In 2020, Pastor Caleb Campbell watched Christian nationalism take over large swaths of his congregation in Phoenix, Arizona. He thought about giving up on the church, but over the years, he came to see himself as a missionary to Christian nationalists.

In Episode 3 of our Difficult Conversations series, Caleb shares his journey from skinhead to pastor, and from accusations of demonic influence to restored relationships. Along with Dr. Sheila Heen at Harvard Negotiation Project, he offers a hopeful way to engage with those who hold extreme views.

And you'll also hear Gabriel Salguero of National Latino Evangelical Coalition describe his own encounter with extreme views.

Listen on your favorite podcast app. Show notes here: http://nae.org/christian-nationalism-podcast

#difficultconversations #peacemakers #polarized #divided #church #christiannationalism

Carl talks about his experience growing up in Upstate New York and how he has grappled with his identity as a rural white American. He also sheds light on the complexities and diversity within rural America, the sense of loss that many rural residents feel, and the lure of Christian nationalism as a response to that loss.

This conversation peels back misconceptions of rural-urban divide and offers greater clarity for those seeking to be peacemakers among Americans with different lived experiences.

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Are You TRAPPED in High Conflict? | Amanda Ripley

Dr. Francis Collins Talks With Outspoken COVID Response Critic

This episode of Difficult Conversations features two Christians who sat on opposite sides of the COVID divide. As director of the National Institutes of Health from 2009 to 2021, Dr. Francis Collins played a pivotal role in the COVID response. Wilk Wilkinson, who lives in rural Minnesota, was intensely critical of how the government handled COVID and is the host of Derate the Hate podcast.

You’ll also hear from Amanda Ripley, a New York Times bestselling author and contributor for The Washington Post, about conflict entrepreneurs, the role of the media, and how to turn high conflict into good conflict.

What can we learn from how we handled COVID in our churches, communities and national discourse? Is repair possible for the relationships that remain fractured? Our guests say that it’s not only possible but it’s essential to overcome the deep polarization in our country.

Go to Show Notes

Go to full interview of Amanda Ripley

Go to full interview of Dr. Francis Collins & Wilk Wilkinson

Subscribe today wherever you listen to podcasts.