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Impolite CompanyThis Is My Story with Megan Westra
This Is My Story is a special season of Impolite Company focused on telling the stories of women who have made voting an act of faith. In this first episode, we talk with Megan Westra, a Milwaukee-based pastor and author of the new book Born Again and Again: Jesus' Call to Radical Transformation.
You can find Megan online at meganwestra.com and buy her book by supporting independent bookstores.
Continue the conversation with us at facebook.com/thisismystoryproject
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT:
AMY SULLIVAN: I’m Amy Sullivan, and you’re listening to This Is My Story...2020-08-1841 minImpolite CompanyS3: Coming Soon: A Special Season of Impolite CompanyComing Soon: This Is My Story, a special season of Impolite Company, focused on telling the stories of women who have made voting an act of faith.
TRAILER TRANSCRIPT:
I’m Amy Sullivan, and you’re listening to This Is My Story, a special season of Impolite Company.
In the conservative Baptist church in the Midwest where I grew up, women weren’t allowed to have roles in Sunday worship, outside of the music ministry. They didn’t even pass out bulletins as ushers. Although, to be honest, I’m not sure what biblical authority would have been violat...2020-08-1203 min
Impolite Company"I'm So Tired of Being Yelled At"Your eyes and ears do not deceive you! We are back with a special Campaign 2020 episode. This episode was recorded before the South Carolina primary and Super Tuesday (in other words, when many more candidates were still in the race), but we take a look at the Democratic presidential campaign in its entirety.
That means finding possible silver linings for future female candidates, looking at how this cohort of candidates talked about their faith, and whether the Democratic Party needs to put out a welcome mat for voters who may disagree with the party platform on some key i...2020-03-0442 minImpolite CompanyReligious Liberty in America: From Burning Convents to Baking CakesThis week Amy is joined by journalist and author Steven Waldman, whose new book SACRED LIBERTY: AMERICA'S LONG, BLOODY, AND ONGOING STRUGGLE OVER RELIGIOUS FREEDOM was published this week.
Their conversation covers the long and evolving history of religious liberty in America, the fact that anti-Catholicism has been the most common feature of religious liberty violations, and the role that evangelicals could--emphasis on could--play in easing current tensions over clashing rights.
Discussed This Week:
Sacred Liberty: America's Long, Bloody, and Ongoing Struggle for Religious Freedom (Steven Waldman, 2019)2019-05-101h 24Impolite CompanyMayor Pete, Democrats, and the Religious LeftWe are back! (Sort of.) With everyone but your condo board president jumping into the Democratic presidential race, and an astonishing number of them comfortable talking about issues of faith and morality, we couldn't just sit by and watch.
This week Amy is joined by Guest Co-Host Extraordinaire Jack Jenkins, a national correspondent for Religion News Service. Jack has interviewed a number of the Democratic candidates about their faith and has some insights into why Democrats may be recognizing the value of religious progressives.
This episode is the first in a series: "Leveling the Praying F...2019-04-0948 minImpolite Company"Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbor's Absentee Ballots"Nish is off this week, so Amy is joined by award-winning journalist Jack Jenkins of Religion News Service for a discussion about the civil religion rituals of American state funerals, allegations of election fraud in a North Carolina congressional race involving a Republican candidate who is also a Southern Baptist pastor, and the potential resurgence of the religious left as a political force.
And because it's December, the Impolite Company Holiday Playlist is back! To listen along with us, go to Spotify and look for "An Impolite Company Holiday"
An earlier version of this episode...2018-12-071h 34Impolite Company"Two things can be true at the same time."This week, we dive right into the midterm elections. What does it mean to be in a country that makes great strides in one midterm election - placing a record number of women & religious minorities in office, electing the first openly gay man as a governor, and giving the voting rights back to 1.4 million people - yet, still elects individuals who openly propagate white supremacist ideals? We wrestle with the tension, as well as the data that shows us nothing is really changing, particularly with religious voters.
We spend the second half of the episode talking about t...2018-11-1651 minImpolite Company"Call it what it is--it's the erasure of Jews."In this episode, we talk about the massacre of eleven Jews during Shabbat services at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh.
We discuss the right-wing rhetoric--starting with the president--that currently encourages intolerance, racism, anti-Semitism. We talk about how to discuss anti-Semitism with children without also scaring them unnecessarily. And we talk about why the argument that "this was about anti-religiosity" isn't just foolish but also immoral in that it seeks to erase Jews from the narrative.
If you want to support the show financially--for as little as $1 per month--please visit our Patreon Page to...2018-11-0155 minImpolite Company"We've rallied when a policy did not strike us as fundamentally fair"This week, Nish talks with Rachel Esplin Odell and Jennifer Walker Thomas, two leaders of the organization Mormon Women for Ethical Government (MWEG). The group recently made news when it called upon the four Mormon Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee to take seriously allegations against Brett Kavanaugh.
Rachel and Jennifer talk about how MWEG developed organically after 2016--and particularly out of concern over the Muslim ban and other executive actions that impact refugees and other immigrant communities.
In addition, Nish and Amy discuss a trio of stories related to religious freedom, including a...2018-10-241h 06Impolite Company"I am done modulating my emotions to protect you from my rage"In this episode, we are done. Done done done.
The Brett Kavanaugh confirmation process is over but we are just getting started. We talk about why calls for civility in the wake of injustice are often calls to silence underrepresented voices. We discuss the fact that so many white women were galvanized to support the Kavanaugh nomination, and why that points to the need for more women leaders in religious spaces.
And we feed our rage with some family-size bags of Peanut M&Ms.
If you want to support the show financially--for as...2018-10-1154 minImpolite Company"These freakin' guys"This week, Nish and Amy talk about the wrong way to do faith outreach, as well as an attempt by a group of LDS women to appeal to the four Mormon senators who sit on the Judiciary Committee.
We also introduce a new segment called "Race to the Bottom," in which we nominate some nonsense we've heard from conservative white evangelicals and ask listeners to vote on the very worst.
And Amy talks with writer Danielle Mayfield about the spiritual and moral themes of "The Good Place," which returns this week for its third season on...2018-09-2756 minImpolite Company"It's a really horrible time to be a Catholic"And we are back! Welcome to the Season Two premiere of Impolite Company, in which we discuss new revelations of abuse and coverup in the Catholic Church, the increasingly contested nomination of Brett Kavanaugh, and Democratic faith-outreach efforts.
We'll be returning to that last topic throughout the fall as we talk with Democratic candidates and former Obama aides about why there's been such traditional resistance in the party to faith outreach and how some newer candidates are trying it for themselves.
As always, if you want to become a monthly patron of the podcast, you c...2018-09-211h 15Impolite CompanyThe It's-Almost-Time-for-Season-Two! UpdateWe're just days away from launching the second season of Impolite Company, listeners! In the meantime, we wanted to share this conversation Amy had with Calvin College historian and gender studies professor Kristin Du Mez.
Du Mez is writing a book about white evangelicals, toxic masculinity, and militarism. She and Amy talked about the way in which those factors actually make Donald Trump not just an acceptable figure for many white evangelicals but perhaps an ideal figure.
Enjoy the conversation and join us soon for the new season!2018-09-1321 minImpolite CompanyThe Mid-Summer Break UpdateIn this mini episode, Amy checks in to tell listeners that Impolite Company will be back for Season Two after Labor Day, and bemoans the many religion & politics stories that have gone uncommented on over the summer.
Mentioned this week:
• Nish's idyllic summer with her REI-catalogue family
• The Pope's Groundbreaking Rejection of the Death Penalty (Emma Green, The Atlantic)
• Raise Your Voice: Why We Stay Silent and How to Speak Up (Kathy Khang, IVP Books)
• Nish on the podcast Her With Amena Brown
• The I am NOT your Superwo...2018-08-0307 minImpolite Company"They're using religion as a sword to harm other people"Note: This episode was recorded before Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement, and before an armed man slaughtered five journalists at the Annapolis Capitol Gazette.
We're one week away from taking a break for much of the summer--but we're starting up an Impolite Company newsletter to fill the void, and we'll drop in occasionally with a few mini episodes.
In the meantime, this week's show features Amy in conversation with two women who are leading figures in the area of religion and politics.
First up is Rachel Laser, a legal expert w...2018-06-3051 minImpolite Company"This is one of those moments"Buckle up, listeners. We recorded this week's episode just an hour or so after Jeff Sessions cited Romans 13 to justify the Trump Administration's policy of ripping families apart at the border, so we were in full NOT TODAY SATAN mode. You have been warned, and you're welcome.
We also discuss the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting, at which the denomination tiptoe into discussions of church abuse and gender, but then leapt about 72 steps backward by hosting Mike Pence for a campaign-style stump speech.
And we consider what it means for a U.S. Catholic bishop...2018-06-1651 minImpolite Company"Next question!"This week we're taking a break from our regular discussions of everything awful and devoting an entire episode to fielding listener questions! From how Nish and Amy met to favorite tv shows to parenting tips, we've got answers.
Please visit our Patreon Page and consider becoming a monthly patron of the show, for as little as $1 per month.2018-05-311h 03Impolite Company"Try Googling 'John Hagee and End Times'"This week, we talk about Vice President Mike Pence's commencement address at Hillsdale College, in which he declared that religiosity is on the rise in America (it's not).
We also discuss the decision to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem AND to invite John "the Apocalypse is coming and it will be in Israel" Hagee to represent the United States by offering a benediction at the opening ceremony for the new embassy.
And Amy phones Emma Green, the Jerusalem-based religion writer for the Atlantic, to learn more about how the move i...2018-05-201h 00Impolite Company"We are swimming in a sea of red flags"This week, Nish and Amy talk about Trump's belated announcement of a White House faith office, as well as the backlash among Southern Baptist women to comments from Paige Patterson regarding marriage and domestic abuse.
We also interview journalist Ruth Graham about her recent Politico Magazine story, which laid out in fascinating detail the extent to which Christian media have become an extension of the White House communications effort.
And Amy takes over Three Minutes of Nish this week to rant about the National Rifle Association's prayer breakfast.
Please visit our Patreon Page...2018-05-111h 07Impolite Company"Well, that escalated quickly"We begin this week by discussing the Case of Paul Ryan and the Disappearing Chaplain. But in the time between recording this episode and releasing it, the chaplain in question rescinded his resignation and Paul Ryan gave in, restoring the chaplain to his position.
You come at a Jesuit, ya best not miss, Mr. Speaker.
We also talked about the record number of Hindu candidates running for office as Democrats this year.
And Amy spoke with Elijah Zehyoue, associate pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Washington, DC, about the loss of a theological gi...2018-05-041h 04Impolite Company"Welcome to our world, Tim Keller"In this episode, we discuss the unfamiliar sight of a world leader admitting a mistake, apologizing, and asking forgiveness--as Pope Francis has after initially backing a Chilean bishop accused of protecting sexually-abusive priests.
We also talk about the debate over Mike Pompeo's nomination for Secretary of State, which is strongly opposed not only by Democratic senators but also leading Muslim and Jewish groups. Pompeo's supporters claim that any criticism of his anti-Muslim, anti-LGBTQ remarks is actually criticism of his faith. That's a move we've seen time and again from religious conservatives in politics.
And finally...2018-04-2353 minImpolite Company"There's a lot of collateral damage."Nish and Amy are back together again!
This week we talk about the abrupt resignation/retirement of Willow Creek's founding pastor Bill Hybels after one of the women who have accused him of sexual misconduct and harassment wrote publicly about her story. When it comes to championing women in ministry, Hybels has been one of the good guys in evangelicalism. But good guys are not immune to abusing their power.
We also take up an alarming BuzzFeed News analysis of Muslim-bashing by American politicians that documents instances in 49 states, primarily by GOP officeholders.
...2018-04-141h 01Impolite CompanyMormons & The MailbagThis week, Nish is back! But it's Amy's turn to take the week off.
It was a big week for the LDS Church - sustaining a new prophet, appointments of new apostles, and some big structural shifts in how they do ministry. To break down the changes, as well as how the Mormon church handles racism and the #MeToo movement, Nish interviews Janan Graham-Russell, a writer, religion scholar, PhD candidate at Harvard, and practicing Mormon to break down the latest.
For the second half of the show, Nish answers listener questions! Everything from the Americans wi...2018-04-0743 minImpolite Company#InTheSpiritOfHolyWeekThis week Amy is joined by guest co-host Jack Jenkins, superstar religion journalist and national reporter for Religion News Service.
We discuss Jack's reporting on the involvement of religious groups in anti-gun-violence demonstrations, often at the urging of young members in their congregations. Many of them are fed up with the oft-heard dodge that politics shouldn't be brought into religion. Especially since they've watched generations of conservative Christians do exactly that.
We also have fun with some recent examples of journalists and other public figures answering religious conservatives with some biblical knowledge of their own.2018-04-0149 minImpolite Company"Christians are called to lay down our lives, not to take down other lives."Nish is away this week, so Amy is joined by guest co-host Rachel Johnson, executive minister of communications at Riverside Church in New York City.
We had a wonderful conversation teasing out some tensions in American religion: religious institutions try to deal with sexual abuse allegations internally to protect their brand--but they're losing congregants precisely because they're not transparent.
Religious conservatives love to hold up "Christian America" as morally superior to the godless cousins over in Europe--and yet you're much more likely to find towns and cities limiting commerce on the Sabbath in Europe than...2018-03-2345 minImpolite Company"Why do critics of the Social Gospel think Christianity is a zero-sum game?"This week we tackle the Atlantic cover story about Trump and evangelicals: "The Last Temptation" by former George W. Bush speechwriter Michael Gerson. His lament for the evangelicalism he knew as a child and a student at Wheaton is heartfelt, but struck us as omitting some key details and focusing on some mythical bygone era in which evangelicals embraced racial justice and unity.
We also observed the fifth anniversary of Pope Francis' papacy by talking with religious studies superstar Anthea Butler, professor at the University of Pennsylvania and featured expert on the current CNN docu-series "Pope."
2018-03-161h 03Impolite Company"Christians! Do not hold those Purim parties!"This week we tackled a delicate issue for many American Christians--churches that hold their own observances of Jewish holidays. Amy talked to Mark Oppenheimer, religion journalist and host of the Unorthodox podcast, to get a Jewish perspective on this cultural appropriation.
We also discussed the rest social media frenzy around photos that seemed to show a Protestant church ceremony to bless parishioners' guns. The "church" in question was actually the World Peace and Unification Sanctuary, an offshoot of the cult-like Unification Church (sometimes to referred to as "the Moonies").
And finally, Nish used her Three...2018-03-091h 04Impolite Company"This is a group of Catholics who are willing to stand in the gap."This week we took on a trio of stories from the Catholic world: the overwhelming united support for Dreamers among U.S. Catholics, including the group of sisters, priests, and laypeople who were arrested at the U.S. Capitol this week; Springfield Bishop Thomas Paprocki putting Sen. Dick Durbin on notice that he will be denied communion over his support for abortion rights; and Pope Francis' fiery assertion that it would be better for a bad Christian to be an atheist instead.
We also lamented a recent report showing anti-Semitic incidents in the U.S. at the...2018-03-0256 minImpolite Company"What good is access if you're not using it to preach truth to power?"In which we call B.S. on the court evangelicals who want us to believe that they're counseling Trump about his misogyny and racism and cruelty behind closed doors--but won't say anything against him publicly.
We also discuss the legacy of Billy Graham, who passed away this week at the age of 99, and question whether his son Franklin will end up being responsible for pushing more Americans away from Christianity than his father brought to it.
Nish finally gets her chance to talk about Mitt Romney and his now-announced candidacy for the Utah Senate seat...2018-02-2352 minImpolite Company"The Bible is not clear. Your interpretation of the Bible is clear."This week, we discuss Rob Porter, former White House Staff Secretary who resigned after images of alleged domestic abuse surfaced in the media. Porter and his ex-wives are all members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and we discuss the ramifications of all-male religious leadership when dealing with abuse.
We also tackle the rise of the progressive Christian left and the plans for a "revival" event in Lynchburg, VA - the home of Jerry Falwell Jr. and Liberty University - with leaders such as Rev. William Barber III, Lisa Sharon Harper, Shane Claiborne, and m...2018-02-161h 03Impolite Company"Donald Trump is the conduit to God's will on earth?!"In this episode, we talk about the belief by many conservative charismatics in America that God helped put Donald Trump in the White House, the subject of a Politico Magazine story this week by Amy.
We also discuss new developments in Catholic activism, such as the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops submitting an amicus brief in supporting public sector unions in the Supreme Court case Janus v. AFSCME. This comes after decades of the U.S. church downplaying its support for labor unions and other more progressive causes in favor of activism on culturally-conservative issues.
2018-01-311h 10Impolite Company"I want to be defined by what I'm for and not by what I'm against."This week, we introduce a new segment at the top of the hour: "Three Minutes of Twitter." Since Nish deactivated her Twitter account and now has one less place to put her rage, Amy decided it would be fun to give her three full minutes to rant, uninterrupted, about anything she wants. This week, she rants about the allegation that someone in the Trump campaign paid an adult film star hush money a month before the election. We're sorry and you're welcome.
We also tackle John Piper's suggestion that women shouldn't teach at Christian seminaries, as well...2018-01-251h 15Impolite CompanyWhen cursing is a problem, but racism is just fine.This week, we give an update on two stories from last week: the selection of a new prophet for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (otherwise known as the Mormon church), and the story about a popular evangelical megachurch pastor who sexually abused a teenager when he was her youth pastor.
We also take a look at the broad support - politically and religiously - for two crucial policies at the crux of the budget battle: DACA recipients (or Dreamers), and the Children's Health Insurance Program.
And for our deep dive, we discuss...2018-01-191h 01Impolite Company"There are consequences to your actions."Happy New Year! We're back with our first episode in 2018. This week, we discuss the 100 largest churches in America, and how none of them are LGBT-affirming. We also talk about the death of the Mormon prophet, and Nish interviews Anthony Sweat, a professor at Brigham Young University, about the process of selecting the new president in the LDS church.
For our deep dive, we examine a case of sexual assault in the evangelical church, the response of the alleged perpetrator's current congregation, and reaping the consequences of purity culture.
Nish also admits to being a Ju...2018-01-111h 02Impolite Company"The Nones Are Alright"In our final episode for 2017, we take a look at the dynamics, challenges, and benefits of interfaith families, particularly in Jewish communities. Amy shares her own experience as a Christian woman married to a culturally Jewish man, and raising their kids to be religiously Christian but culturally Jewish.
We also discuss an article in BuzzFeed that highlights the desire to merge Jewish religious traditions with "wellness," a trendy movement happening amongst millennial and Gen-X practitioners. And Nish has a related interview with author, journalist and UC Berkeley professor Kaya Oakes, about the trends, spiritual lives, and politics...2017-12-221h 06Impolite Company"I have never been so happy to be so wrong."Doug Jones beats Roy Moore in the race for Alabama's Senate seat!
We dissect the exit polling - How did Evangelicals vote? What does this say about the status of the abortion debate? Will America finally learn to listen to the wisdom and leadership of black women? What now?
We discuss all of it!2017-12-1448 minImpolite Company"Religious freedom for thee? Or religious freedom just for me?"This week, we take a look at the ramifications of Trump's decision to scale back two national monuments in Utah, particularly for Native American tribes and their spiritual lives.
We also discuss the resurrection of Martin Luther King's "Poor People's Campaign," now being led by Rev. Dr. William Barber and Rev. Liz Theoharis, and how this new campaign could ignite the religious left.
For our deep dive, we discuss the hotly-contested Supreme Court case, Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. What is this case, what are the implications, and what does this mean for re...2017-12-081h 04Impolite Company"The President of the United States is promoting a big conspiracy theory."It's the start of the holiday season, which can only mean one thing: The War on Christmas! This week, we take a deep dive into what is basically a giant conspiracy theory perpetuated by FOX News. We also give updates on Liberty University and the Roy Moore allegations - including the continuing support of some evangelicals. Amy goes on a rant about the Johnson Amendment and we both get unreasonably giddy over the royal engagement of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.2017-11-2953 minImpolite Company"I'm sorry, America."In this episode, we discuss Notre Dame's birth control reversal and the epic disaster of Roy Moore, Alabama's Republican nominee for the US Senate. We also talk about white conservative evangelical Christians again, because they can't stop being terrible.
Nish also talks to pastor, author, and activist Jonathan Martin, about what the hell is going on at Liberty University.2017-11-1658 min
Impolite Company"This is a sickness."This week, after the mass shooting in Sutherland Springs, TX in which 26 people were killed, we devote the entire hour to dissecting the link between white conservative evangelicalism and support of gun proliferation and culture. Amy discusses her experience reporting on Bible college students who cite theological reasons for supporting gun rights.
And we break down the impact of a fear-driven conservative media, a well-funded gun lobby that influences politicians, the theological connections, and the cost to both society and the soul of the church.2017-11-0945 min
Impolite Company“Go Go Gadget Treason Detector”We break down the implications of the first indictments in Robert Mueller’s investigation, including the response from some of Trump’s evangelical advisers. To mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, we also dive into the state of the divorce between Protestants and Catholics and how that dynamic is affecting US politics.
Other topics include: Halloween culture, an update on Church Clarity, and how Ryan Reynolds is easy on the eyes. 2017-11-0151 min
Impolite Company"I'm so happy the bar is THAT low."This week, we discuss:
1. Donald Trump attacking yet another Gold Star family.
2. Disgraced former megachurch pastor Mark Driscoll getting a big blogging platform.
3. Sean Hannity's visit to Robert Jeffress' church, First Baptist Dallas.
4. A new website that's putting the pressure on churches to come clean about their LGBT stances.
5. Everyone's favorite topic, abortion!
We also talk about 80's evangelical movie culture and the fact that Amy has never seen The Goonies.
Also, please pardon the sound in this episode, we had some technical issues. 2017-10-2655 min
Impolite CompanyCharismatics and Bond VillainsIn the inaugural episode, we tackle the impact of the Harvey Weinstein allegations within evangelical Christianity, Willow Creek's big decision to hire a female as its new Lead Pastor, as well as the annual Values Voter Summit. We also take a peek at Callista Gingrich's nomination to be ambassador to the Vatican, as well as the BuzzFeed piece on Bethel Church's School for Supernatural Ministry in Redding, California. Nish manages not to cuss in the first episode, which is also supernatural.2017-10-1852 min
Impolite CompanyTrailerWhy did white evangelicals voted for Donald Trump in greater numbers than they have for any other presidential candidate in history?
Why do some of us believe healthcare is a human right while others think that if you get sick, it’s your own fault?
We're going to answer this stuff with a lot of context, nuance, and high level of attitude. Subscribe!2017-10-1801 min