Summer and Fall Events

OH, UT, MI, IN, TX...and in 2024 NC, FL, & Toronto

I’ve enjoyed several weeks with no airports or time away from home, a much-needed break! I’ve only taken on two summer events, but they’re fun ones, and both next week:

Chautauqua Lakeside

Monday, July 24, 3:00pm: Jesus and John Wayne and the Evangelical Reckoning (book signing following)

Tuesday, July 25, 3:00pm: Christian Nationalism and the Future of American Democracy

I’ve been looking forward to this one, both because of Chautauqua’s illustrious history (I’m inexpressibly excited for the Sunday night camp meeting reenactment), and because of the beautiful lakeside setting: swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking, fishing… This is also the first time I’m taking my entire family along for an event, so wish us luck. Better yet, come join us.

Lakeside, OH

I’m leaving Lakeside on Wednesday morning and departing for Salt Lake City that afternoon, for the 2023 Sunstone Symposium. I’ll be opening the event with the Smith-Pettit Lecture on Thursday, July 27, at 7pm. It’s free and open to the public, no registration required. I’m thrilled to have the chance to connect and compare notes with many LDS scholars and friends, and I’ll also be slipping in some time at the University of Utah archives for research connected to Live Laugh Love.

I’ve been working to limit speaking events for the next year, so here’s what I’ve got planned (I’ve asked my speaking agent not to accept any more for the next few months, we’ll see if I can hod to that):

October 7, 9:00-11:30am, Cushwa Center’s Seminar in American Religion: Lerone A. Martin’s The Gospel of J. Edgar Hoover: How the FBI Aided and Abetted the Rise of White Christian Nationalism

I had the honor of endorsing Martin’s book, and here’s what I had to say: “The Gospel of J. Edgar Hoover is a work of rigorous archival research that also manages to be a page-turner. In this riveting narrative, Lerone Martin shows how Christian nationalism, ethnocentrism, and authoritarianism are deeply embedded not only in American evangelicalism, but also in the very fabric of our nation. A commanding and compelling reassessment of twentieth-century American religion.”

The book also has the most powerful opening of any academic book I’ve read. This event is free and a great way to meet scholars of American religion. Also, it’s the best time of year to visit Notre Dame’s gorgeous campus.

Next up, something a little more local:

November 2, 7:00pm, Still Processing Ottawa County will be hosting an event at Warehouse 6 in Holland. I’ll be speaking on Christian Nationalism and answering questions in connection with the events unfolding in Ottawa County. This event, too, is free and open to the public.

Sunday, November 12, I’ll be speaking at the People’s Church of East Lansing, at the 10:45 service and that afternoon from 1-3pm.

Then later that week I’m off to the AAR in San Antonio, where I’ll be commenting on a panel on “God and Guns.” It looks like I’ll also be doing an event that weekend with Michael Bird, Aimee Byrd, and Beth Barr, which will be all kinds of fun. More details to come on that.

Looking ahead to 2024, I have an event at Campbell University (North Carolina) on February 6, and at the Church of the Palms (Sarasota FL) on February 22. And a tentative Toronto event April 18-20.