When Russell Moore saw footage of a “Jesus saves” sign during the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the United States Capitol, he wasn’t just angered by the assault on democracy. He was horrified by what he saw as a blasphemous misrepresentation of the gospel. How could American culture have gotten to such a place? And what can be done about it?

Those are the types of questions that today’s guest, Dr. Tobias Cremer, explores in his new book The Godless Crusade, Religion, Populism, and Right Wing Identity Politics in the West. Cremer, a junior research fellow at Pembroke College, and an associate member of the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Oxford, studies the relationship between religion, secularization, and the rise of right-wing identity politics. And when he looks at right-wing populism, he sees far more secularism than true religion.

On this episode, Moore and Cremer discuss the rise of national populist movements in America and other Western countries. They discuss how faith and socioeconomic status influence political leanings, why religious symbols are used in political movements, and what people really mean when they say they are Christian in a political context. Moore and Cremer talk about the growing number of de-churched Protestants in the Bible Belt and how the populist right confuses religion for identity. And they consider the changes that people and institutions can make to address polarization, resentment, and radicalization.

Tune in for an episode that provides a nuanced view of political and religious history in the West and sheds light on our culture today.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

The Godless Crusade, Religion, Populism, and Right Wing Identity Politics in the West by Tobias Cremer
“White Southern Evangelicals Are Leaving the Church” by Daniel K. Williams
The 1934 Barmen Declaration
Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right by Arlie Russell Hochschild
Christianity and History by Herbert Butterfield
Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America by Russell Moore

Do you have a question for Russell Moore? Send it to questions@russellmoore.com.

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“The Russell Moore Show” is a production of Christianity Today

Executive Producers: Erik Petrik, Russell Moore, and Mike Cosper

Host: Russell Moore

Producer: Ashley Hales

Associate Producers: Abby Perry and McKenzie Hill

Director of Operations for CT Media: Matt Stevens

Audio engineering by Dan Phelps

Video producer: Abby Egan

Theme Song: “Dusty Delta Day” by Lennon Hutton

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