John Compton

Political Scientist. Author of The Evangelical Origins of the Living Constitution (Harvard, 2014) and The End of Empathy (OUP, 2020).

[John Compton @JohnWCompton2]

The evangelical left was once a thing - and it had a home in the GOP. What happened?

In this Washington Post ⁦@madebyhistory⁩ piece, I take a stab at an explanation.
https://t.co/LAdjvlPuOz

[John Compton @JohnWCompton2]

@mattyglesias Do donors not qualify as intense policy demanders under their definition?

[ReligioninPublic @Religion_Public]

For 70 years, surveys asked “What is your present religion, if any?” This presumes responses describe the church they attend. But what if not?

*They find 20% say it does not* in a new open access article @jssrjournal @PaulDjupe @ryanburge @docchrisg

https://t.co/JSA30E5Dh7

[John Compton @JohnWCompton2]

@ryanburge @ReligionCensus Nice work! I’d go so far as to argue that this dynamic contributed to the decline of mainline Protestantism that began in the 1960s to 1970s: the mainline failed to build enough churches in the SW, where the population was moving (bureaucratic obstacles were a big problem).

[David Karol @DKarol]

Happy to announce the publication of “How Does Party Position Change Happen? The case of LGBT Rights in the U.S.” in @PRQjournal !🧵
https://t.co/KDnFXMymjY
Ungated version: https://t.co/C0d5GOAX9J

[Paul Djupe @PaulDjupe]

When I talk about the end times, I get asked two questions: Aren't there different schools with very different worldviews? And aren't end times believers apathetic because the end is near? I'm now giving my answers to these questions with new data. 1/6 https://t.co/PGCmODyEYf

[John Compton @JohnWCompton2]

Happy to share that my article, “Manufacturing a Protestant Consensus: Religion and Regime Entrenchment in the Eisenhower Era,” is now in first view in @StudiesAPD

https://t.co/sfALGHvtfU

[John Compton @JohnWCompton2]

I’m a bit late to this, but Jennifer Rubin said some very nice things about my book, The End of Empathy, in yesterday’s column. Among other things, it’s “a fascinating study”!

https://t.co/jUaGGyh99V

[John Compton @JohnWCompton2]

@hmridge @ChapmanU We’re thrilled that you’ll be joining us!

[Andrew Lewis @AndrewRLewis]

Here’s my analysis ⁦at WaPo @monkeycageblog⁩ of the Supreme Court’s big religion cases this term, which focus on discrimination against religion, and how the decisions fit into the political environment. https://t.co/mdHHsZbLMj

[John Schmalzbauer @OzarksWatcher]

Reading @JohnWCompton2's book on rise and fall of mainline ecumenical activism. Striking how growth in local councils of churches helped advance the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

[Paul Djupe @PaulDjupe]

Please help me spread the word - I'm hiring (!) for the Data for Political Research minor I just started at flourishing LAC Denison University, just outside of Columbus, Ohio. It's a one year VAP for now, but extendable. We're looking for someone who studies politics with 1/3

[ReligioninPublic @Religion_Public]

RIPT 4 – Religion in Public Talks – A. Kadir Yildirim on Religious Authority then a panel discussion with Amy Erica Smith, John Compton, and Paul Djupe – Feb 7, 5-6pm (e) https://t.co/EzqGJnvN7o

[Paul Djupe @PaulDjupe]

I'm excited about this event next Monday (2/7) with new research on religious authority from survey experiments in MENA (@akyildirim) along with a panel discussing the paper and the concept from their research perspectives (@AmyEricaSmith, @JohnWCompton2, and me). Join us!

[John Compton @JohnWCompton2]

@DavidAFrench @DouthatNYT True, but it was a completely different story in the north, where white mainline Protestant churches were among the most important forces pushing for federal civil rights laws. Mainline power was then (early 1960s) at its peak.

[John Compton @JohnWCompton2]

@DavidAFrench A lot hinges on the definition of “white Protestant.” Arguably the most significant steps towards a more equal society (CRA, VRA) occurred when mainline Protestant power was at its peak (before evangelicalism became the dominant strand of white Protestantism).

[John Compton @JohnWCompton2]

@DouthatNYT This is true. For a book-length case that the relationship is causal, and not just coincidental, see here:

https://t.co/sZ1zvLKzGm

[ReligioninPublic @Religion_Public]

Starting off 2022 with a bang, @PaulDjupe shows that the common report that Americans don't want rel and pol mixing is just wrong - they just don't want other people's religion mixing with their politics. And support grows with perceived threat. https://t.co/YIXysZEjdO

[John Compton @JohnWCompton2]

Very happy to see this review of THE END OF EMPATHY from @GaryAdlerJr in the JSSR:

"The book is a great example of mixed-method historical scholarship... It is a must-read to understand what happened [to cause the rise of modern evangelicalism] and why.”

https://t.co/ux3MBkMBoL

[David Karol @DKarol]

This article of mine (with @ChloeThurstonDC) illustrates @jonmladd's point about how abortion politics evolved from divisions along denominational lines to partisan ones. California was ahead of the curve. Retweeting, as they say, for no particular reason.

[ReligioninPublic @Religion_Public]

For all the talk of progressive evangelicals, @ryanburge wanted to take a deep dive.

How big is this group?

And, what do they actually believe about policy? https://t.co/ykn0ROW9rM