KL Marshall, originally from Texas but currently living in Alaska (thanks to COVID-19 shuttering her graduate school), is an academic writing her doctoral thesis at the University of Edinburgh School of Divinity.
Her topic is an examination of dispensationalism, a religious interpretation of the Bible that says biblical history is divided into eras, or dispensations, and that God governs these eras differently. It’s complex, but surprisingly relevant to Alaska and American politics of the moment.
Along the way, as she researched, she says she kept coming upon references to Alaska, the oil pipeline, Rev. Jerry Prevo, and former Gov. Sarah Palin. So last summer she traveled here to try and understand why Alaska and Alaskans were popping up in her research. The result is this new book, just out in May.
Here is how Marshall describes the book:
Faith and Oil tells the story of conservative Christianity’s relationship with America’s oil industry. It shows how the libertarian values of big oil companies–such as government deregulation of business practices and curbing laws that protect the environment–became embedded within the theologies of the Religious Right. These theologies of oil later found their being in the public consciousness through the rise of Sarah Palin and led to the election of Donald Trump.
We live in an oil state. Sarah Palin was our governor. Donald Trump is our president. The connection is intriguing and worth exploring. That’s the goal of today’s program.
It is worth noting that Marshall’s book has strong endorsements from two established academics and students of religion and politics. They are Dr. Darren Dochuk, a history professor at Notre Dame University, and a guest on today’s program, and Dr. Mark Noll, who has had long affiliations with both Wheaton College in Illinois and Notre Dame. Both have studied the intersection of religion and politics in American life. Please join us.
HOST: Kathleen McCoy
GUESTS:
- KL Marshall, author of “Faith and Oil: How the Alaska Pipeline shaped America’s Religious Right”
- Darren Dochuk, author of “Anointed with Oil: How Christianity and Crude Made Modern America,” history professor at Notre Dame University
- Holly Pivec, Evangelical researcher of new religious movements
LINKS
- “Christianity will have power”: Donald Trump made a promise to white evangelical Christians, whose support can seem mystifying to outside observers, The New York Times, August 2020
- BBC report: How the Independent Network Charismatic (INC) Christianity is growing and affecting America, audio story, BBC website, June 16, 2017
- Talk by Darren Dochuk at the University of Alberta on his book, “Annointed with Oil: How Christianity and Crude made Modern America, October 22,2019, You Tube
- Darren Dochuk bio and research interests, Notre Dame University website
- Holly Pivec, new religious movement researcher, on panel at Religious News Association journalism conference, discussing intersection between religion and politics and the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) movement, Churchwatch website, Religious News Association video
- Spirit of Error, Holly Pivec blog, “a biblical response to the modern apostles and prophets movement”, website
- Holly Pivec’s two books on NAR, Amazon website
PARTICIPATE:
- Call 550-8433 (Anchorage) or 1-888-353-5752 (statewide) during the live broadcast (2:00 – 3:00pm)
- Send e-mail to hometown@alaskapublic.org before, during or after the live broadcast (e-mails may be read on air)
- Post your comment or question below (comments may be read on air
- LIVE: Monday, August 24, 2020 at 2:00 p.m
- RE-AIR: Monday, August 24, 2020 at 8:00 p.m.
- PODCAST: at alaskapublic.org/hometown for free future public access
