There has been a huge rise in Christian nationalism across America in the last few years. Supporters of this belief have encouraged policymakers to maintain or adopt laws that reflect Christian values. Their core belief is that America is a fundamentally Christian country. However, several people, including conservatives, have been very critical of this.
The Heart of Christian Nationalism
Part of Christian nationalists’ vision for America is recognizing the country’s Christian history. They want prayer to become part of public schools and support a Christian nationalist version of American history being taught in schools. They believe America was “chosen” by God and believe they have a duty to support Christianity in public and political life.
The Roots and Risks of Christian Nationalism
White Christian nationalism comes from the 1690s. Back then, many people used biblical narratives to justify slavery along with colonial and racial ideas. They believed in a sense of freedom and order that prioritizes a specific racial and religious hierarchy. They saw violence as being an acceptable way to maintain this order.
Christian Nationalism’s Historical Context and Current Impact
However, recent events like the pandemic and the January 6th Capitol insurrection have shown just how prevalent Christian nationalism is even today. It plays an important role in shaping American social and political life. Many Christian nationalists reject science and do not support protective health measures.
Mixed Views of America as a Christian Nation
Additionally, the public’s opinion on whether America should be a Christian nation is divided. Some people claim it is a political tool to gain votes. They claim that, given the country was founded on the separation of church and state. Other people claim it shows the country’s founding principles and cultural heritage.
Previous Criticism
Two of these critics include Norman Lear, a television producer, and Senator Barry Goldwater. Goldwater is a conservative, while Lear is a liberal. They have a history of being very critical of Christian nationalism, and during the 1980s, they made several comments about groups like the Moral Majority and the Christian Broadcasting Network.
French’s Criticism
Another well-known critic is David French. He is a conservative part of the ‘Never Trump’ movement. He recently wrote an opinion column for the New York Times. In it, French was very critical of Christian nationalism. He spoke about the importance of differentiating between Christian nationals and Christians.
French’s Comments
He said, “If you’re alarmed by the rise of Christian nationalism, the single worst thing you can do is define it too broadly. […] To understand what Christian nationalism is, it’s important to understand what it is not. It is not Christian nationalism if a person’s political values are shaped by the individual’s Christian faith.”
Understanding the Difference
He continued, “In fact, many of America’s most important social movements have been infused with Christian theology and Christian activism. Many of our nation’s abolitionists thundered their condemnations of slavery from northern pulpits. The civil rights movement wasn’t exclusively Christian by any means, but it was pervasively Christian — Martin Luther King Jr. was, of course, a Baptist minister.”
The Problem
French argued against criticizing Christian nationalism as a whole. He said the “problem with Christian nationalism isn’t with Christian participation in politics.” Instead, he argued that the issue lies in its “belief that there should be Christian primacy in politics and law.” French stressed that it “isn’t just rooted in ideology [but] also deeply rooted in identity.”
The Seven Mountains Movement
He said, “This is the heart of the Seven Mountain Mandate, a dominionist movement emerging from American Pentecostalism that is, put bluntly, Christian identity politics on steroids. Paula White, Donald Trump’s closest spiritual adviser, is an adherent, and so is the chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, Tom Parker, who wrote a concurring opinion in the Court’s recent IVF decision.”
Other Comments
He continued, “the movement holds that Christians are called to rule seven key societal institutions: the family, the church, education, the media, the arts, business and the government.” French also said, “One doesn’t have to go all the way into Seven Mountain theology, though, to find examples of Christian identity politics.”
Christian Supremacy
French said, “The use of Christianity as an unofficial but necessary qualification for office is a routine part of politics in the most churchgoing parts of America. Moreover, one of the common red-America arguments for Trump is that he might not be devout himself, but he’ll place lots of Christians in government. But what is Christian identity politics but another form of Christian supremacy?”
French’s Final Thoughts
French then concluded his piece by saying, “Committed Christian nationalists represent only 10% of the population, according to a 2023 PRRI/Brookings Christian Nationalism Survey. But even members of a minority that small can gain outsize power when they fold themselves into the larger Christian electorate, casting themselves as ‘just like you.’”
Conflating the Ideas
He finished by saying, “That’s why we cannot conflate Christian activism with Christian nationalism. One can welcome Christian participation in the public square while resisting domination, from any faith or creed.” To him, the problem is mixing Christianity with the law more than anything else.
The Impact on American Democracy
Similarly, other critics have warned about the dangers of Christian nationalism. They believe it is a threat to American democracy. They claim this ideology encourages an exclusionary and often racialized vision of national identity. This ideology marginalizes non-Christian and non-white populations. It also threatens the idea of multiculturalism and diversity.
Weaponizing Parental Rights
Organizations like Moms for Liberty have supported making Christian nationalist ideals part of public education. They claim it is part of their rights as parents. However, critics claim that they are simply weaponizing the idea of parental rights. They claim that supporting such an ideology in schools would ignore other people’s views on racism, gender, and sexuality.
National Conservatism
One leading Christian nationalist group is National Conservatism. As part of their state of principles, they say, “The Bible should be read as the first among the sources of a shared Western civilization in schools and universities, and as the rightful inheritance of believers and non-believers alike.”
Other Faiths
They also say, “Where a Christian majority exists, public life should be rooted in Christianity and its moral vision, which should be honored by the state and other institutions both public and private.” However, the group also says that “other religious minorities are to be protected in the observance of their own traditions, in the free governance of their communal institutions, and in all matters pertaining to the rearing and education of their children.” They also spoke against “religious or ideological coercion” for adults.
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