The Christian Extremism Crisis Is Worse Than You Think...And What to Do About It

HumanistsMN welcomes scholar and Christian extremism expert Matthew D. Taylor for a special presentation this month. Author of The Violent Take It by Force and creator of the "Charismatic Revival Fury" podcast series, Taylor will describe the ever-changing contours and real-world threats posed by the increasingly radicalized Christian movements in our midst and discuss what concerned citizens can do to counter this surging radicalization.

As extremist voices charge into the public square, take over school boards, promote hateful and xenophobic policies, and even threaten and commit violence, how do we foster productive dialogues and debates with people who are politically and religiously different from us? How do we build nonviolent, diverse, secular and interfaith coalitions to counter forms of Christian hatred? This is the crisis behind our democratic crisis, and it's imperative that we face it head-on!

However bad you think the problem is, there are probably some facts and truths here that will surprise you.

The program begins at 3 p.m. and is open to the public. We will wrap up the presentation and discussion at 4:30 p.m. and all are invited to stay for refreshments and socializing.

We will be live-streaming this event for those who cannot attend in person. Use this link to access the program.

Matthew D. Taylor is a religious studies scholar and expert in American Christianity, American Islam, Christian extremism, and religion and politics. His new book, The Violent Take It by Force: The Christian Movement that is Threatening Our Democracy, tracks how a network of Christian leaders called the New Apostolic Reformation was a major instigating force for the Jan. 6 Insurrection and is currently reshaping the culture of the religious right in the U.S.

He is also the creator, writer, and narrator of the "Charismatic Revival Fury" podcast series and the author of Scripture People: Salafi Muslims in Evangelical Christians' America.

Taylor holds a PhD in religious studies and theology from Georgetown University and an MA in theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. He is the Senior Christian Scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies in Baltimore., and he has served on the faculty of Georgetown University, George Washington University, and Loyola University Maryland.

He is currently a visiting scholar at the Center on Faith and Justice at Georgetown University, and he also serves as an associate fellow at the Center for Peace Diplomacy in New Orleans, where he works on preventing religion-related violence surrounding American elections.

This event is sponsored by HumanistsMN. If you are not yet a member, please consider joining to help us cover our costs and build the humanist movement. Not ready to join? Donations are gratefully accepted! Join or donate at humanistsmn.org.