reflections at the intersection of American history, religion, politics, and academic life
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What is happening today at the intersection of Evangelicalism and politics? Young American Christian Zionists travel to Israel. *** Christian nationalists endorse religious pluralism, but their support for it is “drowned out by perceptions of threats to Christians.” *** The Christian Post on the “controversial takes” of Adam Hamilton, the Methodist megachurch pastor running for […]
Here are the most popular posts of the last week at The Way of Improvement Leads Home:
Jay K. Dow is Professor of Political Science and Constitutional Democracy at the University of Missouri. This interview is based on his new book, The First Elections: The Rise of Electoral Democracy in the Early American Republic (University Press of Kansas, 2026). JF: What led you to write The First Elections? JD: I wrote The […]
For many American historians, the phrase “states’ rights” makes uneasy. It’s closely tied to the Confederacy, Jim Crow, and decades of opposition to federal efforts to secure fundamental rights for Black Americans. The term calls up figures like John C. Calhoun and George Wallace. But the ideology of states’ rights—an idea used to defend slavery […]
What is happening today at the intersection of Evangelicalism and politics? Focus on the Family offers spiritual disciplines for “politically weary” evangelicals. *** Bonnie Kristian, the deputy editor of Christianity Today, has two pieces up today. The first is on religious liberty in Texas. She argues that “if we want to preserve religious liberty for […]
Paul A. Sanchez is Ruth Dickinson Chair of Religion and Assistant Professor of Religion and History at Oklahoma Baptist University. This interview is based on his new book, New Christianity for the New South: William Louis Poteat and Liberal Religion in the Baptist South (University of South Carolina Press, 2026). JF: What led you to […]
OK, they are not so “random.” They come from William T. Vollmann’s piece, “American Ephemera,” in the July 2026 issue of Harper’s Magazine. There was never a government without force. What is the meaning of government? An institution to make people do their duty. —James Madison, 1788 For I do not conceive that we are […]
What is happening today at the intersection of Evangelicalism and politics?: Adam Hamilton is a megachurch pastor, United Methodist, Oral Roberts University graduate, and the Democratic candidate for the United States Senate in Kansas. He is trying to win over conservative evangelical voters. But will these unearthed sermons help?: *** Among other things, Albert Mohler […]
Marielle Songy is a freelance journalist and writer. This interview is based on her new book, Coffee Culture New Orleans (LSU Press, 2026). JF: What led you to write Coffee Culture New Orleans? MS: I have been a coffee drinker for over twenty years, and I, in general, really enjoy coffee. It’s an integral part […]
Gideon Mailer is Professor of History at the University of Minnesota Duluth. This interview is based on his new book, The Character of Freedom: The Scottish Enlightenment and American Slavery (University Press of Kansas, 2026). JF: What led you to write The Character of Freedom? GM: Part of this book was written during a period […]
Not familiar with the Jason Arday story? Get up to speed here. Here is a taste of Sam Kriss’s Substack post: If only Cambridge had hired Arday because of the woke mind virus and PC gone mad. Then there would be a solution. Simply turn down the big dial marked REVERSE RACISM; job done. The actual problem […]
What is happening today at the intersection of Evangelicalism and politics?: Evangelicals do not appear to be commenting on the death of Cambridge University scholar Jason Arday. But Albert Mohler is. Here is a taste: It is so sad that this young man, obviously filled with great promise and clearly incredibly bright, nonetheless just found […]
For the last few days, I’ve been trying to figure out what to say about Jason Arday. I’m still not sure I have. For readers who haven’t followed this complicated and tragic story: Arday became, in 2023, the youngest Black professor in the history of the University of Cambridge. Earlier this month, he resigned amid […]
