đşđ¸ The complexity of defining and measuring Christian nationalism: 5 takeaways đ
Label draws a backlash from the right and left
By Bobby Ross Jr.
ARLINGTON, Texas â Good morning, Weekend Plug-in readers!
I spent the past few days enjoying Texas Rangers games (did I mention my team won the World Series last year?) and am headed on a reporting trip first thing this morning.
Given my predawn flight, I filed this edition of Weekend Plug-in a little early. Please forgive me if I missed any breaking news.
Four months after supporting blessings for same-sex couples, the Vatican this week declared gender-affirming surgery and surrogacy as violations of human dignity, as Religion Unpluggedâs Clemente Lisi notes.
See additional coverage by The Associated Pressâ Nicole Winfield, CNNâs Christopher Lamb, the National Catholic Reporterâs Christopher White and the Washington Timesâ Mark A. Kellner.
Muslims worldwide celebrated Eid al-Fitr in the shadow of Gazaâs misery, as APâs Andrew Wilks and Niniek Karmini and Kellner report. Eid prayers were held in a historic former mosque in northern Greece for the first time in 100 years, according to APâs Costas Kantouris.
This is our weekly roundup of the top headlines and best reads in the world of faith. We start with five takeaways from a comprehensive review of Christian nationalism.
What to know: The big story
Religion Unplugged published my in-depth story this morning on the backlash against what one scholar calls the âoverplayed, overhypedâ Christian nationalism label.
Here are five takeaways from my reporting:
1. Christian nationalism is complicated.
Yes, it involves the melding of faith and country. But the specific nature of Christian nationalism depends largely on whoâs defining it.
Even as countless books, news articles and cable TV segments devote intense attention to the subject, the term has become so pervasive that it risks losing any real meaning.
At least thatâs the warning of a growing band of prominent academics and political observers â on the right and the left.
2. The stats are all over the map.
How many Christian nationalists are there?
Just 5% of American adults self-identify as Christian nationalists, according to one survey.
A different study labels 32.1% of Americans as accommodators and 19.8% as ambassadors of Christian nationalism.Â
âIn short, in trying to estimate the prevalence of support for âChristian nationalistâ ideas, itâs very important to be precise about how, exactly, the concept is being measured and what it involves,â the Pew Research Centerâs Gregory A. Smith told me. âThe estimates you get can be heavily dependent on what you ask and how you define your terms.â
3. Terms such as âwokeâ and âcritical race theoryâ ignited the right. âChristian nationalismâ seems to be doing the same on the left.
Christian nationalism âhas gotten a lot of cachet with people on the left who want to use it as a cudgel to beat on religiously conservative voters and portray them as frightening and authoritarian,â said Matthew Wilson, director of the Center for Faith and Learning at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
âCritical race theory kind of became a boogeyman for a while for people on the right â about this insidious philosophy that was a threat to America,â Wilson said. âAnd I think people on the left think about, quote/unquote, âChristian nationalismâ in the same way.â
4. Some scholars remain adamant that Christian nationalism poses a big problem â for America and the church.
âI think it is pervasive enough, and the underlying belief that we are a Christian America is pervasive enough ⌠that it is incumbent on all people of goodwill to counteract that narrative,â said Christina Littlefield, author of the forthcoming book âChristian America and the Kingdom of God: White Christian Nationalism from the Puritans through January 6, 2021.â
Much of the concern relates to the presumptive Republican presidential nominee: former President Donald Trump, who promises to defend Christian values if re-elected and is selling Bibles for $60 as he seeks a second term.
5. For all of Trumpâs God-and-country rhetoric, some experts voice skepticism that heâs a true Christian nationalist.
âI would say that heâs trying to appeal to and play on Christian nationalism,â SMUâs Wilson said. âI would not describe Donald Trump as a Christian nationalist because I do not think that Donald Trump is deeply committed to Christian theology. Right?
âBut I think he understands that this is one tool in his toolbox for assembling an electoral coalition. The Christian nationalist base, if we want to use that term â even if it is only 5% or single digits of the American population, thatâs still enough people to be an important part of his coalition and to make some money from.â
With his endorsement of Lee Greenwoodâs âGod Bless the USA Bible,â which combines the King James Version with the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, Trump may be appealing to âcomfort food Christian nationalism,â according to Religion News Serviceâs Bob Smietana.
For much more detail and insight, read my full story.
Power up: The weekâs best reads
1. Trump and abortion: Conservative Christians praise former President Donald Trumpâs anti-abortion record but say heâs stopped short of the goal, The Associated Pressâ Holly Meyer and Tiffany Stanley report.
That assessment came this week after âTrump made clear Monday that he would not be leading the push for a federal abortion ban as he vies for his second term in the Oval Office.â
2. Methodist splintering: The not-so-united United Methodist Church faces upheaval after more than 7,500 churches left over disagreements including LGBTQ+ rights.
The Tennesseanâs Liam Adams examines âhow (the) denominationâs administrative arm is preparing for United Methodism's future following higher-than-expected church disaffiliations and pending budget cuts.â
3. Sports and SCOTUS: As Godbeat reporting niches go, the Deseret Newsâ Kelsey Dallas has one â make that two â that I really enjoy.
As Iâve mentioned before, her in-depth coverage of religious liberty cases at the U.S. Supreme Court is stellar. And she pairs that speciality with ⌠a focus on faith in sports.
Just this week, her bylines include âWhy a rabbi is among those thanking John Calipari for his time at Kentucky,â âScottie Scheffler is the top golfer in the world. He says faith is his defining traitâ and âWe serve an unbelievable God,â says Dawn Staley after South Carolina claims championship.â
More top reads
As college athletes face new pressures from bettors upset with their performance, chaplains in the NCAA are trying to help students remember their imago Dei, Christianity Todayâs Emily Belz reports. ⌠A Baptist whose handling of child sex abuse accusations had drawn sharp criticism preached his farewell sermon Sunday, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazetteâs Frank Lockwood. ⌠Name and trademark litigation has embroiled two universities associated with Churches of Christ, The Christian Chronicleâs Cheryl Mann Bacon explains. ⌠For Christians raised in âhigh-controlâ settings, elections may trigger religious trauma, Religion News Serviceâs Kathryn Post writes. ⌠Evangelicals want immigration reform, but theyâre unlikely to get it, Ken Chitwood explains at Sojourners. ⌠Baptist leaders urged House Speaker Mike Johnson to support Ukrainian Christians, RNSâ Adelle M. Banks notes. ⌠And as he starts the 36th year of writing his nationally syndicated column, Terry Mattingly explores âWhy journalism continues to struggle with religion news.â
Inside the Godbeat
This time next week I plan to be in Pittsburgh for the Religion News Associationâs 75th anniversary conference.
Speaking of RNA, hereâs some exciting news: The premier professional organization for people who report on religion in the news media is launching a new program for emerging journalists.
Charging station: ICYMI
Here is where you can catch up on recent news and opinions from ReligionUnplugged.com.
Cherry blossoms hold a profound significance to many, often intertwined with religious and spiritual symbolism
Clemente Lisi, Religion Unpluggedâs executive editor, looks at how different cultures around the world feel about at these dazzling flowers that bloom each April.
The final plug
The Religion News Association named the finalists Thursday for its annual awards. Winners will be announced at the RNAâs annual conference in Pittsburgh next week.
Happy Friday, everyone! Enjoy the weekend.
Bobby Ross Jr. writes the Weekend Plug-in column for ReligionUnplugged.com and serves as editor-in-chief of The Christian Chronicle. A former religion writer for The Associated Press and The Oklahoman, Ross has reported from all 50 states and 18 nations. He has covered religion since 1999.