How the Christian Right is Taking Over America with Talia Lavin

How the Christian Right is Taking Over America with Talia Lavin

Author: Interfaith Alliance August 31, 2025 Duration: 48:38
She's a Jewish woman who has spent countless hours undercover, impersonating the White supremacist, misogynistic, antisemitic extremists she was researching for her first book. She's also brought an outsider's view to the growing dominance of Christian Nationalism in our society and our government for her second. This week on The State of Belief, journalist and author Talia Lavin explains how the groups she covers in those two impactful books, Culture Warlords: My Journey into the Dark Web of White Supremacy, and Wild Faith: How the Christian Right is Taking Over America, in her words, "Got together and made the worst government ever." Three important additional points that emerge from the conversation: The Invisible Influence of Christian Hegemony: Talia discusses how Christian hegemony often goes unnoticed by those who grew up within it, while it remains glaringly obvious for those outside the faith - especially when it becomes more militant. This awareness is crucial for understanding the current political landscape and the implications of Christian nationalism. The Authoritarian Family Structure: One of the most striking aspects of Talia's research is her examination of how authoritarian parenting styles within certain Christian communities can shape broad societal attitudes. She highlights the works of influential figures like James Dobson, who died earlier this month. She sees his teachings on child-rearing as promoting a model of obedience and submission that can lead to accepting authoritarianism in adulthood. The Need for a Diverse Coalition Against Extremism: Talia emphasizes the importance of embracing a cacophony of voices in the fight against the rigid and coordinated forces of the Christian right. She advocates for a coalition that includes people of various faiths and those with no faith at all, working together to uphold the values of a multiracial democracy. We'd love to have you listen to and share this thought-provoking episode and reflect on these critical issues. Talia's newsletter is titled The Sword and the Sandwich. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hosted by Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, The State Of Belief is a weekly conversation that lives at the intersection of faith and public life, presented by the Interfaith Alliance. Each episode brings together a thoughtful and often surprising mix of voices-from religious leaders and activists to artists and civic strategists-for discussions that are as engaging and humorous as they are deeply meaningful. These dialogues move beyond abstract theory, offering a grounded look at how spiritual wisdom informs practical action and political engagement in real time. Tuning in, you’ll hear a potent blend of personal stories, strategic insight, and hopeful analysis from people working on the front lines of communities nationwide. The podcast operates from a simple but vital premise, captured in its tagline: “Where Religion and Democracy Meet.” It’s a space designed not for debate, but for exploration, examining how diverse beliefs shape our collective pursuit of justice and democracy. If you’re looking for a source that takes the pulse of faith in America with intelligence, warmth, and a sense of urgency, this is the series for you.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The State Of Belief
Podcast Episodes
"Congregation of the World": Union Seminary's Rev. Dr. Serene Jones [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:21
Rev. Dr. Serene Jones served as president of Union Theological Seminary in New York City for 18 years—long enough to see her own daughter graduate from the historic institution. During that time, she has been a strong ad…
Lessons in Empathy From an Unlikely Rabbi: Angela Buchdahl [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:33
What does it mean to be a stranger? Rabbi Angela Buchdahl’s journey of faith, identity, and belonging teaches us the value of embracing the strangers among us—and our inner strangers, as well. In our increasingly divided…
Vanita Gupta on Public Trust and the Role of Law in Our Democracy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:58
What hope is there for the rule of law when the Justice Department is deployed to settle political scores and privilege one religion over others? A lot, as it turns out—but the work of rebuilding our nation's voting and…
All Are Neighbors: How Love Won at Baylor University [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:21
Is the tide finally turning on the bigotry, fear-mongering and manufactured division in our society, including on college campuses? The success of a joyful gathering last week at traditionally Baptist Baylor University i…
Democracy As a Theological Statement with Rebecca Solnit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:37
This week, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush welcomes Rebecca Solnit—prolific writer, best-selling author, activist, and public intellectual. With 25 books to her credit—so far—Rebecca's latest is titled The Beginning…