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sssreligion.bsky.social
Society for the Scientific Study of Religion (SSSR)
@sssreligion.bsky.social
1.8K followers 710 following 96 posts
The SSSR is an interdisciplinary academic association that promotes & communicates social scientific research about religious institutions and experiences. Founded in 1949. sssreligion.org Flagship publication: JSSR @jssreligion.bsky.social
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Reposted by Society for the Scientific Study of Religion (SSSR)
joelthiessen.bsky.social
I'm looking forward to returning to my alma mater, @uwaterloo.ca, to deliver the Lectures in Catholic Experience @stjeromesuni.bsky.social on Nov.27 on religious transmission. If you're in the area, please join! Or you can register to join the livestream. uwaterloo.ca/st-jeromes/e...
Joel Thiessen | Planting Seeds: The Catholic Parish in the Religious Transmission Ecosystem | St. Jerome's University | University of Waterloo
Information on St. Jerome's University Lecture's in Catholic Experience event.
uwaterloo.ca
November 10, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Reposted by Society for the Scientific Study of Religion (SSSR)
nonreligioncf.bsky.social
This is still time to register for our latest Meet the Author webinar featuring Ben Laws. In this webinar, Dr. Laws will present his new book, Asylum and Nonreligion: Emotions, Evidence-making and Credibility (Palgrave Macmillan, 2024)

Nov. 12, 11am ET

Register: uottawa-ca.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
November 10, 2025 at 8:55 PM
sssreligion.bsky.social
#Xenophobia, #Islamophobia ➡️Drawing on theories of differentiated threat & religious dominance, new @jssreligion.bsky.social article examines how U.S.religious groups perceive #Muslims & #immigrants. Muslims evoke ideational threats; immigrants, material ones. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Differentiated Threat and Religious Dominance: The Distinct Dynamics of Xenophobia and Islamophobia in the United States
Drawing on theories of differentiated threat and religious dominance, this article examines the dynamics of xenophobia and Islamophobia in the United States. Specifically, we analyze the distinct thr...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Reposted by Society for the Scientific Study of Religion (SSSR)
gerardomarti.bsky.social
With colleagues, new friends, local advocates, and 1st journalist on the scene five years ago @ George Floyd Corner in Minneapolis
Street view of George Floyd memorial Entering Say Their Names Cemetery With colleagues, new friends, local advocates, and 1st journalist on the scene five years ago at former gas station and acting community center across from George Floyd Memorial Selfie by KingDemetrius Pendleton, 1st journalist on scene 5 years ago, in his studio located a few feet across the way from George Floyd Memorial along with colleagues, new friends, local advocates
November 2, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Reposted by Society for the Scientific Study of Religion (SSSR)
nonreligioncf.bsky.social
Register now for our latest Meet the Author webinar featuring Ben Laws. In this webinar, Dr. Laws will present his new book, Asylum and Nonreligion: Emotions, Evidence-making and Credibility (Palgrave Macmillan, 2024).

November 12
11am ET

Register here: uottawa-ca.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
November 3, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Reposted by Society for the Scientific Study of Religion (SSSR)
gerardomarti.bsky.social
NEW

Racial views of evangelicals supportive of Christian nationalism—about 40-50% of evangelicals—at odds with those skeptical of uniting God & country. Educational level strongly influences if evangelical views on racial inequality are shaped by Christian nationalism as well as reactions to Trump.
The Gathering Storm in the Evangelical Field: Education, Christian Nationalism, and Racial Inequality
Abstract. What generates divides within American evangelicalism on racial inequality? Recent political developments, including race-related social activism
academic.oup.com
November 4, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Reposted by Society for the Scientific Study of Religion (SSSR)
gerardomarti.bsky.social
OPEN ACCESS

Antiracism as Inclusivity: The Racial Justice Paradigm of White Progressive Churches
Gerardo Martí

2024 SSSR Presidential Address
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion Antiracism as Inclusivity: The Racial JusticeParadigm of White Progressive Churches Gerardo Martí Department of Sociology Davidson College, Davidson, North Carolina, USA Observations in White progressive churches across the United States and Canada reveal antiracism as grounded ina “Theology of Inclusivity” framed by a Golden Rule morality. In attempting to integrate antiracism with broaderinclusionary initiatives historically focused on LGBTQ+ affirmation, leaders and members view racism as a“deeper” issue, rooted in Christianity’s historical complicity and societally pervasive social injustice. Althoughantiracism programming fosters dialogue and reflection, the emphasis on inclusivity often stalls in abstractionamid disagreement, delaying substantive congregational decisions. The burden of consensus creates an “aware-ness trap” where continuous deliberation replaces decisive action. While forging shared priorities, the antiracismfocus prods members toward an individualized ethic, encouraging members to address racial justice through per-sonal roles outside the church beyond any collective congregational efforts. In the process, these progressivecongregations increasingly reframe individual antiracist initiatives as ecclesial action, allowing churches to viewany member efforts as valid extensions of their antiracist identity.Keywords: antiracism, congregations, liberal Christianity, progressive Christianity, race, racial justice, Whiteness.
November 4, 2025 at 4:19 PM
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evanstewart.bsky.social
As a researcher who studies public religious expression, it is really important to separate it from personal religious adherence - unexpected combinations of the two are more common than we would think!
www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1...
The Politics of Religious Prejudice and Tolerance for Cultural Others
While some research argues that religious pluralism in the United States dampens conflict by promoting tolerance, other work documents persistent prejudice toward religious out-groups. We address t...
www.tandfonline.com
November 5, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Reposted by Society for the Scientific Study of Religion (SSSR)
garyadler.bsky.social
Research + teaching + student = great partnership. Also why I love my job @pennstateuniv.bsky.social

Keep an eye on @ienesatac.bsky.social!

It was a fun weekend at @sssreligion.bsky.social
ienesatac.bsky.social Enes Ataç @ienesatac.bsky.social · 8d
Thrilled to share that our paper (w/ @garyadler.bsky.social) in Social Forces, “Religious Rebound, Political Backlash, and the Youngest Cohort: Understanding Religious Change in Turkey,” received the Distinguished Article Award from @sssreligion.bsky.social!
November 3, 2025 at 1:43 PM
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andrew-whitehead.bsky.social
Well-deserved!! Be sure to check out Sam’s latest award winning book.
profsamperry.bsky.social Samuel Perry @profsamperry.bsky.social · 8d
Thrilled and honored that my book Religion for Realists was given the 2025 Distinguished Book Award by @sssreligion.bsky.social last night.

It’s vital that we understand religion and religious people. The social sciences are remiss to ignore either.

Hire more religion specialists.
November 2, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Reposted by Society for the Scientific Study of Religion (SSSR)
profsamperry.bsky.social
Thrilled and honored that my book Religion for Realists was given the 2025 Distinguished Book Award by @sssreligion.bsky.social last night.

It’s vital that we understand religion and religious people. The social sciences are remiss to ignore either.

Hire more religion specialists.
November 2, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Reposted by Society for the Scientific Study of Religion (SSSR)
ienesatac.bsky.social
Thrilled to share that our paper (w/ @garyadler.bsky.social) in Social Forces, “Religious Rebound, Political Backlash, and the Youngest Cohort: Understanding Religious Change in Turkey,” received the Distinguished Article Award from @sssreligion.bsky.social!
November 2, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Reposted by Society for the Scientific Study of Religion (SSSR)
andrew-whitehead.bsky.social
It’s always nerve-wracking when really famous award-winning scholars come to your talk! 😳 I survived though.
profsamperry.bsky.social Samuel Perry @profsamperry.bsky.social · 9d
In Minneapolis listening to the legend @andrew-whitehead.bsky.social drop some much-needed knowledge on religion and ableism. @sssreligion.bsky.social
November 1, 2025 at 8:02 PM
sssreligion.bsky.social
Join us for Sunday RRA Coffee in the Atrium as we dive into the final day of the #SSSR_RRA2025 Annual Meeting. Session topics range from 'Theological Education: Past/Present/Future' and 'Sustaining Political Power,' to 'Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy,' and many more.

sssreligion.org/media/s20l4i...
Neon coffee sign Painting of Minneapolis skyline. 2025 Annual Meeting.
November 2, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Reposted by Society for the Scientific Study of Religion (SSSR)
andrew-whitehead.bsky.social
I think I just experienced the most engaging and theoretically impressive presidential address in my career from @ruthbraunstein.bsky.social at the annual meeting for the @sssreligion.bsky.social.

Legit masterful. Wish y'all could have experienced it.
November 2, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Reposted by Society for the Scientific Study of Religion (SSSR)
pennye.bsky.social
It's fun to show off my town, site of #SSSR_RRA2025
November 1, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Reposted by Society for the Scientific Study of Religion (SSSR)
jlkucinskas.bsky.social
Well I couldn’t make it to @sssreligion.bsky.social this year, but Hamilton College Relig Studies did a pretty awesome analysis of religious themes in #StarWars for parents’ weekend! #Buddhism
October 31, 2025 at 4:56 PM
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gerardomarti.bsky.social
Presenting this morning on religious innovation @sssreligion.bsky.social
<excerpt talking points> 2025 SSSR Assessing Success and Failure in Religious Innovation Gerardo Marti, PhD Notes, and Narrative further below Notes The ministry of Robert H. Schuller presents a paradox of innovation, exhibiting both spectacular, decades-long success by its founder's metrics, and an ultimate, decisive failure when measured by institutional longevity and financial solvency [GC 7, 158]. From a social scientific perspective focusing on organizational dynamics, Schuller's success lay in his ability to innovate and expand, while his failure derived from the unsustainable strain inherent in his chosen methodology of relentless growth [GC 160, 175]. Schuller's Conception of Success: The Imperative of Growth For Schuller himself, success was explicitly and primarily defined by growth-numerical, architectural, and financial-—which he believed was a moral and theological imperative for any thriving church [GC 5, 32; CMGP • The Growth Mandate: Schuller famously asserted the core tenet of his ecclesial philosophy: "The church must either grow or perish" [CMGP 314, 612; GC 28]. He viewed continuous growth as the essential sign of vitality, stating: "Anything that lives, grows" [GC 32]. • Personal Metrics: Early in his ministry, Schuller established quantifiable metrics for assessing his pastoral effectiveness: "If the congregation grew, I was succeeding. If it didn't grow-or, God forbid, if it went down in numbers-then I was failing" [CMGP 407; GC 32, 112]. • Possibility Thinking: His confidence was rooted in his belief system, Possibility Thinking, which encouraged ambition over fear. He summarized his driving philosophy: "I'd rather attempt to do something great and fail than to attempt to do nothing and succeed" [GC 11; CMP 391]. Manifestations of Success: By these internal measures, Schuller achieved massive success over five decades. His innovations led to the creation of a powerful "multimodal ministry" [GC 28] that included: Architectural Spectacle and S…
November 1, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Reposted by Society for the Scientific Study of Religion (SSSR)
profsamperry.bsky.social
In Minneapolis listening to the legend @andrew-whitehead.bsky.social drop some much-needed knowledge on religion and ableism. @sssreligion.bsky.social
November 1, 2025 at 3:45 PM
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pennye.bsky.social
Ready to present awards tonight for best book, article, and Student paper for @sssreligion.bsky.social, #SSSR_RRA2025
Smiling woman in dark jacket wearing glasses
November 1, 2025 at 8:45 PM
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andrewmackey.com
Hello! I'm coming up from the dissertation bunker to say that if you will be at SSSR I'll be putting together some fun Bluesky content with @dacuetovilla.bsky.social for the @asareligion.bsky.social account. COME TELL US WHAT YOU'RE WORKING ON. We'd love to amplify some voices.
October 28, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Reposted by Society for the Scientific Study of Religion (SSSR)
religiondata.bsky.social
The ARDA team is spending the weekend at @sssreligion.bsky.social. Stop by our table to learn about free religion data resources or to tell us how you use the ARDA!
October 31, 2025 at 8:08 PM
sssreligion.bsky.social
Good morning Minneapolis! The #SSSR_RRA2025 Annual Meeting begins today with a full weekend of plenary sessions, receptions, networking events and papers exploring this year’s theme “Religion Matters.”

Full program. ⬇️ #Research #SocialScience #Religion
sssreligion.org/annual-meeti...
Minneapolis
October 31, 2025 at 11:23 AM
sssreligion.bsky.social
Religion Matters. ➡️ Are you attending the Annual Meeting October 31 - November 2, 2025 in Minneapolis? Follow us and join the conversation on social media. Use #SSSR_RRA2025 & tag our accounts on LinkedIn, Facebook, Bluesky and X.

Find links at the bottom of our landing page ⬇️⬇️ sssreligion.org
Social media icons. Image from Unsplash.
October 30, 2025 at 9:50 PM