IS CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM RESHAPING GOVERNMENT POLICY?

The Establishment Clause is the first of two religion clauses in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion." This clause forbids our government from establishing an official religion, and also prohibits government actions that unduly favor one religion over another, preferring religion over non-religion, or non-religion over religion. As a general matter, the Supreme Court has long recognized that the Establishment Clause's prohibition of laws "respecting an establishment of religion" not only prevents the government from establishing an official religion, but also bars other types of support "respecting" an establishment. The "Establishment of religion " clause, at a minimum, means that neither a state nor the federal government can set up a church, neither can force nor influence a person to go to or to remain away from church against his will or force him to profess a belief or disbelief in any religion. (See e.g. "Everson v. Board of Education " (1947)). In short: the Amendment appears to have been firmly cemented in constitutional law. Enter the Trump Administration, Project 2025 and Christian Nationalism. Christian Nationalism is a political ideology which advocates for a legal and cultural fusion between Christianity and a nation's government. In the U.S., it's adherents believe the country was founded on Christian principles, that the government should actively promote these values, and that Christianity should hold a privileged place in public life. It excludes some Americans following other religious traditions, or those who are not religious at all. The explicit aim of Project 2025, which has guided much of the early work of the Trump administration, is to infuse biblical principles across the federal government. Calls to protect Christianity, make America more Christian, and align this country with the Bible are all common phrases associated with Christian Nationalism. It is generally understood that conservative Christians behind this point of view form the bedrock of President Trump's Republican support. A prominent, though awkward, focus of the movement's pursuit of it's objectives has been it's insistence on removing the concept of empathy, a deeply rooted Christian value, from our government's decision making process The conflict surfaced prominently during Mr. Trump's high profile clashes with Pope Leo XIV, which centered on questions of empathy and leadership, specifically sparked by the Pontiff's vocal opposition to the war in Iran, mass deportation and military conflict. The debate over empathy has become a prominent focal point for many Christian Nationalists. The latter's critique is rooted in some specific ideological, cultural and theological beliefs. Among others: The fear of moral compromise - the thought that untethered empathy can blur the lines between right and wrong, that fully identifying with someone's pain might lead to condoning or validating actions the Bible defines as sin - i.e. LGBTQ+ rights, abortion access, etc.; Priority of objective truth - the believe that truth, defined by biblical scripture must always take precedence over feelings, which may replace scripture as the ultimate moral guide; and "Woke politics"- the thought that empathy may be weaponized as a progressive political tool. The Trump administration has gone "all in" in support of Christian Nationalist ideology, and has actively worked to expand religious expression in public life and loosen restrictions on faith organizations. Some key policy and cultural actions include: establishing Executive branch task forces like the White House Faith Office, the Religious Liberty Commission and a task force to eradicate anti-Christian bias. Efforts also include targeting LGBTQ+ and gender identity issues, curbing abortion access and engaging in cultural battles with universities, the Smithsonian Institution, and Public Broadcasting all the while singling out opposition to DEI programs. These moves, while celebrated by the religious right, eroded the separation of church and state. To some the growing prevalence of Christian Nationalism in our government is innocuous, harmless. However, the movement's objective no longer simply focuses on the defense of liberty, it targets the accumulation of power. As such, it endangers constitutional values, impregnates governmental policy, and provides a justification for the lack of empathy in our government's pursuits. It is using its enhanced influence to impose its will on Christian organizations it identifies as "woke" or opposed to President Trump's agenda, as exemplified by its role in defunding religious groups that have been providing life saving care to many of the most vulnerable people in the world. If we are not careful, while we appear intent on demolishing a theocratic regime in the Middle East, we could end up gradually easing into the semblance of one right here. Theo Wierdsma