Talkin‘ Politics & Religion Without Killin‘ Each Other

Politics and Religion. We’re not supposed to talk about that, right? Wrong! We only say that nowadays because the loudest, most extreme voices have taken over the whole conversation. Well, we‘re taking some of that space back! If you’re dying for some dialogue instead of all the yelling; if you know it’s okay to have differences without having to hate each other; if you believe politics and religion are too important to let ”the screamers” drown out the rest of us and would love some engaging, provocative and fun conversations about this stuff, then ”Talkin‘ Politics & Religion Without Killin‘ Each Other” is for you!
Politics and Religion. We’re not supposed to talk about that, right? Wrong! We only say that nowadays because the loudest, most extreme voices have taken over the whole conversation. Well, we‘re taking some of that space back! If you’re dying for some dialogue instead of all the yelling; if you know it’s okay to have differences without having to hate each other; if you believe politics and religion are too important to let ”the screamers” drown out the rest of us and would love some engaging, provocative and fun conversations about this stuff, then ”Talkin‘ Politics & Religion Without Killin‘ Each Other” is for you!
Episodes
Episodes



Tuesday Nov 19, 2024
Tuesday Nov 19, 2024
A Republican, a Democrat and an Independent walk into a podcast...
We're on YouTube!
https://www.youtube.com/@politicsandreligion
It would mean so much if you could leave us a review:
https://ratethispodcast.com/goodfaithpolitics
So glad to have joined the hosts of Faithful Politics, Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram, to discuss the election results and reflect on our concerns regarding Trump's second term. We explore the complexities of political identity, the importance of community, and the need for clear boundaries in political discourse. The conversation delves into the intersection of faith and politics (of course!), the impact of hyperbole in political conversations, and the responsibility of individuals in their media consumption. We emphasize the need for discernment and understanding in navigating the evolving landscape of religious beliefs and political affiliations. We also explore the intersection of Christianity and politics, discussing the historical context of Christianity as a religion of empire versus the teachings of Jesus. We reflect on the implications of political power, the potential for violence, and the importance of accountability in leadership. Amidst concerns about the current political climate, we express hope for the future and the role of the church in promoting positive change. The discussion also touches on the challenges of engaging with differing ideologies and managing fear and anxiety in a politically charged environment.
00:00 Introduction to Faithful Politics Live Show
04:11 Reflections on the Recent Election Results
07:56 Concerns About Trump's Second Term
12:05 The Role of Identity and Community in Politics
16:00 Defining Terms in Political Discourse
19:50 The Intersection of Faith and Politics
24:13 Hyperbole and Its Impact on Political Conversations
28:10 Agency and Personal Responsibility in Media Consumption
32:13 The Evolution of Religious Beliefs in Politics
46:53 The Religion of Empire vs. the Religion of Jesus
50:06 Concerns About Political Power and Violence
52:45 Reflections on Presidential Power and Accountability
01:01:41 Hope Amidst Political Uncertainty
01:10:00 Engaging with Challenging Ideologies
01:19:00 Managing Fear and Anxiety in Politics
Let us know what you think. You can find Corey on all the socials @coreysnathan such as
Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/coreysnathan.bsky.social
We're on Patreon! Join the community:
https://www.patreon.com/politicsandreligion
Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.
Very grateful for our sponsor Meza Wealth Management. Reach out to Jorge and his team: www.mezawealth.com
Faithful Politics Podcast - www.faithfulpoliticspodcast.com



Thursday Nov 14, 2024
Prof. Tommy Givens of Fuller | Q: "Are you an Evangelical?" A: "Yes. A bad one!"
Thursday Nov 14, 2024
Thursday Nov 14, 2024
Can Christians reckon with when the Bible is at odds with their political preferences, passions and prejudices? That just depends on who you ask. So we asked Dr. Tommy Givens, Assoc. Professor of New Testament Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary (and a pastor's kid to boot!), about Scripture, the church in America, and what the results of the election has revealed about it all.
We're on YouTube!
https://www.youtube.com/@politicsandreligion
It would mean so much if you could leave us a review:
https://ratethispodcast.com/goodfaithpolitics
In this episode, we go deep:
When did Tommy start to question the prevailing orthodoxy of the fundamentalist church of his youth?
Evangelism - Is it simply persuading others "to be like me"? Or is it about joining life with our neighbors?
What does Christianity have to say about war, friendship, and how to navigate a broken family?
Should Christians work to occupy positions of power? (First, we need to ask whether Christians are necessarily good.)
How can we negotiate life, politics, share a country or even just a meal with people who aren't like us?
Are we reducing people's lives to the terms of this candidate vs. that candidate?
And the art of strolling...
Let us know what you think. You can find Corey on all the socials @coreysnathan such as www.threads.net/@coreysnathan.
We're on Patreon! Join the community:
https://www.patreon.com/politicsandreligion
Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.
Very grateful for our sponsor Meza Wealth Management. Reach out to Jorge and his team: www.mezawealth.com
www.fuller.edu/faculty/g-tommy-givens
fullerstudio.fuller.edu/from-the-bible-faculty



Monday Nov 11, 2024
What the hell happened?!?! Meet the Majority.
Monday Nov 11, 2024
Monday Nov 11, 2024
In this episode, we take a hard look at what the hell happened in this election. Spoiler alert - What the hell happened, as our host fully admits: "I got it wrong!" So we look at specific ways any number of folks got it wrong. We also reflect on misconceptions about voters' values - what many of us wrongly assumed were shared values and priorities. But we also start to "Meet the Majority." As a majority of voters overlooked the myriad of sins of the once and future President, we take some time to understand who some of these individuals are. As tempting as it might be to hold all those who vote differently in contempt and to view the whole lot with malice, there are 10s of millions of people... actual human beings we can try to understand better if, for no other reason, than it's our own family members, friends we've known our whole lives, neighbors and work colleagues.
Let us know what you think. You can find Corey on all the socials @coreysnathan such as www.threads.net/@coreysnathan.
We're also on YouTube!
https://www.youtube.com/@politicsandreligion
It would mean so much if you could leave us a review:
https://ratethispodcast.com/goodfaithpolitics
We're on Patreon! Join the community:
https://www.patreon.com/politicsandreligion
Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.
Very grateful for our sponsor Meza Wealth Management. Reach out to Jorge and his team: www.mezawealth.com



Wednesday Nov 06, 2024
Wednesday Nov 06, 2024
How are you? No, really. How ARE you? Candidly, I’m having a hard time with how things played out on Tuesday. So, we thought it’d be good to re-visit this conversation about mental health from a couple months ago. The tools covered here have certainly helped me over the years. And hopefully you’ll find this helpful as well.
Perhaps this whole election season has been overwhelming. So we figured it's worthwhile to emphasize the importance of stepping back from all the chaos for mental well-being. The tools that are discussed include how meditation has been a transformative practice for many people, alongside other valuable “arrows in our quiver” like writing / prayer, physical exercise, nourishing the mind with great literature (fiction and non-fiction), fostering human connections, getting a healthy amount of rest and establishing helpful boundaries and rules of engagement.
00:36 Personal Journey and Struggles
03:06 Meditation: A Life-Changing Practice
10:56 The Power of Writing and Prayer
15:52 Exercise: Moving for Mental Health
18:16 Feeding Your Mind with Good Literature
21:43 The Importance of Fellowship
25:15 The Necessity of Rest
29:07 Setting Boundaries and Rules of Engagement
34:45 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Let us know what you think. You can find Corey on all the socials @coreysnathan such as www.threads.net/@coreysnathan.
We're also on YouTube! Subscribe there and engage in the comments section (so that it's not dominated by "screamers" who don't come in good will):
https://www.youtube.com/@politicsandreligion
It would mean so much if you could leave us a review:
https://ratethispodcast.com/goodfaithpolitics
We're on Patreon! Join the community:
https://www.patreon.com/politicsandreligion
Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.
Very grateful for our sponsor Meza Wealth Management. Reach out to Jorge and his team: www.mezawealth.com



Sunday Nov 03, 2024
Election 2024 Final Predictions: Battle of the Sexes and Trash Talk
Sunday Nov 03, 2024
Sunday Nov 03, 2024
Has there been anything that’s happened in the campaigns or in the news in recent days that’s fundamentally changed the course of this election? Would you believe that "trash talk" might be the October surprise that swings this race?
What about that poll conducted by J. Ann Selzer's firm for the Des Moines Register showing VP Harris leading Trump in Iowa 47% to 44%? Is that the outlier? Or has Selzer uncovered some fundamental dynamics in this race, much like her firm's polls did in 2016 and 2020, that others haven't picked up on?
Finally, what will be the final results of this election? As we record and share this episode, it's the eve of the eve of Election Day. So how's it gonna go? Listen in and hear Corey's take. (Don't worry. It's gonna be okay.) And...
Let us know what you think. You can find Corey on all the socials @coreysnathan such as www.threads.net/@coreysnathan.
We're also on YouTube! Subscribe there and engage in the comments section (so that it's not dominated by "screamers" who don't come in good will or good faith):
https://www.youtube.com/@politicsandreligion
It would mean so much if you could leave us a review:
https://ratethispodcast.com/goodfaithpolitics
We're on Patreon! Join the community:
https://www.patreon.com/politicsandreligion
Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.
Very grateful for our sponsor Meza Wealth Management. Reach out to Jorge and his team: www.mezawealth.com
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/iowa-poll/2024/11/02/iowa-poll-kamala-harris-leads-donald-trump-2024-presidential-race/75354033007/



Thursday Oct 31, 2024
Thursday Oct 31, 2024
Who is my neighbor? “Our neighbors are not seen as fellow citizens, but as enemies to destroy, and even erase from our culture and politics by banning their books and history. That is the essence of white Christian nationalism.” Jim Wallis reminds us that Jesus shares a very different understanding of who our neighbors are.
We're on YouTube! Be one of our first 1,000 subscribers:
https://www.youtube.com/@politicsandreligion
It would mean so much if you could leave us a review:
https://ratethispodcast.com/goodfaithpolitics
Jim Wallis is Georgetown University’s Archbishop Desmond Tutu Chair in Faith and Justice. He has served on President Obama’s White House Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, was the founder of Sojourners and is the author of multiple New York Times bestselling books including his latest book, THE FALSE WHITE GOSPEL: Rejecting Christian Nationalism, Reclaiming True Faith, and Refounding Democracy. But let's not forget, one of Rev. Wallis's favorite roles is that of "Coach Jim," as he was a Little League coach for many years.
00:51 Meet Jim Wallis: Faith and Justice Advocate
01:18 Coaching Little League: Lessons in Faith and Politics
06:48 Traveling Across America: Faith and Democracy
10:30 Poll Chaplains: Ensuring Safe Elections
19:06 Evangelicalism and Political Preferences
22:38 Confronting Bad Theology with True Faith
36:13 The Good Samaritan Parable: Who Is My Neighbor?
41:16 The Politics of Us vs. Them
46:28 Faith, Justice, and Humility
52:35 Hope vs. Optimism: A Deeper Look
57:30 Standing Up for Democracy and Faith
jimwallis.substack.com/
faithandjustice.georgetown.edu/media/the-soul-of-the-nation/
False White Gospel book - https://amzn.to/3Abpaah
We're on Patreon! Join the community:
https://www.patreon.com/politicsandreligion
Let us know what you think. You can find Corey on all the socials @coreysnathan such as www.threads.net/@coreysnathan.
Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.
Very grateful for our sponsor Meza Wealth Management. Reach out to Jorge and his team: www.mezawealth.com



Tuesday Oct 29, 2024
If Trump Wins: Projections and Impacts on Democracy
Tuesday Oct 29, 2024
Tuesday Oct 29, 2024
What if Trump wins? What can we realistically expect to happen? Here are a few outcomes that we can reasonably anticipate.
We're on YouTube! Be one of our first 1,000 subscribers:
https://www.youtube.com/@politicsandreligion
It would mean so much if you could leave us a review:
https://ratethispodcast.com/goodfaithpolitics
In this episode, we delve into the potential consequences of Donald Trump winning another presidential term. We get into the implications for democracy - without hyperbole, only looking at a handful of outcomes we can reasonably expect to happen - including attacks on the press, threats to the freedom of assembly, and the co-opting of religious symbols and language. Much of this is derived from analyses by notable writers and personal insights as a conservative concerned about the future of our Constitutional republic.
00:55 The Trump Question: What If He Wins?
02:29 Trump's Potential Impact on Democracy
06:50 Freedom of the Press Under Threat
09:19 Freedom of Assembly and Speech
12:35 Trump and Religion: A Dangerous Mix
20:18 Final Thoughts and Call to Action
We're on Patreon! Join the community:
https://www.patreon.com/politicsandreligion
Let us know what you think. You can find Corey on all the socials @coreysnathan such as www.threads.net/@coreysnathan.
Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.
Very grateful for our sponsor Meza Wealth Management. Reach out to Jorge and his team: www.mezawealth.com



Thursday Oct 24, 2024
Election Predictions and Polling Analysis: Key Insights with Carl Allen
Thursday Oct 24, 2024
Thursday Oct 24, 2024
Bottom line: Who's gonna win this damn election? A question many are asking. To which, like any good poker player would answer: It depends! Well, at least ya gotta listen to find out.
We're on YouTube! Be one of our first 1,000 subscribers:
https://www.youtube.com/@politicsandreligion
It would mean so much if you could leave us a review:
https://ratethispodcast.com/goodfaithpolitics
It's so cool to be joined again by Carl Allen to delve into the intricacies of election predictions and polling analysis. In this conversation, we cover the inefficiencies in polling methodologies used by entities like Trafalgar and Atlas Intel to the impact of undecided and third-party voters on electoral outcomes. Important states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, and North Carolina are analyzed, highlighting early voting trends and their potential implications for candidates like Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. The role of prediction markets and Democratic strategies in key Senate races and swing states are also scrutinized, offering insights into the dynamics of voter behavior and the critical factors shaping the 2024 general election. Throughout, the significance of accurate, transparent data in informing the public and predicting election results is emphasized. And of course we had to squeeze in a bit of poker talk!
01:13 Discussing Election Predictions
05:24 Diving into Poll Data
06:25 Pennsylvania Poll Analysis
10:40 Understanding Polling Discrepancies
31:17 Forecasting Pennsylvania's Outcome
38:47 Significance of Third Parties in Elections
40:22 Swing States Analysis: North Carolina
41:38 Registered vs. Likely Voter Polls
45:11 Undecided Voters and Polling Errors
49:31 Late Breakers and Election Predictions
01:03:04 Senate Races and Calculated Risks
substack.com/@realcarlallen
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1032483024
https://x.com/RealCarlAllen
We're on Patreon! Join the community:
https://www.patreon.com/politicsandreligion
Let us know what you think. You can find Corey on all the socials @coreysnathan such as www.threads.net/@coreysnathan.
Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.
Very grateful for our sponsor Meza Wealth Management. Reach out to Jorge and his team: www.mezawealth.com







