Straight White American Jesus

A podcast on religion and politics hosted by Daniel Miller and Bradley Onishi, ex-ministers who are now scholars of religion.

From Evangelical Leader to Feminist Superhero

Asha Dahya was a happy evangelical when she moved to LA from Australia. But the politics of the Religious Right led her out of the faith. Indian by ethnicity, British-born, Australian raised, and living in the USA since 2008, in a few short years she has become a reproductive rights activist, editor in chief of […]

Weekly Roundup: Bernie Sanders and American Civil (Non) Religion

Brad and Dan discuss why in this sort of crisis everyone’s a socialist (2:55), the fallout from the Burr/Loeffler revelations (7:35), and then spend the bulk of the episode discussing why Bernie Sanders would be a revolutionary candidate in religious terms–the first None President in our country’s history. They trace histories of anti-Jewish and anti-secular bias in the USA and discuss the dimensions of a non-theist as president(14:15), and reasons for hope–neighbors, neighborhoods, and the rediscovery of in-person interactions! (55:00)— Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/messageSupport this podcast: https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support

A White Southern Pentecostal Bernie Voter

Aaron Simmons has been asked to leave numerous churches over the last decade. Not over theology or the Bible. But because he votes the wrong way and wants to have open discussions about abortion, race, justice, and other issues. A fourth-generation Pentecostal, he didn’t leave evangelicalism. It left him. But he persists–attending an evangelical church […]

SWAJ Daily: Trump’s COVID Dog-Whistle and Christian Nationalism, Elections in Ohio, and Space Force!

On today’s daily dispatch, Brad discusses why Trump labeling COVID-19 the “Chinese virus” is part of a long lineage of anti-Asian xenophobia and part of the Christian nationalism held by his supporters (4:00). He discusses a new piece on Christian nationalism and anti-immigrant ideology by Samuel Perry. Brad also touches on how Trump tried to buy the rights to a vaccine from a German company (11:45), the fight over the Democratic primary election in Ohio, where the governor canceled voting today (15:40), and the fact that we don’t have a pandemic response committee, but we do have SPACE FORCE! (18:17)— Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/messageSupport this podcast: https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support

Weekly Roundup: Conspiracy and Corona Virus, Title IX and Discrimination, and the Appeal of Biden

Brad and Dan discuss the conspiracy theories Evangelicals and the President are pushing about Corona Virus (0:30), Title IX exemptions for universities that discriminate against LGBT+ people (17:50), the surprising surge of Biden and his popularity with African American religious voters (27:05), who is the most “religious” candidate left (44:05), and a one-minute explainer on why COVID-19 is a serious threat to public health (as opposed to what Fox News is telling your mom or nana) (50:50).— Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/messageSupport this podcast: https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support

Weekly Roundup: Corona Virus Conspiracies, the Constitutional Right to Discriminate, and AOC’s Sermon

On the Weekly Roundup, Brad and Dan discuss the Corona virus conspiracies coming from MAGA land (2:45), AOC’s sermon in Congress (9:30), the Supreme Court’s hearing of Fulton vs. Philadelphia (17:00), which could give religious people the right to discriminate in a myriad of ways, “Progressive” Evangelicalism’s quietism (33:15), and –BONUS: 1-minute explainer of Democratic Socialism vs. Communism vs. Capitalism (38:45) Reasons for Hope: Taco Trucks on Every Corner! We stand in solidarity with the UCSB and UCSC grad students/TAs on strike!— Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/messageSupport this podcast: https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/support

Debunking Myths About Religion, Race, and the 2020 Election

Are Evangelicals still in love with Trump? Do white “liberal” Protestants vote progressively? Is it fair to say that the Republican party is basically the party of white folks? Who are the religious nones and what role will they play in 2020 and beyond? Brad talks with Dr. Ryan Burge, Assistant Professor of Political Science, […]

Weekly Roundup: “God is a White Man” Theology

Brad is joined by guest co-host Blake Chastain, who is host of the Exvangelical Podcast and the Post Evangelical Post newsletter. They discuss a surprising LGBTQ-affirming church in Texas (5:30), the way some white Mainline and Catholic voters prioritize their whiteness over anything else (10:20), and the incident at Baylor University’s chapel this week, which […]

The Missionary-Spies Who Helped to Form the CIA

Brad talks with Dr. Matthew Avery Sutton, author of the new book “Double-Crossed: The Missionaries Who Spied for the United States During the Second World War”. They discuss how missionaries became undercover agents during WWII, how religious professionals and rhetoric have shaped US diplomacy, and how the legacy of these missionary-spies still informs our public […]

The Christians Who Want to Rule the World -with André Gagné

Dominionists are shaping your life: from your kid’s sex-ed program, to local gun laws, and national elections. They see themselves as called to rule the world as proxies for God. Dominionists strategize as to how to infiltrate and control every aspect of human life–government, economics, culture, media, education, and so on. They are not fringe. […]