ABOUT
A guided series that traces how religion has shaped public life in the United States - from the founding to today.
This project brings together historians, sociologists, legal scholars, and journalists to examine how faith has influenced American identity, institutions, and political life. Each conversation draws on the guest’s research and expertise to explain how theology, culture, and power have interacted across key moments in history.
The Church and State project acknowledges that our work takes place on the traditional lands of Indigenous peoples. Before the colonial intersections of faith and political power, these lands were shaped by long-standing spiritual traditions and relationships between people and the land that continue today. We recognize the resilience of Indigenous nations and the enduring presence of those communities.
We record this series in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Long before the English arrived, Indigenous peoples had lived in what is now Virginia for more than 12,000 years. By the late 1500s, Powhatan led a growing network of allied tribes that became known as the Powhatan Chiefdom. Their homeland, called Tsenacommacah, covered much of Tidewater Virginia, stretching from the James River to the Potomac River and into parts of the Eastern Shore. The region spanned roughly 100 miles across, though boundaries shifted over time. Before English settlement and the spread of European diseases, the population is generally estimated in the tens of thousands.
ORIGINS: BEFORE THE FOUNDING
This era covers the period before the United States, examining how religion shaped encounters between Indigenous nations, European settlers, and colonial governments, setting early patterns for public life.
Mark Charles
Public speaker, writer, and activist of Navajo (Diné) heritage. His work focuses on U.S. history, Indigenous justice, and the doctrine of discovery. He brings a perspective that challenges traditional narratives about the founding and the role of Christianity in colonization.
Dan Hawk, Ph.D.
Biblical scholar and professor specializing in Old Testament and postcolonial interpretation. His work often examines how scripture has been used in contexts of empire and colonization. He contributes theological depth to discussions of faith and power.
Matthew Sutton, Ph.D.
Historian at Washington State University specializing in American religion and evangelicalism. Author of American Apocalypse, he studies how apocalyptic belief has shaped political movements. His work connects theology with long-term political trends.
FOUNDING: MAKING A NATION
This period centers on the American Revolution and the creation of the Constitution. It examines how religious ideas informed the founding generation’s views on liberty, governance, and the role of faith in public life.
Katherine Carté, Ph.D.
Historian at Southern Methodist University specializing in religion and politics in early America. Her work focuses on how Protestant Christianity shaped political thought during the American Revolution, including ideas about liberty, authority, and national identity.
John Fea, Ph.D.
Explores how the Founders approached religion in the creation of the Constitution, including debates over religious freedom, church-state separation, and the role of faith in public life. The discussion examines how these decisions established the legal framework that continues to shape American governance.
Warren Throckmorton, Ph.D.
Psychologist and former professor at Grove City College with a focus on religion, politics, and historical narratives. He has written extensively on the founders, Thomas Jefferson, and the role of religion in American public life. His work often addresses misinformation and contested claims about the founding era.
CONFLICT: BELIEF MEETS POWER
This period focuses on moments when religion and power came into tension. It explores how competing beliefs shaped political decisions, justified division, and influenced the direction of the country.
Robert P. Jones, Ph.D.
President of the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) and a leading scholar of religion and public life in the U.S. His work focuses on the intersection of faith, race, and politics, using large-scale survey data to track trends like Christian nationalism. Author of The End of White Christian America, he provides data-driven insight into how religion is reshaping American identity.
Russell Hawkins, Ph.D.
Historian of American religion and evangelicalism and Executive Director of the LEAD Center at Baylor University. His work focuses on the development of evangelical identity, institutions, and leadership in modern U.S. history. He brings a historical lens to how religious movements organize, adapt, and influence public life.
POWER: FIGHTING FOR INFLUENCE
This period looks at how religion shaped institutions, leadership, and cultural authority over time. It explores how faith has influenced who holds power and how that power is exercised in public life.
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Andrew L. Seidel, J.D.
Constitutional attorney and Vice President of Strategic Communications at Americans United for Separation of Church and State. His work focuses on defending church–state separation through litigation and public education. Author of The Founding Myth, he examines how claims about a “Christian nation” shape modern law and policy.
Jemar Tisby, Ph.D.
Historian and author of The Color of Compromise. His work examines how race and Christianity have developed together in the United States. He connects historical patterns to present-day issues of justice, faith, and public life.
Kristin Kobes Du Mez, Ph.D.
Historian at Calvin University and author of Jesus and John Wayne. She studies how evangelical culture, gender, and ideas about power have shaped political life in modern America. Her work traces how these influences impact leadership, identity, and public authority.
PRESENT: FAITH & POLITICS
This period examines how religion continues to shape political identity and public life in the United States. It focuses on current movements, data, and debates that define the relationship between faith and politics today.
Andrew L. Whitehead, Ph.D. & Samuel L. Perry, Ph.D.
Matthew D. Taylor, Ph.D.
Brian Kaylor, Ph.D.
Sociologists and co-authors of Taking America Back for God, their research defines Christian nationalism as a cultural framework and uses national survey data to measure its impact. Their work examines how these beliefs intersect with race, gender, and authority, and how they shape political behavior and public life in the United States.
Scholar of religion and politics and author of The Violent Take It by Force. His research focuses on charismatic Christianity, extremism, and how religious ideas mobilize political action. He analyzes how theological movements translate into real-world influence.
Journalist and president of Word&Way. His reporting focuses on how religious language and ideas are used in politics and public institutions. He brings a current, investigative perspective on the role of faith in today’s political landscape.
