Straight White American Jesus

An in-depth examination of the culture and politics of Christian Nationalism and Evangelicalism by two ex-evangelical ministers-turned-religion professors. If you have ever wondered what social and historical forces led white evangelicals to usher Donald Trump into the White House this is the show for you. As former insiders and critical scholars of religion, Dan Miller and Bradley Onishi have a unique perspective on the Religious Right. Guests have included Chrissy Stroop, R. Marie Griffith, Janelle Wong, Randall Balmer, Katherine Stewart, and many others.

News
Politics
626
SWAJ Daily: Trump's COVID Dog-Whistle and Chris...
On today's daily dispatch, Brad discusses why Trump labeling COVID-19 the "Chinese virus" is part of a long lineage of anti-Asian xenophobia and part of the Christian nationalism held by his supporters (4:00). He discusses a new piece on Christian nationalism and anti-immigrant ideology by Samuel Perry. Brad also touches on how Trump tried to buy the rights to a vaccine from a German company (11:45), the fight over the Democratic primary election in Ohio, where the governor canceled voting today (15:40), and the fact that we don't have a pandemic response committee, but we do have SPACE FORCE! (18:17)--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/messageSupport this podcast: <a href="https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support" rel="payment">https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support</a>
6 min
627
Weekly Roundup: Conspiracy and Corona Virus, Ti...
Brad and Dan discuss the conspiracy theories Evangelicals and the President are pushing about Corona Virus (0:30), Title IX exemptions for universities that discriminate against LGBT+ people (17:50), the surprising surge of Biden and his popularity with African American religious voters (27:05), who is the most "religious" candidate left (44:05), and a one-minute explainer on why COVID-19 is a serious threat to public health (as opposed to what Fox News is telling your mom or nana) (50:50).--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/messageSupport this podcast: <a href="https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support" rel="payment">https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support</a>
5 min
628
Weekly Roundup: Corona Virus Conspiracies, the ...
On the Weekly Roundup, Brad and Dan discuss the Corona virus conspiracies coming from MAGA land (2:45), AOC's sermon in Congress (9:30), the Supreme Court's hearing of Fulton vs. Philadelphia (17:00), which could give religious people the right to discriminate in a myriad of ways, "Progressive" Evangelicalism's quietism (33:15), and --BONUS: 1-minute explainer of Democratic Socialism vs. Communism vs. Capitalism (38:45) Reasons for Hope: Taco Trucks on Every Corner! We stand in solidarity with the UCSB and UCSC grad students/TAs on strike!--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/messageSupport this podcast: <a href="https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support" rel="payment">https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support</a>
6 min
629
Debunking Myths About Religion, Race, and the 2...
7 min
630
Weekly Roundup: "God is a White Man" Theology
5 min
631
The Missionary-Spies Who Helped to Form the CIA
6 min
632
The Christians Who Want to Rule the World -with...
6 min
633
Weekly Roundup: Romney vs Trump, Evangelicals v...
Brad and Dan discuss how we should interpret Mitt Romney's vote to convict Trump as an expression of how the Latter Day Saints view the president, and why they are less likely to be Christian nationalists. They also dig into the National Prayer Breakfast, the Southern Baptist Convention's views on the LGBT community, and Franklin Graham's woes in the UK.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/messageSupport this podcast: <a href="https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support" rel="payment">https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support</a>
8 min
634
The Super Bowl Halftime Show and Purity Culture
6 min
635
Her Name Was Hisao: On Love, Loss, and the Lakers
Brad's audio essay on his great grandmother, Hisao, a picture-bride who couldn't speak English, but who became an American, a Californian, and an Angelino through the Lakers; the woman who began four generations of his family's love of basketball. In the wake of Kobe Bryant's death, it's a reflection on the joy and sorrow of migration, love, and 'Ohana.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/messageSupport this podcast: <a href="https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support" rel="payment">https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support</a>
5 min
636
Weekly Roundup: Paula White, Satanic Pregnancie...
Brad and Dan talk about Jerry Falwell's call for secession, harmful transgender treatment bills, and Paula White, Trump's spiritual advisor, the woman who called for the miscarriage of satanic pregnancies, and a prosperity preacher.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/messageSupport this podcast: <a href="https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support" rel="payment">https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support</a>
5 min
637
Weekly Roundup: Funding Anti-LGBT Schools with ...
On the Weekly Roundup Brad and Dan discuss Espinoza vs. Montana, a supreme court case that will determine if states must fund private schools. They discuss how currently millions of dollars in tax money is being sent to anti-LGBT institutions. They also discuss the whitewashed radicalism of MLK JR., and evangelical quietism on abortion.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/messageSupport this podcast: <a href="https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support" rel="payment">https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support</a>
6 min
638
Escaping Abuse at a Fundamentalist Boot Camp
Brad talks with Deirdre Sugiuchi about her story of leaving a fundamentalist boot camp in the Dominican Republic. Deirdre, a writer whose work has been featured at Electric Literature, Guernica, and who contributed an essay to EMPTY THE PEWS, speaks of the emotional and sexual abuse at Escuela Caribe and the dangers she sees in the current administration's approach to religious education. *WARNING: This episode does contain descriptions of sexual abuse.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/messageSupport this podcast: <a href="https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support" rel="payment">https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support</a>
7 min
639
Weekly Roundup: Catholic Trumpism, Brave Heart ...
On the weekly roundup, Dan and Brad focus on a Politico story about the Trump campaign reaching out to Catholic voters. They explain how a sizable number of Catholics fall into the Christian Nationalist category, what it means for 2020, and how we should expand our vision of Trump's religious supporters beyond white evangelicals. They also talk about controversy between the two popes, a cringeworthy new center at Liberty University inspired by Braveheart, and the bar at Trump Hotel in DC.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/messageSupport this podcast: <a href="https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support" rel="payment">https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support</a>
5 min
640
Weekly Roundup: Praying for War (video availabl...
Brad and Dan discuss how Mike Pence and Mike Pompeo brought their end-times theology to bear on American foreign policy through the assassination of Quassem Soleimani. They explain how evangelical approaches to the end of the world are informing our nation's decision-making at the highest levels. Plus: Don Jr. Crusades gun, the Evangelicals for Trump Rally, and Jim Bakker says you must be saved in order to love Trump. Video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5R6Vhmfhs8&t=209s--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/messageSupport this podcast: <a href="https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support" rel="payment">https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support</a>
5 min
641
Shrinking Numbers, Holding Power: Iran, the UMC...
Brad speaks with PRRI CEO and author of "The End of White Christian America" Robert P. Jones. They discuss the ongoing developments with Iran, the United Methodist Church's split over LGBT issues, and how evangelicals are a shrinking demographic that somehow continues to hold enormous power in American politics.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/messageSupport this podcast: <a href="https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support" rel="payment">https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support</a>
7 min
642
Apocalypse Now: Iran and Evangelicals
Brad talks with Prof André Gagné about evangelical visions of the apocalypse and how they are directly related to Iran (and the assassination of Quassem Soleimani).--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/messageSupport this podcast: <a href="https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support" rel="payment">https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support</a>
7 min
643
Prophets and Patriots
On the last episode of our series on the Religious Left, Dan speaks with Professor Ruth Braunstein about how the political organization of progressive faith groups, "good troublemakers," and the ways moral humility is good for democracy.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/messageSupport this podcast: <a href="https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support" rel="payment">https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support</a>
7 min
644
EMERGENCY POD: Christianity Today vs. Trump Eva...
We've lived through Paris Hilton vs. Kim K, TSwift's bad blood with Katy Perry, and Drake's beef with everyone. But now we are here to take you through the hottest beef of 2019: Christianity Today vs. Trump Evangelicals! We talk ramifications, the Letter, the response to the response, and much more.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/messageSupport this podcast: <a href="https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support" rel="payment">https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support</a>
6 min
645
The Re-Emergence of the Religious Left
On a double episode, Dan and Brad first discuss the re-emergence of the Religious Left in the Trump Era, what it means for the 2020 election, and if it can continue after the Trump years. Then, Brad talks to Dr. Benjamin Rolsky about his new book, "The Rise and Fall of the Religious Left," which focuses on Norman Lear and his media empire in the 60s, 70s, and 80s.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/messageSupport this podcast: <a href="https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support" rel="payment">https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support</a>
4 min
646
The (Im)Piety of Mike Pence
Brad talks with journalist Tom Lobianco about his new book, "Piety and Power: Mike Pence and the Taking of the White House". They discuss his road to politics, his faith, and his tumultuous ride as Trump's VP.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/messageSupport this podcast: <a href="https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support" rel="payment">https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support</a>
7 min
647
Kanye West's MAGA Theology
Brad talks with Harvard Divinity Student, activist, and former student Thomas Mitchell about Kanye's new album "Jesus is King." They discuss why this album is different, how Kanye has evolved, and how he is catering to white evangelicals.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/messageSupport this podcast: <a href="https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support" rel="payment">https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support</a>
5 min
648
God, Guns, and Good Guys
On an episode recorded this summer, Dan and Brad discuss why American evangelicals bow before the idol of handheld killing machines. They talk about the symbolism involved, the American exceptionalism it invokes, and what to do about it.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/messageSupport this podcast: <a href="https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support" rel="payment">https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support</a>
8 min
649
The Religious Right and the Far Right
Brad and Dan discuss the startling ways that the Religious Right has aligned itself with Far Right leaders across the world, including Vladimir Putin. They discuss why evangelicalism has transformed from envisioning Russia as enemy number one to a friendly ally in the fight for "family values."--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/messageSupport this podcast: <a href="https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support" rel="payment">https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support</a>
6 min
650
Heartless Heartbeat Bills: Abortion Revisited
Dan and Brad revisit the issue of abortion in evangelical politics and culture. They examine evangelical support for heartbeat bills, what's behind the phrase "culture of life," and what opposition to abortion does for evangelicals. They also discuss how support for heartbeat bills can lead to heartlessness on other issues.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/messageSupport this podcast: <a href="https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support" rel="payment">https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support</a>
6 min