The Center for Faith Studies is proud to present “Faith and Democracy 2024: What’s at Stake?”
Friday, October 4, 2024│7:00 PM
Saturday, October 5, 2024│9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Countryside Community Church, 13130 Faith Plaza, Omaha, NE 68144
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Join us for “Faith and Democracy: What’s at Stake?”—an urgent and timely conversation about the fusion of faith, politics, and power in today’s America.
- Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis, a fierce advocate for justice and inclusion, will expose the dangers of nationalism intertwined with Christian identity. She will call on us to resist ideologies that distort the teachings of love, equality, and compassion that lie at the heart of Christianity.
- Rev. Jim Wallis, author of The False White Gospel, will reveal how white Christian nationalism undermines the core values of faith, promoting racism and power-seeking instead of justice and equality. His message: reject this harmful ideology and fight for inclusion and racial justice.
- Dr. Samuel L. Perry, leading scholar and author of Ties That Divide, will take us deep into the latest research on white Christian nationalism and its dangerous impact on the 2024 election. Understand how this ideology fuels division and what we can do to address it at the local, national, and personal levels.
This is not just a conversation—it’s a call to action. Explore how faith, politics, and identity collide in America, and learn how to reclaim democracy for all people. Secure your tickets now for an event that promises to challenge, inspire, and equip you for the work ahead.
Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis and Rev. Jim Wallis open the event on Friday evening, October 4. On Saturday morning, Dr. Samuel L. Perry will discuss white Christian nationalism in depth. This will be followed by a panel discussion with all three speakers and breakout sessions exploring its impact on Education, Reproductive Rights, Housing, and Climate.
Friday, October 4, 7 PM: Faith and Democracy 2024 Keynotes
Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis is a fierce advocate for justice, inclusion, and radical love. In her keynote, she will emphasize the dangerous fusion of faith with nationalism, particularly when Christian identity is used to promote exclusionary or supremacist ideologies. She warns that this movement distorts the teachings of Jesus, who preached love, justice, and inclusion. Rev. Lewis urges God’s people to resist this toxic blend of religion and power by embodying the true values of Christianity, such as compassion, equality, and the pursuit of justice for all people, regardless of race, background, or belief.
In his most recent book, The False White Gospel, Rev. Jim Wallis exposes white Christian nationalism as a harmful misrepresentation of Christianity that promotes racism and power-seeking under the guise of faith. He argues that this ideology distorts the gospel by blending religious identity with white supremacy, undermining the core Christian values of love, justice, and equality. Wallis urges Christians to reject this false gospel and embrace a faith committed to inclusion, racial justice, and the common good.
Patron Tickets include a meet and greet with speakers Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis and Jim Wallis after the event.
Saturday, October 5, 8 AM – 12 PM: Faith and Democracy 2024 Keynote, Panel Discussion, and Breakouts
Ties That Divide: White Christian Nationalism and the Politics of “Us vs. Them”
Dr. Samuel L. Perry will discuss the latest research on white Christian nationalism and its relevance for the 2024 Presidential Election. After carefully defining terms, he will talk about how white Christian nationalism is powerfully related to white identity politics and particularly white Americans’ concerns about racial “replacement,” which are currently mobilizing the far-right Republican base. Knowing how white Christian nationalism works politically helps us understand the rhetoric of MAGA Republicans and how such rhetoric serves the interests of the wealthiest Americans while amplifying the racial and inter-partisan hostility that divides our nation. He will end by discussing practical ways to address white Christian nationalism in our churches, local communities, and nation.
Don’t miss this critical moment—be part of the movement for justice, inclusion, and the true values of faith!