What Is a Christian Nationalist?
From a reader discussion in this week's comments (Scroll to the end to listen)
If you aren’t reading the comments, they often expand upon or even supersede my daily newsletters.
Today’s topic comes from a great reader insight on Monday: Project 2025’s Christo-Fascist Language
Just another comment/observation here, I feel like the average citizen thinks the Christian national movement is only the extreme radicals....like Southern baptist, pentecostal, the FLDS, IBLP, etc.......My opinion is, it is NOT. ALL Christian denominations and churches are susceptible to this.
Julie Duggan
Our discussion convinced me to answer the question “What is a Christian Nationalist?” for this community. My definition is shaped by growing up in a Christian Nationalist church and school in the 1970s and 80s. I was indoctrinated in Christian Nationalism.
What is a Christian Nationalist?
Christian Nationalists can be either Catholic or Protestant. They hold a common set of beliefs. White supremacists have also aligned with Christian Nationalists because several of their beliefs intersect.
Belief 1: The United States was founded as a Christian nation.
Christian Nationalists base this belief on the different sects (Pilgrims, Quakers, etc.) fleeing religious persecution in Europe. They also teach that our founders were Christian men who wove their faith into our founding documents.
Some churches assert that because the majority of these sects were white, we are also a nation for white people. Many are white supremacists.
Belief 2: The Bible is the word of God.
Christian Nationalists believe the Bible is the inerrant, inspired word of God. They interpret it literally, not metaphorically. Example: God created everything in six 24-hour days and rested on the seventh day.
Belief 3: The Bible is God’s law.
Because they believe the Bible is God’s perfect letter to humanity, they assault any law that differs from their interpretation of God’s law. Hence their attacks on abortion, transgender, LGBTQ+, the role of women in society, divorce and more.
They are convinced the Bible (which is literally God speaking) says abortion is murder; trans people don’t exist because ‘God doesn’t make mistakes;’ homosexuality is a mortal sin and perversion against God; women should be mothers who stay home and submit to their husbands; divorce is a sin; etc.
Once one understands how a Christian Nationalist interprets the Bible, it is very easy to predict what rights they will suppress and what laws they will attack.
Belief 4: God’s law should be the basis of our laws.
They believe they are ordered by God to make our laws match their interpretation of God’s law. Following God’s law is more important than popular opinion or voting outcomes. Any law that violates their interpretation of God’s law is illegitimate.
As an example, no one should be surprised by Ohio legislators’ refusal to accept Ohio voters’ decision to enshrine the right to abortion in the state constitution. They believe God charges them to ignore laws that violate their Bibles.
Belief 5: Many believe that Black and Brown people are inferior to white people.
While not every Christian Nationalist church teaches the Curse of Ham, many still do. Southern preachers used the Curse of Ham to justify enslaving Black people before the Civil War. Many never stopped trumpeting this abomination from pulpits after the south lost.
The Curse of Ham comes from the story of Noah and the ark. After the flood, Noah’s son Ham got Noah drunk and enticed Noah to sleep with one of his daughters. God cursed Ham and his descendants for this behavior by turning his skin black. Because God cursed Ham’s descendants, God meant for them to be treated as inferior for all time. (I wish I were making this up.)
Anyone can see why white supremacists feel right at home with Christian Nationalists.
Belief 6: The Founders instituted the separation of church and state to protect the church from the state.
Here is a link to House Speaker Mike Johnson espousing that belief in an interview.
This is also why they freaked out over COVID church closures. Or why they melt down every time someone suggests they pay taxes. They do not believe the government should ever tell them what to do within their congregations or interfere with their practice of faith in their greater communities.
Many also believe God condones violence to impose their will on the country.
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.
This behavior makes them impossible as politicians. With over 100 Christian Nationalists in our federal Congress, it is obvious why nothing gets done when one views it through this lens.
Andra I think this is your best post so far; it's so crystal clear. And I love the inclusion of the Goldwater quote, because it comes from the time it seems to me this all started with the Republican party. (Once the Democrats became associated with civil rights, the Republican party had to be the vehicle for the backlash). Understanding the nature of the enemy attacking America (really the enemy which has always been buried within) is so valuable if we are to develop strategies to save ourselves. Thank you.
Christian Nationalism is all about CONTROL....... it is funny churches freaked out during covid when they were shut down. They worry one of their sheep may wander off if not controlled with guilt, shame, fear... .....you know, like wander off to watch a documentary about evolution.
This is also tied to the school voucher scam.... the guise of "school choice". Voucher scam is white flight...it promotes segregation and religious indoctrination since many of these schools are religious based or 1776 based.... and many black & brown can't afford. The Republican states can't roll this scam out fast enough
Your articles on Project 2025 help tie all this together. It's like an org chart, no names per se.....just countless "programs" to support the Ideology.
Im glad you brought up the Curse of Hams son....most people don't know this was widely preached during & after Civil War, not just by preachers but regular folks. This racist sediment is still alive in the south.