White Christian Nationalists: Who Are They?

#religion

Increasingly, members of the media, academics, Americans United and others are using the term “Christian nationalism” and often “white Christian nationalism” to describe a political movement that seeks to topple church-state separation and declare America a “Christian nation” – with “Christian” in this case being far to the right and supremely fundamentalist.

White Christian nationalists are individuals who adhere to an ideology based on the belief that the United States is a Christian nation, founded on Christian principles, and should remain so in the future.

They advocate for laws based on Christian values and often see being a Christian as essential to being a “real American”. These individuals may combine American-style white evangelicalism with nationalist sentiments, perceiving their mission and cherished values as threatened by the growing presence of non-whites, non-Christians, and immigrants in the country.

Some white Christian nationalists also align with specific religious denominations, such as Protestantism, while others may embrace atheism or neopaganism. The roots of white Christian nationalism trace back to the late 1600s, with adherents believing that America’s founding was influenced by Christians who aimed to spread their religion and ideals.