Christian Nationalism
Christian Nationalists Threaten Freedom & Democracy
Christian Nationalists are not real Christians. Yes, they go to church and use religious imagery and scripture. However, they conveniently cherry-pick and misinterpret scripture to specifically further their political beliefs.
They want control and power over the United States. Followers consider the country to be a nation formed by Christians for Christians. They reject the notion of separation of church and state.
Christian Nationalists do not represent some of the traditional Christian values of love, forgiveness, respect, and peace. Instead, they are judgmental, intolerant, look down on others, and promote violence. They skew and alter bible teachings to justify their agenda while stealing Christian imagery and scripture.
This belief system traces back to the 1960’s when racist preachers became angry with U.S. Supreme Court decisions on school prayer and segregation in schools. It has roots in white supremacy, authoritarianism and militarism.
Jerry Falwell started the Moral Majority to help Ronald Reagan get elected. The Heritage Foundation and many other conservative think tanks were formed to help further their cause.
We have all seen Donald Trump try to convince people he is a Christian. To get elected, Trump secured the support of white evangelicals. Trump’s most fervent suppporters are Christian Nationalists. They are heavily involved in political issues and are very dependable to get out the vote. Their support won him the election in 2016.
Trump and Christian Nationalists have a bond and are tied together. He panders to them and in return these so-called Christians have anointed Trump as some savior sent down by God to save the United States.
Christian Nationalists do not adhere to the Bible and the teachings of Jesus. They are not loving or tolerant.
Christians Who Lost Their Moral Compass
- Want to force Christianity and Christian values on others
- Celebrate deportations and have zero tolerance for undocumented immigrants
- Dehumanizes others by actively celebrating, joking, and selling merch for Alligator Alcatraz
- Belittle and want less funding for people temporarily needing social safety net programs
- Hatred and disgust for the LGBTQ community
- Demonize anyone who criticizes or opposes their beliefs
WHAT DO THEY BELIEVE?
1. God’s plan is for the U.S. to be a Christian nation which will one day lead to the return of Christ to this nation.
2. They believe God chose Trump to save America in a holy war of good against evil.
3. Use divisive rhetoric to declare those who oppose them as being evil, demons, satanic, non-patriots, pedophiles or people who should move to another country.
4. They believe the 2nd amendment was divinely inspired.
5. They want the rest of Americans to adhere to laws and a culture specifically designed around Christianity. This will include the marginalization of other religions and races.
6. Christian Nationalists frequently use fear, intimidation, threats and acts of violence to achieve their goals of power.
7. Believers have a strong distrust any science that might challenge biblical authority.
WHO ARE THEY?
1. Most prominent voices against COVID health measures, have been challenging school boards and supporting the banning of books from public libraries.
2. Have been running in elections on the local and state level to establish power.
3. Frequently use the word “Rino” (Republican in name only) to vilify any Republicans who do not share their beliefs.
4. They talk about Trump being chosen by God & believe they are fighting a holy war against evil to save Christianity.
5. Christian Nationalists played a prominent role in the January 6th attack on our nation’s capital.
6. They are becoming militarized and like to open carry weapons to intimidate others.
Prominent Christian Nationalists
- General Michael Flynn
- U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert
- U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene
- U.S. Senator Josh Hawley
- Alexander Acosta, former Trump Secretary of Labor
- Alex Azar, former Trump Secretary of Health & Human Services
- Former U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann
- Pat Buchanan
- U.S. Senator Ted Cruz
- Betsy DeVos, former Trump Secretary of Education
- Franklin Graham
- Mike Huckabee
- Speaker of the House, Rep. Mike Johnson
- Mark Meadows, former Trump Chief of Staff
- South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem
Recent Documentaries on Christian Nationalism
Christians are Pushing Back Against These Radicals
Christian nationalism rejects Christ’s teachings and manipulates our faith to deny the inherent dignity of every person.
-Sister Simone Campbell, Former Executive Director, Network Lobby for Catholic Social Justice
The violence, intimidation and distortion of scripture associated with “Christian nationalism” does not reflect the person and teachings of Jesus Christ
–The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, Presiding Bishop and Primate, The Episcopal Church
We are watching core values of and foundational commitments to our Democracy disappear as one of the least Christ-like presidents we have ever seen has forged alliances with Christian nationalists who want to rewrite our Constitution.
-Rev. Dr. John C. Dorhauer, Former General Minister and President, United Church of Christ
“Christian Nationalism is a threat to the integrity and the witness of the Church. In a time when younger generations are abandoning the Church, the support by Christians of this dangerous theological position is one more reason for them to reject the Church.
-Rev. Carlos L. Malave, President, Latino Christian National Network
“Christian nationalism perverts and distorts the foundational tenets of the Gospel. When Christianity combines with political ideologies, the Gospel will always take a back seat to the political pragmatism of power and wealth.
–R. Mitch Randall, DMin., Executive Director, Good Faith Media
“Christian nationalism perverts the gospel and the Constitution. As Christians, we pledge to confront this false teaching within our communities. As Americans, we pledge to insist on equal justice and liberty for all.”
-Melissa Rogers, Former Visiting Professor, Wake Forest University School of Divinity
FACTS
- “The United States Constitution does not mention the word “God.”
- It is also completely true the Constitution does not state “separation of church and state.”
- Some of the founding fathers were Christians. However, the key and most influential founders were theists who believed that ALL religions were important to society because they promoted morality.
- A theist is someone who believes in the existence of a god or gods. However, they reject several Christian fundamentals such as Christ, the Trinity and the Bible.
- “Under God” was only added to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954. “In God We Trust” was added to coins during the Civil War and became the national motto in 1956. It was added to paper money in 1957.
- Thomas Paine called Christianity “a fable.” Payne, a deist, believed in a “Nature’s God” which us a term used in the Decleration of Independence.
- John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were clearly Christians
- Non-Christian deists did not use the word “God” and instead used “Providence”, “Creator”. “the ruler of great events” and “Nature’s God”
- “Erecting the ‘wall of separation between church and state’… is absolutely essential in a free society.”
- “It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God.”
“As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion, – as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Musselmen, – and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.”
“We have abundant reason to rejoice that in this Land the light of truth and reason has triumphed over the power of bigotry and superstition, and that every person may here worship God according to the dictates of his own heart. In this enlightened Age and in this Land of equal liberty it is our boast, that a man’s religious tenets will not forfeit the protection of the Laws, nor deprive him of the right of attaining and holding the highest Offices that are known in the United States.”
“Where the preamble declares, that coercion is a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion, an amendment was proposed by inserting “Jesus Christ,” so that it would read “A departure from the plan of Jesus Christ, the holy author of our religion;” the insertion was rejected by the great majority, in proof that they meant to comprehend, within the mantle of its protection, the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and Mohammedan, the Hindoo and Infidel of every denomination.”
“The purpose of separation of church and state is to keep forever from these shores the ceaseless strife that has soaked the soil of Europe with blood for centuries.”
“We have solved, by fair experiment, the great and interesting question whether freedom of religion is compatible with order in government and obedience to the laws. And we have experienced the quiet as well as the comfort which results from leaving every one to profess freely and openly those principles of religion which are the inductions of his own reason and the serious convictions of his own inquiries.”
“That religion, or the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and therefore all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of the conscience; and it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity towards each other.”