S5, Ep. 12: Rob Reiner and ‘God & Country’ director Dan Partland

Respecting Religion

What is the cost of speaking out against Christian nationalism? In this episode, Amanda Tyler talks with Rob Reiner and Dan Partland, two people behind a new film that discusses the dangers of Christian nationalism to the country, to the faith, and to pluralism. They share candidly about what they learned while making “God & Country,” the cost for Christians who are speaking out against the political ideology, and what new conversations they are hoping to create with this film.

SHOW NOTESSegment 1 (starting at 00:35): Rob Reiner and Dan Partland on Christian nationalism

“God & Country” will be in theaters on February 16. Learn more at GodAndCountryTheMovie.com.

The phrase “separation of church and state” is not in the U.S. Constitution, but the concept is laid out several times, including Article VI’s prohibition on any religious test for office, the First Amendment’s prohibition of a government establishment of religion, and the First Amendment’s guarantee of the free exercise of religion. Read more in Brent Walker’s “Top 5 Myths of the Separation of Church and State.”

Learn more about the Christians Against Christian Nationalism campaign – a project BJC began in 2019 – by visiting ChristiansAgainstChristianNationalism.org.

Segment 2 (starting at 20:58): Post-screening Q&A with Partland and Reiner

BJC and the Freedom From Religion Foundation released a comprehensive report on the role of Christian nationalism in the January 6 attack on the Capitol. You can access it here.

Dan Partland mentioned The Power Worshippers, a book by Katherine Stewart on the rise of religious nationalism. It serves as a basis for the movie.

Segment 3 (starting at 41:18): Closing

Michelle Boorstein covered the screening for The Washington Post in this article: ‘God & Country’ film spotlights Christian nationalism’s threat to democracy

Respecting Religion is made possible by BJC’s generous donors. You can support these conversations with a gift to BJC.