Christian Nationalism as Anti-Democracy

Reinforcing prior points and raising new questions

I spent my birthday last Friday evening as one does — attending panel discussions on Christian Nationalism and the Future of Democracy at the University of Denver. The event was coordinated by Brad Onishi, host of the Straight White American Jesus podcast — along with his cohost Dan Miller — and Sarah Moslener of Central Michigan. There were a few hundred people there on a cold Friday night and a couple of hundred more watching the livestream.

The event was made possible because Denver was home to the American Association of Religion meetings this weekend. While I chose not to attend, I’ve had severe FOMO all weekend.

The first panel (on the left) was Brad Onishi, Sarah Moselner, moderator Annika Brockschmidt, Katherine Stewart, and Robert (Robbie) Jones. In addition to the podcast, Brad is a professor of religious studies at the University of San Francisco and author of the forthcoming Preparing for War: The Extremist History of White Christian Nationalism – And What Comes Next. Sarah is the author of Virgin Nation, exploring the lasting influence of purity culture on evangelicals. Katherine is a journalist and the author of The Power Worshippers. Robbie Jones is the former CEO of the Public Religion Research Institute and author of two phenomenal books: The End of White Christian America and White Too Long.

The second panel (on the right) was Miguel de la Torre, professor of social ethics at the University of Denver’s Iliff Seminary and author of Decolonizing Christianity: Becoming Badass Believers. Sam Perry is a sociology professor at the University of Oklahoma and a leading scholar on Christian Nationalism. He is the co-author of Taking America Back For God with Andrew Whitehead and of The Flag and The Cross with Phil Gorski (also on the panel). Dan Miller, professor of religion at Landmark College and seated between Sam and Phil moderated. The final panelist was Larycia Hawkins, professor of politics and religious studies at the University of Virginia.¹

Much of what was covered by the panels wasn’t exactly new to me. I’ve been following Perry et. al. and Robbie Jones for years. Their work is quantitatively sound and points out the correlations between high degrees of Christian Nationalism and refusal to support issues of racial inequality, or immigration, or diversity writ broadly. There are echoes of “replacement theory” in operation, that Christians were seeing a previously privileged position taken away from them. While many would celebrate a more diverse, multicultural society, these adherents only see loss.

Still, there was much in these discussions that raised new insights. Robbie, drawing upon his most recent book, highlighted the connections between the Whiteness of White Christian Nationalism and the Doctrine of Discovery. This added a layer of nuance to the loss narrative — Christian Nationalists were GIVEN this blessing to nurture and now people 1) hate them for it and 2) want to take that charge away.

Miguel and Larycia both observed that it’s not just Christian Nationalism that centers Whiteness: democracy does as well. The contrast between our founding documents and the operation of our political, law enforcement, and education systems simply cannot be ignored.

Brad and Sarah both unpacked the linkages between purity culture as exercised among some segments of the evangelical world and the need to protect “purity” more broadly. Not only about sexuality but control over “our way of life”.

Kathryn’s journalistic analysis was useful in pulling at the connections between national religious leaders like Ralph Reed and the development of policies at the state level that reflect white evangelical interests. It did leave me wondering, however, if any rank and file Christian Nationalists (who respond in predictable ways on survey items) have the faintest idea who Ralph Reed is or would even care.²

For that matter, discussions by Sam, Phil, and Robbie prompted me to ponder about the salience of the survey items for their respondents. I’m not disagreeing with the data — it is what it is — but we likely need more focus groups exploring how people operationalize the ideas in the surveys. Are they what we’d consider “strongly held beliefs” or are the passively agreed to?

Finally, by the end of the evening³ I found myself thinking about the social movement dynamics of White Christian Nationalism. How are these somewhat-true-believers motivated to act in certain ways (like voting in particular ways)? How are their potential feelings of loss manipulated by others who may or not share their views⁴?

During the Q&A following the second panel, I launched my big question. “How is it, I said, that we’ve been through two panel discussions in Colorado and nobody has once mentioned Furries or Litter Boxes?” My substantive question was to explore who are the sources of such information and how does this sense of “things gone wrong” get manipulated by those who need the White Christian Nationalists to be angry in certain ways.

It was an important conversation. And I supposed I could have said this from the beginning, but Christian Nationalism is not about simple love of Country. It’s not just about freedom to live your faith as you see fit. And yes, there are non-white Christian Nationalists. The best way to think about is that WCNs are people who believe they have a legitimate right to positions of social privilege and that they will deny anyone other access to anything that would put that privilege at risk.

One more thing: I’m taking the rest of Thanksgiving week off. More fun and games next Monday.

1. Regular readers of this newsletter will recognize her as the person Wheaton removed for showing allegiance with Muslims. It was one of the most short-sighted and reactionary moves a Christian University has made. While technically, the departure was negotiated, all options had been removed from her. Her story is told in the 2018 documentary Same God.

2. Paul Matzko had a long thread on Twitter today exploring two strands of intellectual thought leading to support of Christian Nationalism: Seven Mountains Dominion theology arising in certain pentecostal areas, and rationalist Reformed argument. He sites as an example a recent book offering a defense of Christian Nationalism.

3. By the end of the evening, I was also really feeling the effects of the covalent booster shot I got on Wednesday afternoon! Saturday was not a good day.

4. I know it would shock you to learn that there are organization that seek to obtain ongoing donations from these populations who have little interest beyond seeing how more funds can come in.