Religious nationalism manifests differently across the globe, with some surprising patterns emerging from cross-national research. The concept extends beyond legal frameworks into cultural values, with the US standing out among high-income countries for believing the Bible should influence laws, even though only 6% of Americans qualify as religious nationalists. 

In this episode of Cross Tabs, Farrah speaks with Pew Research Center experts Jonathan Evans and Laura Silver about their groundbreaking study on religious nationalism across 36 countries. They discuss their methodological approach to studying such a complex topic across different religions and cultures, the nuances of what it means to be a "religious state" while maintaining democracy, and the stark political polarization in America compared to other nations. 

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Resources 

Religious Nationalism Report  

India Religious Study  

Christian Nationalism in the US  

Western Europe Religious Study  

American Views on China  

Our Guests 

Jonathan Evans is a Senior Researcher on the Religion team at Pew Research Center, approaching nine years with the organization. His work focuses primarily on international religious research, including leading a major project involving 30,000 interviews in India examining the intersection of religion with public life. Evans specializes in studying how religious beliefs, practices, and identities intersect with other aspects of people's lives across different cultural contexts. 

Laura Silver is an Associate Director on the Global Attitudes team at Pew Research Center with eight years of experience conducting cross-national surveys. She specializes in studying global phenomena in comparative contexts and has extensive expertise in American views of China. Silver oversees large cross-national surveys spanning dozens of countries, helping to provide context for how different global phenomena impact countries in varying ways. 

Your Host 

Farrah Bostic is the founder of The Difference Engine, a strategic research and innovation consultancy. Drawing on her extensive background in research and strategy, she examines how power dynamics and data patterns shape both democratic institutions and market environments, bringing a sharp analytical perspective to the intersection of politics, data, and business. 

Her incisive questioning style and ability to connect political movements with business implications makes Cross Tabs essential listening for political analysts, business leaders, and engaged citizens seeking to understand the forces shaping our political and economic landscapes. 

Learn more about Farrah’s experience helping B2B and B2C companies across various industries turn audience insights into effective strategies at thedifferenceengine.co, and be sure to connect with her on LinkedIn if you’d like to discuss how The Difference Engine can help.

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