With the election behind most of us – except perhaps for the president himself – there is no time to waste in working to heal division and forge a more just nation. Outgoing President Trump’s refusal to cooperate with the rightful transition of power only exacerbates our country’s wounds at this critical moment. On this week’s episode of State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance’s weekly radio show and podcast, we will address the perilous time we’re in and discuss why we remain hopeful about the future.
Bob Boisture, president and CEO of the Fetzer Institute, views spirituality as the answer to building a more peaceful world. This week, Bob joins Rev. Welton Gaddy, host of State of Belief, to discuss Fetzer’s newly-released Study of Spirituality in the United States. He will describe why the results of the study leave him optimistic about the country, with large numbers of Americans claiming a connection to their own spiritual beliefs.
In his best-selling book, The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power, and throughout his career, Jeff Sharlet has sought to investigate the perversion of faith that has had a corrosive effect on our democracy. His work has taken him to several Trump rallies where Jeff witnessed first-hand the God-like commitment that Trump supporters have to the president. His voice is especially important during this pivotal time, as Jeff joins Welton on this week’s show.
Believe it or not, despite the brokenness of our country, authors Rev. Rick Rouse and Dr. Paul Ingram see a new era of religious reconciliation on the horizon. They outline this hopeful vision in a new book titled The World is About to Turn: Mending a Nation’s Broken Faith. Rick and Paul describe a not too distant future in which the country finds unity and bipartisan cooperation. They explain their reasoning, and provide hope, in this week’s episode.
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