Elite evangelicals downplay Christian nationalism to shield the broader movement from blame

Evidence

Comparing Mohler’s responses one year apart highlights his desire to obscure the role of Christianity and especially of Christian nationalism in the insurrection. Back in 2021, it was clear Mohler worried that paying too much attention to Christian nationalism would ultimately serve to marginalize American Christianity. In his column in early 2022, he followed his own advice, largely keeping Christianity absent from the discussion. In other words, Mohler concedes that, yes, Christian nationalism is bad and American Christians must be vigilant concerning the influence of Christian nationalism; however, he claims, it is also relatively rare and found only in the extreme corners of evangelicalism and consequently should not be equated with American evangelical theology. — Andrew L. Whitehead, American Idolatry, 135

Categorization

• XREF: Parallels the motive-excuse dynamic of institutional boundary-maintenance — resembling how Catholic hierarchies deflected blame in abuse scandals and how secular institutions quarantine fringe extremists to protect the center. — connects to: Christian nationalism operates as a top-down elite project, not a grassroots uprising — Katherine Stewart, The Power Worshippers: Inside the…, 37; Christian nationalism is not an exclusively evangelical ideology — Andrew L. Whitehead; Samuel L. Perry, Taking America Back for God, 213; A quarter of evangelicals oppose Christian nationalism, not all endorse it — Andrew L. Whitehead; Samuel L. Perry, Taking America Back for God, 168 (+4 more)

Broader Connections

• Notable evangelical leaders have publicly condemned Christian nationalism as idolatry #complicates (0.82) — Andrew L. Whitehead, American Idolatry, 132
• Christian nationalism is not an exclusively evangelical ideology #expands (0.80) — Andrew L. Whitehead; Samuel L. Perry, Taking America Back for God, 213
• Christian nationalism operates as a top-down elite project, not a grassroots uprising #expands (0.78) — Katherine Stewart, The Power Worshippers, 37
• Christian nationalist claims about America provoke backlash even from devout Christians #complicates (0.75) — Andrew L. Whitehead; Samuel L. Perry, Taking America Back for God, 108
• A quarter of evangelicals oppose Christian nationalism, not all endorse it #expands (0.74) — Andrew L. Whitehead; Samuel L. Perry, Taking America Back for God, 168
• Evangelical identity alone predicts almost no political behavior once Christian nationalism is accounted for #expands (0.72) — Andrew L. Whitehead; Samuel L. Perry, Taking America Back for God, 100
• White evangelical cultural influence diffuses Christian nationalism beyond white Christians #expands (0.71) — Andrew L. Whitehead, American Idolatry, 164