American Unexceptionalism: Global Lessons on Fighting Religious Nationalism

Explore the global strategies for resisting authoritarianism and religious nationalism. The hosts dissect the Trump administration's narrative control surrounding the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. They highlight successful movements from South Korea and Sri Lanka. Key tactics include mobilizing diverse coalitions, empowering youth, weaponizing humor, and centering women's leadership. Using faith-based counter-narratives and cultural symbols, they advocate for a robust, nonviolent resistance, underscoring the importance of mental and spiritual well-being.

In 2012, members of the feminist performance art collective Pussy Riot staged what they called a “punk prayer” in Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior—an act so transgressive it landed two of them in a penal colony. Wearing bright dresses and balaclavas, they occupied the altar, a space barred to women in Orthodox Christianity, and sang an appeal to the Virgin Mary to “chase Putin out.” The performance was a direct indictment of the Russian Orthodox Church’s collusion with Vladimir Putin, its support for repression, its anti-feminist theology, and its role in laws targeting LGBTQ people. At a moment when protests, elections, and petitions had become meaningless under authoritarian rule, Pussy Riot turned to Mary—the revolutionary figure who once sang of the mighty being cast down—as a last appeal to a power greater than the state.This episode of American UnExceptionalism uses Pussy Riot’s prayer as an entry point into a broader conversation about Orthodoxy, authoritarianism, and resistance in Russia and Ukraine. Hosts Matthew Taylor and Susie Hayward are joined by scholars Sarah Riccardi-Schwartz and Regina Elsner to explore how the Russian Orthodox Church became entangled with imperial power, how religion is mobilized to sanctify war and repression, and how these dynamics echo within far-right and MAGA movements in the United States. Distinguishing between church institutions and living religious communities, the episode asks what Americans can learn from those resisting religious nationalism abroad—and why acts of feminist, prophetic defiance still matter when democracy itself is under siege.Additional Resources:Riccardi-Swartz, Sarah. Between Heaven and Russia: Religious Conversion and Political Apostasy in Appalachia. Fordham University Press, 2022.Dr. Sarah Riccardi-Swartz is an assistant professor of religion and anthropology at Northeastern University, where she is also an affiliate faculty member in the women's, gender, and sexuality studies program. Before joining Northeastern University she was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Recovering Truth: Religion, Journalism, and Democracy in a Post-Truth Era project at the Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict (Arizona State University). She has a Ph.D. in Sociocultural Anthropology from New York University.Dr. Regina Elsner is a theologian and, since April 2023, has the Chair for Eastern Churches, Ecumenical Studies and Peace Research at the Universität of Münster.From 1998 to 2005, Regina Elsner studied Catholic Theology in Berlin and Münster. Afterwards, she worked until 2010 as a project coordinator for Caritas Russia in St. Petersburg. From 2010 to 2013, she was a research associate at the Ecumenical Institute of the University of Münster, within the research stream ‘Institutions and Institutional Change in Post-Socialism’. In this context, she focused on the historical and theological aspects of the Russian Orthodox Church’s confrontation with modernity, completing her PhD on this topic in 2016.Dr. Matthew D. Taylor is the senior Christian scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies in Baltimore, where he specializes in American Christianity, American Islam, Christian extremism, and religious politics. His book, The Violent Take It by Force: The Christian Movement that is Threatening Our Democracy (Broadleaf, 2024), tracks how a loose network of charismatic Christian leaders called the New Apostolic Reformation was a major instigating force for the January 6th Insurrection and is currently reshaping the culture of the religious right in the U.S. Taylor is also the creator of the audio docuseries Charismatic Revival Fury: The New Apostolic Reformation.Rev. Susan Hayward: was until recently the lead on the US Institute of Peace’s efforts to understand religious dimensions of conflict and advance efforts engaging religious actors and organizations in peacebuilding. She has conducted political asylum and refugee work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Advocates for Human Rights. Rev. Hayward studied Buddhism in Nepal and is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ.www.axismundi.usExecutive Producer: Dr. Bradley OnishiProducer: Andrew GillOriginal Music and Mixing: Scott OkamotoProduction Assistance: Kari OnishiFunded through generous contributions from ICJS, Princeton Theological Seminary, and the ICRD.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode of American UnExceptionalism, we travel to Poland to explore how faith, nationalism, and LGBTQ+ resistance collide in one of Europe’s most religious countries. The story begins in 2019, when Polish activist Elżbieta Podleśna was arrested after distributing images of the Black Madonna of Częstochowa with a rainbow halo—a provocative act meant to challenge the growing scapegoating of LGBTQ+ communities by nationalist politicians. What followed was not just a legal battle, but a global moment of religious protest and solidarity, including support from the U.S. Episcopal Church.Hosts Matthew Taylor and Susie Hayward speak with Joel Day (University of Notre Dame) and Gionathan Lo Mascolo (Faith in Democracy) to unpack the deep roots of Polish Catholic identity and how it has shaped modern politics. From the Black Madonna’s central role in Polish national mythology, to the rise of far-right Catholic movements, this episode traces how religious symbols have been mobilized to consolidate power, restrict minority rights, and inspire similar movements in the United States.The conversation explores Poland as a real-world case study of what happens when religious nationalism gains political power: book bans, the removal of sex and gender education from schools, so-called “LGBT-free zones,” and the use of cultural fear narratives to prepare the ground for future crackdowns. At the same time, the episode highlights resistance movements, protests, and the global networks of solidarity pushing back. The lessons are clear: the fight for pluralism and democracy is deeply interconnected across borders, and the future of U.S. politics is tied to struggles already playing out across Europe.00:00 Controversial Image Sparks Outrage in Poland00:58 The Iconic Black Madonna of Poland02:58 Introduction to American Un Exceptionalism05:57 Historical Context of Poland's Catholic Identity08:27 The Black Madonna's Role in Polish History11:15 Poland's Political Landscape and Far-Right Influence25:04 All Polish Youth Movement and US Connections27:47 Religious Counter-Movements in Poland33:17 Far-Right Politics Across Europe35:09 Hungary's Influence on US Christian Right42:48 Russia's Influence on Europe's Far Right50:00 International Solidarity and Practical Advice50:48 No Compromise with the Far Right51:41 Localism and Bridging Ideologies54:01 Reflections and Closing ThoughtsAdditional Resources: “Geneviève Zubrzycki (2025) Catholicism, National Mythology and Nationalism in Poland,” in Jeff Haynes (ed) Routledge Handbook on Nationalism.Joel Day. (2025). Christian Nationalism as a Social Practice: Prayer, Violence, and the Politics of Public Ritual. Terrorism and Political Violence, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/09546553.2025.2555222Duffin, Michael. 2022. “Poland’s Evolving Violent Far-Right Landscape.” CTC Sentinel 15 (9).Żuk, Piotr, and Paweł Żuk. 2020. “‘Murderers of the Unborn’ and ‘sexual Degenerates’: Analysis of the ‘anti-Gender’ Discourse of the Catholic Church and the Nationalist Right in Poland.” Critical Discourse Studies 17 (5): 566–88.Żuk, Piotr, and Paweł Żuk. 2022. “The Independence Day as a Nationalist Ritual: Framework of the March of Independence in Poland.” Ethnography 23 (1): 14–37.Joel Day: Managing Director of the Notre Dame Democracy Initiative. He is a scholar-practitioner who brings over 20 years of leadership experience in government, nonprofits, and political campaigns. In 2020, he was appointed Senior Advisor for COVID-19 Response and Recovery, helping stand up the nation’s largest emergency homeless shelter, coordinating regional public health policy, and managing continuity of operations for a workforce of 11,000. Day has also served as staff or advisor for numerous U.S. presidential, senatorial, and congressional campaigns, and as COO/CFO for an anti-trafficking nonprofit. Day most recently held the position of Senior Fellow and Director of Research at Princeton University's Bridging Divides Initiative, where he worked to count and counter events of political violence in the U.S.Gionathan Lo Mascolo: Deputy Director of Faith in Democracy Inc. Lo Mascolo has worked for over a decade at the intersection of religion, politics, and extremism, supporting faith-based and secular NGOs, multilateral institutions, and progressive parties in Europe and beyond. As a Senior Project Manager, his work has focused on advocacy and on preventing and countering radicalization and violent extremism. Earlier, he worked as a journalist covering the Arab Spring and the Syrian War. He studied Intercultural Theology and Migration (BA, FIT Hermannsburg) and Terrorism, Security, and Society (MA, King’s College London). He is the editor of The Christian Right in Europe (2023), the first volume to analyze religiously motivated far-right networks across the continent.Dr. Matthew D. Taylor is the senior Christian scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies in Baltimore, where he specializes in American Christianity, American Islam, Christian extremism, and religious politics. His book, The Violent Take It by Force: The Christian Movement that is Threatening Our Democracy (Broadleaf, 2024), tracks how a loose network of charismatic Christian leaders called the New Apostolic Reformation was a major instigating force for the January 6th Insurrection and is currently reshaping the culture of the religious right in the U.S. Taylor is also the creator of the audio docuseries Charismatic Revival Fury: The New Apostolic Reformation.Rev. Susan Hayward: was until recently the lead on the US Institute of Peace’s efforts to understand religious dimensions of conflict and advance efforts engaging religious actors and organizations in peacebuilding. She has conducted political asylum and refugee work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Advocates for Human Rights. Rev. Hayward studied Buddhism in Nepal and is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ.www.axismundi.usExecutive Producer: Dr. Bradley OnishiProducer: Andrew GillOriginal Music and Mixing: Scott OkamotoProduction Assistance: Kari OnishiFunded through generous contributions from ICJS, Princeton Theological Seminary, and the ICRD.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this compelling episode, we sit down with a Dr. S. Ayse Kadayifci-Orellana whose deep personal and scholarly ties to Turkey illuminate one of the most significant political transformations of the last century. Together, we trace Turkey’s journey from the final years of the Ottoman Empire to the creation of a modern, secular republic—and then to the rise of a powerful religious-nationalist project under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.The conversation begins with a historical grounding in the Ottoman Empire’s governance, its relationship to Islam, and the profound rupture brought by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s reforms. We explore the architecture of Turkish secularism, how it was enforced, and why it became both a source of national pride and cultural tension.From there, the guest unpacks the emergence of political Islam in the late 20th century, the AKP’s ascent, and Erdoğan’s evolution from reformist mayor to dominant executive. We examine how religion gradually moved from the margins into the center of statecraft, reshaping institutions, education, media, and public life. A major focus is the 2016 coup attempt—its shockwaves, contested narratives, and how it became the pivotal moment that cemented Erdoğan’s near-total control.The episode also highlights the diversity and resilience of Turkish civil society. Women’s movements, humor-driven protest cultures, and grassroots organizing offer alternative visions of democracy and resistance amid growing authoritarianism. Finally, we draw resonant parallels between Turkey’s trajectory and political shifts inside the United States, identifying global patterns of illiberalism, democratic backsliding, and creative forms of opposition.A rich, textured, and timely discussion for anyone seeking to understand the intersections of history, religion, nationalism, and democratic struggle.Episode Timeline00:00 — Introduction and Guest Background01:03 — Historical Context of Turkey03:51 — Ottoman Empire and Islamic Influence09:25 — Modernization and Secularism in Turkey25:25 — Rise of Turkish Religious Nationalism30:22 — Erdoğan’s Political Journey44:43 — 2016 Coup Attempt and Aftermath46:11 — Erdoğan’s Response to the Coup47:27 — The Impact of the Coup on Turkish Democracy48:43 — The Role of Religion in the Coup52:54 — Resistance Movements in Turkey58:45 — The Role of Humor in Protests01:00:55 — Women’s Rights and Gender Equality in Turkey01:18:12 — Comparing Turkey and the U.S.: Lessons in Democracy01:20:52 — Closing Thoughts and ReflectionsAdditional Reources: Kadayifci, Ayse. “Muslim Women’s Peace Initiatives” in Women, Religion and Peacebuilding: Illuminating the Unseen Susan Hayward and Katherine Marshall eds. USIP press (2015)Dr. S. Ayse Kadayifci-Orellana is Associate Professor at Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and Gender Peace and Security Advisor at Georgetown Institute of Women, Peace and Security. Before coming to Georgetown University she served as a consultant for the Religion and Peacebuilding Program at United States Institute of Peace. Her research focuses on Muslim women’s peacebuilding initiatives, mediation and peace building, religion and conflict resolution, interfaith dialogue, Islamic approaches to war and peace, and Islam and nonviolence.Dr. Matthew D. Taylor is the senior Christian scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies in Baltimore, where he specializes in American Christianity, American Islam, Christian extremism, and religious politics. His book, The Violent Take It by Force: The Christian Movement that is Threatening Our Democracy (Broadleaf, 2024), tracks how a loose network of charismatic Christian leaders called the New Apostolic Reformation was a major instigating force for the January 6th Insurrection and is currently reshaping the culture of the religious right in the U.S. Taylor is also the creator of the audio docuseries Charismatic Revival Fury: The New Apostolic Reformation.Rev. Susan Hayward: was until recently the lead on the US Institute of Peace’s efforts to understand religious dimensions of conflict and advance efforts engaging religious actors and organizations in peacebuilding. She has conducted political asylum and refugee work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Advocates for Human Rights. Rev. Hayward studied Buddhism in Nepal and is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ.www.axismundi.usExecutive Producer: Dr. Bradley OnishiProducer: Andrew GillOriginal Music and Mixing: Scott OkamotoProduction Assistance: Kari OnishiFunded through generous contributions from ICJS, Princeton Theological Seminary, and the ICRD.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode, Matt and Susie unpack the complex interplay between US and Israeli politics, centered around two controversial projects: Project 2025 and Project Esther. The hosts discuss the origins and implications of these projects, which aim to reshape US governance and address antisemitism through controversial means. The conversation covers the deep-seated connections between Jewish and Christian nationalism, the role of Christian Zionism, and the impact of these ideologies on Israel-Palestine relations. The episode also explores the ongoing resistance movements in both regions, particularly highlighting the importance of intersectional and transnational solidarity. Key Questions:What led to the rise of Netanyahu? What are the religious dynamics within Israel (ultra-orthodox and the military, rising far-right parties and leaders)How does this relate to October 7th, and the genocide taking place in Gaza?  An often underestimated dimension is the role of Christian Zionism in driving violence, especially toward Palestinians. And most of that influence is coming from the United States. What is Christian Zionism? Who are the players? What are the theologies that undergird this? How do their interests align with those in Israel?How does Christian Zionist lobbying and advocacy work both in the US and in Israel? How does it impact Israeli politics and the situation in Gaza and the West Bank? Would US politics toward Israel be different if there wasn’t this Christian Zionist element? How have Jewish nationalist actors in Israel shaped and leveraged Christian Zionist power and its agenda?Ben Lorber, Political Research Associates, is a writer, researcher and movement strategist who focuses on antisemitism and white Christian nationalism. A sought-after writer, commentator and trainer, Lorber’s work has appeared on PBS, NPR, The Nation, The Hill, Jewish Currents and more. Atalia Omer, Notre Dame University, is professor of religion, conflict, and peace studies in the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame. Atalia Omer earned her PhD in religion, ethics, and politics (November 2008) from the Committee on the Study of Religion at Harvard University. Her research focuses on religion, violence, and peacebuilding as well as theories and methods in the study of religion and Palestine/Israel. She was a 2017 Andrew Carnegie Fellow, resulting in Decolonizing Religion and Peacebuilding, published in June 2023 by Oxford University Press.Further suggested reading/viewing:Burley, Shane, and Ben Lorber. Safety through Solidarity: A Radical Guide to Fighting Antisemitism. Penguin Random House, 2024.Clarkson, Frederick, and Ben Lorber. “The New Face of Christian Zionism: A rapidly growing Christian Right movement has become a driving force behind unqualified U.S.—and global—support for Israel.” In These Times, 31 Mar. 2025.Atalia Omer, Days of Awe: Reimagining Jewishness in Solidarity with Palestinians (U of Chicago Press, 2019)Omer, Atalia. “Charlie Kirk’s Assassination and ‘Judeo-Christian’ Racism.” Institute for the Study of Christian Zionism, 23 Oct. 202Dr. Matthew D. Taylor is the senior Christian scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies in Baltimore, where he specializes in American Christianity, American Islam, Christian extremism, and religious politics. His book, The Violent Take It by Force: The Christian Movement that is Threatening Our Democracy (Broadleaf, 2024), tracks how a loose network of charismatic Christian leaders called the New Apostolic Reformation was a major instigating force for the January 6th Insurrection and is currently reshaping the culture of the religious right in the U.S. Taylor is also the creator of the audio docuseries Charismatic Revival Fury: The New Apostolic Reformation.Rev. Susan Hayward: was until recently the lead on the US Institute of Peace’s efforts to understand religious dimensions of conflict and advance efforts engaging religious actors and organizations in peacebuilding. She has conducted political asylum and refugee work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Advocates for Human Rights. Rev. Hayward studied Buddhism in Nepal and is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ.www.axismundi.usExecutive Producer: Dr. Bradley OnishiProducer: Andrew GillOriginal Music and Mixing: Scott OkamotoProduction Assistance: Kari OnishiFunded through generous contributions from ICJS, Princeton Theological Seminary, and the ICRD.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This episode of American Non-Exceptionalism delves into the rise of Hindu nationalism in India and its global impact, including its manifestations within the Indian diaspora in the United States. Hosts Matthew Taylor and Susie Hayward discuss the symbolism and controversy surrounding the use of a bulldozer in an India Day parade in New Jersey, highlighting Hindu nationalism's influence on American soil. Scholars Nikhil Mandalaparthy and Anant Rambachan provide a historical perspective on India's transition from British colonial rule to a secular democracy, the role of Hindu nationalist organizations like the RSS, and the political ascent of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP. The episode also explores grassroots resistance strategies, the role of the academic community, and the importance of interfaith and intra-faith dialogue in combating religious nationalism.Additional Resources:Mandalaparthy, Nikhil. “100 Years Later American Hindu Leaders are Making the Same Mistakes.” The Wire, 6 Sept. 2021.Mandalaparthy, Nikhil. “A ‘Pilgrimage of Love’ Seeks Indian Hindu Leaders Willing to Condemn Hindu Nationalism.” Religion News Service, 24 Apr. 2023. Rambachan, Anantanand. Essays in Hindu Theology. Fortress Press, 2019Rambachan, Anantanand. “The Hindu Value for Debate and Dissent: Untangling Hinduism and Hindutva.” Anantanand Rambachan – Blog, 15 Mar. 2020Nikhil Mandalaparthy, PhD Student at Emory University: researcher, curator, and organizer interested in religion and politics in South Asia and the South Asian diaspora. Recently, as a 2024-25 Luce Scholar, Nikhil was affiliated with the International Centre for Ethnic Studies in Colombo, Sri Lanka, where he taught a course on "Religion and Resistance in Sri Lanka and Beyond." As a journalist, Nikhil has reported from India, South Africa, and the United States, with reporting published in several outlets, such as Religion News Service, Foreign Policy, Religion Dispatches, and Religion Unplugged, and has been supported by the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting.Anantanand Rambuchan, Professor Emeritus at St Olaf University. His books include: Accomplishing the Accomplished: The Vedas as a Source of Valid Knowledge in Shankara, The Limits of Scripture: Vivekananda's Reinterpretation of the Authority of the Vedas, The Advaita Worldview: God, World and Humanity, A Hindu Theology of Liberation and Essays in Hindu Theology. His scholarly interests include: the Advaita (Non-dual) Vedanta tradition, Hindu ethics, liberation theology, and interreligous dialogue. The British Broadcasting Corporation transmitted a series of 25 lectures on Hinduism by Prof. Rambachan around the world.Dr. Matthew D. Taylor is the senior Christian scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies in Baltimore, where he specializes in American Christianity, American Islam, Christian extremism, and religious politics. His book, The Violent Take It by Force: The Christian Movement that is Threatening Our Democracy (Broadleaf, 2024), tracks how a loose network of charismatic Christian leaders called the New Apostolic Reformation was a major instigating force for the January 6th Insurrection and is currently reshaping the culture of the religious right in the U.S. Taylor is also the creator of the audio docuseries Charismatic Revival Fury: The New Apostolic Reformation.Rev. Susan Hayward: was until recently the lead on the US Institute of Peace’s efforts to understand religious dimensions of conflict and advance efforts engaging religious actors and organizations in peacebuilding. She has conducted political asylum and refugee work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Advocates for Human Rights. Rev. Hayward studied Buddhism in Nepal and is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ.www.axismundi.usExecutive Producer: Dr. Bradley OnishiProducer: Andrew GillOriginal Music and Mixing: Scott OkamotoProduction Assistance: Kari OnishiFunded through generous contributions from ICJS, Princeton Theological Seminary, and the ICRD.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode, the hosts delve into the recent political upheavals in Sri Lanka and Myanmar, focusing on the unique aspects of the resistance movements in each country. In order to break down the dimensions of these political movements, they welcome scholars David Moe (Yale) and Geethika Dharmasinghe (University of Toronto). The discussion emphasizes the role of decentralized, youth-led protests that cut across ethnic and religious lines. The conversation highlights the significant involvement of religious clergy in supporting these movements, albeit in a more supplementary and less dominant role. It underscores the use of art, music, and other creative tactics as powerful tools for mobilization. The conversation also explores the challenges and successes of these uprisings, including the eventual displacement of an authoritarian president in Sri Lanka and the ongoing fight against a military regime in Myanmar. In the final segment, the hosts draw practical lessons for Americans, including the importance of solidarity, nonviolent resistance, and leveraging technology.Guests: Geethika Dharmasinghe earned her Ph.D. from Cornell University in Asian Literature, Religion and Culture with specializations in the relationship of Buddhists to violence in contemporary times, drawing also on substantial training in cultural anthropology. Her dissertation research, "Terror-Making in Buddhist World," was funded by the Wenner Gren Dissertation Fieldwork grant. Her other teaching and research converge around literatures on New Social Movements, Buddhist modernity, nationalism and the political economy of South and Southeast Asia. David Thang Moe is a Postdoctoral Associate and Lecturer in Southeast Asian Studies at Yale University, and a Co-chair of Religion in Southeast Asia Unit at the American Academy of Religion. He is the author of Beyond the Academy: Lived Asian Public Theology of Religions, Princeton Theological Monograph Series (Wipf & Stock, 2024), and has published over 70 scholarly articles. His current project, titled Beyond Buddhist Nationalism: Political Theology of Interreligious and Decentralized Resistance after the Coup,is under review with Oxford University Press. Additional Resources: Walton, Matthew J., and Susan Hayward. Contesting Buddhist Narratives: Democratization, Nationalism, and Communal Violence in Myanmar. East-West Center Policy Studies 71, 2014. Hayward, Susan. “Beyond the Coup in Myanmar: Don’t Ignore the Religious Dimensions.” Just Security, 3 May 2021, .Dharmasinghe, Geethika. “Aragalaya Movement: A New Equilibrium within the Sri Lankan Social Formation?” Economic and Political Weekly,Vol LVIII No 32, 12 August 2023, pp.12-16. Dharmasinghe, Geethika. “The Fasting Monk, Islamophobia, and Episodic Violence in Sri Lanka.” Anthropology News, 16 Aug. 2025, Moe, David. “Burmese Public Theology of Religions and Reconciliation After the 2021Coup”, International Journal of Public Theology, 17/2, 2023, pp. 262-286.  Moe, David. Beyond the Academy: Lived Asian Public Theology of Religions, Princeton Theological Monograph, Wipf & Stocks, 2024.Dr. Matthew D. Taylor is the senior Christian scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies in Baltimore, where he specializes in American Christianity, American Islam, Christian extremism, and religious politics. His book, The Violent Take It by Force: The Christian Movement that is Threatening Our Democracy (Broadleaf, 2024), tracks how a loose network of charismatic Christian leaders called the New Apostolic Reformation was a major instigating force for the January 6th Insurrection and is currently reshaping the culture of the religious right in the U.S. Taylor is also the creator of the audio docuseries Charismatic Revival Fury: The New Apostolic Reformation.Rev. Susan Hayward: was until recently the lead on the US Institute of Peace’s efforts to understand religious dimensions of conflict and advance efforts engaging religious actors and organizations in peacebuilding. She has conducted political asylum and refugee work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Advocates for Human Rights. Rev. Hayward studied Buddhism in Nepal and is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ.www.axismundi.usExecutive Producer: Dr. Bradley OnishiProducer: Andrew GillOriginal Music and Mixing: Scott OkamotoProduction Assistance: Kari OnishiFunded through generous contributions from ICJS, Princeton Theological Seminary, and the ICRD.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Helen J. Kim, a Professor of American religious history, and Ray Kim, Director at the International Center for Religion and Diplomacy, delve into South Korea's recent political upheaval. They discuss President Yoon's martial law attempt and the grassroots protests that followed. The conversation also explores the deep ties between Korean and American evangelicalism, highlighting unique protest traditions like shaving heads. Ultimately, they emphasize lessons for U.S. religious leaders on resisting authoritarianism and the role of K-Pop in cultural protest.

Our trip around the world begins in Brazil. The parallels between what’s happening in the US and what’s happening in Brazil are striking. In both places, you have powerful Christian movements that have become politically active over the last decade, aligning themselves with certain right-wing populist political figures and policy priorities that have challenged democracy. In both places, you had attempted insurrections staged at the legislature at which these movements – and their Christian symbols and narratives – were highly visible. In both places, a former president supported by these movements has faced prosecution. These parallels are not coincidental. Political and religious leaders in both countries have visited one another, advocated for each other, strategized together. But here’s where things diverge. In Brazil, former president Bolsonaro has not been able to reclaim power. In the US, of course, President Trump has. Has Brazil succeeded where the US hasn’t in containing an authoritarian president and the Christian nationalist movement that supports him? If so, how was this achieved? To help Matt and Susie answer those questions, they are joined by two Brazilian scholars of religion based in the U.S.: Raimundo Barreto and João Chaves. Additional ResourcesBarreto, Raimundo, and João B. Chaves. “Christian Nationalism Is Thriving in Bolsonaro’s Brazil.” The Christian Century, 1 Dec. 2021, www.christiancentury.org/article/critical-essay/christian-nationalism-thriving-bolsonaro-s-brazil.Barreto, Raimundo, and João B. Chaves. “The Shared Religious Roots of Twin Insurrections in the U.S. and Brazil.” The Washington Post, 18 Jan. 2023, www.washingtonpost.com/made-by-history/2023/01/18/brazil-insurrection-evangelical-christianity/.Costa, Petra, director. Apocalypse in the Tropics. 2024, Netflix, 14 July 2025. https://www.netflix.com/title/81989009Chaves, João B. The Global Mission of the Jim Crow South: Southern Baptist Missionaries and the Shaping of Latin American Evangelicalism. Mercer University Press, 2022.Dr. Matthew D. Taylor is the senior Christian scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies in Baltimore, where he specializes in American Christianity, American Islam, Christian extremism, and religious politics. His book, The Violent Take It by Force: The Christian Movement that is Threatening Our Democracy (Broadleaf, 2024), tracks how a loose network of charismatic Christian leaders called the New Apostolic Reformation was a major instigating force for the January 6th Insurrection and is currently reshaping the culture of the religious right in the U.S. Taylor is also the creator of the audio docuseries Charismatic Revival Fury: The New Apostolic Reformation.Rev. Susan Hayward: was until recently the lead on the US Institute of Peace’s efforts to understand religious dimensions of conflict and advance efforts engaging religious actors and organizations in peacebuilding. She has conducted political asylum and refugee work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Advocates for Human Rights. Rev. Hayward studied Buddhism in Nepal and is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ.www.axismundi.usExecutive Producer: Dr. Bradley OnishiProducer: Andrew GillOriginal Music and Mixing: Scott OkamotoProduction Assistance: Kari OnishiFunded through generous contributions from ICJS, Princeton Theological Seminary, and the ICRD.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Religious Nationalism is Global - So is the Resistance In this first episode, Dr. Matthew D. Taylor and the Rev. Susan Hayward make the case that we in America need to listen to and learn from those who’ve been resisting religious nationalist movements in other contexts. By showing humility, and leaving American exceptionalism behind, we will better understand what’s happening here at home and how to respond. American Christian nationalism is not a singular phenomenon. It's part of a family of religious nationalisms that mutually reinforce each other. That means there is a global network of resistors with strategies, skills, and lessons to teach Americans in our own fight.This episode introduces the framework, key terms, and overarching questions that will guide the series. We are introduced to our hosts Dr. Matthew Taylor and Rev. Susie Hayward, their backgrounds and experiences/expertise, and why they wanted to examine the phenomenon of US Christian Nationalism through this global approach. Matt and Susie offer an overview of the rise of exclusionary forms of religious nationalisms worldwide associated with democratic backsliding – setting that alongside the rising influence of anti-democratic Christian Nationalism in the US. They point to ways in which these global movements are related to one another, including their common drivers, narratives, and tactics, and to some of their trans-national connections.Additional Resources: Charismatic Revival Fury: The New Apostolic Reformation (2023) Written and narrated by Matthew D. Taylor. Produced by Brad Onishi. Engineered by Scott Okamoto.The Violent Take It by Force: The Christian Movement that is Threatening Our Democracy. Matthew D. Taylor. Minneapolis: Broadleaf Books, 2024.Scripture People: Salafi Muslims in Evangelical Christians’ America. Matthew D. Taylor. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2023.Defying Tyrants: Following Jesus in a World of Christian Antichrists. Matthew D. Taylor. Minneapolis: Broadleaf Books, forthcoming in October 2026.Women, Religion, and Peace – Illuminating the Invisible. Susan Hayward and Katherine Marshall, eds. Washington, DC: U.S. Institute of Peace Press, September 2015. “Religions, Peace, and Conflict.” Susan Hayward and Erin Wilson. In The State of the Evidence in Religions and Development, edited by Joint Learning Initiative on Faith and Local Communities (JLI). Washington, DC: JLI, 2022, 55-60.Hayward, Susan. “Religion and Peacebuilding: Reflections on Current Challenges and Future Prospects.” Special Report 313. Washington, DC: USIP Press, August 2012.   Dr. Matthew D. Taylor is the senior Christian scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies in Baltimore, where he specializes in American Christianity, American Islam, Christian extremism, and religious politics. His book, The Violent Take It by Force: The Christian Movement that is Threatening Our Democracy (Broadleaf, 2024), tracks how a loose network of charismatic Christian leaders called the New Apostolic Reformation was a major instigating force for the January 6th Insurrection and is currently reshaping the culture of the religious right in the U.S. Taylor is also the creator of the audio docuseries Charismatic Revival Fury: The New Apostolic Reformation.Rev. Susan Hayward: was until recently the lead on the US Institute of Peace’s efforts to understand religious dimensions of conflict and advance efforts engaging religious actors and organizations in peacebuilding. She has conducted political asylum and refugee work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Advocates for Human Rights. Rev. Hayward studied Buddhism in Nepal and is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ.www.axismundi.usExecutive Producer: Dr. Bradley OnishiProducer: Andrew GillOriginal Music and Mixing: Scott OkamotoProduction Assistance: Kari OnishiFunded through generous contributions from ICJS, Princeton Theological Seminary, and the ICRD.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy