Recognizing Christian Nationalism in the Wild
On multiple fronts, WCNs have used wordplay to flip the script. Here are some tools to fight back.
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Since I started writing on Substack, I have consistently focused on Christian Nationalist language.
What are they really saying?
What do their words really mean?
I’ve packed today’s newsletter with this language to help readers spot WCN and call it out when they encounter it. This will get long fast. I won’t be able to cover every topic in one newsletter. Stay tuned for more.
On Christianity:
Any version of “Christianity is the One True Faith.” They will disparage people of other faiths and no faith more openly, but pay attention. They’re even prone to label other Christians “lost” or “not saved” or “woke.” I grew up in a Baptist church that taught every other Protestant denomination and all Catholics are going to hell. White Christian Nationalists are indoctrinated to believe they are special; they’re exclusive; they’re better than everyone else.
What to say when one encounters this:
“I refuse to accept your narrow Christian Nationalist interpretation of who is redeemed, and I will not stand idly by and allow you to force it on anyone else.”
“You have a right to your faith, just like everyone else in this room. You DO NOT have a right to force others to live by your religious beliefs.”
Talk of “false gods” or “idol worship” or “idolatry” applied to other faith modalities. Christian Nationalists believe their version of Christianity is the One True Faith; all other faiths are “false.” This talking point generally works two ways: 1. A Christian Nationalist openly calls another faith, say Islam, “idol worship” or claims Jews worship “false gods.” (Radicalized Christian Nationalist extremist Joel Webbon does this frequently - see linked video below - but he’s far from alone.) 2. They insist on their own religious freedom while diminishing all other faiths in the room. This is the passive aggressive, backdoor method of calling other faiths “false.”
It is important to push back against this talking point. Christian Nationalists are teeing it up to declare all other faiths “false.” They will claim that religious freedom protections only apply to “real” faith, ie Christian Nationalism.
What to say when one encounters this:
“You are not God. You have no right to judge whose faith is ‘real’ and whose is ‘false.’ Those who make such claims set themselves up as gods, which is the very definition of idolatry.”
On abortion:
Christian Nationalists have been happy for the left to make this about “reproductive rights” and “bodily autonomy.” But let’s be clear: Abortion bans and restrictions are Christian Nationalist religious laws that force everyone in a community or state to live by their interpretation of the Bible. Period.
What to say when one encounters this:
Call abortion bans and restrictions CHRISTIAN NATIONALIST RELIGIOUS LAWS. They are forcing CHRISTIAN NATIONALIST RELIGIOUS LAWS on everyone. Loudly and forcefully reject it by calling it what it is.
The link below is a seven minute conversation with Dr. James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family. It is packed with the talking points Christian Nationalists use amongst themselves and could be referenced to point out how abortion bans are CHRISTIAN NATIONALIST RELIGIOUS LAWS. (I’m sorry I can’t get the video to show graphically.)
https://www.foxnews.com/video/5997014185001
On LGBTQIA+ and Transgender People:
Christian Nationalists are indoctrinated to believe none of these groups really exist. They believe their Bibles say these groups are all choosing to be LGBTQIA+ or trans, and those choices are SINFUL. They are WRONG. They are NOT BIBLICAL. They DISPLEASE GOD. (I capitalized words they’re prone to say.)
It is extremely important to grasp how their religious beliefs permeate what they choose to attack. They frame removing LGBTQIA+ and trans books from schools and libraries as “protecting children,” but it is really their radicalized belief that children read those books and CHOOSE TO BE trans or LGBTQIA+. They believe seeing happy, functioning LGBTQIA+ and trans people makes others CHOOSE TO BE trans or LGBTQIA+.
What to say when one encounters this:
“You have every right to believe your Bible says that LGBTQIA+ and trans people are sinful people making wrong choices that displease God. But you have no right to force anyone else to live by your religious beliefs, and you have no place telling other parents how to rear their children.”
“The word ‘homosexual’ was not in the Bible until 1946 (Revised Standard Version.) No matter how Christian Nationalists paint it, millions and millions of Christians do not believe the Bible condemns homosexuality.”
Here’s Christian Nationalist prosperity gospel peddler Joel Osteen calling homosexuality a sin on CNN.
On the nation of Israel:
Christian Nationalists are indoctrinated to believe the nation of Israel must exist for End Times/Last Days apocalyptic prophecies to come true. Most don’t care about Jewish people and can be very antisemitic. This is about LAND and MAPS, not HUMAN BEINGS.
We saw this indoctrination in real time during Tucker Carlson’s interview with Ted Cruz. It’s a very good example of what Christian Nationalist indoctrination looks like in the wild. Cruz references Genesis about Israel but cannot recall exactly what it says or where it is. These are indoctrinated talking points he repeats from years or decades of exposure in Christian Nationalist spaces.
What to say when one encounters this:
“The Bible is not a foreign policy document. Christian Nationalist religious beliefs cannot impact foreign policy.” It might also help to mention how the Bible-as-foreign-policy has been disastrous throughout history: Crusades; pogroms; the Thirty Years War; inquisitions; the Holocaust; etc.
While Christian Nationalists will scream Christian persecution and anti-Christian bias, it is important to call them out on their constant efforts to force everyone in America to live by Christian Nationalist religious laws.
I see Dobson died today. Good riddance.
Outstanding newsletter today (as always). I love when you give us practical advice. And thanks for the video clips. I hate to listen to them spout their garbage but it helps keep me current.