Episode 389: Church and State, Part Three--Dangers of Church Overreach

This summer on Crazy Faith Talk, we're taking a look at the separation of church and state in the American experiment, and why it's a good thing.  Around the table as usual are pastors Erica, Sarah, and Steve, and this week, we're looking at the possible dangers of a church or religious faith taking control of the wheels of government.  While some might think it would only mean getting to have Christmas trees or nativity scenes in town squares, history suggests that there are LOTS of ways state power gets abused and faith groups become corrupt when they overtake the role of government.  Historically, that includes the disaster of the Crusades in medieval Europe the "doctrine of discovery" during the age of colonization, as well as the restrictions of opportunties and rights for women or minorities in post-revolution Iran.  And even in the present moment in America, there are faith groups who identify as "Christian nationalists" who are advocating for repealing women's right to vote.  All of those examples raise the question, "Which church would be in power?" if a church were to overtake the state--and maybe that concern tells us exactly why it was a wise idea not to establish a state church in our founding documents.  Should everything that we think of as a "sin" also be a crime punishable by the state?  Who gets to decide what count as those sins?  And what can Christians learn about the temptation to dominate with secular power from the story of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness? These kinds of questions and more are all up for discussion on this week's Crazy Faith Talk!