Reactionary leaders can reactivate Christian nationalism during unrest

Evidence

Depending on the context, Christianity may not always be fundamental to the boundaries Americans draw around their national identity. Yet historians argue that Christianity can quite easily be made salient as a vital aspect of American identity by reactionary movements and leaders during periods of cultural, political, or economic unrest. This underscores the importance of the rhetoric used in the public sphere, especially from social and political leaders. It could very well be that since 2014, following the rise of Donald Trump to the presidency, there has been another significant increase in the number of Americans who believe it is “very important” to be Christian in order to be “truly American.” — Andrew L. Whitehead; Samuel L. Perry, Taking America Back for God, 199

Categorization

• XREF: Directly extends Cooper’s thesis: elites (here ‘reactionary leaders and rhetoric’) manufacture/mobilize social-conservative identity — the supply-side mechanism Cooper documents for the GOP alliance with evangelicals. — connects to: Christian nationalism predicts approval of the Capitol rioters and political violence — Andrew L. Whitehead, American Idolatry, 219; Christian-right leader rhetoric is calibrated for an energized congregation — Katherine Stewart, The Power Worshippers: Inside the…, 60; Theological idolatry of power, fear, and violence motivated the January 6 rioters — Andrew L. Whitehead, American Idolatry, 218 (+4 more)
• SEED: Feed the elite-rhetoric mechanism into the existing Cooper essay as the ‘demand activation’ complement to the neoliberal alliance structure.
• QUESTION: No post-2014 BRS wave yet — asking whether Trump’s rise produced a measurable spike worth investigating.

Broader Connections

• Christian nationalism predicts approval of the Capitol rioters and political violence #complicates (0.75) — Andrew L. Whitehead, American Idolatry, 219