[External Event] Request to Attend: Nov 9 In-Person Lunch & Book Talk: “Backslide” hosted by the Kettering Foundation

REQUEST TO ATTEND IN PERSON

Kettering Foundation Lunch Book Talk

Backslide: Reclaiming a Faith and a Nation After the Christian Turn Against Democracy

Date: Monday, November 9, 2026
Time: 12:30–2:00 p.m. ET (Doors open at 12:00 p.m.)
Location: Charles F. Kettering Foundation, Washington, DC
Format: In-Person
Cost: Free (BPIA Members Only, Limited Availability)

Event Description

Members of the Black Professionals in International Affairs (BPIA) community are invited to enter a free ticket raffle for an exclusive opportunity to attend the Charles F. Kettering Foundation's upcoming lunch and book talk featuring Dr. Robert P. Jones, President and Founder of the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) and New York Times bestselling author.

A limited number of complimentary in-person seats have been reserved for BPIA members. Interested members must enter the raffle for a chance to attend. Submitting an entry does not guarantee admission. Selected members will receive confirmation and additional event details.

Lunch will be provided, and participants will receive a copy of the book.

About the Conversation

Dr. Jones will discuss his new book, Backslide: Reclaiming a Faith and a Nation After the Christian Turn Against Democracy.

The conversation will explore the relationship between Christianity, American identity, and democracy, examining the forces shaping political and religious divisions in the United States.

The session will feature a fireside chat and opportunities for in-depth discussion with leaders from across academia, public policy, and civic life.

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Backslide is a warning to those who see our government’s actions as echoes of past curtailments of human rights, scapegoating, and worse, in the quest for power by the few. Because much ofthatanti-democratic damage is being done in the name of Christianity, leaders of our faith communities have a critical role to play in pushing back with urgency. But the message of the book applies to all who seek to advance and uphold inclusive democracy.

Read the recent coverage of the book in The Guardian:

When is the right time to compare US politics to the Nazi era? This expert on Christian nationalism says: now. Robert P. Jones argues that declining white Christian influence has fueled an alliance with Trump, and warns it is reshaping US democracy.

Robert P. Jones Ph.D. is the president and founder of Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) and a New York Times bestselling author. His latest book is Backslide: Reclaiming a Faith and a Nation after the Christian Turn Against Democracy. Jones writes weekly at Redeeming Democracy, a newsletter focused on religion, pluralism, and democracy. He also writes regularly on politics, culture, and religion for Time, The Atlantic, Religion News Service, and other outlets. He is frequently featured in major national media, such as CNN, NPR, The New York Times, and others. He was endorsed as an Exceptional Global Talent by the British Academy in 2025 and elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences in 2026. He holds a PhD in religion from Emory University and an MDiv from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.