Reclaimed Religion: Writing Christianity Back
Featured writers: John Fugelsang and Annabelle Gurwitch
Comedian and podcaster John Fugelsang talks about the shifting image of Christianity from love and mercy, to hate and fear, and how to reclaim the heart of religion from forces of bigotry. Fugelsang is interviewed by actress and author Annabelle Gurwitch.
This program is presented in conjunction with the American Writers Museum’s special exhibit American Prophets: Writers, Religion, and Culture, a powerful exhibit that takes you on the ultimate exploration through spirituality and storytelling. American Prophets is now on display at the AWM. American Prophets is supported by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Religion and Cultural Institutions Initiative.
Book signing times (all signings take place in the First Floor Lobby of the library)
🖊️John Fugelsang: 4:00 – 4:20
You can also see Gurwitch discuss her own book at the Comedy & Memoir program!
About the writers:
JOHN FUGELSANG has been murdered on CSI and picketed by the Westboro Baptist Church. He’s a Drama League–nominated actor, comedian, and broadcaster who’s hosted many TV shows and podcasts, including the acclaimed Tell Me Everything series on SiriusXM Progress. He’s gotten George Harrison to give his final performance on VH1, debated Jerry Falwell and David Duke, and made many appearances on MSNBC, FOX News, and CNN. His epic PBS road trip film on the American Dream, Dream On, directed by Roger Weisberg, was named Best Documentary at the New York Independent Film Festival. Fugelsang lives in New York City with his family.
ANNABELLE GURWITCH is an actress, activist, and New York Times bestselling author of six books and two-time finalist for the Thurber Prize for American Humor writing. Her writing appears in the New York Times, WaPo, New Yorker, WSJ amongst other publications. She co-hosted Dinner & a Movie on TBS, appeared in too many shows and movies including Seinfeld, Dexter, Better Things, Daddy Day Care and was a regular commentator on NPR. Her most recent book You’re Leaving When? was a NY Times Favorite Book for Healthy Living. The End of My Life is Killing Me came out on March 17th, 2026.
Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person’s Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock-Fleecing Frauds
by John Fugelsang
In the spirit of George Carlin and Christopher Hitchens, the son of a former Catholic nun and a Franciscan brother delivers a deeply irreverent and biblically correct takedown of far-right Christian hatred—a book for believers, atheists, agnostics, and anyone who’ll ever have to deal with a Christian nationalist.