The Institute on Religion & Democracy is a Christian think tank affirming historic church teaching with democracy, human rights & religious freedom for all.
Washington, D.C.
Joined August 2009
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IRD retweeted
I agree if “Wesleyan” describes broadly free will “Baptists” who are still “once saved, always saved,” & if “charismatic” means raised hands but not speaking in tongues etc. “Evangelical” is a conglomerate of traditions. And as Tocqueville noted nearly 200 years ago, Americans don’t care much about religious dogma.
6/Final hypothesis: The "typical" American Protestant attends a congregationalist church in polity, is Wesleyan-Arminian in theology, & is Charismatic in terms of worship & spiritual gifts. In this sense, @matthewschmitz is correct re strongest currents.
IRD retweeted
"John Piper is an evangelical. Paula White is an evangelical. What do these two have in common? Not much. Both are Protestant church leaders. Neither is a 'liberal.' Yet they inhabit different theological galaxies."
IRD retweeted
Hypothesis: “Prayer” mtgs between clergy & politicians shouldn’t be photographed, videoed or publicized.
IRD retweeted
“The Institute on Religion and Democracy, headed up by my friend Mark Tooley, was established in 1981 to push back against theological liberalism and the influence of communist/socialist ideologies in mainline denominations.” @TheIRD
IRD retweeted
Most American socialists are social democrats who expect capitalism to provide the money they want to redistribute. Christian socialism makes even less sense. Jesus did not dictate any political system and socialism hurts the poor, I argue for @theIRD. juicyecumenism.com/2026/10/2…
Christian socialists cite the early church in Jerusalem as their model. @Doug_Bandow writes that the community was communal, but not coercive, and had nothing to do with socialism. juicyecumenism.com/2026/10/2…
At decline rate of 170,000 annually, United Methodism perhaps has 15 years before the last member turns out the lights, writes @markdtooley. But United Methodism’s larger challenge is that remaining members care less and less about the denomination. juicyecumenism.com/2026/10/2…
RT @markdtooley: Interesting. I’d say USA Evangelicalism is mostly Baptist without the name, with Pentecostals, who lean Wesleyan, a subset…
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IRD retweeted
New membership data from United Methodism in the USA indicates a drop of 174,000 from 2024 to 2025, or about 4.4 percent of the total. This number is maybe the new annual average for post schism United Methodism. The once 11-million-member church now has 3.8 million. There were about 6 million before the schism. @theird juicyecumenism.com/2026/10/2…
IRD retweeted
Join New Whiggery @new_whigs dinner for DC young professionals with @PhilWMagness Monday Oct 26, 6pm. We're devoted to classical liberty & its roots in transcendence! theird.org/events/october-ne…
IRD retweeted
The impending post schism exit of United Methodism’s likely largest church for non ideological or theological reasons is fascinating
Current and past senior ministers urge HPUMC to vote for disaffiliation bit.ly/3VZnY4f
IRD retweeted
There’s no specific theological motivation. It’s modern USA autonomism vs old school institutionalism.
Highland Park United Methodist Church leaders have unanimously called for a congregational vote on October 25–26 to completely sever ties with the UMC while remaining Wesleyan. #ChristianPost #UMC #TexasMegachurch #Methodist
IRD retweeted
Very inspiring. While in prison, his brave lawyers kept getting disbarred.
Pastor Ezra Jin on the Fight for Religious Freedom in China xitter.cf/i/broadcasts/1DxLdZlEO…
IRD retweeted
I'm following this with great interest, and I understand how Gerwig's earlier work "Lady Bird" showed capacity to receive Christian themes. I've always loved The Magician's Nephew, which is the most sci-fi of C.S. Lewis' Narnia chronicles.
Director Greta Gerwig demonstrates an ability to deal with Christian themes in a respectful way, even if she imperfectly understands them, writes IRD's Sarah Stewart. It gives her hope for the upcoming adaptation of C.S. Lewis' Narnia prequel. juicyecumenism.com/2026/10/2…
