Christian nationalism, not new phenomenon in the U.S. but it is on the rise and it threatens democracy and religious liberty. Christian nationalism is a belief system that fuses Christianity with American civic life, often in ways that distort the gospel. It is evident in interwoven symbols that were on display at the January 6 Capitol Insurrection: crosses draped in American flags, signs proclaiming, “Jesus is my Savior, Trump is my President,” and images of Jesus wearing the red MAGA hat. Christian nationalism is closely associated with nativism, white supremacy, and militarism. This presentation aims to provide an overview of Christian nationalism, the danger it poses, and how to resist it.
Anna Floerke Scheid is an Associate Professor in the theology department at Duquesne University. Her teaching and research attends to religion and U.S. political life; religion, war, and peacebuilding; forgiveness and reconciliation in the aftermath of conflict; religion and violence; and faith-based activism and organizing.
She holds a Ph.D. in theological ethics from Boston College, an MA from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, and a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University. Anna is the author of Just Revolution: A Christian Ethic of Political Resistance and Social Transformation (Lexington, 2015) and numerous essays and articles.
Through her research, teaching, and community engagement she is committed to helping people understand and exercise their own power over the forces that shape our social, economic, and political lives together.
