University of Victoria | November 26, 2026
I will be delivering an invited lecture, Divine Fury: God’s Angry Men and Their Political Playbook, hosted by the Centre for Studies in Religion and Society at the University of Victoria as part of its Scholars in the Square series.
Drawing on my book God’s Angry Men: The Political Legacy of the John Birch Society, this presentation examines the role of the John Birch Society in developing political strategies and ideological frameworks that continue to shape contemporary American politics.
Although frequently characterized as a fringe conspiratorial organization, the John Birch Society played an important role in advancing political networks and narratives that combined Christian nationalism, anti-communism, cultural grievance, and distrust of democratic institutions.
The lecture explores the Society’s political legacy, including connections to the Council for National Policy, the Heritage Foundation, and the ideological environment surrounding Project 2025.
By examining these historical continuities, the presentation considers how conspiracy theories, religious nationalism, and political grievance have helped reshape contemporary political discourse and institutional power.
Event details
- Date: Thursday, November 26, 2026
- Time: 5:00–6:00 p.m. Pacific Time
- Location: MacLaurin D-Wing, Room 282, University of Victoria
- Host: Centre for Studies in Religion and Society, University of Victoria
- Series: Scholars in the Square
Event information: https://www.uvic.ca/research/centres/csrs/events/index.php
Official lecture poster: https://www.uvic.ca/research/centres/csrs/assets/docs/2026f_celestini_nov26.pdf