Christian nationalism, unlike devout religiosity, elevates militarism and rejects social justice morality.
Evidence
While both Christian nationalism and religious practice are positively associated with views of morality that emphasize fidelity to one’s religious faith (believing in God, teaching others about one’s moral values, evangelizing), only Christian nationalism predicts that Americans see serving in the military as important to being “a good person.” Religious practice, on the other hand, is negatively associated with this view, meaning devoutly religious Americans are less likely to say that serving in the military is important to being a good person. Furthermore, religious practice is powerfully related to views of morality that emphasize ideas of care for the vulnerable, social justice, and even reducing one’s consumption patterns for the sake of environmental stewardship. Christian nationalism, however, is unrelated to taking care of the sick and needy and consuming fewer goods. In fact, Americans who embrace Christian nationalism are less likely to believe actively seeking social and economic justice is important to being a good person. — Andrew L. Whitehead; Samuel L. Perry, Taking America Back for God, 87
Categorization
- SEED: The empirical dissociation of religious practice from Christian nationalist morality is a strong angle: devout religiosity correlates with care-for-vulnerable morality while Christian nationalism actively rejects it — a testable mirror to Cooper’s claim that the neoliberal-social-conservative alliance deploys faith instrumentally.
- XREF: connects to: Christian nationalism is radical, not conservative, and undermines democratic institutions — Katherine Stewart, The Power Worshippers: Inside the…, 33; Christian nationalism functions as a power grab disguised in religious language, not genuine piety — Andrew L. Whitehead; Samuel L. Perry, Taking America Back for God, 455; Christian nationalism is a political ideology, not a religious creed. — Katherine Stewart, The Power Worshippers: Inside the…, 28 (+2 more)
Broader Connections
- Christian nationalists are a militant minority, not a moral majority
#expands(0.82) — Katherine Stewart, The Power Worshippers, 1072 - Christian nationalism is radical, not conservative, and undermines democratic institutions
#expands(0.78) — Katherine Stewart, The Power Worshippers, 33 - Christian nationalism functions as a power grab disguised in religious language, not genuine piety
#expands(0.75) — Andrew L. Whitehead; Samuel L. Perry, Taking America Back for God, 455 - Christian nationalism is a political ideology, not a religious creed.
#expands(0.72) — Katherine Stewart, The Power Worshippers, 28 - Christian nationalist adherence is primarily political rather than religious
#expands(0.72) — Andrew L. Whitehead; Samuel L. Perry, Taking America Back for God, 214