Christian nationalist ideals, including some associated with violence, have made their way to the halls of Congress thanks to a recent speech by Rep. Lauren Boebert.
"It's time for us to rise up and take our place in Christ and influence this nation as we were called to do," the Colorado Republican told the crowd at a Christian conference.
She said that God needed to be at the center of the country.
In her speech, Boebert used a lot of scriptures. She said the formation of the US was inspired by God and that the founding fathers were motivated by Him.
Boebert was referring to the belief held by some evangelical Christians that Jesus will return after a period of great suffering and save them. It's not a good idea to complain about it. It isn't a good time to be upset about it. You were called to be a part of the last days. The second coming of Jesus will be ushered in by you.
She said in June that she was tired of the separation of church and state and that the church was supposed to direct the government. Boebert is using a side of Christianity that has been associated with violence.
Christian nationalism is an ideology and cultural framework that says Christianity should have a privileged position in American society.
Andrew Whitehead, a sociologist at IUPUI and co-author of the book, said that Americans that embrace Christian nationalism are embracing a premillennialist interpretation of the end times.
The idea that Christians are supposed to have an influential role in public life is something Boebert is taking a new interpretation of. He said that her view was not necessarily about saving the nation, but about Christians fighting the forces of evil until the end.
"Citing the end times really does feel like a call to action and a rallying cry in some sense," he said.
Boebert's comments could be seen as a call for violence in relation to the upcoming elections, according to experts on religion and politics.
The chair of the University of Pennsylvania's Department of Religious Studies told the outlet that if we don't get our people in, it's an apocalypse.
Boebert's comments are not new among proponents of Christian nationalism, but they have never been used by a member of Congress.
Acts of violence have been inspired by Christian nationalism. According to a report published in February by a group of faith leaders, historians, and religious scholars, the concept was on display at the Capitol on January 6 and helped justify the insurrection. The suspects in the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting and the New Zealand mosque shooting were Christian nationalists.
"Any time that our political rhetoric moves in an area where we are raising the stakes, where it is ultimate good or ultimate evil, political violence becomes much more likely."
Boebert's office didn't reply to Insider's request.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
