How to End Christian Nationalism by Amanda Tyler

Author:Amanda Tyler [Amanda Tyler]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fortress Press
Published: 2024-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

PATRIOTISM AND NATIONALISM

Taking again our definition of Christian nationalism—the merging of American and Christian identities—gets us to the question of patriotism. Patriotism itself is not inherently a problem; rather, the ways in which it is misunderstood and used to silence dissent and insist on conformity are problems.

Patriotism is a love of country. People express patriotism in both symbolic and substantive ways. Waving an American flag, voting and helping others to vote, and exercising First Amendment rights are all ways that one can express a healthy sense of patriotism. Patriotism is also not forced. One is not required to love one’s country.

Nationalism is an extreme form of patriotism that demands supremacy over all other allegiances. Inherent in nationalism are authoritarian tendencies that require conformity. Nationalism demands ultimate and unquestioning allegiance. There is no room for dissent or disagreement.

In her book This America: The Case for the Nation1, scholar and historian Dr. Jill Lepore gives this helpful explanation on the divergence between patriotism and nationalism: “by the early decades of the twentieth century, with the rise of fascism in Europe, nationalism had come to mean something different from patriotism, something fierce, something violent: less a love for your own country than a hatred of other countries and their people and a hatred of people within your own country who don’t belong to an ethnic, racial, or religious majority.” The difference between the two is stark2, she writes: “Patriotism is animated by love, nationalism by hatred. To confuse the one for the other is to pretend that hate is love and fear is courage.”

How can you tell the difference between patriotism and nationalism? One way is to ask yourself: Does my patriotism require me to minimize or sacrifice my theological convictions or my commitment to the way of Christ? If so, it’s not patriotism; it’s nationalism. While our faith should certainly inform our political activism, the mission of the church should remain distinct from the domestic and foreign policies of the United States. When we align our identities as Americans and Christians to the point that there is no discernible difference between the two, we lose the ability to critique the actions of the state.

It’s also important to note that not all nationalism is as obvious and egregious as what I witnessed at ReAwaken America. Much of Christian nationalism is more subtle—and thus, arguably, even more pernicious. “In God We Trust” appears on our currency. “Under God” was added to the Pledge of Allegiance that many children say in school each day. Flags in churches that feel like patriotism to some congregants reek of nationalism to others.

The bleeding of patriotism into nationalism can appear subtle, but it is dangerous. At what point do worshipping God and honoring nations become indistinguishable? How do we know what level of respect for our country is appropriate? Are all expressions of patriotism in our religious spaces problematic? If yes, then how so? How can we stop our healthy love of country from crossing over to a worship

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