“The Political Rhetoric of Christian Sermons across Traditions,” Paul Lendway, Yale

AMERICAN POLITICS & PUBLIC POLICY WORKSHOP

Abstract: Why do evangelicals have stronger voter support for Trump relative to other Christian groups? This paper presents and tests a theory for how variation in sermon content can predispose evangelicals, relative to non-evangelicals, to have greater support for conservative politicians. An analysis of a novel random sample of sermons from across the United States finds compelling support for this theoretical framework.

Paul Lendway is a fifth-year Ph.D. candidate in political science at Yale University studying inequality, populism, and social movements. His research has been published in American Politics Research, Environmental Politics, and the Yale Journal of International Affairs. He has presented his research at a wide range of organizations, including the American Political Science Association, Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University. He is a Lead Editor for the Yale Journal of Health Policy, Law, and Ethics, a Content Editor for the Yale Journal of International Affairs, and a Visiting Editor for Princeton’s Journal of Public and International Affairs.

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