John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics

04/29/2026

The Center's Ryan Burge talks to Heidi Schlumpf for Commonweal on the future for Catholic liberals, the tribalism of American religion, and more from his recent book.

Political scientist and statistician Ryan Burge discusses polarization, declining institutions, and the future of religion in the United States.

04/27/2026

The recording of Danielle Allen's talk "The Declaration of Independence Today: Why an Old Text Still Serves Us Now" is available on our YouTube channel & web (rap.washu.edu).
https://youtu.be/ADW6ZLMNR54
📸 WashU Photos/Sid Hastings LLC

"The Declaration of Independence Today: Why an Old Text Still Serves Us Now" Danielle Allen

04/24/2026

Marie Griffith will participate in Nassau Presbyterian Church's five-lecture Samuel Adams Herr Semiquincentennial Series to mark the 250th anniversary of the nation’s birth and the unique role Presbyterians played in moving New Jersey from indifference to independence. On June 18th, the panel on "Christian Faith and US Democracy: Where Do We Go From Here?" will include Griffith, Jonathan Rauch (Brookings Institution), and Cherie Harder (Trinity Forum). More on the series:
https://nassauchurch.org/2026/04/samuel-adams-herr-semiquincentennial-lecture-series/

04/23/2026

Join us for an extra “1776: Then and Now” lecture with Professor Tamika Nunley (Duke) on Slavery and the Revolution!

04/20/2026

Delighted to announce Carlos Ruiz Martinez will join the Center as a Postdoctoral Fellow this summer! Read all about it:

The faculty of the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics at Washington University in St. Louis is pleased to announce its newest postdoctoral fellow, Carlos Ruiz Martinez. The fellowship will begin with the 2026-2027 academic year and is renewable for the following year.

04/20/2026

The recording of Professor Michael Hoberman's talk on Monday, April 13 "Imagining Early American Jews" is now available on our YouTube channel and our website (rap.washu.edu).
https://youtu.be/w0PzOeJd12E?si=506q5HudfAyw6xtz

Imagining Early American Jews

04/15/2026

The recording of Professor Fannie Bialek's book talk with Professor Eddie Glaude Jr. on his new book "America, U.S.A: How Race Shadows the Nation’s Anniversaries" is now available on our YouTube channel and our website (rap.washu.edu).
https://youtu.be/9-1BZcKkjY8

The John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics at Washington University in St. Louis hosted Professor Eddie Glaude Jr. for a talk about his forthcoming...