Christian nationalism mobilizes followers through fear and scarcity thinking
Evidence
Second, Christian nationalism is intimately intertwined with fear and a sense of threat. It constantly pushes us to see the world in terms of “us” versus “them,” with “them” always threatening “our” power and privilege. It operates from a scarcity mindset, that there is not enough for all of us to experience abundance. Those wielding power to selfishly benefit white Christians have for decades traded in fear alongside Christian nationalism to great effect. — Andrew L. Whitehead, American Idolatry, 101
Categorization
- XREF: Connects to the backdrop of texts on Islamophobia and in-group/out-group formation; also echoes the ‘us vs them’ framing common across the nationalism scholarship already read. — connects to: Theological idolatry of power, fear, and violence motivated the January 6 rioters — Andrew L. Whitehead, American Idolatry, 218; Survey data connect Christian nationalism to support for political violence — Andrew L. Whitehead, American Idolatry, 219; Power, fear, and violence function as idolatrous substitutes in Christian nationalism — Andrew L. Whitehead, American Idolatry, 99 (+8 more)
Broader Connections
- Christian nationalism motivates followers through fear of persecution
#expands(0.92) — Andrew L. Whitehead, American Idolatry, 194 - Christian nationalism is the strongest predictor of fear of Muslims and atheists
#exemplifies(0.84) — Andrew L. Whitehead; Samuel L. Perry, Taking America Back for God, 742 - Christian nationalist zeal indexes commitment to a threatened racial and gender hierarchy
#complicates(0.82) — Andrew L. Whitehead; Samuel L. Perry, Taking America Back for God, 45 - Christian nationalism predicts approval of the Capitol rioters and political violence
#exemplifies(0.81) — Andrew L. Whitehead, American Idolatry, 219 - Cornology Christian nationalism predicts anti-refugee fears independently of party and ideology.
#exemplifies(0.80) — Andrew L. Whitehead; Samuel L. Perry, Taking America Back for God, 240 - Reactionary leaders can reactivate Christian nationalism during unrest
#expands(0.78) — Andrew L. Whitehead; Samuel L. Perry, Taking America Back for God, 199 - Christian nationalism robustly predicts authoritarian political attitudes
#qualifies(0.76) — Ruiqian Li and Paul Froese, The Duality of American Christian…, 45 - Christian nationalism strongly predicts pro-free-market attitudes among Americans.
#expands(0.75) — Philip S. Gorski and Samuel L. Perry, The Flag and the Cross, 155