Christianity’s evolving role in U.S. politics and public life
Faith at the Political Crossroads
This cluster traces how Christian faith is both honored and contested in contemporary society: from historic markers preserving church legacies in Louisiana to warnings that the Bible Belt’s traditional church culture is collapsing. It highlights direct clashes between religion and public protest, critiques of secularization, and Christian leaders’ sharp rebukes of Trump-era politics as a crisis of faith. Several pieces explore Catholic social teaching on immigration and borders, and showcase figures like James Talarico who model alternative forms of Christian politics. Together, they reveal a faith community renegotiating its moral authority, public witness, and relationship to broader ethical theories such as utilitarianism.