When Christian Nationalism Comes to Town
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When Christian Nationalism Comes to Town
Christian Nationalism— which prioritizes religious doctrine over constitutional law — poses a grave threat to religious freedom in America.
But reporting on this can be a challenge.
Some audiences hear “Christian Nationalism”and think you are bashing Christians.
Others hear that Christian Nationalist believe our country was founded on Christian principles, and think: Of course, it was.
Still others may have some sense of our nation’s commitment to religious freedom. But they don’t really know what that means in practice.
When we report on Christian Nationalism we may be more effective if we focus on the specific freedom-robbing aspects of the ideology today and avoid history lessons.
Christian Nationalists believe:
The United States should govern via the Bible. This is what theocracies do.
Americans ought to have a religion imposed on their children in school via curriculum, bibles in the classroom, and religious iconology in the hallways. This is a violation of parental rights.
People of only one religion should lead the country. This is what they do in Iran.
Researchers who study Christian Nationalism know it’s a road to authoritarianism.
When reporting on local efforts to impose Christian Nationalist ideas in local government, we should prioritize understanding.
We should assume audiences aren’t acutely aware of how Christian Nationalism could rob them of freedoms they hold dear. We should let them know.
TIPS FOR REPORTING ON CHRISTIAN NATIONALIST POLICY
Whether you are covering a plan to put the Ten Commandments in front of City Hall, add bibles to public school classrooms, or infuse a district’s curriculum with Christian principles, it’s important to make the connection to Christian Nationalist ideology.
Identify what’s unconstitutional:
Keep it simple
Avoid statements that sound like opinions
Include the voices of lawyers etc. who can lay out how a policy conflicts with law
For example: “The Constitution says the government can’t favor one religion over another. Critics argue this policy crosses that line.”
Interview Christian critics:
If you only quote secular advocacy groups, sympathetic audiences may tune you out
Instead, quote:
Pastors who oppose government-imposed religion
Mainline Protestants concerned about pluralism
Black church leaders with civil rights perspectives
Catholic voices who defend church-state separation
Ask governance questions that highlight potential victims:
“What happens to families who interpret Christianity differently?”
“What protections exist for Jewish, Muslim, atheist, or non-evangelical students?
“What happens if the (state) constitution conflicts with a policy?”
SOME FACTS
According to a recent report by the Public Religion Research Institute:
1/3 of all Americans lean Christian Nationalist
56 percent of Republicans support the ideology
54 percent of Hispanic Protestants adhere to Christian Nationalist ideas
Christian Nationalists are more likely to support political violence.
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