A new survey has found that, as of 2023, more than half of Republicans support the idea of "Christian Nationalism."
Christian nationalism is a worldview that claims the U.S. is a Christian nation and that the country's laws should therefore be rooted in Christian values.
This ignores the thrust of the Enlightenment, at the time of the drafting of the Constitution, that eschewed the idea of any state-established religion and valued freedom and independence of thought. This included the option to believe there is no god, but that reason alone is a good enough reason to be "good" regardless of whether there is a "heaven" or "hell" or whose conception of god is the "correct" one. Such was the view of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and others.
The words "Under God" were added to the pledge of allegiance and US Currency during the McCarthy era of the Cold War in the 1950s to distinguish the United States from "godless communists" in Russia.
In line with the views of only about 20% of Americans, but 54% of Republicans
According to the PRRI/Brookings study,
- 10% of Americans view themselves as adherents of Christian nationalism
- about 19% of Americans said they sympathize with these views.
Prominent "Christian Nationalist" Legislators
- Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R- GA)
- Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO)
Christian Nationalist World Leaders
- Vicktor Orban - Hungary
Because of Orbán's curtailing of press freedom, erosion of judicial independence, and undermining of multiparty democracy, many political scientists and watchdogs consider Hungary to have experienced democratic backsliding during Orbán's tenure.[3][4][5] Orbán's harsh criticism of the policies favored by the European Union while accepting their money and funneling it to his allies and family have also led to accusations that his government is a kleptocracy.[6] His government has also been characterized as an autocracy.[7]
More Information
Tracing the rise of Christian nationalism, from Trump to the Ala. Supreme Court (Fresh Air, February 28, 2024) Inverview with Brad Onishi, a former Christian Nationalist, theologian, and author of Preparing for War: The Extremist History of White Christian Nationalism--and What Comes Next
The content of this article pertains to all US states and counties.