Lecture: Christian Nationalism, Religious Pluralism, and the 2024 Election

Introductory Remarks

• Speaker: Dr. Robert P. Jones, President and Founder of Public Religion Research Institute
• Host: Daniel Jocelyn Simitowski, Director of the Center for Christian Jewish Learning at Boston College
• Co-sponsor: Boise Center for American Religion and Public Life
• Dr. Jones's notable works include:
  • "The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy and the Path to a Shared American Future"
  • "White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in America"
  • "The End of White Christian America"
• Focus of Talk: Christian nationalism, religious pluralism, and the 2024 election

Key Themes

Storytelling and Identity

• Beginnings and foundational narratives shape perceptions
• Current divides are less about policy and more about identity (e.g., who is a real American?)
• Foundational myths influence contemporary political and social divides

Christian Nationalism in America

Defining Christian Nationalism

• Composite scale developed through multiple questions:
  • Christians' dominion over society
  • U.S. as a Christian nation
  • Importance of being Christian to being truly American
  • Importance of Christian foundations for the U.S.
  • Laws based on Christian values
• Four categories: Adherents, Sympathizers, Skeptics, Rejectors

Data Insights

• 30% of Americans lean towards Christian nationalism, with 10% being strong adherents
• Significant partisan polarization: 55% of Republicans vs. 11% of Democrats lean towards Christian nationalism
• Racial dynamics: White Christian nationalists strongly align with Republican identity; less clear alignment among non-whites

Religious and Demographic Insights

• White evangelical Protestants most aligned with Christian nationalism
• Latino Protestants also show significant alignment
• Church attendance positively correlates with Christian nationalist attitudes

Associated Attitudes

• Denial of systemic racism
• Immigrant threat perception and "great replacement" theory
• Anti-Muslim and anti-Semitic attitudes
• Patriarchal gender roles

Authoritarianism and Political Violence

• Strong correlation between Christian nationalism and authoritarian attitudes
• Political violence seen as a potentially justified means by a minority

Geographic and Political Implications

• Higher support for Christian nationalism in red states vs. blue states
• State-level analysis shows strong correlation between Christian nationalism and Trump support

Historical Context

• Roots of Christian nationalism linked to European colonization and the doctrine of discovery
• Historical parallels drawn between past colonial attitudes and modern political events (e.g., Capitol insurrection)

Discussion Highlights

Power Dynamics

• Christian nationalism fundamentally about power
• Religion and race used as tools to justify power and control

Audience Q&A

• Connections between authoritarian beliefs and religious outlooks
• Role of religion in public life and narratives inclusive of all gender identities
• Global perspective on religious nationalism across cultures
• Polarization driven by demographic changes

Closing Remarks

• Need for honest confrontation with history
• The question of whether America is a divinely ordained Christian nation or a pluralistic democracy remains open
• Demographic changes signal potential shifts but historical patterns persist

Conclusion

• Audience encouraged to engage with the discussed themes further through Dr. Jones's books and the provided resources.