How to End Christian Nationalism

Amanda Tyler (not to be confused with another lawyer with that name) is the executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee on Religious Liberty (BJC) and co-hosts a podcast entitled "Respecting Religion." The first thing you feel about her is how reasonable and nice she sounds. 

So, it is not surprising that she was taken aback when a reporter referenced her "radical" concern about Christian Nationalism. Nonetheless, as she notes in her new book (How to End Christian Nationalism), it still is an uphill battle. It is somewhat "radical" to make a strong effort to fight it. 

Christian nationalism is the belief that being a Christian is necessary to be a good American. As a Baptist and American, she thinks this violates her core religious and American values. 

She also helped to write a report, a joint effort with the Freedom From Religion Foundation, showing how Christian Nationalism was involved in the January 6th insurrection. Although both organizations have somewhat different beginnings, they strongly believe in the separation of church and state.  

A sign of her strong stance is that she flags the usage of "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance and the national motto, which is repeatedly handwaved even by Justice William Brennan, a strong separatist. 

I agree with her that these are troubling governmental endorsements of religious belief. She also notes the school calendar favors Christians. Structural discrimination gets to be so taken for granted that we do not recognize how we benefit. 

The book is a how-to geared to Christians. Each chapter ends with a biblical reading. (She uses the Common English Bible, which is not one I usually see cited.)  Tyler notes that Christians have a special responsibility to address Christian Nationalism since they have benefited from its practice for so long. Christian Nationalism is also correlated with racism.

She provides eight steps, including understanding Christian Nationalism, grounding oneself in God's love, denouncing violence, committing to the separation of church and state, taking on Christian Nationalism at home (including from the pulpit), organizing for change protecting religious freedom in schools, and taking your place in the public square. 

Tyler argues that the fight against Christian Nationalism will be a long battle that will not be won soon. Nonetheless, some victories are possible, including defeating (for now) attempts to use school chaplains in Texas public schools. The result of that 2024 elections will bring many more battles.  

Change often has to come from within. Amanda Tyler's efforts as a believing Baptist/Christian are particularly important. This book is a helpful introduction.