The Revealer

The Center for Religion and Media at NYU
  • 4.7 (15)
  • RELIGION
  • UPDATED MONTHLY
The Revealer

As an extension of the online magazine the Revealer, this podcast explores the social and political roles religion plays throughout the world. How should we make sense of religion's influence on politics, sexuality, race, and people's everyday lives? Produced by NYU's Center for Religion and Media and hosted by Dr. Brett Krutzsch, each month we'll sit down with experts to discuss how religion shapes our world. Join us for this important conversation.

  1. MAR 25

    Police, Prisons, and the Religion of Mass Criminalization

    Given the amount of police and prisons in the United States, why is there still so much crime and what does that say about the effectiveness, or lack thereof, of policing and incarceration? Andrew Krinks, author of White Property, Black Trespass: Racial Capitalism and the Religious Function of Mass Criminalization, joins us to discuss the reasons police and prisons exist and if they actually make the country safer. What role does religion play in America’s system of criminalization? What are the racial disparities in the criminal justice system? And, what types of things should be established that might do a better job at preventing crime that would also create a more equitable society for everyone?

    45 min

  2. FEB 26

    The People Destroying Democracy

    Who are the organizations, people, religious communities, and think tanks that are working to erode America’s democracy and push the country to authoritarianism? Acclaimed investigative journalist Katherine Stewart, author of Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy, joins us to discuss these groups, how they’re funded, and the power of their propaganda. How do things like anxiety over gender roles feed this antidemocratic momentum? How do some of these groups plan to make the country a more clearly conservative Christian nation? And, what can those of us who want to protect democracy do to push back against this authoritarian movement in the United States?

    34 min

  3. JAN 29

    Religion Is Everywhere and Why That Matters

    What are the countless insidious ways religion manifests in our culture, in our politics, and in our daily lives even if we ourselves are not religious people? Megan Goodwin and Ilyse Morgenstein Fuerst, authors of Religion Is Not Done with You: Or, the Hidden Power of Religion on Race, Maps, Bodies, and Law, join us to discuss how religion shapes everything from our calendars to our healthcare systems and our laws. How are things like adoption tied up with religion? How do we fail to address social injustices if we don’t account for religion? And, once we begin to recognize how religion is everywhere, what should we do to help bring about a more just society?

    35 min

  4. 12/09/2024

    The Limits of Forgiveness

    Why does our culture celebrate forgiveness and how can the pressures to forgive cause harm to people who have already been wronged? What role does Christianity play in this cultural pressure, and what are common Christian message about forgiveness? Kaya Oakes, author of Not So Sorry: Abusers, False Apologies, and the Limits of Forgiveness, joins us to discuss the potential problems with forgiveness and their connections to religion. We also explore how religious institutions have sought forgiveness when they have harmed people. How have the Catholic church and the Southern Baptist Convention sought forgiveness for clergy abuse and why might those actions fail to convince many that sincere change and justice will happen? And what are possible models for forgiveness that could be helpful when one has been harmed by an institution, a religious leader, or another individual?

    30 min

  5. 11/26/2024

    Public School Secularization and Desegregation

    What exactly happened following the Supreme Court’s decisions outlawing prayer and devotional Bible readings in public schools, as well as the outlawing of racial segregation? Leslie Beth Ribovich, author of Without a Prayer: Religion and Race in New York City Public Schools, joins us to discuss public school secularization and desegregation, and the legacies of these monumental Supreme Court decisions. How did religion continue to appear in public schools? How did communities of color put forth their own visions for how to educate children? And, given the many battles over public education today, how does this history shed light on the ongoing debates about what can be taught in America’s public schools right now?

    44 min

  6. 10/30/2024

    The Changing Black Church

    For the past few decades, several Black Christian denominations have seen a significant decline in religious affiliation and church attendance. Jason Shelton, author of The Contemporary Black Church: The New Dynamics of African American Religion, joins us to discuss what has contributed to these changes and how the Black church’s decline is altering Black life more broadly in the United States. How are Black religious leaders responding to these challenges, and why are their efforts to win over younger Black Americans not particularly successful? Why is the fastest growing denomination of Black Christians seeing an increase in people voting for Republicans? And, how are Black churches responding to today’s political and social issues?

    36 min

  7. 09/25/2024

    Christian Nationalism, Charismatic Christians, and Political Violence

    What role did the substantial movement of Charismatic Christians play in January 6, and how are they shaping today’s Christian nationalism? Matthew D. Taylor, author of The Violent Take It by Force: The Christian Movement That is Threatening Our Democracy, joins us to discuss Charismatic Christianity, its prominent growth, and its place in the Republican Party. How have Charismatic Christians moved from the periphery of the Christian Right into the center? How do their beliefs influence their politics? And what should we expect from them and other Christian nationalist supporters following the election if Harris wins or if Trump wins?

    41 min

  8. 08/27/2024

    Jewish Solidarity with the Pro-Palestine Protests

    For our 50th episode, we’re discussing American Jews who participate in activism to support justice for Palestinians. What has taken place over the past decade or so that has pushed many American Jews, especially younger Jews, to criticize Israel and to express solidarity with Palestinians? Oren Kroll-Zeldin, author of Unsettled: American Jews and the Movement for Justice in Palestine, joins us to discuss how Jewish activists infuse Jewish teachings and customs into their pro-Palestinian protests, why the visible presence of Jews at the college and university protests against Israel’s war in Gaza this spring was crucial, and what to expect this fall as students return to campus and as the situation in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank is far from resolved.

    33 min
See All (58)

    4.7
    out of 5
    15 Ratings

    About

    As an extension of the online magazine the Revealer, this podcast explores the social and political roles religion plays throughout the world. How should we make sense of religion's influence on politics, sexuality, race, and people's everyday lives? Produced by NYU's Center for Religion and Media and hosted by Dr. Brett Krutzsch, each month we'll sit down with experts to discuss how religion shapes our world. Join us for this important conversation.

    Information

    • Creator
      The Center for Religion and Media at NYU
    • Years Active
      2020 - 2025
    • Episodes
      58
    • Rating
      Clean
    • Copyright
      © Copyright The Center for Religion and Media at NYU
    • Show Website
      The Revealer

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