She’s a Jewish woman who has spent countless hours undercover, impersonating the White supremacist, misogynistic, antisemitic extremists she was researching for her first book. She’s also brought an outsider’s view to the growing dominance of Christian Nationalism in our society and our government for her second. This week on The State of Belief, journalist and author Talia Lavin explains how the groups she covers in those two impactful books, Culture Warlords: My Journey into the Dark Web of White Supremacy, and Wild Faith: How the Christian Right is Taking Over America, in her words, “Got together and made the worst government ever.”

Three important additional points that emerge from the conversation:

• The Invisible Influence of Christian Hegemony: Talia discusses how Christian hegemony often goes unnoticed by those who grew up within it, while it remains glaringly obvious for those outside the faith – especially when it becomes more militant. This awareness is crucial for understanding the current political landscape and the implications of Christian nationalism.
• The Authoritarian Family Structure: One of the most striking aspects of Talia’s research is her examination of how authoritarian parenting styles within certain Christian communities can shape broad societal attitudes. She highlights the works of influential figures like James Dobson, who died earlier this month. She sees his teachings on child-rearing as promoting a model of obedience and submission that can lead to accepting authoritarianism in adulthood.
• The Need for a Diverse Coalition Against Extremism: Talia emphasizes the importance of embracing a cacophony of voices in the fight against the rigid and coordinated forces of the Christian right. She advocates for a coalition that includes people of various faiths and those with no faith at all, working together to uphold the values of a multiracial democracy.

We’d love to have you listen to and share this thought-provoking episode and reflect on these critical issues. Talia’s newsletter is titled The Sword and the Sandwich.