Opinion: Religious choice vs. Christian nationalism

By Steve Corbin

Professor Emeritus of Marketing, University of Northern Iowa

American voters were under a lot of stress leading up to the Nov. 5 presidential election. That stress has continued since Donald Trump received less than 50 percent voter support. Hence, the majority of citizens are not wed to his unending plethora of promises.

Research is replete Americans – as well as USA’s 118 trading partners – don’t know what to expect starting Jan. 20, 2025 when Trump takes office. Trump’s cabinet picks alone caused one comedian to say: “One could get a better cabinet at IKEA than what Trump has chosen.”

Angst over our Constitution also prevails. The following have proposed abolishing the separation of church and state concept that’s enshrined in America’s First Amendment, wanting to make Christianity the exclusive religion: GOP’s 2024 election platform, QAnon, conservative Supreme Court justices and many Congressional Republicans. Christian nationalism has also been supported by 91 state legislature bills and is found in the far right-wing Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, a 922-page detailed blueprint for Trump to follow in his first 180 days of office (Jan. 20-July 17).

Trump’s allies support the concept of Christian nationalism whereby they believe America was founded as a Christian nation and ONLY Christians have the power to infuse their theology within our laws. However, USA’s separation of church and state does at least three things: 1) frees us from the possible oppression of an established church, 2) permits you to believe as you choose and 3) protects secular public education.

Andra Watkins, best selling author who was raised in a Christian nationalist family, feels GOP Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (La.), Sen. Josh Hawley (Mo.) and Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito are a sample of Christian nationalists who “have infiltrated our legislative and judicial branches” (The Fulcrum, Aug. 19).

It’s sad these right-wing entities weren’t good students of American history. As a quick review, America’s 13 original colonies belonged to the British Empire and were subservient to an imperial church. The British monarchy formally lost control over its American subjects during the Revolutionary War. On July 4, 1776 and every fourth of July since then, patriotic citizens celebrate religious freedom as well as political independence.

For those who support the concept of Christian nationalism, it can only mean they want America to abandon democracy and become a monarchy or authoritarian like China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Hungary, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Burma, Afghanistan, Syria and 49 other countries.

It’s interesting the United States is one of the most diverse religious nations in the world yet we know almost nothing about others’ beliefs. The Christian nationalists want to reduce America’s 372 distinct faith groups down to one!

As stated by Rev. Dr. Barry Howard, Church at Wieuca (Atlanta, Ga.), “The principle of separation of church and state is not an attack on religion but a protection of religious freedom and individual rights. By maintaining this distinction, we uphold the values of democracy and equality” (Baptist News Global).

Here’s a partial list of cultural and religious holidays between now and the first part of 2025 we ought to reflect on and be thankful for America’s fundamental principle of separation of church and state. After all, who knows what will happen after Jan. 20 with Supreme Court rulings, GOP dominated House and Senate legislation, presidential cabinet member dictums and Trump’s executive orders:

Dec. 8 – On Bodhi Day, Buddhist take time to praise the principles of kindness, compassion and wisdom, the three main features of their teachings.

Dec. 12 – Feast Day of Our Lady Guadalupe is when Mexicans, Mexican-Americans and people of Latin descent celebrate the patron saint of Mexico, who symbolizes devotion, identify and patriotism.

Dec. 21 – Yule, first celebrated in Scandinavia as a Norse festival, celebrates the winter solstice, the darkest day and longest night of the year.

Dec. 25 – Christmas is celebrated by Christians to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Dec. 25-Jan. 2 – Hanukkah, the eight day Jewish holiday entails the lighting of a menorah each night to commemorate how a battle between a small group of Jewish people survived against the powerful Greek-Syrian army in 165 B.C.

Dec. 26 – Boxing Day is a British tradition that dates back to the 1800s when Queen Victoria ruled the throne.

Dec. 26 – Zarthosht No-Diso, honors prophet Zoroaster, the founder – more than 3,000 years ago -- of Zoroastrianism, one of the world’s oldest monotheistic and smallest religions.

Dec. 26-Jan. 1 – Kwanzaa is a week-long cultural holiday that honors African-American heritage and the seven key principles of unity, self-determination, collective responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.

Happy Holidays!

Contact Steve Corbin at Steven.B.Corbin@gmail.com