Cruising the smooth waters of Loch Ness, my eyes are peeled for any Nessie sightings. Glancing upward, the ominous clouds darkening the sky may be more of an immediate danger than a mythical monster. A castle diverts my attention as it stands sentinel at the edge of the water, or at least part of it is still standing, reigning majestically over the expanse of Loch Ness.
Urquhart Castle, built in the 13th century, was a Scottish military fortress. Over time, these stone walls saw many battles as the castle and surrounding land changed hands, mostly between the Scottish crown and various Scottish clans. William of Orange’s soldiers garrisoned here as they fought the Jacobites. In 1692 when the English soldiers left Urquhart, they blew up the castle rather than letting it fall to the Jacobites.
I am struck by the fact that ultimately, the castle was destroyed by its occupants to keep it out of enemy hands. The Jacobite uprisings were a political movement, but like many political ideologies, it was wrapped in religion. Christian nationalism is also a political movement wrapped in religion. It has a long and tangled history, comprised of unlikely bedfellows, all striving to achieve similar goals in the political arena.
In the previous post, we discussed the slippery slope we descend to authoritarianism when we support Christian nationalism, a dangerous political movement that distorts Christianity to destroy democracy. It sows seeds of disinformation and divisiveness to vilify and exclude groups of people different from themselves. Despite having the word “Christian” in its name, it is not a Christian movement. The end game is power through authoritarianism as its players seek to control both the government and society. Certain ideas from conservative Christianity are co-opted to legitimize its actions.
Christian nationalism is the culmination of centuries of domination, destruction, and oppression of minority peoples that is rooted in white supremacy. Its roots go back to the 15th century Doctrine of Discovery that gave white European settlers a false sense of entitlement that played out in the displacements and killings of Indigenous peoples and then later, the enslavement of Africans. (See Note #1 below.)
For brevity’s sake, we will start with the 1954 US Supreme Court’s ruling in Brown v. Board of Education that deemed racially separate schools were not equal and must not continue to be segregated according to race. White Christian schools that refused to integrate could lose their tax-exempt status. Jerry Falwell, Sr, was an outspoken racist who fought to keep his Christian academy segregated (he later started Liberty University). Bob Jones University, an evangelical Christian school in South Carolina, did indeed lose its tax-exempt status for a while because it refused to admit Black students. Galvanized by the threat of losing their tax-exempt status, these and other evangelical leaders began to work together to defeat the gains made by Black citizens during the Civil Rights Movement.
At roughly the same time, the Republican Party began to lose support after Watergate. Paul Weyrich, a Republican operative, saw an opportunity in a bloc of voters, namely evangelical Christians, who historically did not vote. Teaming up with these aggrieved evangelical leaders, Weyrich used the issue of abortion to enlist evangelicals to vote Republican. (See Note #2.) Weyrich and Falwell created the Moral Majority, Inc., in 1978. They worked to defeat President Jimmy Carter’s second candidacy (he was not conservative enough for them) and they even coached Ronald Reagan in evangelical jargon, ultimately influencing a landslide victory for Reagan in 1980. By colluding, the Republican party got the votes it needed, the Christian Right/Moral Majority evangelical leaders got their tax-exempt status and the power to influence public policy, all funded by wealthy conservative donors.
But Weyrich did not stop there. He cofounded the Council for National Policy (CNP), the Heritage Foundation, and the Republican Study Committee, which became the pillars of the radical right. CNP is a secretive, umbrella organization that brings together far-right politicians and the Religious Right, with the backing of ultra-conservative donors. Their members lead many offshoot extremist organizations based on white supremacy. They operate today as a shadow network.
What is particularly alarming about this evolution of organizations and the shadow network they lead are their tactics. The “playbook” of Weyrich, found in the book entitled The Integration of Theory and Practice: A Program for the New Traditionalist Movement by Eric Heubeck, states that their goals are:
“1) Falsehoods are not only acceptable, they are a necessity. The corollary is: The masses will accept any lie if it is spoken with vigor, energy and dedication.
2) It is necessary to be cast under the cloak of "goodness" whereas all opponents and their ideas must be cast as "evil."
3) Complete destruction of every opponent must be accomplished through unrelenting personal attacks.
4) The creation of the appearance of overwhelming power and brutality is necessary in order to destroy the will of opponents to launch opposition of any kind.” (See Note #3.)
If these goals sound eerily familiar, it is because this is the current playbook used by this partnership between far-right politicians, the Religious Right, and wealthy conservative donors in their concerted effort to destroy specific US institutions and replace them with those they control. They introduce legislation, file lawsuits, strip funding from federal departments, and usurp the authority of federal agencies, such as the FDA and EPA. They seek to destroy democracy from the inside out, all in the name of Jesus. It is not the Jesus I know.
Many organizations, some of which are nonprofits, operate within the umbrella of the CNP or are run by CNP members. While this list is not exhaustive, it includes: Family Research Council, Focus on the Family, American Family Association, Concerned Women for America, Susan B. Anthony List, Students for Life of America, Live Action, Faith & Freedom Coalition, United in Purpose, National Religious Broadcasters, Alliance Defending Freedom (see Note #4), Leadership Institute, Federalist Society, American Center for Law & Justice, Heritage Foundation, Tea Party Patriots, State Policy Network, and National Rifle Association. (See Note #5.)
Funding for many of these organizations comes from the Prince/DeVos families as well as from the Koch brothers’ network called FreedomWorks (that also funds Americans for Prosperity and Freedom Partners). The National Christian Foundation is a network of wealthy evangelical donors that also funds some of these organizations. Hillsdale College is a beneficiary of the work of CNP and its donors and is an integral part of their mission.
Members and prominent leaders associated with these organizations include (or have included) Chuck Colson, James Dobson, Tim and Beverly LaHaye, Pat Robertson, Tony Perkins, Mike Huckabee, Mike Pence, Phyllis Schlafly, Anita Bryant, Oliver North, Wayne LaPierre, Charlie Kirk, Ralph Reed, George Barna, Ginni Thomas (wife of US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas), Cleta Mitchell, Leonard Leo, and Jay Sekulow. In addition, 46 of 435 members in the US House of Representatives belong to the far-right House Freedom Caucus lead by Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa) with vice-chairman and co-founder Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga) is one outspoken member and a self-professed Christian nationalist.
Another member of the House Freedom Caucus is the newly elected House speaker, Mike Johnson (R-La). Make no mistake: he is the proverbial wolf in sheep’s clothing. His “nice guy” demeanor may deceptively cover his extremist views, but his track record reveals otherwise. Johnson, by his words and deeds, shows he is a Christian nationalist who does not support democracy, nor separation between church and state, nor human and civil rights for those he deems “other.” He promotes establishing his own interpretation of God’s law as the ultimate authority in the US government, despite the fact the Founding Fathers worked to prevent any one religion from ruling supreme (as discussed in last month’s post). The fact that he is in such a powerful position to influence legislation and is also second in line to the presidency is very alarming. (See Note #6 below more detail.)
The Republican party (especially members of the far-right House Freedom Caucus), the Religious Right, and their wealthy backers all stand to gain from their collusion. The Republican party gets political power through votes, the Religious Right gains power through influence over laws that impose their conservative beliefs on the rest of society, and their donors get tax breaks and other financial incentives via legislation promoted by the Republican party, making them even wealthier. A match made in heaven. Or not!
Christian nationalism masquerades as patriotism, wrapped in religion. Its goal is to destroy democracy and usher in authoritarianism. Who needs a Loch Ness monster when, like the soldiers at Urquhart Castle, there are people in this country who will blow up the US Constitution and its institutions to save it from imaginary enemies and thus garner all the power for themselves.
We cannot let them succeed. For if we do, life as we know it has ended. In the name of freedom, they will strip ours. In the name of religion, they will shove theirs down our throats.
The Founding Fathers are turning over in their graves. No Loch Ness monster required.
For additional reading on the topic of Christian nationalism, I highly recommend the following books: Jesus and John Wayne by Kristen Kobes Du Mez, The Flag and the Cross by Philip S. Gorski and Samuel L. Perry, Shadow Network by Anne Nelson, The Power Worshippers by Katherine Stewart, How Democracies Die by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, and The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy and the Path to a Shared American Future by Robert P. Jones.
Note #1: The Doctrine of Discovery is a 15th century papal bull that authorized the domination and subjugation (including the murders or displacements) of anyone found on lands discovered by white European colonists. This document was issued by the Pope and sanctioned by the various European kings and heads of state that sought new lands in the Americas.
Note #2: Please see my August 2022 post entitled How Did a Medical Procedure Become So Politicized? – Part 1 for more information on Paul Weyrich and the politicizing of abortion.
Note #3: Per 2004 paraphrase by Katherine Urica from theocracywatch.org
Note #4: The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), the legal arm of CNP, uses religion as a weapon as it works to promote anti-gay, anti-trans, and anti-abortion laws through legislation and through the court system. The ADF has initiated over 500 anti-LGBTQIA+ bills in state legislatures in 2023 alone, with 70 becoming law. The ADF is behind the lawsuits to allow discrimination against gay couples by wedding planners, photographers, website designers, and wedding cake designers. Hate crimes against the LGBTQIA+ community have increased due to their influence. ADF is also anti-abortion and had a key role in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the lawsuit that reversed Roe v. Wade. The Southern Poverty Law Center has deemed the ADF a hate group.
Note #5: This list of organizations is from Shadow Network by Anne Nelson.
Note #6: Mike Johnson (R-La), as a member of the US House of Representatives, was a major leader in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, both in co-designing the plan to object to certifying the results in Congress and in leading the Texas amicus brief to overturn election results in key swing states. During his tenure in the House, he introduced the “Don’t Say Gay” bill to suppress discussions of sexuality and gender identity with children. He voted against the “Respect for Marriage Act” that gives equal protections to gay couples and interracial couples. Johnson has spoken out in support of criminalizing gay sex. He has consistently voted against legalizing abortion. He is in favor of gutting Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and other social programs that help the poor. He is also a proponent of dismantling the Johnson Act, a bill sponsored by then-Senator Lyndon B. Johnson (no relation!), to maintain separation between church and state. Prior to his election to the US House, he worked as a spokesperson and attorney for the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), the legal arm of the CNP (see Note #4). It bears repeating that the Southern Poverty Law Center has designated the ADF as a hate group.
NOTE: November is Native American Heritage Month (aka American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month). Check out these websites to learn more: https://www.nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov/
https://www.ncai.org/initiatives/native-american-heritage-month
https://www.bia.gov/NNAHM.
Text and photograph copyright © 2023 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of Urquhart Castle at Loch Ness, Scotland.
Not a subscriber to the monthly blog posts? Click here to subscribe. Subscribers receive an email each month that includes the post with the lead photo as well as bonus photos not posted on the website. Email addresses are never sold or shared.
A NOTE ON SOCIAL JUSTICE:
Jesus says the greatest commandments are to love God and to love people (Matthew 22:37-40). The Christian faith boils down to these two precepts.
Social justice puts that love into action by helping individuals who are oppressed, mistreated, or suffering, and by pursuing ways to dismantle systems of oppression. How we treat others, particularly those less powerful in society than ourselves, matters (Matthew 25:31-46).
Racial justice is one aspect of social justice. Check out my web page on “Justice Matters” to find resources and to connect with organizations engaging in the cause of racial justice. Click here to learn more.
Urquhart Castle, built in the 13th century, was a Scottish military fortress. Over time, these stone walls saw many battles as the castle and surrounding land changed hands, mostly between the Scottish crown and various Scottish clans. William of Orange’s soldiers garrisoned here as they fought the Jacobites. In 1692 when the English soldiers left Urquhart, they blew up the castle rather than letting it fall to the Jacobites.
I am struck by the fact that ultimately, the castle was destroyed by its occupants to keep it out of enemy hands. The Jacobite uprisings were a political movement, but like many political ideologies, it was wrapped in religion. Christian nationalism is also a political movement wrapped in religion. It has a long and tangled history, comprised of unlikely bedfellows, all striving to achieve similar goals in the political arena.
In the previous post, we discussed the slippery slope we descend to authoritarianism when we support Christian nationalism, a dangerous political movement that distorts Christianity to destroy democracy. It sows seeds of disinformation and divisiveness to vilify and exclude groups of people different from themselves. Despite having the word “Christian” in its name, it is not a Christian movement. The end game is power through authoritarianism as its players seek to control both the government and society. Certain ideas from conservative Christianity are co-opted to legitimize its actions.
Christian nationalism is the culmination of centuries of domination, destruction, and oppression of minority peoples that is rooted in white supremacy. Its roots go back to the 15th century Doctrine of Discovery that gave white European settlers a false sense of entitlement that played out in the displacements and killings of Indigenous peoples and then later, the enslavement of Africans. (See Note #1 below.)
For brevity’s sake, we will start with the 1954 US Supreme Court’s ruling in Brown v. Board of Education that deemed racially separate schools were not equal and must not continue to be segregated according to race. White Christian schools that refused to integrate could lose their tax-exempt status. Jerry Falwell, Sr, was an outspoken racist who fought to keep his Christian academy segregated (he later started Liberty University). Bob Jones University, an evangelical Christian school in South Carolina, did indeed lose its tax-exempt status for a while because it refused to admit Black students. Galvanized by the threat of losing their tax-exempt status, these and other evangelical leaders began to work together to defeat the gains made by Black citizens during the Civil Rights Movement.
At roughly the same time, the Republican Party began to lose support after Watergate. Paul Weyrich, a Republican operative, saw an opportunity in a bloc of voters, namely evangelical Christians, who historically did not vote. Teaming up with these aggrieved evangelical leaders, Weyrich used the issue of abortion to enlist evangelicals to vote Republican. (See Note #2.) Weyrich and Falwell created the Moral Majority, Inc., in 1978. They worked to defeat President Jimmy Carter’s second candidacy (he was not conservative enough for them) and they even coached Ronald Reagan in evangelical jargon, ultimately influencing a landslide victory for Reagan in 1980. By colluding, the Republican party got the votes it needed, the Christian Right/Moral Majority evangelical leaders got their tax-exempt status and the power to influence public policy, all funded by wealthy conservative donors.
But Weyrich did not stop there. He cofounded the Council for National Policy (CNP), the Heritage Foundation, and the Republican Study Committee, which became the pillars of the radical right. CNP is a secretive, umbrella organization that brings together far-right politicians and the Religious Right, with the backing of ultra-conservative donors. Their members lead many offshoot extremist organizations based on white supremacy. They operate today as a shadow network.
What is particularly alarming about this evolution of organizations and the shadow network they lead are their tactics. The “playbook” of Weyrich, found in the book entitled The Integration of Theory and Practice: A Program for the New Traditionalist Movement by Eric Heubeck, states that their goals are:
“1) Falsehoods are not only acceptable, they are a necessity. The corollary is: The masses will accept any lie if it is spoken with vigor, energy and dedication.
2) It is necessary to be cast under the cloak of "goodness" whereas all opponents and their ideas must be cast as "evil."
3) Complete destruction of every opponent must be accomplished through unrelenting personal attacks.
4) The creation of the appearance of overwhelming power and brutality is necessary in order to destroy the will of opponents to launch opposition of any kind.” (See Note #3.)
If these goals sound eerily familiar, it is because this is the current playbook used by this partnership between far-right politicians, the Religious Right, and wealthy conservative donors in their concerted effort to destroy specific US institutions and replace them with those they control. They introduce legislation, file lawsuits, strip funding from federal departments, and usurp the authority of federal agencies, such as the FDA and EPA. They seek to destroy democracy from the inside out, all in the name of Jesus. It is not the Jesus I know.
Many organizations, some of which are nonprofits, operate within the umbrella of the CNP or are run by CNP members. While this list is not exhaustive, it includes: Family Research Council, Focus on the Family, American Family Association, Concerned Women for America, Susan B. Anthony List, Students for Life of America, Live Action, Faith & Freedom Coalition, United in Purpose, National Religious Broadcasters, Alliance Defending Freedom (see Note #4), Leadership Institute, Federalist Society, American Center for Law & Justice, Heritage Foundation, Tea Party Patriots, State Policy Network, and National Rifle Association. (See Note #5.)
Funding for many of these organizations comes from the Prince/DeVos families as well as from the Koch brothers’ network called FreedomWorks (that also funds Americans for Prosperity and Freedom Partners). The National Christian Foundation is a network of wealthy evangelical donors that also funds some of these organizations. Hillsdale College is a beneficiary of the work of CNP and its donors and is an integral part of their mission.
Members and prominent leaders associated with these organizations include (or have included) Chuck Colson, James Dobson, Tim and Beverly LaHaye, Pat Robertson, Tony Perkins, Mike Huckabee, Mike Pence, Phyllis Schlafly, Anita Bryant, Oliver North, Wayne LaPierre, Charlie Kirk, Ralph Reed, George Barna, Ginni Thomas (wife of US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas), Cleta Mitchell, Leonard Leo, and Jay Sekulow. In addition, 46 of 435 members in the US House of Representatives belong to the far-right House Freedom Caucus lead by Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa) with vice-chairman and co-founder Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga) is one outspoken member and a self-professed Christian nationalist.
Another member of the House Freedom Caucus is the newly elected House speaker, Mike Johnson (R-La). Make no mistake: he is the proverbial wolf in sheep’s clothing. His “nice guy” demeanor may deceptively cover his extremist views, but his track record reveals otherwise. Johnson, by his words and deeds, shows he is a Christian nationalist who does not support democracy, nor separation between church and state, nor human and civil rights for those he deems “other.” He promotes establishing his own interpretation of God’s law as the ultimate authority in the US government, despite the fact the Founding Fathers worked to prevent any one religion from ruling supreme (as discussed in last month’s post). The fact that he is in such a powerful position to influence legislation and is also second in line to the presidency is very alarming. (See Note #6 below more detail.)
The Republican party (especially members of the far-right House Freedom Caucus), the Religious Right, and their wealthy backers all stand to gain from their collusion. The Republican party gets political power through votes, the Religious Right gains power through influence over laws that impose their conservative beliefs on the rest of society, and their donors get tax breaks and other financial incentives via legislation promoted by the Republican party, making them even wealthier. A match made in heaven. Or not!
Christian nationalism masquerades as patriotism, wrapped in religion. Its goal is to destroy democracy and usher in authoritarianism. Who needs a Loch Ness monster when, like the soldiers at Urquhart Castle, there are people in this country who will blow up the US Constitution and its institutions to save it from imaginary enemies and thus garner all the power for themselves.
We cannot let them succeed. For if we do, life as we know it has ended. In the name of freedom, they will strip ours. In the name of religion, they will shove theirs down our throats.
The Founding Fathers are turning over in their graves. No Loch Ness monster required.
For additional reading on the topic of Christian nationalism, I highly recommend the following books: Jesus and John Wayne by Kristen Kobes Du Mez, The Flag and the Cross by Philip S. Gorski and Samuel L. Perry, Shadow Network by Anne Nelson, The Power Worshippers by Katherine Stewart, How Democracies Die by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, and The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy and the Path to a Shared American Future by Robert P. Jones.
Note #1: The Doctrine of Discovery is a 15th century papal bull that authorized the domination and subjugation (including the murders or displacements) of anyone found on lands discovered by white European colonists. This document was issued by the Pope and sanctioned by the various European kings and heads of state that sought new lands in the Americas.
Note #2: Please see my August 2022 post entitled How Did a Medical Procedure Become So Politicized? – Part 1 for more information on Paul Weyrich and the politicizing of abortion.
Note #3: Per 2004 paraphrase by Katherine Urica from theocracywatch.org
Note #4: The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), the legal arm of CNP, uses religion as a weapon as it works to promote anti-gay, anti-trans, and anti-abortion laws through legislation and through the court system. The ADF has initiated over 500 anti-LGBTQIA+ bills in state legislatures in 2023 alone, with 70 becoming law. The ADF is behind the lawsuits to allow discrimination against gay couples by wedding planners, photographers, website designers, and wedding cake designers. Hate crimes against the LGBTQIA+ community have increased due to their influence. ADF is also anti-abortion and had a key role in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the lawsuit that reversed Roe v. Wade. The Southern Poverty Law Center has deemed the ADF a hate group.
Note #5: This list of organizations is from Shadow Network by Anne Nelson.
Note #6: Mike Johnson (R-La), as a member of the US House of Representatives, was a major leader in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, both in co-designing the plan to object to certifying the results in Congress and in leading the Texas amicus brief to overturn election results in key swing states. During his tenure in the House, he introduced the “Don’t Say Gay” bill to suppress discussions of sexuality and gender identity with children. He voted against the “Respect for Marriage Act” that gives equal protections to gay couples and interracial couples. Johnson has spoken out in support of criminalizing gay sex. He has consistently voted against legalizing abortion. He is in favor of gutting Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and other social programs that help the poor. He is also a proponent of dismantling the Johnson Act, a bill sponsored by then-Senator Lyndon B. Johnson (no relation!), to maintain separation between church and state. Prior to his election to the US House, he worked as a spokesperson and attorney for the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), the legal arm of the CNP (see Note #4). It bears repeating that the Southern Poverty Law Center has designated the ADF as a hate group.
NOTE: November is Native American Heritage Month (aka American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month). Check out these websites to learn more: https://www.nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov/
https://www.ncai.org/initiatives/native-american-heritage-month
https://www.bia.gov/NNAHM.
Text and photograph copyright © 2023 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of Urquhart Castle at Loch Ness, Scotland.
Not a subscriber to the monthly blog posts? Click here to subscribe. Subscribers receive an email each month that includes the post with the lead photo as well as bonus photos not posted on the website. Email addresses are never sold or shared.
A NOTE ON SOCIAL JUSTICE:
Jesus says the greatest commandments are to love God and to love people (Matthew 22:37-40). The Christian faith boils down to these two precepts.
Social justice puts that love into action by helping individuals who are oppressed, mistreated, or suffering, and by pursuing ways to dismantle systems of oppression. How we treat others, particularly those less powerful in society than ourselves, matters (Matthew 25:31-46).
Racial justice is one aspect of social justice. Check out my web page on “Justice Matters” to find resources and to connect with organizations engaging in the cause of racial justice. Click here to learn more.
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