Discussing Race and Religion in the Age of Trump With the Rev. Madison Shockley

From left: Truthdig communications coordinator Sarah Wesley, the Rev. Madison Shockley, Editor in Chief Robert Scheer and staff writer Emma Niles.

Race and religion are two subjects many Americans probably tried to avoid discussing during the holiday season, but neither issue is foreign to the Rev. Madison Shockley.

Shockley, pastor of the Pilgrim United Church of Christ in Carlsbad, Calif., has written abundantly on progressive issues such as abortion, same-sex marriage and Black Lives Matter.

Thursday, Shockley sat down with the Truthdig team to discuss the incoming Trump administration and how race and religion—two essential aspects of American society—will factor in to his presidency. Watch the two-part discussion below.

Shockley just returned from a trip to Palestine. “After my visit, I would say Jesus is a Palestinian,” he says. He also discusses modern interpretations of Jesus and Jesus as a historical figure.

“The truth about Jesus is always reaching across boundaries and across borders,” Shockley explains.

The conversation then moved to domestic politics, particularly the recent election. “Trump supporters need our compassion,” says Shockley, “because he’s not going to do what he said he would.”

Although seemingly not much of a religious man himself, Trump achieved his election victory thanks to many religious voters, particularly white, born-again/evangelical Christians—those who adhere to the same religious beliefs as his running mate, Mike Pence.

Minority voters, however, strongly preferred Clinton, and Trump has a history of making inflammatory remarks about African-Americans, Latinos and Muslims.

“The words of appeal he speaks drip with his deep contempt for black people,” Shockley wrote of Trump in August. “His lecture to black people offends and angers us.”

Americans hold a variety of different religious beliefs, and the country’s racial demographics are becoming increasingly diverse. Considering his earlier, controversial positions on many subjects pertaining to race and religion, how will these issues factor in to a Trump administration?

Watch past editions of Live at Truthdig here.

—Posted by Emma Niles

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