Complexified

Institute of Religion Politics and Culture, Amanda Henderson, Iliff School of Theology

For too long we have avoided talking about religion and politics. But the truth is, religion and politics are about daily life. When we avoid the hard topics connected to religion and politics, we become stuck in the status quo. On Complexified we dive into the places where religion and politics collide with real-life, so we can get unstuck- so we can make real change. We dive into our most entrenched problems to better understand the hidden histories and experiences of real people on the front lines. We look at the ways religion has shaped our systems - and the ways we see ourselves and others– from there, we work together to imagine new paths forward.

  1. Cease-Fire Isn’t Peace: Inside the Vatican’s Quiet Work on Gaza

    3天前

    Cease-Fire Isn’t Peace: Inside the Vatican’s Quiet Work on Gaza

    When peacemaking is quiet, stubborn, and deeply human. In this conversation, host Amanda Henderson sits with RNS reporter Claire Giangravè to open the door on Vatican diplomacy during the Gaza cease-fire. We hear about priests who refused to leave a bombed parish that sheltered hundreds, the “Pope’s hour” of daily calls that steadied a frightened community, and the uneasy politics of neutrality when lives are at stake. From Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa’s gritty, multilingual bridge-building to new Pope Leo’s outreach to Jewish leaders, the episode invites listeners to consider how cease-fire differs from peace—and why slow, persistent, often invisible work still matters. Thoughtful, curious, and politically frustrated? Pull up a chair. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    23 分钟
  2. Willow Creek’s Midlife Reckoning: How a Seeker Church Became the Megachurch Blueprint

    10月13日

    Willow Creek’s Midlife Reckoning: How a Seeker Church Became the Megachurch Blueprint

    How the “church of the future” grew up—and owned its past. In the fall of 1975, a youth pastor rented a suburban movie theater and swapped hymns for rock, sermons for storytelling, and pews for folding chairs—calling it seeker friendly. Within a generation, Willow Creek became the blueprint for American megachurches: packed auditoriums, meticulous production, small groups for discipleship, and a marketing mindset that even drew Harvard Business School and Peter Drucker–level attention. Then came 2018: allegations, resignations, collapse, COVID, and a community left to rebuild. As Willow Creek turns 50, Complexified host Amanda Henderson talks with Bob Smietana (who’s covered Willow for decades) and Scott Thumma (Hartford Institute megachurch scholar) about innovation and influence, power and accountability, and what humility-fueled repair looks like after the spectacle. Is the “church of the future” still a future worth having? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    25 分钟
  3. Baptizing the Battlefield: Pete Hegseth’s Holy War at the Pentagon

    10月6日

    Baptizing the Battlefield: Pete Hegseth’s Holy War at the Pentagon

    A Secretary of War leads worship at the Pentagon—how far can faith go before it becomes policy? Pete Hegseth calls it a “warrior ethos.” Critics call it a constitutional crisis. In this episode of Complexified, Amanda Henderson talks with RNS reporter Jack Jenkins about the Secretary of War’s efforts to merge his conservative evangelical faith with U.S. military leadership—from worship services inside the Pentagon to viral recruitment videos that pair the Lord’s Prayer with fighter jets. Together they unpack how Hegseth’s theology of power is reshaping one of America’s most secular institutions, what it reveals about Christian nationalism’s hold on the political right, and why it matters for democracy itself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    21 分钟
  4. Faith, Labor, and a DOJ Reversal: Inside the BAPS Temple Case

    9月29日

    Faith, Labor, and a DOJ Reversal: Inside the BAPS Temple Case

    When the DOJ drops a high-profile case, what truths—and tensions—remain? A clash of cultures, a legal saga, and a spiritual community under scrutiny. In this episode of Complexified, Amanda Henderson talks with RNS reporter Richa Karmarkar about the Department of Justice’s decision to drop its investigation into the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in Robbinsville, New Jersey—the largest Hindu temple in the Western Hemisphere. Together, they trace how forced-labor allegations emerged, what “seva” (selfless service) means inside this tradition, and why cultural assumptions about work, visas, and volunteering can misfire in the U.S. context. Along the way, they explore community pride, rising vandalism of Hindu temples, and the complicated intra-Indian debates that shadow the story. It’s an invitation to slow down, listen across differences, and see faith—and labor—more clearly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    19 分钟
  5. Pulpit Politics: Why the Johnson Amendment Still Sparks Political Drama

    9月22日

    Pulpit Politics: Why the Johnson Amendment Still Sparks Political Drama

    What happens when politics steps into the pulpit? The Johnson Amendment has been around since the 1950s, but it’s still a political lightning rod today. In this episode of Complexified, Amanda Henderson sits down with RNS columnist and historian Mark Silk to unpack why the IRS recently announced it won’t enforce the law that bars nonprofits and churches from endorsing candidates. What’s at stake when sermons start sounding like campaign rallies? Is this really about religious freedom, political theater, or just another way to keep donors happy? With humor, insight, and some surprising history lessons, we dive into the messy intersection of faith, money, and politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    25 分钟

  6. 9月15日

    What Charlie Kirk’s Life and Death Reveal About Religion and Politics

    What does it mean to mourn someone who thrived on conflict? Charlie Kirk’s assassination sent shockwaves through America’s already polarized political and religious landscape. In this episode of Complexified, Amanda Henderson talks with veteran religion reporter Bob Smietana and cultural critic Karen Swallow Prior about Kirk’s complicated legacy. Together they explore his rise among young evangelicals, his merger with Trump-era politics, and the charisma that drew both admiration and outrage. Karen reflects on her personal encounters with Kirk, while Bob examines the broader religious and cultural shifts that made him such a lightning rod. What does it mean to grieve a provocateur, honor free speech, and still name the real harm of incendiary rhetoric? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    18 分钟
  7. Casper ter Kuile on Small Politics, Big Meaning, and the Power of Tea

    6月18日

    Casper ter Kuile on Small Politics, Big Meaning, and the Power of Tea

    What do you do when the systems around you feel like they’re crumbling—and calling your senator doesn’t feel like enough? In this heartening episode of Complexified, author and ritual innovator Casper ter Kuile joins Amanda to talk about spiritual practices, civic exhaustion, and why small politics and sacred relationships might be our best tools for weathering chaos. From vigils in a blizzard to midsummer festivals in Brooklyn, this conversation weaves together policy and poetry, tea and transformation, with humor, honesty, and hope. If you’ve ever felt torn between marching in the streets or staying home under a blanket—this one's for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    31 分钟
  8. Stop Trying to Fix Everything: Simran Jeet Singh on Spiritual Sanity

    6月2日

    Stop Trying to Fix Everything: Simran Jeet Singh on Spiritual Sanity

    In overwhelming times, spiritual practice starts small—and stays true. When the world feels too big to fix, it’s tempting to shut down—or spiral. In this intimate conversation, author and scholar Simran Jeet Singh joins Complexified to talk about what happens when we finally let go of the pressure to save the world, and instead tend to our corner of it with humility, joy, and spiritual grounding. Drawing from Sikh wisdom and his own experience of burnout, Simran invites us to trade ego-driven change for something more lasting: connection, presence, and compassion that transforms us from the inside out. If you’ve ever wondered how to keep caring without collapsing, this one’s for you. Simran Jeet Singh is a scholar, writer, and public advocate known for his work at the intersection of religion, justice, and culture. He is the author of The Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life and Executive Director of the Aspen Institute’s Religion & Society Program. A proud Sikh American, Simran writes and speaks widely on equity, empathy, and the power of small, meaningful acts to create lasting change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    17 分钟
查看全部 69 集

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关于

For too long we have avoided talking about religion and politics. But the truth is, religion and politics are about daily life. When we avoid the hard topics connected to religion and politics, we become stuck in the status quo. On Complexified we dive into the places where religion and politics collide with real-life, so we can get unstuck- so we can make real change. We dive into our most entrenched problems to better understand the hidden histories and experiences of real people on the front lines. We look at the ways religion has shaped our systems - and the ways we see ourselves and others– from there, we work together to imagine new paths forward.

信息

  • 创作者
    Institute of Religion Politics and Culture, Amanda Henderson, Iliff School of Theology
  • 活跃年份
    2022年 - 2025年
  • 单集
    69
  • 分级
    儿童适宜
  • 节目网站
    Complexified

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