Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person’s Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock-Fleecing Frauds with John Fugelsang

Cults, Culture & Coercion with Dr. Steve Hassan

Dr. Steven Hassan

Self-improvement, Society & Culture, Education

4.7 • 843 Ratings

🗓️ 30 March 2026

⏱️ 64 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Christianity has been “hijacked” by Christian Nationalists, right-wing Conservatives and Dominionists, according to John Fugelsang, author of the 2025 book Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person’s Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock-Fleecing Frauds. “The entire history of the organized religion has been authoritarian control,” he said on our interview for the Cults, Culture & Coercion podcast. However, he also noted a deep appreciation for the teaching of Christ through the Bible and as used by non-violent activists like Martin Luther King Jr., “There’s this incredible history of liberation thought and a true history of Christian activism that’s almost always in resistance to Christian authoritarianism.” “This book is a guide to everything the haters got wrong, and how, even if you’re an atheist, if you’re debating a Christian fundamentalist, Jesus agrees with you whether he exists or not, on every topic that divides us, it gives you the right-wing arguments and why they’re full of crap.” I replied that I’d interviewed many biblical scholars over the years and that I felt John really knew his stuff when it came to countering Christian nationalist fascists. I encouraged listeners to read or listen to his book. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, I'm Dr. Stephen Hassan with another episode of my podcast, Cults, Culture and Coercion,
0:10.2	where we expose cult tactics, religious control, the dangerous rise of extremists, ideologies affecting people worldwide.
0:19.2	Before we begin, please subscribe and like this video.
0:22.5	Your support helps my work reach more people.
0:25.7	Today, I'm so excited.
0:27.7	I'm joined by comedian and author, John Fugel Singh,
0:31.2	who's here to discuss his book that I listened to on Audible,
0:34.7	and John, I loved your book, and you're a comedian, and it was funny,
0:40.1	but so educational.
0:42.0	Anyway, his book is called Separation of Church and Hate, a sane person's guide to taking back the Bible from fundamentalists,
0:51.0	fascists, and flock-fleasing frauds, which focuses on the growing threat of Christian nationalism.
0:58.2	John brings sharp humor and a lived perspective to expose how today's far right is twisting the
1:04.7	Bible into a political weapon. John, so excited to have you on the show. Thank you so much.
1:11.2	It's really, really an honor to talk to someone like you who knows so much about authoritarian religion
1:17.4	and how cults manipulate otherwise nice people.
1:22.9	Yeah, so for my audience, let's not assume they've heard of you or know your work and such.
1:29.8	Oh, no.
1:30.6	Your parents have a very interesting background that forged you in your early years.
1:38.2	So let's share your story and get into it.
1:41.8	Well, my mother entered the convent right out of high school, and the Daughters of Wisdom
1:48.1	Order, which is a French order, and they put her through nursing school, and eventually
1:52.8	sent her off to work with lepers in Malawi, Africa.
	...

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