Historians of Christian nationalism are alarmed by its appearance in American pulpits
by Jack Jenkins at Think Progress
https://thinkprogress.org/history-christian-nationalism-e3303b46c3bc/
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In the Trump era, Christian nationalism is different
Haselby’s assessment only points to the historical tools of Christian nationalism, not the unusual way that Christian nationalists have chosen to wield them. The difference matters: The most diagnostic features of modern Christian nationalism—adherents’ antipathy towards science, so-called “secular” institutions, and government overreach—would have confused their 18th- and 19th-century forbears.
“Their hostility to science and educational institutions is distinctive—American’s 18th-century Christians were obsessed with Isaac Newton,” Haselby said. “America’s early Christian nationalists were very pro-state. The libertarian anti-state of today’s Christian nationalists is the opposite of the original.”
He added: “The most acute Christian nationalists of today would want nothing to do with the politics of America’s [earliest] Christian nationalists.”
But the oddest thing about modern American Christian nationalism is its odd fascination with Trump himself. Throughout U.S. history, faith leaders have showered praise on presidents (including Barack Obama), but today’s Trump-loving Christian nationalists have pushed this tradition to its limits.
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