Crossing Faiths is a podcast where people from diverse religious backgrounds openly discuss everything you're NOT supposed to discuss at the dinner table. Join hosts Jt Pinna, a career national security, international affairs, and D.C. insider, and Elliot Toman, a former media director in the Evangelical church, as they engage in lively conversations about the impact of faith on current events. Crossing Faiths also welcomes guests from various religious and experiential backgrounds to share their insights. The podcast was initially developed in collaboration with Matt Hawkins, a former policy director for the Southern Baptist Convention. Their conversations are built on a decade of collaboration, advocating in Washington, D.C., for religious freedom domestically and globally. The two developed the podcast to share conversations that model friendship and cooperation despite profound differences in religion and background. The podcast has reached almost 3 million multi-faith listeners, 83% millennials.
216 - Mohammed Abu-Nimer: Interfaith Forgiveness and Reconciliation
In this episode of Crossing Faiths, John Pinna speaks with Dr. Mohammed Abu-Nimer, founder of the Salam Institute, about his work in conflict resolution, interfaith engagement, and peacebuilding. The discussion centers on the Salam Institute's mission to address conflict from within local cultural and faith frameworks, highlighting how Islamic principles of mercy (rahmah) and reconciliation (sulh) can be leveraged to counter extremist ideologies, reduce Islamophobia, and combat the politics of fear. Dr. Abu-Nimer outlines the institute's initiatives to integrate forgiveness and nonviolence curricula into education systems across the Arab region, its domestic programs engaging youth in the DMV area and U.S. Muslim schools, and an upcoming academic conference focused on expanding empirical research on localized peacebuilding.
Dr. Mohammed Abu-Nimer is a Palestinian-American scholar, author, and peacebuilder. He serves as a Professor in the School of International Service at American University (https://www.american.edu/sis/faculty/abunimer.cfm) and holds the Abdul Aziz Said Chair in International Peace and Conflict Resolution. Additionally, he founded the Salam Institute for Peace and Justice to advance civic education, capacity building, and interfaith dialogue.
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12 Oct 2026
215 - Adam Terrell: Public Stoning
In this episode of Crossing Faiths, Elliot speaks with Adam Terrell about his book Public Stoning: God's Design for a Nation Without Prisons, exploring a Christian perspective on prison abolition through the implementation of biblical law and judicial alternatives. Terrell outlines his framework of complete intra-ecclesial jurisdiction, arguing that modern prisons are an unlawful form of punishment under Scripture and that Christian congregations should exercise internal discipline, restitution, and—where biblical criteria are met—capital punishment rather than relying on secular state systems. The conversation examines Old Testament penal precedents, including the death penalty for severe or persistent offenses like childhood rebellion and blasphemy, while touching on historical theocracies, Calvin's Geneva, and the role of voluntary submission in ecclesiastical governance. Terrell also reflects on his homeschooling background, his work running a faith-based halfway house, and a practical scenario from his book's epilogue designed to test judicial discernment within church communities.
Born and raised in Denton, Texas, Adam was extensively educated in the Bible by his father and has no academic credentials, for better and for worse. He hosts a quarterly podcast that focuses on neglected Biblical law, and he has worked in the TV/film industry documenting work on government, public healthcare, and law enforcement.
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28 Sept 2026
214 - CUFI and Christian Zionism
In this episode of Crossing Faiths, John and Elliot discuss the complex interplay of theology, politics, and power dynamics surrounding Christian Zionism and political advocacy groups like CUFI (Christians United for Israel) and AIPAC. They critically examine the motives behind Christian Zionism, debating whether its support for Israel stems from apocalyptic end-times prophecies or biblical promises, while highlighting the contrast between political rhetoric and theological beliefs. The conversation also delves into the historical and spiritual significance of the Temple Mount, questioning the validity of various religious claims over sacred sites in Jerusalem and contrasting Islamic and Christian perspectives on relics and holy places.
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
17 ratings
Spotify
4.3 / 5
4 ratings
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