Understanding Christian Nationalism

This is the first in a series of articles that will appear in future issues of this newsletter dealing with the concept commonly identified as “Christian Nationalism”. The use of this term is relatively new. People who support Christian nationalism generally do not use the term to describe their beliefs. Nevertheless, it is a term that is beginning to dominate religious conversation in our nation

There is general agreement that Christian nationalism is a political ideology about American identity. It is a belief that America is – and must remain – a Christian nation founded for its white Christian inhabitants. It is a set of policy prescriptions for what the proponents believe the American government should do; oppose equality for people of color, women, LGBTQ people, religious minorities, and the nonreligious.

The Rev. William Barber has made opposing Christian nationalism one of five major issues at the center of the Poor People’s Campaign. The campaign identifies it as a distorted moral narrative that needs to be dismantled. The National Council of Churches understanding of Christian nationalism can be reviewed by clicking on National Council of Churches. The UMC Discipleship Ministries has a new resource on Christian nationalism that is meant to assist United Methodists to talk about the issue.

Ways to address the issue of Christian nationalism as an individual and as members of a local congregation will be covered in future issues of this newsletter.