The State Of Belief

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.”

Episodes

A Pastor Reports from the Frontlines In Los Angeles:  Faith and Immigration

June 14, 2025 • 69 mins
This week on The State of Belief, an inspiring conversation with Rev. Noel Andersen, the National Field Director for Church World Service and a dedicated advocate for immigrant rights. In this episode, he joins host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to delve into the pressing issues surrounding immigration enforcement, the role of faith communities, and the ongoing fight for justice in the face of adversity. Here are three key takeawa...
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Leah Greenberg, Indivisible, and No Kings: "You do not need permission to get started"

June 7, 2025 • 54 mins
This week on The State of Belief – getting ready for No Kings Day on June 14th, an initiative of the national grassroots organization Indivisible. Co-founder Leah Greenberg explains that No Kings Day is a forceful nationwide response to the royal pretensions on display in Donald Trump's demand for a multi-million dollar military parade on his 79th birthday. Leah joins Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to discuss the importance of gett...
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Jim Wallis and a Moral Budget: The June 10th Procession at the Capitol

May 31, 2025 • 50 mins
This week on The State of Belief, you’ll hear a powerful conversation with Rev. Jim Wallis and host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, diving deep into his upcoming event on June 10th at the Capitol, A Pentecost Witness for a Moral Budget, which aims to address critical issues surrounding the Reconciliation Bill and its potential cuts to vital programs like Medicaid and SNAP. Just a couple of highlights: How Can Faith and Action...
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Everybody Can Do Something: Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum

May 24, 2025 • 54 mins
June, traditionally Pride Month, is almost here, and this year, Pride will test the courage of our nation. It has been a challenging time for the LGBTQ+ community - with attempts to erase trans people, roll back civil rights for the wider LGBTQ community, ban Pride flags, and in 10 states there are bills to take back the right to marry... as well as pressure for corporations and faith groups to distance themselves from Pride celebr...
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Lt. Gen. Charles D. Luckey (Ret.) on the Role of the Military in Upholding Democracy

May 17, 2025 • 60 mins
This week on the show, we're honored to welcome Lt. Gen. Charles D. Luckey (Retired), former Chief of the United States Army Reserve, joining host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush. He’s a combat veteran, he’s an attorney, and he’s a pastor’s son – so he's able to cover a wide range of topics with depth and wisdom. Having sworn an oath to the Constitution, Lt. Gen. Luckey has some really great insights into the responsibilities of cit...
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Book Bans vs. the Right to Read: Kelly Jensen and Rev. Amos Brown

May 10, 2025 • 72 mins
This week on The State of Belief, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush welcomes Kelly Jensen. She’s a passionate advocate for intellectual freedom, democracy, and the right to read. As an editor at Book Riot and a former librarian, Kelly has been at the forefront of the fight against book bans and censorship. The urgent conversation covers the growing wave of censorship, the role of religious extremism in book-banning efforts, and w...
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Faith is Standing Strong: Rev. Dr. Shannon Fleck

May 3, 2025 • 56 mins
On Wednesday, April 30th, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush was with Faithful America Executive Director Rev. Dr. Shannon Fleck in front of the Supreme Court building, saying “No!” to tax dollars being funneled to private religious schools. That’s the issue that was before the justices as they heard arguments in St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School v. Drummond. This week, The State of Belief starts with an urgent messag...
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Amy Spitalnick on How Jewish Safety and Inclusive Democracy are Inextricably Linked

April 26, 2025 • 56 mins
This week, Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA), is back on The State of Belief. In this episode, Amy and host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush dig into the immediacy of antisemitism, democracy, and how our communities are connected.  Among the important topics they cover: Why Jewish safety and democracy are intertwined How genuine concerns about antisemitism are being hijacked to undermine civi...
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Remembering Pope Francis: Father James Martin Reflects on LGBTQ+ Inclusion, Environmentalism, and Compassionate Leadership

April 21, 2025 • 40 mins
Pope Francis, who led the Roman Catholic Church worldwide since 2013, has passed away at the age of 88. A tireless champion of the central social justice teachings of Jesus, Pope Francis followed his personal mantra, “don’t forget the poor,” Pope Francis – previously Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina - brought profound change to the Church in tumultuous and challenging times. He was the first non...
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Easter and Passover Courage in the Fight for Democracy

April 19, 2025 • 46 mins
This week on The State of Belief, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush directly takes on the critical issues facing our democracy as we reach the end of the first 90 days of the Trump-Vance-Musk administration. With the backdrop of the sacred days in both the Christian and Jewish traditions, Paul enumerates some of the anti-democratic actions the administration has taken against individuals and communities. That includes urgent warn...
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Michael Eric Dyson: How We Love Is To Tell the Truth

April 12, 2025 • 51 mins
This week on The State of Belief, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, a distinguished professor at Vanderbilt University and a passionate advocate for social justice. They dive into the current political climate in America, addressing the rising tide of anti-democratic movements and the resurgence of fascist ideologies. Dr. Dyson emphasizes that these challeng...
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National Call to Action for Faith Communities

April 4, 2025 • 68 mins
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 came together for a National Call to Action for Faith Communities on April 2, 2025. This episode is a must-listen as we explore the urgent issues facing our democracy and the vital role that diverse faith communities can play in this mo...
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Faith and LGBTQ+ Rights in the Face of Adversity

March 29, 2025 • 61 mins
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 Cohen (Keshet), and Ross Keys (Interfaith Alliance of North Dakota). They discuss the intersection of faith and LGBTQ+ rights, the critical threats facing the trans community, and the importance of self-care in activism. Together, they a...
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The Rule of Law and the Chaos of MAGA: Jay Michaelson

March 22, 2025 • 58 mins
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 against institutions of higher education. Together, they explore how faith can play a role in resistance and activism, reflecting on the deep divisions within American society and the responsibility of institutions to defend core values i...
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Navigating the Narrow Bridge: Congressman Eric Swalwell and the Fight for Democracy

March 15, 2025 • 48 mins
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 the critical role of faith communities in this time of division. Together, they explore the importance of political engagement, especially in the face of significant threats to fundamental democratic norms and vital public services. R...
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Jeff Sharlet: The Slow Civil War Is Speeding Up

March 8, 2025 • 49 mins
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 Brandeis Raushenbush welcomes writer Jeff Sharlet, author of The Undertow: Scenes From A Slow Civil War, back to The State of Belief. As Jeff sees America’s slow civil war speeding up, he and Paul revisit his reluctance to initially use the ...
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One Month of Trump's Attacks on Faith: Policymakers, Faith Leaders, and Legal Experts Take Action

March 1, 2025 • 69 mins
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 administration. Together, they explore how faith communities can take action against executive overreach, attacks on religious institutions, and efforts to dismantle critical government programs. Here's the complete list of speakers: ...
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Unfiltered: The Gen Z Revolution with Olivia Julianna

February 22, 2025 • 58 mins
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 our history. Together, they explore how a rising generation of young leaders is doing critical work to address systemic injustice and inequality – and the influential role that faith and faith communities can play in fueling that activ...
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Black History Month In the Time of Trump: Rev. Jacqui Lewis

February 15, 2025 • 56 mins
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 activism. Together, they explore the ongoing fight for racial equality, the powerful influence of Black history on contemporary social justice movements, and the role of spiritual and community leaders in challenging systemic injustice. Rev. ...
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Money, Lies, and God: Katherine Stewart Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy

February 8, 2025 • 52 mins
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 faith for political gain. Together, they dive into the current political climate, the deep divisions within American society, and how knowledge and organizing are key to defending democracy. Katherine’s latest book, out on February 18th,...
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