Christian Nationalism, and those who oppose it.
For those who have not yet encountered it, Christian nationalism is a political philosophy that aims to promote Christianity as the dominant or sole religion in society and to put Christian interests ahead of those of other groups. This ideology frequently incorporates the conviction that the United States or another country was established as a Christian nation and that its institutions and laws need to protect and reflect Christian ideals and values.
Exactly who?
There is no single official spokesperson or organization that represents Christian Nationalism as a whole. Some prominent figures associated with Christian Nationalism include pastors, politicians, and activists who have advocated for policies that promote Christianity and conservative values in the public sphere. Some of these figures have been associated with specific organizations or movements, such as the Christian Coalition, the Family Research Council, and the Moral Majority. Some of the most well-known supporters of Christian Nationalism include:
- Former President Donald Trump, who has been accused of promoting Christian Nationalism through his rhetoric and policies, and who has been supported by many Christian Nationalist groups and individuals.
- Some leaders of the evangelical movement in the United States, such as Franklin Graham, Jerry Falwell Jr., and Robert Jeffress, who have been vocal supporters of conservative politics and Christian values in the public sphere.
- Members of the far-right, such as white nationalists and neo-Nazis, who have been attracted to Christian Nationalist ideas due to their belief in a white, Christian identity for the United States.
Political Slander
As with many politically motivated terms, Christian Nationalism became the go to epithet thrown at those who held religious views and expressed them in the political arena. Intended more as a slander than a description, its use in conversation was rejected by those who respected the opinions of others and almost disappeared in the circles of serious political dialogue. But now the term, along with its political baggage, has been resurrected by christians themselves. And Christian Nationalism is once again gaining attention, this time from within the religious camp.
The Religion of American Greatness, a new book by Paul Miller, draws attention to the context of the United States where, according to Miller, Christian nationalism has largely replaced the public witness of Jesus Christ. What’s Wrong with Christian Nationalism is the subtitle, and reflects Miller aims to draw Christians out of religion politics and back to proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. Miller clearly identifies Christian Nationalism, exposes it as a start up religion, and calls christians to leave it and return to the original mission of the church. Paul Miller is a conservative christian calling out to other conservative christians.
No right to voice an opinion?
Among more liberal christians a new organization has been formed that attempts to truncate the ideology of Christian Nationalism. “Christians against Christian Nationalism” was formed this year and is a fruit salad of ecumenical church leaders and social support groups. Those who have come under the banner of “Christians against Christian Nationalism” have issued a declaration of eight articles three of which are:
-One’s religious affiliation, or lack thereof, should be irrelevant to one’s standing in the civic community.
-Government should not prefer one religion over another or religion over nonreligion.
-Religious instruction is best left to our houses of worship, other religious institutions and families.
These three points, taken at their most practice application, aim at total ostracism of religious conversation in the public square. Christians against Christian Nationalism have actually been endorsed by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, who also advocate the banishment of religious conversation in public discourse. For these christians, what they believe and feel about their country ought only be expressed in their homes and private buildings.
Imagine if someone attempted to say the same thing about any other group, other than a religious group. Let’s choose, for example, the social group consisting of gay married men. Imagine an organization advocating that gay married men should not be allowed to express publicaly their beliefs and feelings about their country. Who wouldn’t condemn that organization as oppressive toward gay men and undemocratic in its nature. Yet, that is exactly what such organizations such as Christians against Christian Nationalism and Freedom from Religion Foundation are all about.
It’s normal to oppose an ideology and to endevor to expose it’s faults. But to censure one’s opponents from public debate is undemocratic and erosive to the americanism that Christians against Christian Nationalism claim to defend. As with earlier measures to reduce the dominance of one tyrannical movement, another is proposed to take its place. It’s the classical throughing out the baby with the bath water. Miller’s conservative style of Christianity, as well as the more liberal Christians opposing Christian Nationalism, both seek to mitigate the negative effects of an idology. The former does so by appealing to reason, the theology of the matter, while the latter does it by politically silencing the people they detest.
Is it really dangerous?
Is Christian Nationalism a threat to american democracy? In the straw man version of Christian Nationalism, the answer would be yes. Connecting it with radicalism is the normal venue for this where examples of violence are attributed to Christian Nationalism.
Perhaps the most noteworthy example is the January 6, 2021, assault of the United States Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump, many of whom were driven by a combination of political grievances and American Greatness views. Some rioters carried Christian symbols and flags, while prayer circles and Christian music were reportedly played during the event. Many of the rioters also claimed to be acting on God’s behalf and fighting against perceived adversaries of Christianity and conservative beliefs.
Objectively, however, the Christian Nationalism narrative seems to be nothing more than another virtuperation put forth by a political interest aimed at discrediting another. Certainly there were christians who were present in the riots that stormed the capital. Just as they certainly were present durning two years of riots accuring throughout the country, many of which stormed federal buildings. Like most rhetoric in politics, the accusation of “radical” is most often just a scare tactic.
