Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 56 minutes ago
The IRS recently confirmed it will not investigate preachers who endorse political candidates from the pulpit—a major development in the Christian Right’s push to dismantle the wall between church and state. While intended to strengthen Christianity’s influence, this move may accelerate the very trend they hope to reverse: the steady growth of secularism in America. Today, roughly 30% of Americans are non-religious, many of them former Christians, and most oppose political preaching. Surveys from Pew and PRRI show overwhelming public disapproval of churches endorsing candidates, especially among the non-religious. Dr. Juhem Navarro-Rivera will explore how these political overreaches could spark renewed secular activism and even a new wave of religious disaffiliation. Join us for a data-driven look at the backfire effect that may shape the future of religion and politics in the United States.
Dr. Juhem Navarro-Rivera is a leading expert in the demographics and politics of non-religious Americans. He is the managing partner at Socioanalítica Research, a research and analysis firm designing projects for Progressive nonprofits. Dr. Navarro-Rivera is the author of the Secular Politics Newsletter, where he explores the intersection of secularism and politics. With a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Connecticut, Dr. Navarro-Rivera has made significant contributions to the field. He has been an integral member of several renowned research projects, including the 2008 American Religious Identification Survey, PRRI’s American Values Atlas, Socioanalitica Research’s Secular Voices Survey, American Atheists’ US Secular Survey, and UCSB’s Secular Communities Survey.
Becoming a supporter of the Secular Student Alliance! The SSA is a 501(c)(3) educational non-profit that relies on the generous support of individuals. With your help, we help empower nonreligious students across the country and ensure a more secular future. Go to secularstudents.org/donate for more information on how you can help secular students.
The IRS recently confirmed it will not investigate preachers who endorse political candidates from the pulpit—a major development in the Christian Right’s push to dismantle the wall between church and state. While intended to strengthen Christianity’s influence, this move may accelerate the very trend they hope to reverse: the steady growth of secularism in America. Today, roughly 30% of Americans are non-religious, many of them former Christians, and most oppose political preaching. Surveys from Pew and PRRI show overwhelming public disapproval of churches endorsing candidates, especially among the non-religious. Dr. Juhem Navarro-Rivera will explore how these political overreaches could spark renewed secular activism and even a new wave of religious disaffiliation. Join us for a data-driven look at the backfire effect that may shape the future of religion and politics in the United States.
Dr. Juhem Navarro-Rivera is a leading expert in the demographics and politics of non-religious Americans. He is the managing partner at Socioanalítica Research, a research and analysis firm designing projects for Progressive nonprofits. Dr. Navarro-Rivera is the author of the Secular Politics Newsletter, where he explores the intersection of secularism and politics. With a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Connecticut, Dr. Navarro-Rivera has made significant contributions to the field. He has been an integral member of several renowned research projects, including the 2008 American Religious Identification Survey, PRRI’s American Values Atlas, Socioanalitica Research’s Secular Voices Survey, American Atheists’ US Secular Survey, and UCSB’s Secular Communities Survey.
Becoming a supporter of the Secular Student Alliance! The SSA is a 501(c)(3) educational non-profit that relies on the generous support of individuals. With your help, we help empower nonreligious students across the country and ensure a more secular future. Go to secularstudents.org/donate for more information on how you can help secular students.
