IU Indianapolis sociologist Andrew Whitehead published an analysis with Religion News Service on the connection between Christian nationalism and Americans’ attitudes toward abortion access. Whitehead and colleague Sam Perry cite data that show even though the numbers of Americans who embrace Christian nationalism are more likely to identify as “pro-life” and approve of the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade, they are also more likely to support state governments arresting women who seek abortions and to support the death penalty. Read the full column here.
Andrew Whitehead is an associate professor of sociology at the Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture at IU Indianapolis and author of the forthcoming book American Idolatry: How Christian Nationalism Betrays the Gospel and Threatens the Church. Samuel L. Perry is an associate professor of sociology at the University of Oklahoma and co-author (with Philip Gorski) of The Flag and the Cross: White Christian Nationalism and the Threat to American Democracy. Whitehead and Perry’s award-winning book Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States appeared in March 2020.