This article was produced with assistance from Rai, the new Rappler AI chatbot that provides information based on Rappler articles. Information from Rai was vetted and contextualized by Rappler’s editorial team before being used for Faith 101.
“We have to bring back our religion. We have to bring back Christianity in this country.”
Bringing back Christianity is “the biggest thing missing” in the United States, said Donald Trump in a speech for the National Religious Broadcasters in Nashville on February 22.
Trump, 78, promised power to his Christian supporters if he gets elected to the White House again. “I get in there, you’re gonna be using that power at a level that you’ve never used it before,” he said.
These words illustrate how Trump, the newly-elected 47th president of the United States, promises a Christian nationalist vision of America in his second term.
What is Christian nationalism?
Christian nationalism is a political ideology that intertwines Christian faith with national identity, advocating for a society where Christian values and beliefs are dominant in public life and governance.
It is characterized by the use of the name of God and Evangelical symbols to amass power and promote a perspective that prioritizes Christian thought above all others. This ideology has historical roots that can be traced back to the rise of the Religious Right in the United States, which is often debated in terms of its origins and motives.
Critics of Christian nationalism argue that it fosters an environment where dissenters are labeled as evil or enemies of God, creating a divisive atmosphere in society. The movement often emphasizes issues such as abortion and gay rights, framing them as ultimate sins that must be combated to preserve a “Christian America.”
This focus on specific moral issues is seen as a way to galvanize support among evangelical voters, while simultaneously marginalizing those who do not share the same beliefs.
Belief that Christians should rule
David French, a New York Times columnist who writes about law, culture, religion, and armed conflict, said that “to understand what Christian nationalism is, it’s important to understand what it is not.”
“It is not Christian nationalism if a person’s political values are shaped by the individual’s Christian faith. In fact, many of America’s most important social movements have been infused with Christian theology and Christian activism,” citing as an example the “pervasively Christian” civil rights movement led by Martin Luther King Jr., a Baptist minister.
“The problem with Christian nationalism isn’t with Christian participation in politics but rather the belief that there should be Christian primacy in politics and law,” French wrote in a February 24 opinion piece.
Christian nationalism, he added, “isn’t just rooted in ideology; it’s also deeply rooted in identity, the belief that Christians should rule.”
In practice, Christian nationalism manifests through the overwhelming support of white Christians for political figures like Trump. This support is indicative of a strong political alignment with their religious identity, which has been consistent across multiple elections.
For more about Christian nationalism, read the following articles published on Rappler:
- “Inside Ziklag, the Christian-right group trying to sway the 2024 US election,” originally published by ProPublica and co-published with Documented
- “The ‘Courage Tour’ is attempting to get Christians to vote for Trump,” written by Michael E. Heyes and originally published by The Conversation
- “[OPINION] On the indefensible: US Evangelicals’ obsessive support for Trump,” written by Caleb Maglaya Galaraga
– Paterno R. Esmaquel II/Rappler.com
Do you want to know more about concepts, traditions, or personalities related to any faith? We welcome suggested topics for Faith 101. Drop a note in the faith chat room of the Rappler Communities app!