In this episode, I welcome new guest Dr. Ryan Burge, an associate professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University. He is the author or co-author of four books including The Nones, 20 Myths about Religion and Politics in America, and The Great Dechurching. He has written for the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and POLITICO. He has also appeared on 60 Minutes, where Anderson Cooper called him, “one of the leading data analysts of religion and politics in the United States.” He previously served as a pastor of an American Baptist Church for over seventeen years.

Together, we dive into Ryan’s journey as a researcher, data analyst, and person of faith exploring the nuanced landscape of American religion and politics. Our conversation covers the growth of the religiously unaffiliated “nones” and “dones” and examines the broader implications of religious disaffiliation across America. We also discuss the intricate dynamics between faith communities, political identities, and the strong cultural markers that influence them. Ryan sheds light on the important role that empathy, service, and community engagement play in his work and life, and underscores the significance of faithful mission over perceived success.

Guest Links

• Website & Books (drburge.com/books)
• Substack (@ryanburge)
• Instagram (@graphsaboutreligion)
• X/Twitter (@ryanburge)

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If you enjoy this podcast and would like to find more content like this, please visit my website at www.markbeckwith.net, where you can listen to more episodes (and read episode transcripts), read my blog, and sign up to get weekly reflections in your inbox. I also explore the themes of this podcast further in my book, Seeing the Unseen: Beyond Prejudices, Paradigms, and Party Lines.

This episode of the Reconciliation Roundtable podcast was edited, mixed, and produced by Luke Overstreet.