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  • Election 2024
    • The Trump Administration’s Approach to Immigration is Inspired by the Bible — The Book of Revelation
      The Trump Administration’s Approach to Immigration is Inspired by the Bible — The Book of Revelation
    • While Nixon Sought to Secretly ‘Screw’ Political Enemies Trump’s Dictatorial Desires Are Less Modest
      While Nixon Sought to Secretly ‘Screw’ Political Enemies Trump’s Dictatorial Desires Are Less Modest
    • Leading ‘Constitutional Sheriffs’ Org Announces ‘Full Support’ for Trump’s Mass Deportations
      Leading ‘Constitutional Sheriffs’ Org Announces ‘Full Support’ for Trump’s Mass Deportations
  • Racial Justice
    • The Trump Administration’s Approach to Immigration is Inspired by the Bible — The Book of Revelation
      The Trump Administration’s Approach to Immigration is Inspired by the Bible — The Book of Revelation
    • Coverage of Tucker Carlson’s Demonic Assault Missed the Importance of the Man He Shared the Story With
      Coverage of Tucker Carlson’s Demonic Assault Missed the Importance of the Man He Shared the Story With
    • Leading ‘Constitutional Sheriffs’ Org Announces ‘Full Support’ for Trump’s Mass Deportations
      Leading ‘Constitutional Sheriffs’ Org Announces ‘Full Support’ for Trump’s Mass Deportations
  • Sex/Gender/Justice
    • Coverage of Tucker Carlson’s Demonic Assault Missed the Importance of the Man He Shared the Story With
      Coverage of Tucker Carlson’s Demonic Assault Missed the Importance of the Man He Shared the Story With
    • Authoritarians Must Break Your Will to Resist — So What Can You Do About it?
      Authoritarians Must Break Your Will to Resist — So What Can You Do About it?
    • Trump’s Cabinet (and Other) Picks Paint Picture of a Christian Nationalist ‘Kakistocracy’
      Trump’s Cabinet (and Other) Picks Paint Picture of a Christian Nationalist ‘Kakistocracy’
  • Christian Nationalism
    • The Trump Administration’s Approach to Immigration is Inspired by the Bible — The Book of Revelation
      The Trump Administration’s Approach to Immigration is Inspired by the Bible — The Book of Revelation
    • Coverage of Tucker Carlson’s Demonic Assault Missed the Importance of the Man He Shared the Story With
      Coverage of Tucker Carlson’s Demonic Assault Missed the Importance of the Man He Shared the Story With
    • Authoritarians Must Break Your Will to Resist — So What Can You Do About it?
      Authoritarians Must Break Your Will to Resist — So What Can You Do About it?
  • The Ashes Initiative

Murali Balaji

Murali Balaji, Ph.D. is the founder and principal of Maruthi Education, a diversity and inclusion consulting firm that focuses on cultural competency. He previously served as director of education for the Hindu American Foundation. A Fulbright Specialist and former journalist, he has taught at Temple University, Penn State University, and Lincoln University, where he served as Chair of the Department of Mass Communications. Balaji is the author of several books, including The Professor and the Pupil: The Politics and Friendship of WEB Du Bois and Paul Robeson (2007), the editor of Thinking Dead: What the Zombie Apocalypse Means (2013), and the co-editor of the seminal anthologies Desi Rap (2008) and Global Masculinities and Manhood (2011).

OMFG, Religious LibertyAugust 2, 2018

Trump Administration Is Not-So-Subtly Christianizing Foreign Policy and Aid

By Murali Balaji

Under previous administrations, the U.S. government—particularly foreign aid and arms—did not directly intervene to promote the narrative of global Christian victimhood.

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OMFGJune 28, 2018

SCOTUS Decision Changes the Meaning of Civil Religion in America

By Murali Balaji

Under Trump, civil religion has been broadly redefined to mean that the United States is exclusively shaped by and for white Christians.

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OMFGJune 19, 2018

Hindu American Community Finally Coming Around for Pride Month

By Murali Balaji

Even though Hindu scriptures embrace queerness and gender fluidity, Hindu temples have generally been reluctant to wade into discussions about sexuality.

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Religious LibertyMay 22, 2018

Trump, “Big Fan of Hindu,” To Force Thousands of Nepalis Back to Disaster Zone

By Murali Balaji

With Trump’s cancellation of protected status, the Nepali quake survivors who reached the US will have to return to a country that has so far failed to recover from the devastation.

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OMFGMay 22, 2018

Trump, “Big Fan of Hindu,” To Force Thousands of Nepalis Back to Disaster Zone

By Murali Balaji

When most Americans think of the Hindu community here, they tend to conflate Hindus with…

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Archive, Culture, OMFGApril 27, 2018

Hank Azaria Offers to Stop Doing Apu. So…Thank You?

By Murali Balaji

This week, Emmy Award-winning actor Hank Azaria finally offered to stop doing the voice of…

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Archive, Politics/LawApril 20, 2018

Trump May Be “a Big Fan of Hindu,” But Hindus Are Running—and Winning—as Democrats

By Murali Balaji

On Tuesday, the special election in Arizona’s eighth congressional district could produce the fifth Hindu…

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(A)theologies, ArchiveAugust 19, 2015

Arrests Made in Murders of Atheist Bloggers in Bangladesh, But Int’l Response to Violence Remains Anemic

By Murali Balaji

Authorities in Bangladesh announced yesterday that three men suspected of the brutal machete murders of…

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(A)theologies, ArchiveMarch 27, 2015

A Debate Rages in India Over Conversion, Secularism, and “Spiritual Violence”

By Murali Balaji

Does an anti-conversion campaign threaten India’s secular ideals?

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Archive, Politics/LawMay 23, 2014

Bobby Jindal Hypes His Christian Cred at Liberty U.

By Murali Balaji

Over the past few months, Louisiana Governor Piyush “Bobby” Jindal has been making aggressive moves…

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