By Kaitlyn Schiess and Ann Boyd

Kaitlyn Schiess: The Ballot and the Bible

“Do I go to Scripture asking different questions? Do I come with a posture of assuming I will be both comforted and convicted? That I might be critiqued? Do I have myself in the posture to hear that or not? — Kaitlyn Schiess

Author and scholar Kaitlyn Schiess talks with us about political theology in American history and how learning about it can impact our own faithful engagement with politics today. 

With the 2024 presidential election is just around the corner, it’s a good time to ask probing questions about Scripture, power, and what would take for our political theology to be shaped by God. Author and scholar Kaitlyn Schiess joined us on the podcast to discuss her recent book, The Ballot and the Bible: How Scripture Has Been Used and Abused in American Politics and Where We Go from Here. In this book, Kaitlyn highlights examples of biblical interpretation throughout American history, examples that are distanced enough from our context today that they can helping us see some common pitfalls that lead to poor political theology. These are such important ideas that require deep thinking and personal reflection, and Kaitlyn draws us into the conversation gently but firmly. In our discussion, we also talk about Kaitlyn’s current experience as a grad student, and if you listen to the very end of the podcast, you’ll hear an excerpt from our conversation where Kaitlyn shares a practice that has been strengthening her community bond, especially in her life as a single person.

So jump right in! We're so glad you're here.

You can listen on iTunes or at The Women Scholars and Professionals Podcast. We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did.

Further resources for this interview:

 

Photo by Brandon Mowinkel on StockSnap

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About the Author

Kaitlyn Schiess (ThM, Dallas Theological Seminary) is a writer, speaker, and theologian. She is the author of The Liturgy of Politics: Spiritual Formation for the Sake of Our Neighbor and is a regular cohost on the Holy Post podcast with Skye Jethani and Phil Vischer. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, Christianity Today, Christ and Pop Culture, Relevant, and Sojourners. Schiess is currently a doctoral student in political theology at Duke Divinity School. She lives in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo Credit: Kendra Sharrard)

Ann is the Women Scholars and Professionals Podcast host and the interim editor for The Well. She has worked for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship since 1997, exploring her interests in community, spiritual formation, and writing. Ann has a BM in Music Education from Northwestern University and lives in Chicago, Illinois with one husband, two spunky teenage daughters, and three snuggly cats. You’ll often find Ann baking sweet treats in the kitchen while listening to a podcast or audiobook.

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