Religion Against Democracy with Katherine Stewart
From Rector’s Cupboard Podcast by Rector’s Cupboard
January 23, 2026 · 1h 4m · Episode 138
About this episode
Katherine Stewart discusses the intersection of politics, religion, and public life, focusing on the challenges posed by Christian nationalism and anti-democratic movements.
In this episode, we welcome back journalist and author Katherine Stewart, whose work has become a trusted guide for us as we continue to think about the intersection of politics, religion, and public life. Over the years, we’ve often found ourselves returning to her writing and asking, “What would Katherine say about this?” especially as stories emerge around Christian nationalism and the erosion of democratic norms. As the pace of the news accelerates, Katherine helps us slow down and look beneath the headlines. She reflects on how economic inequality, disinformation, and anti-democratic movements reinforce one another, and on the ways certain forms of religion are being distorted to justify exclusion, hierarchy, and control. Together, we explore how language around religious freedom and moral certainty can mask deeper concentrations of power. Katherine reminds us that hope exists and of our responsibility in this moment. She speaks to the importance of attention, organization, and moral clarity, particularly within faith communities; naming the growing presence of religious leaders and institutions who are resisting these distortions and reclaiming faith as a force for dignity…
People in this episode
Host: Rector’s Cupboard
Guest: Katherine Stewart
Topics covered
- Christian nationalism
- democracy
- economic inequality
- disinformation
- religious freedom
- moral clarity
Keywords
- Katherine Stewart
- Christian nationalism
- democracy
- economic inequality
- religious freedom
- moral clarity
- disinformation
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: The Guardian
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