Some evangelicals reject any connection between Christianity and politics

Evidence

Rejecters generally believe there should be no connection between Christianity and politics. As Donald told us, “We are founded on a godless and secular Constitution. We were the first nation in history to refuse to acknowledge a deity in that Constitution and to separate state and church.” Rejecters oppose declaring the United States a Christian nation or favoring Christian values in public policy. One Rejecter told us that in a pluralist democratic society like the United States, Christianity shouldn’t shape social policies at all. Rejecters object to any efforts to institute the official practice of religious behaviors in public schools or allow the display of Christian religious symbols in public places. Rick, a professing evangelical Christian and Rejecter, told us how fights over displaying the Ten Commandments in courthouses is a “false battle” that the church likes to fight. “I think as a believer I should be more concerned about what a Muslim feels when he sees that [the 10 Commandments], because I’m not sure how that affects my faith one way or the other.” Rejecters do not recognize any narrative that proposes a special relationship between the United States and the Christian God or some other higher power. For Rejecters, the wall of separation between church and state is high and impenetrable—or at least should be. — Andrew L. Whitehead; Samuel L. Perry, Taking America Back for God, 116

Categorization

• XREF: Evangelicals who oppose Christian nationalism complicate the ascription of conservative-evangelical alliance in Cooper’s narrative — a counterpoint worth holding in tension. — connects to: Premillennial belief made evangelicals refuse even to vote for decades. — Randall Balmer, Bad Faith: Race and the Rise of the…, 71; Christian Right political strategy rejects turning the other cheek outright. — Andrew L. Whitehead, American Idolatry, 232
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Andrew L. Whitehead; Samuel L. Perry, Taking America Back for God, 116

Broader Connections

• Premillennial belief made evangelicals refuse even to vote for decades. #exemplifies (0.85) — Randall Balmer, Bad Faith, 71