by Matthew D. Taylor, Ph. D, Senior Scholar | Protestant Scholar

Three Suggestions On Responding to Christian Nationalism

1. Spread the word about Christian nationalism

• Share our video: Spiritual Warriors: Decoding Christian Nationalism at the Capitol Riot
• Download the Spiritual Warriors Video Discussion Curriculum.
• Listen to the audio-documentary Charismatic Revival Fury.
• Other helpful resources you can share:
  • A Christian Nation? Understanding the Threat of Christian Nationalism to American Democracy and Culture, a report by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) and the Brookings Institution.
  • The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism, by journalist Tim Alberta.
  • The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism, by Katherine Stewart. A documentary film based on  this book, God & Country (directed by Rob Reiner), is set for February release. 
  • The Flag and the Cross: White Christian Nationalism and the Threat to American Democracy, by Philip S. Gorski and Samuel L. Perry. Book referenced by Ann Duncan during the 1/31 panel.
• My forthcoming book, The Violent Take it by Force: The Christian movement that is threatening our democracy, is available now for presale.   

2. Engage people who are sympathetic with Christian nationalism in constructive, humanizing dialogue

• The people who are sympathetic to Christian Nationalism include your neighbors, friends, coworkers, family members, and so on. 
• These are not easy conversations, but you don’t have to convert them to your view on all matters. Try to find ways to humanize them, humanize yourself, and humanize the real-world consequences if Christian nationalists were to overturn American pluralism.

3. Prepare yourself to defend democracy

• Democracy is not about passive systems or abstract checks and balances. Democracy and the rule of law must be defended through peaceful means and mobilizing citizens.
• Assess your current involvement in American democracy, and try to come up with one or two concrete steps you could take to be more involved.
  • If you don’t vote, vote this year.
  • If you don’t write to or call your representatives’ offices, gather that contact information now.
  • If you haven’t previously been part of a protest, mentally decide what your line in the sand is that would get you to join a protest.

ADDITIONAL IDEAS FOR CHRISTIANS

• Look at what your congregation or denomination has said against Christian nationalism. Consider how you can amplify their message. 
• Check out the statement and resources of Christians Against Christian Nationalism, a program of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty
• Listen to a sermon I delivered, God’s Dominion (Brown Memorial Park Ave Presbyterian Church, Baltimore, July 9, 2023).

Find more resources on Christian nationalism here.