A distinct accommodationist group endorses Christian values without demanding Christian nationhood

Evidence

Accommodators are in many ways a mirror image of Resisters. While Resisters are somewhat undecided but lean toward opposing Christian nationalism, Accommodators show comparable levels of indecision but lean toward accepting it. While perhaps agreeing that the federal government should advocate Christian values, Accommodators might be undecided about the federal government officially declaring the United States a Christian nation. The quote from Luke above is a perfect example. Luke and other Accommodators see much to admire about Christianity and believe it can be a positive influence on American society. But it is the values of Christianity, which they agree can be found in other world religions, too, that are key. It isn’t that these things are found in Christianity alone. So Accommodators might support the government allowing the display of religious symbols in public spaces but may (paradoxically) be less certain about whether the government should weaken the separation of church and state in order to do so. This group is generally comfortable with the idea of America’s Christian foundations, and is amenable to the idea of a society where Christianity is conspicuous. They stop short, however, of fully and completely favoring Christianity alone in the public sphere. Their support is undeniable, but it is not unequivocal. — Andrew L. Whitehead; Samuel L. Perry, Taking America Back for God, 142

Categorization

• DEFINE: Introduces the Accommodator category, a necessary typology term for the book’s empirical argument.
• QUESTION: Worth checking against Cooper: the Accommodators’ ‘values not theology’ stance resembles how social-conservative allies package Christianity in market-friendly moral terms.
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Andrew L. Whitehead; Samuel L. Perry, Taking America Back for God, 142
• XREF: connects to: Christian nationalists are a militant minority, not a moral majority — Katherine Stewart, The Power Worshippers: Inside the…, 1072; High support for Christian nationalism is slowly declining while accommodation persists — Andrew L. Whitehead; Samuel L. Perry, Taking America Back for God, 194; Opposition to Christian nationalism does not require secularism or liberalism — Andrew L. Whitehead; Samuel L. Perry, Taking America Back for God, 123

Broader Connections

• High support for Christian nationalism is slowly declining while accommodation persists #expands (0.85) — Andrew L. Whitehead; Samuel L. Perry, Taking America Back for God, 194
• Opposition to Christian nationalism does not require secularism or liberalism #expands (0.80) — Andrew L. Whitehead; Samuel L. Perry, Taking America Back for God, 123
• Christian nationalists are a militant minority, not a moral majority #complicates (0.78) — Katherine Stewart, The Power Worshippers, 1072