Tuesday, April 23, 2024 Noon – 1:00 PM
Zoom Meeting Registration Link
CWI has arranged for two experts on Christian Nationalism to help answer the important question of “Why feminists and supporters of democracy should know about and learn to protect our rights and values from the actions of Christian Nationalists in the US?” They are: Andrew L. Seidel, a lawyer and Vice President of Strategic Communications, Americans United for Separation of Church and State and Katherine Stewart, a journalist and author. Both are authors of books on Christian Nationalism and featured in the new documentary film God and Country.
In addressing this question, Andrew and Katherine will:
· Define Christian Nationalism and help us understand its history and how it relates to other forms of Christianity such Evangelicalism and fundamentalism and how it differs from other religious adherence to Christianity or other religions that don’t advocate religious nationalism.
· Discuss the importance of the separation of church and state in acting as a bulwark against Christian Nationalism. In contrast, note that nationalism is a key reason to make sure the secular Equal Rights Amendment is in the U.S. Constitution.
· Describe the many ways that Christian Nationalism hurts women and feminists including reproductive rights, public education, and many other aspects of equality.
· Describe the scope and ways people are influenced to support Christian Nationalism and how it relates to partisan politics and the upcoming US elections.
Andrew Seidel is an attorney and author of two books: The Founding Myth: Why Christian Nationalism Is Un-American (2019) and American Crusade: How the Supreme Court is Weaponizing Religious Freedom (2022) and many articles and op-eds. He has appeared on TV and other media. Before joining Americans United in 2022, he worked at the Freedom from Religion Foundation. Andrew received a BS in neuroscience and environmental science from Tulane University and a law degree from Tulane University Law School in 2009 and a Master of Law at Denver University Sturm College of Law in 2011. He has also been a Grand Canyon tour guide and nature photographer.
Katherine Stewart: Katherine Stewart’s latest book, The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism, was awarded first place for Excellence in Nonfiction Books by the Religion News Association as well as a Morris D. Forkosch award. She writes for The New York Times opinion, New Republic and others, and has appeared on CNN, MSNBC, and NPR. The Power Worshippers formed the basis of the documentary feature film God & Country, produced by Rob and Michele Reiner. Stewart’s forthcoming book will be published by Bloomsbury in January 2025.
