Dr. Catherine Brekus
Professor at Harvard Divinity School and scholar of American religious history, delivering the 2023 Shurden Lecture on the myth of American chosenness and the roots of white Christian nationalism.
Best podcasts with Dr. Catherine Brekus
Ranked by the Snipd community
13 snips
Jun 1, 2023 • 40min
S4, Ep. 23: The myth of American 'chosenness'
Dr. Catherine Brekus, a noted scholar from Harvard Divinity School, delves into the complexities of America’s self-proclaimed 'chosenness'—a concept entwined with arrogance, exploitation, and violence. She traces its origins from Puritan ideas to modern white Christian nationalism. Brekus highlights how this myth justifies historical atrocities and racial hierarchies while revealing its evolution into a broader American exceptionalism. As demographics shift, she warns that the resurgence of this narrative threatens democratic ideals and calls for a repudiation of exclusionary practices.
10 snips
Jan 22, 2026 • 39min
Best of: The myth of American 'chosenness' with Dr. Catherine Brekus
Dr. Catherine Brekus, Harvard Divinity School professor and historian of American religion, explores the myth of American chosenness. She traces its Puritan origins, links to conquest and slavery, and evolution into modern white Christian nationalism. The talk examines how religious language shaped politics, shifted into secular exceptionalism, and how various groups have contested or embraced the myth.
