Christina Littlefield
@clittlefield.bsky.social
Historian studying religion, media, politics and culture. Reposts are fodder for debate only, not personal endorsements. Opinions are my own. New book: Christian America and the Kingdom of God https://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=p088414
Fascinating @rns.org piece looking at the many varied religious arguments against data centers, from avoiding the apocalypse to protecting environmental resources in protection of human life religionnews.com/2026/07/29/a...
‘A deal with the devil’: Religion motivates data center opponents in Texas
(RNS) — Some see the facilities’ construction as a sign of the apocalypse, while others see it as an opportunity to advocate for environmental stewardship.
religionnews.com
Great narrative piece exploring one professor's lonely battle for free speech www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2026/...
washingtonpost.com
I appreciate the nuance Ryan Burge brings to his analysis, that the alliance between Christianity & Trump has drawn some people closer to evangelicalism while pushing others away. religionnews.com/2026/07/20/h...
Half of Gen Z says Trump support keeps them out of church
(RNS) — A new study found that, even among Gen Z Christians, the strong alliance between Trump and Christianity has had a negative impact on churchgoing for many.
religionnews.com
This is such a fun feature story but with a major unanswered question: How does he afford so many books? Clearly I should have become a translator: www.nytimes.com/2026/07/09/s...
Too Many Books? (Gift Article)
Mendel Uminer faced a crisis when his landlord objected to the 10,000 volumes in his New York studio apartment.
nytimes.com
Really enjoyed Jason Blakely and David Albertson's Commonwealth piece looking to Thomas More for how all Christians can recover true faith after MAGA www.commonwealmagazine.org/injury-desti...
Injury as Destiny
American Christianity has been captured by Trumpism over the past decade. How can we recover from his politics of resentment?
commonwealmagazine.org
This is a must read article. Atlantic author Stephanie McCrummen features a couple in Tennessee who launched a spiritual warfare campaign against a local bookstore they believe is controlled by the demon Lilith, and looked at how that campaign impacted and dehumanized the bookstore's owner.
The Demon Next Door
A growing number of charismatic Christians see themselves as waging a spiritual battle against the forces of Satan. Sometimes those forces are right across the street.
theatlantic.com
Frederick Clarkson@fredclarkson.bsky.social · 4w agoThere is a growing culture and politics focused on demons at the center of many people's lives. When you finally see it, you might not stop seeing it. It explains alot. Don't miss this important story by @mccrummen.bsky.social in @theatlantic.com www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...
Yes, Tyndale is a crucial figure, not just because Puritans read his Bible translation, but because they embedded his ideas of biblical chosenness into their vision for a Christian commonwealth. Nations that obeyed God were blessed, nations that disobeyed were cursed religionnews.com/2026/07/02/t...
The man America forgot to invite to its 250th birthday party
(RNS) — This man didn’t set foot in North America. He never signed a founding document. But there is a compelling case that our country’s great story would look very different without him.
religionnews.com
As Americans celebrate 250 years of our grand experiment, it's worth reading up on the history. My work with Richard Hughes considers the promises and perils of the Protestant influence on the nation in conversation with the biblical text @illinoispress.bsky.social #America250UIP #ReadUP
Great story by @jackjenkins.me "How Matthew 25 became a political litmus test." Matthew 25 was the critical verse for late 19th century social gospellers, who, as early Christian nationalists, applied it to individuals AND the nation religionnews.com/2026/07/01/i...
The Bible verses dividing Washington: How Matthew 25 became a political litmus test
(RNS) — 'He told me that Matthew 25 was about individuals, and not nations,' Sen. Raphael Warnock said, referring to Speaker Mike Johnson. 'The text actually says nations.' Warnock added: “It's a ver...
religionnews.com
Important overview here of the work of Trump's Religious Liberty Commission: religionnews.com/2026/06/30/t...
Four key takeaways from Trump's Religious Liberty Commission Report
(RNS) — The advisory commission’s 224-page draft report includes some controversial recommendations.
religionnews.com
Taped this Emerge Collaborative podcast last summer, but I think the advice for emerging college student remains strong. So grateful to Falon Barton and Rachel Collins for the invite. youtu.be/tQyCE3QeVWE?...
Ep. 22 with Christina Littlefield: Why is everyone so nervous about what I’ll learn in college?
YouTube video by Emerge Collaborative
youtu.be
This is a beautifully told feature about seeking joy and loving life even in the midst of great pain. It's a must read: wapo.st/4oLe5kQ
This photo on the National Mall captivated the country decades ago. The real story behind it remained a mystery — until now.
In 1974, a group of friends met the unthinkable with a lavish celebration. The real story behind a photo that captured the moment remained a mystery until now.
wapo.st
I love history that peels back the layers and resists simplistic narratives. It reminds me that humans are complicated, messy, sinful, exceptional creatures, capable of both good and evil. Great snapshots here: www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Booker T. Washington and 6 Other Americans Who Shaped U.S. History
As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, The Times consulted scholars across the country to identify historical figures who influenced the United States — and whose legacies remain debated.
nytimes.com
Important o-ed: 161 years after Juneteenth, there is unfinished work of freedom religionnews.com/2026/06/18/1...
161 years after Juneteenth, there is unfinished work of freedom
(RNS) — The forces that threaten freedom continually take new forms.
religionnews.com
Last Thursday, I was the keynoter at a conference on Chosen Nations in Budapest, jointly sponsored by the University of Jewish Studies and the Ludovika University for Public Service. I spoke about the promises and perils of the myth of Chosennness in its impact on the transatlantic social gospel.
Kiválasztott nép(ek) – Nemzetközi konferencia az OR-ZSE és az NKE együttműködésében
2026. június 10–11-én Budapesten rendezte meg az Országos Rabbiképző – Zsidó Egyetem (OR-ZSE) és az NKE Molnár Tamás Kutatóintézete a Chosen Nation(s): Historical and Cultural Interpretations of Excep...
or-zse.hu
@ruthgraham.bsky.social with a fascinating look at how Pentecostals are wrestling with how to theologically interpret extraterrestrial life www.nytimes.com/2026/05/31/u...
In U.F.O. Files, Some Christians See Vexing Questions — and Demons
nytimes.com
My co-author Richard Hughes has an editorial in Sojourners as part of their edition on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence sojo.net/magazine/jun...
‘In the Face of Death, Live Humanly’
Lessons for the United States from the biblical Babylon saga.
sojo.net
Please check out & share this incredible new digital humanities archive w/ interactive map, the Black Church Burning Project. blackchurchburningproject.org It exists to identify & document every Black church & congregation that was burned, bombed, or otherwise attacked during the Civil Rights era.
Great @rns.org story about the power of worship music for political activism religionnews.com/2026/05/27/h...
How worship music became the soundtrack of today's political right
(RNS) — One of the most popular worship songs, “How Great Is Our God,” has moved from churches to political rallies in recent years.
religionnews.com
Ball State University in Indiana has agreed to pay $225,000 to a former administrator who was fired for her Facebook post saying Charlie Kirk spread fear, the latest legal settlement awarded to a worker dismissed over their posts about Kirk after he was assassinated. nyti.ms/4dyEZsi
Strong, thorough profile here of a major evangelical influencer religionnews.com/2026/05/20/c...
Can virality create revival? Gen Z evangelist Bryce Crawford has faith
(RNS) — Twenty-two-year-old Bryce Crawford is becoming one of the internet’s most popular evangelical voices through his street preaching videos, podcast and national tour. But whether he is driving a...
religionnews.com
Excellent reporting on White House event boosting myths of a Christian America wapo.st/4wrUolC
White House to host 9-hour prayer festival focused on Christian roots of U.S.
Pete Hegseth, Marco Rubio and Mike Johnson will speak at the event, which centers on the idea that the founders wanted the U.S. to be explicitly Christian.
wapo.st
Richard Hughes and I discuss a History of Christian nationalism on the Sons of Patriarchy podcast today f3455055-4b94-47d2-b423-42bf64de3484.libsyn.com/a-history-of...
Sons of Patriarchy: A History of Christian Nationalism
Media inquiries: Patreon: Website: Email us: Book: Summary This in-depth interview explores the history and impact of Christian nationalism in America, its biblical roots, and how i...
f3455055-4b94-47d2-b423-42bf64de3484.libsyn.com
This is just an interesting read all around. Rod Dreher even says Trump is "radiating the spirit of Antichrist, no question.” religionnews.com/2026/04/16/w...
When Trump’s satire hits too close to home for American Christians, Antichrist claims emerge
(RNS) — ‘Throughout both of Trump’s terms, he’s done so many things that I thought were going to be over the line, and it never happens,’ said Matthew Sutton, a scholar of religious history at Washing...
religionnews.com
Wowser, that's a stat: "Across the continent, 73 percent of Europeans viewed Trump as a threat to peace and security in Europe, according to YouGov polling last summer, just nine percentage points behind Russian President Vladimir Putin’s 82 percent." wapo.st/4cgYeWL
Even for Europe’s populist firebrands, Trump is going too far
The symbiosis between the president and European nationalists has reached a potential breaking point as he issues genocidal rhetoric and criticizes the pope.
wapo.st
Poynter Report with interesting tidbit about how Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth attacked the press using scripture, comparing the press to the Pharisees critiquing Jesus www.poynter.org/commentary/2...
Pete Hegseth uses the Bible to demonize the press - Poynter
The former Fox News co-host continues to attack the press, likening journalists to Pharisees of the Bible and calling them "unpatriotic."
poynter.org
Currents Magazine is on news stands now! We invite you to check out this special "home-themed" issue and consider what home means to you: pepperdine-graphic.com/currents-spr...
Currents Spring 2026 - Pepperdine Graphic
pepperdine-graphic.com
As Trump rails against Pope and paints himself as Jesus, even Christian Right leaders raise alarm wapo.st/48LzKT9
Trump post appearing to depict him as Jesus removed amid backlash
Before the post was deleted, evangelical and Catholic allies called the image blasphemous in a rare public break from a base that has largely stood by Trump.
wapo.st
Kirk was promoting this at Dream City Church in his Turning Point Faith events
Arizona Mirror@azmirror.com · 4mo agoTurning Point USA's volunteers are collecting completed ballots from voters in the Salt River Project service area — a practice the group's late founder Charlie Kirk spent years attacking story via @jerodmacevoy.com
fascinating read about why there's been an uptick in young men converting to Catholicism wapo.st/4bS3z6I
Why Catholicism is drawing in Gen Z men
Young men in their 20s and 30s are increasingly drawn to the Catholic Church as they seek truth, beauty and, yes, girlfriends.
wapo.st