NOTE TO READERS:
Since 2017, many things have been said and done in America’s political environment that cause people to ask these kinds of questions:
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- What are they thinking?
- Why do they say that?
- Why do they do that?
- Where does that come from?
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These are fair questions because the things said and done are far outside of the norms of American politics and civil behavior. Many concerned people have tried to answer these questions and offer ideas on how to deal with the social and political division that norm-breakers have caused. The following series of pages on Fear and Anxiety provides some answers to these questions. This is the first page of a five-part series on fear and anxiety in the context of Christian Nationalism.
HOW TO INTERPRET AND APPLY THIS INFORMATION
It is easy to be angry with and hate Christian Nationalists because their religion, political ideologies, their rhetoric and their tactics are offensive to American norms. To be hateful and afraid, however, would be wrong and, in many ways, would be like the attitudes of Christian Nationalists. America will never become a better place if all Americans become like Christian Nationalists.
With that principle in mind, here are several perspectives to keep in mind while reading about Christian Nationalists and fear:
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- They are not a monolithic group. People of many religions, classes, colors and ethnicities are Christian Nationalists.
- They vary in their degree of support of various Christian Nationalist philosophies.
- Their reasons for supporting Christian Nationalism are not all the same.
- Their fear and anxiety is a handicap that limits their ability to think and act like a rational, intelligent human.
- Handicapped people want/expect to be treated like they are normal.
- Their fear and anxiety predispose them to recognize criticism and attempts by others to correct them or educate them.
- Their fear and anxiety conditions them to respond negatively, and maybe even violently, when others try to correct or educate them.
Therefore, to think of Christian Nationalists as a monolithic population would be wrong. It would involve stereotyping which creates several problems:
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- Stereotyping ignores the diversity within the movement, including racial, ethnic, and ideological differences.
- Stereotyping can lead to inaccurate portrayals of Christian nationalists’ beliefs and motivations, potentially hindering constructive dialogue and understanding.
- Overgeneralization can increase political and social divisions, making it harder to address the underlying issues and concerns that fuel Christian nationalist sentiments.
- Stereotyping always overlooks nuance that fails to recognize the spectrum of beliefs and varying degrees of support within the movement.
- Stereotyping can reinforce the Christian nationalist narrative of victimhood and persecution, potentially strengthening their resolve and attracting sympathizers.
- By relying on stereotypes, we may overlook opportunities for engagement, education, and addressing legitimate concerns that some Christian nationalists may have about social changes.
- Stereotyping can hinder meaningful discussions about the role of religion in public life and the challenges facing a diverse society.
- Stereotyping is common to Christian Nationalism thinking and behaviors.
- Stereotyping can lead to exaggerated beliefs about partisan differences, especially on salient issues.
- Stereotypes can reinforce existing political divides and hinder constructive dialogue across groups.
- Social class stereotypes can maintain inequality by influencing perceptions of competence and warmth across socioeconomic lines.
- Racial stereotypes often overlap with class-based stereotypes, further complicating social and political divisions.
The best way to avoid the human tendency to stereotype people is avoid looking at external facts such as skin color, ethnicity, religious habits, political labels, education and wealth. Instead, we should always look at their hearts and the hidden, social, political, financial and educational nuances that shape people. The we should adopt the following kind of thinking:
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- “If it weren’t for my circumstances, that could be me.”
- “I could easily be in their shoes if not for the support I’ve received.”
- “Without the opportunities I’ve had, I might find myself in the same situation.”
- “That could have been my life with different circumstances.”
- “I recognize my privileges; it could easily be different for anyone.”
- “I’m grateful for where I am; I understand how quickly things can change.”
- “I see how close I am to a similar fate, and I’m thankful for my journey.”
The reason for adopting this kind of thinking is that stereotypes are walls to open communication that is critical to healthy relationships. There will be no communication that embodies the power to change hearts and minds if both parties think of people who are not like them as “others.” Christian Nationalists are Christian Nationalists because they see “others” who are not Christian Nationalists as enemies who cannot be trusted. People who desire to change the hearts and minds of Christian Nationalists are “others” in their eyes. It is impossible to share truth with people who do not trust you. Without becoming a Christian Nationalist, it is necessary to avoid being labeled as one of those “others” whom they fear. The only way to do this is to love them with Godly love.
EXISTENTIAL FEARS MOTIVATE POLITICS
Christian Nationalists’ politics are highly motivated by prevailing fears and anxieties. Because the things they fear are existential — not real — what they fear revolves around the perceived threats to their privileged status and influence as white (mostly), conservative Christians in America. Their core fears include:
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- Demographic changes and loss of white majority status, which they view as undermining America’s “Christian nation” identity.
- They fear being displaced and marginalized by growing racial/ethnic minority populations.
- Erosion of traditional gender roles and heteronormativity, fueled by greater LGBTQ+ rights and acceptance. challenges their belief in patriarchal family structures as the bedrock of society.
- Declining religiosity and secularization of American culture, which diminishes the dominance of their conservative Christian worldview. They fear that their values are diminished as the nation becomes more racially and religiously pluralistic.
- Perceived persecution and discrimination that opposes their ability to impose Christian beliefs on others through law, government policy and aggressive religious evangelism. Resistance to their political agenda is characterized as an attack on their religious freedom.
- Loss of political power and influence to Democrats through free and fair elections. Their goal is to maintain their privileged position through authoritarian control, and they are willing to do anything to ensure that Democrats do not gain control of governments.
While the scenario plays out in America, the world watches in unbelief and dismay the behaviors that authoritarian leaders shamelessly display their self-righteous attitudes which can be summarized as follows:
“God says our politics and our religion are right and all other politics and religions are wrong. Therefore, we will take dominion over all religions and convert them to our religion. After we do that, Jesus will return and bless America because it is a Christian nation. And then we will rule America with Jesus.”
To be fair, it must be said that all Christian Nationalists do not agree with this entire statement. It can be said, however, that this is a reasonably accurate summary of the thinking of leaders of the movement. We know this because this philosophy often appears in leaders’ speeches and publications. See Recent Posts in the home page of Confronting Christian Nationalism for examples.
The fact that Christian Nationalists aggressively militate against people whom they fear shows that they have never experienced Godly love. Public, belligerent words and actions also reveal the depths of their fear and anxiety. Their “Christian” label does not insulate them from fear. God’s commands about fear and trust mean nothing to them.
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- Isaiah 41:10: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
- 2 Timothy 1:7: “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
- 1 John 4:18: “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.”
- Psalm 34:4: “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”
- Joshua 1:9: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.
- Psalm 23:4: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
- Proverbs 29:25: “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.”
- Luke 12:32: “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
- Jeremiah 17:5-6: “Thus says the LORD: ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come.'”
- Psalm 118:8: “It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.”
- Psalm 146:3: “Put not your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.”
- Micah 7:5-6: “Put no trust in a neighbor; have no confidence in a friend; guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your arms.”
- Isaiah 2:22: “Cease to be in awe of man, whose breath is in his nostrils; for of what account is he?”
Christian Nationalists claim proudly that they love God and trust the bible as a guide for right living. These are empty claims, however, because they do not obey these basic commands that have the same value and weight as the Ten Commandments. Fear of man and lack of trust in God, therefore, are Christian Nationalists Achilles Heel. Another way to say this is that lack of Godly love is their weakness. They think they know about human love, but they know nothing about Godly Love.
Overflowing with pride and ignorance, Christian Nationalists will never admit to themselves or others that they are plagued with fear and anxiety. Fear and uncertainty hang over them like a dark, unmoving cloud that they imagine is ready to burst forth in a catastrophic, existential storm at any moment. Rather than discover the cause of the fear, they adapt to it with attitudes and behaviors that cover up their weaknesses and fear. Instead of honestly presenting their vulnerability to the world, they work hard to present an image of confidence, security and strength. They are frauds.
As their fears and insecurities grow, they amp up their public image and rhetoric to convince themselves and others that they are strong and unafraid. But this is all an act. Like all weak, insecure, unloved people, Christian Nationalists compensate for their fears (e.g. lack of love, insecurity, etc.) through aggressive, bullying behaviors which they direct at the people they fear and those who lack resources to fight back.
Another thing they do to offset their fears is join a community of other weak, insecure, fearful people who believe that there is political power in many people with loud voices saying the same thing. There can be power in numbers but the power they exhibit is meant to benefit only Christian Nationalists — not all people. They are a mob of weak, insecure and fearful people hiding behind verbal bluster and threats of violence and retribution. This explains why fearful politicians are poor in the skill of governing: They are too busy playing defense to govern. Furthermore, fear handicaps them from using their minds constructively.
For more scholarly explanations of how fear works in the human mind, see these pages:
- Psychology and Biology of Fear
- Fear Affects the Ability to Think Clearly
- Fear Affects the Ability to Act Logically
- How to Overcome Fear: Be a Truthteller