Christian nationalism’s practical fruit is domination, not love
Evidence
Jesus realigned how we are to view power and called for a people whom the world would know by their sacrificial love—a love that leads to the disruption of oppression in the world. Part of our loving the poor, the widow, the orphan, and the immigrant is recognizing our own complicity in the systems of injustice that create and perpetuate their marginalization and suffering. This sacrificial love participates in God’s ongoing mission of disrupting sin and its destructive effects on human relationships. Christians are to leverage their power, position, and privilege to the benefit of all rather than for their own self-interest. In the dozens of studies others and I have conducted in recent years, we find repeatedly that the practical fruit of Christian nationalism is certainly not love. It is power, control, domination, fear, and violence. — Andrew L. Whitehead, American Idolatry, 90
Categorization
- XREF: The empirical ‘fruit is power, control, domination, fear, violence’ finding is the kind of testable claim grounding this whole research program; connects to other quantitative studies of religion and politics. — connects to: The distinctive sin of Christian nationalism is selfish in-group power. — Andrew L. Whitehead, American Idolatry, 230; Christian nationalism pursues power for one ethnic group, not common justice. — Andrew L. Whitehead, American Idolatry, 231; Christian nationalism seeks power, not pluralistic cultural influence — Katherine Stewart, The Power Worshippers: Inside the…, 26 (+8 more)
Broader Connections
- Power, fear, and violence function as idolatrous substitutes in Christian nationalism
#corroborates(0.90) — Andrew L. Whitehead, American Idolatry, 99 - Christian nationalism seeks power, not pluralistic cultural influence
#corroborates(0.88) — Katherine Stewart, The Power Worshippers, 26 - Christian nationalism functions as a power grab disguised in religious language, not genuine piety
#corroborates(0.88) — Andrew L. Whitehead; Samuel L. Perry, Taking America Back for God, 455 - Christian nationalism makes American Christians less Christlike
#corroborates(0.86) — Andrew L. Whitehead, American Idolatry, 72 - Christian nationalism opposes the social justice Jesus commanded
#corroborates(0.85) — Andrew L. Whitehead, American Idolatry, 91 - Christian nationalism is radical, not conservative, and undermines democratic institutions
#expands(0.82) — Katherine Stewart, The Power Worshippers, 33 - Christian nationalist adherence is primarily political rather than religious
#expands(0.78) — Andrew L. Whitehead; Samuel L. Perry, Taking America Back for God, 214 - Christian nationalist political theory centers monarchy, not democracy
#complicates(0.72) — Katherine Stewart, The Power Worshippers, 211