Listen now | An essay that gives you the language to see how Christian nationalism turns belief into political control This essay is not simply an analysis; it's an act of resistance. It's a call for clarity in a world deliberately obscured by misinformation and fear. My goal is to equip you, the reader, with the tools to discern between the life-affirming principles of genuine faith and the destructive ideology of Christian nationalism in the U.S. today.
Wendi, thank you for restacking my post and for sharing your powerful article. Reading your reflections from 2022 felt like tracing a river back to its source—so much of what we’re witnessing now was already flowing beneath the surface then. Your voice as a former pastor adds such vital clarity and depth. It’s both affirming and sobering to see how our observations align, especially when it comes to the cognitive shifts already shaping hearts and minds. I’m grateful we’re part of the same chorus, calling attention to these patterns and inviting others to look deeper.
I’m grateful we’re part of the same chorus, too. And sad that the river of hate and violence justified by some Christians (and people of other faiths) has flowed for thousands of years and continues to destroy everyone and everything in its path.
Jay, your kind thoughts are so appreciated. Yes, I agree with your awareness of the direction and the pitfalls we see taking place, despite the goodness some good people might only anticipate if they do not look more closely and think deeply. Your vocabulary and expression are more skilled than mine, but the cause-effect, and ulterior motives mixed into some people’s proposed ideas are missed by some otherwise good people, and they are oblivious to many people who even see no need to pay attention.
Thank you, JP4M. Your response really touched me—especially your honesty about the tension between good intentions and deeper consequences. I don’t believe it’s about having more “skilled” language; it’s about courageously naming what we see, and you’ve done that with clarity and care. There’s a kind of quiet heartbreak in watching well-meaning people overlook the harm embedded in certain ideologies, often because they’ve been taught not to question the surface. I'm grateful you’re paying attention—and speaking from that place of insight. That matters more than you know.
Thank you, Jay. It means a lot that you understand. We teach people to question, but they do not always stretch the lessons to apply them beyond specific situations. Sometimes any of us could and probably do miss an important situation to question at times, possibly because we are blinded by what seems obvious or what we expect to see. I wrote more but decided it was too much. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
A compelling climb through history and a lingering question we should all be asking ourselves — are we willing to learn from the past and make different choices?
Jay, thank you so much for this important message. Our forefathers, in their wisdom, understood the importance of separation of church and state, and it had always seemed that everyone understood that we respect each religion. In some protestant churches, we studied various other religions to understand and respect them for their similarities and their differences. If friends held/hold different beliefs, we still cared/care about them as the individuals they were/are, and we shared/share our common interests without ever trying to dominate or change them, all the while trusting that friends held the same respect for us.
It also has become apparent that there are very good people who have still different beliefs, and whether or not their beliefs coincide or conflict with our individual beliefs, respect for individual rights must prevail. It is important that respect and the responsibility to remain respectful by not intruding on other people’s beliefs remain in tact. Anything less than maintaining that respect would be unAmerican. Freedoms must remain. Respect must remain.
JP4M, your words are a powerful reminder of the America at its best – where different beliefs are met with curiosity and respect, and where individual rights are paramount. Sadly, that vision feels increasingly threatened. As you point out, the wisdom of the separation of church and state seems to be eroding, and with it, that fundamental respect for differing viewpoints. My concern, as I expressed in the essay, is that this erosion paves the way for the kind of exclusionary ideology that history has repeatedly shown to be so harmful."
I appreciate this comprehensive essay and can see how this issue is both personal and global. Trump and his cronies take the queue from Victor Orban.
"this ideology doesn’t just distort Christianity. It hollows it out."
I so agree with this. In fact, what the so-called Christians within MAGA make a mockery of true Christianity, which I studied in depth at the Catholic school I attended.
I have two personal connections to such people: a couple who took me in as a host student during my freshman year. I didn't realize till much later that their sole purpose was to evangelize me. They listened to Rush Limbaugh. Many years later they became MAGA. The other person is my mom. She goes to a Christian church (after admonishing me not to dabble into religion during my adolescence). She saw that her church was lenient in giving out baptism certificates to undocumented refugees so they could remain in asylum status. Then she started to hate on them coz her own path to green card was a lot harder.
Needless to say, I do not have a high regard for hypocrites like them.
I restacked your post, and shared a link to a 2022 article I wrote about Christian nationalism: https://www.texasobserver.org/christian-nationalism-texas-pastors/
Wendi, thank you for restacking my post and for sharing your powerful article. Reading your reflections from 2022 felt like tracing a river back to its source—so much of what we’re witnessing now was already flowing beneath the surface then. Your voice as a former pastor adds such vital clarity and depth. It’s both affirming and sobering to see how our observations align, especially when it comes to the cognitive shifts already shaping hearts and minds. I’m grateful we’re part of the same chorus, calling attention to these patterns and inviting others to look deeper.
I’m grateful we’re part of the same chorus, too. And sad that the river of hate and violence justified by some Christians (and people of other faiths) has flowed for thousands of years and continues to destroy everyone and everything in its path.
Jay, your kind thoughts are so appreciated. Yes, I agree with your awareness of the direction and the pitfalls we see taking place, despite the goodness some good people might only anticipate if they do not look more closely and think deeply. Your vocabulary and expression are more skilled than mine, but the cause-effect, and ulterior motives mixed into some people’s proposed ideas are missed by some otherwise good people, and they are oblivious to many people who even see no need to pay attention.
Thank you, JP4M. Your response really touched me—especially your honesty about the tension between good intentions and deeper consequences. I don’t believe it’s about having more “skilled” language; it’s about courageously naming what we see, and you’ve done that with clarity and care. There’s a kind of quiet heartbreak in watching well-meaning people overlook the harm embedded in certain ideologies, often because they’ve been taught not to question the surface. I'm grateful you’re paying attention—and speaking from that place of insight. That matters more than you know.
Thank you, Jay. It means a lot that you understand. We teach people to question, but they do not always stretch the lessons to apply them beyond specific situations. Sometimes any of us could and probably do miss an important situation to question at times, possibly because we are blinded by what seems obvious or what we expect to see. I wrote more but decided it was too much. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
A compelling climb through history and a lingering question we should all be asking ourselves — are we willing to learn from the past and make different choices?
That Susan, is something everyone can only clear with their own conscience.
Jay, thank you so much for this important message. Our forefathers, in their wisdom, understood the importance of separation of church and state, and it had always seemed that everyone understood that we respect each religion. In some protestant churches, we studied various other religions to understand and respect them for their similarities and their differences. If friends held/hold different beliefs, we still cared/care about them as the individuals they were/are, and we shared/share our common interests without ever trying to dominate or change them, all the while trusting that friends held the same respect for us.
It also has become apparent that there are very good people who have still different beliefs, and whether or not their beliefs coincide or conflict with our individual beliefs, respect for individual rights must prevail. It is important that respect and the responsibility to remain respectful by not intruding on other people’s beliefs remain in tact. Anything less than maintaining that respect would be unAmerican. Freedoms must remain. Respect must remain.
JP4M, your words are a powerful reminder of the America at its best – where different beliefs are met with curiosity and respect, and where individual rights are paramount. Sadly, that vision feels increasingly threatened. As you point out, the wisdom of the separation of church and state seems to be eroding, and with it, that fundamental respect for differing viewpoints. My concern, as I expressed in the essay, is that this erosion paves the way for the kind of exclusionary ideology that history has repeatedly shown to be so harmful."
I appreciate this comprehensive essay and can see how this issue is both personal and global. Trump and his cronies take the queue from Victor Orban.
"this ideology doesn’t just distort Christianity. It hollows it out."
I so agree with this. In fact, what the so-called Christians within MAGA make a mockery of true Christianity, which I studied in depth at the Catholic school I attended.
I have two personal connections to such people: a couple who took me in as a host student during my freshman year. I didn't realize till much later that their sole purpose was to evangelize me. They listened to Rush Limbaugh. Many years later they became MAGA. The other person is my mom. She goes to a Christian church (after admonishing me not to dabble into religion during my adolescence). She saw that her church was lenient in giving out baptism certificates to undocumented refugees so they could remain in asylum status. Then she started to hate on them coz her own path to green card was a lot harder.
Needless to say, I do not have a high regard for hypocrites like them.