The concept of Christian nationalism has been around for hundreds of years but has recently gained attention as Republican lawmakers call for Christianity to play a bigger role in American life and institutions.

Lauren Boebert of Colorado said in June that she was tired of the separation of church and state. Donald Trump said in July that Americans kneel to God and God alone. The Republican Party should be the party of Christian nationalism according to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.

The "godless left" who hate both the US and God have been suggested as the reason for the alarm being sounded. Some Republicans and Christians think that the concept is counter to both American and Christian values.

Christian nationalism is something to ask what it is.

'A fusion of Christianity with American civic life'

Christianity and the US are linked and therefore the religion should have a privileged position in American society according to Christian nationalism.

The 2020 book "Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States" is written by sociologists Andrew and Samuel.

They say Christian nationalism is a culture framework that idealizes and advocates a fusion of Christianity with American civic life.

This Sept. 7, 2020 file photo shows the
This Sept. 7, 2020 file photo shows the "Oregon for Trump 2020 Labor Day Cruise Rally" at Clackamas Community College in Oregon City, Ore.
Michael Arellano/Associated Press

Americans who support such ideas may not identify as Christian nationalists, so they used a set of survey questions to determine where a person falls on a Christian nationalism scale.

Some of the questions were part of a national survey. Americans were asked to rate how much they agreed with the statements on the scale.

  1. The federal government should declare the United States a Christian nation.
  2. The federal government should advocate Christian values.
  3. The federal government should enforce strict separation of church and state.
  4. The federal government should allow the display of religious symbols in public spaces.
  5. The success of the United States is part of God's plan.
  6. The federal government should allow prayer in public schools.

Not all Americans can support Christian nationalism or not according to the positions on the scale. People may embrace some aspects but not others according to the authors.

White, conservative, evangelical Christians made up the majority of Americans who embraced Christian nationalism.

Who are Christian nationalists?

More than half of Americans could be classified as either "ambassadors" or "accommodators" of Christian nationalism, according to the authors.

The largest group of accommodators was 32%. A fifth of Americans were ambassadors who embraced Christian nationalism.

Former President Donald Trump supporters wave flags outside the convention center at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, in Orlando, Fla.
Former President Donald Trump supporters wave flags outside the convention center at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, in Orlando, Fla.
John Raoux/Associated Press

The US should be declared a Christian nation, advocate for Christian values, and return prayer to public schools according to the authors.

More than half of them were evangelical Protestants. They were the oldest of the four groups and mostly lived in small towns in the South and Midwest. Two-thirds thought of themselves as politically conservative and more than half as Republicans.

Those who scored the highest on the Christian nationalism scale were more likely to support racist or anti-Semitic policies. They thought serving in the military was important to being a good person. Christian nationalists believe that Christianity should be favored over other faiths in America.

Although Christian nationalism is gaining support in the GOP, the authors said belief in the ideology has been declining over the past three decades.

Christianity, Trump, and insurrection

The January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol was a significant driver of recent discussions.

Many Trump supporters carried Christian symbols when they invaded the building to disrupt the 2020 election because they believed it had been stolen from the former president.

The extent to which Christian nationalism influenced and was displayed at the insurrection was detailed in a report published in February.

There were flags with slogans like "Make America Again Godly" and "Jesus is my Savior" in the crowd. The phrases "In God we trust" and "God bless the USA" were written on a wooden gallows that were being used to hang people.

A man wearing a "Trump 2020" flag over his shoulders kneels before a large cross to pray in a picture.

A man dressed as George Washington kneels and prays near the Washington Monument with a Donald Trump flag on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, DC.
A man dressed as George Washington kneels and prays near the Washington Monument with a Donald Trump flag on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, DC.
Carolyn Kaster, File/Associated Press

According to the report, Christian nationalism played a role in the attack on the US Capitol.

The authors looked at the role of white Christian nationalism in relation to racism.

Christians against Christian nationalism

Christian nationalism is not the same as Christianity and that criticism of the ideology is not synonymous with criticism of the religion according to scholars.

The executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty told Insider that they were concerned about how Christian nationalism was becoming more violent. The suspects are Christian nationalists.

Tyler is the leader of Christians Against Christian Nationalism, a campaign and coalition effort that has since been signed by more than 27,000 Christians.

Christian nationalism leads people to idolatry of the country over worship of God, according to Tyler. She said that the ideology proposes a "second class status for our neighbors who aren't Christian" because it violates the Christian belief of loving your neighbor as yourself.

She said it's important for Christians to speak out against Christian nationalism in order to show that the ideology is dangerous.

Many of our signers believe that pushing against Christian nationalism is necessary for the preservation of our faith.