Religious thought has again surged to the fore of social movements and nationalist political projects around the globe. This panel asks how public religion informs both political reform and political reaction. We are interested in theory and practice both in the mainstream and at the margins, both historical and contemporary. The margins here include not just marginal or new religions but also movements that may be considered marginal within their tradition. Of particular interest is scholarship working outside Western and/or Abrahamic traditions. To submit an abstract, or to volunteer as chair or discussant, email Noah Blakemore Briggs at nblake4@uic.edu.