In this Special Edition we pull together Chris Kuhlmann and Shaun Griffin’s three part discussion on Christian Nationalism. They cover audio clips by Wretched Radio and Christians Against Christian Nationalism to give a flavor of how broadly the term is being used in the media.
They then turn their focus to review two articles, the first from Christianity Today and the second from Wikipedia. The focus with these two articles is more on definition and application. The Christianity Today piece addresses the issue pretty well considering how broadly the term is applied and misapplied. Whereas the Wikipedia entry seems to be written by a non-Christian and gives that perspective.
In the last third of the discussion, Chris and Shaun listen to a compressed clip of podcaster Allie Beth Stuckey discussing Christian Nationalism in reference to a book by a well-known Christian author. The clip focuses on Allie’s rich and clear remarks on the subject. The two weigh in on her solid observations and touch base on a scene from the movie, Munich, the Edge of War, which serves to clarify two perspectives at work on the issue of Trump support, a main reason for using the term Christian Nationalism.
CREDITS
Host: Chris Kuhlmann & Shaun Griffin
Written by: Chris Kuhlmann
Produced by: Chris Kuhlmann and Shaun Griffin
Music composed by JD Kuhlmann
Art: Shaun Griffin
Sponsor: Score and Splice, JD Kuhlmann
ScoreandSplice@gmail.com
Questions? Drop us a line at admin@kingdompatriot.us
Visit us at www.kingdompatriot.us and check out our Vision Video
PART 1
Segment 1
Wretched Radio Clip
We take a look at how the term Christian Nationalist in being used in the media.
Wretched Radio Clip (transcript)
https://wretched.org/tv/christian-nationalism/
“If you are a Christian and you love your country, oh, you're a Christian nationalist.
This is wretched radio.
These two words that are being bandied about lately sure seem to have been taking on a flavor that doesn't taste very good if you happen to be a Christian. It is a broadly defined term it is everything from the people in the KKK, white supremacists, all the way to… you know it was kind of nice when we said a Pledge of Allegiance and sang America the Beautiful. Congratulations if you are anywhere in that spectrum. You're a Christian nationalist and that means you're dangerous, you're delusional, and you are an enemy of the state.”
Segment 2
Christians against Christian Nationalism - YouTube video produced by ChristiansAgainstChristianNationalism.org.
The group produced this clip by partnering with the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Their message: Join Christians across the country speaking out against #ChristianNationalism, which is a distortion of our faith and a divisive force in our country. They invite viewers to their site to read their statement and add your name.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGRhnrFrsdw
Transcript:
I'm a Christian against Christian nationalism.
I'm a Christian against Christian nationalism.
I'm a Christian against Christian nationalism.
I'm a Christian.
I'm a Christian.
I'm a Christian.
I'm a Christian against Christian nationalism.
I’m a Christian against Christian nationalism.
…against Christian nationalism.
…against Christian nationalism.
…against Christian nationalism.
I'm a Christian against Christian nationalism
PART 2
Christianity Today Article
What is Christian Nationalism? Christianity Today
https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2021/february-web-only/what-is-christian-nationalism.html
For the sake of time, the two hosts read key sections of this lengthy and well-written article and discuss.
The two hosts then read and discuss the very different approach the Wikipedia article takes.
Wikipedia Article
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_nationalism
Reading and discussion of the following:
Christian nationalism is Christianity-affiliated religious nationalism.[1] Christian nationalists primarily focus on internal politics, such as passing laws that reflect their view of Christianity and its role in political and social life. In countries with a state Church, Christian nationalists, in seeking to preserve the status of a Christian state, uphold an antidisestablishmentarian position.[2][3][4] Christian nationalists have emphasized a recovery of territory in which Christianity formerly flourished, historically to establish a Pan-Christian state out of the countries within Christendom.[5][6]
They actively promote religious (Christian) discourses in various fields of social life, from politics and history, to culture and science; with respect to legislation for example, Christian nationalists advocate blue laws.[7] Christian nationalists have encouraged evangelism, as well as for families to have more children as a means of increasing the Christian population growth (cf. Quiverfull).[8][9] Christian nationalists support the presence of Christian symbols and statuary in the public square, as well as state patronage for the display of religion, such as school prayer and the exhibition of nativity scenes during Christmastide or the Christian Cross on Good Friday.[10][11]
Christian nationalists draw support from the broader Christian right.[12] Christian nationalistic movements often have complex leadership structures, depending on the nature of their relationship with local Church institutions. Some movements are lay oriented, with symbolic clerical participation and indirect support from local Church structures, while others are led or strongly influenced by local clergy. The involvement of clergy in various Christian nationalistic movements since the 19th century has led to the development of particular forms of Christian nationalism which are known as clerical nationalism (otherwise known as clero-nationalism or clerico-nationalism).[13] Christian nationalists have often cooperated across denominational lines, fostering a spirit of ecumenism in order to advance certain objectives.[14]
PART 3
Segment 1 (Audio Clip) Allie Beth Stuckey (35:30 – 39:18)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgZTFCB7e7o
Discussion on Patriotism vs Nationalism
Segment 2 - Munich, the Edge of War
Shaun discusses a scene from the movie where two friends see Hitler from opposite points of view.
It reminds me of a movie that I recently saw, Munich, the Edge of War. Two really good friends friends, a Brit and a German, were in this one scene that really gripped me. The scene suddenly made some of the things in the US regarding Christians who support Trump very very clear. In this scene you could see the perspective of each of the two young men. Each seeing Hitler from their perspective but the opposite of the other. The Brit saw the actions of Hitler, defining what's going on in Europe by his actions. Flip it, the German sees Hitler by his words, by what he is promising, and by the positive way that he's talking about Germany; how Germany can come back and can thrive again. The friends were looking at Hitler from opposite perspectives. One was going to make the nation thrive again and sounded like a good thing. Whereas, on the flip side the Brit sees Hitler’s action and where it would take Europe. Each had a valid perspective, but if the young men didn't see where the other was coming from, they were not going to land on the same page. In fact it separated and destroyed their friendship.
Conclusion: The term Christian Nationalist is used primarily as a slur.
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