Tobin Grant
@TobinGrant blogs for Religion News Service at Corner of Church and State, a data-driven conversation on religion and politics. He is a political science professor at Southern Illinois University and associate editor of the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion.
All Stories by Tobin Grant
#FreeAlexSodiqov: Vigils for student arrested in Tajikistan for conducting research
By Tobin Grant — July 16, 2014
It's been one month since Alex Sodiqov was arrested for the 'crime' of conducting academic research.
Five things I teach foreign students about American religion & politics
By Tobin Grant — July 14, 2014
Last week, I gave a lecture on religion and politics to a group of students from Azerbaijan, Turkey, Georgia, and Armenia. The students were in U.S. as part of a State Department summer educational program held at universities around the country. After years of participating in this program (and teaching international students in other classes), […]
Inequality: The USA is NOT an outlier on religiosity and economics
By Tobin Grant — July 10, 2014
America's high level of religiosity is not surprising. Sure, the USA is wealthy, but it's wealth is unequally distributed. Its religiosity is typical of country so unequal.
Hate the Hobby Lobby decision? Blame the Obama administration
By Tobin Grant — July 3, 2014
Hobby Lobby's case was made much easier because of the administration's actions on religious exemptions
Hobby Lobby irony: Now EVERYONE will pay for contraceptive coverage
By Tobin Grant — June 30, 2014
The ironic message from the Court: Hobby Lobby won't pay up because taxpayers can do it instead.
Hobby Lobby: Clear (but limited) victory for religious freedom
By Tobin Grant — June 30, 2014
Religious liberty won. Women's health lost. But what happens next is uncertain.
Supreme Court’s ‘buffer zone’ ruling is about free speech, not abortion
By Tobin Grant — June 27, 2014
Yesterday's ruling is a win for pro-life protesters, but it's a bigger win for freedom of speech.
Support for contraception mandate is somewhere between 12% and 100% (give or take a few points)
By Tobin Grant — June 25, 2014
Picking and choosing what counts as support for the administration's policy on contraception coverage.
Scholarship is a crime in Tajikistan: Where is Alexander Sodiqov?
By Tobin Grant — June 23, 2014
Tajikistan's regime arrested a scholar who dared to ask questions.
Scalia’s very, very, very rare dissent: Court should have reviewed school graduation case
By Tobin Grant — June 16, 2014
Scalia says that the Constitution doesn't protect people from being offended.
Eric Cantor’s loss means 100% of congressional Republicans are Christian
By Tobin Grant — June 11, 2014
Eric Cantor was the only Jewish Republican in Congress. In fact, he was only Republican in the House or Senate who didn't belong to a Christian church.
Pastor gave over $240,000 to Republican Senators, may be the largest contributor among U.S. Clergy
By Tobin Grant — June 2, 2014
Clergy rarely contribute money to political campaigns. But one pastor stands out. Dianne Schwabe of Living Faith Christian Church in Northridge, California may be the largest campaign contributor among America’s clergy, annually writing checks of up to $25,000 to support Senate Republicans. Schwabe leads the Intercessory Prayer Ministry at Living Faith Christian Church, a non-denominational charismatic church. According to the church’s […]
Providing rest for families of children with disabilities
By Tobin Grant — May 30, 2014
Jill's House, a faith-based health facility, is focused on one goal: giving parents of children with intellectual disabilities short-term breaks to rest and rejuvenate.
Breaking Amish myths
By Tobin Grant — May 29, 2014
The Amish are far more interesting than our the quaint stereotypes .
Graphs: Who wants to be called an atheist? (spoiler: college-educated men)
By Tobin Grant — May 23, 2014
It's not just among activists. Atheists face a gender gap and an education gap among the average "none".
