Decoding Christian Nationalism: An Analysis of the Religious Right through Recent News Coverage
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Keywords
Christian nationalism, Capitol attack, Religious Right, white evangelicalism, apocalyptic, political ideology
Department
Religion
Major
Religion
Abstract
Christian nationalism is a political ideology and cultural framework that manifests in the United States as a blend of Christian and American identities, perverting both the Christian witness and America’s constitutional democracy. The January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol, where Christian symbolism accompanied the insurrectionists’ attempt to stop the certification of the 2020 presidential election, exposed the extreme dangers of Christian nationalism. By tracking Christian nationalism news coverage through a Google alert database, three key findings emerged that may aid in understanding this movement's latest trends. First, Christian nationalism is not localized to a single area, but is widespread, occurring in all five major geographical regions of the United States. Second, a handful of political leaders are actively voicing Christian nationalism, but numerous, so called “patriotic” churches, largely within the white evangelical tradition, are supporting the movement. Third, their rhetoric consistently constitutes apocalyptic fervor, which demonizes Democrats and the government at large for current social ills, demanding Christians safeguard the future of a Christian America through civic action.
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Christina Littlefield
Funding Source or Research Program
Academic Year Undergraduate Research Initiative
Presentation Session
Session C
Location
Black Family Plaza Classroom 190
Start Date
25-3-2022 3:30 PM
End Date
25-3-2022 3:45 PM
Decoding Christian Nationalism: An Analysis of the Religious Right through Recent News Coverage
Black Family Plaza Classroom 190
Christian nationalism is a political ideology and cultural framework that manifests in the United States as a blend of Christian and American identities, perverting both the Christian witness and America’s constitutional democracy. The January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol, where Christian symbolism accompanied the insurrectionists’ attempt to stop the certification of the 2020 presidential election, exposed the extreme dangers of Christian nationalism. By tracking Christian nationalism news coverage through a Google alert database, three key findings emerged that may aid in understanding this movement's latest trends. First, Christian nationalism is not localized to a single area, but is widespread, occurring in all five major geographical regions of the United States. Second, a handful of political leaders are actively voicing Christian nationalism, but numerous, so called “patriotic” churches, largely within the white evangelical tradition, are supporting the movement. Third, their rhetoric consistently constitutes apocalyptic fervor, which demonizes Democrats and the government at large for current social ills, demanding Christians safeguard the future of a Christian America through civic action.