WATCH: Ongoing Conversations Around Christian Nationalism
WATCH: Ongoing Conversations Around Christian Nationalism
A couple conferences and a piece of encouraging news
As we continue along toward Election Day 2024, “the discourse” in and around Christian nationalism shows no signs of letting up. In response, I’ve had the good fortune of participating in several conversations in the last week and a half and I’d like to share those with you. I find more and more my goal is to clearly define what Christian nationalism is, how that definition is empirically supported, and what we can do in response.
Baker Institute Christian Nationalism Conference
The first was a Christian nationalism conference at Rice University sponsored by the Baker Institute and the Boniuk Institute. The whole conference—made up of 5 different panels with three speakers each—is available on their website and YouTube.
It was wonderful to see a large turnout for the all day conference and feedback was that the conversation was helpful to folks. I was in the first panel with Sam Perry and Tim Alberta. Sam and I have worked together quite a bit. This was my first time meeting Tim. It was great to interact with and learn from both.
I would also like to draw your attention to the fourth and fifth panels of the day. In panel four Kevin Dougherty shared really helpful insight for those who seek a different path for Christianity as it exists in the public square. Kevin was my dissertation advisor at Baylor University and he remains one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. Eric McDaniel is a political scientist (I don’t hold that against him) at the University of Texas with a really helpful book, The Everyday Crusade: Christian Nationalism in American Politics.
The fifth panel included some great folks working in this area: Ruth Braunstein, Paul Miller, and David Brockman. David specializes in Christian nationalism in the state of Texas and I encourage you to check out his reports from on-the-ground. Paul wrote a wonderful book on Christian nationalism, The Religion of American Greatness: What’s Wrong with Christian Nationalism. And Ruth has written a number of books and articles that have been incredible important to my own work. She also directs the Meanings of Democracy lab at the University of Connecticut. Be sure to follow her work there as they track the various social movements in and around Christian nationalism.
DePauw University - 2024 Mendenhall Lecture
A little less than a week later I had the good fortune of participating on a panel for the 2024 Mendenhall Lecture at DePauw University, sponsored by the Center for Spiritual Life, “A Conversation on Christian Nationalism.” The full conversation is available on YouTube.
My conversation partners were Pamela Cooper-White (a psychotherapist and Episcopal priest), Andre Henry (a creator and INSANELY talented musician), and Brian Zahnd (pastor and world-traveler). Our moderator was Jonathan Martin, a director of the Center at DePauw.
I really enjoyed meeting those on the panel and those at DePauw. Our interactions underscored the different angles at which we approach Christian nationalism, but our shared commitment to doing so clearly, firmly, and in good faith.
One highlight of the evening was Andre playing “Tomorrow Makers” solo on a piano. Phew. Holy ground.
Also pretty cool—in 1960 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. preached in this very chapel at Gobin United Methodist Church there on the campus of DePauw in Greencastle, IN. If you ever find yourself nearby, go check it out. And also pop in to The Whisk, a local bar with vibes FOR DAYS. Seriously, the second you walk in you don’t want to leave.
Exciting news…
American Idolatry is a finalist for the Midwest Book Award - Religion/Philosophy! I am proud of this book and gave it everything I had. I never imagined it would be a finalist for a couple book awards. To be honest—I’m my most unsparing critic and all I can ever do is think about all I didn’t do well enough or who I’ve let down, whether any of that is true or not.
So, I’m trying to smile and be grateful and receive some positive affirmation.
I hope your summers start off well and I’m grateful to be on this journey with you. Thanks for reading and supporting my work in this area. Onward, together!