The Power Worshippers: Inside The Dangerous Rise Of Religious Nationalism

Sonali Kolhatkar speaks with Katherine Stewart about the dangerous rise of religious nationalism.

As the nation hurtles toward arguably the most important Presidential election of our lifetime, the influence and power of the religious right in American politics appears to be coming to a head. President Donald Trump is an unlikely messiah for Christian fundamentalists who seek a roll back of abortion rights, gay rights, women’s rights, secularism and more.

But perhaps it ought not to surprise us. In her new book that she spent more than a decade researching Sonali's guest Katherine Stewart writes, “the religious right has become more focused and powerful even as it is arguably less representative. It is not a social or cultural movement. It is a political movement, and its ultimate goal is power.”

Katherine Stewart, has been reporting at the intersection of religion, politics, policy, and education for over a decade. She has contributed to The New York Times, American Prospect, Washington Post, The Atlantic, the Advocate, the Guardian, and Religion Dispatches. Her earlier book was The Good News Club: The Christian Right’s Stealth Assault on America’s Children and her new book is called The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism.

Rising Up with Sonali is a radio and television show that brings progressive news coverage rooted in gender and racial justice to a wide audience. Rising Up With Sonali was built on the foundation of Sonali Kolhatkar's earlier show, Uprising, which became the longest-running drive-time radio show on KPFK in Los Angeles hosted by a woman. RUS airs on Free Speech TV every weekday.

Missed an episode? Check out Rising Up on FSTV VOD anytime or visit the show page for the latest clips.

#FreeSpeechTV is one of the last standing national, independent news networks committed to advancing progressive social change.

#FSTV is available on Dish, DirectTV , AppleTV, Roku, Sling and online at freespeech.org.