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Thursday, February 9, 2023
Christian nationalism
"Take back our country."
The GOP has evolved. It had been an establishment party led by Bob Dole, John McCain, Mitt Romney, and two men named George Bush. In Oregon, Mark Hatfield represented the GOP. Today they are scorned as RINOs. The GOP has become populist and nativist. That is where the votes are. The new GOP is the overwhelming choice of evangelical Christians, the new base of the GOP.
Laying on of hands in the Oval Office.
White Christians are the largest group of Americans, but they are no longer the default American. They are one group of many, sharing power. The modern GOP message is that this displacement is unfair and disrespectful, made possible through Democratic trickery. After all, Obama was perhaps born in Kenya and the 2016, 2020, and 2022 elections were surely fraudulent. Their birthright was stolen and White Christians should "take back their country." Republicans win elections with that message.
Christian friends remind me that this political face of Christianity is not the whole face. Christians, including White evangelicals, work to heal the sick, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, educate the unschooled. They are helping out at faith-inspired homeless shelters, alcohol treatment centers, food banks, schools, and hospitals. They are Good Samaritans, but there is something about the Trump message that has appeal. Polls show that most voted for Trump twice.
Herb Rothschild taught English Literature at Louisiana State University. He is the author of The Bad Old Days, a memoir of his years as a civl rights activist in Louisiana. He continues his activism on behalf of world peace, the environment, and justice. He lives in Talent, Oregon. This Guest Post first appeared in
The term “White privilege” has significant currency now, and many of us are familiar with writings and workshops that address it. Not so with “Christian privilege,” a term I think I just coined. Just as white supremacist movements have regained strength recently in response to serious erosion of white privilege since the 1960s, a parallel movement to protect Christian privilege has occurred for the same reason. It’s come to be called Christian nationalism.
Herbert Rothschild
We may think that thorough-going church-state separation has existed for a long time in the U.S. Not so. A main reason is that the Bill of Rights originally applied to the federal government but not to the states. Only in 1925, in Gitlow v. New York, did the U.S. Supreme Court begin to use the due process clause of the 14th Amendment to require the states to protect First Amendment freedoms, and it wasn’t until 1947, in Everson v. Board of Education, that the court “incorporated” separation of church and state into the 14th Amendment.
Prior to Everson, how much separation there was varied widely from state to state. Amazingly, Maryland maintained a religious test oath for public office up until 1961. But it was state financial support of religious schools that was the most widespread entanglement of church and state. In response, during the 1870s, powerful Rep. James G. Blaine of Maine introduced the following bill: “No state shall make any law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; and no money raised by taxation in any state for the support of public schools, or derived from any public fund therefor (sic), nor any public lands devoted thereto, shall ever be under the control of any religious sect, nor shall any money so raised or lands so devoted be divided between religious sects or denominations.” Blaine’s bill passed the House but narrowly lost in the Senate. Nonetheless, he was able to make such a prohibition a requirement of any state seeking to join the Union going forward, and many other states adopted such language by choice.
Which is not to say that religion didn’t pervade the public schools themselves. Prayers, Bible readings, Christmas decorations and pageants were commonplace when I was growing up. What changed these practices and the popular assumption about American identity that undergirded them were the U.S. Supreme Court cases Engel v. Vitale in 1962, which banned officially mandated/led prayers in the public schools, and Abington v. Schempp in 1963, which banned officially mandated/led Bible readings.
The erosion of Christian privilege and the concomitant perception of Christian persecution can be dated from those decisions. “Put prayer back in our schools” was a conservative mantra in the 1960s. Because these two decisions coincided with the civil rights movement, inevitably the two upheavals got fused in many minds. Alabama Rep. George Andrews commented, “They put the Negroes in the schools and now they’ve driven God out.”
Politico
That connection between White grievance and Christian grievance is strong, especially among fundamentalist Protestants. According to Politico, a May 2022 poll found that “White respondents who say that members of their race have faced more discrimination than others are most likely to embrace a Christian America. Roughly 59% of all Americans who say white people have been discriminated against … favor declaring the U.S. a Christian nation, compared to 38% of all Americans.”
Endorsing interpretations of the First Amendment that deny the seriousness of our Founders’ commitment to church-state separation, Christian Nationalists want an explicit acknowledgement of our nation’s Christian identity. Since there is no platform common to adherents of this understanding, how much state aid they want varies. The most pervasive desire in this regard is to allow tax money to fund religious schools in some way, such as through voucher programs.
That struggle is a replay of an old one, but now with a more sympathetic U.S. Supreme Court refereeing it. Newer and more threatening to democracy is the belief that “real Americans” are Christian Americans. It’s part of the larger proto-fascist demand that our country be defined, not by its sharable history, values and founding documents, but by the “folk” versus the “aliens.” Further, many of the movement’s adherents, believing that they are in a holy war to save America, are willing to go beyond the boundaries of licit political behavior.
Bradley Onishi, author of the recently published “Preparing for War: The Extremist History of White Christian Nationalism — and What Comes Next,” put it this way: “What set in during 2016 — and has remained with us ever since — is militant rhetoric that says, ‘It’s now all-out warfare.’ What I’ve seen — and what I’ve documented with my colleague Matt Taylor — is an exponential rise in the rhetoric of spiritual warfare. You have pastors who have influence over hundreds of thousands of people saying, ‘It is time to get your swords bloody, it is time to realize you’re in the battle for your life, it is time to realize that the demons controlling the Democratic Party, the deep state and the United States government will not stop until they have rooted out God from this country.’”
So it was that Christian nationalists were involved in the Jan. 6 insurrection. This week, MSNBC opinion columnist Sarah Posner faulted the House Jan. 6 Committee for grossly underplaying in its final report the role of Christian nationalists. She made her case from documents the committee itself released. I commend her piece to you.
It might also be appropriate at this moment to revisit why the concept, novel at the time, of separation of church and state was at the forefront of the founder's thinking. As I understand it this idea prohibited the establishment of a state religion and the overpowering influence that it has over government. Attendant to that was the notion that freedom of worship was a societal virtue, for no other reason than to avoid internecine conflict.
The founders were not atheists, but progressive enough to see that religious zealotry was antithetical to the other principles embodied in the Constitution. One reason is that those easily seduced by the idea of a patriarchal, all-seeing, inscrutable, loving but equally cruel(?) deity were also easily victimized by unscrupulous politicians and other self-serving actors, as evidenced by the takeover of the Republican party.
This question is not political, but is there an intelligent, educated, informed Christian who can tell me how Christians can actually believe Christian mythology and theology? I have wondered this my entire life.
I wonder what Governor Huckabee Sanders meant when she referred to "false idols" in her rebuttal speech. Each of us has our own idea of a false idol, I suppose. For me, it's the golden calf in Cecil B. DeMille's Ten Commandments. For others, perhaps, it's the pig head in Lord of the Flies. But I wish she would have better explained what she was trying to get at with that reference. A dog whistle won't work unless the frame of reference is clear, and this dog (me) is lost when it comes to false idols. My point is that President Biden's speech made more sense than Governor Huckabee Sanders' rebuttal.
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; …”
The first amendment does not contain the phrase “separation of church and state.“ Instead, it says two things:
* there cannot be an established, official religion of the United States
* everyone is free to practice religion as they choose
You have to do some major interpretation to decide that prayer in the schools is prohibited. It is not an inevitable logical consequence of the words in the first amendment.
When I grew up in the 1950s, there were prayers in our grade school assembly events. My parents raised me as an atheist, but I do not remember being traumatized, or even upset, by having to sit through someone reciting, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want…”
When you go too far in one direction, you inevitably generate a backlash in the other direction. Perhaps the sensible middle would be the place to meet. Maybe an occasional prayer in a school is not the apocalypse.
We need to make a distinction here. There actually are some Christians trying to put the teachings of Jesus into practice by feeding the hungry, welcoming strangers, etc. Then there are the white Christian nationalists, the GOP’s racist base. For them, it’s all about money and power. They claim the Founding Fathers intended for the U.S. to be a white Christian nation, with a divine mission of spreading freedom and democracy (i.e. religion and capitalism) – by force, if necessary.
But that mission is endangered by the growing presence of non-whites, non-Christians, and non-Americans on American soil. White Christians must therefore take back “their” country. To that end, Republicans are waging culture wars and trying to ban diversity, equity and inclusion. It’s remarkable how the party of Lincoln has become so indistinguishable from the Lost Cause he fought so hard against.
The problem with school prayer is which prayer? The Christian prayer, the Muslin prayer, the Buddhist one, or maybe the Hebrew one. Which one gets the prayer for that school. Voodoo maybe? They are all legitimate religions. Maybe the schools rotate the prayers on a weekly basis. That’s the problem. Which one is said? Who gets to choose? The Government? The local political leader? Maybe a community vote? It’s not fair to everyone.
Save your prayers for church, whichever one you like. That’s called Democracy.
Those who want their kids to pray in school can send them to private schools that encourage it, but the public shouldn’t be forced to pay for it with taxes. “Separation of church and state” may not be in the Constitution, but Thomas Jefferson made it clear that was the intent of the Founders. The far-white, however, like to imagine that they know more about it than he does.
Jefferson would’ve been amazed and appalled at the assertion that prayer in schools should be outlawed.
You can actually make comments like this without tossing in passive-aggressive accusations about things like racism. I just did it. Some people around here ought to try it.
What's wrong with Arabic? Or "nam yoho rengye kyo," which comes from Japan? I see nothing wrong with using a foreign word for Yahwe in a school prayer , as long as my tax dollars aren't paying the teacher's salary.
White nationalism, whether or not it calls itself "Christian," is all about racism.
As for prayer in schools, we're fortunate to have someone who can channel TJ's thoughts on it - never mind his insistence on the separation of church and state.
What's wrong with simply pausing for a few moments of silent meditation after reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to our flag?
I was baptized and raised with both Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Catholic.
Remained agnostic after turning 16, and neither my Jewish wife nor I follow any religion. Son picked the Jewish faith when he got married.
To each his own, but all this evangelism and both pro and anti religion is quite boring. Problem solving should take priority. Way to easy to complain and/or criticize.
Any public school student can pray at almost any time she or he wants to in school. Probably many pray quietly just before taking a test. Kids can keep holy books in their backpacks and lockers. They can read it in homeroom, in the library, at lunch, before school, after school, during a free period, etc.
Just another wedge issue for people who have nothing better to do except argue for sport. Instead of arguing, get a life.
20 comments:
It might also be appropriate at this moment to revisit why the concept, novel at the time, of separation of church and state was at the forefront of the founder's thinking. As I understand it this idea prohibited the establishment of a state religion and the overpowering influence that it has over government. Attendant to that was the notion that freedom of worship was a societal virtue, for no other reason than to avoid internecine conflict.
The founders were not atheists, but progressive enough to see that religious zealotry was antithetical to the other principles embodied in the Constitution. One reason is that those easily seduced by the idea of a patriarchal, all-seeing, inscrutable, loving but equally cruel(?) deity were also easily victimized by unscrupulous politicians and other self-serving actors, as evidenced by the takeover of the Republican party.
The GOP has devolved.
This question is not political, but is there an intelligent, educated, informed Christian who can tell me how Christians can actually believe Christian mythology and theology? I have wondered this my entire life.
I wonder what Governor Huckabee Sanders meant when she referred to "false idols" in her rebuttal speech. Each of us has our own idea of a false idol, I suppose. For me, it's the golden calf in Cecil B. DeMille's Ten Commandments. For others, perhaps, it's the pig head in Lord of the Flies. But I wish she would have better explained what she was trying to get at with that reference. A dog whistle won't work unless the frame of reference is clear, and this dog (me) is lost when it comes to false idols. My point is that President Biden's speech made more sense than Governor Huckabee Sanders' rebuttal.
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; …”
The first amendment does not contain the phrase “separation of church and state.“ Instead, it says two things:
* there cannot be an established, official religion of the United States
* everyone is free to practice religion as they choose
You have to do some major interpretation to decide that prayer in the schools is prohibited. It is not an inevitable logical consequence of the words in the first amendment.
When I grew up in the 1950s, there were prayers in our grade school assembly events. My parents raised me as an atheist, but I do not remember being traumatized, or even upset, by having to sit through someone reciting, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want…”
When you go too far in one direction, you inevitably generate a backlash in the other direction. Perhaps the sensible middle would be the place to meet. Maybe an occasional prayer in a school is not the apocalypse.
We need to make a distinction here. There actually are some Christians trying to put the teachings of Jesus into practice by feeding the hungry, welcoming strangers, etc. Then there are the white Christian nationalists, the GOP’s racist base. For them, it’s all about money and power. They claim the Founding Fathers intended for the U.S. to be a white Christian nation, with a divine mission of spreading freedom and democracy (i.e. religion and capitalism) – by force, if necessary.
But that mission is endangered by the growing presence of non-whites, non-Christians, and non-Americans on American soil. White Christians must therefore take back “their” country. To that end, Republicans are waging culture wars and trying to ban diversity, equity and inclusion. It’s remarkable how the party of Lincoln has become so indistinguishable from the Lost Cause he fought so hard against.
The problem with school prayer is which prayer? The Christian prayer, the Muslin prayer, the Buddhist one, or maybe the Hebrew one. Which one gets the prayer for that school. Voodoo maybe? They are all legitimate religions. Maybe the schools rotate the prayers on a weekly basis. That’s the problem. Which one is said? Who gets to choose? The Government? The local political leader? Maybe a community vote? It’s not fair to everyone.
Save your prayers for church, whichever one you like. That’s called Democracy.
What’s wrong with taking turns? I think it would be educational for everyone.
Would Mr. Trigoboff think this is a good prayer for schools?
“He is Allah (the) One. The Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, He begets not nor was He begotten, and there is none equal to Him.”
Objectively, not any worse than "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want... ."
Still, not appropriate for public school in a secular, diverse democracy, is it?
Phil,
“Allah” is Arabic for God. Substitute the English word, and I would have no objection to this being recited in a school.
Those who want their kids to pray in school can send them to private schools that encourage it, but the public shouldn’t be forced to pay for it with taxes. “Separation of church and state” may not be in the Constitution, but Thomas Jefferson made it clear that was the intent of the Founders. The far-white, however, like to imagine that they know more about it than he does.
Jefferson would’ve been amazed and appalled at the assertion that prayer in schools should be outlawed.
You can actually make comments like this without tossing in passive-aggressive accusations about things like racism. I just did it. Some people around here ought to try it.
What's wrong with Arabic? Or "nam yoho rengye kyo," which comes from Japan? I see nothing wrong with using a foreign word for Yahwe in a school prayer , as long as my tax dollars aren't paying the teacher's salary.
I think we all know that if prayer in school is allowed, it will be a Christian one. Whether you like it or not.
White nationalism, whether or not it calls itself "Christian," is all about racism.
As for prayer in schools, we're fortunate to have someone who can channel TJ's thoughts on it - never mind his insistence on the separation of church and state.
Why? Can't children and their parents pray before school or after?
Right, because it's not about prayer. It's about forcing others to accept your superstitions.
Religion is a way to control others.
Yet, requiring masks takes away freedom.
I'm so glad religions are dying out worldwide.
If you're against wasteful government spending then you should be against wasting class time by forcing children to be exposed to religion.
What's wrong with simply pausing for a few moments of silent meditation after reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to our flag?
I was baptized and raised with both Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Catholic.
Remained agnostic after turning 16, and neither my Jewish wife nor I follow any religion. Son picked the Jewish faith when he got married.
To each his own, but all this evangelism and both pro and anti religion is quite boring. Problem solving should take priority. Way to easy to complain and/or criticize.
Any public school student can pray at almost any time she or he wants to in school. Probably many pray quietly just before taking a test. Kids can keep holy books in their backpacks and lockers. They can read it in homeroom, in the library, at lunch, before school, after school, during a free period, etc.
Just another wedge issue for people who have nothing better to do except argue for sport. Instead of arguing, get a life.
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