Telling Jefferson Lies
The series was active from January-April, 2024. I am periodically posting bonus episodes throughout the remainder of 2024. Please subscribe so you will be notified.
Telling Jefferson Lies chronicles how history can be hijacked for ideological and political purposes, as well as a much broader story about the surge of Christian nationalism and the misuse of history which often goes along with it. The series begins with an in-depth consideration of the methods of Christian nationalist story teller David Barton. Then I tell the story of how his book on Jefferson was pulled from publication in 2012 and the response of evangelicals to that rare event. From there, I broaden the scope to examine the varieties of Christian nationalism and the negative consequences of this way of thinking about church and state. The last segment examines the reasons why the separation of church and state is good history, good civics, and good religion.
For more information, go to http://www.gettingjeffersonright.com.
Telling Jefferson Lies
Still Searching for Christian America, Part Two
Note: Earlier versions of this segment had a low quality version of a speech by Jerry Falwell. The audio problem has been corrected.
In this episode, I describe the National Prayer Breakfast movement, right-wing Christian nationalists, Reconstructionists, and non-denominational charismatic Christian nationalists.
My guests for this episode are:
Julie Ingersoll, Professor of religion at the University of North Florida and author of Building God's Kingdom: Inside the World of Christian Reconstruction
Jonathan Larsen: Journalist, https://jonathanlarsen.substack.com/
Joel McDurmon: Attorney, theologian, and author of several books including The Problem of Slavery in Christian America.
Katherine Stewart: Journalist, author of Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism. The documentary God and Country, produced by Rob Reiner is based on this book.
Matthew Taylor: Senior scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian and Jewish Studies and author of the book due out on September 24, The Violent Take It by Force: The Christian Movement That Is Threatening Our Democracy.
Resources mentioned:
The Family by Jeff Sharlet - https://www.netflix.com/title/80063867 (full disclosure, I appear in three segments of this series)
Kevin Kruse, One Nation Under God: How Corporate America Invented Christian America.
SHOW NOTES
Closing Song - American Dream by Kate Thornbury
https://open.spotify.com/track/5Fq2zf9Z8jCFLN1EOeYun6?si=4d1ee70f65304625
Theme Song - The World Awaits Us All
https://open.spotify.com/track/1itsWJuQnnx5bPbNJpkx51?si=621fb898b60f4ccb
Background music: Dustin Blatnik, Warren Throckmorton, Jon Comden, the Columbia Band