Christian nationalism on the rise in some GOP campaigns

[Desk trauma]

That's quite a logo for Ye '24.

 

[DaisyDay]

That's quite a logo for Ye '24.

Wow, yeah - what a fashion icon!

 

[Hans Blaster]

That's quite a logo for Ye '24.

Yee-sh. Did anyone not see that coming?

 

[essentialsaltes]

It also provides a snapshot of how national groups, including Hillsdale College, a politically influential private Christian college in southern Michigan, are working with the DeSantis administration to reshape education in the state.

DeSantis moves to turn a progressive public Florida college into a conservative one​

His administration says he aims to make it a ‘Hillsdale of the South’​

Three days after declaring that Florida is “No. 1 in public higher education,” DeSantis appointed six new members to the board of the New College of Florida in Sarasota — which is ranked fifth in “top public [liberal arts] schools” by U.S. News & World Report and which prides itself on educating “free thinkers.”

Christopher Rufo, one of the six appointments, tweeted on Jan. 4: “Gov. DeSantis is going to lay siege to university “diversity, equity and inclusion” programs.” [Rufo is best known for decrying CRT on television. He is a former fellow at the [antievolutionary] Discovery Institute, the Claremont Institute, and The Heritage Foundation]

Another of the six appointees is Matthew Spalding, a government professor and dean at Hillsdale College [which is both private and Christian]

James Uthmeier, DeSantis’s chief of staff, told the far-right Daily Caller website ... “It is our hope that New College of Florida will become Florida’s classical college, more along the lines of a Hillsdale of the South.”

[The other 4 appointments:]

Charles R. Kesler, government professor at Claremont McKenna College and editor of the Claremont Review of Books, a publication of a conservative think tank in California called the Claremont Institute [which is not to be confused with Claremont McKenna, and which has published antievolutionary book reviews]; Mark Bauerlein, an English professor at Emory University who is aligned with Trump; Eddie Speir, superintendent of a private Christian school in Florida called Inspiration Academy; and Debra Jenks, a graduate of New College who works as a mediation lawyer in Florida.

 

[Hans Blaster]

DeSantis moves to turn a progressive public Florida college into a conservative one​

His administration says he aims to make it a ‘Hillsdale of the South’​

Three days after declaring that Florida is “No. 1 in public higher education,” DeSantis appointed six new members to the board of the New College of Florida in Sarasota — which is ranked fifth in “top public [liberal arts] schools” by U.S. News & World Report and which prides itself on educating “free thinkers.”

Christopher Rufo, one of the six appointments, tweeted on Jan. 4: “Gov. DeSantis is going to lay siege to university “diversity, equity and inclusion” programs.” [Rufo is best known for decrying CRT on television. He is a former fellow at the [antievolutionary] Discovery Institute, the Claremont Institute, and The Heritage Foundation]

Another of the six appointees is Matthew Spalding, a government professor and dean at Hillsdale College [which is both private and Christian]

James Uthmeier, DeSantis’s chief of staff, told the far-right Daily Caller website ... “It is our hope that New College of Florida will become Florida’s classical college, more along the lines of a Hillsdale of the South.”

[The other 4 appointments:]

Charles R. Kesler, government professor at Claremont McKenna College and editor of the Claremont Review of Books, a publication of a conservative think tank in California called the Claremont Institute [which is not to be confused with Claremont McKenna, and which has published antievolutionary book reviews]; Mark Bauerlein, an English professor at Emory University who is aligned with Trump; Eddie Speir, superintendent of a private Christian school in Florida called Inspiration Academy; and Debra Jenks, a graduate of New College who works as a mediation lawyer in Florida.

Not sure how a public college can legally be turned into the image of a religious institution.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Not sure how a public college can legally be turned into the image of a religious institution.

Oh you and your silly 'human' law.

 

[Hans Blaster]

Oh you and your silly 'human' law.

I was raised in America where the church and state stay out of each others business. I can't help it.

 

[essentialsaltes]

A brief taxonomy of Christian nationalism in the U.S.​

1. God-and-country conservatives
These largely unorganized faithful Americans are in many cases your friends, family and neighbors who hold dear a vision of the country rooted in nostalgia, for a past that is more aspirational than historical. A recent Pew Research Center survey captured many of this group in the 45 percent of Americans who believe America should be a Christian nation, including 81 percent of White evangelicals

2. Religious right’s old guard
This subset of evangelical Christian culture warriors includes Tony Perkins, head of the Family Research Council, a Christian political lobbying organization; Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; and Texas activist David Barton, who has long rejected the notion of the separation of church and state.

3. MAGA/█████
This summer, former Trump adviser Michael Flynn and Tennessee pastor Greg Locke headlined the “ReAwaken America Tour,” events that were part political rallies, part revival meetings.

4. The extremely online
Booted off most social media platforms, the online wing of Christian nationalism seemed to have sunk into its own digital world until one of its leaders, the “America First” digital-only talk-show host Nick Fuentes, showed up with Kanye West at Donald Trump’s dinner table.

5. Trump prophets
If Trump’s 2024 reelection bid gains steam, you will probably be hearing from this mix of prosperity-gospel proponents and self-proclaimed prophets who believe Trump was ordained by God to be president.

6. Patriots and theocrats
Since Jan. 6, members of the chauvinist group Proud Boys, which only began displaying Christian nationalist tendencies in the lead-up to the insurrection, have increasingly added prayer and other religious expressions to their ethic of patriotism and hypermasculinity.

 

[essentialsaltes]

I guess her prayers went unanswered. Or God also hardened their hearts like Pharaoh's.

 

[Hans Blaster]

1. God-and-country conservatives
These largely unorganized faithful Americans are in many cases your friends, family and neighbors who hold dear a vision of the country rooted in nostalgia, for a past that is more aspirational than historical. A recent Pew Research Center survey captured many of this group in the 45 percent of Americans who believe America should be a Christian nation, including 81 percent of White evangelicals

I hesitate to call this group "Christian Nationalists", but they do sometimes echo the CN sentiments. This group apparently constitutes the majority of American Christians on this board (at least on the sections I frequent). They are theologically diverse and if you allow for similar sentiments about religion and government seen outside the conservative political movement, they are politically diverse as well.

Many of those in this group are just a little confused by some subtle seeming distinctions (a "nation of Christians" versus a "Christian nation") and do not seek theocracy, but do bristle when implied Christian preference is challenged. Decades of Christian majorities and preferences in civil society combined with a deep ingraining into our culture of the notion sustain this notion. We should all try *not* to assume that the expression of Christian preference in the public sphere by posters represents anything beyond this category.

This group is the one that worries me the most though. If our secular state is to be lost it will be from this group turning on it. The growth of "Political Christianity" in non-denominational/evangelical churches where conservative theology and politics are merging together and the active efforts to expand that movement are the risk point to secular government.

 

[essentialsaltes]

DeSantis moves to turn a progressive public Florida college into a conservative one​

His administration says he aims to make it a ‘Hillsdale of the South’​

“We didn’t come to New College because we wanted to go to a conservative Christian school. We would’ve gone somewhere else,” said student Sam Sharf. “We didn’t want this and we didn’t ask for this.”

In a statement to NewsNation, Desantis’ press secretary wrote that the new trustees are committed to “refocusing the institution on academics and truth” and said that the campus will “become a place for learning and discourse, as it was designed to be.”

NewsNation asked for clarification on what a “Hillsdale of the south” would look like as far as tangible changes to the university but did not get a response.

NewsNation also asked about concerns regarding taxpayer funding for the public university, if, in fact, it starts to resemble Hillsdale, which is a private Christian college. Those questions also went unanswered.

 

[Ana the Ist]

“We didn’t come to New College because we wanted to go to a conservative Christian school. We would’ve gone somewhere else,” said student Sam Sharf. “We didn’t want this and we didn’t ask for this.”

In a statement to NewsNation, Desantis’ press secretary wrote that the new trustees are committed to “refocusing the institution on academics and truth” and said that the campus will “become a place for learning and discourse, as it was designed to be.”

Academics and truth? Learning and discourse?

This reads like a Babylon Bee article....

"College Fears That Refocusing on Education Will Ruin Scam They've Worked So Hard to Build"

NewsNation asked for clarification on what a “Hillsdale of the south” would look like as far as tangible changes to the university but did not get a response.

NewsNation also asked about concerns regarding taxpayer funding for the public university, if, in fact, it starts to resemble Hillsdale, which is a private Christian college. Those questions also went unanswered.

Whatever it is....if it involves truth, they don't want it.

 

[wing2000]

Many of those in this group are just a little confused by some subtle seeming distinctions (a "nation of Christians" versus a "Christian nation") and do not seek theocracy, but do bristle when implied Christian preference is challenged. Decades of Christian majorities and preferences in civil society combined with a deep ingraining into our culture of the notion sustain this notion. We should all try *not* to assume that the expression of Christian preference in the public sphere by posters represents anything beyond this category.

+ decades of false teaching....much of it from Evangelical circles who seem to have forgotten * or chose to ignore * the teachings of Jesus Christ.

1. USA is the modern day Israel of the Old Testament
2. USA is blessed by God based on some notion that a secular state is the Kingdom of God

 

[DaisyDay]

Academics and truth? Learning and discourse?

Truth as dogma. It should be academics and knowledge.

This reads like a Babylon Bee article....

"College Fears That Refocusing on Education Will Ruin Scam They've Worked So Hard to Build"

Whatever it is....if it involves truth, they don't want it.

When religious truth replaces knowledge as an academic goal then the college might as well be a church.

 

[Ana the Ist]

Truth as dogma. It should be academics and knowledge.

It should be....perhaps that's exactly why they're trying to step away from dogma.

When religious truth replaces knowledge as an academic goal then the college might as well be a cdogs.

One has to be able to tell dogma apart from knowledge in the first place. I'm not convinced that very many can. When so many these days speak about "their truth"....it seems rather clear they don't understand what truth refers to or how to approach it.

If you are wondering, you can easily spot the dogma in a beliefs' epistemology.

 

[essentialsaltes]

A brief taxonomy of Christian nationalism in the U.S.​

3. MAGA/█████
This summer, former Trump adviser Michael Flynn and Tennessee pastor Greg Locke headlined the “ReAwaken America Tour,” events that were part political rallies, part revival meetings.

On May 17, ReAwaken America will have a weekend conference at Trump Doral.

 

[CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN]

I thought God blesses the governments?

Romans 13:1-7

"13 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God"

I don't believe this. God appointing Hitler, Trump, Putin and other bad people is unlikely.

 

[Hans Blaster]

I don't believe this this. God appointing Hitler, Trump, Putin and other bad people is unlikely.

I think it is equally likely that the "good leaders" and the "bad leaders" were appointed/anointed by a god.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Tennessee Pastors Call Out ReAwaken America Tour for Peddling "Unholy" Theology​

Southern Christian Coalition says event featuring General Michael Flynn and Wilson County Pastor Greg Locke promotes "Christian Nationalism"

A group of Tennessee pastors affiliated with the Southern Christian Coalition is calling out a national religious tour called "ReAwaken America" as the event travels to Nashville. Speakers at the event include retired General Michael Flynn, who resigned from the Trump Administration under federal investigation, and Wilson County shock pastor Greg Locke.

The Southern Christian Coalition claims the event promotes "unholy" theology, including the exceptionalist agenda known as Christian Nationalism.

 

[essentialsaltes]

"HE IS WITH US"
I wonder, does "HE" refer to Trump or to American Flag Aslan?