The State Of Belief
Every week, Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush hosts lively, funny and poignant conversations with inspiring religious and civic leaders; as well as artists and activists from across the country. Listeners get a potent mix of spiritual wisdom, political strategy, and hopeful commentary from national and local leaders who are rising up to meet this urgent moment in America. With the tagline: “Where Religion and Democracy Meet,” State of Belief is a celebration of our nation’s diversities and an invitation to join together to, in the words of the great James Baldwin, "achieve our country.”
- Update frequency
- every 6 days
- Average duration
- 57 minutes
- Episodes
- 153
- Years Active
- 2022 - 2025
National Call to Action for Faith Communities
On this special early-release edition of The State of Belief, you’ll hear host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush moderate an incredible group of faith leaders, progressive organizers, and activists who …
01:07:07 |
Fri 04 Apr 2025
Faith and LGBTQ+ Rights in the Face of Adversity
This week, you'll hear a powerful panel discussion hosted by Rev. Paul Raushenbush and featuring four leading LGBTQ+ and faith activists: Chase Strangio (ACLU), Tahil Sharma (LGBTQ Task Force), Jon C…
01:00:44 |
Sat 29 Mar 2025
The Rule of Law and the Chaos of MAGA: Jay Michaelson
This week, Rabbi Dr. Jay Michaelson joins Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush for a deep dive into the state of U.S. politics, the role of the rule of law in preserving democracy, and political attacks ag…
00:57:57 |
Sat 22 Mar 2025
Navigating the Narrow Bridge: Congressman Eric Swalwell and the Fight for Democracy
This week, Representative Eric Swalwell joins host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to discuss the ongoing challenges facing American democracy, lessons not learned in the January 6th Capitol riot, and…
00:47:28 |
Sat 15 Mar 2025
Jeff Sharlet: The Slow Civil War Is Speeding Up
In difficult times, the work of truth-telling can seem like obsessing on the negative. But the most important truths are very often uncomfortable and even frightening. This week, host Rev. Paul Brand…
00:48:46 |
Sat 08 Mar 2025
One Month of Trump's Attacks on Faith: Policymakers, Faith Leaders, and Legal Experts Take Action
This week, Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is joined by a panel of faith leaders, legal experts, and policymakers to discuss the urgent threats facing democracy and religious freedom under the Trump a…
01:08:31 |
Sat 01 Mar 2025
Unfiltered: The Gen Z Revolution with Olivia Julianna
This week, Gen Z activist Olivia Julianna joins Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to discuss the importance of political engagement and the pursuit of social justice at an incredibly difficult moment in…
00:57:28 |
Sat 22 Feb 2025
Black History Month In the Time of Trump: Rev. Jacqui Lewis
This week, activist and theologian Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis joins host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to discuss the celebration and reflection of Black history, and the intersection of faith and activi…
00:55:10 |
Sat 15 Feb 2025
Money, Lies, and God: Katherine Stewart Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy
This week, author and journalist Katherine Stewart joins host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to discuss the rise of Christian Nationalism, Trump’s authoritarian tendencies, and the weaponization of f…
00:51:22 |
Sat 08 Feb 2025
Can Religion Save Democracy? Maggie Siddiqi on Pluralism, Policy, and Resistance
This week, Maggie Siddiqi, new senior fellow at Interfaith Alliance, is with host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush discussing Donald Trump’s efforts to dismantle the Department of Education, Bishop Bud…
00:52:42 |
Sun 02 Feb 2025
Skye Perryman: There's No Way Out of This But Through
This week, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush reflects on the courage of Episcopal Bishop Rt. Rev. Mariann Budde, who spoke faithfully on behalf of the victims of the incoming administration’s polic…
00:52:54 |
Sat 25 Jan 2025
King's Non-Violence Trumps Christian Nationalism
This week, we focus on the confluence of the inauguration of Donald Trump on the day we observe Martin Luther King Day, January 20th. Host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush brings attention to the dicho…
00:55:36 |
Sat 18 Jan 2025
Christian Nationalism and Hate Violence: What Can We Do?
This week, Zev Mishell, National Programs Associate at Interfaith Alliance, joins host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to discuss the intersection of systemic violence, hate crimes, and religious and …
00:50:52 |
Sat 11 Jan 2025
Special Episode - Remembering Jimmy Carter
Perhaps more than any other modern president, Jimmy Carter identified himself very publicly and explicitly as a person guided by faith. At the same time, he was also a consistent defender of healthy …
00:20:48 |
Wed 08 Jan 2025
January 6th: Bad Theology, Bad for Democracy
This week, Dr. Robert P. Jones, president and founder of the Public Religion Research Institute, joins host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to discuss the intersection of race, religion, and politics …
01:11:35 |
Sat 04 Jan 2025
Democracy Defying Gravity: WICKED as Movie and Metaphor
Resisting authoritariansim. Not succumbing to the mass reverence for “the man behind the curtain.” Recognizing the value of those who are different, even if shunned by the majority. Staying true to o…
00:43:45 |
Sat 28 Dec 2024
Top Religion News 2024: NYT Reporter Ruth Graham
In 2024 America, almost every major news story was a religion story in some way. Important stories call for compelling storytelling, and we take a look back at 2024 in the company of a leading religi…
00:54:33 |
Sat 21 Dec 2024
Timothy Snyder On Religion, Power, and Freedom
This week, renowned historian and author Timothy Snyder joins host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to discuss the complex relationship between religion, freedom, and democracy. His new book, On Freedo…
00:57:22 |
Sat 14 Dec 2024
Did Christian Nationalism Win? Matthew Taylor on the Vote and the Future
Christian Nationalism has seemingly grabbed the levers of power in America. With an overt passion for power over democracy, the agenda of this authoritarian, exclusionary movement needs to be examine…
01:00:51 |
Sat 07 Dec 2024
The Subversive Power of Gratitude with Diana Butler Bass
Happy Thanksgiving! This week on The State of Belief, we look at gratitude and appreciation from several angles: through the eyes of children, and of a theologian who literally wrote the book on givi…
00:53:33 |
Thu 28 Nov 2024
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