CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM, ZIONISM, HINDUTVA:
The Dangers and Similarities of Religious Nationalism Around the World
Thursday, January 30, 2025
1:00 pm Eastern, 10:00 am Pacific (US/Canada) / 6:00 pm UTC
Religious nationalism in the United States, Israel, and India: what threats do these dangerous ideologies bring to our lives and our communities, and what do they have in common?
Religious nationalism has roots in racist perspectives about humanity and unholy beliefs about God's favoritism, conflating those in order to grant power and privilege to one people over another.
Varieties of religious nationalism - the merging of religious faith, political philosophy, and national loyalty – have long served to justify political oppression and condone colonialist greed.
We know religious commitment can be a positive force that inspires care for all people and for the planet.
However, the misuse of religious traditions such as Christianity, Judaism, and Hinduism to harm and exclude whole segments of populations betrays the essential values of these faiths, while also violating universal human rights and greatly damaging our societies.
In recent years, religious nationalism is sweeping the globe in ways that promote violence and authoritarianism.
On January 30th, we will look at three prominent and timely examples of religious nationalism today: White Christian Nationalism, Zionism (Jewish Nationalism), and Hindu Nationalism.
The similarities between these ideologies are striking. When we expand our understanding of each to see the common ground they share, we can build strength in our mutual efforts as faith advocates to refute them and stem the harm they can do in our faith communities and in the world.
An exceptional panel of experts will present and discuss the distinct features of each of these dangerous ideologies and help us to understand the compelling intersections among them.
OUR PANEL:
REV. KENDAL L. MCBROOM is the director of Civil and Human Rights at the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society. He is responsible for managing and developing the agency’s legislative and policy advocacy in support of civil and human rights. He also collaborates with United Methodist faith and secular coalitions to develop and implement strategies that advance GBCS priorities. Before joining GBCS staff, Kendal served as the senior pastor of Turners Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in High Point, North Carolina and is an ordained elder in the AME Church.
RABBI ALISSA WISE is an organizer, ritual leader, and organizational steward with over two decades of movement building experience. She is currently Lead Organizer of Rabbis for Ceasefire. She was a staff leader at Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) from 2011-2021, serving as Co-Director of Organizing, Deputy Director, and interim Executive Director. Alissa is a national public speaker and commentator, and her work has appeared in such news outlets as Newsweek and The Guardian. She lives in West Philadelphia, where she facilitates and coaches human rights and movement-building NGOs toward deeper strategy, organizing, and leadership.
REV. NEAL CHRISTIE is the Executive Director of the Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations and former staff at the UMC General Board of Church and Society working in Education and Leadership Development; Neal served as lead staff for the worldwide revisions of the UMC Social Creed and Social Principles. He is a recent co-convener of the Love Your Neighbor Coalition, and a leader in justice advocacy and community organizing throughout the United Methodist Church, as well as diverse ecumenical and interfaith communities and coalitions