Christian Nationalism: A Theology of ‘White Supremacy’ and ‘Racism?’

Collin Bastian on October 3, 2022

Ever since January 6, much blame has been attributed to “Christian Nationalism.” This ideology is frequently cited as a primary motivation by those who stormed the U.S. Capitol Building.

But what exactly is Christian Nationalism? And how do we, as citizens and as Christians, address it? That was the topic of conversation at a September 28 Interfaith Alliance event held on Capitol Hill, “Christian Nationalism is on the Ballot in 2022.”

The Interfaith Alliance is a group of left-wing clergy and religious activists who critique the Religious Right. Instead of thoughtfully analyzing Christian Nationalism, their event predictably sought to paint all religious conservatism as dangerous.

The Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, the recently-named President and CEO of Interfaith Alliance, opened the talk by defining the subject. “Christian Nationalism has its roots,” he said, “in the dangerous myth that we were founded as a Christian nation, and because of that, enjoy special favor from God.”

The ideology “seek[s] a fusion of religious and civic life, to the detriment of both,” Raushenbush continued, and its adherents “favor declaring the U.S. a Christian nation, tearing down the wall of separation between church and state,” and “instituting prayer in schools.”

In terms of what Christian Nationalism looks like in practice, Raushenbush noted that Christian Nationalists in power have advanced “the suppression of voting rights, the promotion of white supremacy, and the policing of personal privacy, including the right to abortion and same-sex marriage.”

Raushenbush then introduced the panel of speakers who would continue the conversation, and who would continue to emphasize the partisan nature of various disagreements with adherents of Christian Nationalism.

The panel was comprised of Muslim writer and Senior Fellow with the Western States Center Wajahat Ali, political activist Tayhlor Coleman, Executive Director of Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Connie Ryan, and the Rev. Dr. Richard Cizik, the President and Founder of the New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good (Cizik previously served as Vice President for Governmental Affairs for the National Association of Evangelicals until he resigned in 2008 over his support for same-sex civil unions). Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD) was also slated to speak but could not attend the event.

Ali recounted his being educated by Jesuits in an all-boys Catholic high school, recalling that “the Jesus that I encountered in high school was a prophet who would love and embrace all immigrants and refugees, not use them as cruel political stunts or demonize them as invaders,” referencing the recent dispute in which Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) sent roughly fifty migrants to Martha’s Vineyard.

“That Jesus in Christianity that I encountered in high school,” Ali said, “made me into a better Muslim.” But Christian Nationalism, a “movement of hate, has hijacked Jesus and transformed Him into a radicalized, weaponized mascot” who would “use violence if necessary to restore order and supremacy in America for God’s chosen stewards: white men.”

As an example of the dangers of the Christian Nationalist movement, Ali highlighted the recent Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization as a “violat[ion]” of “the religious freedoms of Jews and Muslims.” Other key dangers of Christian Nationalism, per Ali, included threats to “marriage equality and the right to use contraceptives.”

Ryan, meanwhile, saw the recent shift towards Republican dominance in the state of Iowa as an example of the instantiation of Christian Nationalist values. This development, Ryan contended, led to a massive increase in legislation affecting issues including public education, “civil rights…particularly for folks who are LGBTQ,” and “the right to access abortion.”

Ryan saw Christian Nationalism’s denial of transgender identity as particularly egregious. “Trans women are women, and they should be able to participate in women’s sports,” Ryan declared, referring to a bill signed by Governor Kim Reynolds (R-IA) which restricted biological males with female gender identities from participating in sporting events intended for women.

The subsequent Q&A with the panel evinced similar lines of attack against Christian Nationalism. Responding to a question about the theological underpinnings of the tenets of Christian Nationalism, Coleman responded that “racism” was what undergirded any motivations, insofar as it “could be considered a theology.” Ali went further, stating that the root of Christian Nationalist theology was “white supremacy.”

It is of course valid to speak against Christian Nationalism and any ideological movement which seeks to tie the success of the one true faith so strongly to the fate of any one nation. But it is unhelpful to describe this phenomenon in such strongly partisan terms, denigrating any who are pro-life or in favor of traditional views of marriage as bearing the imprint of “racism” and “white supremacy,” as is the penchant of missionaries of progressivism.

What is instead needed are persuasive critiques of Christian Nationalism presented by sober-minded individuals who can comprehensively consider faith, history, and citizenship. The church can, and should, lead the way in these efforts.

  1. Comment by Theodore Miner on October 3, 2022 at 2:45 pm

    Oh such silly people. Like Diogenes of Sinope wandering the streets with his lamp but this time looking for the imaginary enemies which are Christian Nationalists. Where to find these people?

    “…tearing down the wall of separation between church and state,” and “instituting prayer in schools.” There is no political constituency advocating this.

    “suppression of voting rights”: Again, there is no group of people advocating this.

    “the promotion of white supremacy”: Delusional

    “use violence if necessary to restore order and supremacy in America for God’s chosen stewards: white men.”: A ridiculous fantasy

    The hypocrisy of this event is clearly seen in this quotation: “the Jesus that I encountered in high school was a prophet who would love and embrace all immigrants and refugees…” So then, Mr. Ali is drawing on his religious faith to advocate for a specific public policy. Sounds like Christian Nationalism to me.

    Isn’t there something more productive these people could do than tilting at windmills? There are many jobs opening in the food service industry and for school bus drivers where they use their energy to actually contribute to the common good.

  2. Comment by Jeff on October 3, 2022 at 4:27 pm

    I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of GOD unto salvation.

    I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under GOD, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

    I HEREBY TESTIFY before GOD and man, without a trace of shame, that I identify as a Christian and an American Nationalist.

    P.S. The “distinguished panelists” in this farcical “Interfaith Alliance” event are known by their fruit to be sons of satan. Liars, in other words. “Interfaith”? Jesus said I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE. NO ONE comes to the Father EXCEPT BY ME. Paul wrote “There is ONE FAITH…”

  3. Comment by Dan W on October 3, 2022 at 5:20 pm

    As Americans reject the Good News, the Enemy wants to turn them against Christ and his followers. If they convince Americans Christian Nationalists should be opposed, the next step will be to oppose all Christians. Apparently true Christians were not represented at the Interfaith Alliance!

  4. Comment by Douglas E Ehrhardt on October 3, 2022 at 8:41 pm

    What no Jamie Raskin? One of the most anti Christian members of Congress. Her be a perfect fit.

  5. Comment by Douglas E Ehrhardt on October 3, 2022 at 8:46 pm

    Oops that’s he’d…wouldn’t want to misgender .

  6. Comment by Mike on October 4, 2022 at 9:48 am

    “Apparently true Christians were not represented at the Interfaith Alliance!” True Christians would not, and could not. be part of such a farce.

  7. Comment by Star Tripper on October 14, 2022 at 12:35 am

    So Ali became a better Muslim after being taught about Jesus by Jesuits. Why am I not surprised?


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