Christian Nationalists: They Will Not Compromise
With Southern Baptists and Samuel Alito uttering this phrase, we go back to the beginning (Scroll to the end to listen)
On 9 February, I wrote one of my most read newsletters: “What Is A Christian Nationalist?” It’s still pinned on my homepage. In it, I highlighted seven beliefs of Christian Nationalists. A link is below.
For those short on time, here’s the seventh belief:
Belief 7: Do not compromise.
God’s law is perfect, infallible. Therefore, God expects them to doggedly pursue the implementation of his law in all aspects of American life. Compromise is accepting less than God’s law, something they believe they are ordered not to do.
I wasn’t surprised when Supreme Court justice Samuel Alito was caught saying “there are differences on fundamental things that really can’t be compromised. They really can’t be compromised.”
And we have Al Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and an author of the SBC’s anti-IVF resolution, saying this on the record:
“That is as immoral as anything we could imagine,” he said, noting that LGBTQ couples use IVF to have children. He accused SBC churches of being unwilling to confront the immorality of IVF.
“We have compromise in our churches,” Mohler said, calling support for IVF a sign that Christians who say they are pro-life don’t truly believe in the sanctity of life.
Source: Religion News
“We will not compromise,” is becoming a cornerstone of the Christo-fascist Republican Party. I expect to see similar anti-compromise statements in the lead-up to November’s election. Why should it matter to YOU?
Our democracy was founded on compromise.
Lee Hamilton, a former Democrat congressperson from Indiana, said this about the importance of compromise:
In a democracy, being able to compromise — and knowing how — is a core skill for governing. Shouting “No Compromise!” may fire up the crowd, but it’s a recipe for failure when it comes to getting things done in office.
In fact, it was a core skill even before we had our current system. Pretty much every sentence in our Constitution was the product of compromise, crafted by people who felt passionately about the issues they confronted yet found a way to agree on language that would enable the country to function.
Source: Center on Representative Government, Indiana University
Compromise is necessary for democracies to function.
Why is compromise so hard in a democracy when it is undoubtedly necessary? Much of the resistance to compromise lies in another necessary part of the democratic process: campaigning for political office. Though valuable in its place, campaigning is increasingly intruding into governing. The effects of a continuous campaign—along with the distorting influence of media and money that it brings—encourage a mindset among politicians that makes compromise more difficult. Systematic rejection of compromise is a problem for any democracy because it biases the political process in favor of the status quo and stands in the way of desirable change.
Furthermore, the insidiousness of political gerrymandering creates increasingly ‘safe’ districts for one or the other party, making it less necessary (or even political suicide) for elected politicians to compromise in governing, as their district is effectively a single-party constituency.
The Harvard article was written in 2012, more than a decade ago. It’s no surprise that one entire political party, the Republicans, is now penning Christo-fascist manifestos and talking about their nominee like a dictator/king. They believe democracy stands in the way of desirable change. Historians will sift through what led us here, but a refusal to compromise will likely be a factor.
Christian Nationalists cite their religious beliefs, their faith, as their reason to refuse compromise.
They believe their Bibles are God’s perfect law. When arguing with other Christians who interpret the Bible differently on flashpoints like abortion, Christian Nationalists believe their interpretation of the Bible is the Truth. They dismiss other Christians’ differing interpretations of the Bible as too liberal, godless, blasphemy, immoral, and similar.
Christian Nationalists believe they are right, and they will not compromise. Not even with other Christians.
We saw this play out at the Southern Baptist Convention.
Multiple delegates pleaded with SBC leadership to water down the language of the IVF resolution. They cited ethical uses of IVF, like helping themselves or friends and family have healthy, longed-for children. Every plea was unheeded. SBC leaders would not compromise.
Christian Nationalists are using their religious beliefs to legislate their faith into every aspect of our lives. When Alito says he can’t compromise, when the Southern Baptist Convention refuses to compromise, believe them. They will destroy democracy and trample our freedoms to honor their vengeful, intolerant version of God. We cannot let them win.
We must keep showing up. Every day, every election, we must defeat them. For as long as it takes.
Tomorrow, we will explore how theocratic rulers and their refusal to compromise harm human beings. Today’s picture is a preview. Thank you for reading, for sharing this work, and for supporting it with money.
An update on my request for help yesterday: I am scheduling a Zoom meeting to discuss P2025 with Jamie Raskin’s office. I’ll keep everyone posted on what transpires. Fingers crossed I can be helpful.
Compromise means losing in the modern republican party.
At least the maniacal Project 2025 is going to finally get pushed out into public consciousness. The Democratic Committee is a huge step forward and I’m so glad that you’ve got a meeting scheduled with Jamie Raskin’s office. Go girl go!
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