Christians defend true religious freedom

Those who read this column know that I frequently write about the dangers that Christian nationalists pose to American democracy. Unfortunately, some readers think the comments about Christian nationalists in this column refer to all Christians. This has never been the case. One group, Christians Against Christian Nationalism, knows the difference between Christians and Christian nationalists and works to prevent Christian nationalists from destroying Christianity and American constitutional democracy.

Christians Against Christian Nationalism was established in 2019 by Amanda Tyler, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, a national organization focused on religious freedom for all. Tyler founded the group after violent events inspired by Christian nationalist ideology: the murder of nine people at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina (2015), the white supremacist rally “You Will Not Replace Us » in Charlottesville, Virginia. (2017), the massacre of 11 people at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (2018), and the shooting at the Chabad of Poway, Poway, California (2019).

Throughout these horrific events, conservative media and politicians have amplified white Christian nationalist ideology by legitimizing their false claims to “take back the country from those who threaten a country.” white Christian nation.” Tyler views Christian nationalism as a perversion of Christianity. I agree, especially when Christian nationalist politicians write state and federal laws based on their particular interpretation of the Bible – laws that undermine the constitutional separation of church and state. Often, these laws deny women the right to choose, prevent LGBTQ+ people from living authentic lives, and direct taxpayer dollars to fund their quasi-religious/political agenda. Most Christians do not support this particular interpretation of the Bible.

Christians against Christian nationalism website states: “As Christians, our faith teaches us that everyone is created in the image of God and commands us to love one another. As Americans, we value our system of government and the good that can be accomplished in our constitutional democracy. Today, we are concerned about a persistent threat to both our faith communities and our democracy: Christian nationalism.

“Christian nationalism seeks to merge Christian and American identities, distorting both the Christian faith and American constitutional democracy. Christian nationalism requires that Christianity be favored by the state and implies that to be a good American; you have to be a Christian. It often intersects and covers white supremacy and racial subjugation. We reject this harmful political ideology and invite our Christian brothers and sisters to join us in opposing this threat to our faith and our nation.

Despite the overwhelming evidence that white Christian nationalists were behind the attack on the nation’s capital on January 6, 2021, the Official report on the insurrection barely evokes Christian nationalism. To document the role Christian nationalism played in the insurrection, the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, Religious Freedom Foundation, and Christians Against Christian Nationalism, “…published on February 9, 2022, (the) the most comprehensive account to date of how Christian nationalism contributed to the events leading up to January 6 and the day of the attack itself.

Tyler was asked to “testify publicly about American parliament on the threat posed by white Christian nationalism, indicating growing concern over an ideology that has become more pervasive and dominant since January 6. In an interview with Time Magazine on December 15, Tyler said, “I’m really grateful that members of Congress are paying attention to how Christian nationalism intersects with and covers up for Christian nationalism. white supremacyand how some of these extremists (white supremists) are fueled by Christian nationalism, using it to try to justify their violence as being committed in the name of God.”

Katherine Stewart, an investigative journalist and author covering the religious right for more than 10 years, contributed to the report. Stewart’s research revealed that Christian nationalism is not, as some would have you believe, just another religious organization advocating a particular point of view. She discovered that Christian nationalism is not a religious organization at all. On the contrary, Christian nationalism is a well-funded and well-connected political movement determined to destroy Christianity and American constitutional democracy.

Tyler notes that white Christian nationalism not only “tarnishes Christianity’s reputation among the general public, but distorts the gospel of Jesus beyond recognition” and “this kind of power-brokering Christianity has been used to perpetuate segregation racially motivated for generations (and contributes greatly to) the trauma and pain on our streets right now.

Far from opposing religion, the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, the Religious Freedom Foundation, and Christians Against Christian Nationalism fight for everyone’s religious freedom.

” Previous