In this episode, I am joined by political scientist Ryan Burge for an engaging conversation about his fascinating data on religious decline and the rise of the 'Nones' and non-denominational Christianity. We discuss the implications of denominational decline, growing distrust in institutional religion, and the explosive growth of non-denominational churches. This episode features in-depth analysis, intriguing graphs, lively discussions, and insights from prominent social philosophers. 

 *** If you want access to the entire 2-hour conversation and invites to join us live in the future, all you have to do is become a member of either (or both) of our SubStacks — Graphs on Religion & Process This. ***

Ryan P. Burge is an assistant professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University. Authorof numerous journal articles, he is the co-founder of and a frequent contributor to Religion in Public, a forum for scholars of religion and politics to make their work accessible to a general audience. Burge is a pastor in the American Baptist Church.

Previous Visits from Ryan Burge

• Trust, Religion, & a Functioning Democracy
• What it’s like to close a church
• The Future of Christian Education & Ministry in Charts
• The Sky is Falling & the Charts are Popping!
• Graphs about Religion & Politics w/ Spicy Banter
• a Year in Religion (in Graphs)
• Evangelical Jews, Educated Church-Goers, & other bits of dizzying data
• 5 Religion Graphs w/ a side of Hot Takes
• Myths about Religion & Politics

Theology Beer Camp | St. Paul, MN | October 16-18, 2025

3 Days of Craft Nerdiness with 50+ Theologians & God-Pods and 600 new friends.

A Five-Week Online Lenten Class w/ John Dominic Crossan

Join us for a transformative 5-week Lenten journey on "Paul the Pharisee: Faith and Politics in a Divided World."This course examines the Apostle Paul as a Pharisee deeply engaged with the turbulent political and religious landscape of his time.

Through the lens of his letters and historical context, we will explore Paul’s understanding of Jesus’ Life-Vision, his interpretation of the Execution-and-Resurrection, and their implications for nonviolence and faithful resistance against empire. Each week, we will delve into a specific aspect of Paul’s theology and legacy, reflecting on its relevance for our own age of autocracy and p