United States
RNS
A new report released on Wednesday found that roughly three in 10 Americans express some sympathy for Christian nationalism, with its greatest popularity concentrated in the south-east and upper mid-west.
The findings appear in a study from the Public Religion Research Institute, which probed public support for Christian nationalism as part of a broader survey of more than 22,000 adults. To assess feelings about Christian nationalism, respondents were asked whether they completely agree, mostly agree, mostly disagree or completely disagree with five statements, including “the US government should declare America a Christian nation” and “US laws should be based on Christian values.”
An attendee holds a “One Nation Under God Indivisible” poster during a Stop the Steal protest in Raleigh, North Carolina, on 6th January, 2021. PICTURE: Anthony Crider/Flickr/CC-BY 2.0.
PRRI broke out four categories depending on how people responded to the questions. Those most supportive of the ideology – 10 per cent of the country – were dubbed ‘Adherents’, followed by ‘Sympathizers’, who represent 20 per cent of the country. Those who disagreed the statements were classified as ‘Skeptics’ (37 per cent) or ‘Rejecters’ (30 per cent).
Mississippi and North Dakota showed the highest levels of support for Christian nationalism, with Adherents and Sympathizers making up 50 per cent of those states. They are followed by Alabama (47 per cent), West Virginia (47 per cent), Louisiana (46 per cent), Tennessee (45 per cent), Kentucky (45 per cent), Nebraska (45 per cent) and Wyoming (45 per cent).
States exhibiting the least support for Christian nationalism were Oregon (17 per cent), Massachusetts (18 per cent), Maryland (19 per cent), New York (19 per cent), New Jersey (20 per cent) and Washington (20 per cent).
Voting patterns reflected the presence of Christian nationalist ideas as well. “Residents of red states are significantly more likely than those in blue states to hold Christian nationalist beliefs,” the report reads. Researchers later note that, overall, nearly four in 10 residents of red states express support for Christian nationalism.
The survey also noted a strong correlation between support for Christian nationalism and support for the Republican Party, as well as for former President Donald Trump, who has long made appeals to Christian nationalists on the stump.
Last week, in addressing the annual gathering of National Religious Broadcasters, a disproportionately evangelical Christian group, Trump promised the crowd: “If I get in, you’re going to be using that power at a level that you’ve never used before.” He later added: “With your help and God’s grace, the great revival of America begins on Nov 5.”
In PRRI’s survey, among those who hold favorable views of Trump, 55 per cent qualify as Christian nationalists (21 per cent Adherents and 34 per cent Sympathizers). Only 15 per cent (four per cent Adherents and 11 per cent Sympathizers) of those who hold favourable views of President Joe Biden were identified as Christian nationalists.
“As the proportion of Christian nationalists in a state increases, the percentage of residents who voted for Trump in 2020 also increases,” the report reads. “If the analysis is restricted to white Americans only, the relationship between state-level support for Christian nationalism and votes for Trump in 2020 becomes even stronger.”
The survey found support for Christian nationalism concentrated in two religious groups: white evangelical Protestants (66 per cent) and Hispanic Protestants (55 per cent). Christians who ascribe to beliefs often associated with Pentecostals and charismatic Christianity, such as modern-day prophecy, spiritual healing and the prosperity gospel, were particularly drawn to the ideology.
Christian nationalism has been associated with political violence in part because of the ideology’s visible influence on the Capitol insurrection that took place on on 6th January, 2021. According to PRRI’s survey, there’s reason to suspect that association is not a coincidence: Christian nationalists are about twice as likely as other Americans to believe political violence may be justified, with 38 per cent of Adherents and 33 per cent of Sympathizers agreeing that “because things have gotten so far off track, true American patriots may have to resort to violence to save the country.”
The survey also offered a potential preview of how Christian nationalism – and the political coalitions associated with it – could end up shaping this year’s presidential election. Asked about immigration and access to guns, about 50 per cent of Adherents said they would only vote for a candidate who shared their views on the issues.
But the most ardent Christian nationalists will hardly be the most powerful force come November: Asked about abortion, half of Rejectors, who alone nearly outnumber Adherents, said they were unwilling to support a candidate who differs from them on their mostly liberal abortion views.
