Matthew D. Taylor, PhD

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Matthew D. Taylor, PhD, is an award-winning author, scholar, and nationally recognized speaker on religion and politics in the United States. He is the author of The Violent Take It by Force, Defying Tyrants, and Scripture People, and a leading expert on Christian nationalism, religious extremism, and the misuse of Scripture in public life. His research and commentary have been featured in The New York Times, Weekend Edition, On the Media, Rolling Stone, Politico, The Bulwark, Sojourners, and Religion News Service.

Dr. Taylor holds a PhD in Religious Studies from Georgetown University and an MA from Fuller Theological Seminary. He currently serves as a Visiting Scholar at Georgetown University’s Center on Faith and Justice and is the creator and host of the acclaimed Charismatic Revival Fury podcast series. Known for his ability to translate complex scholarship into clear, compelling insights, Taylor brings intellectual rigor, moral clarity, and pastoral sensitivity to every audience.

A highly sought-after speaker, Taylor has delivered lectures, keynotes, and policy briefings at prestigious venues across the country, including the U.S. Capitol, Harvard University, Stanford University, the University of Notre Dame, the University of Southern California, Georgetown University’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and Global Affairs, Candler School of Theology at Emory University, and the Chautauqua Institution. He has also briefed congressional staffers and faith leaders on the real-world implications of religious extremism.

Whether addressing academic audiences, faith communities, conference gatherings, or public leaders, Matthew Taylor equips listeners with historical depth, theological insight, and practical tools to understand—and respond to—the challenges facing religion and democracy today.

TOPICS

Each of these topics and presentations can be tailored or combined to particular audiences.

Christian Nationalism Today: Dangerous Ideas, Dangerous Leaders, Dangerous Agendas

Christian nationalism is often invoked in the news without much specificity. What exactly is American Christian nationalism? Is it one thing or many? Is it new or very old? 

In this presentation, Matthew D. Taylor, one of the leading experts on American Christian nationalism and extremism, breaks down the different movements, theologies, leaders, and motivations for Christian nationalism. 

Examples: 

The Changing Face of Evangelical Christianity (and What It Means)

Everyone knows that evangelical Christians are a major force in American politics, but evangelicalism itself is presently undergoing a landmark transition in leadership, ethos, and political sensibilities. How is the new face of evangelicalism during the Trump era different from previous eras? 

This presentation focuses especially on the rising influence and demographic power of nondenominational charismatic evangelicals, a burgeoning movement that has led the MAGA-fication of evangelicalism. Through his deep research in Independent Charismatics, the New Apostolic Reformation leadership networks, and their ties with the Trump administration, Matthew D. Taylor presents these shifting dynamics in ways that are accessible to experts and non-experts alike.

Examples: 

Can We Face The Jewish-Christian Question? Israel, Christian Zionism, and Antisemitism

All around us we hear heated political arguments about Israel. Accusations of antisemitism are thrown around on the left and the right. Activists and influencers battle on social media about the acceptability of antisemitic conspiracy theories. This presentation focuses on what antisemitism is, where it comes from, and how it became engrained in many Christian traditions and theologies.

But Matthew D. Taylor also explores how the counterreaction––unquestioning, theologically driven Christian support for the state of Israel, often called Christian Zionism––often also has dangerous overlap with Christian nationalism and Christian supremacy. He also points a way forward through this morass of better and more honest options for Jewish-Christian relationships and friendships today.

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The Christian Far Right of Tomorrow Is Here

Proud Boys? Christian nationalists? White nationalists? The far right? Neo-Nazis?

People often hear talk about different groups and figures in right-wing politics with little understanding about what those phrases signify or who the significant leaders are. This briefing presentation gives a big-picture overview of the recent history of the far right in the United States with a special focus on how it overlaps with Christianity and Christian extremism. Matthew D. Taylor, a prominent expert on these movements and nuances, also explores why these far-right Christian movements are surging both in numbers and influence at the present moment and what can be done to challenge and counter the growing radicalization of American Christians.

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Christian Theologies of Resistance to Authoritarianism

Many of us see Christians all around us embracing anti-democratic politicians and sometimes even wishing for a new authoritarianism. But did you know that Jesus and the early church were deeply committed to resisting authoritarianism in their time? Jesus was crucified as a dissident colonized subject of empire, and the early Christians were persecuted not for their moral purity but because they resisted the whole system of hierarchical and idolatrous politics in the Roman Empire. Even more, while there have been many Christian tyrants and dictators, there is also a long legacy of Christians resisting coercive political power in the tradition of Jesus.

In this presentation, which can be in either lecture or sermon format, Matthew D. Taylor offers an introduction to this subversive dimension of the New Testament and the history of Christian resistance to tyranny with a special focus on the Gospel of Mark. What can we learn from Jesus and our theological ancestors about how to resist authoritarianism today?

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The Global Struggle between Religious Nationalism and Democracy

While many Americans are deeply concerned about our democracy here and the threat that Christian nationalism and rising authoritarianism pose to our democracy, what often gets left out of that narrative is the reality that the US is merely one outpost of crumbling democracy today. Around the world, far-right, populist authoritarian politicians are linking arms with religious nationalists––Hindu nationalists, Islamists, Buddhist nationalists, religious Zionists, and Christian nationalists––to move nations from democracy to tyranny.

In this presentation, Matthew D. Taylor offers perspectives and observations for how this rising global tide of authoritarian states is impacted by and impacting the United States. How are we part of larger pattern and what can Americans learn from experiences around the globe of protecting democracy against religious authoritarianism?



 
 

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