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
Graph: What do you call an American with no religion?
By Tobin Grant — May 21, 2014
In this stubbornly religious country, even those with no religion still hold to an identity that is tied to spirituality or belief.
Three words Protestants don’t understand (spoiler: the first is “Protestant”)
By Tobin Grant — May 14, 2014
Protestant? Evangelical? Mainline? The average Protetestant has no idea what you're talking about.
Analysis: Supreme Court says prayer is ok, even if sectarian and lacking diversity
By Tobin Grant — May 5, 2014
Prayers in government ceremonies may represent a community, even if it lacks religious diversity
Does religion make life better for atheists?
By Tobin Grant — May 2, 2014
Yes, says sociologist Rodney Stark. Even if you don't care about faith, the faithful promote "pro-social behavior" all around you.
America’s growing opposition to the death penalty
By Tobin Grant — May 1, 2014
Research suggests that Oklahoma's botched execution will accelerate public opposition to the death penalty
The culture war is so last century
By Tobin Grant — April 24, 2014
Culture wars are the rule, not the exception, in American history.
Jokes: How egg hunts differ across faiths
By Tobin Grant — April 22, 2014
Egg-strodinary jokes about religion. Get it?
Graphs: Anti-Jewish hate crimes in U.S.
By Tobin Grant — April 14, 2014
The shooting in Kansas at two Jewish centers is but one of nearly a hundreds of violent crimes at Jews each year.
Podcast: Long-forgotten sermons that shaped the civil rights movement
By Tobin Grant — April 11, 2014
Listen to a conversation about how long-forgotten sermons and speeches shaped the civil rights movement.
Graphs: One billion reasons why World Vision matters
By Tobin Grant — April 9, 2014
World Vision is the largest U.S. relief organization with over one billion dollars in revenue each year. This is nearly double its revenue from ten years ago.
Wait! Supreme Court (in)decision isn’t its final word on religious liberty
By Tobin Grant — April 7, 2014
The takeaway from today’s denial is simple: Wait. The Court will soon say how it will resolve conflicts between religious liberty and civil rights.
Jesus said, ‘Buy an assault rifle’ and other pro-gun Bible verses
By Tobin Grant — March 26, 2014
Last fall, Family Research Council’s Gen. Jerry Boykin told the ProFamily Legislators Conference that Jesus was going to return with an AR-15 assault rifle in hand. Citing Revelation 19, Boykin said that Jesus would return as a blood-stained warrior with sword in hand. “I’ve checked this out,” Boykin said, “I believe that sword he’ll be […]
St. Patrick’s Day Graph: Irish in America are Protestant, not Catholic
By Tobin Grant — March 17, 2014
Most Irish in America aren't Catholic. And they're split evenly between political parties.
How Arizona’s ‘religious freedom’ bill became an ‘anti-gay’ bill
By Tobin Grant — February 27, 2014
Arizona's religious liberty bill became an anti-gay bill because both sides saw this a fight between religious liberty and LGBT rights.
Top 10 XKCD cartoons on science and religion
By Tobin Grant — February 12, 2014
Here's a top 10 list of XKCD religion-themed strips from the popular webcomic XKCD.
