Just over a year ago, something called “Christian nationalism” hit American mainstream culture, in the wake of the 2020 presidential election and the January 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol. Numerous books have appeared that explore the phenomenon historically and sociologically. They tell us how Christian nationalism is racist, sexist, homophobic, right-wing, and even a heresy departing from the Christian faith. Our national conversation about this thing called Christian nationalism became mainstream as a response to the so-called Age of Trump.
But nationalism—especially religious nationalism—is nothing new, nor is it best understood in monolithic, simple terms. It is multifaceted, emerges from diverse ideologies, and changes as time and circumstance progress. It is manifested in both political and religious terms. Since the colonial founding, Americans have participated in creating complex and contested nationalities. They have been divided in their visions for the nation, represented at times by loyalists against patriots, Hamiltonians against Jeffersonians, Unionists against Confederates, and segregationists against integrationists.Still today, we find competing nationalisms on the left and right. Why should we be surprised? This process of national identity creation is ongoing.
American history is a demonstration of the complexity of nationalism. In all our social media hot takes on
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