Facts anyone?

Take a Stand Against Christian Nationalism

There is increasing talk about declaring the U.S. a “Christian nation,” but this goes against American democracy and Christianity itself. The Bill of Rights guarantees the same freedom of religion for all people. And Christian faith affirms a democratic principle that a right for one is a right for another and a responsibility for all.  That rights are universal and responsibilities mutual is the Golden Rule of civic life. 

Today, about 20 percent of white Americans embrace Christian nationalism, an idea that Christians should have unique rights in law and policy. This way of thinking not only goes against Christianity but it dangerous for the country. Here is why:

• Religious freedom is our first freedom.
  The First Amendment to the Constitution protects the right of every person to believe as one chooses. This has allowed Americans to practice nearly 3,000 religious and spiritual traditions without fear that the government would favor one religion over another.
  

• Christian nationalism is not about religion.
  Christianity is a religion focused on the person and work of Jesus Christ as defined by the Christian Bible. Christian nationalism, on the other hand, is a political ideology that fuses “Americanness” with a national identity of conservative Christianity. In this version of a Christian nation, civil life would be defined by religious positions on worship and the family and supported by the display of religious symbols in public places.
  

• Christian nationalism is exclusionary.
  By defining the U.S. as a Christian nation, proponents want the government to promote an official culture for the country. This would give one group of citizens – white Christians – dominance over all others. Those who are not sufficiently Christian or non-Christians would be second-class citizens subject to discrimination and marginalized.
  

• Christian nationalism is linked with white supremacy.
  Christian nationalism is an ideology overwhelming held by white Americans, many of whom fear “being replaced” by people of color and believe white Christians are victims of persecution. Some are beginning to argue that American Christians need to prepare to fight, physically, to preserve America’s identity.
  

• Christian nationalism is against democracy.
  According to national surveys, those who identify as Christian nationalists are more likely to believe that it is “too easy to vote” in the U.S. and that voter fraud is rampant. Accordingly, Christian nationalism supports laws that undermine voting rights for racial minorities, exclude diverse perspectives in public schools, restrict immigration, and circumvent protections for refugees, women, LBGTQ people and religious minorities.