John Fugelsang was raised in a contemporary Christian household with traditional values of love and compassion, while observing the growth of the conservative Christian movement, starting with Jerry Falwell. In his book "The Separation of Church and State," John is a fierce and funny critic of the Christian right for abandoning Jesus's traditional teachings in pursuit of political power.

Takeaways:

1. John Fugelsang's upbringing in a contemporary Christian household instilled in him the values of love and compassion, which he believes diverge sharply from those now espoused by the conservative Christian right.
2. The rise of the conservative Christian movement has led to a significant departure from traditional Christian teachings, as they have increasingly prioritized power over the core messages of love and service exemplified by Jesus.
3. Fugelsang critiques the contemporary Christian right for their hypocrisy, arguing that they manipulate biblical teachings to serve their political agendas while ignoring the true essence of Jesus' messages.
4. In his book, Fugelsang seeks to reclaim the Bible from those who distort its teachings for personal gain, advocating for a return to the radical compassion that Jesus embodied throughout his life.
5. The discussion highlights the importance of addressing moral issues, such as poverty and justice, that Jesus prioritized, rather than focusing on divisive issues that conservative Christians often emphasize, like abortion.
6. Fugelsang's experiences and observations reveal how Christian nationalism has co-opted religious teachings to justify political power, ultimately leading to a betrayal of the foundational values of Christianity.

"Jesus was:

A peaceful, radically nonviolent revolutionary

Who wasn’t American and never spoke English

Who hung around lepers, hookers, and crooks

Never sought tax cuts for rich Nazarenes

Was anti-wealth and anti–death penalty

Anti–public prayer, too (Matthew 6:5)

Never asked lepers for a co-pay

Never called poor people “lazy”

Never even slightly anti-gay

Never mentioned abortion

Supported paying taxes

And was a long-haired

Community-organizing

Authority-questioning

Anti-slut-shaming

Brown-skinned Palestinian

Unarmed Homeless Jew

. . . but only if you believe what’s actually in the Bible." -John Fugelsang

Links referenced in this episode:

1. johnfugelsang.com
2. siriusxm.com
3. firesigntheatre.com

Companies mentioned in this episode:

1. SiriusXM
2. Turning Point USA
3. Firesign Theatre