Byron R. Johnson is a distinguished professor of the social sciences at Baylor University and founding director of the Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion. He also directs the Program on Prosocial Behavior and is a faculty affiliate of the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University, as well as a visiting distinguished professor at Pepperdine University. Johnson is a leading authority on the scientific study of religion, human flourishing, faith-based organizations, and criminal justice. He has served as principal investigator on major research grants from federal agencies, including the Department of Justice, Department of Defense, and National Institutes of Health. His recent publications include The Faith Factor and Social Welfare: Rethinking Evidence, Practice, and Policy (2026) and The Death of Religion: Nones, Others, and the Flourishing of Faith.