Episode 04: Pushing Back Against The Rise of Christian Nationalism Through Faith with Obery Hendricks, Ph.D

On this episode of Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast, Obery Hendricks, Ph.D., one of the most influential Black biblical scholars writing today, and Race Forward’s Chief of Staff Charlene Sinclair, Ph.D., who herself fashions strategies that embrace a liberationist approach to faith and spirituality for racial and economic justice, discuss the immediacy of pushing back against the spread of Christian Nationalism and the urgency of creating narratives based on the gospel’s “true teachings” to reflect the ongoing political moment and fight for progressive policies that stay true to the bible’s "liberationist ideals".

Throughout the conversation Obery and Charlene share insights on the importance (and opportunity) for the progressive left to engage in spirituality and religion and why faith in movement spaces is not always well received; the weaponization of Christianity and the gospel by the right to justify implementing extremist policies; how Afro-Christianity has historically reflected teachings of freedom and liberation; and how religious leaders are being looked to to provide guidance as capitalism and white supremacy have led to the rise of authoritarianism and the destabilization of democracy around the world.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, you can now support Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast and Race Forward’s audio work by texting “RFPod” to 44-321 to make a tax-deductible contribution.

Resources:

Obery Hendricks

https://bit.ly/3O6SN11

Christians Against Christianity: How Right-Wing Evangelicals Are Destroying Our Nation and Our Faith (via Good Reads)

https://bit.ly/44H0m40

The Politics of Jesus (via Penguin Random House)

https://bit.ly/3B1WwVM

Charlene Sinclair

https://bit.ly/3LBczyE

Colorlines

https://colorlines.com/

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Race Forward catalyzes movement building for racial justice. In partnership with communities, organizations, and sectors, we build strategies to advance racial justice in our policies, institutions, and culture. Race Forward imagines a just, multiracial, democratic society, free from oppression and exploitation, in which people of color thrive with power and purpose.

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