Editing: Christian nationalism

# Christian Nationalism

**Christian nationalism** is a political ideology that seeks to merge Christian identity with national identity, advocating for Christianity to hold a privileged position in public life, government policy, and cultural institutions. Unlike traditional religious conservatism that focuses primarily on personal faith and moral issues, Christian nationalism explicitly aims to establish or maintain Christianity as the dominant organizing principle of society and government.

Christian nationalism typically combines religious devotion with claims about national identity, arguing that a particular nation has a special covenant with God or that Christianity is essential to the nation's character and proper functioning. Adherents often view their country as divinely blessed or chosen, and they seek to align laws, policies, and cultural norms with their interpretation of Christian principles.

## Historical Development

Christian nationalism has appeared in various forms throughout history, often emerging during periods of social change, political upheaval, or perceived cultural threat. In medieval Europe, concepts of Christendom blended religious and political authority, with monarchs claiming divine right to rule and nations defining themselves in explicitly Christian terms.

The modern form of Christian nationalism developed alongside the rise of nation-states in the 18th and 19th centuries. In the United States, early expressions included the concept of America as a "city upon a hill" and later the notion of Manifest Destiny, which combined territorial expansion with religious mission. Similar movements emerged in other countries, such as Russian Orthodoxy's relationship with Russian imperial identity and various European nationalist movements that incorporated Christian symbolism and rhetoric.

The 20th century saw both the decline and resurgence of Christian nationalist movements. While secularization reduced the explicit role of Christianity in many Western governments, periods of crisis often revived Christian nationalist sentiment. The Cold War era saw American Christian nationalism frame the conflict with communism in religious terms, while post-colonial nations sometimes embraced Christian nationalism as part of their independence movements.

## Core Beliefs and Characteristics

Christian nationalism rests on several key premises that distinguish it from other forms of religious or political engagement. **Providential nationalism** holds that God has a special relationship with the nation, often viewing national success or failure as divine blessing or judgment. This belief system typically includes the idea that the nation has a divine mission or calling that transcends ordinary political concerns.

**Cultural supremacy** represents another central tenet, asserting that Christian values and traditions should dominate public discourse, education, and social norms. Christian nationalists often argue that their nation's founding principles, legal system, and cultural achievements stem from Christian influence, and that maintaining this influence is essential for national prosperity and moral order.

The movement also emphasizes **institutional control**, seeking to place Christians in positions of political power and to ensure that government policies align with Christian teachings. This can include support for prayer in schools, religious displays in public spaces, and laws that reflect particular interpretations of Christian morality.

**Boundary maintenance** involves defining who belongs to the national community based partly on religious criteria. Christian nationalists often view non-Christians, secular citizens, or Christians who disagree with their political positions as threats to national identity and social cohesion.

## Contemporary Manifestations

In the United States, contemporary Christian nationalism has become closely associated with certain segments of evangelical Protestantism and conservative politics. Key issues include opposition to abortion rights, support for traditional marriage definitions, advocacy for school prayer and religious education, and resistance to what adherents perceive as secular or multicultural challenges to Christian cultural dominance.

American Christian nationalism often incorporates specific historical narratives, such as claims that the United States was founded as a Christian nation or that the separation of church and state has been misinterpreted by courts and secular institutions. These narratives typically emphasize the religious faith of the founding fathers while downplaying Enlightenment influences and the experiences of non-Christian populations.

In other countries, Christian nationalism takes different forms reflecting local histories and contexts. In Russia, Orthodox Christianity has become intertwined with national identity under Vladimir Putin's leadership, with the Russian Orthodox Church supporting state policies and framing geopolitical conflicts in religious terms. In Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has promoted "Christian democracy" as an alternative to liberal democracy, emphasizing traditional Christian values and opposition to Muslim immigration.

Latin American countries have seen various forms of Christian nationalism, often blending Catholic or Protestant identity with national politics. In Brazil, evangelical Christian nationalism has grown alongside the country's expanding Protestant population, influencing elections and policy debates.

## Political and Social Impact

Christian nationalism significantly influences political coalitions, voting patterns, and policy priorities in many countries. In democratic systems, Christian nationalist movements often form important constituencies for conservative political parties, providing organizational networks, volunteer labor, and reliable voting blocs.

The ideology shapes debates over education policy, particularly regarding curriculum content, school prayer, and public funding for religious schools. Christian nationalists typically advocate for greater religious content in public education and oppose teachings they view as contradicting Christian beliefs, such as certain approaches to evolution, sexuality, or comparative religion.

Immigration and multiculturalism represent another major area of impact. Christian nationalist movements often oppose immigration from non-Christian countries and resist policies promoting religious or cultural diversity, arguing that such changes threaten national identity and social cohesion.

## Criticism and Controversy

Christian nationalism faces substantial criticism from multiple perspectives. **Constitutional concerns** focus on potential violations of religious freedom and church-state separation. Critics argue that privileging Christianity in public life discriminates against religious minorities and non-religious citizens, potentially violating principles of equal citizenship and religious liberty.

**Theological criticism** comes from Christians who reject the fusion of faith and nationalism. Many theologians and religious leaders argue that Christian nationalism distorts authentic Christian teaching by subordinating religious principles to political goals and by promoting exclusivity rather than universal love and justice.

**Democratic theory** raises questions about whether Christian nationalism is compatible with pluralistic democracy. Critics contend that the ideology's emphasis on Christian cultural dominance undermines the equal participation of all citizens regardless of religious belief and threatens democratic norms of inclusion and compromise.

**Historical accuracy** debates surround Christian nationalist claims about national founding and development. Scholars often dispute simplified narratives that overstate Christian influence while ignoring other intellectual traditions, religious diversity, and the experiences of marginalized groups.

## Related Topics

- Religious conservatism
- Church-state separation
- Civil religion
- Evangelical politics
- Theocracy
- Cultural Christianity
- Religious freedom
- Nationalism and identity politics

## Summary

Christian nationalism is a political ideology that seeks to establish Christianity as the dominant organizing principle of national identity, culture, and government, often generating significant political influence while facing criticism over constitutional, theological, and democratic concerns.

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