My new book has a title, cover, and release date. Reality in Ruins: How Conspiracy Theory Became an American Evangelical Crisis will hit book shelves on March 17, 2026. Distilled from my PhD research, Reality in Ruins brings together—for the first time—an untold history of conspiratorial beliefs in and across white American evangelicalism. Here’s a preview from myContinue reading “Reality In Ruins, Coming March 2026”
Category Archives: Current Events
Ah, Biscuits.
There’s a recent opinion article over on Glenn Beck’s platform “The Blaze” that takes issue with Bandit Heeler, the dad from the wildly popular children’s show, Bluey. When I say “popular” I mean “phenomenon.” Bluey accounts for over 25% of total streaming hours on Disney Plus. Take that, Marvel. If you haven’t seen the show, that’s ok. ItContinue reading “Ah, Biscuits.”
“Just Asking Questions”
This piece reflects on suspicion, propaganda, and disinformation. The catalyst is the current (and dangerous) propaganda laid by JD Vance on the Haitian community in Ohio, who now find themselves at the center of the election news cycle. Before we dive in, I will add: I’m wary of always commenting on every single thing. I’m preferringContinue reading ““Just Asking Questions””
The Contagion of Violence and Conspiracy
Yesterday’s failed assassination attempt might have shocked, but it did not surprise. I am glad former President Trump is relatively unharmed. And it’s fitting we pray for him, and the families who—today—are holding out for loved ones to recover. And pray for those mourning permanent loss. How did we get here? Elected officials and scholarsContinue reading “The Contagion of Violence and Conspiracy”
Why The Big Lie Won’t Die
The Failure of Facts and the Power of Story Across the early primaries, I’ve watched two particular sets of data: self-identified white evangelicals and the stolen election narrative. After South Carolina this weekend, not much has changed: Now, some will say “which evangelicals?” and I address that question here. Basically, questions about who is in/out ofContinue reading “Why The Big Lie Won’t Die”
Who are the Real Evangelicals?
Evangelicals in America can’t stop voting Trump. So it seems. Trump is walking away from the Iowa caucus with a dominating win. He is the leading contender for the GOP Presidential nomination. A few notable exit polls worth mentioning from CNN: These exit polls aren’t dogma. They’re fluid and can be massively unreliable. Still, theyContinue reading “Who are the Real Evangelicals?”
Close Encounters of the Theological Kind
I should’ve known this article was inevitable. As a researcher of conspiracy theory, I keep tabs on communities where conspiracy theories are concentrated. One of those is the UFO/UAP (unidentified aerial phenomena) community. This community plays host (sometimes intentionally other times incidentally) to one of the “legacy” conspiracy theories in American culture: of non-human intelligentContinue reading “Close Encounters of the Theological Kind”
We Built This City On Conspiracy Theory
There’s a ‘new’ conspiracy theory emerging on digital spaces like TikTok and Instagram. (Just search the hashtag.) Today, I want to offer a few quick thoughts on what it is, and what it means for our politics and our future. What is a 15 Minute City? The conspiracy theory is a reaction to an urbanContinue reading “We Built This City On Conspiracy Theory”
What We’re Missing With Musk
Elon Musk is now the self-proclaimed “chief twit”. His acquisition of Twitter has sparked strong reactions on the right and left. One question concerns both sides: will Donald Trump tweet again? I’ve been researching conspiracy theories and disinformation, particularly in the American church. And I’ve seen these two responses to Musk: elation and caution. ButContinue reading “What We’re Missing With Musk”
Are Evangelicals A Threat To Democracy Today?
This week, The Atlantic published a piece on how politics have poisoned American evangelicalism. It’s a good read, and I don’t see an end to this sort of analysis anytime soon. One quote stuck out: The Church is not a victim of America’s civic strife. Instead, it is one of the principal catalysts. Tim Alberta,Continue reading “Are Evangelicals A Threat To Democracy Today?”
Jared Stacy 