Speaker Johnson: Christian Nationalism in the Speaker’s Office?

Congressman Jared Huffman started a Congressional Freethought Caucus. They are all Democrats and all House members but from a range of religious beliefs. He personally is a secular humanist.

Freedom From Religion Foundation this week had him on to discuss a white paper on the current Speaker of the House. Christian Nationalism is the belief that Christianity and the state should be one. 

The BJC (Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty) strongly opposes it. You can listen to its weekly podcast, by two very reasonable sounding women. 

I wonder if everything cited, including the use of a painting of Jesus in a courthouse, is problematic. (To be clear, that's a minor thing on the list of particulars.) Also, the much cited comment about Mike Johnson being a "Moses" is a tad overblown.  

I think of it partially as a symbolic reference to his mission using the language familiar to his own personal beliefs. Many people feel some sort of "calling." It is correct to be wary about "God talking to you" since a person should have some humility in that respect. 

We need not worry about everyone who thinks they have a spiritual mission in life. Civil rights heroes can be labeled the "Moses" of their people. A personal belief that a governmental role is blessed by God (or some other divine being or "stuff") is not by definition troubling. In my view, "God" has various meanings.  

But, overall the paper makes a good case. Rep. Mike Johnson opposes the separation of church and state. And, his personal views include support of discriminatory policies, some directly arising from his religious beliefs. If his view of a "new Moses" means a governmental role that mixes church and state in a troubling evangelical Christian way, it is a problem.  

Religion is an important part of our lives, including those who choose not to follow a belief structure traditionally labeled religious. Freethought provides a path to applying it appropriately. As shown by the membership of the caucus, it can also be promoted by various religious beliefs. 

Religion Clause Blog, a good resource, reported on a recent protest by the caucus. Jack Hibbs, a recent guest chaplain, has Christian Nationalist beliefs. The full letter provides other problems. It also references a past denial of an invitation to Dan Barker (former preacher and co-president of FFRF) to be a guest chaplain. 

As Rep. Huffman said in an interview, he questions the presence of legislative chaplains. I also find them problematic though the Supreme Court upheld the practice. But, if it exists, he wants the chaplaincy to be applied in an evenhanded way. That is repeatedly an uphill battle. 

People have made invocations to start proceedings with a non-deistic message. It is only fair to include such people. To simplify matters, we can say around ten percent [over thirty million] of the country are atheists or agnostics. There is also a growing "nothing in particular" group (nones) with a mix of spiritual beliefs. 

Some people find it necessary to start a government proceeding with a religious ceremony. When the House of Representatives has a "pro forma" session, it includes the Pledge of Allegiance (with "Under God") and a prayer. The Senate does not, which means the whole thing takes less than a minute many times. The ceremony for some provides a fundamental symbolic and practical role.

The inclusion of all beliefs will as well.