These are my notes from Amanda Tyler’s presentation about her book, “How to End Christian Nationalism” on October 22, 2024, at First Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. This was a conversation facilitated by Jennifer Roberts, former mayor of Charlotte. MY THOUGHTS ARE IN ALL CAPS. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS TOPIC, CHECK OUT MY PROJECTS:
- CONSPIRACIES AND CULTURE WARS: A MEDIA LITERACY INQUIRY PROJECT
- HEAL OUR CULTURE: BE A “CULTURE HEALER,” NOT A “CULTURE WARRIOR”
Amanda is the 6th executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty / BJC. She has been leading since January 2017. That was the month Donald Trump was inaugurated as President.
Christian Nationalism is a much longer / bigger problem than the movement which has been advanced in the USA during the Trump years.
The movement is (sadly) becoming more violent.
3 instances of violence houses of worship in 2018 – 2022:
- Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting (Pittsburgh, USA – October 27, 2018)
- Christchurch Mosque Shootings (New Zealand – March 15, 2019)
- Buffalo Supermarket Shooting (Buffalo, USA – May 14, 2022)
(SHE DIDN’T MENTION THE CHURCH SHOOTING IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA IN JUNE 2015)
These mass shootings were perpetrated by killers “armed not just with weapons but also with a political theology which tries to merge American identity together with Christian identity.” Christian natinoalism has a lot of overlap with White Supremacy.
In 2019 we started the Christians Against Christian Nationalism campaign
- I have learned from scholars, faith leaders and researchers
- Learned so much, in person meetings and in Zoom rooms
Question that keeps coming up: What can I do?
- The problem seems so amorphous and huge, people are not sure what to do
- That is the genesis of this book
- Audience is a lay audience: esp Christians who are wanting to do something to help dismantle Christan Nationalism but aren’t sure what to start
- This book is designed to be a guide
This ideology is an urgent threat to democracy, and an existisitential threat to an authentic Christian witness
This is a NON-PARTISAN event
- This is multi-partisan, cross-partisan
- No one group is monolithic
- This is also why we talk about what happens AFTER January 2025, because this exclusive, elite and discriminating perspective is going to continue
Some people have been embolden to share this perspective, and have profited from it
Ways we see Christian Nationalism manifest in North Carolina and in our community
Recent documentaries:
Bad Faith (www.badfaithdocumentary.com)
- discusses history of KKK, burning of crosses
- ways violence has been used to oppress non-white races
- there is a well funded movement for Christian Nationalism that will use any means necessary to seize and hold onto power, that is what we saw on January 6
God and Country (godandcountrythemovie.com)
Description from the trailer:
From director Dan Partland and producer Rob Reiner, GOD & COUNTRY looks at the implications of Christian Nationalism and how it distorts not only our constitutional republic, but Christianity itself. Featuring prominent Christian thought leaders, GOD & COUNTRY asks this question: What happens when a faith built on love, sacrifice, and forgiveness grows political tentacles, conflating power, money, and belief into hyper-nationalism?
We had a challenge to prayer in a public meeting in Charlotte
- Made the prayer a moment of silence
- Angered a number of Christians, Atheists were very pleased, but that
- City Council voted to start the prayer again, rotating to try and make it more ecumenical
Our founders made very deliberate choices in our Constitution to DIS-ESTABLISH religion
- But we have had a creeping norm of ‘soft Christian nationalism,” like virtually every political candidate feeling that they must end their speeches with, “God bless America.”
Some have pointed out this movement is really “Anti-Christian Nationalism”
After 9-11 everyone was saying “God Bless America” and waving a flag
- Everyone who wore a turban or was dark skinned felt threatened
- Today there are friends of children who are shamed and threatened because they are Muslims
Charlotte is a VERY diverse community, we have many Muslims, a huge Hindu Center… But we still need to educate people that we ARE diverse
Religious nationalism has happened for centuries worldwide
- This book is mainly focused on American Christian nationalism
- In this way America is NOT exceptional or unique
- But we do have a unique brand of “Christian Nationalism” here
Robert P Jones has written “The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy: and the Path to a Shared American Future”
- This started with the Doctrine of Discovery in 1493: Idea it was God’s will for European conquerors to steal native lands and enslave native people
So we need to recognize our faith has been used for centuries
- Also history of slavery
Decision of our nation’s founders to continue to maintain and legalize slavery
We can’t think about Christian Nationalism without thinking about / addressing White Supremacy
The book re-wrote itself, the theme of White Supremacy runs throughout the book now, it’s not a separate chapter
Christian nationalism “provides cover for white supremacy” in the United States
- It is pervasive in our culture but may be more hidden
- Uses social legitimacy of Christianity to normalize and make white supremacy / racism
Book: White Evangelical Racism: The Politics of Morality in America by Anthea Butler
Dr Butler helped Amanda understand rather than a ‘cover’ for white supremacy, Christian nationalism is like a door post
Also important to remember the role of Christian Churches in “urban renewal” and the destruction as well as appropriation of black / African-American neighborhoods all over the USA
Reference by Jennifer to Greg Jerrell’s book: Our Trespasses: White Churches and the Taking of American Neighborhoods
The difference between impact and responsibility
- Everyone is impacted by Christian Nationalism
- Those whose lives are on the line are primarily people who are people of color, LGBTQ+, ostracized groups who are called “unAmerican”
How tied up atheism was with McArthyism
Step 2 of the book: As Christians we need to ground ourselves in the LOVE of Christ
- So many denominational issues can divide us
- What unites us is the CENTRALITY OF LOVE in our faith
- That is a consistent theme through the teachings, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ
Glad to bring up Northern Ireland
- When one religious group uses the power of the state to impose its version of faith on others, that faith itself is damaged
- Faith must be a free choice
- We are really in danger of this happening in our country right now, not just at the national level, at the STATE and LOCAL level
We are seeing pushes toward theocratic authoritarianism
- The majority of people in the USA do NOT want Christian nationalism, it’s not in line with personal values or religious convictions (for those who hold them)
What’s going to weaken us is allowing people to go against targeted groups
Carter Center has done studies on what moves people, what convinces them to act: “Belonging is more important than facts”
- Idea that you are one of the “chosen ones”
Start of the book is ‘doing our own work,” understanding how Christian Nationalism is not a reflection of God’s love, but reflects a false idol of POWER
- That is about raising awareness
Now part 2 is putting this into action: Step 5 – Taking on Christian Nationalism Close to Home
- Church groups
- Friend groups
- In families
Belonging: Rather than enter into a conversation with a mindset “I am going to convince this person with logic to change their views,” the better course of action is to LISTEN and be empathetic, try to seek understanding
- Often loss, grief, fear
You don’t have to be white to embrace Christian Nationalism
Carter Center is very focused on those who are so disturbed by demographic changes in society that they are willing to use violence to try and stop it
MY THOUGHT: “INCEL” IS NOT A TERM THAT HAS BEEN MENTIONED
MY QUESTION: SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS ARE OBVIOUSLY IMPORTANT INFLUENCING PEOPLE’S PERCEPTIONS, AND MOBILIZING POLITICAL MOVEMENTS. IN THE COURSE OF YOUR RESEARCH, DID YOU FIND GROUPS OR EXAMPLES OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EXPLICITLY TRYING TO MOBILIZE AND EMPOWER ANTI-CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM, PERHAPS IN THE WAY THAT WE KNOW OF AUTHORS AND ADVOCATES NOW WHO ARE ACTIVELY ANTI-RACIST?
Texas is on the road to authoritarianism
White Americans have become very complacent in the strength of our institutions, being resilient against these threats
There is a big push now in NC and elsewhere to push Christianity into the public schools
- In Louisiana posting of the Ten Commandments in all public schools
- Teaching of the Bible in Oklahoma public schools
74% of schools now receiving “vouchers” are Christian schools
White evangelicals” have the highest percenptage of “ambassadors of Christian Nationalism”
Important to not totally base our identity on they way that we vote
Changing demographics is definitely one driver of Christian Nationalism
-is also growing in immigrant and black communities
TikTok channel: End Christian Nationalism (www.tiktok.com/@endchristiannationalism)
- Is by the Christians Against Christian Nationalism
- Ex-vangelical movement has some TikTok stars
- Those are the two primary channels
https://www.christiansagainstchristiannationalism.org
Question from the audience: Should we ask politicians to NOT emphasize what church they belong to?
Article 6 of US Constitution says there should be no religious test for public office
- ET would not be able to figure this out observing our politics
Jarrod Huffman is the only non-religious member of the US Congress, and (to date) the only member to make a floor speech against Christian Nationalism
Maxwell Frost, representing Orlando, the youngest member of Congress, made a committee speech where he talked about being a Christian, and said because he is a Christian he is against Christian Nationalism
Things to do:
Join Facebook group of “Christians to End Christian Nationalism”
Meet someone new here tonight! (You share something in common)
Join:
Braver Angels https://braverangels.org
(Another group Jennifer mentioned)
Mecklenburg Metropolitan Interfaith Network (MeckMIN): https://www.meckmin.org
Building community even when it is hard
Remember to vote!
AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION SHELLY AND I MET OUIDA WATSON, WHO DROVE DOWN FROM RALEIGH TO HEAR AMANDA’S PRESENTATION, AS WELL AS JENNIFER ROBERTS. TURNS OUT OUIDA AND I HAVE BEEN CONNECTED FOR YEARS THANKS TO EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY AND LIBRARIAN CIRCLES, INCLUDING BEING ACTIVE ON PLURK “BACK IN THE DAY!” (in the 2000s!)
Source : Ending Christian Nationalism
