The Aspen Institute 70d ago

This session explores the evolving role of religious communities in a time of diminishing membership and politicized Christian nationalism. Why are some American congregations freely choosing to identify as 'exilic minorities,' in ways that eschew their previous majority-status? Are today’s politics creating new theological rifts? How can distinct tribes—evangelicals, Hindus, and other faith communities—advance a healthier form of pluralism in American life? Drawing on firsthand stories from India’s temples to America’s churches, Tim Alberta, staff writer at the Atlantic and author of The Kingdom, The Power, and The Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism, and Sunita Viswanath, executive director of Hindus for Human Rights, offer snapshot of new American trends and opportunities. This talk is part of the Religion & Society Program's Faith Angle Forum series, which equips mainstream journalists with resources to strengthen reporting and commentary on how religious communities and convictions shape politics and public life. This session was filmed March 16, 2026, in Miami, FL. Read more about Faith Angle at our website: https://faithangle.org/