Ryan Burge (political scientist)
American political scientist
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ryan P. Burge (born 1982) is an American political scientist, statistician, and former pastor.
Ryan Burge | |
|---|---|
Burge speaks at a Portland Seminary event in 2025. | |
| Born | 1982 (age 43–44) |
| Title | Professor of Practice |
| Academic background | |
| Education | Greenville College (B.A.), Southern Illinois University Carbondale (M.A., Ph.D.) |
| Alma mater | Southern Illinois University Carbondale |
| Thesis | Religion and Political Behavior: Studies of Political Tolerance, Voting, and Public Opinion (2011) |
| J. Tobin Grant | |
| Academic work | |
| Discipline | Political scientist, statistician |
Sub-discipline | American religion |
| Institutions |
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| Website | drburge graphsaboutreligion |
Career
For 17 years until summer 2024, Burge was pastor at an American Baptist church in Mount Vernon, Illinois.[1][2] A professor of practice at Washington University in St. Louis, and former associate professor at Eastern Illinois University, he is best known for his work on religion in the United States.[3][4] 60 Minutes has termed him one of the "leading data analysts on religion and politics" within the United States.[5]
Views
Burge has argued that secular voters represent a growing force in American politics.[6] His research finds that the majority of "nones" have religion-like beliefs and believe in some conception of a higher power, despite not affiliating with a religion.[7][8] Burge has argued that the term "evangelical" is becoming associated with politics, particularly that of conservatism, rather than its traditional association with adherence to evangelical theology.[3][9]
Bibliography
- The Nones: Where They Came From, Who They Are, and Where They Are Going (Fortress Press, 2021) ISBN 9781506465852
- 20 Myths about Religion and Politics in America (Fortress Press, 2022) ISBN 9781506482019
- (with Collin Hansen, Jim Davis, and Michael Graham) The Great Dechurching: Who's Leaving, Why Are They Going, and What Will It Take to Bring Them Back? (Zondervan, 2023) ISBN 9780310147435
- The Vanishing Church: How the Hollowing Out of Moderate Congregations Is Hurting Democracy, Faith, and Us (Brazos Press, 2026) ISBN 9781587436697