Churches   Segment 2 (starting at 15:35): Louisiana's mandate to post the Ten Commandments in classrooms Read the brief from BJC and other Chrisitan groups in Roake v. Brumley at this link. Learn more about the case in this post on our website: BJC urges federal appeals court to reject Louisiana law requiring public school classrooms to post the Ten Commandments Holly and Amanda discussed the Kennedy v. Bremerton decision and its abandonment of the Lemon test in this episode in 2022: S3, Ep. 21: Not solving a problem, but creating one: Dissecting the Kennedy v. Bremerton decision  Holly and Amanda discussed the Ten Commandments on two episodes in 2023 when a bill was being discussed in Texas: S4, Ep. 20: The Ten Commandments S4, Ep. 21: 613 Commandments: James Talarico on his defense of church-state separation as a Christian   Segment 3 (starting 31:08): Oral arguments and what's next Hear last week's oral arguments in this case at the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at this link. Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC's generous donors. Your gift to BJC is tax-deductible, and you can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.

    38 min

  2. TRAILER

    Christian nationalism, Respect for Marriage Act, and the Supreme Court: Join us on Respecting Religion

    Want to learn more about the Respect for Marriage Act, the Supreme Court arguments in the 303 Creative case, and congressional testimony that mentions Christian nationalism for the first time? Join Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman on the Respecting Religion podcast feed. Now is a great time to catch up – search for "Respecting Religion" on this same podcasting provider! See a list of all episodes of Respecting Religion at https://bjconline.org/respectingreligion/

    2 min
  3. Subscribe to the Respecting Religion podcast feed for new episodes

    05/16/2022 · BONUS

    Subscribe to the Respecting Religion podcast feed for new episodes

    For new podcast episodes featuring BJC's Amanda Tyler and Holly Hollman, subscribe to the "Respecting Religion" podcast feed. It is available on this same podcasting provider. There, you'll find their latest conversations on faith freedom for all, including their reactions to Supreme Court arguments and decisions impacting religious liberty. Subscribe to Respecting Religion today! Learn more at https://bjconline.org/respectingreligion/

    2 min

  4. 01/21/2022

    Reviewing the Biden administration's first year in religious liberty

    It's been one year since President Joe Biden took office. What have we seen from his administration in regards to religious liberty? From executive actions to court cases to appointments, Amanda and Holly take a look at this administration's actions that impact faith freedom for all. In segment three, they talk about how President Biden has continued to practice his private faith in a very public role over the past year.   You're listening on our old feed -- to get access to the show notes and additional information, listen to this show on the feed named "Respecting Religion" or visit this link: https://bjconline.org/s3-ep-09-biden-administrations-first-year-in-religious-liberty/

    40 min

  5. 01/14/2022

    Flying the flag and Christian nationalism: Previewing Shurtleff v. Boston

    The Christian flag is at the center of a case the Supreme Court hears next week. Amanda and Holly preview Shurtleff v. Boston, share how this situation made it to the highest court, and look at the central legal question presented before the justices. They discuss the best arguments from both sides that the Court will consider when it determines whether this flagpole outside Boston City Hall is government speech or a public forum. In segment three, Amanda and Holly discuss the Christian nationalism aspects to the case, and they talk about the Christian flag's history, including how this powerful symbol has been appropriated in destructive ways. For show notes and further details, subscribe to this program on its dedicated podcast feed -- search for "Respecting Religion."

    43 min

  6. 12/17/2021

    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

  7. 12/13/2021

    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

  8. 12/03/2021

    What's the problem with the government funding religious education? A preview of Carson v. Makin

    You are subscribed to our old feed! Subscribe to "Respecting Religion" on this same provider to get the clean feed and to access show notes! A central concern for BJC in protecting faith freedom for all involves keeping the government out of religion, and that principle is at stake at the Supreme Court next week. Holly and Amanda preview the case of Carson v. Makin, talking about the Baptist beginnings of protecting religious liberty, the importance of religious education, the unique school system in the state of Maine, and how this case is different from cases involving school vouchers. After listening to this episode, you'll also be able to impress your friends with trivia about Maine's public school system. In segment three, they talk about a troubling article and share a warning about overreaching arguments. For show notes and additional information, please find this episode on the "Respecting Religion" feed or visit this link: https://bjconline.org/s3-ep-05-government-funding-religious-education-carson-v-makin/

    38 min
See All (77)

Trailers

5
out of 5
29 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    BJC
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2025
  • Episodes
    77
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    BJC Podcast