I've long thought that Christian Nationalism is really the Neo-Confederacy. Perhaps the only feature that didn't yet belong to the Confederacy was an "idealized free market capitalism," unless unfettered expansion of slavery was to become a pillar of evolving capitalism.
A helpful synopsis. Thank you for your work. 🙏I find myself wanting to cross-reference these five elements with my brief reflections on Haidt’s work in The Righteous Mind here:
There’s real research behind this, but the framing still narrows the field. Discernment shows the move: a specific form of Christian nationalism is defined using selected traits, then those traits are broadly mapped onto a larger group, which risks turning analysis into categorization.
Some of these concerns are legitimate, especially around power, exclusion, and authoritarian drift. But presenting them as a cohesive, unified ideology across millions of people can flatten important differences and motivations. That’s where analysis slips into narrative.
Real discernment keeps the distinctions clear, it critiques patterns without turning them into totalizing labels.
Christian-inspired laws can negatively impact people, or even be harmful, from their perspective. It also may stand against their convictions. Whether intended for flourishing or not, politics may not be the best way to love our neighbor or to put their interests above our own.
Since the world remains fallen until God restores it, relying on Christian-inspired laws may not be the best way to navigate it.
Yes, God’s people at times shaped or influenced law (Joseph, Daniel, Nehemiah, Esther). These examples often promoted justice, protection, or survival.
But the New Testament consistently redirects the focus away from national law as a path to righteousness. Instead, Christians are called to love, witness, and embody God’s kingdom while living within earthly systems.
I've long thought that Christian Nationalism is really the Neo-Confederacy. Perhaps the only feature that didn't yet belong to the Confederacy was an "idealized free market capitalism," unless unfettered expansion of slavery was to become a pillar of evolving capitalism.
Your research makes visible what many of us feel in our bones: as Christian nationalism rises, empathy and pluralism fall.
-Noble
A helpful synopsis. Thank you for your work. 🙏I find myself wanting to cross-reference these five elements with my brief reflections on Haidt’s work in The Righteous Mind here:
https://open.substack.com/pub/therapolitical/p/on-the-moral-foundations-of-power?r=5pnyfp&utm_medium=ios
There’s real research behind this, but the framing still narrows the field. Discernment shows the move: a specific form of Christian nationalism is defined using selected traits, then those traits are broadly mapped onto a larger group, which risks turning analysis into categorization.
Some of these concerns are legitimate, especially around power, exclusion, and authoritarian drift. But presenting them as a cohesive, unified ideology across millions of people can flatten important differences and motivations. That’s where analysis slips into narrative.
Real discernment keeps the distinctions clear, it critiques patterns without turning them into totalizing labels.
The bible is quite clear on one point: To hell with you supporters of evil.
https://substack.com/home/post/p-188718695
Thank you for writing, Andrew.
Christian-inspired laws can negatively impact people, or even be harmful, from their perspective. It also may stand against their convictions. Whether intended for flourishing or not, politics may not be the best way to love our neighbor or to put their interests above our own.
Since the world remains fallen until God restores it, relying on Christian-inspired laws may not be the best way to navigate it.
Yes, God’s people at times shaped or influenced law (Joseph, Daniel, Nehemiah, Esther). These examples often promoted justice, protection, or survival.
But the New Testament consistently redirects the focus away from national law as a path to righteousness. Instead, Christians are called to love, witness, and embody God’s kingdom while living within earthly systems.
—
Read more about my thoughts on Christian nationalism in my letter Christian Laws Can’t Save a Soul https://open.substack.com/pub/brianferris/p/christian-laws-cant-save-a-soul?r=23qcvn&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false