Gerardo Martí
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gerardomarti.bsky.social
Gerardo Martí
@gerardomarti.bsky.social
17K followers 4.5K following 79 posts
William R Kenan Jr Professor of Sociology @ Davidson College | Race, Religion, Power, Social Change | Past Roles: Editor Sociology of Religion Journal, President SSSR & ASR, Chair ASA Religion, AAR Religion & Social Science Unit | cv https://bit.ly/40mps8D
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gerardomarti.bsky.social
Casual Christian Nationalist sighting while picking out a Christmas tree 🎄
The photo shows a person standing outdoors at a Christmas tree lot, surrounded by rows of cut evergreen trees on a patch of grass. The person is viewed from behind, wearing tan pants, dark shoes, and a gray hoodie with the hood up. On the back of the hoodie is a graphic that blends Christian and nationalist symbolism: a stylized cross or church-column motif combined with an American flag design, with red and white stripes and a blue field with stars arranged in the shape of a fish (a historic Christian symbol). The scene includes another person partially visible to the left among the trees, multi-story apartment buildings in the background, and overhead string lights that signal a seasonal, festive retail setting.
December 1, 2025 at 8:48 PM
gerardomarti.bsky.social
CyberMonday Deal 👏👏👏

👉 a.co/d/2YbLUhS
December 1, 2025 at 5:47 PM
gerardomarti.bsky.social
FAIR WAGES

"Who is more religious & ethical, Republicans, Democrats or others?" 2023
ijor.co.uk/ijor/article...

Table 2. How much, if at all, do you consider each factor when making purchasing decisions...?

Table 6. How importance each of the following is to what being ‘Religion’ means to you...?
Table 2 reveals party differences in considering whether a company pays its employees a fair wage when making purchasing decisions. Only 15% of Republicans say this is a major factor, compared to 28% of Democrats and 30% of “Other/Don’t know/Refused.” Most respondents view fair pay as a minor factor: 36% of Republicans, 47% of Democrats, and 29% in the other category. Nearly half of Republicans (49%) say fair pay is not a factor at all, while 25% of Democrats and 40% of others agree. Refusal to answer was negligible, with only 1% among “Other/Don’t know/Refused” and none among Republicans or Democrats. Table 6 shows how respondents across political affiliations value buying products from companies that pay a fair wage as part of their religious identity. Only 7% of Republicans consider this essential, compared with 21% of Democrats and 13% of those who answered “other/don’t know/refused.” A majority of all groups say that fair wages are “important but not essential”: 46% Republicans, 56% Democrats, and 51% of other respondents. On the other hand, 48% of Republicans say fair wages are “not important” to their sense of religion, compared to 23% of Democrats and 35% of other respondents. Notably, no Republicans refused to answer, while 33% of Democrats and 67% of “other” respondents did so.
December 1, 2025 at 4:20 PM
gerardomarti.bsky.social
Marvelous so far

Very engaging biography of Paul Gauguin, using new archives and broader array of contextual material
Wild Thing A Life of Paul Gauguin Sue Рrideaux
November 28, 2025 at 6:37 PM
gerardomarti.bsky.social
Happy Thanksgiving 😝
The meme contrasts a praying family thanking “Jesus” for their Thanksgiving meal with Mexican farm workers harvesting produce, using a bilingual pun to suggest the workers named Jesús are the real providers of the food. Top panel The top image shows a white, middle‑class family seated around a table set with a stereotypical U.S. Thanksgiving spread, including a roasted turkey and side dishes, as they bow their heads to say grace with the caption “Thanks, Jesus, for this food.” The scene evokes conventional Christian gratitude directed toward a divine Jesus rather than toward human labor. Bottom panel The bottom image shows Latino farm workers in a field gathering vegetables into sacks and crates, with mountains visible in the background. The caption “de nada” (Spanish for “you’re welcome”) is paired with the most prominent worker who must be named Jesus, implying he is responding to the family’s thanks because his labor made their meal possible.
November 27, 2025 at 9:47 PM
gerardomarti.bsky.social
Let the games begin
Azul board game initial set up.
November 26, 2025 at 1:46 AM
gerardomarti.bsky.social
Doonesbury goes back to college
This Doonesbury comic strip takes place at Walden University, where Dr. Norton, an exasperated professor, who indicates he’d rather kill himself than teach class, institutes strict new classroom policies in response to student technology use and cheating. He announces that all laptops and phones must be surrendered at the door, only handwritten stylus notes are allowed, and in-class blue book quizzes have replaced AI-generated essays. The reforms are described as compulsory, unlike student enrollment, which is voluntary. The comic’s punchline comes in the final panel, where the grand lecture hall has only a single remaining student. This student does not seem defiant, but instead, a bit clueless about the basics of handwriting, asking, “How do you capitalize in cursive?” The near-empty auditorium highlights that most students would rather drop the class than return to outdated, nostalgic educational methods. The student’s question humorously underscores a generational disconnect, as many young people today are unfamiliar with cursive, while the professor’s nostalgic policies fail to resonate with them.
November 24, 2025 at 11:17 PM
gerardomarti.bsky.social
👇👇👇
WP Exclusive U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses as hate symbols now
November 20, 2025 at 6:31 PM
gerardomarti.bsky.social
From PRRI @prri.org

Most Americans oppose stripping US citizens of their citizenship and deporting them if they are determined to be a threat to the country.

However, support is much higher among Republicans, White Evangelicals, strong Christian Nationalists.

MORE 👉 prri.org/research/tru...
This PRRI graph from October 2025 shows American views on extreme immigration law enforcement measures: deportations to foreign prisons without due process and internment camps for undocumented immigrants. Most Americans do not support these measures, with only 32% favoring deportations and 37% supporting internment camps. This majority opposition indicates broad resistance to stripping US citizens of their citizenship and deporting them if labeled a threat. However, support is much higher among certain groups. Republicans (62% for deportations, 69% for internment camps), White evangelical Protestants (52%, 59%), and especially strong Christian nationalists (69% for internment camps, 57% for deportations) are significantly more likely to favor these extreme actions. By contrast, Democrats (10%, 13%), Black Protestants (20%, 27%), the unaffiliated (21%, 24%), and Christian nationalism rejecters (10%, 13%) show minimal support. The data clearly shows that preferences for harsh immigration enforcement are concentrated among conservatives, particularly those with strong Christian nationalist beliefs, while most Americans remain opposed to such policies.
November 19, 2025 at 6:53 PM
gerardomarti.bsky.social
Threat, Replacement, and Deportation: Identifying Who is Most Receptive to Anti-Immigrant Narratives

A PRRI @prri.org survey report from 2023 anticipates the groups across America who support aggressive deportation efforts—and suggests why

👉 open.substack.com/pub/gerardom...
Threat, Replacement, and Deportation: Identifying Who is Most Receptive to Anti-Immigrant Narratives A PRRI survey report from 2023 anticipates the groups across America who support aggressive deportation efforts—and suggests why GERARDO MARTÍ NOV 19, 2025 <graph from PRRI indicating Republicans and White Christian Groups are most likely to hold negative views toward immigrants>
November 19, 2025 at 3:41 PM
gerardomarti.bsky.social
“Today it is not the city but the [concentration] camp that is the fundamental biopolitical paradigm of the West.”

— Giorgio Agamben

<quotes in this NYRB review>
<article from The New York Review of Books 12/4/25> The Apolitical Life Adam Kirsch Self Portrait in the Studio by Giorgio Agamben, translated from the Italian by Kevin Attell. Seagull, 182 pp., $25.00
November 18, 2025 at 5:46 PM
gerardomarti.bsky.social
Great to see a new edition of Divided by Faith (Oxford 2025).

I can still remember sitting in my office holding a copy of the original, sent to me as a gift from Michael Emerson.

The book inspired an idea that became my dissertation, which launched my scholarly career. Amazing to now be included!
MICHAEL 0. EMERSON & CHRISTIAN SMITH DIVIDED BY FAITH Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America SECOND EDITION <page from bibliography> Martí, Gerardo. 2005. A Mosaic of Believers: Diversity and Innovation in Multiethnic Church. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. Martí, Gerardo. 2012. Worship Across the Racial Divide: Religious Music ano the Multiracial Congregation. New York: Oxford University Press. Martí, Gerardo. 2020. American Blindspot: Race, Class, Religion, and the Trump Presidency. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.
November 18, 2025 at 2:24 PM
gerardomarti.bsky.social
Finished — really enjoyed this
"In two words: Short. Brilliant." —The Times (UK) SEASCRAPER A NOVEL The Booker Prize 2025 Longlisted BENJAMIN WOOD "Wood is a magnificent writer and I intend to read everything he has written." -DOUGLAS STUART, author of Shuggie Bain
November 17, 2025 at 5:45 PM
gerardomarti.bsky.social
Political Gap Between Pastors & Pews

“Political partisanship of the average mainline pastor diverges significantly from the politics of the folks sitting in their pews.”

Ryan Burge analyzes recent PRRI data to highlight pervasive pattern in Mainline Christianity 👉 open.substack.com/pub/ryanburg...
The Partisanship of Clergy and Laity in Mainline Traditions This horizontal stacked bar chart displays partisan identification among clergy and laity (non-clergy members) across seven mainline Protestant denominations. Each denomination has two rows (one for clergy, one for laity) and the responses are divided into four categories: Democrat (blue), Independent (gray), Republican (red), and Other (green). The denominations included are United Methodist, Evangelical Lutheran, Presbyterian Church USA, American Baptist, Episcopal Church, United Church of Christ, and Disciples of Christ. Each bar is annotated with the percentage value for each group and party identification. For example, in the United Methodist tradition, 38% of clergy identify as Democrat, 34% as Independent, 19% as Republican, and 9% as Other; laity are 37% Democrat, 9% Independent, 52% Republican, and 1% Other. Percentages are shown inside their corresponding bar segments. The data source is listed as PRRI 2023 Clergy Survey + Cooperative Election Study, 2024, and “@ryanburge” is credited as the creator. Share of Clergy and Laity Identifying as Republican This bar chart provides a visual comparison of the share of clergy and laity identifying as Republican in the same seven mainline Protestant denominations. Each denomination is represented by two adjacent bars: the left bar is for clergy and the right bar is for laity. The percentages are indicated inside each bar, and the bars are colored in shades of red. Error bars are present atop each bar, suggesting a margin of error is included. For example, in the Presbyterian Church USA, 7% of clergy and 53% of laity identify as Republican. In the United Methodist tradition, the figures are 19% clergy and 52% laity. The denominations shown are United Methodist, Evangelical Lutheran, Presbyterian Church USA, American Baptist, Episcopal Church, United Church of Christ, and Disciples of Christ. The data sources and credit are the same as the first graph.
November 17, 2025 at 3:20 PM
gerardomarti.bsky.social
I knew it 😝
The cartoon shows a classroom or lecture hall with students facing a lecturer at the front. The lecturer is pointing with a stick at a large projection labeled "History of the Universe." The projected graphic depicts a timeline of the universe's expansion, beginning on the left with an image of a coffee cup and progressing to the right through several stages that include representations of cosmic elements and galaxies, arranged in expanding, funnel-shaped segments. The lecturer stands beside a desk with an open laptop and a coffee cup. Underneath the scene is a caption: “Scientists can trace the universe back to its first cup of coffee but, beyond that, things get foggy.”
November 17, 2025 at 2:58 PM
gerardomarti.bsky.social
CHARLOTTE Closed 1st time in 28 yrs

“The amount of fear that we have right now is no good,” Betancur told CharlotteFive outside Manolo’s Baker, in the heart of Charlotte’s immigrant community.

“We need to protect our families and family separation.”

👉 www.charlotteobserver.com/charlottefiv...
'They're not chasing criminals. Manolo's Bakery owner closes store to protect customers Joe Marusak 41 mins ago Manuel "Manolo" Betancur closed his Charlotte bakery for the first time in 28 years Saturday afternoon at the city's arrival of U.S. Border Patrol agents, and he doesn't know when he'll reopen.
November 15, 2025 at 11:38 PM
gerardomarti.bsky.social
CHARLOTTE

“Agents parked just outside a closed gate leading to the church parking lot & ran into the yard…

The agents asked no questions and showed no identification before taking one man away, whose wife and child were inside at the time…”

More 👉 www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politic...
Church members flee as federal agents arrive at east Charlotte place of worship Nick Sullivan 42 mins ago Congregants of an east Charlotte church scattered into the woods Saturday when masked federal agents arrived and detained one of their members, according to witnesses.
November 15, 2025 at 11:05 PM
gerardomarti.bsky.social
😝
INSTANT HUMAN JUST ADD COFFEE
November 15, 2025 at 6:48 PM
gerardomarti.bsky.social
Just finished and recommended.

Remarkable telling of Nazi efforts to destroy “Bolsheviks” and the intertwining of the Jewish fate on the Eastern Front.

Bold and vivid reporting, illuminating aspects of WWII I simply did not know.
WORLD ENEMY Nº.1 NAZI GERMANY. SOVIET RUSSIA, AND THE FATE OF THE JEWS JOCHEN <Penguin 2025>
November 12, 2025 at 5:47 PM
gerardomarti.bsky.social
COMING SOON

All critiques of Schuller & others similar to his ethos often describe what even their own churches do: sustain people in familiar worldviews, adopt familiar or idealized roles, & constantly affirm each other that their way is the right way to live.

👉 open.substack.com/pub/gerardom...
"God Loves You and So Do l": Church Authority and What Members Most Want to Hear About Themselves Pastoral authority today comes more decisively from telling congregants things they want to hear about themselves. GERARDOMARTI.SUBSTACK COM
November 12, 2025 at 5:09 PM
gerardomarti.bsky.social
Part of my reading today

A charming volume, this chatty biography of Havelock Ellis, based on interviews and archival materials provided to the author by Ellis himself, was published in 1928.
Green book cover, with embossed signature of Havelock Ellis. Title page of book, with author photo of an elder Ellis reclining on a lounge chair outside. HAVELOCK ELLIS Philosopher of Love BY HOUSTON PETERSON With Illustrations BOSTON AND NEW YORK HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY The Riberside Press Cambridge 1928 Photo HAVELOCK ELLIS Little Frieth, 1926
November 11, 2025 at 2:45 PM
gerardomarti.bsky.social
Received my hard copy in the mail today.
doi.org/10.1177/0020...
Journal cover INTERPRETATION A JOURNAL OF BIBLE AND THEOLOGY Ecclesiology in a Changing Church Article The Changing Church and the Challenge of Racial Justice Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology 2025. Vol. 79(4) 327-340 Gerardo Marti Davidson College Research shows that church attendance increasingly correlates with conservative political views and racial attitudes, particularly among White Christians. Despite increasing diversity in American society, Sunday services remain highly segregated such that worship practices, fellowship networks, and shared religious beliefs often reinforce, rather than challenge, racial divisions. This article suggests ways in which churches can embody the prophetic call for justice by moving beyond performative inclusion to sustained efforts that dismantle racism. In doing so, clergy, staff, and lay leaders must avoid merely symbolic allyship and enact substantive actions, even in the face of tensions and disagreements among their own members. Introduction Christian worship has played a contradictory role in racial justice throughout American history, serving both as a force for liberation and as a perpetrator of racial oppression. Today, churches have become key sites of partisan sorting and ideological reinforcement, so that church attendance increasingly correlates with conservative political views and racial attitudes-particularly among White Christians-making racial justice work in congregations more difficult. Sunday morning gatherings remain highly segregated spaces where worship practices, social networks, and shared beliefs often strengthen rather than challenge racial divisions. This essay encourages churches to embody the prophetic call for justice through worship, moving beyond performative inclusion to sustained efforts that dismantle racism within their congregations and communities as a core element of Christian faithfulness. Ultimately, congregational racial justice efforts must avoid merely symbolic actions … even in the face of tensions and disagreements among their own members.
November 7, 2025 at 8:41 PM
gerardomarti.bsky.social
The Journal of Praise & Worship (JPW) is launching in early 2026.

This new journal is an interdisciplinary, open-access (no article processing charges), peer-reviewed journal that will be published annually.

More info as description and subscription guidelines develop.
JPW Journal of Praise & Worship The project is led by co-editors Dr. Nelson Cowan (Samford University), Dr. Marcell Silva Steuernagel (Southern Methodist University), and Dr. Adam Perez (Belmont University) as well as the founding associate editors Dr. Monique Ingalls (Baylor University), Dr. Lester Ruth (Duke University), and Dr. Melanie Ross (Yale University). Editorial Borad includes Gerardo Martí (Davidson College), Kinga Povedák (University of Szeged), Jean N. Kidula (University of Georgia), Steven Félix-Jâger (Life Pacific University), Pauline Muir (University of London), John Witvliet (Belmont University), Leah Payne (Portland Seminary), Lim Swee Hong (University of Toronto), Joshua Waggener (Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary)
November 6, 2025 at 4:14 AM
gerardomarti.bsky.social
Great event tonight at Davidson College, with thanks to Rev Dr Ben Boswell for vivid stories rooting the intersections of his life with our historical moment.

"Christians Right & Left: Stories of Religion and Politics in the South" gathering students, faculty, staff & community was a great success!
Meeting room at Davidson College with Rev Dr Benjamin Boswell speaking to a room with students, faculty, staff, and members of the community in view.
November 6, 2025 at 4:03 AM
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