Matthew D. Taylor, PhD, is a public intellectual, commentator, and expert on American religion. His groundbreaking research in the January 6th Capitol Riot has made him a foremost scholar in the field of contemporary Christian extremism. He is also a Christian theologian who is openly challenging Christian nationalism and Christian supremacy.

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Coming October 6, 2026

Defying Tyrants: Following Jesus in a World of Christian Antichrists

\ Christian antichrists \ (noun): Those who use power to harm others in the name of Jesus

In this powerhouse book, an expert on Christian extremism issues a profound and biblical rebuke to all who would claim the name of Jesus but disdain his way.

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Latest Media Appearances

Podcast

God's Politics with Jim Wallis: Defying Tyrants, Matthew D. Taylor on Jesus, Empire, and Christian Antichrists

Taylor, an authoritative voice on the dangers of Christian Nationalism and avisiting scholar at Georgetown University’s Center on Faith + Justice, examines what happens when Christians harm others in Jesus’ name while claiming divine authority for political power. He traces the long history of Christianity’s entanglement with empire—from Constantine’s conversion through today’s Christian Nationalist Movements—and calls the church back to the anti-authoritarian way of Jesus.

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Book Review

America Magazine: The American antichrists of our age

I found Taylor’s close reading of John’s letters powerful and persuasive. In his encyclical “Magnifica Humanitas,” Pope Leo XIV calls on Catholics to be mindful of their words, but this mindfulness includes denouncing injustice. At the very least, Defying Tyrants raises fruitful questions regarding how Christians should speak about injustice in their midst with love and courage.

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Op-Ed

The Revealer: The Antidote to Christian Nationalism Is Christian

Perhaps the most important lesson Susan and I learned from our sojourn among these battle-hardened experts was that we need religion to counter religious nationalism. We need theology to counter theology. We need religious authority to counter religious authoritarianism.

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The Violent Take It by Force: The Christian Movement that is Threatening Our Democracy

A propulsive account of the network of charismatic Christians that consolidated support for Donald Trump and is reshaping religion and politics in the US.

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Latest Newsletters

It’s Time for a Theological Confrontation

DEFYING TYRANTS (out today!) is my contribution.
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Defying Tyrants w/ Dr. Matthew D. Taylor

A recording from Matthew D. Taylor and Jemar Tisby, PhD's live video
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How Do We Recover the Politics of Jesus?

My new book, Defying Tyrants, is one attempt.
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