Power

Abstract

This chapter explores how Christian nationalism helps explain Americans’ responses toward a host of sociocultural issues. It examines how and why Ambassadors, Accommodators, Resisters, and Rejecters respond differently to disputes over immigration, the refugee crisis, gun control, and arguments over “respecting the flag,” to name a few. It also explores how Christian nationalism played an integral role in the outcome of the 2016 election and can similarly explain continued support for President Trump among American Christians. Because Christian nationalism provides a unifying vision of how the world should look, and how that vision should be enacted, the realm of politics is central to understanding the influence of Christian nationalism on American life. We also demonstrate that Christian nationalism is not synonymous with private religiosity. Therefore, in order to understand religion and politics we must recognize that Christian nationalism is unique and cannot be equated with other expressions of religiosity.