When The Wolves Came

Caleb E. Campbell, a pastor and author, dives into the rising influence of white Christian nationalism under the Trump administration. He discusses how evangelical resistors are uniting with pro-democracy allies, challenging extremism within their faith communities. The conversation highlights the value of pluralism in fostering inclusivity and compassion in churches. They also explore the necessity of diverse leadership in building sustainable pro-democracy movements that engage varied ideological beliefs to combat extremism and support marginalized groups.

Dr. Cynthia Miller-Idriss, a professor and expert in extremism, joins the discussion alongside Caleb E. Campbell, a pastor advocating for dialogue in polarized times. They delve into the rise of white Christian nationalism and its association with domestic extremism, urging for early intervention strategies. The conversation highlights the harmful impact of misinformation and addresses parental anxieties over cultural changes. Inspiringly, they share personal stories of transformation, emphasizing the power of empathy and community support in combating radicalization.

Caleb E. Campbell, Pastor at Desert Springs Bible Church and author of 'Disarming Leviathan,' shares insights on confronting extremism in the church. He discusses whether to sever ties or engage with those holding controversial views. The conversation delves into the challenges of navigating broken relationships post-pandemic and the intersection of faith and politics, particularly after the January 6 insurrection. With a focus on empathy and dialogue, Campbell offers strategies for engaging with American Christian nationalists and promoting understanding within evangelical communities.

COVID-19 church closures, a summer of Black Lives Matter protests, and a tense Presidential election all fan the flames of white Christian nationalism. Two churches in Phoenix react in wildly different ways, with dramatic results. Content warning: this episode includes a depiction of police violence that might be disturbing to some listeners.Show Notes:Learn more: Religious Change in America | PRRIEpisode Guests:Caleb E. Campbell is a pastor at Desert Springs Bible Church in Phoenix, Arizona, and the author of Disarming Leviathan: Loving Your Christian Nationalist Neighbor. https://www.disarmingleviathan.com/Kristin Kobes Du Mez is a New York Times bestselling author and Professor of History and Gender Studies at Calvin University.  Her research focuses on the intersection of gender, religion, and politics, and her most recent book is Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation.Linda Morris was called to the ministry in 1986 and has served at the First Pentecostal Church, the Mountain States Council and the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World including being a founding member of the PAW Single People’s Alliance and a former member of the Convention Evangelism Outreach Services (C.E.O.S.). She recently led the Surge Network Women In Leadership and serves as Outreach Director at First Pentecostal Church where she also teaches biblical worldview, wholistic ministry, and evangelism and outreach for the church’s discipleship classes and other groupsKatherine Stewart is the award-winning author of Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy. https://katherinestewart.meRobert P. Jones is the president and founder of Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI). He is the author of The New York Times bestselling book, The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy and the Path to a Shared American Future. Nathan Whitchurch graduated from the University of Southern California in 2007 with a B.S. Mechanical Engineering degree and moved to Phoenix, AZ.  Nathan joined the Desert Springs Bible Church board of elders in 2013 and continues to serve as an elder, volunteer, and spiritual leader there.For more, including full transcripts, go to WhenTheWolvesCame.orgSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this insightful discussion, scholar Robbie Jones, who leads the Public Religion Research Institute, uncovers the troubling ties between white evangelical churches and political nationalism. He highlights how Trump’s presidency intensified rifts within faith communities, revealing a surprising embrace of conservative ideologies and conspiracy theories like QAnon. The conversation delves into personal narratives, illustrating the complex interplay of faith and politics, while shedding light on how these divisions challenge core humanitarian values in evangelical spaces.

Pastor Caleb Campbell leads an evangelical church in Phoenix. After Trump’s first election, Caleb became alarmed at rising religious extremism in evangelical spaces. And he should know: before he returned to the church, Pastor Caleb was a neo-Nazi skinhead.Show Notes:Learn more about American’s attitudes about Christian nationalism: Support for Christian Nationalism in All 50 States: Findings from PRRI’s 2024 American Values AtlasEpisode Guests:Caleb E. Campbell is a pastor at Desert Springs Bible Church in Phoenix, Arizona, and the author of Disarming Leviathan: Loving Your Christian Nationalist Neighbor. More at https://www.disarmingleviathan.com/Robert P. Jones is the president and founder of Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI). He is the author of The New York Times bestselling book, The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy and the Path to a Shared American Future. Katherine Stewart is the award-winning author of Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy. https://katherinestewart.meFor more go to WhenTheWolvesCame.orgSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Christian nationalism has divided white evangelical churches; one Phoenix pastor and some unlikely allies are at the forefront of a growing resistance. Extremist politics have upended the evangelical world. Over the course of 6 episodes, Sociologist Ruth Braunstein examines the efforts of the insiders who are resisting white Christian nationalism.When The Wolves Came launches March 4.About Dr. Braunstein:Ruth Braunstein is an award-winning sociologist who studies religion, politics, and money. She is Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Connecticut, where she leads the Meanings of Democracy Lab, which researches the growing resistance to Christian Nationalism. As part of this work, she created and hosts the audio documentary When the Wolves Came: Evangelicals Resisting Extremism. Her forthcoming book, My Tax Dollars: The Morality of Taxpaying in America, explores how taxpaying has become a moral battleground in public life.WhenTheWolvesCame.orgSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.