Religion, Protest, and Social Upheaval

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This work showcases cutting-edge scholarship on social upheaval and grassroots movements in the U.S., particularly highlighting events from the Women's March in January 2017 to the protests following George Floyd's murder in 2020. It explores the complex and often conflicting roles of religious communities and institutions in these movements, emphasizing the need for scholarly analysis. Originating from a 2017 conference at the College of the Holy Cross, it features contributions from ten scholars across religious studies, theology, ethics, and gender studies, ranging from established experts to emerging voices. The essays address various topics, including the historical resistance to racial capitalist imperialism, the theological underpinnings of capitalism, Catholic concerns about climate change, and the rise of white nationalism. They also examine U.S. Christian churches' responses to the Black Lives Matter movement, the dynamics of Muslim labor organizing, and shifts in women's moral reasoning since the 1960s. Additionally, the intersection of heresy discourse and LGBTQ+ equality struggles among Korean Protestants is explored. This pluralistic collection provides a snapshot of religious responses to the crises of the late 2010s and early 2020s, representing the diverse coalitions of the religious left and offering insights for future study and action.