Religious and Racialized Emotions: How Race, Congregations, and Leadership Shape Racial Pessimism

Victoria Isaac; Esther Chan; Isaiah Jeong; Michael O. Emerson; Glenn E. Bracey

doi:10.1111/jssr.70045

journal article Apr 09, 2026

Religious and Racialized Emotions: How Race, Congregations, and Leadership Shape Racial Pessimism

Victoria Isaac Esther Chan Isaiah Jeong Michael O. Emerson Glenn E. Bracey

Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion · Wiley

View at Publisher Save 10.1111/jssr.70045

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Racialized and religious emotions can challenge or perpetuate the racial structure. Racial pessimism can play a significant role in how people perceive, respond to, and engage with racial inequality. We examine how religion shapes racial pessimism among Christians with a focus on congregational and leadership racial composition. Across racial groups, the perceived importance of faith is inversely associated with racial pessimism. While attending a more racially diverse congregation is negatively associated with racial pessimism, attending a congregation with more racially diverse leadership is positively associated with racial pessimism. Intra‐racial group models provide nuance to the strength and direction of these patterns. Both evangelical orthodoxy and Christian nationalism are positively associated with racial pessimism. Our findings have implications for understanding how religion may facilitate racialized emotions through varying contexts, and how these contexts may have differing influences across and within racial groups.

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Published: Apr 09, 2026
License: View

Authors

V

Victoria Isaac

University of Illinois‐Chicago Chicago Illinois USA

E

Esther Chan

University Wisconsin‐Milwaukee Milwaukee Wisconsin USA

I

Isaiah Jeong

Providence College Providence Rhode Island USA

M

Michael O. Emerson

Rice University Houston Texas USA

G

Glenn E. Bracey

Villanova University Villanova Pennsylvania USA

Cite This Article

Victoria Isaac, Esther Chan, Isaiah Jeong, et al. (2026). Religious and Racialized Emotions: How Race, Congregations, and Leadership Shape Racial Pessimism. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion. https://doi.org/10.1111/jssr.70045

Religious and Racialized Emotions: How Race, Congregations, and Leadership Shape Racial Pessimism

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