A Looming Insurrection?
Was the Jan 6 insurrection a harbinger of another one? Of “the big one”? In their new book, one I think all pastors need to read, Philip Gorski and Samuel Perry, The Flag and the Cross, sketch five features of the continually changing face of White Christian Nationalism before they present a case for the possibility of a bigger, perhaps more “successful” insurrection.
The Five Features
Nativism: there is a trend toward anti-immigrationism (“build that wall”) that has been supported in some ways by people like Grudem and Robert Jeffress, but which was on the lips of some notable political voices: Ted Cruz, Steve Bannon, Steven Miller, Ann Coulter, Tucker Carlson, and Donald Trump.
Civilizationalism: the word “Christian” as well as “evangelical” have become secularized for many. “Nearly 19% of those who identify as ‘evangelical’ also identify as ‘secular’ or belong to a non-Christian religion.” A popular version of End Times has morphed at times with QAnon.
Isolationism: The words “America” and “patriotism” has shifted among many from internationalism to isolationism, and the latter is now mainstream Republican, with the new enemy being especially China.
Grievances: An increasing number of American evangelicals/Christians think they will suffer persecution of some sort if Democrats are in power and..
Messianism: … they think they will be saved if Trump, or Republicans gain power.
Looming Threat
For these authors democracy means rule by the people, and a liberal democracy includes “universal suffrage, human rights, and equality under the law.” But white Christian nationalism defines “the people” in an exclusive way and it favors an “ethno-nationalism.” Native birth matters; race matters; religion matters. The same group favors voting restrictions. Voter suppression laws have been proposed in both Texas and Georgia. Rights, too, are not as universal as the American ideals for those in this nationalism. Rich Lowry argues for cultural nationalism against multiculturalism. They point at Peter Leithart’s extolling of Constantine.
This group has thus asserted for a deeper authoritarianism. Why? Because American has become less white, Christian, powerful and more diverse, secular, and cosmopolitan. To right this ship they need more authority.
What Could Happen?
This is a bit like reading some Animal Farm.
The president would win the vote and then tighten the system in a way that made it difficult to remove them from office. Electoral College is one topic of concern, especially these days for Democrats who prefers a more majoritarian voting policy. Another is gerrymandering, which “allows politicians to choose their voters.” Christian nationalists favor both of these items.
Autocrats change the rules (voting laws) and then the umpires (the courts). Which can lead to a State of Emergency, during which time all manner of changes can occur. The economy gets centralized. Violence can occur.
This does not happen overnight. But it does happen. It is happening.
Can it happen here? Was Liz Cheney replaced?
Gorski and Perry: “A Trumpist victory that would end democracy is a real possibility, but it is by no means a foregone conclusion, and for two reasons: the dispersion of power and the diversity of the country.”
In sum, the dispersion of political, economic, cultural, and military power across multiple institutions, regions, and elites, and the growing diversity of these same elites, would make it quite difficult for an ambitious strongman to achieve a high degree of centralized control.
But they do believe it is more possible for a Jim Crow 2.0 to rise into power.
What do you think?
They believe white Christians are the ones among whom the direction will be determined if secular progressives can align themselves with them.
Hear this:
What is needed now is a popular front stretching from democratic socialists like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders not only to classic liberals such as Bill Kristol and David French but also to cosmopolitan #NeverTrulmp evangelicals like Russell Moore, Beth Moore, or Tim Keller.
Can they agree together on some basic rights against the white Christian nationalist front? That’s what Gorski and Perry are asking.
They are asking for a “popular front in defense of liberal democracy.”
Can this be achieved?
Thank you for writing what is true.
I doubt it. Who knows what may emerge as things “get real”, but what I’m seeing is not a growing center but a greater polarization, and I sense the reason is that if one is, for instance center-right, what captures his attention is the radical left and a visceral fear rises within him: “What would happen if those radicals got the power?!” and he is thus pushed further right finding it extremely difficult to stay in the center when there’s so much at stake. Same thing for those who are center-left beholding the madness on the far right. I hope this trend collapses and sanity wins, but I’m not optimistic. 🙏🏻