Decoding Project 2025's Christo-fascist Language
And what it means for YOU (Scroll to the end to listen)
Since we have many new subscribers (WELCOME!), I’m re-running my February series on the Christo-fascist language embedded in Project 2025’s four promises. It’s critical reading to grasp P2025’s theocratic insidiousness.
Project 2025 uses words like faith, religious, religion, Christian, and church almost 200 times.
For a 1,000-page public policy document, a significant number of Project 2025’s recommendations are built on a Christian Nationalist foundation. It isn’t hyperbole to call it a Republican Christo-fascist manifesto.
Today, we examine how they redefine “the pursuit of happiness” from the Declaration of Independence in Christian Nationalist terms.
Project 2025’s hidden Christo-fascist language is insidious. Journalists who didn’t grow up in these churches speed bump over Evangelicalese. I’m fluent in this language, because I was indoctrinated in my youth. Mainstream media outlets’ coverage of Project 2025 still misses so much Christo-fascist language hiding in plain sight.
Let’s consider the concept of ‘a good life’ or ‘one’s best life.’ What do those phrases mean to you?
To most Americans, living the good life or living my best life means money in the bank, career success, a comfortable home, vacations to desired destinations, and the ability to buy things we want. For others, those phrases might contain the added component of doing good in our communities or in the greater world.
What does Project 2025 say about the good/best life?
When the Founders spoke of “pursuit of Happiness,” what they meant might be understood today as in essence “pursuit of Blessedness.” That is, an individual must be free to live as his Creator ordained—to flourish. Our Constitution grants each of us the liberty to do not what we want, but what we ought. This pursuit of the good life is found primarily in family—marriage, children, Thanksgiving dinners, and the like. Many find happiness through their work. Religious devotion and spirituality are the greatest sources of happiness around the world. Still others find themselves happiest in their local voluntary communities of friends, their neighbors, their civic or charitable work.
The American Republic was founded on principles prioritizing and maximizing individuals’ rights to live their best life or to enjoy what the Framers called “the Blessings of Liberty.”
Project 2025, pages 13 - 14
I’ve italicized words and phrases above to discuss in more detail. While the Declaration of Independence does state that all men are ‘endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights,’ the Christian Nationalist framers of Project 2025 use this language to redefine our Founders’ intent. When they say we deserve the good life, they really mean the Christian life or a holy life.
The Pursuit of Blessedness
Anyone who’s spent much time in Christian Nationalist circles knows phrases like have a blessed day or you’re not lucky; you’re blessed.
But they also believe God blesses those who are faithful to him. The pursuit of Blessedness is a deliberate Christian Nationalist reframing of the founders’ pursuit of happiness. How do I know that’s what they mean? They give it away two sentences later.
Our Constitution grants each of us the liberty to do not what we want, but what we ought.
This is Biblical language drawn from Romans 7:15 - 20. I have reproduced verses 19 and 20 KJV below.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
It is based on the idea that all humans are born with flawed urges (see my post Christian Nationalists and Their Urges.) Fighting those urges means doing what we ought, ie: their interpretation of what God commands in the Bible, whether or not we follow their faith.
We’ve already looked at how their definition of pornography would make most of us pornographers. This is also why their abortion bans force women to give birth. It’s why they harass transgender people and those in the LGBTQ+ community. Or why they want to end no-fault divorce.
The pursuit of the good life is found primarily in the family - marriage, children.
Christian Nationalists define marriage as between one man and one woman. Men are the leaders of the home, the providers. A woman is to submit to the man. Her primary function is to produce and mother children. Their definition of the family is the foundation of ‘the good life.’
Religious devotion and spirituality are the greatest sources of happiness around the world.
Given this planet’s recorded history of the horrors of religious wars and atrocities in the name of multiple faiths, I vehemently disagree with this assertion. But it reveals how important their interpretation of faith - Christian Nationalism - is to the policies they intend to force upon all of us.
Republican framers of Project 2025 define ‘the good life’ as ‘the Christian Nationalist life.’ They will compel all Americans to live their definition of ‘the good life’ whether we accept it or not.
Calls to Action to Keep P2025 From Ruining YOUR Life
Check your voter registration or register to vote: I Will Vote
Support Democratic campaigns directly in competitive races: Blue24
Support earlyworm’s 2024 Giving Guide: earlyworm
Report a Project 2025 incident: Not On Our Watch
Mail postcards to swing-state voters: Postcards to Swing States
Excellent video and article. I feel if that video were on YouTube or TikTok it would go viral! That’s just me. I appreciate your culturally competent writing skills and saying things directly.
Well done Andra! Grateful to be part of this community 👍💙
“Transgenderism” as a term is offensive. There are transgender people. Please see the GLAAD website (glaad.org/transgenderism) for more details. You wouldn’t call Black culture Blackism.