Word of God: 6. Higher Powers

About this episode

Ben Lewis explores the transformation of the Museum of the Bible amidst controversies and its role in blending faith with politics.

A dark, cold morning in February 2025. Hundreds are filing into the Museum of the Bible - evangelical leaders, gospel singers, and over 30 members of Congress including Speaker of the House Mike Johnson. They've gathered just three blocks from the US Capitol for an annual event of fervent prayer about what they see as America's most pressing problems. Meanwhile, journalist Ben Lewis explores how an institution that once dreamed of becoming a centre for biblical scholarship has transformed after losing some 17,000 artefacts - nearly 40% of its entire collection. Through revealing interviews with museum officials and its critics, Ben traces the extraordinary journey of the Museum of the Bible - from the Green family's ambitions to make Washington, DC a centre for biblical scholarship, to the devastating revelations of forged Dead Sea Scrolls fragments and thousands of problematically sourced artefacts. Yet despite these setbacks, the museum has found new purpose as a convening space for a movement that wants to make evangelical protestantism the moving spirit of America’s future. As Ben explores exhibits that present a selective view of religious and American history, he discovers…

People in this episode

Host: Ben Lewis

Guests: Roberta Mazza, Katherine Stewart

Topics covered

• evangelicalism
• museum studies
• politics and religion
• American history
• biblical scholarship

Keywords

• Museum of the Bible
• evangelical leaders
• prayer event
• Dead Sea Scrolls
• biblical artefacts
• political messaging
• American future

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Museum of the Bible, Green family

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