iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

David Nanninga @davidwanninga.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

A new piece I wrote about the surprising similarities between Jimmy Carter and James Talarico and how white evangelicals have reacted to both. Give it a read! www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...

patheos.com

A Tale Of Two Jimmies

The Anxious Bench welcomes a guest contribution from David Nanninga, a Ph.D. Candidate at Baylor University. With the passing of the 250th anniversary of

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David Nanninga @davidwanninga.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

A fun professional update: tomorrow, a dream/goal of mine that I've had going back at least 7 years (as I was student teaching in 2019) will technically be realized: I'm now a Ph.D candidate at Baylor, meaning I'm a Teacher of Record, teaching my own course for undergrads!

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David Nanninga @davidwanninga.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

Academic life update: I’ve been largely absent from social media for the last few months, but that was because I was studying for my comps, which as of today, I have officially passed! I’m relieved and very excited to do nothing but sit by the pool, at least once it stops raining in Waco😂

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David Nanninga @davidwanninga.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

My new favorite fun fact about progressive evangelicalism: Sojourner’s Wes Michaelson wrote in Donald Duck for President in 1976 instead of voting for Carter or Ford.

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David Nanninga @davidwanninga.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

While there is grief, there is also comfort in knowing that my grandma’s wonderful legacy lives on in our families, that she’s no longer in any pain, and that she’s with her savior now, with whom she will be with always. www.langelandsterenberg.com/m/obituaries...

langelandsterenberg.com

Ila J. Yonker - View Obituary & Service Information

Share Memories and Support the Family.

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David Nanninga @davidwanninga.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

Gotta say, not a great sign of the times that the A24 movie Civil War is on my mind more and more…

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David Nanninga @davidwanninga.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

In a co-written essay, I looked at the growth of religious horror in the 2020s and what that says about America with my Baylor history colleague and dear friend, Aaron Ramos. Give it a read, even if horror isn’t your thing! (There are no jump scares, I promise😂) www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...

patheos.com

Exorcists, Omens, and Heretics: Religion Horror in the 2020s

As a genre, horror cinema has always spoken to the broader fears and values of cultures and societies at particular moments in time. During the 1950s, the As a genre, horror cinema has always spoken t...

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Reposted by David Nanninga

Baylor History @baylorhistory.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

NEW from our very own @davidwanninga.bsky.social 👇

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Reposted by David Nanninga

The Anxious Bench @anxiousbench.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

Today at The Anxious Bench — After Jimmy Carter's passing, many hailed him as a beacon of progressive evangelicalism. But how did the leading progressive evangelical magazine see Carter in the election of 1976? @davidwanninga.bsky.social tells the story. www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiou...

patheos.com

Was Carter a Progressive Evangelical or Centrist Politician?

When President Jimmy Carter died on December 29th, 2024, almost every obituary on the 39th president made some mention of his deep Christian faith. A New When President Jimmy Carter died on December 2...

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David Nanninga @davidwanninga.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

I had a great time going back and looking at some of these sources again in light of Carter’s passing-It’s an interesting and complex story, which is part of why Carter is such a compelling figure. Check it out!

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David Nanninga @davidwanninga.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

Something that Ezra Klein’s take on the inaugural has me wondering: Is this a new, strong resurgence of the imperial presidency, or is it continuity? Did the imperial presidency ever really leave? Either way, the definition of presidential power being whatever they can get away with is so terrible.

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David Nanninga @davidwanninga.bsky.social · 29/12/2024

His remarkable life and legacy will continue to be studied and debated for years to come, but this one thing cannot be disputed in my mind: he was a good man who did his very best. RIP Mr. Carter.

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Beth Allison Barr, PhD @bethallisonbarr.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

This is the hardest book I have ever written. It is the culmination of 5 archive trips, 150 pastor’s wife books, more than 2000 years of history, and my own experiences. @kkdumez.bsky.social thinks it will be just as disruptive as #MakingBiblicalWomanhood. Get it while you can at this great price!

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Reposted by David Nanninga

brookelefevre.bsky.social @brookelefevre.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

How do I explain to people that I'm not getting a PhD because I have an excellent work ethic. I have no work ethic whatsoever. What I do have is insatiable curiosity and a deep need for external validation. That's it.

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David Nanninga @davidwanninga.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

Let me say first, I adore the level of access that I get via my institution’s library. I am very blessed, no doubt about it. That being said, there are few things more dissatisfying then seeing a book that was available via J-Stor inexplicably no longer available, especially mid final papers😂🙃

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Reposted by David Nanninga

Detroit Lions @detroitlions.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

WE WANT MORE

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David Nanninga @davidwanninga.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

Fun fact I learned from @pastpunditry.bsky.social’s partisans today-Bill Clinton appeared on MTV during the ‘92 campaign. He definitely leaned into the baby boomer/next generation of it all in that campaign.

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David Nanninga @davidwanninga.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

Oh I can’t wait for this! Paul Putz and I have both agreed that a book like this needed to be written, especially since this is likely to continue to be a thing.

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David Nanninga @davidwanninga.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

This also happened during the 30th anniversary of the Waco siege-definitely something that was not lost on many of us in Waco…

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David Nanninga @davidwanninga.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

I’ve given a guest lecture on Charles Lindbergh and America First in a class on fascism in the Americas the past 3 semesters, and each time I’ve been more convinced of 2 things. 1, Lindbergh was a fascist, and 2, the America First movement never left American politics.Very disconcerting stuff now…

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David Nanninga @davidwanninga.bsky.social · 17/11/2024

The contradiction at the core of APUSH is something I noticed while teaching it when I did, although I was completely unaware of the fight that occurred in 2014-2015. I sincerely hope it manages to survive the coming 4 years intact as it is now so it can improve , but I’m sadly not sure it will…

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David Nanninga @davidwanninga.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

I’m working on a paper on Bill Bradley’s religion, and his story of de-conversation is compelling. In Oxford, he heard a sermon defending the racist government in Rhodesia, so he “walked away, never to return.” Historians need to write more on stories of de-conversion in this age of exvangelicals.

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David Nanninga @davidwanninga.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

Hello everyone! An introduction for the new app: I’m a history PhD student at Baylor University, which is also where I did my MA. I specialize in 20th-century American politics and religion, especially with how both of those topics intersect with culture, race, and economic changes post WWII.

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