By Samuel Perry
In the run-up to the U.S. midterm elections, some politicians continue to ride the wave of what’s known as “Christian nationalism” in ways that are increasingly vocal and direct.
GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a far-right Donald Trump loyalist from Georgia, told an interviewer on July 23, 2022, that the Republican Party “need[s] to be the party of nationalism. And I’m a Christian, and I say it proudly, we should be Christian nationalists.”
Similarly, Rep. Lauren Boebert, a Republican from Colorado, recently said, “The church is supposed to direct the government. The government is not supposed to direct the church.” Boebert called the separation of church and state “junk.”
Many Christian nationalists repeat conservative activist David Barton’s argument that the Founding Fathers did not intend to keep religion out of government.
As a scholar of racism and communication who has written about white nationalism during the Trump presidency, I find the amplification of Christian nationalism unsurprising. Christian nationalism is prevalent among Trump supporters, as religion scholars Andrew Whitehead and Samuel L. Perry argue in their book “Taking Back America for God.”
Perry and Whitehead describe the Christian nationalist movement as being “as ethnic and political as it is religious,” noting that it relies on the assumption of white supremacy. Christian nationalism combines belief in a particular form of Christianity with nativist and populist political platforms. American Christian nationalism is a worldview based on the belief that America is superior to other countries, and that that superiority is divinely established. In this mindset, only Christians are true Americans.
Parts of the movement fit into a broader right-wing extremist history of violence, which has been on the rise over the past few decades and was particularly on display during the Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021.
The vast majority of Christian nationalists never engage in violence. Nonetheless, Christian nationalist thinking suggests that unless Christians control the state, the state will suppress Christianity.
From siege to militia buildup
Violence perpetrated by Christian nationalists has manifested in two primary ways in recent decades. The first is through their involvement in militia groups; the second is seen in attacks on abortion providers.
The catalyst for the growth of militia activity among contemporary Christian nationalists stems from two events: the 1992 Ruby Ridge standoff and the 1993 siege at Waco.
At Ruby Ridge, former Army Green Beret Randy Weaver engaged federal law enforcement in an 11-day standoff at his rural Idaho cabin over charges relating to the sale of sawed-off shotguns to an ATF informant investigating Aryan Nation white supremacist militia meetings.
AP Photo/Jeff T. Green, File
Weaver ascribed to the Christian Identity movement, which emphasizes adherence to Old Testament laws and white supremacy. Christian Identity members believe in the application of the death penalty for adultery and LBGTQ relationships in accordance with their reading of some biblical passages.
During the standoff, Weaver’s wife and teenage son were shot and killed before he surrendered to federal authorities.
In the Waco siege a year later, cult leader David Koresh and his followers entered a standoff with federal law enforcement at the group’s Texas compound, once again concerning weapons charges. After a 51-day standoff, federal law enforcement laid siege to the compound. A fire took hold at the compound in disputed circumstances, leading to the deaths of 76 people, including Koresh.
The two events spurred a nationwide militia buildup. As sociologist Erin Kania argues: “Ruby Ridge and Waco confrontations drove some citizens to strengthen their belief that the government was overstepping the parameters of its authority. … Because this view is one of the founding ideologies of the American Militia Movement, it makes sense that interest and membership in the movement would sharply increase following these standoffs between government and nonconformists.”
Distrust of the government blended with strains of Christian fundamentalism have brought together two groups with formerly disparate goals.
Christian nationalism and violence
Christian fundamentalists and white supremacist militia groups both figured themselves as targeted by the government in the aftermath of the standoffs at Ruby Ridge and Waco. As scholar of religion Ann Burlein argues, “Both the Christian right and right-wing white supremacist groups aspire to overcome a culture they perceive as hostile to the white middle class, families, and heterosexuality.”
Significantly, in 1995, Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh and accomplice Terry Nichols cited revenge for the Waco siege as a motive for the bombing of the Alfred Murrah federal building. The terrorist act killed 168 people and injured hundreds more.
Since 1993, at least 11 people have been murdered in attacks on abortion clinics in cities across the U.S., and there have been numerous other plots.
They have involved people like the Rev. Michael Bray, who attacked multiple abortion clinics. Bray was the spokesman for Paul Hill, a Christian Identity adherent who murdered physician John Britton and his bodyguard James Barrett in 1994 outside of a Florida abortion clinic.
In yet another case, Eric Rudolph bombed the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. In his confession, he cited his opposition to abortion and anti-LGBTQ views as motivation to bomb Olympic Square.
These men cited their involvement with the Christian Identity movement in their trials as motivation for engaging in violence.
Mainstreaming Christian nationalist ideas
The presence of Christian nationalist ideas in recent political campaigns is concerning, given its ties to violence and white supremacy.
Trump and his advisers helped to mainstream such rhetoric with events like his photo op with a Bible in Lafayette Square in Washington following the violent dispersal of protesters, and making a show of pastors laying hands on him. But that legacy continues beyond his administration.
Candidates like Doug Mastriano, the Republican gubernatorial candidate in Pennsylvania who attended the Jan. 6 Trump rally, are now using the same messages.
In some states, such as Texas and Montana, hefty funding for far-right Christian candidates has helped put Christian nationalist ideas in the mainstream.
Blending politics and religion is not necessarily a recipe for Christian nationalism, nor is Christian nationalism a recipe for political violence. At times, however, Christian nationalist ideas can serve as a prelude.
Samuel Perry is an Associate Professor of Communications at Baylor University.
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Michael Cocchiola says
Christian nationalism is an absolute threat to our democracy. It is effectively the American Taliban. Proponents of Christian nationalism would put their version of the bible ahead of our constitution and govern in accordance with their ancient myths. Many proponents openly threaten death for non-believers.
This nation is at a breaking point. Even if sane people retain national political power and defent our constitution, the Christian nationalists are steadly seeping into state and local governments and they are completely committed to defying secular authority… with violence, if necessary.
The secular and biblical-based political forces in America are headed for an existential confrontation in America. January 6th was merely a trial run.
Laurel says
Michael C.: You are so correct! I see this movement as the biggest threat to our nation.
I am not a Christian, and I want nothing to do with organized religion, but I do not see how, in any way, that these people are followers of Jesus. He was passive and compassionate, not threatening and murderous. Can you imagine him killing someone over adultery? Didn’t he say something about casting the first stone? I thought Christians were supposed to influence others by example, and I don’t mean though violence or condemnation.
Trump simply used these people for his own gain.
Poor Jesus. He died for our sins, and people blatantly, willfully sin in his name. Reminds me of the the song “Vincent” about artist Vincent Van Gogh by Don Mclean. “They would not listen, they are not listening still, perhaps they never will.”
Deborah Coffey says
To you Laurel and Michael’s post above yours: This is what I learned in my Christian upbringing.
“Matthew 22:15-22
New King James Version
The Pharisees: Is It Lawful to Pay Taxes to Caesar?
15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. 16 And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not [a]regard the person of men. 17 Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
18 But Jesus [b]perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? 19 Show Me the tax money.”
So they brought Him a denarius.
20 And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?”
21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”
And He said to them, “Render[c] therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
22 When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.”
IF ONLY THEY WOULD LEAVE US AND GO THEIR WAY!
Faith says
You don’t need to be involved in any organized religion to follow Jesus. Just believe and talk to him, he will help you.
Faith says
A true Christian would not need to add anything after the word ‘Christian’. Christians left England because of religious persecution, being forced by the country to do what they say in religion. I wouldn’t want that as a free Christian. The American Constitution gives us all the right to freedom of religion. People will always try to push their own agendas. We’ve been in a lot worse shape than this. It will get better just have a little faith.
Stephen Smith says
One only need look at history to see the dangers of allowing a theocracy to be formed in place of a democracy. Look at the damage done from the inquisition, and the reformation. The founding fathers were ever so fearful of religion taking over goverment. And rightly so. Seperation of church and state are vital to maintaining our democracy. A religious led goverment must by definition trample on the peoples freedoms to worship or not worship as they please. There is a saying “Your God is not my God” it leads to nothing but strife and eventually violence from one sect or another. A free society can not have a single religion rule over it.
Slick Willie says
Dr. Perry studied History and Communication during his undergraduate studies and Communication in his MA studies at Baylor. His PhD from Georgia State University is in Communication with a focus on Rhetoric & Public Address. He studies race and racism in the United States with a particular focus on the ways in which anti-black racism manifests in the public sphere through political, religious, and popular discourse. He has published in Rhetoric Society Quarterly, the Southern Communication Journal, Argumentation & Advocacy, and other outlets. His forthcoming book, Rhetorics of Race and Religion on the Christian Right: Barack Obama and the War on Terror with Lexington Books examines the ways in which President Obama faced criticisms based on his race and religion through his candidacy as and his presidency. He coordinates the World of Rhetoric sequence in the BIC and the Graduate Fellowship in Interdisciplinary Rhetorical Studies. He teaches World of Rhetoric I &II, Social World I, A Capstone on The Allegory of the Cave and Contemporary Film, and courses in the Communication Department.
R Boggess says
Well said!!
ULTRA MAGA says
Amazing so people believe the CCP Disinformation about how terrible America is! Move to Communist China and TRY to Protest, than find out how FAST a PLA Tank will drive over and CRUSH you to DEATH! Nancy Pelosi, when first elected, visited China and Protested China’s Crushing of FREE Speech! Xi Jinping is another Adolph Hitler who started who started a Cold War Against America! Peace Thru Strength!
A.j says
Well written. Were all these men Repubs? As I can tell none were people of color. White nationalists. Look at the results innocent people being killed because a small group of white men think they have all the power and no one should tell them anything.
Bluepaws says
Not much of a surprise to see the far leftists quickly jump on a trash article. Christians who believe in a supreme being, our country, and set of morals do not and should not answer to radical socialist morons! Yes, I believe in my nation, that does not make me a radical white supremacist and your statements are without fact! This country was founded by gifted intelligent people who had a set of morals. Today we see the leftists have” no morals “and only care about themselves not our society or brother man. The leftists have attempted to instill hate in our society, division in families, destruction of private and public property, no respect for law and order or the rule of law, and loss of life by abortion, or drugs use. The social left perverts our society through sexual orientation of our youth, even though they are not qualified or licensed to do so, promote LBGTQ ideology, and try and hide these radical activities from children’s parents. Thank goodness we have a government in this state that puts a stop to this shameful behavior by radical leftists! It is apparent that the author of this trash article came from a leftist professor at Baylor who probably flunked out of American history in high school! Mr. Cocchiola I am proud to be a Christian, a nationalist, if believing in my country makes me one, and I pray you leftists will not destroy our morals and country with your trash talk and ideas !
Laurel says
Bluepaw:
Our “…country was founded by gifted, intelligent people who had a set of morals” who owned slaves.
Not being a Democrat or Republican, I don’t see how the “leftists only care about themselves” when it’s the right taking away rights.
I’ve never seen so much hate, nastiness, name calling and division as has come out of the mouths like the far right.
As for respect for law and order, Trump commuted Stone’s seven felonies, determined by a jury of Stone’s peers.
LBGTQ has been around since the beginning of mankind, just closeted. It’s real, you can’t make it go away.
Trump and DeSantis are a disgrace and behave in a manner that only furthers their personal agendas.
If you are the Christian you claim to be, why are you so intolerant? Was Jesus intolerant? I think not.
Concerned Citizen says
Christian Nationalists helped the Nazis gain popularity and secured their power RIGHT HERE IN THE US. There was even a Nazi rally at Madison Square Garden and many people like yourself were in attendance. One cannot fathom that that ideology has anything to do with a free and democratic society while pulling rights away from others. Your thinking is not only outdated, but a complete poison to democracy. Florida’s leadership walks a dangerous path by fomenting toxic nationalism. DeSantis, Scott, Sabatini and others have got to GO.
Bluepaws says
Laurel your facts are incorrect. If you studied history “slavery” has been around since the dawn of civilizations. Ever hear of the Egyptians, Babylon, Mesopotamia, Etc.? Slavery was part of society for ‘”thousands” of years, and certainly did not start in America and was going on before the colonies were established. In fact, many people who came to this country were “indentured servants” as well. The fact that forefathers of this country had slaves was not unusual for society at the time. It certainly did not make them monsters, and in fact many talked about the idea n how they could end slavery even back then. Whether you agree or not they were brilliant men of their time! The socialist want everyone to be “ashamed” of our history which occurred 246 years ago! That is a bunch of BS. That was society back then and look how we made societal changes to correct and make our society better. We are not perfect but try to do our best and continue those changes. As far as the name calling, nastiness, and division along with cancel culture the leftist socialists deserve the trophy! I will leave it at that. For you information I am not a Dem or Rep. just a proud American who has proudly served my country why most socialists have not and never will. They neither have the drive, honor, ability or intelligence to do so!
Pierre Tristam says
Bluepaws could use a little fact-checking of his own. (I’ll say his: he appears unaware that women gained the right to vote barely 100 years ago, making this unlikely that this was written by the sharper sex). While it is true that slavery is older than the oldest profession, it isn’t true that “The fact that forefathers of this country had slaves was not unusual for society at the time.” That’s a convenient little rhetorical sleight of absolution, but it’s inaccurate. You can see the error in the construction of Bluepaws’ sentence, conflating “forefathers” with “society.” Putting the giveaway of the patriarchal conceit (itself another founding problem in this nation until Gloria and friends finally chucked it off), the “forefathers” were by no means “society.” They represented the precious few, wealthier landowners. They were the definition of a super-minority. The majority, the vast majority, the immense majority, of the people in this country (and in most slave-owning societies, even in that wise but slave-justifying prig Socrates’ day) did not own slaves, but rather were themselves subjects of conditions either approximating slavery and servitude (starting with half the population: women) or were indentured, as you noted (not just when they came here: still then, still afterward, to their grave) or were outright slaves. The only people who considered it “normal,” or who, as you put it, considered it “not unusual,” were those justifying the unjustifiable, knowing all the while how unjustifiable it was. Even Jefferson, the slave-fucking founder (and truly one of the people I admire most in history, some of his immoral paradoxes aside), who wrote American English like nobody’s business, rarely was as eloquent as when he wrote about the evils of slavery–seriously, some of those pages of his are sublime–probably as he was recuperating from his latest infliction of rape on one of his wards: no different than that moralist Tolstoi going on and on and on about the moral life while doing the very same to his serfs and lecturing us about god. God help us. (But see, Bluepaws, we do have the capacity even as the half-witted human absurdities that we are to, like Jerry Ford with walking and chewing, have the capacity to be simultaneously ashamed and admiring even of the same person, the same time period, the same “founders.” Not a bad thing to teach our school kids, as opposed to this neo-kumbayistic take the 1776ers want on a wholesale whitewashing to spare out little ones’ supremacist feelings.) Point being that there’s never been a slave-holder even in that scene at the beginning of time that Stanley Kubrick filmed for the opening of 2001 when slaveholders did not know that what they did was nothing more and nothing less than might makes right, a formula that absolves its authors of all pretenses of morality. That’s point one. Point two is your math. To suggest that this history occurred 246 years ago is, well, not a little offensive to–well, all those Civil War buffs from half that time ago, or Jim Crow and Eisenhower’s America, or the reason Marcus and Malcolm and Martin got their heads blown off, or the reason we have mass incarceration of Blacks more than China’s billion-and-a-half nation manages to have that many prisoners in its gulag, or the reason George Floyd got the life stuffed out of him by a cop who probably thought, with what brains he had in that knee cap of his, that well, this is what society is like, that’s the norm, that’s how we do things around here. So Bluepaws, I think you’re a bit off. As for your ritornello about socialist this, socialist that: I think it’s been established that your tendentious understanding of history is such that, to expect you to have the remotest understanding of that anachronism is maybe too much to ask, so I won’t. Nor would I ask you to be ashamed about what happened 246 years ago of course. But a little shame about the 237 words you just penned half an hour ago in that comment of yours might be enough of a start for now.
Laurel says
Pierre: Aaaaaaaahhhhhhh! Yeppers.