The State Of Belief

What does it mean to serve the Constitution—not a person or a political party? On The State of Belief, retired Rear Admiral Michael E. Smith joins host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush to discuss the military oath, democracy, and why faith and national security leaders must work together. We get the admiral’s perspective on how politicization can affect military leadership, morale, recruitment, and retention.

At the heart of the conversation is a shared responsibility: keeping the military nonpartisan and ensuring that people of different faiths, beliefs, and backgrounds are equally respected in all areas of life.

Adm. Michael E. Smith is founder and president of National Security Leaders for America, with a focus on protecting democratic norms and defending the right to vote. He retired after 32 years of service in the U.S. Navy, having earned a bronze star during one of his three combat tours overseas. His career culminated with a role as the independent authority responsible to Congress for evaluating the effectiveness of every ship and submarine in the Navy. Mike was also a key advisor and direct report to Admiral Mike Mullen, then the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Senior Military Advisor to the President.

The State of Belief host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is President and CEO of Interfaith Alliance.
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What’s one way to deflate the fear and uncertainty that’s being manufactured around the coming election? “By throwing a party at your local polling place and inviting your community to attend.” That’s the unorthodox suggestion from Kyle Lierman, CEO of Civic Nation. The tactic’s already been tried out, it works, and it’s only one of the creative ideas Kyle brings to his conversation with host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush on The State of Belief (hosted from Interfaith Alliance's The Vote Is Sacred bus, in motion!) With impactful projects such as Party at the Polls and When We All Vote, Kyle and Civic Nation are inspiring and empowering people nationwide to defend the vote - and democracy.

This week we also hear highlights from an event kicking off Interfaith Alliance’s The Vote Is Sacred bus tour in Omaha – Paul’s in-person conversation with Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III, who wrote and produced a short film about his grandfather’s attempts to exercise his right to vote in the Jim Crow south. You can watch the film at www.otisdream.com

Kyle Lierman held several prominent positions in the Obama White House, and led Michelle Obama’s democracy initiative “When We All Vote.” Today, Kyle is CEO of Civic Nation, a nonpartisan nonprofit that brings together organizers and educators who are working toward a more inclusive, more equitable America. In 2024, Civic Nation saw concrete returns for its work to increase participation among young and minority voters, and those efforts are being expanded this year to motivate a broad cross-section of eligible voters.

Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III is a powerhouse American pastor, preacher, author, poet, filmmaker, and civil rights advocate. He serves as the senior pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, Illinois, a position he has held since 2008. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, he is the son of the prominent civil rights leader and pastor Rev. Dr. Otis Moss Jr.

The State of Belief host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is President and CEO of Interfaith Alliance.
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Five million. Seven million. Eight million. That’s how participation in the No Kings movement has grown – and on October 17th, it’s time for the biggest yet, No Kings: Vote Early, with the focus on ensuring every eligible voter casts their ballot, and can do so safely. This week, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush talks with Indivisible co-founder Leah Greenberg about community organizing, voter participation, and the power of neighbors coming together. It’s a hope-filled conversation about defeating authoritarianism and expressing love for our democracy – and for each other.

Meanwhile, Interfaith Alliance has launched its nonpartisan The Vote Is Sacred bus tour, with stops in 15 states leading up to Election Day.

Leah Greenberg is co-founder and co-executive director of Indivisble and catalyst for the nationwide No Kings initiatives. Her book, written with her husband Ezra Levin, is titled We Are Indivisible: A Blueprint for Democracy After Trump, and you can hear Leah and Ezra on Indivisible’s “What’s
the Plan” podcast.

The State of Belief host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is President and CEO of Interfaith Alliance.
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This week, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is joined by a preeminent expert on Christian Nationalism and the New Reformation Movement: Dr. Matthew D. Taylor. His new book (out Oct. 6th) is Defying Tyrants: Following Jesus in a World of Christian Antichrists. We get deep into the history and harm of this word: a quest for power that looks like faith, talks like faith - but then harms people in Jesus’ name.

Matt makes a case that’s both biblical and uncomfortably current. He argues that “Antichrist” isn’t just about bad doctrine—it can describe people who claim Christ but act against him. We also get into Jesus and empire, Christian Nationalism, Pete Hegseth, and what it might look like to resist tyranny without violence.

Dr. Matthew D. Taylor is an award-winning religious studies scholar, author, and nationally-recognized speaker on religion and politics in the United States. He's a visiting scholar at Georgetown University's Center on Faith and Justice, and is one of the leading researchers of Christian Nationalism and the New Apostolic Reformation, charismatic Christian movements that are quietly growing influence on American politics.

Matt holds a PhD in religious studies and Muslim-Christian relations from Georgetown University, and has taught at Georgetown and George Washington University. His books include Scripture People: Salafi Muslims in Evangelical Christian America, and The Violent Take It by Force: The Christian Movement That Is Threatening Our Democracy.

The State of Belief host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is President and CEO of Interfaith Alliance.
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This week on The State of Belief, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush welcomes a living legend: Rev. Dr. Molly T. Marshall, a pioneering voice in theological education and an advocate for gender justice in the Church. As she embarks on her final year as president of United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, Dr. Marshall reflects on her remarkable journey, including the challenges she faced as a preacher and educator ordained in the Southern Baptist Convention just as that denomination began its long descent into marginalizing women. Her career survived the threat of a heresy trial and expanded into a multifaith and ever more inclusive vision for the Church and for our society.

More about Molly Marshall:

Rev. Dr. Marshall is a founding member of Baptist Women in Ministry, and her deeply influential books include Joining the Dance: A Theology of the Spirit, and What It Means to Be Human: Made in the Image of God. She received her PhD from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and has served as president of United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities since 2022.

The State of Belief host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is President and CEO of Interfaith Alliance.
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