There are two primary strains of right-wing Christian Nationalism affecting politics in the USA

[CaughtInThe]

If you wanna be blown away, read all 28 of these tweets (which should be a short paper) by Paul Matzko (Fellow at the Cato Institute) explaining, in detail, the two main right wing Christian Nationalist movements affecting all of us.

• Seven Mountains Theology
• alt-Reformational (the version in Presbyterian and Baptist churches)

You have to read the entire thread to understand his main points of course. But I did find this part rather interesting...


"Although the theology is very different from 7 Mountains CN, this alt-Reformational CN is similar in this core regard: Whether by rediscovery or invention, both are surfacing novel theological justifications for culture war politics rooted in Christian cultural status anxiety."

 

[Phys251]

If you wanna be blown away, read all 28 of these tweets (which should be a short paper) by Paul Matzko (Fellow at the Cato Institute) explaining, in detail, the two main right wing Christian Nationalist movements affecting all of us.

• Seven Mountains Theology
• alt-Reformational (the version in Presbyterian and Baptist churches)

You have to read the entire thread to understand his main points of course. But I did find this part rather interesting...


"Although the theology is very different from 7 Mountains CN, this alt-Reformational CN is similar in this core regard: Whether by rediscovery or invention, both are surfacing novel theological justifications for culture war politics rooted in Christian cultural status anxiety."

Christian nationalism has been in the works for years now. Extremists such as Lauren Boebert are taking that extremism to Washington.

If they ever gain full power, look. Out.

 

[Checkerboard Strangler]

It's a misnomer to view either of these as "religion" because in reality they aren't.
These are the bastard children that result from the unholy union of religion and politics.

 

[CaughtInThe]

It's a misnomer to view either of these as "religion" because in reality they aren't.
These are the bastard children that result from the unholy union of religion and politics.

religion/politics/status/fear/race/gender/power/money

 

[ataraxia]

Yes. This sounds like some kind of ISIS or Taliban-like ideology. But it is indeed very scary to realize it's written here in the US, by Americans. Just substitute the words "Muslims" for "Christians", "Jesus Christ" for "Allah", and "Quran" for "Gospel":

"Christians have an obligation, a mandate, a commission, a holy responsibility to reclaim the land for Jesus Christ-to have dominion in the civil structures, just as in every other aspect of life and godliness.

But it is dominion that we are after. Not just a voice.

It is dominion we are after. Not just influence.

It is dominion we are after. Not just equal time.

It is dominion we are after.

World conquest. That’s what Christ has commissioned us to accomplish. We must win the world with the power of the Gospel. And we must never settle for anything less.

If Jesus Christ is indeed Lord, as the Bible says, and if our commission is to bring the land into subjection to His Lordship, as the Bible says, then all our activities, all our witnessing, all our preaching, all our craftsmanship, all our stewardship, and all our political action will aim at nothing short of that sacred purpose.

Thus, Christian politics has as its primary intent the conquest of the land – of men, families, institutions, bureaucracies, courts, and governments for the Kingdom of Christ. It is to reinstitute the authority of God’s Word as supreme over all judgments, over all legislation, over all declarations, constitutions, and confederations.
-George Grant, Coral Ridge Ministries"

 

[Slartibartfast]

Yes. This sounds like some kind of ISIS or Taliban-like ideology. But it is indeed very scary to realize it's written here in the US, by Americans. Just substitute the words "Muslims" for "Christians", "Jesus Christ" for "Allah", and "Quran" for "Gospel":

"Christians have an obligation, a mandate, a commission, a holy responsibility to reclaim the land for Jesus Christ-to have dominion in the civil structures, just as in every other aspect of life and godliness.

But it is dominion that we are after. Not just a voice.

It is dominion we are after. Not just influence.

It is dominion we are after. Not just equal time.

It is dominion we are after.

World conquest. That’s what Christ has commissioned us to accomplish. We must win the world with the power of the Gospel. And we must never settle for anything less.

If Jesus Christ is indeed Lord, as the Bible says, and if our commission is to bring the land into subjection to His Lordship, as the Bible says, then all our activities, all our witnessing, all our preaching, all our craftsmanship, all our stewardship, and all our political action will aim at nothing short of that sacred purpose.

Thus, Christian politics has as its primary intent the conquest of the land – of men, families, institutions, bureaucracies, courts, and governments for the Kingdom of Christ. It is to reinstitute the authority of God’s Word as supreme over all judgments, over all legislation, over all declarations, constitutions, and confederations.
-George Grant, Coral Ridge Ministries"

That’s insane. That will happen with the new age on Gods timing. The job of the Christian is to spread the good news and help the poor, widow, etc.

 

[HIP56948]

I've always thought that most of them need some serious mental therapy. Lot of them here in Sarasota
I've talked to a few of them and other than the same-ol-bullshit-right-wing crap, they sound like... "Nobody is home"
A few of them actually think killing for the Lord is some kind of validation. That's scary.

 

[Hamish Howl]

That’s insane. That will happen with the new age on Gods timing. The job of the Christian is to spread the good news.

Apparently, these people think God needs a little managing.

 

[Slartibartfast]

Apparently, these people think God needs a little managing.

I know. It’s weird.

 

[Michael Cole]

It's a misnomer to view either of these as "religion" because in reality they aren't.
These are the bastard children that result from the unholy union of religion and politics.

Viewed under a modern lens, I agree. Historically, religion and politics have been one and the same. What we're seeing are last-gasp remnants of this.

Though separation of church and state is in the Constitution, what with blue laws and other assorted social constructs, we ourselves have only recently begun to achieve this goal.

 

[Port & Starboard]

Christianity has it's place.

But not in governing.

 

[Indydave]

there is no one more gullible and no one living in fear like an evangelical......they will fall for the latest tv preacher's screech and rant like a dope fiend to his dope........they are taught from birth to fear everything.....and mostly freedom of thought......

 

[Indydave]

Yes. This sounds like some kind of ISIS or Taliban-like ideology. But it is indeed very scary to realize it's written here in the US, by Americans. Just substitute the words "Muslims" for "Christians", "Jesus Christ" for "Allah", and "Quran" for "Gospel":

"Christians have an obligation, a mandate, a commission, a holy responsibility to reclaim the land for Jesus Christ-to have dominion in the civil structures, just as in every other aspect of life and godliness.

But it is dominion that we are after. Not just a voice.

It is dominion we are after. Not just influence.

It is dominion we are after. Not just equal time.

It is dominion we are after.

World conquest. That’s what Christ has commissioned us to accomplish. We must win the world with the power of the Gospel. And we must never settle for anything less.

If Jesus Christ is indeed Lord, as the Bible says, and if our commission is to bring the land into subjection to His Lordship, as the Bible says, then all our activities, all our witnessing, all our preaching, all our craftsmanship, all our stewardship, and all our political action will aim at nothing short of that sacred purpose.

Thus, Christian politics has as its primary intent the conquest of the land – of men, families, institutions, bureaucracies, courts, and governments for the Kingdom of Christ. It is to reinstitute the authority of God’s Word as supreme over all judgments, over all legislation, over all declarations, constitutions, and confederations.
-George Grant, Coral Ridge Ministries"

what he and the other fundamentalists (of all religions) get wrong is Jesus did not mean for them to forcibly make people believe as they believe.......and whether they actually understand that or not their attitude of 'Im right and you're wrong and you must do as I am telling you or burn forever" does more to counter the spread of the Love of Jesus than as if they did nothing......because they cannot see their own hypocritic pride......as long as they condone one sin and not the other they will always be held in contempt......today's American evangelical is the epitome of this and their nationalistic fervor, as history shows us, will ultimately wane.......this is nothing new.....mankind has always been too dumb for religion

 

[ataraxia]

Viewed under a modern lens, I agree. Historically, religion and politics have been one and the same. What we're seeing are last-gasp remnants of this.

It is interesting that this may be more than just a national trend- but a global one.

The rise of secularization in Europe has been overwhelming in the last few decades. The old churches and cathedrals are now being seen as of more of purely historical interest than anything live or relevant, being visited in the same way as temples to Zeus and Athena. The recent protests against the Islamic Republic in Iran really show people are sick of religion there, and are coming to see it as the tool of power and control that it has always traditionally been.

The Islamic Republic Is Killing Islam in Iran

There are signs that the population is losing its religion.

www.thebulwark.com

 

[vanceen]

Does anybody have any information on how many people there are who take Seven Mountains and similar notions seriously?

I've never met a Christian with "Christian Nationalist" ideology. Maybe there are some. But maybe not enough to be scared about.

 

[ataraxia]

Does anybody have any information on how many people there are who take Seven Mountains and similar notions seriously?

I've never met a Christian with "Christian Nationalist" ideology. Maybe there are some. But maybe not enough to be scared about.

I think part of the problem in answering that question lies in the fact that all sorts of different people mean all sorts of different things when they talk about "Christian Nationalism" :

"Most Americans think the founders of America intended for the U.S. to be a “Christian nation,” more than four-in-ten think the United States should be a Christian nation, and a third say the country is a Christian nation today. However, Americans’ views of what it means to be a Christian nation are wide-ranging and often ambiguous. To some, being a Christian nation implies Christian-based laws and governance. For others it means the subtle guidance of Christian beliefs and values in everyday life, or even simply a population with faith in something bigger."

45% of Americans Say U.S. Should Be a ‘Christian Nation’

But they hold differing opinions about what that phrase means, and two-thirds of U.S. adults say churches should keep out of politics.

www.pewresearch.org