David S. Meyer
I'm a professor of sociology and political science at the University of California, Irvine. I've been thinking, and writing about, protest politics for almost ever. This site offers comments on contemporary events, informed (I hope) by knowing something about history and about the academic study of social movements.
Tag Archives: religion
Arab Fall
To paraphrase the old Boston politician, revolution ain’t beanbag. The wave of revolutionary action across the Middle East and North Africa about a year and a half ago captured the imagination of democratic reformers around the world. But it wasn’t … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged American revolution, Arab Spring, Egypt, Libya, religion, violence
1 Comment
Boycott everything!
Chick-Fil-A had a good day yesterday, as supporters of president Dan Cathy’s* stance in support of “traditional” marriage lined up to buy chicken sandwiches. Radio host and one-time Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee had urged his audience to stand up for … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged boycott, Cheerios, Chick-Fil-A, chicken, Christian, countermovements, gay marriage, GLBT, Home Depot, markets, Mike Huckabee, Pat Dollard, religion, Rush Limbaugh, Starbucks
5 Comments
Occupy diversifies; takes a building
Occupy San Francisco has seized a building on 888 Turk Street. Located in the Tenderloin District, the building, owned by the Archdiocese of San Francisco. The takeover followed an April Fool’s Day march, and police apparently stood by as the … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged building, Catholic Church, Occupy, police, religion, San Francisco, social services
2 Comments
A second cut on circumcision, politics, and rhetoric
Crusaders against circumcision (intactivists) face the same sorts of challenges as activists on a wide range of other causes. They want parents to choose not to circumcise their sons AND they want the government to prohibit circumcision–and punish adults involved … Continue reading
Anti-circumcision campaign cut short
Male circumcision dates back to a deal that Abraham made with God, as far as I know; most Jewish and Muslim parents still circumcise their sons to show that they’re keeping their end of the bargain. Of course, in many … Continue reading
Divining Authority (Religious Endorsements)
Many many many Christians, readers have pointed out, are not worried about the Rapture tomorrow–despite the confident predictions of some committed co-religionists. While some of the faithful have quit jobs to prepare–and to alert others of the coming judgment, other … Continue reading
Rapturous Provocation
People protest in opposition to something. When those opponents promise something particularly egregious, it’s easier to convince your supporters of a real threat and the necessity of taking to the streets. That’s why social movements activate their opponents. Every potential … Continue reading
Posted in countermovements
Tagged budget, countermovements, elections, Medicare, Newt Gingrich, Paul Ryan, religion, tea party
Leave a comment
Passover Politics
We’re two days into Passover, a major Jewish holiday. The highlight is always two nights of services at the dinner table with families and friends, with varying shares of food, prayer, stories, and discussion. This service, the seder, varies tremendously … Continue reading
Fast Politics
Fasting is an act of penitence, preparation, and a purification ritual well-established in many religious traditions. We fast to clear the mind and cleanse the body, turning away from the pressures and pleasures of the world to focus instead on … Continue reading
Fasting against Hunger
Mark Bittman, who wrote the Minimalist food column at the New York Times for more than a decade, announced last week that he was taking minimalism a step further, by not eating altogether. Most of Bittman’s writing is about how … Continue reading
