RHETORIC IS THEIR BASIC WEAPON
It is not wrong to use the democratic political process to accomplish change. That is what democracy is all about. It is short-sighted, however, to spend time, money and energy fighting against oppressive Christian Nationalism policies and legislation without also engaging in spiritual warfare to destroy the roots from which those policies grow. It is the religious roots that feed the movement. Kill the roots and eventually the movement will die.

At root, Christian Nationalism is a religious movement. On the surface it fights its battles through lies, conspiracy theories, politics, rhetoric, protests, voting manipulation and legislation, but it is religion that drives and empowers the movement. And make no mistake, it is a powerful religious movement.

The strength of Christian Nationalism is in its rhetoric. Enslaved as they are to the words of religious/political leaders, rank and file Christian Nationalists hunger for and feed on the rhetoric leaders feed them. They satisfy this hunger by their choice of news and social media. And when they can, they attend political rallies and conferences. These habits are modeled  after religious gatherings to which they are addicted and keep feeding on to regenerate their religious/political fervor by meeting with like-minded believers. These events make them feel good, satisfy their need for community and create powerful, pseudo-religious experiences in their flesh. This community could be called the Church of Christian Nationalists but does not use that label. The spirit of this church is very evident in name brand churches throughout America.

Every time they participate in a political/religious event, whether in person or online, Christian Nationalists learn and recite the rhetoric that makes the movement strong. It is like the liturgy recited every Sunday in Church and like singing the Star-Spangled Banner at sporting events. Singing and chanting builds and strengthens community. Christian Nationalists grow the movement every time they repeat the rhetoric to other Christian Nationalists or recite it to fend off the verbal attacks by media and others who are not part of the movement. They strengthen their personal resolve to fight for their beliefs every time they defend the movement with their rhetoric.

Incessant repetition of the rhetoric — including lies — is the basic strategy in the evolution of the movement. Every chance they get, Christian Nationalists repeat the party line rhetoric and punctuate it with verbal jabs (e.g., name-calling, bullying, verbal abuse, etc.) directed at liberals and progressives. Political opponents react weakly with their own brand of rhetoric, but Christian Nationalists always win these verbal sparring matches. This is politics as usual in America. Both parties are talking but no one is listening — except to leaders in their preferred echo chambers.