"White Evangelical Racism: The Politics of Morality in America" w/Dr. Anthea Butler

This week Josh and Will address the issue of morality and the politicization of it by many on the right. To help them unpack this very complex topic they speak with Dr. Anthea Butler, who is the Geraldine R. Segal Professor in American Social Thought, and chair of the department of Religious Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. Their conversation traces the racist exploitation of the Bible during the slavery era, and resulted in the creation of the Negro Bible. They then turn towards modern day politics and talk about how the Republican Party has drifted away from the days of Lincoln and evolved into their civil war opponents, the Dixiecrats. During this very energetic interview, you will learn how the Bible has been perverted in order to gain moral superiority over those whom they consider "the other", and some insight as to what this portends for 2024.

Guest Bio:

Anthea Butler is Geraldine R. Segal Professor in American Social Thought, and chair of the department of Religious Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. A historian of African American and American religion, Professor Butler’s research and writing spans African American religion and history, race, politics, Evangelicalism, gender and sexuality, media, and popular culture. You can find more of her writing and public engagement at Antheabutler.com

Professor Butler courses include Religion from Civil Rights to Black lives Matter, Religion in the African Diaspora, God and Money, Religion and American Politics, and Ritual and Practice in Religious Studies. She is a member of the graduate group in the History department at Penn.

Butler’s recent book is White Evangelical Racism: The Politics of Morality in America

. Her first book is Women in the Church of God in Christ: Making A Sanctified World

, Both are published by Ferris and Ferris/UNC Press. Her next book project in progress is Reading Race: How Publishing created a lifeline for Black Baptists in Post Reconstruction America.

To learn more about the show, contact our hosts, or recommend future guests, click on the links below:

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