Pittsburgh (AP) – The Victory Party got a sense of evangelical worship after Doug Mastriano won the primacy of the Republican governor of Pennsylvania this month. When a Christian singer led a crowd with a song, some raised their hands to heaven in praise.
Mastriano began his observations by recalling Scripture: “God uses fools to confuse the wise”. He argued that Pennsylvania citizens would be “deprived” of their freedom if their Democratic opponent won the election in November and used a more religious biblical election reference: “We choose this day to serve the Lord. . “
Not only did Mastriano, a state senator and retired army colonel, play an important role in his personal history, but he also incorporated conservative Christian beliefs and symbols into the campaign, becoming the most visible example of the cycle of this electoral, called by some observers. the Christian Nationalist. Among the Republican candidates.
Mastriano – who ignored repeated requests for comment from the Associated Press, even during his election campaign last week – has previously denied the label of a “Christian nationalist”. In fact, few well -known candidates use the label. Some say it is embarrassing and argue that everyone has the right to use their beliefs and values to influence public policy.
But scholars generally interpret Christian nationalism as overcoming the political debate and advocating the fusion of American and Christian values, symbols and identities.
They say that Christian nationalism is often accompanied by the belief that God has given America, like biblical Israel, a special role in history and that she will receive divine blessing or judgment based on her obedience.
It often coincides with the conservative Christian political agenda, including the fight against abortion, same -sex marriage, and transgender rights. Scholars say that Christian nationalism is also often associated with mistrust of immigrants and Muslims. Many Christian nationalists regard former President Donald Trump as a champion, despite his excessive sexual boasting and lack of public sanctity.
Candidates deemed Christian nationalists have had mixed success in the Republican primary this year, often battling hard-line conservatives against more right-wing opponents.
He lost several high -profile candidates, such as Congressman Madison Cottorn of the United States and Idaho Governor Hope, Lt. Governor Jenny McGichin. The first spoke about the “spiritual struggle” in the Capitol and the need for “strong and God -fearing patriots”. The latter was taken with a weapon and a Bible and said, “God is calling us to take the sword and fight, and Christ reigns in the state of Idaho.”
Some of the Republican primary for the Idaho legislature were won by candidates who declared Christian values or shared priorities with Christian nationalists, such as banning sports for transgender athletes. Marjorie Taylor Green, a U.S. lawmaker who uses biblical phrases to “guard the wall” against people trying to “destroy our faith,” easily won the premiere.
Observers of Christian nationalism regard Mastriano’s victory – insignificant, in a 44% crowded square, despite opposition from the establishment of the state party – as the movement’s most recognizable victory.
Mastriano called the separation of the church a “myth”.
After his success, the comments section of his campaign on the Facebook page had a revival tent:
“Glory to Jesus!” “God smiles at us and sends His blessings.” “Thank God the Father!”
Mastriano is “a unique occasion where he really emphasizes this apocalyptic idea in his speeches, where his supporters and his causes are on God’s side,” said Andrew Whitehead, professor of sociology. at Indiana University in Perdue and co-author of Taking America Back to God: In the United States. “
“It’s literally good and bad,” he continued. “There’s no room for compromise, so it’s a threat to democracy.”
In the book, Whitehead and co-author Samuel Perry measured rates of Christian nationalism based on a survey at Baylor University in 2017. He assessed perspectives on issues such as America’s role in God’s plan and whether the United States should be declared a Christian country, the promotion of biblical values and the reception of school prayers and religious exhibitions to the public.
Their research showed that one in five Americans agree with these views. This has dropped from almost every quarter of the past decade because Americans have become less religious in general. But Whitehead said Christian nationalists, who outnumber Republicans, should remain calm.
Christian nationalism appears in tandem with other right-wing movements and in some cases overlaps with other right-wing movements such as the QAnon Conspiracy, white supremacy and the rejection of COVID-19 and the 2020 elections. Christian symbols are exposed. and around the United States Capitol on the January 6, 2021 uprising.
Mastriano, who was trying to oust Joe Biden in Pennsylvania in 2020, attended a rally before the attack and hired buses to catch more. Although he said he left when the situation worsened, the video showed him going through “raids on police barricades and borders,” the Senate Judiciary Committee said in a statement.
Robert Jones, executive director of the Institute for the Study of Public Religion, said the testimony on Jan. 6 was not surprising.
According to a recent institute poll, white evangelical Christians are one of the strongest supporters of the claim that God intended America to be a “promised land” for European Christians. Proponents of his case have worked to make the actual transcript of this statement available online.
“I think white Christian nationalism is really a threat,” Jones said.
Conservative Christian communities also play a role in local elections, including blue states, although many advocates say they see it not as nationalism but as support for their freedom and religious values.
Pastor Tim Thompson has just set up a political action committee in Murietta, California, with more than 9,600 subscribers and plans for the state’s future conservatives to “take back our school boards” and empower parents . teaching plan.
“We don’t want teachers or other adults to tell our kids about sex,” Thompson said. “We do not want teachers to classify our children as oppressors and oppressors. These are not political issues. These are moral and biblical questions ».
Judeo-Christian values are the foundation of America, he said.
“People are afraid to speak out in support of these values because they’re afraid that the left will label them as“ racists ”or“ Christian nationalists, ”Thompson said.“ I’m not interested in these labels because they know my wife, my children, church and community who I am. “
Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in Chino Hills, California also tried to influence local elections. Although he does not give candidates the right to campaign in the church, he often offers applause in reference to his flock as “advocates of family, life and freedom.”
“But‘ hair on the neck ’when you understand the term‘ Christian nationalism ’,” he said. And he was ashamed to see Christian images during the uprising on January 6: “It was a sad day to see these sacred symbols and these warm words”.
Elizabeth Neumann, chief strategy officer at Moonshot, a tech company that aims to eliminate violent online extremism, disinformation and other harms, said Christian nationalism began to emerge in 2015, amid alleged turmoil. persecution of Christians.
Neumann, who served in the George W. Bush and Trump administrations and grew up in an evangelical Christian family, called the movement “heretical and idolarous” and “an apocalyptic view (that) often leads to violence.” Many pastors are pushing for it, he added.
“I see Christian nationalism as the breathing and dying breath of the older generation in America who are afraid that Christians will change,” he said.
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Reported by Bharat from Los Angeles.
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Religious coverage in the Associated Press is supported by AP in partnership with The Conversation US, with funding from the Lilly Endowment Inc. AP is solely responsible for this content.
Source: Huffpost
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