Grad student examines evangelical influence

Faith influences America's power players more than the public thinks, according to Michael Lindsay GS of the sociology department. He presents this finding in his dissertation, "A Vision for the Center: Elite Refashioning of American Evangelicalism."

The work, which will earn Lindsay his Ph.D., is described by sociology professor emerita Suzanne Keller in the Princeton Weekly Bulletin as "the largest empirical study ever conducted on religion in the lives of societal leaders in the United States."

A paper based on research for his dissertation, called "Liminal Organization in Elite Ranks: Linking Societal Power to Religious Faith," earned Lindsay first place in the fourth Worldwide Competition for Junior Sociologists, sponsored by the International Sociological Association. The award will be officially presented to Lindsay this July in Durban, South Africa, at the World Congress of Sociology.

Lindsay's study supports several common notions about religion in the United States. "The project really points to the continuing importance of understanding the religious underpinnings of American public life," he said. "American evangelicals have come to exert significant influence in the corridors of power in American life. As is the case for many Americans, those who occupy positions of societal influence are also driven by religious convictions and motivations."

His research, however, led him to an unexpected conclusion. "I expected evangelicals to be more united, to have a more cohesive agenda, and they don't. Notions of a united evangelical agenda are simply not borne out by empirical data. They are a diverse group and have diverse interests and priorities."

As a caveat, Lindsay noted, "That said, they do indeed have a vision for American society and are devoting considerable resources toward trying to achieve that vision."

The study grew out of interviews with over 350 individuals about the relationship between their faith and work. Some of the more notable participants included former President Jimmy Carter, Enron whistleblower Sherron Watkins and "That '70s Show" co-executive producer Dean Batali.

Lindsay said his research led to some interactions with interesting and occasionally frustrating individuals. "One CEO in Texas suggested to meet at a fancy restaurant in town," he said. "He was an hour late, so I thought for sure he would pay for lunch, but he still stuck me with a $95 bill. I did my homework and happened to know that he had made $23 million last year. It's just amazing that some folks can show such blatant insensitivity."

Lindsay's interest in sociology has always been closely aligned with an interest in religion and society. "I was working for The Gallup Institute. In that role, I interacted with members of the press, especially regarding issues of religion and culture. Those topics naturally take you into sociology."

So he turned to academia.

The inspiration for Lindsay's dissertation topic came to him while he was a preceptor for the class "Elites, Leadership and Society" in the fall of 2002. "As I was preparing, I was going over the literature, and most of what was written did not discuss the effect of religion. There was lots of press and public opinion, but as someone who has done previous work in sociology, I saw a need for empirical study."

Sociology professor Robert Wuthnow, Lindsay's dissertation adviser, praised his pupil. "Michael is a leader who takes the initiative in asking questions and in helping other students. As a scholar, he is very innovative in raising big issues and thinking outside the disciplinary box."

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In addition to being a leading scholar on evangelicalism and elites, Lindsay also has the makings of a great teacher. He won the Outstanding Teaching Award from The Graduate School and Association of Princeton Graduate Alumni, the highest teaching award presented for graduate student teaching.