The Failure of the Contact Hypothesis—Exposure to Religious Diversity Conditions Apocalyptic Politics

Background: The recent jump to study worldviews like apocalypticism and Christian nationalism has left open questions about the social role of religion in the production of prejudice and politics. Objectives: We take up the longstanding finding that social contact across lines of difference can tamp down prejudice, especially when such contact is goal-driven. Specifically, we ask if this relationship holds in the context of apocalyptics– individuals who see the other side as evil, spiritual and physical warfare as ongoing, and prejudice against Christians as widespread. Methods: Using data collected in the spring of 2023, we explore the extreme politics of apocalyptics when they are exposed to greater and lesser degrees of religious diversity. Results: Contrary to the usual associations from the intergroup contact thesis, we find that apocalyptics exposed to diversity dig in with even more extreme orientations to politics – they display a greater need for chaos, more support for extreme groups, and more support for potentially using violence to reclaim America. Conclusions: Apocalyptics view American politics and society as being at the breaking point and their negative reactions to diverse others may just push the US past that point.