St. Lawrence University Announces 2026 Piskor Lecture Featuring Damon Berry
St. Lawrence University is pleased to announce that Damon Berry, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Religious Studies, will deliver the 2026 Piskor Lecture on April 15 at 7 p.m. in Sykes. His lecture, titled “God, Guns & Grievance: A History of Religion in the American Militia Movement,” examines the evolving relationship between religion and anti-government movements in the United States.
Recent national data underscores the urgency of examining the intersections of religion, political identity, and violence in contemporary America. A survey released in October 2023 by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) in partnership with the Brookings Institution found that 23% of Americans agree that “because things have gotten so far off track, true American patriots may have to resort to violence in order to save our country,” an increase from 15% in 2021. Support for anti-government political violence—once widely associated primarily with organized militia groups—has broadened significantly in recent years.
In his lecture, Berry provides a historical overview of the complex role of religion within the modern American militia movement, tracing its development from the early 1990s to the present. He argues that religious discourse has both shaped and been shaped by efforts to organize independent armed groups claiming to defend the American people from perceived internal threats. These narratives frequently center on allegations of secretive government actors collaborating with “global elites” to undermine constitutional principles.
Berry further examines how militia leaders have drawn upon broader anti-government sentiment and political polarization, often intertwining these themes with Christian nationalist mythologies to legitimize their ideology and mobilization efforts. By situating contemporary developments within a longer historical framework, the lecture offers a critical lens for understanding how religious language and symbolism continue to influence political movements in the United States.
The Piskor Lecture series supports scholarly engagement with pressing social, political, and cultural issues. Berry’s presentation contributes to this tradition by fostering informed dialogue about religion’s role in shaping modern political discourse and civic life.
Featuring
Damon Berry
Associate ProfessorDr. Damon Berry is Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at St. Lawrence University. His research focuses on religion and politics in the United States, with particular attention to nationalism, extremism, and contemporary social movements.