When Religion Becomes Power: The Rise of Christian Nationalism
March 30, 2026
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Cult Expert Dr Steven Hassan Episodes Around March 30, 2026
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1:03:52Now PlayingWhen Religion Becomes Power: The Rise of Christian Nationalism
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as posted by the channelIs Christianity being weaponized for political power, control, and authoritarian influence? In this episode of Cults, Culture, and Coercion, Dr. Steven Hassan interviews comedian and author John Fugelsang on Christian nationalism, Bible manipulation, cult dynamics, and how extremist movements distort religion to control followers.
John Fugelsang is a comedian and author of Separation of Church and Hate:A Sane Person's Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock-Fleecing Frauds - his recent book examining how modern fundamentalist movements twist scripture to justify political agendas and authoritarian control. Drawing on history, theology, and cultural analysis, Fugelsang explores how Christianity has been repeatedly used as a tool for power, and how resistance movements within the faith have pushed back.
In this conversation, Dr. Hassan and Fugelsang examine:
- How Christian nationalism reframes religion as a tool for political control
- The difference between the teachings of Jesus and later institutional doctrine
- How figures like St. Francis of Assisi and Martin Luther King Jr. represent resistance to authoritarian Christianity
- The role of Paul’s writings in shaping hierarchical and control-based interpretations
- How scripture is selectively used to justify anti-immigrant, anti-LGBTQ+, and authoritarian policies
- Why many Christians are actually unfamiliar with the true teachings of the Bible
- How humor and storytelling can break through indoctrination and reach broader audiences
- The long history of Christianity being used to justify power, hierarchy, and social control
Together, they explore how authoritarian movements rely on controlling narratives, discouraging critical thinking, and creating “us vs. them” mentalities and why education and open dialogue are essential to breaking the patterns of mind control and religious indoctrination.
This episode is a must-watch for anyone trying to understand Christian nationalism, religious extremism, cult psychology, and how belief systems can be manipulated for power and control.
📚 Get Separation of Church and HateA Sane Person's Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and FlockFleecing Frauds
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#ChristianNationalism #CultsCultureAndCoercion #StevenHassan #JohnFugelsang #CultDynamics #MindControl #ReligiousControl #Authoritarianism #UndueInfluence #BibleManipulation #CoercivePersuasion #drstevenhassan #cults #mindcontrol #brainwashing #BITEmodel
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