Disarming Leviathan Podcast

Skye Jethani joins us for a discussion about how the teachings an example of Jesus can shape our understanding of justice today.About SkyeAn award-winning author, speaker, and co-host of the Holy Post Podcast, Skye has written more than a dozen books and served as an editor and executive at Christianity Today for more than a decade. Raised in a religiously and ethnically diverse family, his curiosity about faith led him to study comparative religion before entering seminary and pastoral ministry. With a unique ability to connect Christian thought and contemporary culture, his voice has been featured in The New York Times, USA Today, and The Washington Post, and he’s spoken to audiences throughout the world as diverse as the U.S. Naval Academy, The Chautauqua Institution, and the Lausanne Movement.Learn more at withgoddaily.com Get full access to Disarming Leviathan at disarmingleviathan.substack.com/subscribe

Katherine Stewart joins us to discuss how purveyors of American Christian Nationalism leverage money, lies, and faith to attract, deceive, and manipulate their audience. About Katherine Katherine Stewart is an award-winning journalist and author known for her deep investigative work on the intersection of religion, politics, and democracy. She has extensively covered the rise of religious nationalism, the erosion of church-state separation, and the global push against liberal democracy. Her books include The Good News Club: The Christian Right's Stealth Assault on America's Children, The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism—which inspired the 2024 documentary God & Country—and her latest, Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy. Katherine’s work has been featured in The New York Times, The New Republic, and other leading publications, making her a sought-after voice in conversations about faith, power, and politics.For more info, visit Disarmingleviathan.com Get full access to Disarming Leviathan at disarmingleviathan.substack.com/subscribe

Pastor Meghan Good joins us for a conversation about how following the way of Jesus is key to engaging those committed to American Christian Nationalism.More about MeghanMeghan Larissa Good is the lead pastor of Trinity Mennonite Church (Phoenix, Arizona) and author of Divine Gravity: Sparking a Movement to Recover a Better Christian Story, which explores contemporary distortions in how the Christian story is told that have left many people adrift or deconstructing their faith and suggests how a recentering of theology on Jesus can revitalize the Christian movement for generations to come.Meghan has a B.A. from Gordon College, an MDiv from Duke Divinity, and a DMin from Portland Seminary, where she was the first recipient of the Frederick Buechner Award for Excellence in Preaching.In addition to her work for the local church, Meghan serves as theology chair for Jesus Collective, an organization working to unite, equip, and amplify a movement toward a more hopeful Jesus-centered Christianity. Meghan is also Faculty of Record for Teaching Leadership in the Doctor of Ministry program at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary. Learn more at https://meghanlarissagood.com/Learn more about Disarming Leviathan Ministries at DisarmingLeviathan.com.Get full access to Disarming Leviathan: Missionary to Christian Nationalists atdisarmingleviathan.substack.com/subscribe Get full access to Disarming Leviathan at disarmingleviathan.substack.com/subscribe

About DrewDrew J. Strait is a pastor-theologian specializing in political idolatry, peacemaking, and how congregations can challenge violent extremism. Strait regularly teaches on Christian nationalism and offers a short course for the public called “Resisting Christian Nationalism with the Gospel of Peace.” He teaches at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary and resides in South Bend, Indiana. Get full access to Disarming Leviathan at disarmingleviathan.substack.com/subscribe

Author Amy Hawk joins us to share her experience moving from leading ministry in Christian Nationalist circles to publicly condemning this movement for betraying Jesus. Learn more about our ministry at DisarmingLeviathan.comAbout AmyAmy Hawk is a writer and speaker based in Oregon. She co-authored Six Years in the Hanoi Hilton: An Extraordinary Story of Courage and Survival in Vietnam, a military biography detailing her father’s harrowing experience as a prisoner of war, with a foreword by Senator John McCain.In addition to her work on military history, Amy writes and speaks on the intersection of Christianity and politics. Her latest book, The Judas Effect: How Evangelicals Betrayed Jesus for Power, examines how much of white evangelicalism in America has aligned with corrupt leadership in pursuit of political dominance. She is a passionate voice against the rise of Christian Nationalism and the damaging influence of MAGA Christianity on the American church.Learn more at www.amyhawk.com. Get full access to Disarming Leviathan at disarmingleviathan.substack.com/subscribe

Carmen LaBerge shares Jesus-centered methods and postures we can use when engaging loved ones who have given themselves over to political polarization.About CarmenCarmen LaBerge is an author, speaker, and host of The Reconnect with Carmen LaBerge. Her book, Speak the Truth: Bring God back into the Conversation, is available in print and audio editions. Her work has also been featured on ChristianityToday.com, the Christian Post, and other outlets.Learn more about Disarming Leviathan Ministries at DisarmingLeviathan.com. Get full access to Disarming Leviathan at disarmingleviathan.substack.com/subscribe

Amanda Tyler joins Caleb for a conversation about American Values, justice, pluralism, and Christian Nationalism.00:00 Introduction to Amanda's Advocacy00:46 Christian Nationalism Threats and Responses03:23 Understanding Pluralism and Church-State Separation08:58 Defining Christian Nationalism and Its Implications18:01 Historical Lessons on Religion and Government25:02 Role of Public Schools in Promoting Democracy and Freedom37:50 Christian Response to Nationalism and ResourcesAbout AmandaAmanda Tyler is executive director of BJC (Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty), leading the organization as it upholds the historic Baptist principle of religious liberty: defending the free exercise of religion and protecting against its establishment by government. She is the lead organizer of BJC’s Christians Against Christian Nationalism campaign and co-host of BJC’s Respecting Religion podcast.Tyler is the author of How to End Christian Nationalism, published by Broadleaf Books on October 22, 2024.Learn more about Disarming Leviathan at disarmingleviathan.com. Get full access to Disarming Leviathan at disarmingleviathan.substack.com/subscribe

Political Scientist and scholar David Koyzis joins us again to talk about how the scripture can shape our understanding of how our faith can shape our understanding of citizenship, government, and civic engagement. About David KoyzisDavid Koyzis is an academic political scientist with a PhD in Government and International Studies from the University of Notre Dame, where he wrote a dissertation comparing the political thought of Herman Dooyeweerd and Yves R. Simon. David taught political science at Redeemer University College for thirty years, mentoring hundreds of young people who have gone on to contribute to public life in Canada and elsewhere. His new book, Citizenship without Illusions is out now!Get full access to Disarming Leviathan: Missionary to Christian Nationalists at rcnc.substack.com/subscribe Get full access to Disarming Leviathan at disarmingleviathan.substack.com/subscribe

April Ajoy, author of Star Spangled Jesus, shares her journey of growing up in the American Christian Nationalist movement, and how leaving that community has impacted her faith and engagement in the community. About April AjoyApril Ajoy is an author, content creator and podcast host who uses humor to shine light on harmful, toxic, and sometimes just weird traits of American Evangelicalism. After growing up an evangelist’s kid entrenched in Christian Nationalism and working in conservative Christian media, she saw the harm caused firsthand. Still a Christian, she uses her platform to expose the dangers of Christian Nationalism while promoting a more inclusive faith. April has been featured on Buzzfeed, CNN, Newsweek and more. She’s been married to Beecher for 10 years and they have two daughters together.Episode Sections00:00 Upbringing in Evangelical Circles01:21 Shift in Ministry Focus Post-9/1103:20 Christian Media and Nationalism08:12 What are some of the ways that your politics was synced up with your faith at that time?15:08 How are we worshiping the same God when we have completely different ideas of who Jesus is?18:55 Journey of Change and Understanding28:02 How would you coach us in approaching those who are embracing American Christian nationalism today?37:32 Creating Compassionate Alternatives42:43 Promotion and Social Media HandlesFor more about Disarming Leviathan, visit DisarmingLeviathan.com. Get full access to Disarming Leviathan: Missionary to Christian Nationalists at rcnc.substack.com/subscribe Get full access to Disarming Leviathan at disarmingleviathan.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Rev. Malcolm Foley joins Caleb to unpack the insidious role greed plays in fueling some of the most pressing evils of our time—racism, Christian Nationalism, and violence. They explore how greed distorts systems and relationships, driving division and oppression, and how the Gospel of Jesus offers a transformative path forward.About Malcolm Malcolm Foley is a pastor, historian, and speaker who serves as special adviser to the president for equity and campus engagement at Baylor University. He has written for Christianity Today, The Anxious Bench, and Mere Orthodoxy. Foley copastors Mosaic Waco, a multicultural church in Waco, Texas, where he lives with his wife, Desiree.For more about Disarming Leviathan, visit DisarmingLeviathan.com Get full access to Disarming Leviathan at disarmingleviathan.substack.com/subscribe