Introduction

This chapter introduces Christian nationalism. It is defined as a conceptual framework—a collection of myths, traditions, symbols, narratives, and value systems—that idealizes and advocates a fusion of Christianity with American civic life. The chapter also introduces the authors’ measurement of this concept and compares it to other possible measurement strategies. Finally, the chapter highlights three main arguments for this book. First, it argues that understanding Christian nationalism, its content, and its consequences is essential for understanding much of the polarization in American popular discourse. Second, the authors contend it is not synonymous with, reducible to, or a byproduct of personal religiosity, political views, racism, or authoritarian tendencies, among others. Finally, the claim is put forward that Christian nationalism is not “Christianity” or even “religion” properly speaking. The authors show that Christian nationalism influences Americans’ opinions and behaviors in the exact opposite direction that traditional religious commitment does.

Conclusion

The conclusion provides an overview of the four responses to the Christian nation narrative and the key patterns outlined throughout the book. It rearticulates the main arguments that Christian nationalism is vital to understanding our current social and political context, that it is not synonymous with or a byproduct of other ideologies, and that it operates differently from religion writ large. Christian nationalism shapes Americans’ sense of identity and moral certitude, providing a vision of how the world should look and how believers should enact that vision. The chapter closes by pointing out the implications Christian nationalism has for civil society in the United States, as well as for Christianity. In the end, all Americans are subject to the influence of Christian nationalism whether they reject it or fully embrace it.

Four Americans

This chapter introduces the four categories that encompass the orientations of all Americans toward Christian nationalism. The remaining chapters of the book draw on each of these four categories. This chapter provides empirical descriptions of each group: Ambassadors, Accommodators, Resisters, and Rejecters. The demographics of each group are explored, noting differences across age, gender, region of the country, education, income, and marital status. This chapter also explores the religious beliefs, behaviors, and affiliations of Americans in each of these four categories. These analyses demonstrate that none of the four responses to Christian nationalism are synonymous with a particular religious tradition or socio-demographic group. Rather, each response can be found all throughout society. Finally, data are analyzed over the last several decades to explore shifts in size of each of the groups.

Order

In this chapter we demonstrate how Christian nationalists are deeply invested in ensuring family life in the United States reflects a particular order prioritizing patriarchy, heterosexuality, and cisgender identification. The family is viewed as the building block of society and the ultimate litmus test for any moral decay within a society. Using attitudes toward gender roles and identity, divorce, and same-sex marriage, this chapter illustrates the diversity of attitudes among the four responses to the Christian nation narrative. Using multiple waves of national survey data, we also explore change over the last decade concerning how Christian nationalism is related to views of the family. We show that Christian nationalism is concerned with ensuring families in the United States reflect a particular order. Finally, we show that contrary to prior chapters, Christian nationalism and personal religiosity can at times work in the same direction but for differing reasons.

Boundaries

In this chapter we explore how Christian nationalism erects and sustains symbolic boundaries concerning race and ethnicity, nativism, citizenship, and religious diversity. Focusing first on racial and ethnic diversity, we show how Christian nationalism actually implies the necessity of maintaining distinct racial boundaries. Ambassadors and Accommodators are less likely to feel comfortable with interracial romantic relationships, transracial adoption, or immigration. These groups are also much more likely to blame minorities for any racial inequality, including police treatment and the criminal justice system. Turning to religious minorities, we show similar patterns. Rejecters and Resisters are actually more supportive of religious liberty for all groups, while Ambassadors and Accommodators are much more religiously exclusive. We again show that personal piety can at times work in opposition to Christian nationalism. Overall, Christian nationalism is integral to understanding Americans’ racial and religious symbolic boundaries.

Power

This chapter explores how Christian nationalism helps explain Americans’ responses toward a host of sociocultural issues. It examines how and why Ambassadors, Accommodators, Resisters, and Rejecters respond differently to disputes over immigration, the refugee crisis, gun control, and arguments over “respecting the flag,” to name a few. It also explores how Christian nationalism played an integral role in the outcome of the 2016 election and can similarly explain continued support for President Trump among American Christians. Because Christian nationalism provides a unifying vision of how the world should look, and how that vision should be enacted, the realm of politics is central to understanding the influence of Christian nationalism on American life. We also demonstrate that Christian nationalism is not synonymous with private religiosity. Therefore, in order to understand religion and politics we must recognize that Christian nationalism is unique and cannot be equated with other expressions of religiosity.