Some days you accidentally run across an article that you realize you should have been citing for the past 9 years. The authors demonstrate the political utility of God-nation rhetoric to shore up confidence in a social system that people are starting to challenge. doi.org/10.1111/pops...

Vacay in Taos, MN. Looking at the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

It works in a similar way for feeling thermometer scores for Black Americans. The more rightward Black adults place Jesus, the lower their feeling thermometer scores *for other Black Americans.* Think about the political implications of these findings. Churches are growing more diverse... 3/6

Here's what that looks like. Black adults who rate Jesus leftward on the ideological spectrum show the highest racial solidarity, but that score drops the more conservative they see Jesus. White adults, by contrast, show greater solidarity with other Whites the more right-leaning they see Jesus. 2/6

Excited to share our new study. Upshot: The more rightward White adults place Jesus on the ideological spectrum, the more solidarity they feel with other Whites. BUT it's the opposite for Black adults: the more conservative the Jesus, the less racial solidarity they feel. 1/6 doi.org/10.1093/socr...

Back to this classic.

Here's what that looks like. For respondents who got the secular framing, the importance of caring for the environment declines as CN increases. But for those who got the religious framing, importance of caring for the environment increase with CN. Pub'd with Laura Upenieks. @sssreligion.bsky.social

New study at @socquarterly.bsky.social. Using a question-wording experiment from @prri.org, we find when caring for the environment is framed in secular terms, CN minimizes its importance. But when it's framed in religious "steward" terms, CN it amplifies its importance. 1/2 doi.org/10.1080/0038...

I am so thrilled to share that my next book, "Fill the Earth and Subdue It: Religion, Power, and American Pronatalism" is under contract with Princeton University Press. My goal is to have it in your hands by early 2028. @princetonupress.bsky.social @sssreligion.bsky.social @asanews.bsky.social

New study from me @socprobsjournal.bsky.social . I revisit the initial question that got me interested in Christian nationalism: Why are "Christian nation" claims connected to race & family? Cuz it's about boundaries and order. It's also connected to GOP partisanship. Free: doi.org/10.1093/socp...

Will the concern on the political right about declining American fertility result in more pro-family economic policy to make childbearing more affordable? Nope. In my new study at @socprobsjournal.bsky.social, I document what I call the "natalism-neoliberalism" paradox. 1/4 doi.org/10.1093/socp...

Vanilla Ice on why he’d still perform for Trump’s America 250 MAGA rally is too perfect.

My 5th grader’s graduation tonight. So proud of this smart handsome dude.

This figure shows that as 2 measures of religiosity (CN & worship attendance) increase, lower-earners become more likely to say Jesus/prophets teach charity is more about creating a more just society. But among higher earners, religiosity measures are associated with neoliberal views on charity. 2/3

How does religiosity shape one's views about poor relief? Depends on how much money you make. In my new study w/@prri.org data @jssreligion.bsky.social, I find the link between religiosity & how one views the Bible's teaching on charity hinges on their economic position. 1/3 doi.org/10.1111/jssr...

Statistically this would likely be a minority view even among those who subscribe to Christian nationalism on surveys. Yet this logic is entirely consistent with the stated or implied goals of folks like Doug Wilson. And Partridge has followers of 180K & 150K on Instagram and Twitter, respectively.

My mind immediately goes to the political implications of a continued trend in this direction.

Cool bro.

Grateful to pick up a little hardware at an awards ceremony this evening.

Happening this week. Academic talks are fun, but some of my favorite speaking opportunities are with faith communities. Don’t ignore these folks, scholars. So many are interested in understanding what’s going on & what they can do. Sharing work with them sharpens your communication & helps us all.

Facts.

How some people can sleep amazes me. I’d have to hospitalized when I woke up.

Thrilled to be speaking at Amherst College tomorrow. Grateful to @elprofebarba.bsky.social and the Department of Religion for the invite!

Here's what this looks like. Across values of CN in 3 different surveys, we find approval of economic inequality is often flat or negative among lower-earning Americans, and is sharpest among the highest income quartiles. What's this mean? Even though lower-income adult are more likely to... 2/3

New study @sfjournal.bsky.social: Initial work on my theory of "rulling class religion," which I'll developfurther at @russellsagefdn.bsky.social next year. Using 3 data sets, we link Christian nationalism with endorsing economic inequality BUT only among higher earners. 1/3 doi.org/10.1093/sf/s...

Visiting a retirement community in St. Paul, MN and this is on the front door as you walk in. No idea if ICE actually has to respect this, but I love the sentiment. Some badass senior citizens here.

Re-reading this classic. Not just a window into Oklahoma politics (which it absolutely is), but this book helps us understand the phenomenon of working class Americans pledging undying allegiance to a party that screws them over for corporate interests at every turn.

Sure Crossway. The President who has been supported by >80% of evangelicals for 10 years is posting pics of himself as Jesus, but you should spam email Christians to warn them about “critical theory.“ Cuz that’s the issue in American Christianity.

Exhibit A.

Listening to Christian pronatalists you'd think before the 1960s US women had always averaged 5-7 kids. "Then birth control and abortion happened and we stopped having babies!" They've never seen a chart showing how US fertility had been steadily falling *since 1800* until that weird post-WWII bump.