Podcasts
Two podcasts came out of our work. First a limited special season of The Doctrine of Christian Discovery and second several seasons of Mapping the Doctrine of Discovery.
Mapping the Doctrine of Discovery is an educational podcast hosted by Philip Arnold and Sandy Bigtree that explores how 15th-century papal decrees continue to influence modern law, land rights, and religious worldviews. It connects the Doctrine of Discovery to systemic injustice, emphasizing its role in legalizing land theft and Indigenous dispossession. The podcast features scholars, activists, and Indigenous voices who examine how Christian theology supported conquest and how those legacies remain embedded in U.S. and global institutions. It serves as a resource for truth-telling and decolonization. Produced by Good Faith Media during a 2023 conference at Syracuse University, the Doctrine of Christian Discovery podcast features interviews with Indigenous leaders, scholars, and faith-based advocates. Hosted by Tanner Randall, the podcast examines the ongoing legal, theological, and cultural impacts of the Doctrine. Each episode connects historical analysis to current struggles for Indigenous rights, environmental justice, and religious freedom.
Published: 05 May 2025
Articles
Betty Hill (Lyons): Understanding the Doctrine
Episode 1 Doctrine of Christian Discovery Podcast Special Season - As historians of religions, we are interested in myths, history, and creation narratives. The U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Johnson v. M’Intosh (1823) includes all these elements. The Johnson decision illustrates one of the powerful ways in which Christianity has played a hegemonic role within American law and culture at the expense of Mother Earth and all living beings, especially Indigenous peoples.
Betty Hill (Lyons)
Robert P. Jones: White Supremacy’s Roots
Episode 2 Doctrine of Christian Discovery Podcast Special Season - The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy: And the Path to a Shared American Future. The podcast explores how a centuries-old Christian doctrine encouraged conquest and colonization of non-Christians -- and how its legacies still affect various lands and peoples. Special guest: Robert P. Jones, president and founder of Public Religion Research Institute.
Robert P. Jones
Robert J. Miller: Property & Sovereignty
Episode 3 Doctrine of Christian Discovery Podcast Special Season - The podcast explores how a centuries-old Christian doctrine encouraged conquest and colonization of non-Christians -- and how its legacies still affect.The podcast explores how a centuries-old Christian doctrine encouraged conquest and colonization of non-Christians -- and how its legacies still affect various lands and peoples. Special guest: Robert J. Miller, professor of law at Arizona State University.
Robert J. Miller
Gustavo Melo Cerqueira & Danielle N. Boaz: Religious Racism
Episode 4 Doctrine of Christian Discovery Podcast Special Season - The podcast explores how a centuries-old Christian doctrine encouraged conquest and colonization of non-Christians -- and how its legacies still affect. The podcast explores how a centuries-old Christian doctrine encouraged conquest and colonization of non-Christians -- and how its legacies still affect various lands and peoples. Special guests: Gustavo Melo Cerqueira & Danielle N. Boaz, International Commission to Combat Religious Racism.
Gustavo Melo Cerqueira
Danielle N. Boaz
Steven Newcomb & JoDe Goudy: U.S. Law
Episode 5 Doctrine of Christian Discovery Podcast Special Season - The podcast explores how a centuries-old Christian doctrine encouraged conquest and colonization of non-Christians -- and how its legacies still affect various lands and peoples. The podcast explores how a centuries-old Christian doctrine encouraged conquest and colonization of non-Christians -- and how its legacies still affect various lands and peoples. Special guests: Steven Newcomb & JoDe Goudy, Indigenous scholars and activists.
Steven T. Newcomb
Eve Reyes-Aguirre: Environment & Creation
Episode 6 Doctrine of Christian Discovery Podcast Special Season - The podcast explores how a centuries-old Christian doctrine encouraged conquest and colonization of non-Christians -- and how its legacies still affect various lands and peoples.The podcast explores how a centuries-old Christian doctrine encouraged conquest and colonization of non-Christians -- and how its legacies still affect various lands and peoples. Special guest: Eve Reyes-Aguirre, community organizer with Tonatierra.
Eve Reyes Aguirre
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