Ronald B. Neal

Ronald B. Neal serves as an Associate Professor of Religion in the Department for the Study of Religions at Wake Forest University (Winston-Salem, NC). His scholarly profile is defined by two major monographs: Democracy in 21st Century America: Race, Class, Religion, and Region (Mercer University Press) and Beyond Death and Jail: Anti-Blackness, Black Masculinity, and the Demonic Imagination (Lexington Books).

His research critically interrogates intersections of race, gender, and religion through five core domains:

• African American Religious History and Culture
• Critical Theories of Religion
• Religion and Politics
• Gender Studies in Religion
• Religion and Popular Culture

Particular emphasis falls on anti-Blackness, Black masculinity, and the demonic imagination as frameworks for understanding systemic oppression within religious contexts.

Analysis of his 2021-2024 publications reveals a concentrated scholarly trajectory examining heterosexual Black masculinity and theological resistance. His work consistently engages with Black humanist thought (e.g., William R. Jones' writings) while critically reviewing foundational texts in Black theology by scholars like Anthony B. Pinn and Tommy J. Curry. The publications demonstrate methodological integration of critical race theory, gender studies, and political theology.