Dr. Amy Black, Professor of Political Science at Wheaton and co-author Civil Religion and the Renewal of American Politics (Cambridge Press, 2026), joins Michael to discuss the definition of civil religion, and navigating religious pluralism in American democracy. Their conversation explores the challenge of shared values in politics and the role of religion in shaping political culture. It delves into the influence of religious traditions, party platforms, and the role of pastors in equipping people for politics. Additionally, it discusses the Bible's role in navigating the public square, emphasizing the eternal principles it offers for living in a representative democracy.

Video of this podcast is available on our website: www-faithful-presence.org

Takeaways

• The Role of Civil Religion in Unifying a Diverse Population Shared values in politics
• The role of religion in shaping political culture

Chapters

• 00:00 Transitioning to College
• 01:20 Challenges of Absent Parent
• 04:35 Media Reporting and Its Impact
• 08:42 Doctrine of Spirituality of the Church
• 15:36 Christians in Political Science
• 19:37 The APSA Congressional Fellowship Program
• 21:04 Working in Congress and Changing Perceptions
• 26:01 Wheaton College and Civil Religion
• 36:25 Defining Civil Religion and Shared Values
• 38:19 Navigating Religious Pluralism in American Democracy
• 51:16 The Challenge of Shared Values
• 52:05 Religious Traditions in American Politics
• 57:37 The Influence of Party Platforms
• 01:11:15 The Role of Pastors in Equipping People for Politics
• 01:14:25 The Bible's Role in Navigating the Public Square