"God is the one that raises up those in authority" - Mike Johnson and (in his view) God.
Christian nationalism now wields the gavel in the US House
Surprise! Christian nationalism is back in the national news! The latest example is the the newly elected speaker of the US House of Representatives. Since every last Republican in the House voted for him, just about every news outlet is highlighting his political and religious beliefs in an effort to understand what his speakership might entail.
Below are some short columns and a new podcast interview that will help equip you for what is likely coming now that Mike Johnson wields the gavel.
TIME column - “Christian Nationalism Shapes Mike Johnson”
First, I wrote a column with co-author and super-sociologist Sam Perry. You can find it on TIME. We discuss how new Speaker of the House Mike Johnson “provides a near-perfect example for each element” of Christian nationalism.
What are those main elements? In AMERICAN IDOLATRY I write,
White Christian nationalism combines a number of elements. The first element is a strong moral traditionalism based on creating and sustaining social hierarchies. Oftentimes these revolve around gender and sexuality. The second element is a comfort with authoritarian social control. The world is a chaotic place, and at times society needs strong rules and rulers to make use of violence, or at least the threat of violence, to maintain order. The final element is a desire for strict boundaries around national identity, civic participation, and social belonging that fall along ethno-racial lines. A “Christian nation” is generally understood to be one where white, natural-born citizens are held up as the ideal, with everyone else coming after. (p. 29)
Since completing the book and sending it off for publication, I would actually add a fourth element. Here’s how we describe it in our column:
A final element of Christian nationalism is a populist impulse that creates space for Americans to embrace feelings of victimization—that certain “elites” are trying to persecute them—which lends itself to adopting more conspiratorial thinking that includes belief in anti-vaccine myths, QAnon, and antisemitic tropes.
We provide examples of how Mike Johnson, in his writing, speaking, and interviews, aligns with these various elements—traditionalist social arrangements, authoritarian social control, ethno-racial boundaries, and populism/conspiratorial thinking.
Each of these elements is mirrored in national surveys of the American public in all who embrace Christian nationalism. And each pose a distinct threat to a pluralistic, democratic society.
I’m proud of this column and how it clearly lays out how—
“It is critical to recognize the influence of Christian nationalism on Mike Johnson’s vision for the U.S.. “Christian nationalism” isn’t a political slur. It’s a term that accurately describes an ideology that is antithetical to a stable, multiracial, and liberal democracy—an ideology clearly guiding the now-ranking Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives.”
That’s a key point—Christian nationalism isn’t a political slur, at least not when social scientists use it. It’s an empirically supported and accurate description of a particular ideology.
The New York Times - “For Mike Johnson, Religion Is at the Forefront of Politics and Policy”
Second, with Speaker Johnson’s election, I received calls from a number of news outlets. One of the first to show up is this story in The New York Times. The authors lay out the tight links between Johnson’s favored expression of Christianity and his politics. The portion of my conversation that ended up in the piece is essentially a summation of the TIME column:
“Speaker Johnson really does provide a near-perfect example of all the different elements of Christian nationalism,” said Andrew Whitehead, a sociologist at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. He said those included insisting on traditionalist family structures, “being comfortable with authoritarian social control and doing away with democratic values.”
This part that appeared after the above quote made me chuckle:
Mr. Johnson declined an interview request and did not respond to a request for comment about whether he considers himself a Christian nationalist.
I’m grateful for the various journalists paying attention to how Christian nationalism has now moved to the very center of the Republican Party, and two heartbeats away from the Oval Office.
Jack Jenkins at the Religion News Service is a great journalist to follow, and you can read his RNS piece here.
Christian Nationalism Comes to the Data/Dogma Podcast
I was so excited to join Dan Beecher and Dan McClellan on their excellent podcast, Data Over Dogma. I joined them to discuss (you guessed it) Christian nationalism! Later in the episode we talk about Romans 13:1, the verse Mike Johnson is likely referring to in his first speech to his colleagues in the US House. Here’s his quote:
“I don’t believe there are any coincidences. I believe that scripture, the Bible, is very clear that God is the one that raises up those in authority, he raised up each of you, all of us. And I believe that God has ordained and allowed us to be brought here to this specific moment and time.”
I’ve been following the Data/Dogma podcast since it first appeared not too long ago, and I appreciate their commitment to explore various parts of the Bible using all the evidence at our disposal. I’m sure this and prior episodes will challenge, edify, and entertain you. Check Data/Dogma out!
(Literal) Palette Cleanser
Check out how tasty these apple dumplings look! Once the Indiana weather turns to perma-cloud and chilly, I turn to baking in order to survive. And yes, they tasted amazing. :-)