The documentary’s goal is to raise awareness among practicing American Christians – who number in the tens of millions – of the threat of anti-democratic religious extremism in the United States.
The film, which hits theaters Feb. 16 and screens at a private premiere Thursday at the Capitol, is perhaps Hollywood’s first close effort to generalize the term “Christian nationalism” and to convince Americans (especially Christians) ) to engage in conversations about the recent well-organized and well-funded efforts to officially merge church and state.
The 90-minute documentary, directed by Dan Partland, is inspired by the 2020 book “The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism” by Katherine Stewart. It includes a who’s who of prominent Christians – almost all Protestant or non-denominational – who have, in recent years, raised the alarm about the rise of anti-pluralist and anti-democratic religious trends in the United States, and its relationship symbiotic with Donald Trump.
“Evangelicalism became married to a kind of political activism, and now evangelicalism has morphed into a cultural and political movement that might best be described as ‘Christian nationalism,'” said Skye Jethani, co-host of the “Holy Post” podcast. in the movie.
“God & Country” illustrates this by weaving together clips of prominent Christians floating anti-democratic ideas. John MacArthur, whom Christianity Today considers one of the most influential pastors of modern times, says: “No Christian with half a brain would say, ‘We support religious freedom!’ We support the truth!
The film documents the billions of dollars that advocacy groups have spent in an effort to bring their preferred version of conservative Christianity into government, and quotes Ralph Reed, longtime political consultant and founder of the Faith and Liberty Coalition , at a gathering of the North Carolina branch. his group how he flooded conservative Christians with text messages, calls and house calls to get them to vote. “I don’t want to scare you, but we tracked 147 different data points.”
Phil Vischer, an animator who co-created the once Christian-themed children’s video series “VeggieTales,” explains in the film that Christian nationalism exploded because many Christians came to believe that the United States United have a special role ordained by God.
“Here’s the thing: If I’ve decided that America is irreplaceable in God’s story…and democracy gets in the way, well, democracy has to go,” Vischer said, describing this way of thinking.
A project of the Baptist Joint Committee, which advocates for religious pluralism, organized the premiere at the Capitol.
Washington Post religion reporter Michelle Boorstein spoke this week with Reiner and Partland about the documentary and what it means to try to mainstream the conversation about Christian nationalism.
MB: What was the process of making a film on this subject like? Was there any interest from the industry? You said the idea came from someone who had worked for many years at Christian media companies and was concerned.
PD: The most passionate people were devout Christians. I approached this issue from the perspective of someone who was deeply concerned about what was happening in American democracy. And he had certainly begun to understand the danger that any religious nationalist movement presented to a democratic society. But what I have learned from deeply pious people is that this presents a significant danger to the Church itself. They were deeply concerned about American democracy, but also about how this Christian nationalist movement distorted the views and mission of the Church.
MB: Can you characterize the market for something like this? The term “Christian nationalism” may seem academic and, of course, the subject is volatile.
FR : This is tricky because, at first glance, it seems very controversial.
PD: Just as we need independent journalism, we need independent cinema. I think mainstream media funding something like this is very dangerous. So this was done independently and we’re going at it independently. (Oscilloscope Laboratories is distributing the documentary.)
MB: How difficult will it be to convey this to an audience who might identify or sympathize with the movement you are criticizing here – conservative Christians? Is there a single strategy?
FR : (The strategy) can be screenings in churches. One of the things that (our advisors) talk about is getting people to watch this and then asking others, “Will you watch this for me?” » Many people don’t know what (the term Christian nationalism) means. And how does this differ from the traditional teachings of Jesus?
MB: What discussions have you had about this term and the fact that many people are unfamiliar with it? Or that it may seem academic? Or make certain people angry?
FR : This is the crucial element, because people need to understand the difference between Christian nationalism, which essentially says, “My way or the way” and which will resort to anything to get what it wants, including violence, and the true teachings of Jesus on the subject. peace and love. We’re trying to make people understand the difference, and that’s the challenge.
PD: I think the term is very problematic because it seems pro-Christian and very patriotic. It doesn’t describe itself. The movie takes a while to explain…it’s actually not a faith at all, it’s a political ideology disguised as a faith. And it turns out that’s not very Christian and totally un-American.
MB: The film highlights the threat of the movement and the people. How did you think about this emphasis at a time when the feeling of threat appears everywhere?
FR : It is a threat to democracy and, on the other hand, it is a threat to Christianity itself. This is what we tried to show. …And you may say, “Well, fear sells,” but that’s the reality. We see that part of this is the attack on the US Capitol (the January 6, 2021). This actually happened. We are not instilling fear, this actually happened. What we are saying is that at the base is a political movement ready to do anything to achieve its ends.
PD: You try to accurately describe the dangers, but not be alarmist. I don’t want to do anything that will only increase division. But it’s one thing for us as Americans to monitor ourselves to assess this threat.
Christian nationalism seemed on the verge of being subdued after the insurrection. But this did not attract enough public attention. We just installed Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the House, who has spoken openly about the need for more biblical teaching in government. It’s beautiful and good, great! – for your faith to influence your political thinking, but the goal can never be to insert a particular faith into American law.
MB: Trump captivated many Christians in 2015-2016 by talking about empowering conservative Christians, elevating the Christian nature of the country, and empowering their leaders. Is 2024 different?
FR : I think it’s even more dangerous. Because all the arrests, prosecutions and indictments against Trump on January 6 strengthened his political position. I think we are in a more dangerous place. The whole idea of Trump being anointed by God…is just getting more and more amplified.
This is a shrinking minority (of people who adhere to these ideas) but a minority that is solidifying and hardening. In terms of history, we know that if 25-30% of a country’s population is stubbornly pro-fascist, that’s enough to take over a country.
PD: These things are related. When the United States was at least 75 percent practicing Christians, it had no need for Christian nationalism. They controlled their power and felt their influence on culture and government at all times. But as it diminishes, they really feel a lack of political power.
MB: Do you think (President) Biden is the right person to take on this challenge? Would you like someone else to run?
FR : No, I think what he did was set the tone in 2020 when he spoke about the soul of the nation. This theme continues and he makes a very clear choice. You can either choose democracy or you can choose this other path, which is authoritarianism, fascism. … He made it very clear that this is the fight we face. We are definitely at a crossroads. And America will have to make a choice.
