On September 17, MCHR co-sponsored an event with GESU and UDM entitled White Christian Nationalism and the 2024 Election. This was an eye opening event with a great turnout. Professors Todd Hibbard and Saeed Khan provided historical context for the rise of White Christian Nationalism as well as what Christian Nationalism is and statistics on who identifies as a White Christian Nationalist today.
Professor Khan began by highlighting that there is nothing new about White Christian Nationalism but rather we are just living in the most recent iteration of it. Something interesting to note is that the U.S. is not a Christian nation and has never been one. This was drafted as part of the Treaty of Tripoli. Back in the day, treaties were accessible to the public and if they had any issues with it, they could raise them. However, the public didn’t have any problems with the Treaty of Tripoli and thus didn’t have any problems with not being considered a Christian Nation. Moving along in history, Professor Khan mentioned how Irish Catholics used to be heavily persecuted in the U.S. because they were different from Evangelical Christians. There were blame amendments discriminating against Catholics. This leads to a concern about the longevity of the White Christian Nationalism movement. It is rooted in our past and keeps resurfacing in different iterations. It is a way to weaponize and find micro groups to be scapegoats for broader transitions that America is taking. For example, what do Haitian immigrants in Ohio have to do with certain failures in the system.
Next Professor Hibbard began his portion by defining what White Christian Nationalism is. IT is a cultural framework that idealizes and advocates a fusion of Christianity with American civic life. The “Christian” in White Christian Nationalism is more of an identity and less about the religion. It carries with it assumptions about nativism, white supremacy, authoritarianism, patriarchy, and militarism. Some quotes were provided by individuals who identified as White Christian Nationalists. One said, “The federal government should advocate Christian values.” Many of their ideology is vague like this. Professor Hibbard then provided statistics from the PPRI’s Support for Christian Nationalism in all 50 States: Findings from PPRI’s 2023 American Values Atlas. 37% of those polled said that if the U.S. moves away from our Christian foundation, we will not have a country anymore. 26% of Michiganders stated that they were sympathetic to Christian nationalists. Something interesting to note is that despite Catholics previously being persecuted themselves by White Christian Nationalists, there is now a joining between Catholics and White Christian Nationalists mainly due to their common cause around anti-abortion policies. Project 2025 is another way to bring Evangelical and Catholics together. Surprisingly and frighteningly, 38% of Americans polled were adherents to the belief that because things have gotten so far off track, true American patriots may have to resort to violence in order to save our country. This mentality is sadly becoming more and more apparent. Finally, we ended the discussion with why Christian nationalism is dangerous. There are many answers but for starters it conflates religion and national identity. It is also anti-democratic, anti-pluralist, and authoritarian. Additionally, it invokes racist tropes and also legitimizes violent, threatening language as justifiable. A lot of White Christian Nationalists see Hungary as an example. Finally, it withholds reproductive rights and gender-affirming care and undermines voting rights and diverse perspectives from public schools.
Finally, we ended the discussion with a Q&A. Some questions were about what we can do to fix this problem. We have to ask ourselves what kind of country do we want to live in. This means that political power matters so our elections have consequences. It is a long game to change culture so it will take time and discipline. A big problem is that this happens in plain sight especially when it comes to the judicial branch. Where does it stop with overturning laws and legal precedent? Roe v. Wade was overturned after 50 years. What’s to stop other laws from being overturned just as quickly and with equally detrimental consequences in order to push a specific agenda by White Christian Nationalists. This isn’t a unique problem to the U.S. either. Many countries are also suffering from the lack of an independent judicial system and a populist movement promising to return to more “traditional values.”
Another question asked about social media influences and how social media can spread an agenda. Many people don’t watch the news on TV anymore and instead turn to the internet and social media for their news. On social media, anyone can become a “leader” and a “voice” for incel groups or those looking to belong. Figures like Andrew Tate have become really prominent at inciting certain beliefs in the younger male generation.
Another person asked why do people turn to White Christian Nationalism. Some may be afraid that Protestant nationality will disappear. However, segments of minority groups will prop up these groups because they don’t have enough people of their own. Some vulnerable groups might turn to White Christian Nationalists and be indoctrinated to their cause because of promises of protection and safety. We see this happening in all communities and in other countries. People don’t want to hear a nuanced conversation and that’s where our country is now. Now one is willing to listen to others.
Finally, someone asked why we don’t label White Christian Nationalists as a cult. What we call things matters. Calling them a cult is not a useful category. The concern is whether people think of themselves as a White Christian Nationalist or just a good citizen.
2024 has been called the year of elections. This year more than 100 countries will vote including 8 out of the 10 most populous countries: Bangladesh, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Pakistan, Russia, and the United States. This year will greatly shape not only our domestic politics but also global politics as a whole. It’s a year that human rights will be tested. It’s important for us to recognize the potential threats of White Christian Nationalism and vote to make changes.
Some resources:
Websites:
PBS Newshour, What is Christian nationalism and why it raises concerns about threats to democracy,
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/what-is-christian-nationalism-and-why-it-raises-concerns-about-threa
PPRI, Support for Christian Nationalism in All 50 States: Findings from PRRI’s 2023 American Values Atlas,
Support for Christian Nationalism in All 50 States: Findings from PRRI’s 2023 American Values Atlas
Brookings, White nationalism remains major concern for voters of color, https://www.brookings.edu/articles/white-
nationalism-remains-major-concern-for-voters-of-color-and-appears-t
Podcast: Catholics and the crisis of white Christian nationalism: https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-
society/2023/01/20/white-christian-nationalism-jan-6-244572?gad_sou discusses the history of white Christian
nationalism, how Catholics and evangelicals became allies in our political and culture wars, and if there’s a non-toxic way
to mix faith and politics.
Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, USCCB: https://www.usccb.org/resources/forming-consciences-faithful-
citizenship-pdf
Book, Jesus and John Wayne, Dr. Kristin Kobes Du Mez of Calvin College, addresses the rise of Christian Nationalism and
how people of faith can respond to it.
Book, White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity, Robert P. Jones, delivers a provocative
examination of the unholy relationship between American Christianity and white supremacy, and issues an urgent call
for white Christians to reckon with this legacy for the sake of themselves and the nation.
Organizations:
MCHR, Michigan Coalition for Human Rights, https://www.mchr.org/ 313 579-9071
Young Adults Leadership Lab: https://networkadvocates.org/yall
Faithful America, the largest online community of Christians putting faith into action for love and social justice.
https://faithfulamerica.org/
Faithful Fridays, Episcopalian site that offers non-partisan resources to assist you and your community of faith in
preparing for this election. https://www.edomi.org/faithfulfridays/
Ignatian Solidarity, Voting Is An Act of Love, https://ignatiansolidarity.net/voting-is-an-act-of-love/
Movies/videos:
Undivide Us, film screening, Monday September 23, 6 pm West Bloomfield Library, 4600 Walnut Lake Rd, Free
Undivide Us registration
God and Country, documentary, takes a closer look at the dangerous implications and explores how a base of Christians
has radically stoked a movement erasing the line between Church and State. free on Prime, Apple TV, Tubi,
Events:
Nuns on the Bus, Vote Our Future Tour DETROIT: Gesu Church Detroit, Sunday, October 6, 6 pm
Who Are We? Democracy, Social Values, and the American Story. two nights, October 23 and 24, with Dr. Robert P.
Jones, the founder and president of PRRI, the Public Religion Research Institute (www. prri.org). 7:30 p.m. and will be
held in the Student Union Ballroom on the campus of UDM.
