Blog Archives - Secular Coalition for America

Heretic on the Hill: Tackling White Christian Nationalism in the Military

Celebrity candidates for office are becoming more common. When someone who spent his life coaching football is then elected to the Senate, expectations are low. Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama has generally met them. (He’s a celebrity in Alabama.) Shortly after his election in 2020 he identified the three branches of government as the House, …

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May 12 2023

Heretic on the Hill: Writing the Book on Religion and Politics

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I worked for a Senator who popularized, but maybe didn’t originate, the saying that we’re all entitled to our own opinions but not our own facts. So when there’s a new book from the political science professor who regularly takes data on religion and politics and finds something new to think about, I’m buying it. Twenty Myths …

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Apr 28 2023April 28, 2023

Heretic on The Hill: Knowing It When You See It

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In 1964 Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart wrote an opinion concerning a film the Ohio courts had deemed to be obscene. On the question of what exactly counts as pornography he said it was difficult to define but “I know it when I see it.” I apply the same standard in deciding when a judge is incorporating …

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Apr 17 2023April 20, 2023

Heretic on the Hill: Getting Lucky on Lobby Day

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Four amateur lobbyists, five meetings on Capitol Hill, and one goal: build support for the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act (SCERT). That was my team at the Secular Coalition’s first in-person lobby day in four years. The event began with a reception last Thursday evening which featured remarks from Congressman Jared Huffman, who …

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Apr 4 2023April 20, 2023

Heretic on the Hill: The Supreme Court Needs Some Sunshine

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I was pleased to see this article in The New Republic this week because the title is “Sorry Clarence Thomas but Supreme Court Ethics Reform Is on the Table.” I’m pleased because that is exactly the issue we will be advocating for on Capitol Hill at SCA’s Lobby Day on Friday. We have SCA supporters flying in to ask their representatives …

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Photograph of the Supreme Court building.

Mar 23 2023April 20, 2023

From the Intern Desk: Let’s Future-Proof the Johnson Amendment

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In July of 2017, then-President Donald Trump sat down for an interview with Christian Broadcasting Network founder Pat Robertson, and bragged about one of his recent accomplishments: “I’ve gotten rid of the Johnson Amendment. […] I signed an executive order so that now, […] ministers and preachers and rabbis and whoever it may be, they …

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Nov 25 2022November 28, 2022

From the Intern Desk: An Economics Lesson for Christian Nationalists

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Recently, as an economics student interning with a secular advocacy group, I found myself typing “economics of religion” into the search bar of Google Scholar. I expected that it would return articles on the Johnson Amendment, which concerns the political activities of churches and other tax exempt organizations, or perhaps a study or two on …

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Oct 28 2022October 28, 2022

From the Intern Desk: Where is the “Secular Left”?

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“The idea that religion and politics don’t mix was invented by the Devil to keep Christians from running their own country.” — Jerry Falwell If Roe v. Wade were decided today, it’s safe to assume that religious conservatives would be apoplectic. There would undoubtedly be protests at the Supreme Court, at abortion clinics, at the …

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Oct 5 2022October 5, 2022

Secular Day of the Dead Celebrations

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The coming months are full of iconic celebrations of both life and death. We’ll see signs of harvest, hear talk of superstitions surrounding black cats and the number 13 (even though the next Friday the 13th isn’t until January 2023), and get swept up in the fantastical as pop culture embraces witches, vampires, ghosts, werewolves, …

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Aug 24 2022August 24, 2022

Heretic on the Hill: Where Did Everybody Go?

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If it’s August in Washington two things are true: Congress is on a one month recess, and it’s hot. How hot is it? The other day it was so hot, when I went by the Lincoln Memorial the chair was empty. That’s hot! When members of Congress are on a recess you, often find them …

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low light photography of armchairs in front of desk

Aug 20 2022April 20, 2023

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Heretic on the Hill: Tackling White Christian Nationalism in the Military

Heretic on the Hill: Writing the Book on Religion and Politics

Heretic on The Hill: Knowing It When You See It

Heretic on the Hill: Getting Lucky on Lobby Day

Heretic on the Hill: The Supreme Court Needs Some Sunshine

From the Intern Desk: Let’s Future-Proof the Johnson Amendment

From the Intern Desk: An Economics Lesson for Christian Nationalists

From the Intern Desk: Where is the “Secular Left”?

Secular Day of the Dead Celebrations

Heretic on the Hill: Where Did Everybody Go?

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