Is there value in historical analogies? Yes and no. Many have tried to make comparisons between Donald Trump and Adolph Hitler that end up not being helpful to understand the times we are living in. But then there are other times when looking at how past societies dealt with creeping authoritarianism can serve as a lesson for contemporary politics.

In this conversation, Bethel University professor Chris Gehrz examines the unsettling nature of life under the concept of the dual state, particularly in the context of the Trump administration, and the implications for Christians in the United States and American democracy.

Suggested Reading and Listening:

One Nation Under a Dual State by Chris Gehrz

The Dual State: A Contribution to the Theory of Dictatorship by Ernst Fraenkel

America Is Watching the Rise of a Dual State by Aziz Huq

The Frightening Precedents for Trump’s ‘Legal Abyss’ by Amanda Taub

Related Episodes:

Should Christians Leave Trump's America? with Amy Mantravadi | Episode 245

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The Church, The Trump Administation and the Dual State with Chris Gehrz | Episode 246