Whitehead Commentary: What’s Driving Americans’ Discontent around Democracy?
This article was originally published on Andrew Whitehead’s Substack, American Idolatry. How Age, Politics, and Religion Shape Americans’ Views of Democracy In the last year alone, expert surveys, such as those done by Varieties of Democracy Institute and Freedom House, sh “...”
Whitehead Commentary: Religion and the State of Democracy in the U.S.
This article was originally published on Andrew Whitehead’s Substack, American Idolatry. Findings from a new national survey from the Charles F. Kettering Foundation and Gallup shows the role religion continues to play in Americans’ views and commitment to democracy. In 2025 “...”
Whitehead Commentary: Denial and discrimination – How Christian Nationalism’s ideology harms families and undermines public education
This article was originally published on Andrew Whitehead’s Substack, American Idolatry. On public funding for private school vouchers, Christian nationalism, and services for disabled students I taught algebra and geometry at a small, private Christian school in central Indian “...”
Whitehead Commentary: Would Jesus Condone “Death and Destruction from the Sky All Day Long”?
This article was originally published on Andrew Whitehead’s Substack, American Idolatry. I guess this is a question we are being forced to ask in the current context. In remarks to a “Americas Counter Cartel Conference,” US Secretary Pete Hegseth said, Our nations are and “...”
Whitehead Commentary: Racial Equality in a Christian Nation
This article was originally published on Andrew Whitehead’s Substack, American Idolatry. History and social science demonstrate how racial equality is not considered a moral issue for many white American Christians. I can still remember hearing Randall Balmer, a distinguished h “...”
Whitehead Commentary: Leveraging Data Resources for Civic Organizing
This article was originally published on Andrew Whitehead’s Substack, American Idolatry. Pluralistic, democratic ideals are under direct threat from disinformation, authoritarianism, and polarization. While the scale of these challenges is global, thinking locally remains vital “...”
Whitehead Commentary: How Do Religious Americans View the Current State of the US?
This article was originally published on Andrew Whitehead’s Substack, American Idolatry. Highlighting some findings from the 16th annual American Values Survey from the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI). The 16th annual American Values Survey (AVS) from PRRI just drop “...”
Whitehead Commentary: Five Elements of Christian Nationalism
This article was originally published on Andrew Whitehead’s Substack, American Idolatry. Christian nationalism is not just “loving Jesus” and “loving America.” The Christianity of Christian nationalism refers to a whole lot more. The explicit aim of Project 2025, which “...”
Whitehead Commentary: How Christian Nationalism Weakens Democracy and What Can Be Done about It
This article was originally published on Andrew Whitehead’s Substack, American Idolatry. In the months leading up to the 2024 presidential election, various outlets highlighted how Project 2025—a massive blueprint directing the efforts of a possible second Trump administra “...”
Whitehead Commentary: Has God Always Been On “Our” Side?
This article was originally published on Andrew Whitehead’s Substack, American Idolatry. Reflections on whether American Christians can be patriotic–and celebrate July 4th–without embracing Christian nationalism Every year round July 4th thousands of Christian congregations “...”