---

Did Protestant missionaries help plant the seeds of democracy throughout the world? Prof. Robert Woodberry takes us on a historical tour-de-force around the globe showing how “conversionary Protestants” helped to promote literacy, spread printing technology, facilitate civic organization, defend religious and civil liberties, and protest the abuses of slavery and colonialism. We discuss how this happened and why Protestants were uniquely situated to do this, although we look at similar Catholic efforts in recent decades. We conclude with speculative thoughts about the Arab Spring.

Download the podcast by “right clicking” on the “download” button and choosing “Save Target As….” Or subscribe for free on iTunes.

[ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ]

---

What role should religion be allowed to play in the public square? Prof. Hunter Baker (Union University) discusses how the concept of “secularism” has crept into our nation’s conscience and is believed to be a philosophy of “neutrality.” Prof. Baker argues that this isn’t the case as secularism is an ideological alternative to religious belief that is privileged over religious expression in the public square. Our wide-ranging conversation takes us through discussions of Judge Roy Moore, religiously-based progressive taxation, religion in Sweden, and the philosophy of John Stuart Mill and John Rawls.

To download the podcast, “right click” on the download button and choose “Save target as…” Or subscribe to us on iTunes or with our RSS feed. And please use our social network links to tell your friends about our free, educational service.

[ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ]

---

Can environmentalism be considered a religion? And if so, what are the implications for the separation of church and state when it comes to the contemporary environmentalist agenda? Prof. Robert Nelson (U of Maryland) addresses these questions. As a former policy analyst in the US Interior Department, he brings an interesting perspective to the table, arguing that the environmental movement shares a great deal in common with what other people would normally consider to be theologically-based religions. We discuss what religion is and what aspects of environmentalism qualify it to be defined as a religion. We talk creation stories, teleology, sins & repentance, rites & sacrifices, and evangelization. Prof. Nelson concludes with an interesting argument about the separation of church and state being applied to environmentalism.

To download our podcasts, you can subscribe to us via iTunes or “right click” on the download link and choose “Save target as…”

[ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ]

---

If you need to get a daily fix of religious-related news, where are you going to go? Real Clear Religion, of course! Jeremy Lott, the editor of Real Clear Religion and other related news portals, joins us to chat about how the Interwebs have changed the way we hear about religious news. He reveals the history of the “Real Clear” network of news sites (or “intelligent aggregators”) and how RCR fits into that general model of internet sites. We then talk about the various media trends Jeremy has seen over the years, including some discussion on the state of religion & politics and the upcoming election.

You can receive our podcast free of charge every Monday by subscribing through iTunes or using our RSS feed (see icons to the right). And “like” us on Facebook for updates.

[ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ]

---

What case can be made for promoting religious freedom worldwide? Prof. Timothy Shah discusses the moral, political, and strategic reasons why religious liberty is a crucial human right and why it is often called “the first freedom.” He reviews the justifications for religious freedom from three different faith traditions — Judaism, Christianity, and Islam — as well as the ontological reasons why religion should be considered for special consideration in debates about human rights. Tony even uses the word ontology in the discussion, but don’t let that scare you off since he didn’t know what it meant until very recently and our conversation is both enlightening and extremely accessible.

Click the Facebook logo on the right hand column to receive weekly updates on future podcasts!

[ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ]

---

Sit in on a collegial discussion with Tony and his good friend Prof. Steve Pfaff as they discuss a range of topics including denominationalism and whether churches today emphasize sin enough. These two topics lead us down several different paths taking a look at how and why churches create brands, the benefits of religious pluralism, youth religious practice and whether megachurches are really just soft-peddling Christianity. This open-ended discussion is a window into what Tony & Steve often talk about while hanging out at the University of Washington and is a great wrap around to several recent podcasts we’ve featured on the show.

Please help us spread the word about this free service. Tell at least two friends about us using the social media links below. Thanks!

[ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ]

---

Prof. Kevin Cooney of Northwest University joins us to discuss his recent trip to the People’s Republic of China where he visited with numerous Chinese scholars to discuss the role of religion and the rule of law in that country. He shares his insights from that trip, including his experiences in touring different parts of the country and learning about the religious landscape. Prof. Cooney contrasts the scene in China today with what he experienced back in the mid-1980s when he was teaching English in that country.

Share our podcast with a friend by clicking on one of the social media links below!

[ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ]

---

Is the global resurgence in public religiosity over the past 40 years linked in any way to the increase in democratic governance over the same period of time? Prof. Dan Philpott (Notre Dame) covers the historical trends of church-state relations and discusses how changes in political theologies and the increasing independence of religious organizations have provided a fertile ground for political democratization in some corners of the world. We examine how and why some religious traditions have been involved in promoting democracy under authoritarian conditions. Our discussion turns toward some speculation about the future of the “Arab Spring” at the end of our interview. This is the first part of a discussion of the book “God’s Century: Resurgent Religion and Global Politics.”

You can help us spread the word by clicking on one of the social media sites below!

[ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ]

---

William Donohue of the Catholic League discusses how cultural nihilists are engaging in “secular sabotage.” Our discussion starts with an examination of who are these nihilists and how moral virtue is essential to control unbridled appetites in a free nation. We then weave through a variety of topics including Lady Gaga, Hollywood, and how Catholics and Protestants are often engaging in self-sabotage.

We are on iTunes!

[ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ]

---

Buckle your seatbelts. James Brettell — preacher, radio host and jack-of-all-trades — leads us through a critique of contemporary Christianity in the United States. Critical of what he calls the “traditional church,” Pastor Jim details a problematic stagnation in denominational Christianity and advocates for a more evangelical method of reinvigorating spiritual life in America and around the world. He takes us through his personal history, from being raised in a Presbyterian Church to being born-again while on military duty in the Caribbean to his experience as pastor at a number of churches around the country. Pastor Jim also discusses his latest venture, the Little Rock NetChurch (an internet-based ministry), and how that is bringing folks closer to the Word of God.

If you “like” us, please click out Facebook page to get regular updates on guests and topics!

[ READ THE FULL ARTICLE ]

---