About this Event
In an increasingly unpredictable world, charismatic Christianity, Christian nationalism, and prophetic politics have surged to the forefront of modern cultural power. To their followers, they offer an undeniable sense of order, certainty, and control. That’s not a coincidence—it is part of a high-stakes, two-way relationship where politics and religion court one another, both gaining and losing at the same time.
This talk explores why religious faith has become so tightly intertwined with political power in contemporary America. Looking at how figures like Donald Trump court religious communities by offering political certainty in exchange for their loyalty, Dr. Michael Wilkinson examines the transactional nature of modern prophetic politics: “Give me your faith, and I will give you what you want politically.” In the process, the political order itself becomes sacralized. Aiming his critique at both political maneuvering and religious movements, and drawing on research presented at the University of Cambridge and internationally, Dr. Wilkinson considers a deeper issue: can the promise of religious and political certainty actually resolve the anxieties and divisions it seeks to overcome, or does it inevitably deepen them?
Every Sip Smarter talk includes a 45-minute lecture followed by an open Q&A over drinks.
SPEAKER
Dr. Michael Wilkinson is Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and Professor of Sociology at Trinity Western University. His research focuses on cultural analyses of religion, with work spanning immigration, evangelicalism, Pentecostalism, and globalization. His international research on religion and politics has been presented at the University of Cambridge, the University of Auckland, Victoria University of Wellington, and the University of Oldenburg.
“The only thing better than learning is the conversation after.”
Event venue & nearby stays
Farm Country Brewing, 20555 56 Avenue, Langley, Canada
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