By Axios | Created at 2024-10-07 08:21:09 | Updated at 2024-10-07 10:32:20
2 hours ago
A wide variety of American Christians from different denominations are speaking out against Christian nationalism, a once-fringe movement steadily gaining political power in the U.S.
Why it matters: The pushback comes as critics worry rising Christian nationalism is threatening the nation's multiracial democracy and as a record number of Americans identify as "religiously unaffiliated."
The big picture: From the Greek Orthodox Church to Roman Catholics to evangelical Christian leaders, several grassroots efforts — primarily led by individuals rather than any church hierarchy — have sprung up to issue warnings about Christian nationalism.
- In some cases, they are protesting against former President Donald Trump and challenging fellow Christians who are calling for a rigid theocracy and anti-immigrant policies.
- They say those ideas abandon the compassionate teaching of Jesus that focuses on the dignity of each person and love for their neighbors.
Catch up quick: Christian nationalism is a set of beliefs centered around white American Christianity's dominance in most aspects of life in the United States.
- It seeks to establish a country governed by a fundamentalist interpretation of the Bible. Adherents and allies of the movement have aligned themselves with Donald Trump.
Key figures in the Republican Party have openly espoused Christian nationalist beliefs once dismissed as outside the mainstream, challenging long-held ideas about the separation of church and state.
- House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who displays the "Appeal to Heaven" flag outside his office, has called the separation of church and state "a misnomer."
- Though there are many strains of Christian nationalism, many devotees believe conservative Christians should dictate policies around education, social norms, immigration and race relations.
State of play: Those in opposition to this tell Axios they are challenging Christian nationalism via courses and online confessions that are being shared on social platforms. Others are demonstrating outside the Capitol or holding gatherings for Christians who want to defend democracy.
- They're also issuing statements they hope pastors will share from the pulpit.
- It's all designed to provide a theological defense of American pluralistic democracy against Christian nationalism.
What they're saying: "We're facing, in this election and beyond, what many call a test of democracy," Rev. Jim Wallis, the founding director of the Georgetown University Center on Faith and Justice, said at a recent "Summit to Defend Democracy" in Washington.
- "But we're saying it's also a test of faith. We think this is a time for Christian leaders to stand up, step up and speak up."
- Holy Post Media cofounder and former pastor Skye Jethani tells Axios that American Christians who are not adherents to Christian nationalism have a duty to speak out.
- "Maybe history will look back on this era of American political idolatry in this church and say, 'who stood against this?'"
The intrigue: A statement Jethani helped write criticizing Christian nationalism, "The Confession of Evangelical Conviction," was modeled after the Barmen Declaration, adopted by German Christians in 1934 in opposition to pro-Nazi German Christians.
The other side: Scholar Stephen Wolfe's book "The Case for Christian Nationalism" argues that "evangelical elites and the progressive media" are making the idea scary when it's nothing more than a fight against secularism.
- The Trump campaign has ignored or dismissed complaints about Christian nationalism.
Zoom in: A recent survey by the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) found that three in ten Americans identify as either Christian nationalism adherents (10%) or sympathizers (20%).
- The same survey found that right-wing authoritarian views are more prevalent among Republicans — in particular those who are white evangelical Protestants, are weekly churchgoers, or support Trump.
- It also found that most Americans (84%) reject political violence.
