American Unexceptionalism: Global Lessons on Fighting Religious Nationalism
Global Lessons in Fighting Religious Nationalism
American Unexceptionalism is a limited-series podcast from Dr. Matthew D. Taylor and the Rev. Susan Hayward about what Americans can learn from people around the world who have resisted religious nationalism and authoritarianism.
The series turns the idea of American exceptionalism on its head, asking: What can we learn from others about protecting democracy when the stakes are high? How have Buddhists in Sri Lanka, Muslims in Turkey, and Christians in South Korea confronted religious nationalism in their own contexts—and what lessons can we draw from their struggles to restrain its power?
Through conversations with scholars and activists, we explore how these movements unfolded, how they mirror or differ from the American experience, and what practical insights they offer for those working to defend pluralism and democratic life in the United States today.
Christian Nationalism: A Threat to Pluralist Democracy
Christian nationalism promotes a narrow Christian identity in public life, and even when embraced by a small minority, it fuels a movement that undermines democratic norms, Explore this curated collection of ICJS resources—videos, courses, articles, and more—to deepen your understanding.
American Unexceptionalism Episodes
Episode 1: It’s Time to Leave American Exceptionalism Behind
In this intro, Matt and Susie show how U.S. Christian nationalism is part of a global pattern of religious nationalist movements—and why Americans must learn from those who have already resisted them.
Episode 2: Brazil: Twinsurrections
Drawing parallels between the U.S. and Brazil, Matt and Susie explore why Brazil has curbed an authoritarian, Christian-backed leader while the United States has not, in conversation with scholars Raimundo Barreto and João Chaves.
Episode 3: South Korea: K-Pop Demon Hunters IRL
Matt and Susie examine Korea’s recent near-autocratic takeover—and what Americans can learn from the activists and religious communities who stopped it—with experts Helen J. Kim and Ray Kim.
Episode 4: Sri Lanka & Myanmar: Gen Z Resisters, Rogue Monks, & the Power of Decentralized Protest
This episode analyzes the recent political upheavals in Sri Lanka and Myanmar, as Matt and Susie unpack the dynamics of resistance with scholars David Moe and Geethika Dharmasinghe.
Episode 5: India—Will the Largest Democracy in the World Survive Religious Nationalism?
Matt and Susie examine the rise of Hindu nationalism in India and its reach into the U.S., exploring its history, political power, and emerging movements of resistance with scholars Nikhil Mandalaparthy and Anant Rambachan.
About the Podcast Hosts
Matthew D. Taylor, Ph.D., is the Christian scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies in Baltimore, where he examines the intersections of American Christianity, Islam, extremism, and religious politics. His books include The Violent Take It by Force (Broadleaf, 2024), on the Christian movement threatening U.S. democracy, and Scripture People (Cambridge, 2023). His current work explores how communities resist religious nationalism. Taylor holds a Ph.D. from Georgetown University and an M.A. from Fuller Seminary.
The Rev. Susan Hayward is a minister in the United Church of Christ and a specialist on religion, peace, and human rights. She is a research fellow at Georgetown University’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs. From 2007 to 2021, she worked with the U.S. Institute of Peace, partnering with faith-based actors to transform violence in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Colombia, and to advance religious literacy in U.S. diplomacy. More recently, she helped establish Harvard Divinity School’s Religion and Public Life program, developing training for ethically engaged, religiously literate leadership.