Religion & Global Affairs Newsletter, Vol. 6, Issue 31

Nicki Minaj, the Pope, and Donald Trump. It sounds like the lead-in to a joke. But recently the rapper, the Pontiff, and the President addressed persecution in Nigeria.

It's not surprising for the Pope to speak about religious persecution, as when he lamented the kidnapping of students in Nigeria and Cameroon. Nicki Minaj, on the other hand…  Her commentary and resharing of President Trump's social media announcement naming Nigeria a "country of particular concern" for severe religious freedom violations was unexpected, to say the least.

We live in interesting times. But it also shows the power of celebrities like Nicki Minaj to elevate decades-old problems to the forefront.

I agree with the CPC decision, as Nigeria was a glaring omission from the list. While some downplay the death toll or debate the causation, the violence targeting Christians is undeniable and the body count too high to ignore. Other countries have been named CPCs for less. I highlighted these points to Fox News before Minaj spoke at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations (her speech was surprisingly good). I also wrote for Foreign Policy outlining a global strategy advancing religious freedom for everyone, everywhere. The effort cannot begin and end with Christians in Nigeria.

More action is needed, as persecution is a global reality impacting every faith somewhere. A recent report by the McCain Institute, "The State of Religious Freedom Worldwide: An Inside Look at the Axis of Upheaval's Religious Persecution and How the U.S. Can Counteract It," calls for the United States to press authoritarian governments to reform. It was my privilege to advise the Institute, co-edit the report, and write the introduction. Working with many distinguished authors, the report comprehensively addresses religious persecution in China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia. If you want the CliffsNotes version, see the joint op-ed with my co-editor at the Institute, Alexis Mrachek, highlighting findings with a specific focus on Russia.

Two other conversations are worth your time. Check out this thoughtful discussion at Baylor University on Charting a Way to End Persecution. I particularly enjoyed speaking there, as my wife and many relatives attended Baylor, and Baylor University Press published my first book. Another worthwhile conversation was on the Just Liberty podcast. We discussed how advocates of religious freedom, in this moment of dwindling political and financial support, must challenge leaders in the United States and Europe to recommit to human rights.  

Part of this is reviving support outside of centers of power. In October, we co-sponsored the Global Religious Freedom Gathering: Praying for ALL the Persecuted at Dallas Baptist University. To demonstrate the scope of global persecution, the conference heard testimonies from survivors, including Christians from Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkey, as well as a Hazara Shia from Afghanistan and an Ahmadi Muslim about Pakistan. We prayed for protection and rescue, while planning how to respond. We released the Dallas Covenant that articulates the theological foundation for why Christians should pray and advocate for all. I echoed these sentiments in Love in Action: Advocacy as the Foundation of Gospel Witness on Substack. I was pleased that the Dallas Morning News published our article with Randel Everett about the event.

Developing new approaches is also crucial. The Leimena Institute’s cross-cultural religious literacy program in Indonesia is a great example, as their teacher training program helps protect youth from negative influences by fostering interfaith understanding. I spoke at Leimena’s conference in Jakarta about how sacred places can complement these efforts by promoting peaceful pluralism and interfaith understanding. In a Substack article, I reflected on a remarkable event at the national mosque that demonstrates the possibilities of sacred sites as educational tools and places of encounter.

On a lighter note, I also wrote about cultural heritage protection closer to home, publishing an article in a local newspaper about the original KFC restaurant in Corbin, Kentucky. Harlan Sanders opened his first roadside restaurant in the heart of Appalachia in the 1930s. Always an economically struggling region of the state, I outlined how spotlighting the landmark to motorists along a major highway could spur new commercial activity.

Lastly, if you follow me on socials, you've seen my short book reviews. Looking back over the year, I've enjoyed a lot of historical fiction (which brings history to life) and regular fiction (which I usually avoid since it's all make-believe). All Creatures Great and Small was delightful, the quasi-biographical story of a Scottish vet in the 1940s Yorkshire Dales. I, Claudius, about the first Roman Imperial families from the perspective of overlooked Claudius was also a good read. For fiction, I enjoyed The Martian about a stranded astronaut. The Last Kingdom series was fun, with Vikings, castles, and shield walls. I didn't abandon history altogether, enjoying City of Fortune: How Venice Ruled the Seas and Ascent to Power, chronicling Harry Truman's emergence from FDR's shadow. You can find my complete reading list with short critiques here.

I welcome your feedback, and, as always, the views expressed here are my own. For more, check out my previous newsletter, which includes an article about sacred sites combating religious nationalism for the Bush Institute, the ISIS genocide of Yezidis for The Hill, criminal violence targeting religious actors in Latin America for The Dispatch, and interviews about China's persecution of Uyghurs (starting at the 32:30 mark) and the implications of artificial intelligence on religious freedom.