Is religion taking over American politics? In this episode of Cults, Culture, & Coercion, Dr. Steven Hassan speaks with scholar Keri Ladner, PhD about Christian nationalism, American Dominion, the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), and how fringe religious ideologies have invaded mainstream politics.
Dr. Steven Hassan, author of New York Times Bestseller, The Cult of Trump, interviews Keri Ladner, an expert on religious fundamentalism, politics, and the radicalization of religious movements, about her new book American Dominion and the rise of what she describes as a new form of “Christendom," a system where religious authority and political power become deeply intertwined.
Drawing on historical analysis and theological research, Ladner explains how movements once considered fringe have entered mainstream influence. She highlights connections between infamous cult leaders like Jim Jones and William Branham and the development of “Manifest Sons of God” theology, showing how these ideas have evolved and re-emerged in modern movements like the New Apostolic Reformation. These belief systems often emphasize apostles, prophets, and spiritual authority structures that require submission and obedience from followers.
Together, Hassan and Ladner explore how these movements operate not just as belief systems, but as structures of deep political and social influence, using manipulative emotional experiences, peer-pressure laden worship environments, and claims of supernatural/god-like powers to reinforce authority. They examine the role of faith healing, speaking in tongues (glossolalia and Pentecostalism), and confirmation bias in shaping perception and maintaining belief, as well as the real-world consequences when individuals are discouraged by faith healers and religious figures from seeking medical care.
The conversation also highlights the psychological dynamics of coercion and cult influence, including how charismatic leaders establish control, how group reinforcement shapes belief, and how ideology can spread through cultural channels like music and community networks.
If you’ve ever wondered how religious movements gain political influence, how cult dynamics can exist within mainstream institutions, or how to recognize the warning signs of coercive control, this episode offers critical insight grounded in history, psychology, and lived experience.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- What “American Dominion” means and how it relates to modern politics
- How Christian nationalist ideas move from fringe to mainstream
- The origins and influence of Manifest Sons of God theology
- Connections between Jim Jones and modern religious movements
- What the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) is and how it operates
- How apostles, prophets, and authority structures reinforce control
- The psychology behind faith healing, speaking in tongues, and confirmation bias
- How coercive control functions in religious contexts
- The risks of rejecting medical treatment in favor of belief systems
- How to recognize cult dynamics within political and religious movements
