Understanding Christian Nationalism

“Christian nationalism is one of the most consequential topics in the social scientific study of religion and politics. At present, however, much of the research on this topic has been exclusively quantitative and focused on recent data. Missing from this research are accounts of Christian nationalism that place it in a broader social and historical context, or that consider its diverse expressions across different faith communities. This book addresses both shortcomings, making it a valuable contribution to work in this area.”

Joseph O. Baker, Professor of Sociology, East Tenneesee State University

“This book directly addresses two of the most important concepts for understanding the connection between religion and politics. However, no good account to date relates these concepts historically or theoretically. This book does exactly that from multiple comparative angles. The first, historical section uses historical development to find roots of Christian Nationalism without projecting the contemporary concept backward. The second section, focused on distinct religious traditions, turns our attention beyond the usual suspects of the generic term ‘white evangelicals.’ The book’s contributors are not only top notch, but they represent an interdisciplinary range of voices that have rarely been brought together. This volume should go a long way toward facilitating crucial cross-disciplinary discussion in a very focused, productive way. This book is quite exciting for these reasons!”

Gary A. Adler, Jr., Associate Professor of Sociology, Penn State University

"Featuring a stellar lineup of distinguished scholars tracing the evolution of faith-based social conservatism over the last half-century, this outstanding volume demonstrates how Christian nationalism has emerged as a totalistic political theology. American civil religion has long functioned as a wide, inclusive umbrella, extending a shared moral canopy over the nation. Christian nationalism, by contrast, operates as a fortress—defining who belongs within the nation and who is excluded. With extraordinary depth and range, this volume is an indispensable resource for understanding the sacralization of modern partisan politics."

Gerardo Martí, William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Sociology at Davidson College and author of American Blindspot: Race, Class, Religion, and the Trump Presidency

“The authors bring conceptual clarity, and an oft-neglected historical and institutional focus, to the study of contemporary white Christian nationalism in the US. An important work that sharpens the distinctions between MAGA-movement religious nationalism and other American expressions of politicized religion, including civil religion and Black religious nationalism. A must read for students of religion and politics in the United States.”

Penny Edgell, Professor of Sociology at the University of Minnesota. Editor of Religion is Raced, and the author of Congregations in Conflict: Cultural Models of Local Religious Life and Religion and Family in a Changing Society