Putting Our Faith Into Action

Christians Against Christian Nationalism

Why Should We Be Concerned About “Christian Nationalism”? 

Don’t we want everyone to know the love of God and Jesus Christ? 

Freedom of Religion is a constitutionally protected right provided in the religion clauses of the First Amendment. It protects adherents of all faith traditions. Christian Nationalism contends that America has been and should always be distinctively “Christian” from top to bottom – in its self-identity, interpretations of its own history, sacred symbols, cherished values, and public policies. But the “Christian” in Christian nationalism is more about identity than religion. “Nationalism” is an extreme form of patriotism that includes assumptions of superiority and has little or no room for dissent or disagreement. It carries with it strongly held ideas about white supremacy, limiting immigration, authoritarianism, supporting the status of men over women, and glorification of the military, many of which were on vivid display at the January 6th Insurrection.

According to multiple academic studies using large, nationally representative surveys, Americans who embrace Christian nationalism are more likely to:

• Approve of authoritarian tactics like demanding people show respect for national symbols and traditions

• Fear and distrust religious minorities, including Muslims, Atheists, and Jewish people

• Condone police violence toward Black Americans and distrust accounts of racial inequality in the criminal justice system

• Believe racial inequality is due to the personal shortcomings of minority groups

• Report being “very uncomfortable” with both interracial marriage and transracial adoption

• Hold anti-immigrant views

• Fear refugees

• Oppose scientists and science education in schools

• Believe that men are better suited for all leadership roles while women are better suited to care for children and the home.

“We need to be aware of two things regarding those who espouse this Christian Nationalist ideology,” said the Rev. John Dorhauer, President of the UCC. “First, they want nothing less than total control of the United States and its government. They want the Bible to be the template for all laws written. They want only those who espouse a very narrow view of a very conservative theology to be in power. Second, they are far more effective at undertaking this than we assume.”

As followers of Christ’s teachings, we reject this misleading and destructive distortion of Christian values.  Rev. Michael Curry, presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church in the U.S., called such a belief system “a contradiction in terms.” Quoting from the Gospel of John, he reminded us that Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world.”  He continued, “Any close alliance between Christian teachings that seek to follow the ways of Jesus of Nazareth and any empire of this world, any nation or race, is a false union,” Curry said. Rather, he said, “Love is the supreme law of God. It is the way of Jesus. It is the way of those who follow Jesus.”

To counter the racism and intolerance of Christian nationalism, progressive people of faith should examine their own traditions for vestiges of racism, Rev. Dorhauer said.  And there are actions they can take — including voting, and pushing for laws that protect and expand voting rights.  

Sources:

• https://www.ucc.org/christian-nationalism-an-oxymoron-is-nonetheless-powerful-panelists-warn/

• Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States, by Andrew Whitehead and Samuel Perry (Oxford University Press, 2020)