Is Christian Nationalist movement comparable to the Taliban?
Mohammed Khaku,
This week we will mark the first anniversary of Capitol attack. After a year of investigation many see a clear connection between the violence and Christian nationalism.
The violence must sadly rest at the feet of white evangelical mega prosperity American churches preaching Christian Nationalism.
What is Christian Nationalism?
One should not confuse Christianity – which is a religion about book of God – Bible (Ingil), life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Prophet Issa).
Christian nationalism by contrasting it with Christianity is a political ideology that fuses white American identity with right wing Christianity (Taliban) which legitimizes violence like the one we saw on Jan 6th.
The saying goes “people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.” Americans shouldn’t judge the Taliban for not accommodating religious pluralism while Christian nationalist movement did inspire the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
Christian nationalism is toxic, misguided, and dangerous ideology similar to Taliban. Christian nationalists even challenge the validity of other Christian denominations they deem theologically undesirable.
Christian nationalism is not a religion, other than having a strong grip or power over the white mega prosperity Christian churches in America. It is all about money and mobilization of religious hatred in order to colonize political power.
Christian nationalist has hijacked Christianity by injecting political nationalism which is not only wrong, nor benign, but it’s heretical and borders on blasphemy and idolatry.
Christian nationalist movement are bent on rewriting American history on the past sins of Indian genocide, righteousness of slavery, and Jim Crow laws by seizing control of the American institutions.
The relationship between Christian nationalism and evangelical churches has a long history in this country. After the Civil War and Jim Crow years, Christian leaders provided the theological arguments to limit access for Black people to participate in the democratic process.
Trumpism and Christian nationalism presents a clear danger to the civil liberties by limiting voting. The 2016 election poll confirmed that 80% of white evangelicals said they voted for Donald Trump.
Paul Weyrich, of the Moral Majority said “…. They want everybody to vote. I don’t want everybody to vote. Elections are not won by a majority of people; they never have been from the beginning of our country.”
The far-right pastors and bishops like Joseph Strickland, John Hagee, Carlo Maria Vigano, and many others have a holly mission to put Trump back in the White House. They have blessed all these hateful efforts of limiting voting rights and gerrymandering.
This kind of nationalism is dangerous to democracy, and Christianity. The law enforcement agencies should be vigilant in de-radicalization of white supremacist and Christian nationalist.
The Christian nationalist army who stormed the U.S. Capitol in order to “Stop the Steal” and delay the certification of electoral college victory carried “Jesus Saves” signs and had crosses on t-shirts.
The justice department should investigate to bring charges against those Christian nationalists, elected officials and the evangelical pastors responsible of Jan 6th insurrection.
Muslims were blamed for terrorism after 9/11from ISIS, Taliban and Wahabism, evangelical Christians should be called out and bear responsibility for Jan 6th insurrection.
Christian nationalism is not new, nor it will disappear after the defeat of Trump. It has survived over decades and waiting for next opportunistic man like Pompeo, Cruz or Ron DeSantis willing to put them to use just as Jan 6th insurrection.
This insidious ideology has been translated into a sophisticated legislative strategy known as Project Blitz, whose purpose is to pass bills advocated by Christian nationalist.
Project Blitz is the play book for the Christian nationalism which has flood State legislatures with bills undermining the separation of Church and State with harmless language of “heritage,” “culture,” and “values.”
The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), co-founded by Weyrich advocated restrictive voter policies such as strict voter ID laws, automated purging, limiting mail-in or early voting, and slashing the number of polling places.
Doesn’t it sound familiar of what happening in Georgia, Florida, Texas, and many other States. History might not repeat itself, but it certainly does rhyme.
There were over 75 bills in the State legislative that advances Christian nationalism, restricting and suppressing voting laws.
The playbook of Christian nationalist for the school board members includes list priorities such as teaching bible courses, introduces Christian Heritage week, Bible month, and a course in history that America as Christian nation.
Project Blitz Play Book
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5bd8728e7eb88c68a5c8509f/t/5d365d78339e9100019cfa70/1563843966208/Project+Blitz+Playbook+2018-19.pdf
Fact sheet on Project Blitz:
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5bd8728e7eb88c68a5c8509f/t/5c11f4cd6d2a7305cb6877eb/1544680663671/Project+Blitz+Fact+Sheet.pdf
Christian Nationalism’s long-term strategy was articulated by Gary North, the leader in the Christian Reconstructionist movement. He believed in the theory of Dominions – enforcement of Bible-based religious laws.
Flynn made headlines by calling for the establishment of “one religion.” He said, “If we are going to have one nation under God, which we must, we have to have one religion.”
While Sen. Ted Cruz talks of “restoring” America to its original identity as a Christian nation and endorsing the Seven Mountains Dominion theology.
He calls Christian nationalist to take control of governmental institutions from school to Supreme courts to enact Christian religious laws and voter suppression laws.
In Georgia, billboard have popped up comparing Trump to Jesus and Pastor Robert Jeffress compared Trump issuing presidential pardons to God pardoning sin through Jesus.
Jerry Falwell said, “The racial problem in this country is not one of hate—but one of Bible principle.
Christian nationalism is redefining the meaning of religious freedom in its campaign to pit belief systems against each other.
Christian nationalism is form of tribalism which uses biblical references of us-versus- them to divide and promotes violence. This was on full display during the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol.
Christian nationalist has always used the gospel as a sword. There is numerous example such as Craig Stephen Hicks killing three Muslim college students in N.C, the March 2021 killing of eight women of Asian descent in Georgia, and Mother Emmanuel Church in Charleston, S.C.,
To understand the ideology of Christian nationalism one should read Dylan Roof’s manifesto, it is filled with Christian nationalism.
Christian nationalism defines America as Christian nation lost to progressives, liberals, anti-Christ, LGBT movements, and the governments’ role is to take America back for God.
Christian nationalism ideology is that one cannot be patriotic or love America if he is not White evangelical Christian.
The mixture of Trumpism and Christian nationalism is the belief that America is Christian nation and in order to be a true American, one must also be evangelical Christian.
Trump’s political slogan, “Make America Great Again,” is often translated “Make America White Christian Again.”
This is what sells and Donald Trump brands himself as the king of Israel and the savior of American Christians.
The credulous evangelical Christians known for their “Prosperity Gospel” and the Zionist Christians have help fund these extremist movement nationwide.
Christians should know that there is only one savior, and he’s not Donald Trump— he is Jesus Christ.
Jesus warns us against the religious leaders who preach about the “kingdom of God,” but they are fake and hypocrites.
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15).
Abdul Aleem, executive director of Karamah: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights said:
“Christians concerned about Christian nationalism not to take the movement lightly. Some Christians are not on the safe side. They’re already coming for you guys.”
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