Just Liberty

31: Enforcing "God's Law" with Dr. Sima Samar

How did Afghanistan became the world's largest prison for women? Interview with Sima Samar.
The Taliban has ruled Afghanistan since the US and NATO pulled out in 2021. Within days, they began rolling back the hard-won civil rights of women and girls. Today, to be female in Afghanistan is to be legally vulnerable and physically isolated. Sima Samar, a former Minister of Women's Affairs for Afghanistan, now in exile in the US, provides an inside perspective on this human rights tragedy fueled by religious extremism.
Guest:
X: https://x.com/drsimasamar?lang=en
Show Notes:
Liberty article on the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban: "Hidden and Alone" by Matias Perttula. https://www.libertymagazine.org//article/hidden-and-aloneDr Samar's recently published book about her experiences in Afghanistan, Outspoken. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/721723/outspoken-by-sima-samar-with-sally-armstrong/

30: Antisemitism - The Canary in the Coal Mine with Mark Schickman

Antisemitism is on the rise in America and around the world. Interview with Mark Schickman.
Antisemitism has a long and sordid history and over the centuries, it has taken many different shapes. But what does it look like today in 21st century America? What's driving this spike in antisemitism and how can we better recognize and combat this form of hate?
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Show Notes:
News report: "One year later: Anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim hate incidents spike since Oct. 7 attacks," USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2024/10/07/hate-crimes-grow-in-us-since-oct-7-attacks/75501456007/

Just Liberty | Back December 3

We're off this week due to the holiday, but we'll be back with a brand new episode on December 3. 
Listen to our library of 30 previous episodes, or check out our Youtube channel: www.youtube.com/@libertymag

29: Terminated Fire Chief case goes to the Supreme Court with Ron Hittle and Wendy Musell

When Ron Hittle was fired by city leaders citing his attendence at a "religious event," Ron faced a choice. Accept the decision and move on or stand up against religious discimination. He chose the more difficult path and has now asked the Supreme Court to hear his case that tests legal protection for people of faith in the workplace.

28: A matter of survival with Steve McFarland

A matter of survival. Why a legal principle called "church autonomy" is again facing scrutiny in the courtroom. An interview with Steve McFarland.
Question: What makes an Adventist school "Adventist" or a Catholic charity "Catholic" or a Islamic humanitarian agency "Islamic"? Answer: In large part, its employees. Without staff members who share the same mission, beliefs, and standards of conduct, a faith-based organization be would just ... an organization. In recent years, though, the hiring practices of religious entities have been challenged, along with a legal principle known as "church autonomy" that has long prevented the government from weighing in on religious practices and beliefs. What could be the consequences if these challenges succeed? We ask Steve McFarland, director of the Law and Religious Freedom Center at the Christian Legal Society, and former vice-president and chief legal officer for the Christian relief agency World Vision.
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Guest:
Steve McFarland, Christian Legal Society
FB: https://www.facebook.com/clsnetLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/christian-legal-society/posts/?feedView=all
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Show Notes:
Legal brief of Christian Legal Society in McMahon v. World Vision: https://www.christianlegalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Ninth-Circuit-Amicus-Brief-Final.pdf Background to McMahon v. World Vision: https://firstliberty.org/news/supporting-world-vision-in-employment-case/

27: Does mixing faith and politics always end in disaster? with Curtis Chang

Suffering a political-party hangover? There's a remedy for that. The creators of "The After Party"--Curtis Chang, Russell Moore, and David French--have some thoughts for Christians trying to navigate America's toxic political landscape. We talk with podcaster, theologian, and evangelical leader Curtis Chang about "The After Party"--an online curriculum, book, and worship album aimed at helping Christians reframe their political identity.
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X: https://x.com/curtischangRB https://x.com/redeemingbabel
FB: https://www.facebook.com/CurtisChangOfficial/
https://www.facebook.com/redeemingbabel
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtischang/
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The After Party website: https://redeemingbabel.org/the-after-party/
The Good Faith podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-faith/id1594454747
The After Party worship album: https://redeemingbabel.org/the-after-party/worship-album/
 

26: A clause for confusion? with Charles Haynes

A clause for confusion? The much-debated meaning of the First Amendment's establishment clause. What exactly did our colonial forebears have in mind when they forbade laws "respecting an establishment of religion"?
And why have we been arguing about it ever since?
We take a tour through American history and Supreme Court jurisprudence with First Amendment scholar and author Charles Haynes.
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X: @1stForAll FB: https://www.facebook.com/FirstAmendmentForAll/ Insta: https://www.instagram.com/1stforall/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/freedomforum/"
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Show Notes:
Freedom Forum website: https://www.freedomforum.org
Background on the establishment clause: https://www.freedomforum.org/the-establishment-clause/
News story on recent Supreme Court establishment clause decisions: https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2022/07/17/supreme-court-church-state-religion-coach/
 

25: The rise of the Christian culture-war warrior with Barry Hankins

"How and when did evangelical Christians become a predictable voting bloc? And what does this shift mean--not only for American politics, but for the church itself? We talk with Barry Hankins, an author, professor, and renowned historian of the evangelical movement, about the consequences of politicized Christianity and the forces that drive it."
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Show Notes:
Liberty magazine article: ""It's All About Me: How the culture wars are redefining evangelicals and religious liberty."" https://www.libertymagazine.org/article/its-all-about-me
 
Books authored or co-authored by Dr. Hankins: https://www.amazon.com/Books-Barry-Hankins/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3ABarry+Hankins
 

24: Free to Speak Hate? Campuses & Free Speech with Michael A. Helfand

College-age students have opinions about the Israel-Gaza war and they're finding ways to share them. But when does political protest morph into something darker? We talk with church-state scholar Michael A. Helfand, professor at Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, about rising antisemitism in America and the lines between free speech, discrimination, and harassment.
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X: @MAHelfand Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-helfand-22653313/FB: https://www.facebook.com/michael.a.helfand
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Show Notes
News report: "Free Speech Survey Signals Distrust and Disconnection." https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/free-speech/2024/09/09/free-speech-survey-signals-distrust-and-disconnection
 

23: Flags and Fury with Matthew D. Taylor

Flags and fury: the most important Christian movement you've never heard of. Interview with Matthew D. Taylor.
 
The so-called "Appeal to Heaven" flag entered the national conversation recently with news it had been flown over a house owned by Supreme Court justice Samuel Alito. But what is the story behind this flag and the powerful, yet relatively unknown, Christian movement that has embraced its symbolism?We talk with scholar and author Matthew D. Taylor about the theology, mission, and growing influence of the New Apostolic Reformation.
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matt.taylor.9231X: @TaylorMatthewDLinked: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylormatthewd/
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Show Notes:
 
Liberty magazine article: America's Spiritual Warriors. https://www.libertymagazine.org/article/americas-spiritual-warriors Interview with Matthew Taylor in NY Magazine: https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/the-christian-nationalism-behind-the-appeal-to-heaven-flag.html Forthcoming book by Matthew D. Taylor, The Violent Take It by Force: The Christian Movement That Is Threatening Our Democracy. https://www.amazon.com/Violent-Take-Force-Matthew-Taylor-ebook/dp/B0CTJHYQ9J/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.lQsjEFbuPxt_vw9QlaYMUgzKMMia_hC5_fCUbdcWWEbGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.Os9nVAZzqxp-Z3OYUCpAnmp9Enj87H1jHiyW8PxC7yw&qid=1718194880&sr=8-1 Audio-Documentary Series:“Charismatic Revival Fury: The New Apostolic Reformation” https://icjs.org/charismatic-revival-fury/